Custom Unimog Camper Makes Us Yearn For Great Outdoors
Natural wood and clever design make this Unimog camper the perfect getaway companion.
Sprinters make great campers. But you know what makes a better camper? The Unimog. Victor Bart has built this camper out of a Unimog 404 with what’s known as a “Radiobox.” That setup essentially means there’s a side-entrance box section on the back of the truck pre-made for folks to be in there.
Initial use for a Unimog like this would have been for military radio services, thus the Radiobox nickname. Conversion into a camper is straight forward, but because of the utilitarian nature of a vehicle like this, creative thinking is needed to make it a nice place to be.
Bart’s central theme for this build is using natural wood. Not only is this easy to work with, but the materials all match. Side panels, roof, structural elements are all made from wood. But don’t think simple cuts are all that’s needed. Bart uses quarter-round and half-round cuts to make each section flow into each other.
With a side-door opening, a U-shape arrangement is possible. Up against the front bulkhead, the cooking and sitting area resides. Big tanks mean you have plenty of fresh water, and available drainage. Same goes for the toilet, which is located in the middle. It resides in its own compartment, so when not in use, is sealed up and can’t be detected. And the sleeping area is in the back, surrounded by USB ports galore.
Servicing components of a camper is also important. Thats why things like inverters, diesel heaters, and internal plumbing are all designed to be removed for service. Most importantly, Bart made this camper for regular use, instead of just occasional.
Air flow is critical to all components of a camper. Above the cooking area, there’s an existing vent that is now used as the range vent above the portable heating element. And in the sleeping area, the bed frame surface is perforated to keep moisture from sleeping persons from being trapped under the mattress. And of course all of the electrical converters have plenty of ventilation to keep them cool.
With the natural wood construction and smart use of space, it’s almost as though this camper conversion was designed by IKEA. Wonder if the Unimog can be flat packed for shipping…
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