The Off-Road-Ready "Lost Hiway" Camper Van Is Packed With Premium Features Inside and Out

Unlike most companies I've written about, Lost Hiway isn't a specialized van converter. This company specializes in interior upgrades and DIY kits for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit vans. The rig I'm checking out today was designed as a show van to showcase some of the company's kits and components.

What we have here is a 2023 AWD High-Roof Mercedes Sprinter van with a 144" wheelbase. As usual, I'll start the tour with the mechanical and exterior features. Perhaps the most significant mechanical upgrade is a King adjustable suspension kit, which radically improves on- and off-road handling. It also offers a half-inch lift to the vehicle, which can be adjusted to a maximum of 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters).

This Sprinter rides on matte black, 17-inch Reika rims wrapped in Toyo Open Country R/T tires. Lost Hiway fitted two recovery points and a skid plate at the front, while the rear is occupied by a CAtuned spare tire carrier, a step with stainless steel traction pads, and a custom door-mounted ladder.

Climb on top of the vehicle, and you'll discover a custom roof rack holding solar panels and a StarLink antenna. And finally, on the passenger side, the builders installed a Van Windows Direct window. That's it for the exterior, so let's head inside.

Slide the main door open, and you'll be greeted by a minimalistic yet well-equipped living space. Even though there isn't a ton of space inside, Lost Hiway managed to fit many features without making the interior feel cramped or cluttered.

Regarding design, Lost Hiway opted for a darker interior, installing grey fabric walls, a beige fabric ceiling, and grey vinyl flooring complemented by black cabinetry and bamboo tones from the overhead cabinets. Moreover, you'll notice an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space.

Let me tell you more about how the interior was built. Behind the wall panels, you'll find the bracing kit that serves as a foundation for the interior. Among other components, it comes with L-Traks that allow you to set up the accessories however you want.

Starting from the front, Lost Hiway installed a diesel heater underneath the passenger seat. By the way, both the driver's and passenger's seats can be swiveled to face the living space. Above, you'll notice a sizeable headliner shelf, the perfect spot to store the window covers.

Next, we have the kitchen, located on the driver's side of the interior. This van has Lost Hiway's smallest galley kitchen, featuring a tiny sink with a folding faucet connected to a foot pump and a 10-gallon (38-liter) freshwater tank, a small flip-up countertop, and a small panel with two USB chargers and a heater controller.

Behind the driver's seat, Lost Hiway also added a 55-liter dual-zone Iceco fridge/freezer, which can double as a bench. Other notable features are a Radius trash can bag with a flip-up lid attached to the passenger seat and a hard-side tote box for storage.

Regarding overhead storage, Lost Hiway fitted a 52-inch (132-centimeter) dual-door aluminum cabinet with bamboo doors above the kitchen, as well as Van Essential soft cabinets with zipped doors above the bedroom. All of these are attached to the L-Traks I mentioned earlier, so there's no need to drill into anything to mount them.

The rear of the interior is taken up by the bedroom and the garage. The bedroom features a 72-inch-long (185-centimeter-long) three-piece platform made from aluminum panels, which can be removed to have more space for storage. You can cover these panels with a tri-fold mattress whenever you're ready for bed.

Finally, the garage provides ample storage space even with the platform set up – specifically, you'll have 48 inches (122 centimeters) of height. There are two fender boxes, one on each side, housing the rig's utility systems. They're 14 inches (35 centimeters) wide and 60 inches (152 centimeters) long. What's more, the middle part of the garage has two Lost Hiway cargo boxes secured to L-Traks on the floor.

The one on the left holds the power system. Its highlights are a 230 Ah self-heating battery, a DC-DC charger that charges the system while driving via the vehicle's alternator, and a charge controller connected to the solar panels on top of the rig. On the opposite side, the plumbing system consists of a 20-gallon (76-liter) freshwater tank, a 12 V pump, and an outdoor shower.

Every single inch available inside a camper van is valuable, even the ones on the rear doors. Lost Hiway didn't forget about the rear doors – the company installed Molle panels on both and added a flip-down table with cupholders on the left door.

All in all, Lost Hiway created a practicality-focused tiny home on wheels ready to handle off-grid, off-road adventures. You're probably curious about how much it costs – the company didn't share the exact quote for this rig, as it's not for sale.

However, if you add up all the Lost Hiway components and kits from this build, you get a total of about $19,000 (€17,650) - this quote excludes the suspension, ladder, spare tire carrier, and other accessories.