"Vanastasia" Is a Sleek, Custom Camper Van Packing a Dishwasher and Other Premium Features

Meet Caitlin and "Vanastasia," her full-time tiny home on wheels. Specifically, it's a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD with a 170" wheelbase.

Moving from a traditional home to a mobile home allows people to embrace a simpler life on the road. Moreover, if you arm yourself with a lot of creativity and a decent budget, you can ensure that you can leap to van life without sacrificing comfort or style.

As usual, I'll start this van's tour with the exterior. This rig could've passed as your run-of-the-mill passenger/cargo van were it not for the ladder on the passenger side and the roof features, which give away its camper DNA.

On top of the vehicle, you'll discover a rack holding lights, two 100 W solar panels, and a deck made from composite decking.

The most significant transformation happened on the inside. Before we take a closer look at the interior, I'd like to mention that Caitlin didn't make the conversion by herself. Instead, she chose the services of Boujee Builds, a Fayetteville, North Carolina-based company specializing in custom van builds and RV renovations.

Slide the main door open, and a bright and colorful interior will greet you. You'll notice green cabinetry paired with a slatted ceiling and vinyl flooring, with the look completed by some retro elements, such as the fridge.

Caitlin opted for an open layout for her camper van, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space. Behind the driver's seat, dead ahead of the entrance, you'll find a sizeable, retro-styled fridge/freezer with a cabinet above.

Next to it, the builders devised a wet bathroom. It features Palisade tiles imitating white marble, a cubby, a shower, a teak mat, and an Airhead composting toilet. Walk past it, and you'll discover a floor-to-ceiling hanging closet.

Opposite the bathroom, we have the kitchen. It boasts a deep sink, a Berkey water filter, and a multi-purpose oven. Regarding design, you'll notice two white quartz countertops and a white and chrome tiled backsplash.

Caitlin even added a slide-out dishwasher – typically, we see dishwashers in larger campers, such as Class A RVs and skoolies. She didn't install a dishwasher solely because of the extra convenience. Caitlin prefers washing dishes this way instead of by hand due to the lower water consumption. Specifically, her dishwasher only uses 0.7 gallons (2.6 liters) of water per wash, a lot less than what she would use if she washed the dishes by hand.

There are several storage options in the kitchen. Two sizeable overhead cabinets, cabinets, drawers, and a pull-out pantry underneath the countertop are available. Furthermore, Caitlin chose an unconventional way of securing items in place – she uses Quakehold gel, which is typically utilized on museum pieces, such as antiques and collectibles, preventing them from falling in case of an earthquake.

The last part before we reach the rear bedroom is a vanity area on the driver's side. It consists of a decently sized countertop, three enormous drawers, an overhead cabinet, the same backsplash as in the kitchen, and a swivel mirror. Moreover, you'll also notice the rig's control panel above, comprising an inverter switch, a battery monitoring system with a touchscreen display, a heater controller, a gauge for the freshwater tank, and light switches.

This camper van's bedroom space is quite straightforward. It features two overhead cabinets, a ceiling A/C, a long rear shelf, a bookshelf, and reading lights. What's more, to make sure Caitlin can sleep from side to side, the builders installed two Flarespace bump-outs with slide-screen windows, which increase the total width of the space at the rear.

As you might've noticed, the bed is positioned slightly higher to make room for a garage underneath. The garage offers plenty of storage space in the middle part on a slide-out tray. The utility systems take up its sides. The power system is on the right - its highlights are 600 Ah batteries, a DC-DC charger, an inverter, and a charge controller connected to the 200 W solar panels.

The plumbing system's pretty good, as well. It consists of a 32-gallon (121-liter) freshwater tank connected to a heater and an outdoor shower. Even though Caitlin didn't mention it, I'm assuming the water used in his rig drains in an under-mounted greywater tank.

All in all, Catlin's camper van was beautifully customized, becoming a practical and aesthetically pleasing tiny home on wheels. You're probably curious about its cost.

Well, she didn't share how much she paid for it. However, its maker, Boujee Builds, shared that a basic 170" wheelbase Sprinter build starts at around $40,000 (€36,795). Caitlin's rig is more than basic, so it's definitely priced higher than that.