OUR STORY
It all started in 2019. We started to look for a van to purchase, convert into a camper, and travel around the US while working on the road. Since we would use the van as our home and office for a long time and travel many miles in it, we decided we wanted a brand-new van. We wanted a high roof, short wheelbase vehicle. High roof because I’m 6.4″, and short wheelbase because we knew we would spend a lot of time in cities, and parking can be an issue with longer vans.
In November 2019, we got our van, a brand new 2019 Sprinter 2500 Cargo Van 144″ with a 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine, 7-speed Transmission, 2WD.
Before we started construction, we debated how our setup would be. Because of Thomas’s size, sleeping widthwise in the van was impossible, and we didn’t want to add those side extenders. We knew we needed an area for daily work on our laptops, a good-sized kitchen (we love to cook), and a long enough bed for me. Finally, we decided on a convertible setup where our bed would become our working/dining area. After two years of using the van, it worked wonderfully for us. We were okay with making the bed daily or occasionally leaving the bed made if we felt lazy.
Since this would be our house for many miles, we spared no expense and used only the best materials available. It took us almost a whole year to finish converting the van. In the meantime, we took many smaller trips to test equipment and the buildout and made necessary changes before taking off on our long adventure!
In May 2021, we left Arizona and drove east for the first part of our trip. We arrived back in AZ in October after exploring all the states east of the Rockies. In June 2022, we left for the second part of the trip. This time we drove through all states west of the Rockies, Alberta, and British Columbia. Our trip ended in October 2022 after many incredible miles driven.
We moved to San Diego and continued taking small local trips. The whole time we had this van, it solely drove on paved roads, with no off-roading adventures. Now that our family is growing, our needs are changing, and we will no longer use the van enough to justify keeping it. This great car deserves to be used on as many camping trips as possible! We could change things and add a child seat, but we don’t have both the time and energy right now =)
We kept our Sprinter in Top Shape. We strictly followed all maintenance and service appointments (we used Mercedes for all appointments). We changed tires, brake pads, and even rotors when needed. We have all the paperwork saved. This is an amazing vehicle. Reliable, strong, efficient, and wonderful to operate.
THIS VAN IS PERFECT FOR YOU IF:
· You’re planning a travel phase.
· You’ve put aside time for extended travel. Whether 3 months or 2 years, you’ve dedicated the time and you want to do it right. This van has everything you need to live comfortably, full-time, long-term.
· You don’t like cramped, cluttered vans.
· Most vans are packed tight because they’re only meant for short trips and weekends. The idea is you won’t be spending much time inside, so it doesn’t matter. But that’s too claustrophobic for long trips or full-time vanlife. This van has a high roof and an open, spacious layout that you can breathe in.
· You want to work remotely.
· If you have a special diet, or you’re just a damn good cook, you need a functional kitchen.
· You like city and country.
· RVs are great for camping but don’t travel well in the city. This stealth van blends into the best urban neighborhoods. Get the best of both worlds: between national park visits, pop into the fancy part of town, grab a cocktail, and then simply go to bed in your parking space. No hotel, uber, or designated driver.
· I want a van with style!!
SEE VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUJ6g6LOmFc
THE VAN
· 2019 Mercedes Sprinter 3.0L v6 Turbo Diesel 7-Speed Transmission
· 144 wheelbase
· High roof
· 2WD
· Diesel engine
· 55K miles
· 18 mpg
· Driver and passenger seats are electric and swivel 360 degrees
THE BUILD
· Check out the full building process here: https://www.hubbehaus.com/the-build-1
· Only 1 owner. Never rented.
WINDOWS AND FAN
· CR Lawrence T-Vent windows on both driver and passenger side
· CR Lawrence Half Slider windows on the rear, both sides.
· MaxxFan Deluxe on the roof (this is a lifesaver especially pushing air out of the van with the windows open)
INSULATION
· Noise deadening all over the frame
· Used hard foam, Reflectix, and 3M Thinsulate to insulate the van
FLOOR
· Plywood attached to wood anchored to already existing holes in the frame (no holes drilled!)
· Light-colored, wood-like vinyl floor
WOODWORK
· Baltic Birch for all surfaces (walls, cabinets, seats)
· High-quality 2×2 whitewood studs used for cabinetry.
ROOF RACK, LADDER, OUTSIDE STORAGE
· All from Aluminess
· Modular roof rack, driver’s side ladder, storage box on rear on the passenger
ELECTRICAL
· Single mono-crystalline 350W LG solar panel
· 100|30 mppt solar charge controller from Victron
· 2000W Charger-Inverter MultiPlus Compact 12/2000/80-50 120V VE.Bus
· 2x 100amp/h BattleBorn lithium batteries (there is enough room to add more)
· Sterling battery-to-battery charger
· The battery charges three ways: via solar panel, shore power through the inverter/charger, and the car’s alternator when the car is running.
· Plug from shore power
WATER SYSTEM
· We opted for a 23-gallon (87 liters) water tank next to the wheel well. This is how it works:
We have a water inlet on the driver’s side of the van, and we can fill the tank with our food-grade hose. The hose has a pressure regulator, a sieve, and an activated charcoal filter. After going through the hose, the water gets into the tank. From there, it can go directly to a second filter, then the sink, or to our outdoor shower in the back of the van. The whole system requires a little peristaltic pump that works wonderfully well. The water used in the kitchen is collected in two 5-gallon gray water tanks under the sink. We need to empty those at dump stations now and then. Because the whole system is inside the van, we don’t have to be worried about camping in colder climates since no water lines risk freezing and bursting. Regarding the drinking water, we have a little water filter from Berky with two charcoal filtration units. We use that water for drinking, ice-making, and sometimes cooking.
HEATING AND COOLING
· Heating: Espar D2 diesel heater under the passenger seat. This heater is a monster. Plugged to the fuel tank, works with the engine off.
· Cooling: No AC installed. Our battery bank is too small to handle an AC unit, so we can only use it when we can access shore power (connected to electricity somewhere). The smallest unit we found reasonably priced was a Black and Decker. This was a lifesaver when we were in Florida for a month. We plug it in, connect the exhaust hose to the window, and blast that cold air inside the car. With such a small space, it works wonders, but you need shore power.
TRAVEL IN COMFORT
· Lounge with a book: Large “queen-ish” bed.
· Roomy seats for comfortable in-house dining and working.
TRAVEL IN LUXURY
· We designed this van ourselves and tried to make it stylish. Simple, clean, decluttered. We made it feel like a home.
KITCHEN
· Ruvati stainless steel sink
· Isotherm Cruise 85 Clean Touch stainless steel fridge with freezer (this fridge is amazing!!)
· Plug-in induction stove top that we store in a drawer to save counter space.
INTERNET
· weBoost Drive RV Kit signal booster increases phone signal for better hotspot.
BATHROOM
· The toilet is in a pull-out platform in the galley (on the passenger side) across the kitchen. We had a Porta Potti with an electric flush, and we only ever used it for #1. We always found places to use the bathroom for #2 such as Cracker Barrels, gas stations, visitor centers, the woods…
TABLE AND BENCH
· Lagun swivel table moves in all directions for many positions.
BED
· Queen-ish size.
· Easy to turn the sitting area into a bed.
· Foam and memory foam seats become the mattress.
SHOWER
· Only an outdoor shower in the back. The rear door must be open.
NO INDOOR SHOWER?
· Indoor shower stalls make a van feel crowded. Plus, they can drain a lot of water. Freshwater refills can be hard to find and pricey. I found it easier and cheaper to shower at campgrounds, gyms, YMCAs…
STORAGE
· Plenty of storage in cabinets, galleys, overhead compartments, and under the seats… we lived in the van off and on for two years and we never felt there was not enough room for our stuff.
DIMMER SWITCH
· Lighting adjustable for brightness and warm or cool
· Brighten up with high, cool lights for the workday
· Set the mood with low, warm light in the evening
