This is us
Mario & Melanie
We are from Fischamend, Austria, and love travelling with our own home on four wheels. We do not need a luxury camper. What matters to us is freedom, reliability and the option to take a different route on a whim.
The people behind PlanB_Van
Not a perfect plan. But exactly the right path.
PlanB_Van is Mario and Melanie. Our travel story began in Iceland in 2024. Then came the self-built Mercedes Vito, Carinthia and Tyrol, our VW T5.2 and the journeys to Corsica, Sardinia and Norway.
What PlanB_Van means to us
Set off, try things and keep learning on the road.
PlanB_Van is not a ready-made catalogue concept. The project has grown with every journey. We wanted a vehicle whose construction and capabilities we understand, and one we can fix ourselves when something goes wrong.
That is why we do not only show the finished result. We share the path, the good ideas, the detours and the things we would do differently today.
When Plan A fails, the adventure is not over. That is when Plan B begins.
Our story
From Iceland to the North Cape
Iceland, our first Vito build, Carinthia and Tyrol, the VW T5, Corsica and Sardinia, and finally Norway: every step made the next one possible.
Island 2024
The first big camper journey
First, we travelled through Iceland in a rented all-wheel-drive camper. Snow, wind, black beaches, waterfalls and northern lights showed us how liberating camper travel can feel. That journey sparked the desire for our own home on wheels.
June 2024
The Vito becomes our first camper
After Iceland, we converted a Mercedes Vito ourselves. We built pull-out wooden modules for storage, cooling and cooking, with a simple bed above. It was not a catalogue build, but our own first attempt—and exactly the right next step.
Carinthia & Tyrol 2024
The first journey in our own van
We took our self-built Vito through Carinthia and Tyrol. Between forests, campsites, mountains, glaciers and gorges, we learned what really matters on the road. The Vito showed us which solutions worked and what we wanted to improve in the next vehicle.
The new foundation
The VW T5 becomes PlanB_Van
After the Vito, we chose a VW T5.2 2.0 TDI 4Motion. The former school bus was stripped completely. Floor, electrics, furniture, kitchen, bed and storage were built by hand, step by step. Everything we learned in Iceland and with the Vito went straight into the new build.
Corsica & Sardinia 2025
Taking the T5 to the islands
Flower-filled fields, coastal spots, waterside camps and tracks that left the T5 properly muddy. In Corsica and Sardinia, the new build became a true home for longer journeys.
Norway 2026
More than 8,000 km in 23 days
We travelled through Sweden and Finland to the North Cape, then returned via the Lofoten Islands and Norway's west coast. Storms, snow, a shattered rear window and vast landscapes made this PlanB_Van's longest story so far.
Today
One overlander and many real stories
Today, PlanB_Van is our home on wheels. A 35 mm Bilstein and Eibach lift, Twin-Monotube wheels with Yokohama Geolandar AT tyres, a Horntools Alpha winch, Airholder roof rack and custom details make it unmistakable. We show beautiful scenery as openly as storms, breakdowns, changes of plan and solutions that only work on the second try.
From vehicle to home
The build did not happen in a single weekend
Every step was completed, tested and, when necessary, changed again by us. That is how an empty base became exactly the van we need for our travels.
Profile
PlanB_Van at a glance
A compact, self-built all-wheel-drive van from Austria. Built for travelling across Europe, rough roads and stories that cannot be found in a catalogue.
- Name
- PlanB_Van
- Behind it
- Mario & Melanie
- Home
- Fischamend, Austria
- First journey
- Island · 2024
- First van
- Mercedes Vito · DIY build
- First journey in our own van
- Carinthia & Tyrol · 2024
- Current van
- VW T5.2 · 2.0 TDI · 4Motion
- Build
- Complete DIY build
- Topics
- Vanlife, overlanding, travel, DIY and gear
- Style
- Real, practical, self-built and unfiltered
- Motto
- No plan? Then Plan B.
What we stand for
Real beats perfect
PlanB_Van is meant to inspire people to start with what they have instead of waiting for the perfect moment or the most expensive vehicle.
Do it yourself
We build, test and repair as much as possible ourselves and explain clearly why a solution works.
Stay honest
Breakdowns, failed attempts and limitations are part of the story too. Those experiences are often the most helpful to others.
Just set off
Adventure does not require a perfect camper. It begins with the decision to take the first step.