Affordable camper van comes with a rooftop deck

The camper van craze has grown from a fringe Instagram hashtag to a national movement that has people ditching their jobs and hitting the road in Sprinters, Promasters, and the like. And whether you have an unlimited budget or want to DIY, it seems like everywhere you turn, people are talking about #VanLife. Love campers and trailers? Come join our new community group.

But what many people are realizing is that selling your house and moving full time into a van isn’t always the easiest thing. A more practical—and in some cases, economical—solution is to use your van as both a weekend retreat and a daily driver.

San Francisco-based Glampervan wants to capitalize on this trend by building clients a “multi-use vehicle” that can take you on vacation, work as a mobile office, and still haul things like a truck. Using a 136-inch wheelbase high-roof Ram Promaster (the medium-sized model in the Ram lineup) Glampervan maximizes space with a build customized for two people.

You enter the van in a galley kitchen loaded with cabinet and storage space. A stainless steel sink and a drawer-based 65-liter fridge/freezer offer some functionality for meals, but the common two-burner stovetop is left out. To the right you’ll find the main cabin that uses driver and front passenger swivel seats to create a dining or office area.

In the back, a Murphy bed sits on the passenger wall and allows space to haul gear or supplies whenever you’re not resting. When in the sleeping position, the bed is just shy of a queen size, and overhead cabinets provide more storage. And while other, fancier vans offer more amenities, the Glampervan keeps things simple with batteries and a solar panel for off-grid power, interior lighting, and plenty of different outlets to keep your tech charged.

Courtesy of Glampervan

If the interior is rather basic, perhaps the coolest part of the Glampervan is the plywood roof deck. Climb the rear ladder, throw up two chairs, and two people can watch the sunset from an ideal vantage point.

With the goal of making van life both more economical and feasible, Glampervan’s conversion packages sound downright reasonable compared to pricier outfitters, but you’re also not getting as much luxury. A basic package with a bed, the electrical system, insulation and walling, and lighting starts at $22,351, while the company’s most expensive build includes the rooftop deck, solar panels, a heater, and more for $50,462. All prices are just for the conversion, so the Promaster van—which is around $32,000—will cost extra. Glampervan is taking deposits for builds now, so head over here for more.

Courtesy of Glampervan

Courtesy of Glampervan

Courtesy of Glampervan

Courtesy of Glampervan

Via: New Atlas