This is our first van and where our idea of a kit business started.
In 2022 we quit our jobs and went on a long holiday in Europe. We bought an old DHL delivery van, came up with a design and got it made by a local manufacturer.
It took us only 5 days to go from a pile of parts to a viable camper van. We took the van all the way from Latvia through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium to the Netherlands and back again.
Although we made improvements all the way, having a thought out design and using CNC machining to speed up the build process really helped us to go from building to holiday as fast as possible.
We have since returned to Europe and taken the van all the way from Latvia to Iceland and back.
Our updated designs are based on our expiriences with this van.
Bonnie had some specific requirements and existing equipment she wanted to fit.
As the Nissan high-top is not as high as the Crafter or Sprinter high tops the bed is set lower. The table does not slide out from underneath but mounts on a post and can be swung into a useful position - in the Centre for dining or inline with the kitchen top to extend the working area.
Storage and access was important but she also wanted to close things away to make things look neat. For Bonnie, we updated our design and added:
sliding doors to enclose one of the under seat compartments and the water tank area under the sink.
Hinged seat bases for access
Table top stows between cabinets to form a cargo barrier when not in use
Table top also can fill in the gap between the seats to create a lounge/daybed.
We added a big sliding drawer for kitchen utensils
Toilet is hidden away in an independent hinged box which doubles as a short stool
This van was built into low roof Toyota Hiace for Kat. Kat put the kit together over a week with some help from a friend. She travelled around New Zealand over the summer and managed to on-sell the van netting herself a modest profit.
This is a leaner version of the kit and does not have any draws or sliding doors like the version we produced for Bonnie. Another key difference is that the table slides out form under the bed and is supported by a hinged leg.