Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

A Indonesian publication listed nine models popular in the local market as bases for camper van conversions. The list includes the Daihatsu Gran Max, Suzuki Carry, Toyota Hiace, Isuzu Traga, Nissan Evalia, Mitsubishi L300, Hyundai H-1, KIA Travello and Pregio, and the DFSK Gelora. Spacious cabins, durable engines and parts availability are named as the main selection criteria. The Gran Max and Carry are recommended for limited budgets, while the Hiace and H-1 suit larger families. The DFSK Gelora E is offered as an electric option.

The Fun Campervan Bregasbakalang festival took place at the Buper Mentek campsite in Watukumpul, Pemalang, Central Java, on 24–25 October 2026, with hundreds of modified camper vans attending. Participants came from Brebes, Tegal, Slawi, Pekalongan, Batang, Semarang and Jepara. The two-day, one-night event featured a music stage, a mass fitness session and a prize draw whose main prize was an awning and an Altrex Elipta tent. Organisers said the gathering aimed to promote nature tourism at Buper Mentek and strengthen ties within the Bregasbakalang community.

In the Puncak area of Bogor Regency, at an altitude above 1,000 meters, Caravan Taman Safari Lodge provides accommodation in permanently placed caravans. The 4–5 hectare site features 17.5–19 square meter units with a double bed and bunk bed, sleeping up to four adults; each includes a hot-water shower, TV, Wi-Fi, mini-fridge and outdoor terrace, with no air conditioning needed due to nighttime temperatures of 15–20°C. Rates range from Rp 600,000 to Rp 1,350,000 on weekdays and up to Rp 2,295,000 during holiday season, including breakfast; guests receive a discount on Taman Safari Indonesia entry tickets priced at Rp 170,000 per person for two consecutive days.

Indonesian celebrity Dara Arafah and her husband are touring New Zealand in a campervan, their first such trip since marrying. They are driving through several regions, including Queenstown, and stopping at lakes and forests. New Zealand is currently in spring; her husband drives while Arafah accompanies him.

In Bandung, West Java, 62-year-old Yoga Mulyantono unveiled a 1996 Daihatsu Espass modified into a six-wheel campervan. The conversion took about four months in his home workshop: the body was extended by 70 cm, two extra wheels were added, the interior was fitted with wooden crates, the rear seats were removed, a kitchen cabinet was installed, and the CDI was replaced while the engine remained standard. The vehicle was bought in 2021 for 19 million Indonesian rupiah, with modification costs reaching around 40 million Indonesian rupiah. The campervan is used as a show car and has travelled to Bogor, Ciater, Mount Ciremai, Pengalengan, Ciwidey, Tasikmalaya, Purworejo and Yogyakarta.

A campervan is a vehicle modified to serve as transport and temporary accommodation, with a bed, storage, cooking area and power supply depending on size and design. Auto2000's article states that such vehicles are used for long-distance trips, nature travel and camping, and names the Toyota Rangga with an open bed as a possible base for camper conversion. Modifications must account for safety, added weight, load distribution, vehicle dimensions and applicable regulations.

The article examines how vanlife has shifted from a necessity-driven alternative to housing into a commercial product. Originally rooted in 1960s–1970s counterculture, it later became a response to the global housing crisis and rising rents. Today, rental services offer a packaged experience: in Bali, renting a Jucy 3 costs around 900,000 Indonesian rupiah per night, with a standard package limiting mileage to 100 km per night, while fuel, insurance, and campsite fees are extra. Thus, freedom on the road has become a market commodity, accessible according to financial capacity.

Imam Sugalih, 49, from Malang, is travelling through Southeast Asia with his wife Aisah and youngest daughter Hafiza Khaira Lubna Sugalih in a modified Toyota Hiace Commuter 4×4. The family set off in August, travelled through Kalimantan, Brunei and Sabah, and is currently in Muara Jawa, East Kalimantan, awaiting permits to ship the campervan by container to Peninsular Malaysia. Imam estimates the next leg, covering Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, will cost around Rp 250 million. Myanmar and Vietnam are excluded from the route due to political conditions and difficulties in obtaining permits for foreign vehicles.

A three-day van life documentary from Tokyo recorded a work trip to Hachioji that coincided with two typhoons, over 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain in 24 hours and a strong earthquake. The trip was timed to the launch of a DIY Kei Van camper that took two years to build. On the drive home, visibility dropped to almost zero.

A van dweller in Nashville described living in a metal box without air conditioning during extreme heat. He also visited the Taylor Swift education center and explained his love for the singer.

YouTuber Quiet Nerd built an electric wooden tiny home on wheels with eight 1000W motors, capable of spinning 360 degrees in place. During tests, several tires deflated and the front axle broke.

Edu and May, both 25, have begun a round-the-world trip in a motorhome with their three dogs. The route runs from Ushuaia to Alaska. The first episode of their video blog was published on Unisba Media.

Media Indonesia published a list of 12 used car models popular for campervan conversions in Indonesia. The list includes Daihatsu Gran Max (Rp60,000,000–Rp110,000,000), Suzuki APV (Rp55,000,000–Rp105,000,000), Daihatsu Luxio (Rp80,000,000–Rp140,000,000), Toyota HiAce Commuter (Rp180,000,000–Rp320,000,000), Isuzu Elf (Rp90,000,000–Rp200,000,000), Kia Travello/Pregio (Rp45,000,000–Rp85,000,000), Hyundai H-1 (Rp110,000,000–Rp240,000,000), Nissan Evalia (Rp70,000,000–Rp115,000,000), first-generation Toyota Alphard (Rp120,000,000–Rp170,000,000), Honda Freed (Rp110,000,000–Rp165,000,000), Mitsubishi L300 Star Wagon (Rp40,000,000–Rp80,000,000), and Suzuki Carry Futura (Rp35,000,000–Rp65,000,000). Prices are in Indonesian rupiah and may vary by year, condition, and location.

The author rented a camper van in Alaska and spent 7 days exploring the Kenai Peninsula. During the trip, he rented a boat in Seward, drove through a mountain tunnel to Whittier, surf fished for halibut in Cook Inlet, and primitive camped on the Kenai River.

A solo female van life vlogger has released a video documenting a trip to the Italian hills of Cerignola with her cat. The video features painting, exploring and a dinner that the creator described as disappointing.

A video documents the conversion of a van into a camper for a budget of 4200€. The build uses tools such as a circular saw, edge router, jigsaw, orbital sander, and table saw, along with materials including self-adhesive insulation, a 40x40 roof hatch, solar panels, a LiFePO4 battery, a solar charge controller, an alternator charge booster, a 19L water canister, a submersible pump, a freezer-cool chest, and a camping stove. The project is presented as an easy start-to-finish build.

In a new video, a full-time vanlife blogger living in a converted short bus shares her daily routine, which includes at least 10 minutes of meditation, planner writing, and cooking. She cites the slow pace of life as the main appeal of living in a camper van.

Italian manufacturer Mobilvetta presented the new K-Yacht 79 Tekno Design 2027 motorhome on a 4.5-ton Fiat Ducato chassis at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon 2026. The model is 7.56 m long and 2.35 m wide, powered by a 180 hp engine with automatic transmission. Prices start at €144,900.

For MotoGP Mandalika 2026, VIP campervans are offered at Rp 10–15 million per night, depending on specification and occupancy of up to four people. The service includes airport pickup, city tours to destinations such as the Rinjani area, a PlayStation console, and a private chef preparing barbecue breakfast. The campervans are permitted inside the circuit in the Tapal Kuda area, allowing guests to watch the race from their vehicle.

ITDC organizes official camping at Kuta Beach Park for MotoGP Mandalika 2026. Prices range from 750 thousand rupiah for a dome tent to 10–15 million for a VIP campervan.