This DIY Camper Van Is a Tiny Cabin on Wheels With a Warm, Homey Cedar Wood Interior

I've written about numerous couples who built mobile homes. Many of them shared that the process can take a toll on their relationships. However, they also said that after they completed the projects, their bonds strengthened. What's more, having two people work on a conversion is certainly easier than doing it solo.

Meet Trey and Addie and their tiny home on wheels, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 with a 170" wheelbase. It took them a whopping two years to complete the conversion since they were both working jobs at the same time, but I'd say the result was worth the blood, sweat, and tears – let's see if you'll agree.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. The vehicle is finished all around in black paint and rides on Black Rhino rims wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. While this Sprinter isn't an AWD, having all-terrain tires will make a difference whenever you want to go light off-roading.

To get to the roof, you can use a side-mounted Aluminess ladder that also holds traction boards. Up there, you'll discover numerous accessories, including 400 W solar panels, a 50-inch (127-centimeter) Pathfinder light bar at the front, other lights, two vent fans, a hotspot antenna, and a StarLink antenna so they can work remotely wherever they are.

StarLink really is a game-changer for remote work. What's more, it allows the van's systems to be always connected to the internet, which can prove very useful when you have gadgets that can be controlled via smartphone apps.

To have more natural light inside, Trey and Addie fitted a CR Lawrence T-vented window on the van's sliding door, bunk windows on the sides, and two windows at the rear. Underneath the latter features, you'll notice an Owl Vans spare tire carrier.

Slide the door open, and a stylish living space will greet you. Trey and Addie opted for an all-wood interior, with cedar tongue and groove wood for the walls and ceiling. Furthermore, this camper van has an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the rest of the interior.

Dead ahead as you enter, you'll find the seating/office area. It comprises a sizeable swivel table, bench, and large TV/monitor attached to a swivel mount. Regarding storage, you can use a huge drawer integrated into the bench, a tiny bookshelf, a fruit basket, two spacious overhead cabinets, and a massive headliner shelf above the driver's cabin that integrates two dimmable puck lights.

Like in many other camper vans, the driver's and passenger's seats can be swiveled, becoming an essential part of the seating area. Moreover, an Espar diesel heater is housed underneath the passenger seat.

Next, we have the kitchen on the interior's passenger side. It features a dual-burner induction stove, a magnetic knife rack, a deep sink with a separate filtered water faucet, a small Isotherm fridge/freezer, and a decent amount of counter space, which can be increased by using a flip-up table.

The kitchen offers various storage options, including two massive overhead cabinets (one with a spice rack underneath), two drawers, and a cabinet underneath the sink. The latter also houses a six-stage water filtration system.

The couple devised a wet bathroom opposite the kitchen. It boasts waterproof walls made from FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) boards, a shower, three soap and shampoo dispensers, a clothesline, a tiny mirror, a Nature's Head composting toilet, and a Nautilus shower door.

A nice and practical touch is that the toilet vents out through the van's floor, keeping the smells out. Nasty smells are the most common complaints among van dwellers when it comes to composting toilets. Of course, it depends on the exact model you have and how you operate it. By the way, if you want to know more about the best toilets for camper vans, I talked about the five main types in this article about camper van interior upgrades.

By the way, water inside this rig is provided by a 40-gallon (151-liter) freshwater tank connected to a 4-gallon (15-liter) heater, then draining in an under-mounted greywater tank that was fitted where the spare tire used to be originally.

The final part of the living space is the bedroom at the very rear. It has a huge bed sized between a queen and a king, a bookshelf, two reading lights, a Maxxair vent fan, and two overhead cabinets for additional storage.

One of the cabinets integrates a battery monitor and a gauge for the water tank. Furthermore, on the wall next to it, you'll notice the rig's control panel comprising switches for the water pump and lights, two USB outlets, and more.

There's no such thing as too much storage space inside a camper van. So, while the living space offers a good amount of storage space, the couple can still use a garage underneath the bed, accessible from both outside and inside the rig.

Trey and Addie installed the electrical system on the left side of the garage. Its highlights are 400 Ah batteries, a 3,000 W inverter/charger, and a charge controller connected to the 400 W solar panels. On the other side, a large box houses all the plumbing system's components.

To maximize every single inch of room available, the couple mounted Molle panels on both rear doors, to which they attached a bag, a shovel, a hammock, and more.

I'm really glad Trey and Addie kept safety and security in mind when designing their camper van – I feel this aspect is often overlooked by van dwellers. They have a dashcam filming both in front and at the rear and a Blink system with multiple cameras (a doorbell one, another mounted to the side ladder, and an interior camera). Here are some of the best tips and tools to ensure you'll be safe on your van life adventures.

All in all, it took a lot of time for the duo to build this camper van, but they have everything they need on board. Their home on wheels is cozy and boasts a well-thought-out floor plan, and as a bonus, it also looks stunning. What makes it even more impressive is that the duo only used hand tools to carry out the conversion.