After watching hundreds if not thousands of van life videos trying to figure out what features I needed and/or wanted I am still on a search for the perfect set-up. To stay organized I keep an Evernote notebook full of adventure van design ideas. I also keep van life videos in a playlist on YouTube. I would love to incorporate scores of ideas but for now I am looking at a pre-configured mass-produced adventure van, these are the ones I think are most innovative and useful.
1. Bathroom Design Idea Walk Through Hidden Shower
The number one question vanlifer’s get is, “Where do you poop?”. I suppose it’s probably one of the most important questions. This brings me to one of the toughest calls to make when designing your van, whether you include a full bath, toilet only, or a temporary shower. I like the idea of the shower by the door because it also gives you a place to rinse off before you come in the van. It also provides a good place to store wet or muddy shoes.
2. Adventure Van Dedicated Office Space
I am not able to be crazy active outdoors due to two bad knees but I want to be in nature as much as possible. My requirement is to work my desk job while sitting in the forest or parked on the beach. I also want to be able to pull over and take a conference call.
I am waiting on an Airstream Interstate 24x. One of my favorite features in the new adventure van is there is a dedicated workspace behind the driver’s seat with a Lagun table as a desk. I also think you can mount a monitor on the cabinets behind the seat so you have a fairly functional office space.
3. Rossmonster Recovery Board Table
One of the most useful mods I have seen so far, not only provides storage but a useful outside table. This mod comes from Rossmonster, their MaxTrax Table Mounting System, which provides a way to store your recovery boards on the side of your van and do so while providing a handy storage table.
4. Elevated Bed
I don’t intend to make my bed every day, so an elevated bed that can lift out of the way and then descends from the ceiling is ideal for me. This is a standard feature in the Winnebago Revel adventure van. But, the Winnebago is a little cramped, and the fit and finish in the Revel don’t quite meet Woodford’s standards. The Happijack Bedlift provides a way to lift your bed out of your living space and lower it when it’s time to go to sleep.
5. Floor Plan Design Idea – Bathroom in the Back
I love this van design because it has a very large bathroom by van life standards. It’s also a alk the The storage closet in the back is also very innovative. The thing that makes it possible is a bed lift that doubles up the usability and the living area. This gives you a full queen-size bed with roof access via a sunroof hatch over the bed. I love the vans that Shaiden Valentine builds. Probably my favorite adventure van of all time.
Summary of Van Design Ideas
I think YouTube is a great resource to figure out what you might want to try on a van. Alternatively, you can rent a van before you buy. Whatever you do, it’s good to do plenty of research before making that big of an investment.
Every RV traveler is different. Depending on your personal tastes, requirements, and budget, your van experience will be unique. Also, you have to balance all your needs. For example, I’d love a walkable roof, but because I want solar to help with my off-grid power needs, I compromised. I want substantially cooling for the southern summers, so RV air conditioning is something I won’t. I hope this list of features helps you consider a configuration that makes your adventure van experience the best it can be.