A mobile lifestyle, as in living or traveling in a tiny home on wheels, is all about exploration and being closer to nature, at least for most people. Modern camper vans allow you to do these things while still enjoying superior comfort, even luxury—the catch is you have to have the right budget to afford a high-quality rig like the one I'm checking out today.
Meet the Grand Tourer camper van by Trek RV, a Milton Keynes, UK-based company specializing in the supply, design, and construction of luxury camper van conversions.
The Grand Tourer is one of three conversion types offered by Trek RV. It can be based either on the Volkswagen Crafter or Man TGE vans – the rig I'm checking out today is based on the latter model.
Before we take a closer look at the camper van, let's discuss pricing since I know that's something that's on most people's minds. The Grand Tourer has a standard price of £134,000 ($173,316), including the base vehicle. If you bring your own van, you must dish out £80,000 ($103,711) for the conversion.
There are also two more trims based on the Grand Tourer: the Grand Tourer Plus or the Grand Tourer Geo, which cost £2,000 ($2,590) more. The build I want to showcase today is based on the Plus variant. Let's see what you get for that.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Trek RV
As always, I'll start the tour with the exterior. The vehicle rides on BFGoodrich all-terrain tires and sports accessories (some are standard, while others are upgrades). For instance, Trek RV installed multiple windows on all sides of the van.
You'll notice sides rear extension pods (also known as flares or capsules) designed to increase the van's width and allow for transverse sleeping in the bedroom. Moreover, each pod has a window with a sliding screen.
On top of the van, you'll discover a large A/C unit, a long Thule Omnistor awning, and a 330 W solar panel.
Step inside the van and a bright and roomy interior will surround you. Its layout is open, meaning no wall separates the driver's cabin from the living space.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Trek RV
Regarding design and looks, you'll notice a mostly white interior, with white walls and cabinetry, paired with a marine-inspired shiplap ceiling and vinyl flooring. The look is completed by various wood accents and brown leather upholstery for all the van's seats.
You'll find the seating area dead ahead of the entrance. It consists of a double bench seat with seatbelts and a fixed table with an extension. The driver and passenger seats, which are mounted on swivel bases, can also be turned around to become part of the seating area.
Next, we have the kitchen by the entrance. It has a relatively narrow yet well-equipped counter featuring a dual-burner induction stovetop, a sink with a fold-down faucet, and a fridge with a tiny freezer compartment.
Regarding storage, the counter offers four drawers, a slide-out pantry/spice rack, and three cupboards, three of which have curved ends so you don't bump into them when moving through the van. There are also three overhead cabinets above.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Trek RV
On the opposite side, Trek RV devised a tall storage unit and a bathroom. The latter has a cabinet with a small sink on top, a shower, and a toilet.
Finally, we have the bedroom at the back. It's positioned quite high—definitely high enough to make it uncomfortable to hop directly into it. That's why the builders devised a slot that houses a pull-out ladder. Moreover, underneath it, you'll find a door leading into the garage.
The bedroom boasts a double bed with a 150-mm (6-inch) memory foam mattress, three overhead cabinets, a ceiling fan, and two windows. Interestingly. Trek RV created a wall at the back that has an additional. This arrangement will help keep the bedroom insulated, but you lose the nice part of bringing the outside in when you open the two rear doors.
The garage at the back of the van offers a ton of storage space, more than I expected to find inside the van. Part of the reason it's so large is that the rig's water tanks are located underneath the vehicle—it's equipped with a 92-liter (24.3-gallon) freshwater tank and a 90-liter (23.7-gallon) grey water tank. You also get an outdoor shower connection.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Trek RV
How about power? The electrical system's highlights are a 440 Ah lithium battery, a 3,000 W inverter, and a solar charge controller connected to the solar panel on the roof. Since we're on the topic of utilities, I have to mention that the van sports a Truma diesel and electric central heating system.
The control panel for everything I mentioned above is right above the entrance. It comprises dimmable and mood lighting panels, a heating controller, and a touchscreen display that allows you to monitor and control the electrical system.
All in all, the Grand Tourer Plus brings some luxury to your van life adventures. Its living space is efficient, feature-packed, and, most importantly, comfortable. You can learn more about this conversion on Trek RV's official website.
