After the corona crisis, new trends of spending free time in nature, away from the crowds, appeared. Many of us have discovered that contact with nature is what really calms us down and allows us to disconnect from everyday stress and recharge our batteries faster. In 2021 I converted my Ford Ranger pick-up to an overlanding vehicle and had some of the best vacations of my life. This year I decided to take the next step. I started looking for a manufacturer or remanufacturer of the "Activity Adventure Campervan X Overland". I found this niche to be relatively empty or occupied only by lower quality alternatives. In the following, I share my experiences and views of the last year.
Overlanding is simply my passion. It allows me to get away from the crowds and explore the gravel trails. Most of such trips we have done in recent years with ours Ford Ranger Overland by Matsport would also be accessible to a normal, slightly modified one 4×4 van. I am thinking about switching to a van mainly because of the nature of my work. Since I work almost every day, I found that the utility of the overlanding vehicle is limited, as it does not allow me to work comfortably and efficiently with the computer. So I started thinking about an "activity" travel van that would serve as my traveling office. I want it to be useful for more than just a few months a year, unlike my current overlanding vehicle. I live in a climate zone where camping is only comfortable for a few months of the year. In other months it is too cold or too humid. So my Overlanding Ford Ranger is only useful for half a year or even less.
Basically I wished Activity Adventure Campervan X Overland, which represents a symbiosis between Overlanding vehicle and van, combining the best of both worlds.
I recorded my expectations based on my past overlanding experiences on digital paper. I carefully analyzed the water and electricity consumption and made many calculations that helped me determine the ideal parameters for our travel adventures. I found out how many days in a row we can spend away from civilization. Configuration of our "Activity Adventure Campervan” is designed to improve our user experience throughout the year. This means that the van could be used for both ski trips and summer vacations. In addition, the van would also serve me well on business trips, as I would have my mobile office with me. I would imagine a traveling office with a certain level of comfort, an editing studio for video production and a space for video and photography equipment, since I am at work practically every day. Basically, this van would also represent my second office.
Activity Adventure Campervan X Overland Wish List
As a starting point for the search for the ideal "Activity Adventure Campervan", I set certain parameters. I made a detailed plan of my needs and made a detailed list. I created this list with the possibility of self-building or precisely defining your desires regarding the dream "Activity CamperVan" in mind. After a short research of the online offer, it became clear to me that it is difficult to find a product that would perfectly meet my wishes. At the same time, the whole thing annoyed me a little, because I would have gladly bought a product from the shopping "shelf". I started making a list based on my needs.
Gorb outline your wishes for the Activity Adventure Campervan
- Vehicle basis: Volkswagen Crafter 4MOTION L3H3 (used vehicle) – 30,000 euros.
Seats: Accommodates three people with rotating double bench and rotating driver's seat, conversion of existing seats in the van. conversion of seats - 1,000 euros. - Planning and interior fittings: Interior design and layout and planning of individual elements of the interior - furniture design, installation planning, selection of materials. Approximate value of "engineering": 1,500 euros.
- Insulation and heating: Suitable for year-round use with insulation. So insulation of the van and basic panels such as floors, ceilings and basic installations, electricity, water (4,000 euros). Webasto heating – 1,900 euros.
- Chassis: Minimum raised chassis - 2,500 euros.
- Tires and accessories: Off-road tires BF A/T and the addition of a Trax floor, fixation on the side of the car - 1,500 euros and new felt Delta wheels adapted to the terrain 1,400 euros.
- Mobile office: The specifics of the work environment - a bench under the bed that can be a shelf for bags or a bench for work when the bed is made. At the same time, it represents the third bed. The bench must be removable, foldable, so that the space can be turned into a loading surface. Converting the sleeping area into an office with a monitor that doubles as a television. Includes the costs of the monitor, installations and switches - 1500 euros.
- Internet: Starlink – installations and hardware – 650 euros.
- Interior & furniture: Spartan design with durable and durable materials, washable interior, rubberized furniture, submerged "tracks" for transporting equipment into the ground. The construction should be light with narrow counters, cabinets without doors, as shelves, storage surfaces - the estimated value of the wooden parts. 7,000 euros.
- Water tanks: 120 liters of clean and 70+ liters of black water (heated) – 1,000 euros. Other water: 500 euros
- Electrical system: Power supply with a 3 kWh battery system and solar cells between 300 and 400W (Solar panels 2x150W). Portable solar power plant type "Jackery 3000" / with integrated 3000W inverter - total value - 4,000 euros.
- Kitchen appliances: Induction cooking 2x Dometic, microwave / oven, coffee machine; Dometic CFX refrigerator - total value - 2400 euros.
- Climate: Dometic FreshWell 3000 under-seat air conditioner, which can also serve as an additional heater, under the driver's seat. 1,800 euros. Additional roof fan - low profile.
- Bathroom: A temporary bathroom with a chemical toilet that can be converted into a shower or a functional closet. Basically height 75-80 cm. The rest of the tent canvas with a zipper or clips.
- Outdoor shower: Outdoor shower, installation. Alu-Cab curtain on the left side of the vehicle - 750 euros.
- Roof accessories: Frontrunner Slimpro carrier for Van, access with Frontrunner ladder 450 euros. A total of 2,500 euros.
- Rooftop tent (optional): ALU-CAB Lt-50 lightweight roof tent - 2,500 euros with additional solar cells.
- Carriers: Rack for 2 bikes on the back door - 750 euros.
- Awning: Alu-Cab 270 on the right side – 1,500 euros.
(Note: The prices are approximate and do not necessarily correspond to market prices. The "list" by no means included all things and parts. It is an approximate wish list.)
Common budget= 65,000/ 70,000 euros
Buying a pre-built Activity Adventure Campervan?
Do not think that everyone has time and will for self-construction of a campervan activity van. Many people would not hesitate to pay more just to avoid the complications and challenges of building such a vehicle. Many of us also do not have the necessary skills & time and would rather trust the experts. But here comes the problem: most experts do not understand the specific needs, as they do not live an active lifestyle, but mostly park their vans in campsites that have little in common with offgrid living. I was surprised when I saw vans that allocated only 10 liters of water for washing up containers, had only a 1 kWh battery and were poorly insulated. An example of such a van is Crosscamp Flex 541, which looks promising at first glance, but disappoints upon closer inspection. Despite the attractive price, it has too many drawbacks. I guess the developers of this van have not spent many days "off grid" or visited distant lands. Let alone that they lived that kind of lifestyle.
There are quality companies like Torun Mobil and Robeta Mobil, who know how to make a great touring van. But the majority, even as it is for example Sunlight with his Clif 4X4, offers products that are only conditionally useful for an active pastime, and their price is too high for what is offered.
Most manufacturers have also stalled in furniture design and did not adapt to modern needs. There is too much baroque and too little of the Swedish school of design. Everything has too much of a hotel feel. This is also why the vehicle conversion market is actually booming.
Closest to the ideal of this kind Activity Adventure Campervan approaches the brand Hymer with model HYMER Grand Canyon, but when we configure such a car, the price comes closer 140,000 euros and easily exceeds this amount. At the same time, despite everything, this type of car is somehow "too" sterile for adventure seekers. At the same time, its weight bulky. Although really interesting and of course perfectly made and of course interesting in every way.
Thus, a buyer with a flair for aesthetics has a real problem, he will notice that many manufacturers with furniture design stuck in the past. It's like walking through a crowded furniture showroom. For such a buyer, an activity van means robustness, multifunctionality and modularity. He wants "Ikea on wheels", where the focus is on Swedish functional design and not on the fact that he will assemble this furniture himself. This buyer is not only looking for a vehicle, but also a partner for their adventures, something like the company's sports yachts Seascape in the nautical world. Otherwise spartan, but functional, fast and the best in its market niche.
The biggest criticism of manufacturers is that they do not understand the needs of the modern customer. They don't see the value of electric bikes, parachutes, kites and other equipment that active people use. This buyer does not want "camping" in the traditional sense; looking for"swiss army knife” between vans. After work, he wants to jump into the mountains and go directly back to work the next day. He wants a van that fits his fast, active lifestyle. For example, he wants great flexibility in the interior. But not hotel rooms. This is not a typical camping visitor. He will turn into it only in exceptional cases.
The activity van should be resistant to "damage", i.e. equipped with durable materials, multifunctional and modular in its interior. Most young people want something sportier, more modular and at the same time durable. They don't want neon kitsch or excessive comfort. They primarily want contact with nature. And a van that will be like a Swiss army knife.
In conversations with like-minded people, as well as buyers of "campers", I sensed a certain degree of despair and also disappointment with the industry, which seems sleepy and not proactive. Basically, we came to the conclusion that "vans" need a common interior wall platform, which should be designed in such a way that the modular modules of the interior can be rearranged.
What about examples of good practice?!
Company Titan Vans is the closest to my ideal. They fully understand the concept of an activity van and offer almost everything that a modern nomad expects from such a vehicle. Their configurations are almost perfect and reflect the real "needs" in the field. However, there are two main problems with this. The first is, of course, the price. Due to the use of the MB platform, the price is quite high. Converting an existing van costs about 40,000 euros, which I think is acceptable. Another problem is the geographical location of the company. They are located in North America, which represents an additional challenge for us in Europe.
Titan Vans also takes things further with pre-built kits for easy vehicle conversions costing approx 25,000 euros with assembly in their workshops. This is an amount that is already extremely interesting for a wide range of potential buyers.
There are a number of otherwise modular systems that seem interesting. it is one of the more interesting and convincing ones Adventure Wagon – but what about when it comes to America again and finally the prices, which are not small, although the products can be interesting.
Professional producers are neglecting the market in favor of many processors, but why?
A frequently heard excuse from the "big" manufacturers is that the market is too specific, individual and diverse for a single "universal" product to satisfactorily cover it. However, I am sure that people who are willing to invest money want quality and functional products. They are looking for products with a guarantee and proven quality in practice. Most people don't want to be involved in complex alterations comparable to building a house. Although many people are able to build a house if it is turnkey, such as some prefabricated houses, most of us are not ready to take on the role of construction supervisor of all phases of building a house, even though we have a clear vision of what we want. At the same time, we would like after-sales services, services and guarantees. So I believe that there is a segment of people who would buy an activity Campervan "turnkey", similar to a prefabricated house. In its philosophy, this is completely different from the "classic" vans that it is Adria Twin Sports model, who, according to his story, wants to enter this segment, but is extremely far from it.
I totally get that it's two worlds. However, it seems to me that a huge number of people do not want to build their "own" activity van and would shell out money for an already established modular version. All the examples I publish in this entry are in some way too rough, not finished enough and not made as a serious manufacturer could.
On the hunt for a creative fabricator - this is going to sound like a tender with a little spice!
It's clearly all wrong with the mainstream camper manufacturers. Some are so busy that they don't even respond to my email. Or maybe my email just disappears into the black hole of their "great" customer service. This record is an open criticism of their approach. Apparently, they have become a bit overconfident as they fail to pick up on market signals. Maybe they need their version of a Tesla to wake them up a bit from their hibernation. Personally, I understand that they get on the nerves of independent custom processors, as they are their direct competition.
But the problem is that I hear from young people that the campers of these manufacturers are for "old" people and that there is no nice product on the market.
That's why I decided to use this record to find that "special" company in Europe that has a fresh approach and a "lego" solution. I am looking for someone willing to create a customizable Activity CamperVan that reflects the user's lifestyle. The conversion price, without the basic van, would range between 25,000 and 45,000 euros.
I dream of the concept of a "Swiss" knife - a product that, with its multifunctionality, could convince all those who yearn for adventure. Therefore, the hunt for "creative" heads is officially open!
And if you're the one looking for an opportunity to show off your creativity (or if you know someone crazy enough to take on the challenge), you can contact me at jan@citymagazine.si. And don't worry, I don't bite. Well, at least not too much. Hey…. otherwise this is my "sansjki" Activity Adventure CamperVan.
