Derek’s interior is more than spacious enough two people, and has enough height so that a 6ft person can stand with space to spare. Well designed with:
– Pull out sofa that becomes a double bed. Extremely comfortable memory foam mattress
– A separator slides up between the kitchen and the cab at night, completely disguising camper from the outside and providing additional insulation. It feels extremely warm, safe and cosy
– Extremely thoroughly insulated – this van maintains its temperature very well, even on cold nights. We’ve had sub zero nights in him and have been warm and cosey. Equally, it never gets overly hot in the summer
– Clad interior treated with danish oil.
– Durable wood laminate floor, easy to clean
– Electric fan in the roof, reversible so can be air in or air out
– Fold-down table, made from reclaimed wooden floorboards. Can be opened up to be more than big enough for 2 to eat and play a boardgame comfortably.
– Fold-down exterior table, made from reclaimed wood
– Handmade cupboard doors with custom handles. These have been left wood but could easily be painted by the next owner
– Lighting – spotlights in the ceiling and above the sink. Warm light LED strips under cabinets for a cosy feel in the evenings
– Lots of storage for clothes (including hanging rail), cooking utensils, food and drinks. Space under the bed for camping chairs and bigger items. Was ample storage for a 6-month trip
– Bookshelf with extra storage
– Bulkhead storage (we keep the bedding there)
– Small 300w 12v electric heater (heats the van in minutes)

Electrics

Derek is a completely gas-free, off-grid camper! All power is generated by a 300w solar panel and stored by 6 leisure batteries providing 660 AH. The hob is an induction hob, removing all risk of carbon monoxide issues. The batteries can also be charged from a mains power supply if needed or from the alternator while driving if an additional power boost is needed. We’ve spent weeks in this van in Scotland, Wales and even Norway and Sweden and have always been impressed by how much power the solar panel generates. Also has the option to plug in and run directly off mains power if needed.
While off-grid, in the UK the solar and batteries give enough power for us to use the lights for several hours, charge laptops / phones, run the fridge for a couple of hours (once it gets cold, its so well insulated that it stays cold), and run the hob to make several teas and a dinner. If you’re planning a multi-course, high power use cook, you can just plug the van into a mains hook up.

Kitchen and Water

We built Derek to be an off-grid camper. The 100ltr water tank is more than enough for 2 people for 7 days.
An electric pump, pumps water from the 100ltr water tank to the kitchen tap. Derek has a full-size kitchen sink which drains into a waste tank which can be emptied through a valve or removed completely for thorough cleaning.
– Fridge (pulls out from under the sink) can be powered either by 240v or 12v. Adjustable temperature
– Hammered copper splashback
– Wooden worktop with ample workspace

Bathroom

– Derek has a compact chemical toilet that slides away snugly into a cupboard
– An outdoor shower, providing air temperature water