Thinking about converting your medium-sized (think Trafic, T6, Transit or Expert) van into a fully functional camper – but want to keep things simple?
The Roamer is one of our most versatile and practical kits, perfect for van lifers who love to cook, travel light, and stay off-grid. With a large storage unit at the rear that’s designed to hold a fridge or cooler, it’s perfect for campers who like to cook at the rear of the van, with the doors open.
In this video, our founder Ben takes a full walkthrough of the Roamer kit, showing how the modular units work together to create a compact, comfortable living space in your van. From smart storage to our famous sliding bed, it’s everything you need in a mid-size campervan setup.
Watch the full walkthrough below, or read on for a detailed transcript and feature breakdown!
Key Features of the Roamer Kit:
Modular Units: Includes the rear C3 unit, the side A2 unit with pop-up table, and our sliding bed system.
Rear Cooking Setup: Designed for cooking at the back of your van with easy access to a fridge and storage.
Integrated Toilet Space: C3 unit includes space for a portable toilet – ideal for wild camping.
Pop-Up Table: No loose parts – just pops out when needed.
Smart Storage: Accessible in all bed positions, optimized for 16L water tanks, clothing, books, and more.
Sliding Bed System: Pulls out from inside the van – perfect for cold or rainy nights.
Custom Fit: Designed to fit VW T5/T6, Renault Trafic, Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy, and more.
Quick Build: Flat-pack kit can be assembled in a weekend. Total weight: just 60kg.
Transcript:
Today we're going to walk through the Roamer kit.
If this is your first time seeing a Simple Vans video, you can check out this [intro video] to learn more about the concept – but quickly put, we make building your camper van simple and easy. We send you a flat-pack kit in the post, a couple of boxes you put together, and it can all be done in a weekend.
Let’s get into it. The Roamer is a full camper van setup that includes a rear unit - the C3 - a side unit - the A2 with a pop-out table - and of course, our well-known sliding bed that makes full use of your van’s small space.
The Roamer is ideal if you like cooking at the back of your van. What I love is that the fridge sits at eye level, so it's super easy to access. You can use a Carbest fridge or a cool box – this space is made for both. There's also top storage with a lip to hold books or magazines, and a large lower space perfect for a portable toilet. If you're planning to free camp, having a toilet is essential – and the C3 unit is designed to include one.
Moving on to the side unit, it gives you plenty of storage for clothes or road trip gear. It has three access doors – two in front, one around the side – and the lower section is made to fit 16L water tanks and a sink. You can also fit the water kit at the front of the van if you prefer. One important design detail: the top storage is still accessible even when the bed is pulled out, which is often overlooked in van design.
My favorite feature? The pop-up table. Customers love it – no loose legs or tabletops to find. It just pops out and folds away easily.
Around the front of the A2 unit, there’s an adjustable shelf and more space for water tanks or a front-facing sink. The A2 is slightly smaller for storage, but it gives you a wider access point at the van door – perfect for everyday use when you want to throw in shopping, bags, or if you’re a “messy packer” like me.
A key difference with the Roamer layout is the position of the bed – it’s centered in the van. We've moved the small section of the sliding bed from the back to the front. It changes the build slightly, but it's all explained in the instructions. You still get full storage access, and you can pull out the bed from inside the van – perfect for cold or rainy nights.
The bed is 181.5 cm long and 120cm wide in a Renault Trafic or VW T5/T6. In vans like the Peugeot Expert or Citroën Jumpy, which are narrower, it pulls out to 112cm – still a generous size. (The VW California also has a 112cm bed.) If you have a long wheelbase van, extensions are included this year, allowing the bed to reach 188.5 cm.
To sum up:
The Roamer is perfect for vanlifers who love cooking and living at the back of their van. It comes in flat-pack form, weighs just 60kg, and can be built in a weekend using our simple instructions. You can varnish or paint it to match your style, and we offer mattresses and other essentials to get you on the road.
It’s custom-cut to fit VW T5/T6, Renault Trafic variants, Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy, and other medium-sized vans. We’ve designed it to be compatible with as many models as possible.
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