This is not your grandparents’ RV! The Escape Pod is a self-contained way to reach mountain bike trails and see the world. It’s a Mercedes Sprinter 4WD van with solar panels and a lithium powered electrical system so we can spend weeks away from civilization.

The stock interior of a Sprinter Crew van isn’t anything special. Lots of exposed metal, no insulation, and no storage space. We stripped out all the stock plastic wall panels and headliner , then we got to work creating a cosy, livable space.

Here’s a list of conversion companies that will either sell you conversion components, do a partial conversion for you, or perform a full-on conversion using either your van or one they provide. We’ve focused on companies who have some knowledge of the overland/adventure market rather than just providing stock “RV” style conversions.

Oct 23, 2017 · When you order a Sprinter, there are loads of different options you can choose. Some make more sense for a conversion van than others. Some come in packages which are great value.

May 13, 2017 · Our cabinets can be bolted in and out of the van as we need them. The plan is to keep them in place most of the time, but it’s great to be able to reconfigure the van as we need it. Continue reading “Quick change cabinets”

There are three main options to get the adventure van you want: Do this whole thing yourself from a bare van. Get the van and then take it to outfitters to build out for you in stages. Buy a pre-converted van or custom order one to your specs.

The heater lives inside the van, bolted to the floor, and the combustion air intake and exhaust pipes both attach under the van. We installed one just before the weather turned cold for the winter. It’s very fuel-efficient, and really keeps the van warm.

Because the starter battery isn’t very big, most conversion vans use a separate 12 volt power system to run lights, a fridge, fans, chargers, power for a diesel heater and so on. If you want to run 120 volt appliances like an induction cooktop, microwave, hot water heater or similar, then you’ll also need an inverter to turn 12v DC power ...

Apr 26, 2016 · The Crew van comes with a row of lights along the ceiling. They come on when a door opens, and turn off about 20 minutes later. They’re not very bright and they are not very attractive. We wanted some other options for the space we’ll be living in. LED lights are much more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.

Jul 29, 2016 · Remember to disconnect the van power before you unplug the seat wires – your seat probably has airbags installed in it. However, if you bought the van used from someone who installed the swivel aftermarket, then it’s possible you have the regular seat bases installed.