What started as a personal lockdown project, has flourished into a lucrative van rental business for 22-year-old Marcus Moffat.
The Cronulla-based travel buff first began building vans for a road trip across Australia, but four van renos later and the project has taken on a new life.
"Around the same time I started, COVID took hold and the van build became more of a lockdown project, as I was able to spend more time at home building and learning everything there was to know about electrical and plumbing services. And I was able to refine and improve my carpentry skills with the help of my dad and grandfather," he says.
Through the business, dubbed Wander Campervans, Marcus exhibits a flair for turning tiny spaces into cosy and stylish homes on wheels, with a beachy aesthetic that leans on warm, woody materials, clever storage solutions and homely touches. His vans are available to rent via Camplify.
Click through to see some impressive 'before and after' snaps of his adorable campers Henry and Harlow.
Marcus' first van conversion took around 10 weeks, though now he's got it down an art, with his last three fit-outs taking just eight weeks, from start to finish.
He takes his design inspiration from the #VanLife trend.
For van Henry, he incorporated a comfy queen-sized bed, big enough to fit a couple.
All the mod-cons are there, including LED lighting, Bluetooth audio, powerboards for charging, two stove gas burners, a 70L fridge, and a fully-functional kitchen sink.
Storage was front of mind in the build, with Marcus incorporating enough room under the bed for surfboards, snow equipment and bikes. He even thought to include a tub filled with beach gear like snorkels, for impromptu beach pitstops.
For Harlow, an automatic Toyota HiAce campervan, Marcus went with a similar floorplan, with the clever addition of a queen bed that converts into a dining table and day bed.
Sliding panels enable the queen bed frame to retract, making space for a cute breakfast nook for two.
At the rear of the van, an outdoor clip-on wooden table offers additional bench space for cooking.
The queen bed can easily convert into a smaller day bed, thanks to clever design and a folding mattress.
Marcus kept the aesthetic light, bright and beachy, with fishscale-inspired tiles and bohemian fabric accents.
LED lighting enhances the soft colour palette throughout.
The results speak for themselves, with muted tones, tasselled cushions and throws, and quality fixtures creating a warm and inviting space, made for travellers on the move.
Marcus is particularly proud of his sink.
"I would not compromise on a kitchen sink in any van, whether it's washing your hands, washing up dishes, or washing your teeth, it's a small yet significant feature that can turn any van into more of a house on wheels."
Check out all of Marcus' rentals on his Camplify listings page.
