Zenvanz & Other Custom Builder - What to consider

[Bearkeley]

We've been looking at Class Bs for awhile now and have realized that what we really need is an adventure van with a garage layout, preferably without a wet bath (we prefer the open layout and ok with showering outside). We have looked at Storyteller and Revel but now thinking custom is probably where we would want to go.

Has anyone seen a Zenvan or know someone with one?

We also recently heard a sales person mention NPs restricting access for custom built vans due to fire issues, etc. I've never heard of it before, so thought I'd check if there's any truth to it, or other restrictions (beyond size) that may be unique to custom builds?

[MsNomer]

I checked their website. Color me impressed!

[Viperml]

These guys are good to.
https://www.boho.life/new-builds

[booster]

This may be a silly question, but all of these appear to use cassette toilets and show them out and away far from any disposal sites, even bathrooms with flush toilets. They are going to fill quickly and need to be emptied. Where are they saying to dump them?

[GeorgeRa]

A few years I met the owner attending the Tualatin Sprinter meeting. His signature was bent aluminum frame, bent bamboo-based cabinetry and interesting awning. A marine type of awning with telescoping coaxial tubes. I don’t know how successful was this project.

A lot of information if you search ZENVANZ on the Sprinter forum.
I would suggest to talk to his customers or sellers of his used kits.

Good luck.

https://sprinter-source.com/forums/i...NZ&o=relevance

[Viperml]

Originally Posted by booster

This may be a silly question, but all of these appear to use cassette toilets and show them out and away far from any disposal sites, even bathrooms with flush toilets. They are going to fill quickly and need to be emptied. Where are they saying to dump them?

https://www.boho.life/blog-content/d...-your-boho-van

[mumkin]

Check out Colorado Campers north of Phoenix. They did a basic little old lady conversion on my Promaster 1500 to order and it was nice work. But their lot was full of "adventure vans" that they had converted or were converting.

Be aware that insurance companies and state licensing boards can give you lots of hassle with conversions that don't come from the commercial companies and have RVIA approval.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by Viperml

https://www.boho.life/blog-content/d...-your-boho-van

The attached explanation didn’t address Booster’s point, and it has some misleading information in the description.

1. There is a difference between cassette and portable (porta-potty) toilets:

a. Cassette toilets are permanently attached, have removable cassettes on wheels, usually permanently connected to 12VDC and water and some are vented.

b. Portable toilets are, you guess correctly, portable. To remove the waste tanks from a porta-potty the bowl has to be remove first to access a waste tank and waste tanks are not on wheels.

2. Currently Dometic doesn’t sell Cassette toilets in US.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by booster

This may be a silly question, but all of these appear to use cassette toilets and show them out and away far from any disposal sites, even bathrooms with flush toilets. They are going to fill quickly and need to be emptied. Where are they saying to dump them?

I think you are overestimating volume of waste generated by cassettes. A good plan how to dispose waste all campers should have, near toilets, dumping spots or in the boonies. We like camping in NW forests and never had a situation where dumping solution was not available. A spare 5 gal. cassette has a permanent place in our van giving as total 10 gallons capacity which we rarely use.

[N147JK]

Originally Posted by Bearkeley

Has anyone seen a Zenvan or know someone with one?

Bamboo? I wonder if they offer a better wood as an option.

[vanvan]

Zenvanz looks interesting to me. I like the color of the cabinets. Also looks functional.
Another company selling conversion kits https://van2b.com/
But they don't have much right now. Something will be presented soon (January) as noted here https://van2b.com/product/sprinter-v...well-cabinets/