Real Hiace Camper Customization Examples — How Families Are Turning Vans into Tiny Homes
Toyota Hiace: The Perfect Base for Family Vanlife Adventures
The Toyota Hiace (HIACE) is renowned for its durability — some models can endure well over 1,000,000 km — and for its exceptional cargo capacity. Originally designed for commercial use such as delivery and passenger transport, it’s now increasingly popular in the world of car camping and vanlife, where travelers convert it into cozy mobile homes for use at RV parks, roadside stations, and other scenic spots.
We’ve been enjoying family vanlife in a Hiace Van (Wide, Mid-Roof) for the past five years with our family of four.
If you’re planning to start vanlife, or if your current vehicle feels a bit cramped and you’re considering upgrading to a Hiace, this guide is for you.
We’ll walk you through why the Hiace is ideal for camper conversions and share our own customization examples for long-term, comfortable family trips.
Why the Hiace Is Perfect for Camper Conversions
Spacious Interior (with Storage Beneath the Bed)
The most important factor in vanlife is space.
When you’re sleeping, cooking, storing luggage, and living all inside one vehicle, a cramped interior can quickly become stressful.
With the Hiace’s expansive cargo area, you can add sleeping platforms, tables for meals or remote work, and abundant storage solutions — all within one vehicle.
For example, from the second-row seats to the rear door, the Hiace offers a massive 1,855 mm of usable space.
Even with a full-sized bed installed above, the space below remains available for storage — perfect for long gear like skis, snowboards, or bulky camping equipment.
Simple, Customizable Cargo Design
The Hiace Van was originally designed as a commercial vehicle, focusing purely on maximizing cargo efficiency.
As a result, it comes with minimal interior fittings — meaning it’s a blank canvas for custom layouts.
Its simple design makes it easy to DIY or install aftermarket components, allowing owners to tailor the space to their lifestyle — whether for work, family trips, or outdoor adventures.
Abundant Aftermarket Parts
Because so many people use the Hiace for vanlife, custom parts are widely available.
Toyota even offers optional bed kits, and you can find a variety of accessories online — from shades and window nets to floor mats and organizers — all made to fit the Hiace perfectly.
That means you can shop confidently without worrying about size mismatches or installation issues.
Choosing Your Camper-Ready Hiace
1. Buy a Fully Converted Camper Van (Van Conversion)
If you want a Hiace that’s ready to camp right from the start, look for a van conversion, often called a “ban-con” in Japan — a modified van equipped with beds, kitchens, and storage.
These are popular at camper shows and can be driven with a regular driver’s license.
They’re smaller than full-size RVs, yet much more livable than a stock van.
However, due to the post-pandemic vanlife boom, demand has soared.
Depending on the model, delivery can take 1–2 years, and prices are higher than those of cab-over motorhomes (“cab-con”).
If your budget and patience allow, though, they’re an excellent option.
2. Buy a Lightly Equipped Camper Van
If you just want a vehicle you can sleep in right away, you can find Hiace models with only a bed kit installed.
These are far more affordable and available with shorter delivery times.
That’s how we started — we bought a Hiace with only a bed kit, then gradually added our own touches:
a bug net, window shades, and later, DIY-built features like a slide-out kitchen and flip-up table.
This approach is ideal for people who want to start traveling immediately and upgrade over time.
3. Buy a Stock Hiace and Add Minimal Camping Gear
Even a standard Hiace can be used for camping with a few basic additions.
You can flatten the seats and add an inflatable mattress or futon for sleeping, plus a compact camping table for meals.
This simple setup works well for short trips or casual travelers.
4. Fully DIY Conversion
For those dreaming of an aesthetic, Instagram-worthy van interior, full DIY is the way to go.
You can line the walls and floor with wood panels, install a kitchen counter, or build a custom layout from scratch.
The Hiace’s wide cargo area provides endless possibilities for creating a van that reflects your style and needs.
Our Family’s Custom Setup
Here are some of the modifications we’ve made to our Hiace to make family trips more comfortable.
Bed Kit & Storage
Our mid-roof Hiace has enough vertical space to install a bed platform on top with storage underneath.
This lets our family of four sleep comfortably, especially while the kids are still in elementary school.
Two-Tier Bed System
As the kids grew, sleeping side by side became tight, so we built a second-level bunk bed using steel pipes and plywood, topped with inflatable mattresses.
It’s surprisingly sturdy and comfortable — plus, the frame slides forward and backward to adjust for luggage or sleeping arrangements.
Flip-Up Table
A foldable wall-mounted table is perfect for meals, laptop work, or journaling on the road.
画像タイトルWhen folded away, it saves space — an essential addition for daily use.
Slide-Out Kitchen
For outdoor cooking, we installed a slide-out kitchen unit with three storage drawers for utensils and ingredients.
We use it often, especially on summer beach trips, and it always attracts attention from fellow travelers!
Bug Nets
We installed snap-on bug nets on the rear and one side door.
They’re vehicle-specific, tool-free, and perfect for keeping insects out while letting the breeze in — a must-have for warm nights.
Overhead Storage Bar
Using the assist grips, we added a DIY hanging storage bar.
We store sleeping bags, pillows, and in winter, wet ski gloves or boot liners to dry using the van’s heater while driving.
Why the Hiace Makes Vanlife So Comfortable
Spacious, customizable, and built to last — the Hiace checks all the boxes for vanlife.
Owners use it for surfing, fishing, skiing, traveling with pets, and more.
Its balance of size, height clearance, and drivability makes it ideal for Japan’s roads and parking structures.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many vanlifers choose the Hiace — now you know!
Find Your Camper Van on Carstay
If you’re inspired to start your own vanlife journey, you don’t need to build everything from scratch.
On Carstay, you can rent or share camper vans across Japan — including Toyota Hiace models and many other custom setups perfect for families, couples, or solo travelers.
Whether you want to try car camping for a weekend, or explore Japan long-term in a fully equipped camper, you’ll find a variety of options ready to go.
You can filter by location, vehicle type, or amenities, and choose the one that fits your travel style.
👉 Explore available camper vans here:
👉 Have your own camper or car camping spot?
your next adventure begins with Carstay
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