Van Tour: Ultimate Off-Grid MWB Sprinter Van

After building our own van during the pandemic we fell in love with Vanlife travel and building vans from scratch. We have decided to make a big life change, quitting our jobs to travel the world and build vans. We'd love to know what you think of this build. We have included all the things we love from our van design, improved them and added some new ideas based on using our van. We are selling this van and are off on our next adventure to Australia to build a new van and travel there. We hope you enjoy our first video.
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[@truebluetravellers]

This was our first van tour we did for UA-cam but our second one was very different, on the other side of the world in Australia, so if you fancy taking a look at that one check it out here
ua-cam.com/video/3yoU8Na0S3Q/v-deo.html

[@terrywright8347]

Already watched all of these. Pity you didn't film the build, that would have been great to see.. Someone ended up with an awesome van...

[@ReNcEsTaR]

I started following you at the Sainsbury’s build, and now I’m starting back at the beginning. Please take this as the compliment that it’s intended to be. Your content and confidence on camera has come on massively over the last year! Love the channel and the quality of the builds and content

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much mate, no totally agree we are so flat and slow at the beginning, good to look back on and cringe a bit too 😂👍

[@RemplacementTV]

some good ideas out there.
this kind of foldable hideable shower is definetely a concept to develop and improve in vans , since the only requirement are basically an evacuation hole in the floor and a curtain

[@AJ-hv1fz]

This is so unique. It's so neat how rooms miraculously show up when you couldn't see how all that was in there(shower, toilet, bed extensions, etc)All the extension pullout were neat. Very innovative

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much AJ

[@carolhewett3756]

By far the best shower I've seen yet in 3 years of looking at van videos.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Carol 😁

[@JuneHolman-hh2yt]

Nice to see the devolution of your presentations over the year. From sprinter to big red. Missing the umm errs Jess. 😊 Chris and June.

[@truebluetravellers]

😂😂😂 it’s so funny when we watch these back

[@bbette00]

That is the best conversion I have ever seen!!!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Yvette

[@escherichiacoli7069]

really nice indoor shower solution!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@paulversteegh7376]

Wow! Love your van build. Absolutely awesome. Best shower design and seems so simple to use. Love the extra bed design. Seems comfy. I hope to see a more detailed video(s) on each component.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Paul, I’m obsessed with trying to make things as easy as possible, sometimes a little too obsessed 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️😂

[@michellegaeb2291]

Brilliant hidden shower!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much 😃

[@bergmichel5348]

Looks great!

[@deebie8474]

Brilliant build guys with cleaver features iv not seen before plus first class workmanship.

[@Hope-bn9xz]

I love this build and all the extra bits ! 👍

[@truebluetravellers]

Thank you

[@t-bags1434]

By far the BEST build I've ever seen! This is so uniquely thought-out and so creative! Great job

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much

[@debrasexton6050]

Love that it’s not a cluttered mess. ❤

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Debra

[@Bethizzzzle]

Love it! So excited to see your adventures!! ☀️

[@truebluetravellers]

Thank you ❤❤❤

[@Linda-ki5xh]

Really love the way all front seats swivel to make a really decent couch! How logical!!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Linda, yeah that’s what we thought, it’s a bit more of a faf spinning a double rather than 2 singles but makes up for it in space

[@yolandayussy5818]

Love this van layout🥰❤️

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much 😄

[@mysticalsouls]

That's a great build, love the shower setup

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much, we have refined it from our first build and are so happy with how it turned out

[@wilneshiajones2420]

One of the best I’ve seen❤❤❤

[@truebluetravellers]

That’s so lovely of you to say thank you 😃

[@debbiekollar7508]

I love this design! It is so perfect! I need this!❤️

[@truebluetravellers]

Thank you ❤

[@juliaallen1880]

Best one ever. Love the seats and bathroom inside

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Julia

[@bbcarbo9251]

One of the best conversions I've seen......if not the best .

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much

[@davidstorey8405]

Love the van.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks David

[@scoop2591]

WOW !!!! AWESOME !!!! 😲👍👍👍

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@donnagarross1730]

That shower is genius! Lovely build

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks donna

[@sherinafranks9145]

Very Neat and simple

[@jeremybrand6654]

Brilliant!!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Jeremy 😁

[@sherinafranks9145]

Absolutely Beautiful

[@truebluetravellers]

That’s really kind of you to say, thanks

[@mindshelfpro]

Nice build. I would move the fridge to a side area like under the stove or the sink so there is a pass through area under the bed from the garage to the front of the van. Good job.

[@rowdysgirlalways]

Bathroom and shower set up is brilliant! Love the bed, especially the coverlet on it. The table is very clever as is the single bed. However, I didn't see a CO2/smoke detector or a fire extinguisher. Call me crazy, but I'm a firm believer in having such safety equipment to hand, just in case. Very good job.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much, Yep the co2 and carbon manicure were on the back of the cupboard at the back of the bed, and fire extinguisher under the sink, we fit them in every build as I totally agree with you it’s a must 😁👍

[@MyLittleFarmhouse]

I love the single bed idea 😍👍🏽🇦🇺

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much 😁

[@moldyduster347]

Great design. Loved it!!!!😊

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@daleme8187]

Best I've ever seen. Great job!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks dale

[@TregTube]

Some great ideas and and lovely touches in this van. Looking forward to seeing more

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much! 😄

[@lewisjudd1153]

Brilliant build 👏

[@truebluetravellers]

Cheers mate 👍

[@lazaromontalvo7073]

Wooow i am like

[@adammelvin4753]

That is such a well thought out design! Looks amazing.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Adam

[@jst1261]

Super smart design!👌👍👌👍...

[@truebluetravellers]

Thank you so much

[@themobilehome]

Your entire project turned out wonderful. But the bathroom was the best I've ever seen in this format including LOVED it. Brazil! 😍

[@kellypoulos8702]

Great floor plan, well done!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Kelly 😄👍

[@terrywright8347]

Just gone back to the start of your channel. The way you both have improved as presenters is astonishing. I'm convinced you'll be on TV

[@truebluetravellers]

😂😂😂 thanks 😁. 😂😂😂 we look back to the beginning and cringe so much but it’s brilliant because it just shows how much we have learnt and are still learning, thanks ever so much for watching and your support, means a lot 👍💙

[@andrewmargan5677]

Ditto. I just went to your first video. Still loved it. Can see how far you’ve come. Well done guys.

[@saratemp790]

Great ideas here.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Sara

[@laurensommers6848]

Best Van build ever ! Love the shower .... this is a van that I would buy.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Lauren

[@Mecurial_Meanderings]

I am really enjoying looking back through your archive of videos.
I love this build - it would be pretty much my ideal design and layout. I particularly like the option of the third single bed - also the composting toilet idea (I have never thought of using one in a van).

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks mate, they are brilliant, much better than a chemical toilets, we have had 4 now in different vans 👍

[@ornellazancato1593]

Compliments the van is super functional, shower and third bed fantastic idea

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much for your kind comments we really appreciate it

[@melvinlaycock8851]

Watched all your vlogs now very good all of them can't wait for next one

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much mate 👍

[@BornTimes2]

Fantastic build, that shower is so cool!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much, the design works great for us 😃

[@cynthiacarrion2190]

Wow this is amazing 😮😮😮😮😮😮all the stuff you put in there

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Cynthia

[@francismaeestelendres4178]

Amazing

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Francis

[@ThatGirlLib]

Very impressive build. 👏🏼

[@truebluetravellers]

Thank you

[@sachinpadad3135]

i like, very nice management

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks sachin

[@commuterbranchline8132]

Brilliant build👍

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks 😁

[@mikebourke1185]

Fantastic well thought out ..😍✌Stay Free and Safe Travels

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Mike 👍

[@BossLady263]

Super impressed with the shower 🚿 and that's it's in UK.well done.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much 😃

[@ka-hr3bb]

とても機能の詰まったアイデア一杯の車両
このサイズで実用的なシャワーとトイレがあるのが凄い！
常設スライド式のベッドも良い反面リビングスペースが少ないのは残念
仕切りが無く開放感があり欲しくなる1台でした❤

[@pumpkin4539]

Very nice, creative design. Thanks for sharing.

[@truebluetravellers]

No worries, thanks for the comment

[@belowfray5251]

Really nice!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks!

[@relaxingmusic8537]

Excellent job 👍

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@ingridspeijer4837]

OMG I’m in love with your van! Well done!!😍 Love from Holland

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Ingrid, love the name Ingrid by the way

[@markplenty2631]

Im going to start from the beginning, you and jon are so creative!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much, really appreciate it 💙

[@max_6685]

Looking forward to seeing your adventures ‘down under in Australia!’

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks buddy

[@TTV_Nebula_Rift]

Hi max

[@akashb6637]

Big support from India ♥️

[@truebluetravellers]

Amazing! Thanks

[@gloriasarge3563]

Absolutely gorgeous and quite versatile. Every inch of the RV is used in a manner of Utilization. Love it. What a RV like this cost?. I marvel over it.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Gloria, vans at this sort of spec are in the range of £30-£40k in the uk

[@Bilbodabumbaclaaat]

Brilliant build. The shower & the 2nd bed was real nice. Love it.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@charlottepaine7542]

Amazing build, what a great van! 👏🏻

[@jerriem364]

Very nice❤

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Jerrie 😃

[@josephladner4818]

Hello, very nice and high quality workmanship, keep up with the great work.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Joseph

[@amapolaamapola5835]

Que bonita camperización

[@truebluetravellers]

gracias amigo

[@sandykunkle9466]

I had to read all the comments that were said about your van. I thought that it was a fabulous layout and functional. You did an awesome job .
Thanks for sharing. Hope to see more of your next build and life in Aussie, how long or short it may be.
God bless you.

[@truebluetravellers]

Hi Sandy, what a lovely message, thanks very much

[@domconne2785]

完美、漂亮

[@truebluetravellers]

That’s lovely of you to say 😃

[@GULNARTIRES]

Toilet- shower Awesome 👏

[@truebluetravellers]

Cheers

[@GibbG]

Awesome build mate you've done fantastic with it. Best of luck to you both, hope you have an amazing time and enjoy every second! Just subbed so I'll be following you all the way 👍🏼

[@truebluetravellers]

Cheers mate

[@lisaalexander7248]

Neat Van

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Lisa

[@cakesandpastries7504]

love from ph ♥️🇵🇭

[@susidiro7417]

Woooow benar benar bagus banget nich 😎😎😎😎

[@brookandjulius]

Nice build guys 👏🏼 we’re building out a LWB sprinter at the moment and loving the process! Can see how you got addicted to building!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much, just watched a couple of your videos, it looks like yours is coming along great. Hope to see you on the road 😀

[@brookandjulius]

@@truebluetravellers Oh thank you! Yeah we're making slow, but good progress :) Hopefully will cross paths somewhere!

[@denisephillips9269]

Agree with stove placement near door. Only way I could do it!

[@truebluetravellers]

It’s so lovely looking out to wherever you are parked up cooking dinner or making a cup of tea. I agree you can’t beat it!

[@khunjeabchannel]

I love the shower setup ❤💯

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks

[@mysticalsouls]

great build, I'm in Australia, you'll probably be shocked at the price of living when you get here, it's getting out of control but there are definitely ways to save if you're handy with building and living off grid etc. Looking forward to following your travels

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much, yeah the uk is ridiculous at the minute too with some of the prices of stuff so will be interesting to see the difference

[@barbarajanebelanger7878]

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@richardseabourne9545]

What a great layout, very well thought out. I'm impressed I must say, I also love your Guy Martin hat 😎😎

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks ever so much Richard. Unfortunately he’s grown a Guy Martin mop to match lately 😂😂😂😂

[@richardseabourne9545]

@truebluetravellers brilliant, he won't need the hat to keep his head warm so he can send it to me 😂😆. Ps thanks for replying

[@truebluetravellers]

@@richardseabourne9545 😂😂😂 he needs it to hide the mess!!! Someone said he looks like Marv from home alone the other day 😂😂 thanks for watching and commenting, we really appreciate it.

[@richardseabourne9545]

@truebluetravellers me and my gf have just discovered your channel and love it, she even kissed her guns this morning 😆😂

[@truebluetravellers]

@@richardseabourne9545 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂love it

[@TheCotton81]

Wow a smaller van that still sleeps 3 people ❤. I hope to see a smaller van that could sleep 4 .

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks, you can buy/ make beds that go across the front seats so this could easily sleep 4 but there are only 3 belted seats so we decided not to add this. If you just google “bed across front seats” there are lots of different variations of a similar style. Sorry I can’t add a pic for you but I can’t figure out how 🤦‍♀️

[@jasminepetal3972]

All i for sure need in my van would be bed elecricity from solar camp propane stove make shift running water made from hose and a sink

[@meirulu]

👍👍

[@robertfreund7525]

Great solution for shower and toilet.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks Robert

[@zedmak]

Loved it. Clean design, love the use of space and it seemed light. Will you publish your plans?

[@truebluetravellers]

We don’t really have any plans, we just did some rough drawings on scrap paper but happy to answer any questions if that is helpful 😀

[@thekoolaidd3732]

1st.Haven’t seen camper van prioritized 3rd person (guest) cause mostly we’ve seen are for only couples van.
2nd. That shower build is very minimal and simple to set.

[@truebluetravellers]

Yeah you don’t see many van builds for more than 2 hey, I’d like to do a 4 berth with a double bed at the back but slight higher up with 2 singles underneath for kids, 🤔maybe the next sprinter build

[@sharonking5323]

Love this! The pull out single bed is amazing. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get the pull out base?

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much but unfortunately we made the base ourselves 👍

[@user-vd2yv8yb9o]

Love this van and only just realised it isn’t the van that you took round Europe. 😮
What happed to this one? I assume you sold it.. ? Was it built to sell, cos you refer to it as if it’s not ‘your van’. Just curious 🧐
Keep doing what you’re doing. Cos as a family of three, we love watching you’re stuff… you’ve even overtaken ‘Keely and Philly’ as our fave UA-camrs!
Can’t wait to see how the fire truck turns out.

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much guys, yep this one we just built to sell, I was fed up at work and I was thinking about quitting to build vans but we ended up quitting and doing the UA-cam thing 😊

[@patmccormack8135]

Happy New Year from Patagonia. Really Good build. I really like the shower(s). What is the finished vehicle weight?

[@truebluetravellers]

Happy new year to you too pat, I haven’t got it weighed yet but going off my previous van build which was pretty similar I expect it to come in around the 3 tonne mark, so leaves 500. Kg payload here in the UK, one way of saving weight was by using 6mm ply on the walls and ceiling and routing a v groove in it to give it a tongue and groove affect. This saves allot of weight and also won’t gap like tradition t&g does, I meant to mention this (and allot more) in the video but totally forgot when the camera was on me 🤦‍♀️

[@nicolab6950]

We have just got a vw crafter to convert for us and our son and this design has solved our dilema of where to put the third bed and have a shower. Genius. Can I ask where you got the shower tray as I cant find one thats 60x90cm. We are also watching all your videos for more great ideas. Thanks Nicola

[@truebluetravellers]

Hi Nicola, thanks very much for watching and I’m so glad it’s helpful for you, so I’ll drop a link in below for the shower tray, they’re not cheap but are the only ones I could find, I’ve just bought another for my latest sprinter build 👍,
www.romerworld.co.uk/product-page/stainless-steel-shower-trays

[@technicalitems731]

Love the shower!!!! But how long does it take to the curtain to dry before folding it up?

[@truebluetravellers]

Not long, it’s attached on by press studs so u can always remove and refit quite quickly too if needed

[@2gj906]

Amazing build, the only thing I'd probably do different is replace the 1000W inverter to a beefier one (a 2000W or a 3000W perhaps just in fear of not overheating the inverter as a result of plugging a power hungry device). Also do you guys utilize alternator charging through the DC to DC charger?

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks for that, yes it’s got a victron 30amp dc dc charger which charges the leisure batteries, I put a 1000w in as we have a inverter in our own van of 1000w but we have never used it, I try to charge everything via 12v rather than using the inverter but yep I agree definitely put a bigger one in if you run more 240v appliances

[@bernarddroege7022]

Best shower ever! But, how does that double seat swivel?

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks so much! It’s on a swivel base like the single. This is where we got if from rjcampersolutions.co.uk/shop/ols/products/open-top-double-swivel-seat-base hope that helps

[@CulpritsTV]

Great Jo, does the van have a lift kit? installed? looks higher than mine!

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks, no just standard suspension, but was empty so maybe would drop slightly fully loaded 😁

[@DanielFerreira-wb3js]

👋👋👋👋👋👍👍

[@rohanraj1847]

[@edtaylor7469]

You are really good at building a campervan. Just working my way through your builds backwards as i joined you at the start of the Sainsbury's build. Have you thought about doing it as a business?

[@truebluetravellers]

Thanks very much 👍, I did but to be honest I really enjoy the builds but I think if I did it for a living I wouldn’t enjoy it so much, but I’ll never say never as if UA-cam doesn’t work out then maybe 😊👍

[@edtaylor7469]

@@truebluetravellers yes you are spot on there. Once you do something for a job it totally changes it. You are building them for yourself for your requirements which is a lot more for filling.
Really enjoyed the WA trip. Contemplating moving over with my family for a bit and Busselton looks a good base.

[@truebluetravellers]

@@edtaylor7469 yep busso and bunbury is a lovely area and now they have an airport there it’s better for fifo work or just going in and out to Perth 👍👍

[@El-Tel63-Terry.]

Very nice indeed 👍🏻 but surely that's just a separation toilet? It takes months to compost.

[@truebluetravellers]

Yep I agree, they call them composting toilets but like you say in reality it’s not in there long enough to compost, I think it’s more that once you dispose of it it will then compost down.
We prefer them tho as we think they smell less than chemical toilets, are easier to empty when travelling and also you don’t have to worry about using chemicals