Converted camper is a light and airy take on van life

Blame it on the Instagram hashtag—#VanLife—or give credit to millennials, but camper vans are one of the most popular types of RVs this season. You’ll still see a lot of travel trailers, fifth wheels, and Class As out there this summer, but the RV that everyone covets is without a doubt the camper van.

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And that’s great, because here at Curbed we can’t get enough of innovative, creatively designed rigs that are ready for adventure. Unlike the boring design of most RVs, custom camper van conversion companies are creating new, airy spaces with fun colors and innovative layouts.

The latest to catch our eye is the Rhino from Nomad Vanz. Based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Nomad Vanz builds custom adventure vans either for weekend adventurers or for those wanting to live in their vans full time. Most builds use the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter high or low roof vehicles, although Nomad Vanz has done partial conversions for customers who own Ford Transits, Dodge ProMasters, and the Mercedes-Benz Metris.

We’ve covered their showcase van, Out of the Blue, in the past, and the Rhino offers the same blend of pops of color amidst a clean white look. Using the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 Cargo Van 2500 High Roof, the Rhino maximizes space on the shorter 144-inch wheelbase.

Side flares let two people sleep crosswise instead of front to back, and a streamlined platform bed provides plenty of room for bikes and gear underneath. A third person can sleep on a bench seat that transforms at night and features custom Porsche leather with contrast chevron stitching. Both captain’s chairs swivel to face a removable table in a light wood, and upper white cabinets throughout the van provide plenty of room for storage.

The van has been insulated, a heater added, and a Dometic vent helps circulate airflow. Outside, RoamBuilt provided a ladder, safari rack, and front bumper, and the van also features a power step and awning to provide shade.

Each Nomad Vanz build is custom, and the company works with each client to build what they need, so prices can vary. Premium Nomad Vanz full custom conversions start at $120,000 for the 144-inch wheelbase and $150,000 for the 170-inch wheelbase. While expensive, that’s in line with many other high-end conversion companies.

Even if you go the DIY Route, it’s still fun to see how Nomad Vanz incorporates style and function into their designs. For more information, head over here.