Camper vans aren't as old as the original RVs,
but they have seen their fair share of innovation over the last seventy years.
A great example is the modular side-raising
camper van from Europe that we'll be checking out in today's video.
And be sure to stick around until the end for a look at a few of our honorable mentions.
Let's get to it!
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Americans have been familiar with camping since the beginning of our nation.
However, it wasn't until 1869 when camping became a favored pastime
and activity for many with William H. H. Murray's book Adventures in the Wilderness.
Or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks, which acted as a how-to guide for many.
A few decades later, we would see the first RVs surface along with the automobile
and kickstart a whole industry and hobby.
Hailing from the United Kingdoms,
Bilbo Designs has been a part of that industry for over forty years now.
They say that they are campers through and through and that
each one of their vans is purpose-built for reliability and ease of use.
They know that a camper needs to keep your dirty and wet stuff somewhere along with the
cozy and snug things. They know that you want enough of your kitchen to cook a good meal
and a bed that is easy to get into and get a good night's rest.
That's why they offer five unique van models, including the Space campervan,
which we'll be looking at today.
Like the other campervans in the Bilbo Designs repertoire,
the Space uses the same design and build quality and uses a VW Transporter van as its base.
The aesthetic design is family-friendly and straightforward,
with four doors and four seats for a small family.
So, what makes this seemingly simple camper so special then?
Well, this unique entry-level campervan is designed with removable utility pods
so that you can live a variety of lifestyles when you need them.
Whether you want to pack the house up and go on a trip with the family or use the van
to get to school and work and maybe pick some groceries up along the way, you can do so.
Opening up the back, we see the pods in question.
There are four in total, with the two larger modules hosting the kitchenette
located in the tailgate.
The driver-side kitchen pod hosts the faucet attached to the three-gallon water canisters below
and the single-burner gas cartridge stove.
The opposite side of that is where the microwave and countertop are located,
along with a storage compartment underneath.
The center pods have a fridge with over three and a half gallons of storage
and offer additional space.
When nighttime comes around and you want to hit the hay,
the storage pods work with the rear seats to create two single beds,
which can be conjoined at the back end by a center cushion for the family dog.
You could also equip another bed to increase your sleeping capacity to four.
Suppose you get a Space campervan but aren't planning a trip for a while. In that case,
you can easily remove all of the pods in the rear and use it as a traditional family van.
Although Bilbo Designs doesn't offer additional seating,
the Space is truly ideal for a family of four or smaller.
You could always leave a few of the pods you are using while removing some of the others.
That's the beauty of the Space Camper Van. It's
modular and can fit whatever needs you have of it.
The front serves as the bedroom and the dining
area with a removable tabletop that attaches to the sidewall.
That table can also be attached to the outside of the rear-end kitchen block
and used as an outdoor workspace or picnicking outdoors.
One of the other things that set the Space apart from its peers is the side-raising roof which
adds more height to the interior as opposed to the more common slanted-roofs we see.
If you are interested in a flexible camper van with families in mind,
you can get one yourself for just under seventy thousand U.S. dollars.
If you liked what you saw in this video, scroll to the comments and
let us know what you enjoyed and want to see more of in the future.
As always, we love to hear your feedback,
and we look forward to showing you the next one!
Finally, coming in our number one slot, we have a company that believes life is meant to be filled
with adventure, and adventure always needs a companion. Colorado Camper Vans was founded in
2009, and ever since, they want to accompany you with a camper van that fits your needs.
They offer the Base Camp experience,
which is a total conversion of a list of applicable vans.
It's an excellent option for those looking to upstart their traveling camper but don't need
or can't afford a fully outfitted motorhome.
They finish the interior floor to ceiling with insulation,
sound dampening, and a variety of flooring choices and LED lighting.
Solar panels, electrical wiring, and an inverter
charger are also installed in the process.
The German-based company, Hobby, has over five decades of experience making campers.
The reputation of German engineering seems to be very important to them
and to live up to that, they know they need to branch out.
That's one of the reasons they made Beachy. It's an affordable line of mini
mobile beach houses on wheels with only the essentials included.
The goal of Beachy is to create beautifully simple, stripped-down campers
that allow you to bask in your campsite's scenery for an affordable price.
And for today's video, Beachy has cooked something extraordinary
Created by Alabama-based manufacturer Storyteller Overland,
the Beast Mode 4x4 is about as tough as they come.
Built on the ever-reliable Ford Transit All-Wheel-Drive, and packed full of robust,
off-grid inclusion, the Beast Mode is a boon dockers paradise.
Onboard you'll find a 12-kWh Volta power system with 90 watts of solar
expandable up to 600W, a 3200W inverter,
21 gallons fresh and 24-gallon gray water tanks, and a heavy-duty shore power inlet.
Inside, the Beast mode sleeps up to three and features a galley with a portable induction
cooktop, stainless steel sink, and microwave, as well as a combination fridge/freezer.
When folded up against the sides, the bed creates a rear garage area
suitable for storing bikes and other gear.
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