Our van
Our DIY Sprinter Van Build
We built this Sprinter ourselves from summer 2025 into early 2026, mostly with a toddler around and, from October, a newborn. It sleeps four, runs on 15 kWh of batteries and 1,000W of solar, and has a dishwasher, an elevator bed and a propane oven.
Take the tour
Built with a toddler underfoot
Our full van tour walks through every corner: the kitchen, the elevator bed, the batteries and the solar. (The rooftop AC and the rear ladder were added after we filmed it.)
DIY Family Campervan Tour
Get our complete van build parts list (free PDF)
Every part we kept in our Sprinter build, system by system, with links. Plus a short email series on how each system works.
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Read the full write-ups
How We Built a DIY Van Elevator Bed
Our DIY van elevator bed: four rails, four synced actuators and one switch in a Sprinter. The parts, the build, what went wrong and what we'd change.
Our Family Camper Van Build: A Sprinter for Four
Our family camper van build: how we turned a Sprinter crew van into a home for four, with seats for four, a play platform, a bed for everyone and a real kitchen.
Our 48V Sprinter Van Electrical System (15 kWh)
Our Sprinter van electrical system: 48V, 15 kWh of Power Queen batteries, Victron gear, solar, alternator and shore charging, plus what we'd change.
Our Sprinter Van Solar Setup: 1,000W on 48V
Our Sprinter van solar setup: four 250W panels on a roof rack over the fans, wired in series to a Victron MPPT. What fit, what we returned, what it makes.The build, system by system
8 part groups
Electrical
Our 48V van electrical system: three Power Queen 48V batteries (about 15 kWh), a Victron MultiPlus 5000, Lynx DC bus, alternator charging and shore power. Every part we used.
1 part group
Solar
Our Sprinter van solar setup: four Newpowa 250W panels (1,000W) on a VannCamp roof rack, wired in series for a 48V battery bank. Why these panels, and what we learned.
7 part groups
Water & plumbing
Our van water system: a 35-gallon fresh tank over the wheel well, push-to-connect PEX, free hot water from engine coolant, and grey tanks we drain with a switch.
1 part group
Elevator bed
How we built a DIY elevator bed in our Sprinter van: four Firgelli linear actuators with a sync controller, VEVOR SBR20 linear rails, and an aluminum extrusion frame. About $1,300 all-in.5 part groups
Kitchen
Our camper van kitchen for a family of four: an in-sink dishwasher, an 80L upright fridge/freezer, a 3-burner propane stove with oven, and a touchless faucet.
5 part groups
Climate
How we heat and cool our van: a CountryMod 48V rooftop AC on batteries, a Webasto Evo 40 diesel heater, two roof fans, and 3M Thinsulate insulation.
7 part groups
Cabinets & interior
The inside of our DIY Sprinter: plywood cabinets on curved walls, soft-close hinges and locking drawer slides, a raised storage platform, a fold-out sofa bed for four, and a no-drill headliner shelf.
6 part groups
Exterior
The outside of our Sprinter van: a VannCamp roof rack and rear ladder + tire carrier, drop-down running boards, a passenger swivel seat, a Ford Transit bench that seats four, and two sliding windows.The complete parts list
Every part we kept, in one place, with links. Anything we returned is not on it.
See the parts listBrands we work with
- Power Queen batteries: code Michael5
- VannCamp roof rack, ladder and tire carrier
- CountryMod 48V rooftop AC: code RM30 for $30 off
- Bodega Cooler fridge/freezer
- Starlink referral link
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Living in it instead of building it? See van life with kids or watch the show.