Today’s featured build is based on an AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170″ wheelbase. It was brought to life by Ashben Conversions, a Sheffield, UK-based company that crafts bespoke homes on wheels.
As always, let’s start by checking out the exterior – there are plenty of exterior upgrades done to this Sprinter. For starters, the vehicle rides on black Rogue Alloy wheels wrapped in General Grabber all-terrain tires. This is a great wheel and tire combo to complement the AWD capabilities.
At the front, Ashben installed two grille-mounted Lazer lights, as well as two Lazer lights and a deflector on the hood. On the opposite end, you’ll come across a spare tire carrier / ladder combo, a step, and a cargo carrier.
The arguably most major exterior mod is on top of the van: an Atek pop-top roof tent. It has a three-piece fiberglass design and a weatherproof construction with three zipped windows.
It can accommodate a mattress size of 120 x 200 cm (approx. 47 x 79 inches). What’s more, this unit comes with an integrated Maxxair vent fan and a 300 W solar panel on top.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Ashben Conversions
The roof also holds a Thule Omnistor awning, a StarLink antenna, and a Dometic A/C unit. Other notable mods are power and water connections, side steps, and side pods.
Pods, also known as flares or capsules, are designed to increase the van width to allow you to fit a bed inside in an east to west arrangement instead of the standard north to south. This rig’s Evo Design side pods are color matched to the van’s paint and one of them comes with a half-slider window.
A single glance inside the van is enough to know you’re dealing with a high-end space. The customer opted for a beautiful design comprised of laminated cabinetry with a wood grain finish, grey flooring, walls upholstered in grey Alcantara leather, and a matching ceiling with recessed LED light strips.
The look is complemented by red leather seat upholstery, a white solid surface countertop, and some black accents, like the kitchen hardware.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Ashben Conversions
You’ll notice that the interior has an open layout, with no wall separating the driver’s cabin from the living space. Moreover, the driver and passenger seats have factory swivels, so they can be turned around to face the back of the van. You can also set up two swivel tables.
My favorite thing about this van’s cabin setup is that it can be fully darkened. Specifically, the windshield and the two windows on the sides have Remis blinds that can block light from coming into the van.
The front seating area continues a bit further back in the form of a decently sized bench. Ashben even included an ottoman for resting your feet, which normally slots in between the driver and passenger seats when unused. It can also double as a step to get into bed.
Moreover, above, you’ll find two cabinets and the pass-through that leads into the rooftop tent – you’ll need a telescoping ladder to climb to it. A clever thing about the tent’s design is that when it’s lowered, the Maxxair vent fan slots in perfectly in the pass-through, allowing you to use it for the van’s interior.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Ashben Conversions
Next, we have a kitchen on the passenger side, by the entrance. It features a single-burner induction stovetop, a deep stainless steel sink with a cover, a coffee machine, an air fryer installed on a slide-out, a microwave oven, and a tall 130-liter Thetford fridge with a freezer compartment.
A large overhead cabinet and three drawers are available for storage in the kitchen. There’s also a floor-to-ceiling unit next to the fridge that has a hanging closet and a cabinet with multiple shelves.
A bathroom sits on the opposite side, hidden behind a tall conventional door. What’s more, to make sure no water splashes outside the bathroom, the builders added a retractable waterproof door.
The bathroom offers a shower with a handheld wand, an overhead cabinet, a counter with a small sink, and a bench-style toilet. My favorite part is its aesthetic, with wall panels that imitate stone.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Ashben Conversions
Like in the majority of camper vans, you’ll discover a fixed sleeping arrangement in the back of the living space, with a bed that’s 6’2″ (188 centimeters) long. The bedroom also boasts four overhead cabinets with recessed LED light strips underneath, two reading lights, and an A/C unit above.
A garage underneath the bed offers abundant storage space, both in terms of depth and height – the customer wanted the garage to have this much height so that they could haul mountain bikes.
You can access the garage from outside the van by opening the rear door and from inside through a small door under the bed. Moreover, there are L-Tracks integrated into the floor that allow you to secure your items.
The garage’s sides are taken up by two boxes that accommodate the utility systems. Power is on the left side – the electrical system’s highlights are a 628 Ah Fogstar battery bank and a 3,000 W inverter.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Ashben Conversions
As for plumbing, the van is equipped with a freshwater tank, an under-mounted greywater tank, and an outdoor shower connection. There’s one more important system: a Truma D4E Combi boiler that provides both heated air and hot water.
All in all, Ashben Conversions actually made this Sprinter van as comfortable as a simpler conventional home while also packing a welcoming design. The difference is that this home on wheels can take you on some wild adventures.
