By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, our favorite creative outside-the-box RV builder, President Chay (1.29M subscribers), unveils his latest creation—the world’s smallest camper!
Chay and his brother found a tiny van on Facebook Marketplace to build their RV around. This isn’t your average camper conversion; it’s a masterclass in maximizing space and creating an off-grid oasis in the most unexpected vehicle.
The adventure began with a 1999 Subaru van, a right-hand drive imported from Japan with just 71,000 km on the clock. But the real kicker? It has four-wheel drive. This wasn’t just about building a camper; it was about building a camper that could handle any terrain. As Chay says, with four-wheel drive, you can camp anywhere!
Weighing the potential
Before diving into the build, they weighed the empty van: 2,380 lbs. This crucial step provided a baseline to measure the added weight of the conversion. Keeping weight down is key for off-road performance and fuel efficiency.
Next, they completely gutted the van. The goal was to start with a blank slate and maximize every inch of space.
Putting a floor in the van wasn’t as simple as laying down some plywood. With the engine in the back, they had to frame around it, leaving room for future maintenance. This created an empty space that ended up being perfect for the water tank and electrical system.
After adding some insulation over the engine to help keep things quiet, they laid down four sheets of plywood. Two were permanently mounted, but two were removable so they could still get to the engine when needed.
Next up were the walls. Chay admits it felt wrong to screw into a door that would never open again, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made! They also blacked out the unused windows. This hides the wood and insulation from the outside, creating a stealthy and clean look.
No camper is complete without a kitchen. The brothers built a custom cabinet to house a microwave, refrigerator, and sink. Above the kitchen area, they added a cabinet on the ceiling to give more storage and separate the driving area.
World’s smallest camper electrical and water systems
Having water on the road is extremely important. They managed to fit a 21-gallon tank in. That’s enough water for a shower every day for a week! They also added an external nozzle for filling the tank. To get the water out, they installed a water pump that automatically starts pumping whenever you turn on a faucet. For warm showers on the go, a small water heater was installed under the sink.
As the main focus of this van is being able to take it anywhere and live in it for basically however long, the electrical system is fairly complicated. To start, they wired regular plugs and light switches. The van’s initial power source was a plug on the outside, meaning it had to be plugged into the grid—so that needed upgrading.
The stock battery was too small, so they replaced it with two giant ones. Wired in parallel, they provided a combined total of 220 amp hours. According to Chay, that’s almost enough electricity to keep an iPhone charged for a year. The inverter turns the battery power into the AC power we all use in our houses.
To keep those batteries charged, they installed solar panels. On a sunny day, these panels can generate 200 watts of electricity. In perfect conditions, that’s enough to recharge the batteries from completely dead in about 12 hours. They also wired the batteries to the alternator, so they charge while the engine is running.
Finishing touches
With the major systems in place, it was time to focus on aesthetics. The cabinets got a fresh coat of paint.
The ceiling was tricky because there weren’t many places to screw into. Their solution was spray foam that acted as both an insulator and an adhesive. After supporting the ceiling while the foam dried, the result was amazing.
For those nights out in the middle of nowhere, they added exterior lights. They used subway tile to create a shower area and kitchen backsplash. They filled the gaps with black silicone to avoid cracking.
Trim work covered wires, nail holes, and gaps—which refined the overall appearance. A final coat of white paint on the wooden walls brought everything together.
The road test: Weighing, driving, and off-roading
After completion, the brothers headed back to the weigh station to see how much weight they added. The new weight, with full gas and water tanks, was 2,900 lbs. They only added 520 lbs.
The drive to their first campsite was about 100 miles. The only way to get to the campsite was through a very muddy road. They started in two-wheel drive, but quickly got stuck. Engaging four-wheel drive, they easily crawled out.
From a humble Subaru van to a fully functional micro camper, this build showcases ingenuity and resourcefulness. The four-wheel drive ensures adventure is always on the table.
What do you think of the brothers’ tiny camper build? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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##RVT1201
My Cascade Camper isn’t much bigger and I LOVE it! I can stealth camp anywhere.
That was fun. But having unvented lead-acid batteries inside the passenger compartment seems a bit unsafe.
Nice job and nice video!
Cool!..I could downsize from my 30′ to that..More than likely better fuel economy.
Thank you for noting this video, Cheri! Very interesting. Seeing the both of them inside the RV having dinner made it all seem more like a playhouse instead of a full-size RV. Still, fascinating video, thanks! Have a great week and safe travels!