Christian Hinnerk Joachim's Converted van

'Bumblebee' is our camper van for both short getaways and big adventures! It's already taken us through Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

What we love about it: that he is a space saving miracle! Thanks to the high roof, you can always stand upright inside — and there's no need to pop up a roof conspicuously on parking lots or campsites. At only 5.18 meters in length, it still offers a surprisingly spacious 4-seater lounge with a large table for cozy evenings, a full bathroom, tons of storage, and a generously wide bed up top.

As a couple or with a small child, you don't need to convert anything: just pull down the bed and climb up, while everything below can stay as it is. Bags or a child seat can be placed on the front seats when parked, as those aren’t needed for the dining area. That’s pure gold — because storage space is always (!) scarce when camping :-D. You can also use the driver’s cabin as a separate sitting area if you need a moment to yourself. For group settings, the passenger seat can swivel around to join the lounge area.

The lounge area downstairs can easily be converted into another bed by lowering the table and adding a cushion, making it great for 3–4 people (2 + 1 small child above, 1 below). If you want a full-size double bed downstairs, a bit more rearranging is needed, and some extra cushions must be brought along (see pictures).

Comfort is well taken care of: There's a fridge, gas stove, sink, parking heater, (outdoor) shower, and hot water. Off-grid camping is possible for several days thanks to a 150-liter fresh water tank, a 100-liter grey water tank, two large 5-liter gas bottles, 220 Ah batteries, and solar power. 230V is only available when connected to mains power at campsites, but USB charging works anytime.

Bumblebee is a relaxed ride. You're unlikely to go much faster than 100 km/h — and that’s totally fine! Fuel consumption stays moderate at 8–10 liters per 100 km. The deep engine hum brings a sense of calm as the wind flows through the open windows — or the A/C keeps things nice and cool.