How I’d Build the Ultimate Compact Motorhome Out of an Electric Kia
I’ve always admired the ingenuity of the old Champion Trans-Van: a motorhome that could also serve as a daily driver. The idea of a vehicle that could seamlessly transition between family transport and weekend adventures always appealed to me. Now, with the advent of electric vehicles, specifically Kia’s new PV series, I believe the time is ripe to revisit and reimagine this concept.
The Allure of the Dual-Purpose Van
Let’s be honest: RVs can be a massive investment. Many people spend six-figure sums on vehicles they use only a handful of times a year. Then consider the storage requirements, maintenance costs, and rapid depreciation. On the other hand, renting an RV can seem costly because you’re paying for the upkeep of a vehicle that may not be built with the most durable materials.
This is where the original Trans-Van’s brilliance shone. Created in the late seventies, it aimed to provide a camper you could use as everyday transport, rather than a dedicated RV. It found enough success to show the idea was viable, but it didn’t quite achieve the desired dual usage.
The Trans-Van: A Trendsetter
In the 1970s when gas prices soared and horsepower plummeted, the visual appeal of vehicles took center stage. Vans became a canvas for self-expression.
Ford and Dodge jumped on the custom van bandwagon. Meanwhile, Champion Home Builders, recognizing the trend, introduced the Trans-Van in 1977. It was a small motorhome with a lot of style and even bigger ambition.
As Mercedes Streeter explained, while marketed as a luxury motorhome, the Trans-Van’s small size made it practical as a second family car. It offered RV amenities for active lifestyles.
The rear housed a kitchenette and a compact closet/toilet area, with a single central door.
The space forward of this was totally reconfigurable. A dining table folded up, and couches lined the walls. The bubble porthole windows gave good views, while rear storage lockers offered extra space.
The Modern Vision: Kia PV Series
Fast forward to today. The concept of a big, gas-guzzling V8 van doesn’t resonate with modern buyers. Luckily, there’s a new generation of cargo movers, including the Kia PV series—a range of electric vehicles that seems perfectly suited for this project.
With a passenger version of the PV5 reportedly being tested in America, Kia’s plans for a launch in the next few years seem plausible. The largest model, the PV7, promises good size.
The Kia PV series is a very 2025 take on our 1982 vision of the future. Kia is supposedly offering a cab-chassis model, which is perfect for our needs.
Building the Ultimate Compact Motorhome
For a modern Trans-Van, I would expand the rear body with a raised roof similar to the original Champion product. The vertical stripes and porthole windows are a direct throwback to the original.
Inside, the floor plan of the original Trans-Van serves as a base.
We modernize it with ideas from modern campers, such as the four forward-facing captain’s chairs from the Winnebago LeSharo, so people can have an enjoyable ride with a good view. As an option, a side door could address criticisms of the original Trans-Van’s single rear door.
You can swivel the captain’s chairs to create a conversation area and two single beds can be created by simply folding the front seats. There would also be a dinette that converts into a sleeper.
At the rear, the kitchenette and closet/toilet space would be retained, though the toilet area could be expanded to include a shower.
Fold-Away Camping Modules?
To address the inconvenience of having camping equipment cluttering a daily driver, I propose a modular system. The camping components — kitchen, toilet, and closet — would be built as self-contained modules on tracks in the floor.
When it’s time to transition back to van mode, you open the rear doors, disconnect the electrical and water, and roll the modules out on dollies. They can then be stored in a garage or shed. You can then rearrange the seating for an eight-seat van, with ample room in the back for cargo.
This modular approach allows the conversion, theoretically, to be completed in under half an hour. And the van is now used 100% of the time.
Will It Work?
While this vision sounds ambitious, I believe it’s achievable. The combined cost would be lower than purchasing a full-size SUV and a compact luxury motorhome. If one vehicle can replace a multi-vehicle fleet, that becomes very appealing.
This modern Trans-Van, built upon an electric Kia platform, has great potential. I believe it can blend everyday practicality with the freedom of the open road.
