We wrote about several camper vans in 2019, ranging from V10-powered overlanding beasts to stunning 3D-printed visions of the future. Some were expensive. Others would be impractical to own. Many were reserved for Europeans, because Europeans get all the nice camping things. But it’s still fun to dream about leaving that desk behind and embracing that #vanlife (and hey, import laws don’t apply in your imagination).
Here are five of our favorite camper vans from this past year.
The Bela Trendy
“Camping trailers may be all the rage among many people these days, but they’re hardly the only option for folks looking to live a mobile life. Take, for example, The Bela Trendy, which debuted at the 2019 Dusseldorf Caravan Salon. The 1S version is a complete motorhome — albeit one with a tiny car-like footprint that’s smaller than a traditional camper van.” —Tyler Duffy
VR Motorhomes Landyacht
“Land yacht has become a common term for large, luxurious vehicles such as giant Cadillacs or modern Toyota Land Cruisers. Now, a German company called VR Motorhomes has built a “land yacht” camper van — one that combines an upscale, yacht-like interior with enough lithium-ion battery capacity to practically sail around the world.” —Tyler Duffy
Winnebago Solis
“Those seeking an affordable camper for smaller families can rejoice: Winnebago has unveiled the Solis, which is the Iowa-based company’s first pop-top camper van. The Solis offers serious capability and versatility for up to four people at a reasonable price point.” —Tyler Duffy
Hymer VisionVenture
“German motorhome manufacturer Hymer has partnered with chemical giant BASF on the VisionVenture campervan to give us a window into what the near future of camper vans will likely look like. The concept incorporates 20 high-performance plastics, 100 3D-printed components, and a new type of reflective paint to present a near-production glimpse into the future of van life.” —Tyler Duffy
Sportsmobile Classic 4×4
“These bad boys use Ford’s 6.8-liter V10 with 305 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. They are 7 feet 10 inches tall with the “penthouse” top, which pops up for extra room inside. The Sportsmobile vans have 16.5 inches of ground clearance and a 44-degree approach angle (the same as a Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon). They also can tow up to 10,000 pounds.” —Tyler Duffy
