We Bought a Van.Now What?

Every good idea eventually reaches the point where someone has to do something about it.

Ours now involves a van.

We're starting the UNROUTED camper van conversion: a project we're going to design, build and actually use. Somewhere to sleep, somewhere to escape, and probably somewhere to discover that the thing we measured twice still doesn't fit.

And we're taking you along for all of it.

Why a camper van?

UNROUTED is built around the pull of getting outside. Taking the longer road. Making time for the weekend you keep talking about.

A camper van feels like a natural part of that.

We want to make it easier to pack up and go. To spend more time in the places we love, with somewhere to come back to when the weather turns and the boots are soaked.

Picture opening the doors on a cold morning, putting the kettle on and watching the mist lift before deciding what to do with the day.

That's the bit we're building towards. First, though, we need to work out where everything goes.

Planning our camper van conversion

A camper van conversion looks fairly straightforward when someone squeezes six months of work into a thirty-second video.

Then you start asking questions.

Where do you sleep? Where does the wet gear go? How much storage is actually enough? And how do you fit the things you'll use without filling every available inch?

Our starting point is simple: the van needs to suit the way we want to travel. Practical storage, a comfortable place to sleep, and an interior that feels good to spend time in when the British weather makes that decision for us.

The campervan layout, materials, power and lighting will all need proper thought. We want each choice to earn its place through how useful it will be on a trip, in the same way we think about the best camping tech in 2026.

Although we'd also quite like it to look good parked up.

Your campervan must-haves are already shaping the list

We asked our Instagram followers what we should put in the van. The suggestions have ranged from genuinely useful to slightly dangerous for the budget.

Keep them coming.

One follower made a very fair point: we need room for more than the essentials.

That's where clever campervan storage comes in. We're thinking about how to use awkward spaces, keep everyday things within reach and give muddy kit somewhere to go that isn't on the bed.

And yes, there should be room for a few things that come along simply because they make a weekend better.

Packing light sounds great until someone brings the nice coffee, extra blankets and half the snack cupboard.

Another suggestion was solar and an inverter, with the aim of being less reliant on campsite hook-ups.

That has put our campervan power setup firmly on the planning list. We'll need to work out what we actually want to run, how much battery capacity it needs and which charging options suit our trips.

Solar output changes with the weather and season, so we're treating this as something to plan around our usage. We'll share the setup and the reasons behind it once we've made those decisions.

One follower pointed out that wandering outside in the dark and rain at 3am, especially after enjoying the wine cooler, might take the shine off the adventure.

Difficult to argue with that.

A campervan toilet is now very much part of the layout conversation. The challenge will be finding a practical solution without giving away too much living and storage space.

The wine cooler was suggested as a must-have.

Then came the automatic slipper dispenser for when the walking boots come off.

We asked for ideas, and you delivered.

The slipper dispenser might need a little more development time. But the thinking behind it is spot on: coming back from a walk, getting comfortable and enjoying where you've ended up.

For clarity, these are suggestions we're exploring, not a finished specification. We haven't worked out how to fit everything in yet, and the van has stubbornly refused to get any bigger.

You'll see the build, the changes and the first trips

This is the first entry in an ongoing UNROUTED journal series.

We'll share the early ideas, the layout changes, the build progress and the reasons behind our choices. As the conversion takes shape, we'll show what works, what needs another go and what we've learnt along the way.

Then comes the part we're most looking forward to: taking it out.

Because the first proper weekend away will tell us things that no drawing can, whether that's a night in the hills or the Lake District without the checklist. Whether the storage makes sense when we're tired. Whether the space works with muddy kit inside. Whether we put the light switch somewhere deeply annoying.

We want this van to get used, to come home needing a clean and to give us a reason to plan the next trip.

That's all part of the story.

Part of the bigger UNROUTED journey

While the van gives us plenty to get stuck into, the team are also working hard behind the scenes towards our first collection, coming Spring 2027.

And honestly, it's getting harder to keep it under wraps.

UNROUTED isn't another generic clothing brand. Our background is in tech and design, and we're bringing that experience into developing our own products, from the first idea through design, development and testing towards the finished thing.

There are decisions, revisions and details happening behind the scenes that we can't wait to share. We're putting a huge amount into what comes next, and we're excited for the moment we can finally show you why.

For now, think cold mornings, longer evenings outside and fewer reasons to head home.

That's your clue.

The van conversion is another part of that journey: a project that will get us out there, give us space to try ideas and bring you closer to the people building UNROUTED.

What would you put in our camper van?

If you've converted a van, travelled in one or spent an unreasonable amount of time saving campervan layout ideas, we want your advice.

What's the one thing you wouldn't leave out? What turned out to be a waste of space? And what do you wish someone had told you before you started?

Tell us over on Instagram at @unroutedltd. Practical tips, clever tricks and slightly ridiculous suggestions are all welcome.

Find us on Instagram @unroutedltd →

Apparently, we're already considering automated footwear.

Be here for what comes next

Follow the conversion from the first decisions to the first night away, and join us as the wider UNROUTED story takes shape.