Mercedes-Benz Weekender Camper Van

Mercedes just announced a new camper van. The Weekender is a pop-top upfit that sleeps four and aims to be just as comfortable to drive and park as it is to sleep in. While the carmaker’s Sprinter model has long been the choice for vanlifers, the Weekender is based on the Metris, a more compact version of the lite commercial cargo van. It’s got a bit more horsepower than the Sprinter (188 vs 208) and is nearly a full ton lighter. While there’s less cargo room inside, you’ll be able to park it on city streets and crowded parking lots without having a panic attack.

There’s a sleeping area for two up top under the spring-system elevating roof. USB ports let you plug in your lights and devices (an included secondary battery will help keep them charged up), while three windows give you a view. Below, the rear bench folds to sleep two more and there’s an integrated table for eating (both front seats swivel around to seat four at the table). As for cooking, you can opt for a pull out kitchen if you need an upgrade from campsite cooking. Other options include a roof rack, awning, lift kit, and solar panels.

Consider this: We’ve got 62 National Parks (not including monuments, recreational areas, historical sites, and the like). If you visit one a week it’ll take you a little over a year (time Denali for summer). And if you plan to spend your nights in a tent, that’s 124 set-ups and tear-downs. You can see the appeal of parking and having your bed already set up (or close to it). Since the Weekender is a camper van that can corner and park nearly as easily as an SUV, if you order one this spring from any Mercedes-Benz Vans dealer, you can start checking NPs off your list.

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