I’ll say it now: I’m a sucker for tiny living. It’s not necessarily because we had a motorhome growing up, a 70s GMC Royale, although I’m sure that’s what kicked it off. I think it really ramped up during Covid, when we’d all pine for van life while stuck inside for months on end. 

Well, I was, anyway. In March 2020, a doc sentenced me to bed rest after I went into early labor for the second time, thanks to my “driven” personality telling me to help move into our new home, which was decidedly more appropriate for a family of four. Our second kiddo, a boy, arrived three weeks early, in June 2020, but healthy, thank goodness.

When I first joined MotorBiscuit in January 2021, van life and RVs were thriving as verticals. Americans had rediscovered our naturesque country, it seemed, after our unexamined, student-loan-riddled career tracks all went remote. And we wanted to observe the scenery from the driver’s seat of our custom-converted campers.

Fast-forward a few years, and I still haven’t gotten over what so many people seemed to have moved on from: the (at least perceived) freedom of movement van life could give you. Combine that with a love of Kei vans and those forest-set, A-frame tiny homes…

When I came across President Chay’s YouTube channel featuring the most clever camper build I’ve seen, I stopped in my tracks and watched the whole dang video.

Chay Denne and his brother, Colby, converted a 1999 Subaru Sambar into a fully-functioning camper

They purchased the 1999 Subaru Sambar van from Facebook Marketplace. It’s right-hand and all-wheel drive. Weighing in at just over 2,300 pounds, the brothers thought it’d be a perfect tiny camper build.

The Dennes removed the seats and stripped the walls and carpeting down to the frame. From there, they created a plywood base for an even floor. The crew added a custom kitchen cabinet, sink mount, and backsplash.

Next, they added electrical. Now, their design includes a straight, 3-prong plug mounted externally, so the power to the cabin build has to come from an outside source, like most RVs do when they’re parked in camping mode. They could technically travel with a generator, too.

Since their goal was to outfit the van for off-grid survival, they installed a 21-gallon freshwater tank to shower, cook, and clean with. It’s filled via an external nozzle that fits a garden hose.

Along with an outdoor shower nozzle, the Sambar also got a fridge, microwave, and TV.

The Dennes also bought solar panels to charge the beefed-up battery setup if it somehow drained. Chay also wired the batteries to the alternator in case the solar panels couldn’t do the job. More on this below…

The van does have some ‘questionable’ mods the comments section pointed out

The Dennes determined that the stock 12-volt battery wasn’t enough to handle the build, so they strung together two large aftermarket options and put them under the floor.

Several commenters shared that lead-acid batteries emit toxic gas. As such, the build probably should have spec’d a ventilation system, however tiny.

One noted that the spray foam insulation the guys used behind the walls is dangerous for wiring and could cause a fire.

Another pointed out that the van needs a larger alternator, too.

Yet another said that the freshwater tank and other areas lack the insulation to comfortably hang out in cold weather zones. The tank might freeze, for instance, due to its location under the floor.

Final touches brought the vision to life

After building a custom couch that converts to a bed, they were ready to hit the road. The aesthetic of the camper is def on-trend, complete with a “butcher block” counter and subway-tiled kitchen and shower.

After a couple of months in the shop, it was time to take the camper, well…camping. But first, a stop at the weigh station.

The new number shocked me as much as it seemed to shock them: 2,900 lbs. That’s with two grown men, a full tank of gas, and 21 gallons of water on board, too. Not bad at all.

In the end, they made it out to their off-grid test campsite 100 miles from home. The muddy trail to their spot let them test the 4WD, which proved essential. The DIY build and video get two thumbs-up for effort from me, anyway. This screen time’s worth it, if not for the admirable take on a fun project, but for that hint of creative freedom suburban life might not lend all too often. Maybe I should look for it more, though, huh?