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The couple behind This Is Van Life live full-time in a factory-built 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter. Rather than start from an empty cargo shell, they took a finished camper van and changed it to fit the way they actually live, and their 18-minute tour shows the result.
Built for Getting Off the Pavement
The 4×4 stance is the first thing you notice. The dark high-roof Sprinter rides on all-terrain tires and carries a roof rack with two light bars, a side awning, and recovery boards mounted high on the body. For full-time van life, four-wheel drive opens up the kind of quiet, remote campsites that a two-wheel-drive van can’t safely reach.
Around the back, one rear door carries a ladder, a spare tire, and a shovel, which keeps the heavy, dirty gear outside the living space.
A Raised Bed Over a Garage
Open the rear doors and you see the classic Sprinter trade-off. The bed sits high, which leaves a garage underneath for crates, packs, and outdoor gear. It costs some headroom in bed, but it means the gear has a home and the living area stays clear. A mesh screen lets them sleep with the doors open.
A Living Space That Feels Like Home
Inside, a single aisle runs from the cab to the bed. Terracotta walls, green tile behind the sink, a wood counter, a woven globe light, and art on the wall make the factory interior feel personal rather than showroom. The galley has a black sink and a small cooktop, and a grey bench gives them a place to sit. The front seats swivel toward a table, and a skylight brightens the back of the van.
What Makes This Van Special
- It shows that a factory camper can be personalized instead of rebuilt from scratch
- Four-wheel drive and recovery gear make remote campsites realistic
- The garage under the bed keeps outdoor gear out of the living space
- Warm colors and textures make a production van feel like a home
Details
- Van: Factory-built 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter, high roof
- Exterior: All-terrain tires, roof rack with light bars, side awning, recovery boards, rear ladder and spare
- Layout: Swivel front seats and table, single-aisle galley and bench, raised rear bed over a gear garage
- Owners: This Is Van Life, living in it full-time
Watch the Tour
Learn More
Video: VAN TOUR 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter
YouTube: This Is Van Life
Instagram: @thisis_vanlife
Facebook: This Is Van Life
Highlights
- A factory 4×4 Sprinter personalized for full-time van life
- Off-road ready with all-terrain tires, light bars, and recovery boards
- Raised bed over a rear gear garage
- Warm terracotta and wood interior with a galley and bench
Explore More
- DIY Extended Sprinter Van Conversion for Full-Time Van Life
- Traveling Couple’s Custom Sprinter Van Life
- Sprinter Van Life: From Australia to New Zealand
- Building a Camper Van With Zero Experience: A Stealthy DIY Sprinter
Would you start from a factory 4×4 Sprinter and change it, or build from an empty cargo van? Tell us in the comments.
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More Like This: Vans | Van Life | Video Tours
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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