Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Vanspeed’s California Coast camper van is built for bold coastal adventures

This full-featured, 4WD adventure rig is inspired by easy, breezy West Coast livin'.

By
Vanspeed California Coast camper van parked in a parking lot.
Vanspeed

Despite what Instagram might have you believe, decking out your own custom vanlife rig from scratch ain’t easy. It takes a ton of time and even more money, and that’s assuming you already know what you’re doing. If you’re eager to hit the open road with your own tricked-out camper van but would rather leave the hard work to the pros, Vanspeed has you covered with its all-new California Coast build.

Get the full details on Vanspeed’s 2024 California Coast camper van

Looking into the sliding side door of Vanspeed's California Coast camper van.
Vanspeed

For its latest build, the SoCal-based company leaned heavily on the easy, breezy West Coast vibe for inspiration. The California Coast configuration is all about taking your outdoor sports obsession—whether that’s biking, surfing, kayaking, or hiking—with you wherever the road takes you. It starts life as a very capable and tech-heavy Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144 before Vanspeed customizes it to within an inch of its life to make it into a true vanlife-worthy chariot.

Recommended Videos

Stepping inside, it’s clear that this is no ordinary camper van build. Beautiful wood finishing, high-end finishes, and warm LED lighting abound. There’s a compact kitchen that’s surprisingly full-featured with a two-burner induction cooktop and an Isotherm fridge/freezer combo. A 25-gallon onboard freshwater tank provides plenty of water for drinking, dishes, cooking, and washing up. Plus, there’s ample storage between four drawers and several ceiling-mounted cabinets.

Convertible bed/dinette setup inside Vanspeed's California Coast camper van.
Vanspeed

With a heavy focus on outdoor gear, Vanspeed built in tons of under-bed storage and a clever “gear garage” at the rear. It’s purpose-built to accommodate larger items, including everything from hiking backpacks and mountain biking accessories to snowboards and kayaks. Whatever you need to take with you, the California Coast has you covered. There’s even a built-in vacuum system and a quick-connect outdoor shower, so you can keep your van clean, inside and out.

Related

Like all good custom van builds, the California Coast comes with a beefy solar electric setup. At its core is a 2,000-watt Xantrex inverter/charger mated to a 215 amp-hour AGM battery. Twin 100-watt Zamp solar panels keep it all topped up, and there’s even a 30-amp shore hookup for fast power-ups when you finally make it back to civilization. USB and standard 110-volt power outlets are thoughtfully placed throughout the cabin, allowing for quick top-ups of your mobile gear.

Build and spec your own Vanspeed California Coast camper van

Looking into the rear doors of Vanspeed's California Coast camper van build.
Vanspeed

The new California Coast build starts at $65,000, plus the cost of the donor Sprinter van. Because Vanspeed makes clever use of preset configurations, the company can turnaround their conversions in less than three months (compared to the typical 6- to 8-month waiting period). But, if even that’s too long, Vanspeed frequently has turnkey van builds ready to roll starting from around $140,000. Either way, you’ve got plenty of time to start planning your next camping trip right now.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
SylvanSport’s multifunction GO camper trailer gets an off-grid makeover for tackling the toughest terrain
Part camper, part adventure gear trailer, part toy hauler, this micro towable is all about versatility.
Rear view of SylvanSport's GO All-Terrain Camper Trailer being towed by a Jeep.

Whatever your flavor of camping, overlanding, or road-tripping, there’s a compact camper van, an RV, or a car camping setup for you. But for campers who like to mix things up every trip, versatility is key. That’s where SylvanSport’s all-new GOAT trailer comes in. Part pop-up tent camper, part outdoor gear trailer, part toy hauler, it’s designed to fit the active lifestyles of almost any outdoor lover.

The low-down on the Sylvan GO All-Terrain Overlanding Camping Trailer
The best outdoor gear does more than one thing well, and the GO All-Terrain (or “GOAT” — get it?) camper trailer is like the multi-tool vehicle accessory you never knew you needed. Like all of SylvanSport’s clever trailers, the GOAT boasts a versatile, jack-of-all-trades design, allowing owners to camp in it, haul their favorite outdoor gear, or even tow larger things like dirt bikes, quads, or mountain bikes. In its “collapsed” form, the integrated roof rack can carry kayaks, bikes, or anything too large for stashing on or in your vehicle. With the roof popped up, the cargo space is large enough to accommodate up to and including an ATV. The 950-pound max payload is hefty enough for all of the above.

Read more
This popular truck camper shell maker is debuting its first fully furnished overlander camper
With room for four, a full kitchen, and four-season usability, it's everything you need and nothing you don't.
Rear corner view of the Tufport Overlander truck camper concept.

Compact campervans are getting all the love right now as the go-anywhere adventure vehicles. But, when you’re looking to get seriously off the beaten path, a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive truck is the only way to go. For overlanding pickup owners, slide-in truck bed campers are the easiest all-in-one solution. Thankfully, Tufport just announced their first entry into the Overlander camper space, and it’s a stunner.

Get the low-down on Tufport’s Overlander truck camper
The all-new Overlander is built to be a rugged, off-road-ready home away from home for ultra-minimalist overland travelers. The Sea to Sky model—the first model in the Overlander truck camper series—features everything you need and nothing you don’t. Stepping inside through the large rear access door reveals a wall-mounted couch that transforms into a twin bed for maximum live/work/sleep flexibility. Immediately across is a wide galley kitchen with spacious countertops, a vertical pantry cabinet, and plenty of extra storage throughout. An over-cab sleeping area serves as the main “bedroom.” Screened, tinted windows and a roof vent bring plenty of natural light into the space and allow it to feel more airy. It also feels surprisingly roomy at 72 inches wide with 65 inches of interior headroom.

Read more
This van life camper van sleeps 8, goes everywhere, and you can rent it for less than a hotel would cost
Explore the best of the U.S. in these custom-built, four-wheel-drive, go-anywhere rigs
Moterra Campervan rental parked in a Utah National Park campsite.

The quintessential image of modern van life is one of unbridled freedom, of taking to the open road, of living on your terms and going whichever the wind takes you. While that can be pretty accurate, actually living the van life can also be expensive. There’s buying the van, the time and investment required for building it out, and, of course, the looming cost of repairs, which can seriously add up. But what if you could have all the fun of van living without the expense and hassle of actually owning a campervan? That’s where comes in.

Here’s the low-down on Moterra Campervans
Moterra Campervans is a rental agency offering short-term campervan rentals in the United States. These aren’t your old-school Westfalias (no disrespect intended) but high-end, late-model, four-wheel-drive, van life-worthy rigs ready to take you just about anywhere. Picture your next vacation: Trading in your typical hotel room and boring rental sedan for a go-anywhere van life rig purpose-built for exploration.

Read more