Even after seeing thousands of camper vans, I’m still amazed by some of the stunning designs I come across. The most recent build that blew me away is the one I’ll discuss today. I know tastes differ, but I’m sure you’ll like this conversion even if you’re not into earthy designs like I am.
Meet Abbe Miner and her handcrafted tiny home on wheels, an AWD 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 with a 170″ wheelbase. She converted it herself into a deluxe home on wheels to be able to travel freely across the United States.
As usual, I’ll start the tour with the exterior. This Sprinter is finished in yellow paint and sports some useful upgrades. At the front, Abbe installed a Backwoods bumper, giving the rig a more aggressive look.
At the rear, you’ll find a spare tire carrier/ladder combo and another carrier holding an aluminum storage box. Climb on the roof, and you’ll discover a roof rack holding 400 W solar panels.
As good as the exterior looks, it won’t prepare you for the stunning living space you’ll find once you open the sliding door. The interior is inspired by Spanish architecture, blending modern, artsy elements with various unique touches, such as a gorgeous wave-patterned ceiling.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
The walls, countertop, and even the sink are finished with Moroccan plaster, creating a textured, organic look. The only exception is the passenger side wall, which is covered in Roman clay. The design gets even better – you’ll notice lovely handmade Spanish tiles on the bathroom walls, as well as stone pebble accents.
Other smaller details, like a slatted design for the benches, brass fixtures, and fine ambient lighting, perfectly complement. To be frank, it’s one of the most beautiful living spaces I’ve ever seen in a camper van.
What makes it even more impressive is that almost everything you see inside this rig is handcrafted. As you can expect, the conversion took a lot of time and money to complete.
Abbe used her camper van project as a driver for engagement for her social media page. That paid off, as she was able to get a lot of sponsorships from companies, which netted her various components to install on the vehicle.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
She went all-out with her build. As she shared, Abbe “didn’t care if the project ran her completely dry and brought her down to zero.” In the end, even with the sponsorships, the camper van ended up costing quite a fortune. Abbe said that she invested somewhere between $120,000 and $140,000 (€107,934 and €125,923) – that’s a crazy amount considering this is a DIY conversion. Still, it’s something unlike anything out there, and what matters is that this investment was worth it to her.
Abbe wanted to sell the van and had everything lined up to give it to the next owner. However, she changed her mind at the last minute, as she simply couldn’t let go of her unique creation. That’s completely understandable; I can only imagine how much blood, sweat, and tears went into building this mobile home.
The first part of the van you’ll be in as you enter is the seating area. It consists of two benches located opposite one another and a swivel table. This is where you’ll work, eat, spend time with your friends, and more. I love that it’s so close to the door, as you’ll be able to breathe in some fresh air while enjoying the surrounding views.
Abbe made the seating area more practical than you’d expect. First, she created two sliding frame extensions that can support up to 250 lb. (113 kg), increasing the standard seating capacity of two people to four people.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Second, she came up with a clever setup that allows her to transform the seating area into a bed. She uses the tabletops to connect the two benches and rearranges the cushions to create a surprisingly spacious bed, perfect for accommodating guests or lounging.
Dead ahead of the entrance, you’ll discover the rig’s bathroom, which Abbe said is “probably her favorite feature of the van.” I’m fond of its arched entryway, slatted ceiling, and Spanish tiles, which really make it stand out. It boasts a shower with a rain head and a handheld showerhead, as well as a removable Laveo dry-flush toilet.
Next, we have an L-shaped bathroom located on the driver’s side of the interior. It features a sizeable countertop offering plenty of meal prep space, a retro convection oven/toaster/air fryer, a large sink, a built-in induction stove, and a fridge/freezer.
For storage, you can use six overhead cabinets that go all the way to the rear, over the bedroom, as well as a cabinet underneath the sink and a shelf. The overhead cabinets connect at the rear with another larger cabinet and a long shelf with a curved design, all combining to create a U-shaped overhead storage area.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Between the bathroom and the kitchen, Abbe devised a floor-to-ceiling unit with five drawers below and a tall closet above. What’s more, on the wall separating the bathroom from the kitchen, Abbe integrated a control panel into a curved wooden insert.
It comprises controls for the A/C, various switches for the lights, water pump, heater, and more, two outlets, and a touchscreen display for the power system.
Like in many other camper vans, the bedroom takes up the rear part of the interior. I like the arrangement Abbe came up with, creating a small staircase on the side of the kitchen that leads into the bed. Moreover, the steps have storage compartments inside them to maximize the available space.
The bedroom has a short queen-size bed mounted from side to side. Usually, builders add flares on the sides to increase the width of the bedroom so that a bed can be fitted from side to side. Luckily, Abbe is quite short, so she didn’t need to do that.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Other notable features in this part of the interior are some light mounted under the cabinets and shelf, as well as four windows (two on the sides and two round ones at the rear) and a skylight, which let plenty of light shine inside. Oh, and right next ot the rear doors, Abbe has a pull-down screen on which she displays movies and series using a portable projector.
Like in most camper vans with fixed beds, the space underneath the bed is used as a garage. Besides offering plenty of storage space, this garage also houses most of the components of the utility systems.
Power is on the right – the electrical system’s highlights are a 600 Ah battery bank, a 3,000 W inverter, a 50-amp alternator charger, and a charge controller connected to the solar panels on the roof. This setup is undoubtedly powerful enough to handle proper off-grid adventures.
Regarding plumbing, the van is equipped with a 40-gallon (151-liter) freshwater tank. Since we’re on the topic of utilities, I must also mention that a Cruise N Comfort A/C ensures Abbe stays nice and cool inside the van.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
All in all, I can safely say this is one of the most beautiful conversions I’ve ever seen. On top of that, it’s so practical due to the numerous features it packs. Finally, what makes this project even more impressive is that it’s a DIY build. Props to Abbe for her outstanding work.
Originally Appeared Here