This "Low-Key" Camper Van Was Converted for Just $7K, Hides a Princess-Themed Living Space

Van life certainly isn't for everybody, and doing it on a tight budget makes it even more challenging. But we all have different levels of comfort we can handle - some of us just need a bed, a no-frills kitchen, and minimal amenities, while others want their camper van to have the same creature comforts you can find in a conventional home.

If you're part of the latter category, there's a high chance you won't be into this conversion. Or, you'll appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity involved in the build, but it's certainly a rig you wouldn't be able to live in.

There's another aspect of van life – many start to change things up as they're tired of the rat race and the routine of day-to-day life. However, for others, moving into a tiny home on wheels simply makes sense - that was the case with Samantha.

Samantha is a full-time flight attendant, which is already a sort of nomadic lifestyle. As a flight attendant, you're away from home for more than half a month, even more. Of course, you still have to pay full rent, which is money lost.

What we have here is a 1999 Chevy Express 1500 that Samantha converted all by herself. She's been living in it for over four years.

So, when the pandemic hit and Samantha was out of work, she started this camper van project. She bought the base vehicle from Facebook Marketplace for $3,000 (€2,774). She invested an additional $4,000 (€3,725) into the original build and $3,000 for some extra amenities, bringing the total cost to a mere $10,000 (€9,247).

If you're unfamiliar with camper van builds, know that $10K for the entire project is a bargain. Some people spend that much on their utility systems, even more. Moreover, paying someone to convert your rig can cost you at least three times as much. So, the DIY path is undoubtedly the right one if you want to keep costs to a minimum.

So, not only was the mobile home cheap to make, but another significant bonus is that it helps her save a ton of money in the long run. Samantha still has to pay rent in the form of fuel, which will be a lot lower than conventional home rent anyway. Moreover, other expenses are also greatly reduced. If you want to learn more about the costs of van life, including those involved with buying and converting a van, take a look at my article covering this topic.

By the way, the Chevy Express is one of the five models I included in my list of the most reliable vans for camper conversion. It's cheap, reliable, and offers a decent amount of space, as you'll soon see.

On the outside, this Chevy Express looks a bit beat up. It's finished in white paint, but it's chipped all around. Although it's not aesthetically pleasing, it makes the van a lot more stealthy and low-key, which is a major benefit regarding safety. Sure, it would've been nice to make the van pink on the outside, but that would also attract more attention, increasing the chance of ill-intended people breaking into her tiny home on wheels.

What matters most is on the inside. Enter through the vehicle's passenger side, and a compact yet well-arranged interior will greet you.

You'll discover the rig's kitchen dead ahead of the entrance. It features a deep stainless steel sink, a portable stove, an eye-catching tiled countertop offering decent space, and storage spaces in the form of two drawers and three cabinets.

The latter are all finished in soft pink, in line with the princess theme of the interior. Above, you'll see two long overhead shelves (one on each side) holding baskets, three cups mounted on hooks, and artificial pink flowers.

The bedroom takes up the rear part of the interior, like in most other camper van builds. It's a simple setup, with a mattress mounted from side to side. Samantha said she regrets how she advised the bedroom. She left some space between the side panels and the vehicle's body, basically losing around four inches of space. That prevents her from being able to lie down straight when in bed, so she has to sleep diagonally.

Samanta created a control panel for her camper van's utility systems on the pillar near the entrance. It consists of two USB outlets, a 12 V plug, and switches for the lights and more.

The power system is near the control panel, underneath the passenger side of the bed. Its highlights are two 100 Ah AGM batteries and a DC-DC charger, allowing the system to charge via the vehicle's alternator. This system is mainly used for a ceiling fan and a heater.

Samantha didn't stop there – she added an additional source: a portable power bank from Oupes. She uses it to charge her phone and other devices. What's more, she shared that if she could do it again, she'd probably just use a portable power bank.

Storage space is critical in any camper van. But when you convert a smaller van like the Chevy Express, it becomes even more important to use every inch. So, Samantha devised two overhead cabinets, one at the rear and one at the front.

The space underneath the bed is used as a garage. She can open two drawers from inside the rig, but most of her stuff is accessible by flipping down the garage door from outside the van.

In the garage, you'll notice extra diesel, tools, camping chair, a foldable ladder, and other useful accessories. By the way, if you're interested in a exellent selection of cmpr van gear, check out an article I wrote recently about 25 handy accessories that will make your van life adventures easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

All in all, Samantha managed to build a fantastic, no-frills tiny home on wheels. I love that, despite the meager budget, she still managed to make the compact interior space feel like a home, adding various "princessy" decorations that give the van some character and reflect her personality.

Sure, it's missing some amenities some people couldn't live without, like a refrigerator and a bathroom, but in her context, which involves a lot of time away from home, it's not a deal-breaker. In the end, what matters is that this setup works for her. And since she's been already traveling in it for more than four years, it's safe to say it does.