This Dodge Caravan Camper Van Is a Unique Tiny Home on Wheels With a Creative DIY Setup

Meet Dave and his self-converted 2003 Dodge Caravan camper with a high-top. While the Dodge Caravan isn't a popular van to convert, it's still a great base vehicle to work with, offering a decent amount of real estate.

As soon as you lay eyes on this rig, you can tell it's a mobile home. As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. The most significant modification Dave made was raising the roof.

Dave bought a fiberglass raised roof for a Dodge Grand Caravan conversion van. However, he tried putting it on his regular Dodge Caravan, which has a shorter wheelbase and overall length. As expected, the new high top didn't fit. So, his solution was to cut the roof off and add an additional 18 inches (almost 46 centimeters) of structure.

The new high-top has two tiny windows that can be opened. Moreover, in the front part, Dave fitted a long LED light bar to have better visibility while driving.

Dave didn't stop there. Wanting to maximize the available storage space on his rig, he attached a huge roof rack to the new roof. It holds a spare tire, various lights, and two solar panels. Here's where things get even more interesting.

In case you didn't know, solar panels capture the maximum possible amount of sunlight when they're tilted in the right direction. Dave created an electronic mechanism that raises and lowers the solar panels at the touch of a button. He also made another mechanism that tilts the front part of the roof rack. Why? Because the roof rack also provides additional storage space that can be accessed through the front or by lifting the solar panels.

At the rear, you'll find a hitch-mounted swing-away carrier that holds a massive StowAway2 cargo box. Open it, and you'll discover a portable toilet, an outdoor shower, water jugs, fluids for the vehicle, and more. Lastly, Dave installed additional leaf springs to support the camper's extra weight.

Step inside, and you'll notice the Dodge Caravan's original interior was almost entirely replaced by Dave's DIY living space. Keep in mind that it's a work in progress, so you'll probably see some parts that aren't finished yet, like the dash. Moreover, Dave prioritizes practicality over aesthetics – you won't be blown away by the interior's look, as it consists mostly of plywood cabinetry, but you might be impressed by its efficient setup and the many storage spots available.

The new roof offers a ton of room. Dave, who's 6'2" (188 centimeters) tall, can stand up inside, but only by sticking out a part of his head through the skylight. Still, that's pretty good for a van this compact.

Starting from the front part of the interior. You'll notice that Dave removed the passenger seat and installed a box integrating a small stainless steel sink and a 16-gallon (60-liter) freshwater tank.

In the middle of the driver's cabin, you'll see a slide-out Iceco refrigerator with some extra storage space underneath. Above, Dave devised various storage spots in the roof, such as many cubbies and drawers. He also installed a display connected to four cameras around the rig.

Other notable roof features are a swivel fan, a reading light, and a vent fan. However, the most unexpected feature in this can, at least for me, is a sound system integrated into the back part of the roof with not one but two subwoofers.

A couch/bed and other storage space take up the rear part of this van's interior. You'll discover a simple bench with a backrest that can be pulled out to become a 76-inch-long (193-centimeter-long) bed. Its rear part also houses the electrical system.

This power system is more than enough for this rig. In fact, as Dave described, it's a bit of an overkill. Its highlights are a 3,000 W inverter/charger, a DC-DC charger, four 100 Ah BattleBorn batteries, and a solar charge controller connected to the solar panels on top of the vehicle. Of course, the system can also be charged via shore power.

The driver's side of the living space is occupied by a large storage unit comprised of various cubbies. It's where you'll find a diesel heater, its controller and an extra Iceco refrigerator box, as well as some hidden storage spots, lights and plugs.

All in all, Dave created a no-frills yet functional living space for his full-time mobile home. It's definitely a unique creation – it might not appeal to you, but it's designed to satisfy Dave's wants and needs. And what matters most is that it does exactly that.