Lately, I’ve come across multiple specialized camper van converters from the UK that take camper building to the next level. Today, I discovered a company that builds “lifestyle vehicles with no compromise.” Here’s what its latest project is about.
Last week, Ultravans announced its new offering, a medium-wheelbase conversion. It can be based on the Volkswagen Crafter and the MAN TGE models, which are essentially the same vehicles with different badges. The conversion I’m discussing today is based on the latter model.
As always, let’s first take a look at the exterior. You can tell that this van is meant to go off the beaten path after you see its wheel and tire combo – it rides on Rogue Alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
At the front, Ultravans added two grille-mounted lights. On the opposite end, you’ll come across a spare tire carrier/ladder combo mounted to the left door, as well as traction boards on the other door.
Other notable exterior mods are power and water connections, an awning and a 300 W solar panel on the roof, and a set of flares. Flares, also known as pods or capsules, are designed to increase the van width to allow you to fit a bed in an east to west arrangement instead of the normal north to south.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / UltravansUK
The first thing you’ll notice as you step inside is the bright, spacious interior. The design consists of walls upholstered in grey Alcantara leather, grey laminated cabinetry, black flooring, and a white ceiling. The look is complemented by a white marble-imitating solid surface countertop and some black elements, like the kitchen hardware.
You’ll notice that the interior has an open layout, as in there’s no wall separating the driver’s cabin from the living space. Even though you lose some privacy and insulation, you gain the possibility of using the front part of the interior as a seating area.
The driver and passenger seats are mounted on swivel bases that allow you to turn them around to face the back of the van. Thus, they become part of the seating area.
Straight ahead of the entrance, Ultravans devised the second part of the seating area: a bench with a Lagun table mount. This seating area can accommodate three for eating, playing board games, and more. Above, you’ll discover a cabinet next to a touchscreen display that monitors and controls the power system.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / UltravansUK
Next, we have the kitchen next to the sliding door. It features a deep black stainless steel sink, a two-burner LPG-powered stovetop, and a front-facing dual-hinged fridge with a tiny freezer compartment that can be opened from either side.
The bathroom takes up the space on the opposite side, hidden behind a tall standard door. It boasts a shower with a handheld wand, a tiny sink on top of a shelf, and an overhead cabinet. Furthermore, a feature wall with white hexagonal tiles with dark grey grout pairs well with the rest of the van’s interior design.
You also get a composting toilet, but it’s housed on a heavy-duty slide-out that lets you hide it away in a compartment with a sliding door. This setup lets you use the entire bathroom space when showering.
Finally, the rear part of the living space is taken up by the bedroom – since it’s positioned higher up, you can use a small ladder to climb into bed. It offers four overhead cabinets (two on each side), a decently sized nightstand with a USB charging point and a cabinet. Moreover, there are two little pockets integrated into the rear doors.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / UltravansUK
The best place to haul larger items is the garage underneath the bedroom, accessible from both inside and outside the van. It provides a bunch of space in its middle part, while its sides are taken up by two tall boxes that accommodate the utility systems. What’s more, the left door holds a folding table.
Power is on the left side – the electrical system’s highlights are a 340 Ah LiFePo4 battery bank and a 1,600 W inverter. You can use three charging sources to keep the battery bank topped off: solar power, shore power, and DC-DC charging while the engine is running.
As for plumbing, the van is equipped with a 100-liter (26-gallon) freshwater tank, a 55-liter (14-gallon) under-mounted greywater tank, and a water heater. A 30-liter LPG tank housed in a sealed compartment powers the stove. However, the company can create an all-electric setup if the customer prefers that.
All in all, Ultravans did a stellar job with this conversion, packing a bunch of luxuries inside a small space without making it feel too cramped.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / UltravansUK
How about pricing? Well, we don’t have a quote for this specific conversion. However, Ultravans’ conversion starts at £60,750 ($80,908), including VAT. If you want to include a standard spec MAN TGE, the price is £106,750 ($142,184).
