Automotive

Mighty, modular and plain memorable camper vans of 2019

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A cutting edge camper van concept, the Hymer VisionVenture is loaded with desirable features, including a rear deck
Erwin Hymer Group
Configure Happier's individual Adaptiv modules around the van however you want at the moment or use them outside
Happier Camper
Happier Camper's Adaptiv modules stick to the floor like Legos, making arranging and rearranging quite simple
Happier Camper
The Happier Adaptiv even has a modular toilet
Happier Camper
BASF shows the various materials and technologies that it supplied for the Hymer VisionVenture concept
BASF
The light in the Hymer VisionVenture's pop-up roof teams with the white inflatable sides to create a soft, ambient glow
Erwin Hymer Group
The VisionVenture looks comfortable enough to spend days at a time in, but the rear lounge ensures occupants don't lose their connection with the outdoors
Erwin Hymer Group
A favorite feature of the Hymer VisionVenture: a staircase leads to the pop-up roof, rather than a simple ladder
Erwin Hymer Group
Hymer VisionVenture kitchen
Erwin Hymer Group
Rather than combining the shower and toilet room into one, the way many camper vans do, the VisionVenture has a convertible bathroom space that allows for separate shower and toilet/sink configurations
Erwin Hymer Group
The Westfalia James Cook expands for added interior space
Westfalia
Westfalia's pop-top James Cook seats and sleeps four people
Westfalia
The High Roof is the flagship of the James Cook series, offering space for four
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The Mercedes MBAC system in the James Cook easily controls lights, temperature, audio and other settings around the inside and outside of the camper
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
Westfalia James Cook Classic off-road edition on show at the 2019 Caravan Salon
Westfalia
The highlight of the new James Cook is the expansion module that makes room for a larger bed
Westfalia
At just under 5 m, the Globevan e.Hybrid is a greener breed of mini-campervan
Dethleffs
Dethleffs Globevan e.Hybrid
Dethleffs
Dethleffs Globevan e.Hybrid camper van ready to dine
Dethleffs
The Golden Egg is based on a "white gold" colored Ford Transit
The Boho Golden Egg's piece de resistance: slide-out tailgate foosball table
The slide-away pantry offers plenty of storage and disappears when not in use
Outside of the foosball table, the kitchen is the highlight of the van, combining a full range, fireplace, tile and more
Storyteller Mode 4x4 interior
Storyteller Overland
Rear platform in use as a kitchen table
Storyteller Overland
The Storyteller shower curtain and sprayer store neatly away in an overhead cabinet, and the drain basin doubles as a storage bench/cooler
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
PlugVan is an alternative to the camper van or camping trailer
PlugVan
The PlugVan's lift-up kitchen block lets you prepare food and eat in bed
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
WIth an external water connection, the PlugVan supports an outdoor shower
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The fold-out table works with the bench to create a dining area
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
PlugVan covered the van's face to emphasize that it's a module for any large van, not just the Peugeot Boxer
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
In addition to the interior upgrades, the Beach 6.1 brings the cosmetic updates of the T6.1
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
The new fold-out kitchen is the highlight of the California Beach 6.1, bringing a single-burner stove and worktop to the van
Another upgrade on the VW Beach 6.1: the color touchscreen camper command system
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
The VW Beach 6.1 kitchen disappears away into the wall panel like it's not even there
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
A cutting edge camper van concept, the Hymer VisionVenture is loaded with desirable features, including a rear deck
Erwin Hymer Group
Frankia Yucon 7.0 Lounge
Frankia
Enjoying evening cocktails in the Frankia 7.0 Lounge
Frankia
The Frankia Yucon 7.0's slide-out table works as a side table, coffee table and more
Frankia
Enjoying the rear bed in the Frankia Yucon 7.0 Lounge
Frankia
View gallery - 39 images

The van life trend showed no signs of slowing in 2019. In fact, it was a pivotal year that saw camper vans growing smarter, more practical and more efficient with some impressive technological breakthroughs and design innovations. Starting off strong with the large and tiny vans of CMT, 2019 continued forward through the few but feature-loaded touring vans of the inaugural RVX show, wound its way off the beaten path with the all-terrain adventure vans of Overland Expo West, and pushed through technological boundaries at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. Here are the ones that truly raised the bar for travel, mobile living and all-season adventure.

Best multi-personality modular van: Happier Adaptiv

Configure Happier's individual Adaptiv modules around the van however you want at the moment or use them outside
Happier Camper

Having a driveway packed with expensive vehicles is no longer the status symbol it once was but more of an unsightly inconvenience. It's no surprise, then, that one of the biggest trends in camper vans this year was the modular, multipurpose camper van designed to work as both holiday getaway and everyday driver. What was a surprise was the number of variations we saw on the theme. In addition to modular designs using tried-and-true tie-down track, we saw oversized pegboard and the Lego-like stacking of the Happier Adaptiv. The Adaptiv's blocky camping modules easily attach and detach from the accompanying floor, providing near-infinite ways to rearrange camping furniture, ahead of the trip or smack dab in the middle of it. Modules also work outdoors, giving travelers more flexibility to live, camp and adventure however they want. And when camping season comes to a close, Happier's kit removes completely, turning camper van back into cargo van. Best of all, while Europe usually gets all the coolest camper vans, this one was designed for the US, with component package pricing planned to start around US$10,000 when the prototype blossoms into a production kit.

Honorable mention: The four-sleeper/eight-seat Pössl Vanster

Best concept van: Hymer VisionVenture

The VisionVenture looks comfortable enough to spend days at a time in, but the rear lounge ensures occupants don't lose their connection with the outdoors
Erwin Hymer Group

If only one 2019 camper van debut is remembered a decade from now, it'll be the Hymer VisionVenture, without question. This German-designed concept camper van had the RV world buzzing for the entire second half of the year, showing what camper vans could evolve into. From its Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 off-road-ready platform, to its broadened, temperature-regulating body, to its inflatable, solar-topped pop-up roof, to its tiny home-inspired stairs, to its airy tailgate deck, every last feature screams about a future in which camper vans compete with yachts in terms of both exploration capabilities and onboard comforts. Unfortunately, much like so many other thought-provoking concept vehicles, the VisionVenture will never make it to market in its exact show form. Hymer does intend to incorporate some features into production models, however. We're crossing fingers for the drop-down deck with slide-out grill, the kitchen-topping stairs and the transforming bathroom.

The light in the Hymer VisionVenture's pop-up roof teams with the white inflatable sides to create a soft, ambient glow
Erwin Hymer Group

Honorable mention: The four-season, board-winching Sunlight Cliff 4x4 Adventure

Best smart camper van: Westfalia James Cook

The Westfalia James Cook expands for added interior space
Westfalia

We may never see Hymer's vision come to fruition, but Westfalia's all-new 233-in (593 cm) James Cook puts the latest technology to use in a camper van available right now. One of the first manufacturers to build off of Mercedes MBAC technology in creating a mobile smart home, Westfallia gives James Cook occupants the ability to control lights, climate, audio and more from the closest of three screens: the dedicated command touchscreen, the driver-area infotainment touchscreen or a connected mobile device. With the design, Mercedes and Westfalia bring camper van convenience in line with the connected smart age. The James Cook's rear expansion module, meanwhile, slides out in under a minute, adding extra living space. Westfalia offers two- and all-wheel drive options and three different roof styles, with prices starting at €74,900 (approx. $83,350).

Cranking up the sound system with the James Cook control system
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas

Honorable mention: The push-button Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo pop-top

Best green camper van: Dethleffs Globevan e.Hybrid

Dethleffs Globevan e.Hybrid
Dethleffs

The all-electric vehicle age made some strong strides forward in 2019, but save for the occasional underwhelming, market-specific electric camper with limited range, that progress didn't penetrate the motorhome industry. The Globevan e.Hybrid from Dethleffs looks to be a first big step in a more practical, widespread green camper van movement. Ford's Transit Connect PHEV's 13.6-kWh li-ion battery delivers 31 all-electric miles (50 km) with nary a puff of exhaust before the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine-generator kicks in to keep it moving another 279 miles (449 km) or so. And when drivers find the bottom of the gas tank, a fast fill at the fuel station will get them back on the road much quicker than a battery recharge. An all-electric camper van would have been splashier, but the Globevan's robust range and easy filling make it much more practical for today's outdoorsy traveler. Inside, the sub-5-m (16.4-ft) pop-top van features a simple four-sleeper layout with side kitchen, folding bench seating and roof bed. Prices start at €74,990 (approx. $83,450).

Honorable mention: The surging, swinging Reimo Weekender E

Best off-road adventure van: Storyteller Overland Mode 4x4

Storyteller Sprinter Mode 4x4 camper van
Storyteller Overland

There are legions of off-road adventure camper vans coming out every year, and many look near carbon-copied from the last batch. Storyteller Overland stands out with a Sprinter 4x4 camper it spent serious time thinking through, a US dealership network stretching coast to coast, and a focus on customer service, not always something you can rely on in an overland camper market that sees startup shops pop up in the dead of night and disappear just as quickly. With the 233-in (592-cm) Mode 4x4, Storyteller builds on the Sprinter 4x4's capabilities with stout off-road wheels, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and a full-size roof rack with access ladder. Inside, what appears to be a basic floor plan is actually a multifunctional shapeshifter, featuring components like the standing-height shower room that pops out of an overhead storage bin and cooler-size box (that actually works as a cooler when you don't need it as a shower drain) and a folding rear bed frame/work table. The Mode 4x4 ventures off-grid confidently with a lithium battery electrical system and delivers comforts like air conditioning and a microwave oven. It priced in at roughly $150,000 when we looked at it back in May.

Honorable mention: The highland-wandering, electric-cooking Campervan Co D:5 Terrain

Best camper van without the van: PlugVan

PlugVan debuts its unique slide-in camping module at CMT 2019
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas

We see new modular camper-in-a-box kits virtually every year, but this year's PlugVan took the category to new heights. Rather than a small tailgate box to turn van interior into camper, the PlugVan is essentially an enclosed camper van box that simply slides in through the load doors, stretches to size and turns an empty cargo hauler into a cozy camper van. It's loaded with smart, transformable hardware such as a movable kitchen/dining block, sliding cabinetry and convertible lounge/bed. A comprehensive wireless command system lets campers control all integrated electrical hardware with a mobile device or available Alexa voice control. The PlugVan can easily remove from the van, store away and free up the cargo van, and when it comes a time for buying a new van, the PlugVan makes the move, as it's compatible with a variety of European vans. As of publishing, it's €18,990 (approx. $21,125) for a fully equipped model and €9,990 ($11,125) for a basic version, and the PlugVan folks are hard at work on a new variant to debut in January 2020.

PlugVan installation animation
PlugVan

Honorable mention: The £274 ($360) Simple micro-campervan kit

Best light camper van: VW California Beach 6.1

In addition to the interior upgrades, the Beach 6.1 brings the cosmetic updates of the T6.1
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen updated its whole mid-size van lineup this year, starting with the T6.1 and carrying through to California 6.1 models including the entry-level Beach. Perhaps the most famous sleeper van in the world, the Beach has traditionally been the light, affordable VW camper van with a bed and pop-up roof but no additional amenities. With this year's update, it grows into a new 'tweener that we can only think to call a sleeper/eater van. It still maintains space for a roomy three-seat rear bench by eliminating the bulky kitchen block, but to ensure campers aren't forced to choke down nothing but trail mix and jerky, it also has a clever pull-out stove that stores away inconspicuously in the door panel. The van also benefits from VW's updated color touchscreen command center and still provides four occupants with comfy night's sleep on its folding downstairs bed and pop-up upstairs bed. Base price as of publishing is listed at €48,796 (approx. $54,300).

The VW Beach 6.1 kitchen disappears away into the wall panel like it's not even there
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Honorable Mention: Ford's bike-hauling multi-use Flexibus

Best camper van for comfortable, Instagram-worthy living: Frankia Yucon 7.0 Lounge

The Frankia Yucon 7.0's slide-out table works as a side table, coffee table and more
Frankia

In developing the all-new Yucon 7.0 Lounge, Germany's Frankia started with a 274-in (697-cm) Sprinter and went to work rearranging traditional furniture to create something that feels like a rolling living room. The interior includes a multi-position convertible sofa facing an entertainment center, a pull-out coffee table and integrated mobile device charging. At night, the sofa extends out into a double bed. The rear lounge is joined by a central kitchen area and front wet bathroom with retractable toilet. Whether sipping cocktails on the sofa while enjoying views out the rear doors, preparing meals in the kitchen or loading cargo below the false floor, the Yucon provides a thoughtfully configured cabin that maximizes space and comfort. As of publishing, the Yucon 7.0 Lounge base price lists at €79,900 ($88,900).

Frankia Yucon 7.0 Lounge
Frankia

Honorable mention: The high-powered Winnebago Boldt

Best (extra) custom van: Boho Golden Egg

The Boho Golden Egg's piece de resistance: slide-out tailgate foosball table

There's a lot to love about the Golden Egg from Arizona conversion shop Boho Vans, but to get the proper first impression, you'll need to approach it from the rear. Pop open the Ford Transit load doors and you'll find a very rare piece of camper van equipment: a slide-out foosball table for outdoor campsite entertainment and skill sharpening. Honestly, while a foosball table would be enough to get the Golden Egg's foot in the door for a "best of the year" list, it's really more of a personalized novelty than a trailblazing innovation. What really makes this van one of the best of 2019 is an interior that's among the homiest we've ever seen. Warm red cedar paneling throughout combines with a tiled kitchen to create the feel of a true home that just happens to be in a van. There's even a roaring (or at least murmuring) fireplace, along with an oven, space-optimizing pop-out shower stowed away in the bed steps, toilet hidden below the sofa and plenty of onboard power. We weren't privy to the invoice for this one, but we do know that Boho's full turnkey camper vans cost less than many interior conversions, so not a bad place to start a search for an affordable US camper van.

Outside of the foosball table, the kitchen is the highlight of the van, combining a full range, fireplace, tile and more

Honorable mention: The homebuilt $1,000 IKEA van

View gallery - 39 images
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2 comments
kenneth53
This site's obsession with camper vans is an eternal puzzle to me.
Mac Sinclair
I thought the site's obsession with camper vans was an eternal puzzle too. I just thought, maybe it was just to do with escapism... but then I rented a van for a week and tasted the forbidden fruit of roaming free

Very expensive as within three months I'd spent a fortune on a great Van that fits my electric bike and basically is a rolling man cave... huge fun