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Outside Shower
Creating a family-friendly pop top campervan can be an exciting adventure without draining your wallet. With some smart planning and creativity, you can design a cozy and functional space that your family will cherish. Let’s explore how to create a budget-friendly, high-end campervan tailored for families, complete with practical tips and examples.
Choosing the Right Base Vehicle
Selecting the right base vehicle is vital for comfort, reliability, and practicality. In this build we started with again a Sprinter Crew Van Trim saving $10k+ on the build costs as this trim includes most walls and most importantly crash tested seating.
Before making a purchase, think about your family's size and travel habits. Ask yourself:
How many people will be traveling?
How much storage do you need for items like bikes, sports gear, or camping equipment?
These questions will help you select the right model that ensures a comfortable journey for everyone involved.
Interior Layout and Design-Functional Features
To go over everything we did in this van would be overwhelming, but we touch on the main functional features we added below.
Pop Top
This is what really separates this van above others, if you are sleeping more than two, a Pop Top is next level. Its like a difference between a studio apartment and a one bedroom or a one bedroom and a three bedroom for a family of 4...makes a HUGE difference and you will not outgrow the van. The Pop Top we used in this build by POPRAK is considerably less than others cutting the build costs down considerably. We review this top in detail in our blogs. Its a great price sensitive alternative to other options and is a TRUE POP TOP with entry from INSIDE the van not outside. It looks like a roof tent...but is functions totally different with inside entry making it much safer to enter and most importantly you are out of the weather.
BED and SEATING
Modularity is our specialty in this van we took a slightly different direction then we have done in other builds using the Roost Van's FU bed to make it easier to move the stock bench seat from front to back position oem stock row position giving you more room or allowing you to use two rows of bench seats and not move the bed. This bed's has option for panels to flip up and is height adjustable. By flipping up the most forward panel, this will allow enough room to use bench seat position #2 with out removing a panel. The downside of this design is that removing a panels is a bit more involved (4 bolts) compared to other designs like a MOAB bed or traditional panel bed. Stock OEM seats are used as they are crash tested, we also modified the seat rail to a longer rail to allow for two different positions or two bench seats to seat up to 8 in the van!
Bed install, the rear and front panel can "flip" up making the bed a couch, more importantly this will enable seats to move w/o removing a bed panel or flip up to access or for clearance if storing something under panels. This bed is height adjustable and the panels do remove, however that may take a few minutes to adjust, not as easily done as some other bed designs.
Lots of storage-you can never have enough
3 huge removable semi-rigid cabinets are used in this van to provide organized space above the floor, two on drivers side and one on passenger side. These are huge and are a game changer in storage and organization in the van getting gear organized and off the floor.
Aux DC Power and outlets
Auxiliary power is in the engine compartment using two AGM batteries giving 224ah of DC power, more than enough to run fridge, heater, fan, interior lighting, and charge phones, lap tops, and basic 12V items. This allows for more room inside the van for gear and keeps costs down considerably over a large power system inside the van set up to run an inverter for AC power. DC USB/C and 12v cigarette lighter outlets are throughout the van. High powered alternator charging and 300w of solar keeps things charged up even when not moving.
Aux Heater
Espar heater keeps the main cabin super warm in those cold nights. Built in high altitude adjustment makes it function properly in the mountains.
Flooring Upgrade
Cork insulation and high end interwoven vinyl flooring is a huge upgrade on the floor. Super easy to clean and looks super nice as well. This is high end marine grade specialty flooring with foam padding.
Insulation and sound Deadening
The entire van is insulated and sound deadened. We do not use sound deadener product with tar in it like most builders. Its more expensive, but we feel this is super important. We do all of hte doors as well, not just the walls.
Even the front floor...
Build picture ...insulation layer over Dynamat sound deadener
Audio Upgrade
We upgraded front door speakers and added rear speakers. This also allow for upgrading into an amp and sub in future for even better sound over stock.
Outside Shower
We added an outside shower with a 22 gallon water tank under the van. Hot water could be added with addition of a instant hot water heater like a Joocla.
Large 22 gallon water tank under van-keep valuable interior space open for gear
Pet friendly Side Steps
We love these Aluminess touring steps, just large enough for easy of entry, pet friendly (no openings to break a leg) and they look great. With a AWD...these vans are super high and difficult to get into, these really help a lot.
Quick Video Review
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