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Photo: Norden Built/ Vanlife Trader
Nowadays, camper van travel has become increasingly popular due to the increase in remote work possibilities and a growing desire for freedom and adventure. Once used mainly as work vehicles, meticulously converted panel vans can now serve as versatile campers that can handle both road trips and daily life with ease.
The camper van featured in this piece is a great example in this regard. What we have here is a 2025 AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 with a 144-inch wheelbase and a high roof that has been professionally converted into a family adventure van by the team at Norden Built, a boutique conversion shop based in Alberta, Canada, that specializes in custom, high-end camper van conversions featuring Scandinavian-inspired minimalist design and robust off-grid capabilities.
Dubbed the Family Weekend Van, this camper van is designed for quick getaways with the family or friends, providing five belted seats and sleeping for up to five people. The great thing about this build is that it can still easily do double duty as an everyday vehicle due to its compactness, easy maneuverability, and flexible layout that seamlessly adapts from travel mode to camp mode. This means it can tackle everything from everyday errands to longer off-grid adventures.
Finished in Gray, the Sprinter’s exterior strikes a perfect balance between elegant simplicity and ruggedness. It features various exterior upgrades that give it an assertive stance and improve its adventure capability, such as a VanCompass 4.3 suspension upgrade, Black Rhino 17-inch wheels, and Nokian Outpost nAT tires.
Photo: Norden Built/ Vanlife Trader
What’s more, the outfitter equipped it with a Roambuilt aluminum front bumper with a Warn winch and Roambuilt skid plate. At the rear, they installed an OWL two-in-one tire carrier/ladder combo and an OWL B2 Pro Carrier with a LOLO three-bike rack, further highlighting the expedition-ready look.
Up top, there is also a custom aluminum roof rack with a perforated surface. A 50-inch light bar is attached to the front of this rack, while a Fiamma F45s manual awning creates a shaded area on the passenger side. AMP electric steps on both sides of the van and Flarespace bumpouts that increase the usable interior space complete the list of exterior modifications.
In a compact space like the interior of this Sprinter 144, every decision counts and every element serves a purpose. To maximize the use of space and create a family-friendly layout, the van outfitter opted for an open-cab configuration. They installed two pivoting captain’s chairs up front and paired them with a Scopema three-person convertible bench in the cargo area, thus creating five belted seats in total.
Photo: Norden Built/ Vanlife Trader
For overnight accommodation, the van relies on a rear dual-panel bed with slats and a comfortable five-inch foam mattress and the Scopema bench, which folds flat and turns into an additional bed. In total, the Family Weekend Van can sleep four adults or two adults and three children.
The only issue with transforming a 144-inch Sprinter into a family van with multiple sleeping spaces is that some other amenities have to be compromised, and in this case, the kitchen is the main casualty.
Due to the limited floor space available, Norden Built only included a small kitchen unit with an integrated stainless-steel sink and an undercounter Isotherm Cruise 85 fridge. For cooking, the team included a microwave and a portable one-burner induction cooker, which can be placed on a flip-up counter extension.
Photo: Norden Built/ Vanlife Trader
A Lagun-style mount for a removable table is also attached to the side of the kitchen unit, providing a flexible dining and work surface. Owners’ storage needs are handled by several overhead cabinets and three deep drawers integrated under the Scopema bench. The raised bed platform at the rear also makes room for a spacious garage area for larger items like luggage, camping gear, or sporting equipment.
There is no internal bathroom inside this build, which means no sewage system and no black tank to take care of. A nine-gallon grey tank with electric remote drain valve catches and disposes of the sink water. However, a shower hose for rinsing off sandy feet and muddy gear after a day outside is included at the rear.
In terms of interior finishes, the builder used a white marine vinyl ceiling, Lonseal Lonridge marine-grade flooring, and Marathon Tweed wall fabric. The van has AMAUTO half-slider windows with mosquito netting, as well as sliding windows in the Flarespace body flares for improved ventilation.
Photo: Norden Built/ Vanlife Trader
Built with a premium insulation package comprising 3M Thinsulate SM600L insulation in the walls and ceiling and half-inch foam beneath the floor, and equipped with an Espar S3 diesel heater and a Maxxair 7500K roof fan, this camper van ensures interior comfort in any season.
Moreover, a quality Victron electrical system enables off-grid self-sufficiency. It includes a Victron 3,000-watt inverter, a 320Ah lithium battery bank that can be upgraded to 640Ah, 200 watts of solar, and 100-amp alternator charging. Shore-power connectivity is also available. This system runs all onboard appliances and devices, allowing travelers to enjoy the comforts of home wherever they roam.
With its five-seat configuration, flexible sleeping arrangement, and practical amenities, the Family Weekend Van manages to bridge the gap between a daily driver and a capable camper. The turnkey-ready unit you see here with all the features presented above is currently for sale for $182,000, allowing you to embark on vanlife adventures right away.