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Hilltop or Cave: Two Ways to Winter in a Van

Posted on2026-01-15 by
Hilltop or Cave: Two Ways to Winter in a Van

One kit opens up. One kit closes in. Both work – for very different people.

Last February, I watched someone try to dig out their snow boots from under a pile of bags in a cramped van while freezing rain hammered the roof. They gave up and wore running shoes instead. That's a winter trip ruined by storage.

Two weeks later, I spent an entire afternoon in a small van during a blizzard. Five hours inside, nowhere to sit except the bed, nothing to do but stare at the condensation. That's a winter trip ruined by lack of space.

Both problems are real. Both ruin trips. And you can't solve both at once.

That's why this post talks about two very different kits from the Simple Plus collection, each designed for large vans: one prioritizes interior space, the other prioritises storage. But before getting into the kits, there’s a more basic question to answer – why large vans in the first place?

Why winter changes everything

In summer, your van is a place to sleep. You wake up, make coffee outside, and disappear for the day. The interior matters less… because you're rarely in it.

Winter flips that completely.

Shorter days mean you're back at the van by 5pm. Bad weather means you're inside when you'd rather not be. Cold mornings mean you're waiting for the van to warm up before getting dressed. Rain means wet gear piling up. Snow means more layers, more boots, more stuff.

Suddenly you're not visiting your van between activities – you're living in it.

And when that shift happens, the interior either works or it doesn't. There's no middle ground when you're stuck inside for hours with nowhere to move and no place to put anything.

Large vans handle this better than small ones. More headroom, better air circulation, enough space to actually exist without feeling trapped. That's what Simple Plus kits are designed around: vans big enough to be livable when conditions aren't perfect.
But even with more space, you still have to choose a layout that suits you best. To illustrate this, we’ll look at two very different kits from the Simple Plus range.

The space-first approach: Essentials Plus

The Essentials Plus kit is built around a modular ‘Salon’ bed system that converts into sofas, seats, and a table during the day. Once it's set up, the rear of the van becomes an open, comfortable living area, while the compact kitchen leaves the front of the van feeling super spacious.

This matters more than it sounds.

When you're stuck inside because of weather, cramped spaces drain you fast. Cabin fever kicks in. The Essentials Plus layout fights that by giving you physical and psychological breathing room.

You can cook without bumping into things. Sit at a table instead of hunched on a bed. Walk a few steps without tripping over gear. It's not luxury – it's the difference between tolerating a bad-weather day and hating it.

The trade-off is access. There's actually decent storage volume – it's all tucked under the sofa benches. But to get to it, you need to lift the seats, which means lifting the foam cushions, which means clearing off whatever's sitting on them. Coffee cups, books, blankets – all of it has to move before you can dig out a sweater.

That's fine if you're organized and only need things once or twice a day. It becomes annoying when you're constantly pulling out layers as temperatures drop, or when someone urgently needs something from their bag and you’ve only just got comfortable.
This kit works if you don't mind a little friction between you and your gear, and if you'd rather have that open feeling during the day than instant access to storage.

The storage-first approach: Partners Paradise

The Partners Paradise kit uses a raised sliding bed system: two large bench structures that form an elevated sleeping platform when pushed together, and create a walk-through corridor when pulled apart.

The real benefit is what you get underneath and above: deep storage compartments under the bed and extensive overhead cabinets. Winter clothing, boots, sports gear – it all has a place, and you can access it without unloading half the van.

This solves a problem that ruins trips quietly: storage stress. When you're constantly moving bags around to find something, when wet gear has nowhere to dry, when the interior slowly fills with clutter because there's no proper place for anything – that grinds you down over time.

The trade-off is floor space. The benches and bed structure take up interior volume, so you lose some of that open, airy feeling. The van feels more enclosed, more furnished, less flexible.
This kit works if you travel with a partner, take longer trips, carry outdoor or sports gear, and would rather have everything organised than have extra room to move.

What I'd actually choose

I've spent time in both kits, and I'll be honest: I'd take the Partners Paradise.

Not because it's better designed – both are well thought through. Not because storage is objectively more important than space – it isn't.

I'd choose it because I know how I travel, and I know what breaks me on winter trips.

I pack heavy. Extra layers, waterproofs, boots, gear for whatever conditions might show up. If I can’t find something when I need it — or if I’m constantly shuffling bags around – that frustration compounds over days. I’d rather have less floor space and know exactly where everything is.

The B-Max bed makes that possible. It offers a lot of storage, but more importantly, it’s multi-compartment, easy-access storage. Everything has a place, and you can get to it without dismantling the living space. And the walk-through – or crawl space – between the two benches becomes the perfect spot to stash bulky gear while you’re on the move.

Then there’s the hilltop versus cave question.

Some people want to feel like they’re in an open, bright space – hilltop people. I’m more of a cave guy. I want to feel like I’m in a refuge: something warm, cosy, and nook-like, where I’m tucked away from the weather and the wider world. The raised bed and extra furniture in Partners Paradise create exactly that feeling for me.

If you're the opposite – if you pack light, if you feel claustrophobic in furnished spaces, if openness matters more than organisation – then Essentials Plus will suit you better.

Neither kit is wrong. But one will match how you actually travel in winter, and the other won't. That's the only comparison that matters.

- Ben

Related products
Essentials Plus Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans Essentials Plus Essentials Plus Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans

Essentials Plus

€1,799.00 (tax incl.)

The Essentials Plus Kit is designed for solo adventurers who value simplicity, a spacious feel, and functionality.

With a versatile Salon Queen bed and discreet storage, our lowest price Plus kit maximizes open space while delivering comfort, organization, and flexibility on the road.

Mattress not included

Partners Paradise Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans Partners paradise Partners Paradise Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans

Partners paradise

€4,199.00 (tax incl.)

The Partners Paradise Kit is the perfect camper van setup for couples, combining comfort, practicality, and smart storage solutions.

Featuring the B-Max bed, an L-shaped kitchen, and the Small Seating Combo, this kit maximizes space and creates a relaxing, well-organized home on wheels for two.

Table leg included

Mattress not included

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