Before the company’s polished pre-designed Omakase builds, there was the Brio — the original Blanca01N, and one of Yama Vans‘ standout earlier custom Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversions. Built by the Calgary, Canada shop for one or two travelers with tall frames and longer skis, the Brio pairs lengthwise sleeping with seriously smart storage and a palette as warm and expressive as its deep two-tone exterior. It’s a two-seat, Sprinter 144–based adventure van that trades a big bathroom and a crowd-pleasing layout for the things a tall, ski-obsessed couple actually needs: a full-length bed, a gear garage, an off-grid power setup, and a galley that’s a genuine pleasure to cook in.
Images courtesy of Yama Vans
Lengthwise Sleeping Built for Tall Frames and Long Skis
The Brio’s defining design decision is its lengthwise bed, which runs front-to-back along the van rather than side-to-side. That orientation is a big deal: it gives taller travelers room to actually stretch out (most fixed widthwise beds top out around 6 feet), and it creates long, ski-friendly storage tunnels alongside and beneath the platform. A large rear window sits at the foot of the bed to pull in light and views, and warm maple overhead cabinets keep essentials within reach without crowding the sleeping space.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
A Warm, Expressive Galley
Where many vans default to white-and-birch minimalism, the Brio leans into color — rich terracotta cabinet faces, light maple uppers, and a sunny accent surface give the interior real personality that echoes the exterior paint. The galley runs along the sliding-door side with a sink, a cooktop, and plenty of prep-friendly cabinetry, and a pull-out seat tucks away when it’s not needed. It’s a kitchen designed to be lived in, not just photographed.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
Keeping food cold is a stainless compressor refrigerator built into the cabinetry, with a ventilated front to shed heat efficiently — the kind of detail that matters when you’re parked off-grid for days. Drawers and cabinets surround it to make the most of every inch around the appliance.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
Storage Thought Through to the Last Drawer
This is where the Brio really shows Yama’s craftsmanship. Open the main galley drawer and you find a fully fitted utensil organizer — knife slots, tool trays, and cork-lined compartments that keep everything silent and in place down a washboard road. It’s the kind of bespoke joinery that separates a thoughtful custom build from a parts-bin conversion.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
The same care extends to soft storage. A wardrobe lined in a woven, grasscloth-style textile adds warmth and quiet to the cabin while keeping jackets and layers organized behind the seats — a smart, good-looking solution in a van where every surface counts.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
A Gear Garage for the Big Kit
Because the bed sits up high and runs lengthwise, the rear opens into a deep gear garage you load straight through the back doors. There’s room for skis, a fire pit, duffels, and the bulky gear that defines a real adventure trip, and the rear doors carry MOLLE-style panels for even more organized storage. Insulated covers button up the windows for warmth and privacy when you’re sleeping.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
Out back, a swing-out surface turns the rear of the van into an outdoor bar and prep station — pour a glass, refill a water bottle, and take in the view without climbing back inside. It’s a small touch that makes camp life that much more comfortable.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
Off-Grid Power and Off-Road Hardware
Up top, a Yama-branded roof rack carries a pair of solar panels and a powered roof fan, feeding the van’s house battery so the fridge, lights, and electronics keep running far from any hookup. Inside, a tidy electrical panel puts outlets and 12V power right where you need them. It’s a setup built for genuine multi-day boondocking rather than overnight-only camping.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
The Brio is just as ready for the trail as the campsite. A front roof-mounted light bar and auxiliary ditch lights light up dark backroads, while off-road wheels and tires and the rugged Sprinter 144 platform handle the kind of terrain that leads to the best ski touring and trailheads.
Image courtesy of Yama Vans
Design Details
- Builder: Yama Vans (Calgary, Canada; delivers across North America)
- Model: Blanca01N — “Brio” (Yama’s original Blanca01N build)
- Chassis: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144
- Seating: 2
- Designed for: One or two taller travelers with longer skis and big gear
- Bed: Fixed lengthwise (front-to-back) platform bed
- Galley: Sink, cooktop, stainless compressor refrigerator, custom-fitted storage
- Storage: Rear gear garage, lengthwise gear tunnels, textile-lined wardrobe
- Power: Roof solar with house battery and an interior electrical panel
- Ventilation: Powered roof fan
- Off-road: Roof rack, LED light bar and ditch lights, off-road wheels and tires
- Finishes: Two-tone exterior with a warm terracotta, maple, and woven-textile interior
What Makes the Brio Special
- Built for tall travelers. The lengthwise bed gives taller adventurers a full-length sleep most vans can’t offer.
- Real storage for real gear. Ski-length tunnels and a rear gear garage are designed around the equipment, not the other way around.
- Bespoke joinery. Custom-fitted drawers and a textile-lined wardrobe show the difference between a craft build and a kit.
- A palette with personality. Terracotta, maple, and woven textiles make the interior as expressive as the two-tone paint.
- Off-grid and off-road ready. Solar, a powered fan, lighting, and rugged wheels make it a true four-season adventure rig.
Learn More
- Builder: Yama Vans — Brio (Blanca01N)
- Website: yamavans.com
Highlights
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 custom build by Yama Vans
- Lengthwise fixed bed for tall travelers and long skis
- Warm terracotta, maple, and woven-textile interior
- Galley with cooktop, sink, and stainless compressor fridge
- Custom-fitted utensil drawer and textile-lined wardrobe
- Rear gear garage with MOLLE door panels
- Swing-out rear prep and bar surface
- Roof solar, powered fan, and an interior electrical panel
- Light bar, ditch lights, and off-road wheels
- Seats 2; built for one or two travelers
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Alex