This Renovator Flipped a Cargo Van into a Home on Wheels | RV Inspiration (2024)

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We all love a gorgeous camper renovation, but have you ever considered a van conversion?!

Camper vans may be even more popular now than in the 1960s and 1970s! We’re here to show you why withrain2shine ventures’ most recent custom-built camper van, Athena.

Athena’s (van) Story

Athena came torain2shine venturesthrough a couple close to retirement in Maryland. As avid campers who previously owned a teardrop camper, this couple sought something bigger and more convenient to travel in.

They bought their 2022 Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 with a 170” wheelbase from a seller in NY who previously started modifying the vehicle with some exterior work. The seller also provided approximately $30K worth of materials he had already purchased, with the price of the van.

While searching for a company to build their van, our clients found that most van conversion companies weren’t willing to work with them because of the excessive amount of products coming with the van.

Typically, we also purchase and/or build all the materials for our camper renovations and van conversions because we know what will and will not work and fit in each RV.

Often, some purchased items need to be retrofitted for a build, and we know what will be less costly in terms of the price and labor required to make it work. It ultimately saves our clients and company from wasted time returning unusable items and added labor, which helps the budget stretch further.

However, in this case, the van’s owners acquired high-end, mostly operational equipment from the seller, so we agreed to use as many of those items as possible to save time and money.

Side Note:

As a fully client-based company offering customized builds and renovations specific to each customer’s wants and needs, we welcome our clients’ ideas and guide them through the process with our expertise in small spaces, function, and interior design.

Some clients give us free rein and creativity. In contrast, others are more particular or want options to choose from regarding layout and decor.

We strive to get to know each client before starting their project to ensure a smooth process. We ask questions such as:

1. Are there any must-haves or needs to consider? For example, spaces for children or pets, work/office materials, special equipment, etc.
2. What is your design style or vision? Do you have examples (links or photos) of design styles you like?
3. Do you travel Full Time or Recreationally?
4. What kind of lifestyle do you lead? Very active, relaxed, work-oriented, etc.
5. Where do you intend to travel in your RV?

Read More: How Much Does an RV Renovation Cost? (+ How to Save Money!)

Back to Athena

The owners of Athena did extensive research and had a list of “must-haves,” including a self-cleaning shower door, interior switches for holding tanks, and an area by the bed with a plug for a small CPAP machine.

Next, their list of “wants” included a table that would accommodate the driver-side swivel chair, shoe storage by the sliding door, a step toassist in getting in and out of their raised bed, and a place to install a TV and a sound system later.

So, we got to work on creating a floor plan and design in VanSpace 3D to share with them, and they approved!

While this was our third van build, it was by far the most complex, with many more features than the previous two.

Additional features included a full shower (with a slide-in-and-out toilet), an elaborate electrical system, solar, and a fully diesel heating system, including a heated floor.

We began working on Athena at the end of May 2023, and our clients came for their BIG REVEAL and took her home to Maryland in December 2023.

Since this Mercedes van has so many features throughout, I’ve broken them into categories:aesthetic, functional, and operational features.

Aesthetic Features:

Our goal with Athena was to create a cheerful vibe with a transitional (mix of traditional and contemporary) aesthetic. The Mercedes is a classic but fun space, featuring pops of color, sleek neutrals, and tasteful accents.

While we like everything about this van, the textures really make a statement. From the wood-grained marble backsplash in the kitchen and the teal geometric shower tile to the sleek white onyx corian countertop and the rattan cabinet inserts, we were able to blend a variety of products seamlessly.

Upper Cabinet Doors

Personally, one of my favorite aspects of the van was the upper cabinet doors, which have rattan inserts and gold hammered handles.

Why, you may ask? Typically those handles are supposed to be flipped the other way around, but as a nod to the rain2shine ventures logo, we turned them to look like a sunrise.

Shower Tile

The shower tile was a true work of art and a tireless project, but it was worth it.

The challenge in a van is that the shell of the vehicle is curved.

So, trying to lay tile vertically on a slant and match up the design on three separate walls was very difficult and time-consuming. However, if you’re willing to put in the work, you will be satisfied with the outcome.

Backsplash

We chose the wood-grained marble backsplash for the kitchen because we loved the geometric shape that coincided with the diamond-esque shape of the shower tile, but also mainly because the wood grain complimented the natural rattan inserts in the upper cabinetry.

Having those two elements reflect a natural vibe helped to bring all the other aesthetics together seamlessly.

Tabletop

Lastly, the tabletop we chose for dining and working was a last-minute decision.

Initially, we planned on making our own, but that “wow” factor was missing. Ultimately, we decided to purchase anend tablefrom Amazon that we deconstructed to work within the van. We couldn’t be happier with it. (You’ll see the tabletop from above deeper into this article.)

Functional Features:

While the above features help make the space look beautiful, making it as functional as possible is also essential.

Creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness are necessary when working with such a compact space.

Atrain2shine, we pride ourselves on merging style and operations without sacrificing any functionality.

The most functional aspect of this van involves the bathroom and dining areas.

Bathroom

We custom-built a shower and a shower pan to allow theSeparett toiletto slide in and out with drawer slides. The shower’s multi-functionality saves space in an already compact van. When the toilet is not in use, it is stored outside the shower, under a seating bench, and enclosed with a tambour door.

Creating multi-functional spaces is imperative in tiny homes.

Note: Our client chose a urine-diverting toilet, meaning there is no need for a black tank.

Dining and Office Area

That leads us to the dining/office area. Remember that tabletop we mentioned earlier? Well, we put that on anadjustable table leg.

That provides mobility for the table and allows you to collapse it against the wall when it’s not in use. Every spare inch matters!

Additionally, we installed swivels under the driver’s and passenger’s seats so our client could rotate to face the back of the van.

Bedroom

It’s common for a van’s systems to be located in the rear. We put them under the custom-built bed in the back for this project.

This made the bed sit higher than a standard bed, making getting in/out challenging for a petite person.

To solve this problem, we custom-built a pull-out step stool below the refrigerator. It is hidden when not in use and easy to access when needed.

Additionally, we made it slip-resistant usinglife grip tape.

Note: Thedrawer slides(with locking rails) used for the step and the toilet will hold up to 500 lbs.

Cabinetry and Sink

Van life typically lends to an active outdoor lifestyle and, ultimately, dirty shoes. We installed a sliding shoe compartment in our cabinetry (facing the sliding door) to store all those shoes for our client.

The real benefit is that you can access it from outside the van to switch from dirty shoes to clean shoes before entering and vice versa.

We also intentionally placed the sink and faucet above the shoe compartment.

or thisfaucet, we chose one with mobility, meaning you can rotate it to the outside of the van to quickly clean things, like, perhaps, dirty shoes!

Self-Cleaning Shower Door

To avoid touching on eachfunctionalfeature, I will end on the self-cleaning shower door, which is beneficial in preventing moisture build-up and, ultimately, mold in a small space.

These shower doors aren’t the best-looking, but their benefits outweigh their beauty!

Operational Features:

Operations are the most exciting part to some, while it is boring or goes right over the heads of others.

Either way, the operations may be the most critical part of a custom van conversion.

The operational features include:

Power

Using a very complex600 AH Victronsystem with three batteries, the entire van has the power to operate. Additionally, it connects to the 200-watt roof solar panels and the 90-watt hood solar panels.

Air Conditioner

Finding a 12V AC can be difficult, but Nomadic Supply Co. has a few models that can be utilized when you’re not plugged into anything.

We chose theNomadic Cooling X3 Camper Van Air Conditioner, astand-alone AC that can operate without being connected to the engine or shore power. That choice allows them to function while off-grid.

Furthermore, this AC only uses 12V or 24V DC power to run directly from your batteries without an inverter.

Heating

Our clients were adamant about using diesel over propane to heat their van. Since the rig itself is diesel, this made perfect sense.

We chose theBobil Air Hybrid heater.

Bobil Vans describes it best, “it allows you to heat water from both your diesel air heater and via electric (12V, 230V or both). By pumping water through a heat exchanger – attached to a diesel heater – you can heat water from your diesel heater, giving your hot water to wash up, do dishes or have a hot shower. The 10L insulated, pressurized tank easily connects to your existing water supply and has integrated tank connectors, requiring very little power to maintain the temperature. You can set the temperature you would like the water to be, and it will automatically switch off when it hits it.”

We also installed heated flooring by using the Bobil Underfloor Heating Kit. This kit allows you to utilize the heat from the diesel air heater and use it to heat propylene glycol, which pumps around the floor of your campervan through a copper pipe, giving you a cozy floor!

Cellular Signal Booster

WeBoost is one of the best-known cellular signal boosters around, primarily for its ability to create a strong cell signal from a very weak source, up to 50 dB maximum gain!

One of these boosters was very important to our clients, who will continue working remotely until retirement.

Everything Else

Although I’ve covered a few of the more prominent features in this van, there are many more, including a 40-gallon fresh water tank, 2 gray tanks, a UV water filtration system, a pop-up countertop outlet, and more!

For a complete list of features and materials, visit Athena’s page on our website:Athena Van Conversion.

Tour Athena in Full on YouTube:

See more of our step-by-step renovation guides that Alice has written:

• How to Replace RV Light Fixtures in 7 Easy Steps
• How to Remove RV Cabinets Like a Professional
• How to Install Tile in an RV: Step-by-Step Guide

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