Vanpackers makes removable camper kits that let you sleep and store gear inside your vehicle instead of on top of it. The Simple Kit turns a minivan, cargo van or flat-floor vehicle into a weekend camper, and the ExpeditionBox does the same for a pickup bed. Both are made in Quebec, Canada, built from birch plywood, and install without permanent changes to your vehicle.
If you've been weighing a rooftop tent against something simpler, these kits are a real alternative. They're also a durable way to add drawers, a work surface and a sink to your vehicle, with or without the bed. Here's how each one works, what it costs, and how it compares to a rooftop tent.
Vanpackers Camper Kits at a Glance
| Kit | Fits | Sleeps | Install | Starting price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Kit | Minivans, cargo vans, flat-floor vehicles and the VW ID. Buzz | 1 (single platform) or 2 (double) | About 5 minutes in or out once built, no drilling into your vehicle | $795 |
| ExpeditionBox | Popular pickups, including the F-150, RAM 1500, Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Tacoma, Tundra and Frontier | 1 (single bed setup) or 2 (double bed setup), with the bed frame option | Straps to your existing tie-down points, no permanent modifications | $1,495 |
Simple Kit: Turn a Minivan or Cargo Van Into a Weekend Camper
The Simple Kit is a compact, removable bed platform that sleeps flat on a 72-inch (6 ft) bed. Set it up for a trip, then take it out to get your everyday vehicle back. In most minivans it still leaves room for up to five passenger seats.
- Fits: Minivans, flat-floor vehicles, cargo vans and the VW ID. Buzz
- Sleeps: One on a single platform, or two on a double
- Bed size open: 24" × 72" single, 48" × 72" double
- Built to last: 5/8" UV-varnished Baltic birch plywood, with adjustable legs that level the bed on uneven floors
- Weight: 35 lbs for the bed frame
- Assembly: Ships as a flat-pack kit that takes about an hour to put together
- Price: $795
Add-ons to build your setup:
- 4" high-density foam mattress set with removable, washable zippered covers: $200
- 40" drawer with a countertop, folding sink and divider: $595
- Removable table for use inside or outside the vehicle: $175
A single bed with the mattress and drawer comes to $1,590 before the optional table. Building a double bed? Each bed frame needs its own mattress set and drawer.
Before you order: Measure your cargo area. The single platform is 23.75" wide × 74.5" long × 13" high, and the double is 47.5" wide. Small floor differences can be handled with the included leveling shims.
ExpeditionBox: A Drop-In Camper for Your Pickup Bed
The ExpeditionBox turns the bed of your pickup into a compact camper. A kitchen box with drawers and a sink sits at the front of the bed, and an optional aluminum bed frame gives you a place to sleep. It straps down to your existing tie-down points and comes out completely when you want your bed back.
- Kitchen and storage: Sliding work surface, collapsible sink with support, drawers and a drawer organizer
- Sleeping: Single bed setup (26" wide, up to 78" long) or double (52" wide, up to 78" long), with or without 4" mattresses
- Kitchen box size: 24" × 48" × 13", 90 lbs
- Max distributed load: 500 lbs
- Tie-downs: Four 12" straps with 600 lbs total capacity
- Warranty: 1 year against manufacturing defects
Three ways to buy:
- Box only: $1,495
- Box + bed frame (no mattresses): $2,295
- Box + bed structure + 4" mattresses: $2,895
Before you order: You need an open bed with no permanent full-width boxes or accessories blocking the space, existing tie-down points, and enough bed length for the 4 ft kitchen box plus the bed platform.
See the ExpeditionBox truck camper box
Vanpackers vs. a Rooftop Tent: A Real Alternative
A rooftop tent puts your bed on the roof. A Vanpackers kit puts it inside the vehicle. Here's how the options compare:
| Factor | Simple Kit | ExpeditionBox | Rooftop tent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you sleep | Inside the vehicle | In the pickup bed | On the roof, reached by a ladder |
| Roof rack needed | No | No | Yes, rated for the tent's weight |
| Installation | No drilling into the vehicle, about 5 minutes once built | Straps to existing tie-downs | Mounts to roof rack crossbars |
| Kitchen and storage | Optional drawer with sink | Kitchen box with sink and drawers | Separate from the tent |
| Price (CAD) | From $795 | From $1,495 | Rocky Mountain Tents models: $2,899.99–$3,799.99 |
Choose a Vanpackers kit if you'd rather sleep inside your vehicle, don't want a ladder or extra weight on your roof, or want to keep your vehicle a normal daily driver between trips.
A rooftop tent is still the better call if you need to sleep three or four people, want your vehicle's interior or truck bed free for gear, or drive an SUV or other vehicle that doesn't suit an interior platform. See our Canadian overlander's guide to choosing a rooftop tent to compare.
Durable Storage for Your Vehicle, With or Without the Bed
You don't have to sleep in your vehicle to benefit from these kits. Both are built for heavy gear and daily abuse, and both work as storage systems on their own.
- Simple Kit drawer: A full-length 40" drawer on heavy-duty slides rated for up to 265 lbs, with a removable countertop, folding sink and divider.
- ExpeditionBox: Drawers and an organizer in a 12 mm multi-layer birch plywood box, with locking slides rated for 250 lbs (40" extension) and matte black phenolic surfaces. Order the box only for $1,495.
- Built from real wood and aluminum: The Simple Kit uses 5/8" UV-varnished Baltic birch plywood. The ExpeditionBox bed frame uses adjustable extruded aluminum with birch plywood slats.
- Easy to store: The Simple Kit folds to about a 2 × 4 ft footprint when it's not in your vehicle.
Made in Quebec, Canada
Vanpackers kits are made in Quebec, Canada. If you're looking for Canadian-made gear to outfit your van, minivan or pickup, these are built close to home and designed for the way Canadians camp and travel.
Which Vanpackers Setup Is Right for You?
- What do you drive? Minivan, cargo van, flat-floor vehicle or VW ID. Buzz: Simple Kit. Popular full-size or mid-size pickup: ExpeditionBox.
- Do you want to sleep in it? Both kits offer a bed. If you only need storage, choose the Simple Kit drawer or the ExpeditionBox box-only option.
- Solo or two people? Both can be set up as a single or double bed.
- Do you need a kitchen? The ExpeditionBox includes a sink and drawers. On the Simple Kit, add the drawer.
- What's your budget? The Simple Kit starts at $795. The ExpeditionBox starts at $1,495 and runs to $2,895 with the bed frame and mattresses.
Vanpackers Camper Kits: Common Questions
Is Vanpackers a good alternative to a rooftop tent?
Yes, if you'd rather sleep inside your vehicle. The Simple Kit and ExpeditionBox give you a flat bed without a ladder or a roof rack, and they come out when you want your vehicle back.
Does the Simple Kit require drilling into my vehicle?
No. It needs no drilling into your vehicle and no permanent changes. You will need a drill to assemble the kit itself.
What vehicles does the Simple Kit fit?
It fits most minivans, flat-floor vehicles, cargo vans and the VW ID. Buzz. Measure your cargo area before ordering.
What trucks does the ExpeditionBox fit?
It fits popular pickups including the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Frontier. You need an open bed, existing tie-down points and enough bed length.
Do I have to buy a mattress?
No. The 4" mattress is optional for both kits.
Where are Vanpackers products made?
Vanpackers kits are made in Quebec, Canada.
Shop Vanpackers at Union Overland
Start with the Simple Kit bed frame for vans and minivans, or the ExpeditionBox for pickups, then add the drawer, mattress or table to build your setup. Not sure which one fits your vehicle? Get in touch with the Union Overland team, tell us what you drive, and we'll help you pick.