My Van

My Van — The Self-Built Campervan I Live in Full-Time

My Home On Wheels

Self-built campervan parked in the Australian outback during sunset

For years I chased the things that lit me up — travel, adventure, the kind of experiences that make you feel alive. But when I came back to Australia and tried settling into a ‘normal’ routine, something felt off… like I was living a life that didn’t fit anymore.

What finally made sense wasn’t settling down… it was building something I could take anywhere - So I built a van.

Piece by piece — with my old man, a few questionable decisions, and a whole lot of learning — this campervan became more than a project. It became my home.

Today I live full-time on the road in this self-built campervan: waking up in the desert, parking in the mountains, chasing quiet places where stories live, and giving this new chapter a proper crack.

This page is a tour of the home that makes it all possible. The layout, electrics, upgrades, mistakes, and everything that keeps me rolling across Australia.

If you’ve ever wondered what life might look like with four wheels, a dream, and no fixed address… here’s the honest version.

Van Specs at a Glance

Here’s the base vehicle behind my self-built campervan — the platform that now carries my life, camera gear, and stories across Australia.

Make & Model: 2017 Fiat Ducato H2 L3 (High Roof)

Engine: 2.3L Multijet 4-Cylinder

Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive

Fuel Type: Diesel

Build Timeline: 2.5 Years

Height: 2522mm

Length: 5998mm

Width: 2050mm

White Fiat Ducato campervan with awning extended in the Australian bush, showing exterior layout of Matthew Storer’s self-built van

Full Van Tour

A complete walkthrough of my self-built campervan, covering the exterior setup, interior layout, kitchen, bed system, electrics, plumbing, and storage — built for full-time, off-grid travel across Australia.

Exterior Setup

The exterior of my self-built campervan is designed for long-term, off-grid travel across Australia. From weather protection and outdoor living space to external power, gas, and storage access, every exterior modification was chosen to improve reliability, simplicity, and day-to-day usability on the road.

This setup focuses on practical touring rather than show — allowing quick camp setups, easy maintenance, and comfortable living whether I’m parked in the bush, the desert, or remote national parks.

Fiamma 350s awning on self-built campervan set up for off-grid travel in Australia

Fiamma Awning & Outdoor Living Space

A full-length Fiamma 350s awning creates instant shade and weather protection, turning the side of the van into a practical outdoor living area. It’s secured using Tie Down Kit gear, which keeps the awning stable in wind and changing conditions — ideal for long stays and exposed camps. Easy to deploy and pack away, it’s designed for everyday use rather than occasional setups.

External gas, power, and hot water system on Australian self-built campervan

External Hot Water & Gas Storage

Hot water is handled by a Camec 13kW Instantaneous Gas Water Heater, mounted externally for safe operation and easy access. Gas is stored in a 4kg fibreglass gas bottle, keeping weight down while providing reliable hot water for daily use. The entire setup is designed for simplicity, safety, and easy maintenance on the road.

Self-built campervan exterior designed for long-term off-grid touring in Australia

Practical Touring Layout for Remote Travel

Every exterior modification is designed around long-term touring rather than aesthetics. Clear access points, quick camp setup, and simple systems make daily life on the road easier — whether I’m camped in the bush, the desert, or a remote national park. The focus is reliability, usability, and comfort over thousands of kilometres. I go into more overall specific details on this setup in my YouTube van tour.

Interior Layout

The interior of my campervan is designed around comfort, visibility, and livability for full-time travel. Every change focuses on making long days on the road easier, safer, and more enjoyable — from the driving position to insulation, privacy, and navigation.

This space balances practicality with comfort, creating a van that feels like a home rather than a vehicle.

Campervan swivel seats converting cab into living space

Swivel Seats & Open Living Space

Both front seats are mounted on swivel bases, allowing the cab to become part of the living area when parked. This simple upgrade dramatically increases usable space inside the van and makes everyday living feel far less confined.

9-inch GPS infotainment system inside campervan dashboard

Upgraded 9” Touchscreen with GPS

An upgraded 9-inch touchscreen provides navigation, media, and vehicle information in one central display. Reliable GPS mapping is essential for remote travel across Australia, especially when mobile reception disappears.

Block-out insulated blinds inside campervan for privacy and insulation

Blockout Blinds for Privacy & Insulation

Custom blockout blinds from Living in a Bubble provide privacy, thermal insulation, and light control. They help regulate temperature, block early morning light, and make sleeping in busy or exposed areas far more comfortable.

Kitchen & Cooking

The kitchen is the heart of my self-built campervan, designed for full-time living and long-term travel across Australia. Every layout decision was made around reliability, storage, and the ability to cook proper meals on the road — not just reheat food.

I built this space around two key appliances: the Thetford gas hob, grill and oven, and the Bushman 135L fridge. Both are proven, efficient, and perfectly suited to off-grid campervan life, allowing me to live comfortably whether I’m parked in the bush, on the coast, or in remote national parks.

Custom campervan kitchen with timber benchtops and storage

Full Campervan Kitchen Layout

A complete view of the campervan kitchen, featuring solid timber benchtops, overhead storage, integrated lighting, and a practical galley layout designed for daily use on the road.

Thetford gas cooktop oven and grill inside campervan kitchen

Thetford Oven & Bushman Fridge Setup

The kitchen is built around a Thetford gas hob, grill and oven paired with a Bushman 135L fridge. This setup allows me to cook proper meals, bake, and store fresh food while living full-time off-grid.

Additional kitchen storage and cabinetry inside campervan

Campervan Kitchen Storage & Bench Space

Additional kitchen storage and bench space provide room for dry food, cooking gear, and everyday essentials, keeping everything organised and easy to access while travelling.

Bed & Sleeping Setup

A curated collection of my favourite moments and designs — created for people who feel connected to this journey. Whether you want a print for your wall or a piece of merch that travels with you, this is where everything I make ends up.

Full-Length Awning & Outdoor Living Space

Clothing and accessories inspired by life on the road — simple designs, real stories, and pieces that feel like part of the journey.

External Power, Gas & Service Access

Photographs from life on the road — sunrises from forgotten campsites, the outback under stars, and the kind of places you remember long after you’ve left. Prints that bring a bit of adventure into your home.

Practical Touring Layout for Remote Travel

The places I’ve actually stayed, explored and loved — from remote outback camps to quiet beaches and underrated towns. Road-tested, honest and built for travellers.

Electrical System

The electrical system in my self-built campervan is designed for full-time, off-grid living across Australia. Built around reliability, monitoring, and real-world power use, it supports everything from daily living to full-time remote work without relying on mains power.

Full Victron Energy Electrical System

The heart of the campervan’s electrical system is a high-end Victron Energy setup, monitored and controlled through the Cerbo GX system. This allows real-time tracking of power usage, solar input, battery health, and overall system performance from a single interface.

Built for long-term, off-grid travel, this system delivers consistent, reliable power whether I’m camped remotely or working full-time from the road.

Campervan electrical charging hub with fuses and power management

Overhead Electrical & Charging Hub

This overhead cabinet houses the campervan’s primary electrical and charging hub, including fuse protection, charging equipment, and dedicated storage for camera batteries, drones, laptops, and everyday tech.

You can watch my entire Electrical Video on my YouTube.

Off-grid campervan workstation and mobile office setupOff-grid campervan workstation and mobile office setup

Off-Grid Mobile Office Setup

This off-grid workstation allows me to work full-time from the campervan while travelling Australia. The setup includes a dedicated desk, monitor, keyboard, and TV — all powered by the campervan’s electrical system.

It’s designed for editing, writing, and content creation, proving that full-time remote work is completely achievable while travelling Australia in a self-built campervan.

Plumbing & Water

The plumbing system in my self-built campervan is designed for simplicity, reliability, and long-term off-grid travel. Rather than overcomplicating things, the focus here is on dependable water delivery, easy maintenance, and practical daily use — whether I’m parked in remote bushland or travelling full-time across Australia.

With generous fresh water capacity, integrated monitoring, and an outdoor-only shower setup, this system supports real-world van life without sacrificing space inside the living area.

Shurflo water pump, filters, and one-way valve mounted under the bed in a campervan plumbing system

Water Pump & Filtration System

A Shurflo water pump, inline filters, and a one-way valve are neatly tucked away under the bed, keeping the system protected, quiet, and easy to service. Mounting everything in one accessible location simplifies maintenance while ensuring reliable water pressure throughout the van.

Campervan kitchen sink and plumbing supplied by 180L fresh water and 48L grey water tanks with Cerbo GX monitoring

Fresh & Grey Water Storage

The campervan carries 180 litres of fresh water and 48 litres of grey water, providing plenty of capacity for extended off-grid travel. Water levels are monitored through the Victron Cerbo GX system, allowing me to keep track of usage and plan refills without guesswork.

This setup delivers running water to the kitchen while maintaining full visibility of onboard water storage.

Outdoor shower at the rear of a campervan used for off-grid washing without an internal bathroom

Outdoor Shower Setup for Space Efficiency

The outdoor shower is mounted at the rear of the van, providing a practical way to rinse off after beach days, hikes, or long travel days. I intentionally avoided an internal shower, as it takes up valuable living space and adds unnecessary complexity.

This setup keeps the interior open and functional while still allowing for proper washing when needed.

Rear Storage & Garage

The rear garage is designed as a functional, easy-access storage zone that supports long-term, off-grid travel across Australia. Everything is laid out to keep essential gear organised, secure, and quickly accessible without compromising living space inside the campervan.

Under the bed, the garage houses a Bushman 30-litre freezer, deep storage drawers, and dedicated zones for outdoor and touring equipment. Practical features like a fishing rod holder, rear clothesline, and outdoor shower setup make this space more than just storage — it’s an extension of daily life on the road.

This layout allows quick access to gear, separation between living and utility, and the flexibility needed for remote travel and extended stays.

Rear Garage Storage

The rear garage provides easy access to storage, systems, and outdoor gear while keeping everything secure and organised for daily use on the road. Designed for fast setup and pack-down, it supports long-term touring and remote travel.

Bushman 30 litre freezer and storage drawers in campervan garage

Outdoor Shower & Clothesline

The rear setup includes a fishing rod holder under the bed, an outdoor shower system, and a rear clothesline — practical additions that support everyday living while travelling full-time.

Bushman 30L Freezer & Storage Drawers

A Bushman 30-litre freezer and deep storage drawers support long-term off-grid travel by providing reliable frozen food storage and organised gear access.

Explore the Build

If you want a deeper look at how this campervan is built and how each system performs in real-world travel, I’ve broken everything down in detail.

From accessories and electrical to plumbing and long-term off-grid setup, this is where you can explore the full campervan gear list and understand why each choice was made.

Self-built campervan interior showing kitchen layout, storage, and living space designed for full-time off-grid travel

Entire Campervan Accessories

Clothing and accessories inspired by life on the road — simple designs, real stories, and pieces that feel like part of the journey.

EXPLORE ACCESSORIES

Campervan electrical system install featuring Victron Energy components, batteries, and off-grid power setup

Full Campervan Electrical Install

EXPLORE ELECTRICAL

Campervan plumbing system with water pump, filtration, hoses, and outdoor shower setup for off-grid travel

Full Campervan Plumbing Setup

An overview of the complete water and plumbing system, including fresh and grey water storage, filtration, pumps, and the outdoor shower. Designed for simplicity, reliability, and long-term off-grid use across Australia.

EXPLORE PLUMBING

Why I Built It This Way

This campervan wasn’t designed to look good in photos — it was built to work day after day, in real conditions, across Australia.

Every decision in this build came from experience: living on the road, dealing with weather, limited space, remote travel, and the realities of full-time van life. Rather than chasing trends or overcomplicating systems, I focused on reliability, simplicity, and ease of use.

I avoided anything that added unnecessary complexity or reduced usable space. That’s why there’s no internal shower, why systems are easy to access and service, and why storage is prioritised over aesthetics. When something breaks in the bush, simple always wins.

This van is designed to support long-term travel — not weekend trips. It’s a space I can live and work from comfortably, stay off-grid for extended periods, and adapt to different environments without constantly setting up or packing down.

There are always things you’d change in hindsight, and I talk openly about those throughout this site and on YouTube. But every choice here was made with one goal in mind: creating a dependable, practical home on wheels that supports real travel, not just the idea of it.

Complete Campervan Reveal

Matthew Storer Dream Campervan Build YouTube Video

This video is a complete walkthrough of my self-built campervan — covering the full exterior setup, interior layout, kitchen, bed system, electrical, plumbing, and rear storage.

I go through how everything works in real-world travel, what I’d change after living in it full-time, and why each system was designed the way it was. This isn’t just a showpiece build — it’s a practical, off-grid campervan built to travel Australia long-term.

This page and video are designed to be future-proof. Over time, I’ll be adding detailed gear breakdowns, downloadable checklists, van build resources, and behind-the-scenes content for anyone planning their own build or life on the road.

VIEW CAMPERVAN GEAR LIST

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South Australia

m: 0459367713

e: [email protected]