Rina & Michael
Michael cooking with a wok outside our Sprinter van at a campsite
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.)

Watch on YouTube
DIY Family Campervan Tour

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 list

Brands we work with

Some links here are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Details

Living in it instead of building it? See van life with kids or watch the show.

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