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The Jackson 144 is the most popular short-wheelbase floor plan from Activan, a camper van builder in Reno, Nevada. It packs a galley kitchen, a bench seat, a tiled shower, and a queen bed into a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 144 AWD, the shortest Sprinter you can get. Activan just listed a 2026 build on Vanlife Trader, so it’s a good time to take a closer look.
Why a 144 Wheelbase?
Most luxury van builds today sit on the long 170-inch Sprinter. A high-roof 144 is about 19.5 feet long, roughly 3.4 feet shorter than a 170 and close to the length of a full-size crew-cab pickup. That makes it much easier to park in town, turn around on a narrow forest road, and fit into campsites built for smaller rigs. The tradeoff is less room inside, so every inch of the layout has to earn its place. That’s where the Jackson 144 gets interesting. (For a look at the long-wheelbase approach, see the Outside Van Approach 170 AWD.)
Outside, this build has aftermarket wheels and tires, a hitch, a rear spare tire carrier, a roof rack and ladder, an awning, auxiliary lighting, and exterior storage. Paired with the Sprinter’s all-wheel drive, that setup is aimed at dirt roads and snowy trailheads, not just paved campgrounds.
A Warm, Modern Interior
Inside, Activan pairs wood slat walls and ceiling with matte black cabinets and light wood floors. It’s a clean, modern look, and the horizontal slats break up the long walls so the van doesn’t feel like a tunnel. Behind the driver, there’s a cushioned bench seat under a framed window, with a microwave and the electrical control panel overhead. Next to it, a tall black cabinet hides the bathroom. Keeping the bathroom up front, right behind the cab, frees the rear of the van for the bed and garage.
A Galley Kitchen with Induction Cooking
The galley sits right by the sliding door, so you can cook with the door open and the outdoors as your dining room. It has a deep black sink with a matte black faucet, a two-burner induction cooktop, a refrigerator, and stacked drawers with black hardware. The end of the counter is wrapped in wood, which looks nice and protects the corner you bump every time you climb in.
Induction is a smart pick for an off-grid van. With no propane on board, there’s one less system to maintain and one less tank to refill. Induction also puts its heat into the pan instead of the air, so the van stays cooler while you cook, and the flat glass top doubles as extra counter space when it’s off.
A Queen Bed Across the Back
The bed runs sideways across the back of the van. A Sprinter isn’t quite wide enough inside for an adult to stretch out sideways, so this build uses body flares (Activan’s listing calls them “flarespace”). Activan also offers Vanspeed Capsules, bump-out panels made for the same job. A sideways bed takes up much less length than one running front to back, which is what leaves room for the kitchen, bench, and bathroom in a 144.
The flares replace the flat factory wall behind the bed with a molded panel that bulges outward. Each one adds a few inches at the head and foot of the mattress. Windows are set into the flares, so you still get a view from bed.
Under the bed is a garage you can reach from the back doors, with room for bikes, skis, or camping gear. Want room for more people? Activan says an optional rooftop tent brings sleeping up to four, and extra captain’s chairs or removable jump seats can be added.
A Tiled Shower in a Short Van
A full indoor shower is rare in a 144. This one has white subway tile, a black handheld shower head, and a teak floor mat. It shares the bathroom with a dry-flush toilet, which seals waste into a cartridge, so there’s no black tank to empty. Shower water drains to a gray tank.
All-Electric Systems for Off-Grid Travel
Everything in this van runs on electricity: the induction cooktop, microwave, water heater, heater, and battery-powered air conditioning. That makes the power system the heart of the build. It has 600 amp-hours of 12V lithium batteries (7.2 kWh), a 3,000-watt inverter, and 300 watts of solar on the roof. That’s enough to run the fridge, lights, cooking, and hot water for a couple of days, with the solar topping it up while you’re parked. Air conditioning is the big power user, so on hot days you’ll lean on driving or shore power to recharge.
Design Details
- Builder: Activan, Reno, Nevada (Mercedes-Benz Expert Upfitter)
- Floor plan: Jackson 144
- Base vehicle: 2026 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 144 AWD, high roof (about 19.5 feet long)
- Width: Body flares widen the rear walls for a sideways queen bed
- Seats / sleeps: 2 seatbelts, sleeps 2 (up to 4 with an optional rooftop tent)
- Kitchen: Sink, refrigerator, two-burner induction cooktop, microwave (the listing also includes an oven)
- Bathroom: Built-in tiled shower, dry-flush toilet
- Water: 30-gallon fresh tank, gray water tank, electric water heater
- Power: 600Ah 12V lithium (7.2 kWh), 3,000-watt inverter, 300 watts of solar
- Climate: Battery-powered air conditioning, electric heater, roof fan
- Exterior: Aftermarket wheels and tires, hitch, roof rack, ladder, awning, extra lighting, exterior storage
- Options: Finishes, paint, Vanspeed Capsules, rooftop tent, extra seating
- Lead time: 4 to 6 months
- Price: Listed at $150,000. Activan says the Jackson 144 on this chassis runs about $150,000 to over $200,000, depending on options
What Makes This Van Special
- It fits a full kitchen, bench seat, indoor shower, and queen bed into the shortest Sprinter
- All-electric systems (induction, electric heat, hot water, and air conditioning) mean no propane to refill
- A 7.2 kWh battery bank gives it real off-grid range
- Buyers choose their own finishes, and the layout can be adjusted for families or remote work
- AWD and the short wheelbase make it easy to drive in town and capable on dirt roads
Things to Think About Before Buying a 144
A short van is a set of tradeoffs, and the Jackson 144 makes them on purpose. If you’re shopping for one, these are the questions worth asking the builder:
- Will you fit the bed? A sideways bed is only as long as the van is wide, even with flares. Tall sleepers should lie down on it before buying.
- How long will 30 gallons last? With an indoor shower on board, water is usually the first thing you run out of. Short showers and a refill plan go a long way.
- How much A/C do you really need? Running air conditioning off batteries is possible with 7.2 kWh, but 300 watts of solar won’t refill it quickly on a hot day. Driving, shore power, or extra solar make up the difference.
- How many people travel with you? As built, it has two seatbelts. Add jump seats or captain’s chairs at build time if you’ll carry more.
Learn More
Listing and contact form: Activan Jackson 144 on Vanlife Trader
Builder: Activan
Instagram: @the.activ
YouTube: Activan van tours
Video Tour
Activan’s own video tours a similar Sprinter 144 build with a white oak interior.
Highlights
- Activan’s most popular 144 floor plan, built in Reno, Nevada
- 2026 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 144 AWD, high roof
- Galley kitchen with induction, sideways queen bed, and tiled shower
- 600Ah lithium, 3,000W inverter, and 300W of solar
- Listed at $150,000, with a 4 to 6 month lead time
Explore More
- Outside Van Approach: A 170 AWD Sprinter
- Tommy Camper Vans’ 4 Layouts Explained: Which Floor Plan Fits You?
- The Kōri: A Hockey Family’s 4×4 Sprinter Adventure Van
- Peyto: A Bike-Hauling AWD Sprinter Camper Van
- Titan Vans in Boulder: Sprinter and Transit Conversions
- The Zeppelin: A Custom 170″ Sprinter AWD Van
Would you pick a short 144 van for easy parking, or go big with a 170? Tell us in the comments.
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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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