: ! SOLD ! :

build details

Builders & Costs:

The camper build was designed and hand-built by Christopher Ives, an artist and ecologist with 20 years in professional home repair and finishing and 13 years of extensive nomadic travel in vehicles and on foot. The build took approximately 1,500 hours of labor over eight months with additional work from five other skilled craftsman and a team of consultants. The suspension upgrades and most maintenance was performed by Don Hinz, owner/operator at Boulder Offroad Vans, the premier 4x4 shop for this model of GMC in the country.

Labor for the camper build was valued at $55,000. Material costs for high quality wood, fasteners, appliances, insulation, and finishing were an additional $10,000. The purchase price of the used cargo van and suspension and upgrade work were approximately $35,000. The build in it’s prime had a value around $100,000, and is now three years old. I’m asking $62,000 for the Vitruvian Van, a truly one-of-a-kind 4x4 camper.

It’s incredibly durable, functional, and artfully designed, while also easily satisfying LEED’s platinum-level ecological standards. A sale at this price will include personal delivery to any of the 48 contiguous states. I am open to offers and eager to sell by November 15th as I’m starting a new build this winter. The van is currently located in Colorado.

Regular Maintinance:

I’ve brought the van in for oil and filter changes and professional inspections every 3-5k miles since I bought the van with 53,000 miles from a GMC dealership in late 2017. It now has about 137,000 miles of easy highway driving. There is lots of life left! If something needed to be fixed, it was always fixed immediately by GMC professionals with genuine GMC parts. The van has never been in any accidents or had any issues other than regular wear and tear. No Transmission issues, no Engine issues. I’ve used this van daily for work and recreation and it was paramount that the van be in perfect operating condition. I have records for almost everything for the last 80,000 miles.

Appliances and Lighting:

The camper was designed with versatile spaces that were specifically sized to accommodate common overlanding appliances like 12v fridges, portable toilets, and camp stoves. This allows you to customize which gear you bring on your adventure, and how you want to personally prioritize your space. The lighting and fan are the only permanently installed appliances.

• Huge multi-use storage area in the rear for gear and appliances. Sized to fit a standard 35l Dometic single zone 12v refrigerator, OR a 75l dual zone horizontally. (Does not comes with a refrigerator)

• The space between the pantry cabinet and dinette is sized for a Laveo-style toilet. (Does not come with a toilet.)

• MaxxAir Deluxe Fan (w/ Remote; Auto-Thermostat Venting; Can operate while driving or in rain without problem)

• Tern Overland, double-pane insulated polycarbonate window with integrated screen and shade. (Awesome US company, repairable, comes with extra parts, and highly durable. Never worry about breaking a window! Lockable while open for safe-venting)

• Custom 8000 lumen, bi-color, 8-foot long residential-grade ceiling light. Comes with a wireless remote allowing you to go from very dim, to extremely bright.

• Vintage, legitimate family heirloom work/reading lamp converted to 12v with Edison Bulb! (This was on my Dad’s workbench growing up. It’s one of a kind.)

• Design allows for the addition of an Espar/Webasto heater under the passenger seat, and/or a Dickinson marine stove against the inner cabinet. (The van does not come with a heater, as I found the insulation was sufficient for my needs).

Power Generation, Solar, Batteries:

There is a rear power cabinet with 12v Fuse Block, RF Remote for lighting, 12v sockets, and sized to accept most 1500wh or 3000wh Solar Generator. Includes sturdy tie-down points to secure batteries or other gear. (The van DOES come with the generator listed here if you want it, or I can keep it can give you a discount. The van can still run the fan and lights without the generator.)

• New (2021) 1500wh/120ah Tesla-style, removable, Lithium Battery Generator; includes:

  • 2000w/3500w Inverter

  • (2) USB-C PD 60w & 18w (Charge your laptop directly without inverter or wall wort!)

  • (2) USB-A Quickcharge Ports

  • 30a Regulated 12v Socket + (2) 8mm Ports for all lights, fan, fridge, etc.

  • MPPT 50v Controller

  • Capable of Solar and Shore Power Inputs up to 600watts!

  • Expandable Battery Options

  • 2 or 5 Year Warranty on everything.

  • Wifi/Bluetooth app control from anywhere in the world.

• New 200w Rich/HQST/Renogy Solar Panel mounted on roof rack.

• Integrated 180w Alternator Charging with kill switch.

• Dual Power Source Option (run everything from the van’s dual cycle battery in a pinch if you need to remove the generator)

Cabinetry & Storage:

All cabinetry was over-engineered using 2x3 framing, sustainably certified eco-plywood with soy-adhesive and no formaldehyde, furniture-grade non-toxic finishes, strategic anti-rattle padding, and eco-friendly anti-mildew/mold/insect treatment derived from Juniper trees.

• (3) Large cedar-lined, cabinets for clothes and bedding

• Cedar-lined Food pantry with padded storage, with shelves sized for common items like soup cans and 1lb propane canisters

• (2) ‘Underhead’ Storage Bins sized to fit standard airline-style roller luggage under dinette seats

• (2) Hidden padded valuables cabinets that can fit wallets, purses, 15” laptop, and cameras and more.

• Large, sealed gear bin with weep/drain holes for wet or dirty storage

• Cabinet for tools, oil, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals.

• Option to include large 7-foot Yakima box on the roof, which can easily fit skis or snowboards.

• Two bike fork-mounting points allow for 2 bikes to be stored INSIDE while still maintaining room for gear and enough space to fully extended the bed to sleep two people. I don’t have any photos of this since I recently sold my bikes, but I have used this option many times.

• Inner wall cavities are accessible if needed. The walls are made of four panels which are attached with a series of easily accessible screws.

• Every nook and cranny of the entire van is accessible by way of hidden pockets. In a small space, every cubic inch matters and can be utilized.

• You can easily fit enough supplies for 1-2 months off-grid for a single person. I’ve done it.

Ultimate 3-Mode, Eco-Insulation:

Custom-fabricated insulation system was designed with consultation from a former military aerospace engineer. The system took approximately 200 hours of research, development, and fabrication. It was designed using Passive Haus and Netzero standards so that heating and cooling become unnecessary. Your personal body heat will significantly warm the space on its own. The system was designed to prevent excessive heat incursion so well that the interior of the van will never exceed the ambient temperature outside, even in direct sunlight. This is great for pets!

• Incredible R-20+ insulation value while only taking up 3” of wall space from outer metal to inside walls.

• The system address all three thermal transfer modes of convection, conduction, and radiation.

• Individually fabricated from expanded, recycled thermacork and recycled aluminum.

• Comes with a demo section of the multi-layer wall system for reference + many photos.

• 100% nontoxic and earth friendly

• Durable, hydrophobic, anti-mildew, and naturally insect and pest repellent.

• Will never settle or deform.

• Far outperforms wool, spray foam, denim, thinsulate, and all other materials.

Floors and Counters:

• Floor is insulated and heavily sound deadened

• Fully and redundantly waterproof from the rear doors, all the way up under the dash.

• At the start of the build, all interior metal surfaces were treated with rust inhibitor, rubberized paint, Damplifer Pro, PE closed-cell medical-grade foam, and then 3/4” eco-plywood coated in 2 layers of Vermont Coatings PolyWhey Eco Sealant followed by 3 layers of Ecos Floor paint. All seams were sealed with non-toxic silicone and PE backer rod.

• 3/4” flooring extends over foot well to increase floor space and add storage area for dirty shoes.

• Counters are made from hand-shaped and traditionally-joined reclaimed walnut from a New England mill yard near my childhood home, hand rubbed with many layers of premium tung oil. (40+ hour finishing process over 2 months - extremely durable and repairable and BEAUTIFUL)

• Extra wood from the creation of the counters was used to create custom handles, accents, and a frame for the window.

5-way Dinette/Couch/Bed:

The dinette is the main feature of the van, providing a large FLOATING work surface that can extend to accommodate up to 6 people for dinner! The table can be dropped onto felted rails that transform the space into a couch. Pull out your bedding to create a cozy bed that can accommodate someone approximately 6 feet tall. Slide out the cantilevered benches and drop a couple leaves in to sleep two.

• Dinette table frame is custom designed and professionally welded from aircraft aluminum with a gusseted leaf pattern allowing it to float without any table legs off the wall of the van.

• The table is capable of holding over 100lbs of computers, plates, and people leaning heavily, without the need for a support. This design leaves lots of room for your own legs and no bashed knees or toes.

• Dinette and bedding cushions are handmade from natural latex (lasts forever without sagging or getting smelly) wrapped in muslin, wool, and organic denim. Each cushion is cross-stiched and zippered and can be washed at a laundromat. Designed by Christopher Ives, Assembled by Orange Sofa Upholstery, a high-end NYC-area furniture designer/upholsterer.

4x4 System:

This van’s specific 4x4 system is objectively the most versatile four wheel drive system available on any van. I say this confidently because it provides more benefit in more situations, more often than any other option available. It has a mechanical, planetary AWD system paired with a G80 auto-lock rear differential. It’s entirely mechanically controlled and requires no driver input, special knowledge, or buttons or levers to push. It’s an amazing piece of machinery and provides constant traction to all four wheels on and off road. While GMC no longer offer these vans with AWD after 2014, the parts are still readily available. I’ve taken this van on sandy desert roads, through muddy ditches, across small rivers, through deep snow and ice, on slick pavement, and down loose gravel roads. I have even done some light rock crawling without any issues and without ever getting stuck.

Can come with, but doesn’t have to come with:

• Coleman 2 burner propane stove (Free)

• (2) 7 gallon BPA-free water containers (Free)

• Because the power cabinet is sized for a variety of removable solar generators, the one that I currently have in the van is removable and you could get your own. If you do not want the one I currently have (Take $1,500 off price, which is a DEAL, system cost over $2,000 new a few months ago)

• Yakima roof box that fits skis easily (Originally $650, Asking $300) (Perfect condition, Many stickers)

Things that aren’t ideal:

• Tires have one season left. I’d highly recommend the same brand and type of tire again. They are utterly amazing on and off-road, winter rated, quiet, and get great gas mileage + 60,000 miles of life and in-tire wear indicators. The tires are also the only eco-friendly tire brand on the market, partially using plant-based oils where others use petroleum products.

• Every white GMC in this era has paint issues. This van has some peeling top coat on the hood and passenger doors (revealing primer, not bare metal). There is no rust in these spots and no major or structural rust in any way. You can respray hood with a $7 can of gloss white rustoleum, or leave it like I have as a theft deterrent.

• There are some scuffs on the interior cabinets. Touch up paint is included, and it is highly washable. The beauty of it being made from quality wood is that you can easily repair and sand-out any issue you have and repaint or finish.

• You may want to inspect spark plugs in the near future, as they’re getting old enough that you might want to replace them.

• The solar panel is currently bolted to a wooden roof deck. It doesn’t look amazing, but it’s functional. If you don’t like it, it’s very easy to just mount the panel to the roof rack itself instead. I had plans to custom fabricate a rail system, but didn’t mind just using the Douglas fir decking either.

Here’s a Video Tour:

-> CLICK HERE <-

For more information on the concepts behind the ‘Vitruvian Van’ Project

EMAIL: EcoVan@ivesmedia.com for questions or to have a EcoVan built for you