PlugVan Camper Module Is a Complete Campervan Without a Van, Ready to Go in 5 Minutes

Today's modern nomad has a wide array of options to make that dream come true. Whereas mobile homes were popular before, they really took off in the aftermath of the 2020 international health crisis, when #vanlife moved from a trending topic to an established and much-coveted lifestyle.

Mobile homes, be they van conversions, bus conversions, repurposed RVs, or tiny homes, remain incredibly popular even four years later, confirming that they're more than just a fad born out of the need to get away from home, at a time when even taking a walk around the neighborhood was not recommended.

PlugVan has been campaigning for a more outdoorsy lifestyle even before it became trendy on social media – and easily monetizable because of it. The Berlin-based company, which got started in 2017, debuted their first transformable module in 2019 – and they haven't stopped working hard on the idea ever since.

Unlike a van conversion, whether DIY or professionally done, PlugVan takes a different approach to the whole vanlife craze. Instead of proposing selling all worldly possessions and moving into a van full-time, it suggests a halfway approach that involves the use of a work van (which could be cheaper to rent than a van conversion) and a removable module.

If the PlugVan name rings a bell, it's probably because we've featured them before. A constant presence at European trade shows, just last year, they introduced the PlugVan Small module. The Camper module is the larger, more capable predecessor – and the original model presented in 2019.

But the two visibly share the same DNA: they're removable modules that fit inside most vans without requiring modifications to the base vehicle. You roll them in and secure them in place, head out to your favorite trails or campsite, and then you can remove them once the vacation is over. This enables a have-it-both-ways approach, where you get a nice vacation vehicle but still get to keep your work van – and overall costs down.

What the Camper has over the Small module is an advantage in size, though you'd probably not be able to tell at first sight, given its compact form. The Camper module is a box that sits on a galvanized steel frame, which, in turn, sits on four removable legs with caster wheels.

The box is just 209 cm (82 inches) in length, which means that when you slide it inside a 3.5-ton van, you still have about half of the available space left empty. That space doubles as extra storage for your gear, from surfboards to e-bikes and anything in between – or you can create a bathroom in there.

Donor vehicles range from VW Crafter, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Toyota Proace, and Ford Transit Connect to the Renault Kangoo Rapid and the Nissan Townstar. The only condition is that you have a height of the rear door of at least 167 cm (66 inches) and a distance between wheel housings of 128 cm (50.4 inches).

Once you slide in the module and secure it in place, that's when the fun starts. Take that literally but also figuratively. The reason why the box is so compact is that it pops up into a larger one once it's in place, so you simply push the walls and the roof outwards until you get a compact but cozy, habitable space.

This compact "home on wheels" employs modularity and smart design to offer all the creature comforts. There's a two-bench seating area that's both dining area and bedroom at night, when you form a two-person bed with help from an extension and available pillows. There's a small galley with a sink, a portable stove, and a foldable table that can seat up to three people.

Both the cubbies on one side and the kitchen unit can move on a system of railings, allowing you to bring them into the ideal position for you, according to the time of day. You also get storage options aplenty (*relative to the compact footprint), including on the walls and under the benches.

Two 43-liter (11.4-gallon) water tanks supply freshwater and a solution for gray water; you also have 3 light systems that can be used separately, smart home monitoring, an exterior shower outlet, a decently-sized cooling box, AC and heating (which come in handy because the module isn't insulated), and a large panoramic window at the rear with Dutch doors.

Turning an empty van into an RV and back again is a one-person job that takes just 5 minutes for each transformation. It's enough to land you a series of "before and after" videos like vanlifers get, but it's definitely more time-efficient.

Each module can be further customized, adding or removing features you might not need or wouldn't want to splurge on at the moment of purchase. A base PlugVan Camper module starts at €14,780, which is approximately $16,000 at the current exchange rate, but it doesn't include the fridge, the cooker, or the largest water tanks.

You could argue that you'd get a proper, better specced and much larger van conversion for this price and, depending on where you're from and where you buy it from, you could be right. But the PlugVan Camper allows you to use the base vehicle as a work van when you're not traveling, which is what these conversions can't do.