Off-Grid Sprinter Vans For Full-Time Living

Solar charges a lithium battery bank, the van runs at 12V off that bank, and an inverter makes 110V for ordinary household outlets. A DC-DC charger refills the batteries while you drive, so a travel day is also a charging day. An RV has to be plugged in; this does not.

The two builds with the most power

• Olympus, from $183,595, our most popular build: a 400Ah lithium battery, 400W of solar, a 2500W pure sine inverter and charger, a 40A DC-DC charger, shore power, a 12V Nomadic rooftop A/C, an Espar cabin heater, the full insulation package, an indoor wet bath and 33 gallons of fresh water.
• El Capitan, from $202,395, our top tier: an 800Ah lithium battery bank, up to 400W of solar on extended wheelbase models, a 3000W pure sine inverter and charger, a 60A DC-DC charger, a 12V Nomadic rooftop A/C, an Espar cabin heater, the premium insulation package, a fully tiled indoor shower and 33 gallons of fresh water.

Zion, from $161,795, is built for week-long trips with the odd night on shore power, with a 400Ah lithium battery and 300W of solar, rather than for months off grid.

Prices include a $75,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter allowance. A Ford Transit averages $57,000 and a Ram ProMaster $56,000, so a build on either starts lower.

Heat, cooling and insulation

• An Espar cabin heater, running on diesel or gasoline, keeps the van warm parked or driving.
• A 12V rooftop A/C on Olympus and El Capitan runs off the battery bank, so cooling does not need a hookup.
• Havelock wool in the premium insulation package handles moisture better than foam, which matters in a van that gets cooked in Phoenix and slept in at 20 degrees.
• A Maxxair Deluxe roof fan with remote moves air without running the A/C.

Upgrades for living on the road

• More lithium: 100Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries with Bluetooth
• More solar: 100W or 200W panels, a foldable solar suitcase, and a 100A MPPT charger
• A battery monitoring screen
• A weBoost Drive X cell signal booster
• A 110V 15K air conditioner with heat pump
• A 40-gallon fresh water tank and a water purification unit

Every option is priced before you pick it. For a full-time build drawn from an empty van, see Bespoke: a weekender and a full-time off-grid build are not the same battery bank.