Duo

The original two-person layout from The Vansmith The Duo is where The Vansmith story began. It is the floor plan our Boulder, Colorado shop has refined across hundreds of builds: a short-wheelbase Sprinter camper designed around one simple idea — two people should be able to cook, sleep, and carry their gear without the van ever feeling crowded. The layout that started it all Most camper vans force a trade-off between living space and garage space. The Duo avoids that by making the bed do the work. It sits at near-queen size for everyday travel, extends toward near-king when you want to stretch out, and lifts out entirely when the trip calls for bikes, skis, or lumber instead of sleep. Underneath, the wheel-well boxes house the electrical and water systems while staying ready to anchor a bunk. Up front, a swiveling captain seat turns the cab into part of the living room. Along the driver's side, a full-length upper cabinet and a five-foot galley — sink, faucet, and an 80-liter fridge — handle kitchen duty, with 20 gallons of fresh water on board. Across the aisle, a storage bench hides the option of a future toilet or bench shower. Every surface you touch is real wood: prefinished birch walls and ceiling and a countertop shaped by hand in our shop. Four-season comfort, off-grid by default Every Duo leaves Boulder insulated for true four-season use and wired with a 2kWh lithium smart electrical system fed three ways — 260 watts of rooftop solar, shore power, and charging from the engine's alternator. A ceiling vent fan, layered LED lighting, and USB/12V/110V outlets throughout are all standard. Colder climates can add a gas or diesel cabin heater; hot ones can step up to air conditioning; full-time travelers can grow the battery bank to 5 or 10kWh. Make it yours Because the Duo is a platform rather than a fixed package, it grows with you. Traveling with a little one? A Cabbunk hammock over the cab adds a third sleeper. Want to rinse off after the trail? Choose a bench shower system with undermounted gray tank or an exterior shower. Cooking more seriously? Add an induction stove and a marine table. From window covers and bug screens to suspension upgrades, Starlink, and an awning, the options list covers what real owners actually ask for — and skips what they don't. Duo at a glance Short-wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter platform Seats and sleeps 2, expandable to 3 Convertible near-queen bed (extends toward near-king, fully removable) Custom-cut memory foam mattress 60" galley with sink and 80L fridge; 20-gallon fresh water Prefinished birch interior with handcrafted countertops 4-season insulation and 2kWh lithium power (solar, shore, and alternator charging) Shower-ready and toilet-ready storage bench Built in Boulder, backed for life Every Duo is handbuilt by The Vansmith in Boulder, Colorado, and our cabinetry carries a lifetime warranty. We have been building and refining this layout longer than any other in our lineup — it remains the van we recommend most often to couples starting van life. Duo FAQ What makes the Duo different from other Vansmith models? The Duo is our original couples' layout and the foundation the rest of the lineup evolved from. It prioritizes an open floor plan and a convertible bed over fixed furniture, which keeps it lighter and more flexible than larger family-oriented builds. Is the Duo good for full-time van life? Yes — with four-season insulation, off-grid lithium power, and 20 gallons of fresh water standard, many Duo owners live in their vans for months at a time. Full-timers usually add a cabin heater and a larger battery bank. Can the bed really come out? It can. The bed platform is designed to be removable, so the same van that sleeps two on a weekend can haul a full cargo load on Monday. Where is the Duo built? Every Duo is built at The Vansmith's shop in Boulder, Colorado by our in-house team — no outsourced cabinetry, and a lifetime warranty on the cabinets we build. How is this page different from the DUO BUILD page? This page covers the original Duo model and its design story. The DUO BUILD listing is the current conversion package offering with full spec and add-on details for ordering.