The Essential Guide to Setting Up Your Pickup Camper

Welcome to our comprehensive guide dedicated to setting up our pickup camper for long-term travel. After comparing several manufacturers in our previous article, our choice fell on ModulIdea to equip our Defender 130 camper. This manufacturer offers empty pickup campers, allowing a fully customized configuration at an accessible price.
In this article, discover in detail our layout plan with all the equipment that transforms a simple pickup camper into a true home on wheels.

Our Pickup Camper Plan: Detailed Layout

Our Defender camper maximizes the use of available space thanks to a versatile area allowing:
– Convivial meals thanks to the Lagun table leg
– Extended remote work sessions with 2 computers + Starlink
– Relaxation moments on our benches
– Additional sleeping space 100×170 cm
This modularity makes our pickup camper a truly adaptable living space for all situations.
Below is the list of all our equipment with links:
Indoor removable shower
ARB outdoor shower
PRIMUS MOJA STOVE gas burner
Lagun table leg
Dry toilet
Froli slatted base

General Design

Our pickup camper is specially designed to fit the Defender’s bed. It provides a self-sufficient solution with optimal comfort and plenty of storage for long trips. Every square centimetre of this camper has been optimised to maximise space without compromising manoeuvrability, while respecting the vehicle’s GVW.

Sleeping Area

The heart of our Defender camper: a fixed Queen size bed measuring 160×200 cm with a Froli slatted base. For extended travel, quality sleep is essential. This choice of a permanent bed in our pickup camper guarantees optimal rest, even if it slightly reduces living space. After intense days on rough tracks, this comfort is priceless!

Kitchen Area

Our pickup camper integrates a complete kitchenette including:
– Sink with tap
– 1-burner removable cooktop
– Sliding drawer refrigerator
– Optimised storage for utensils and provisions

The removable Primus burner, intentionally not fixed, offers great freedom of use. Powerful and efficient, it allows for quick and effective cooking regardless of conditions.

Bathroom

The sanitary equipment in our Defender camper includes:
– Removable shower with integrated drain plug
– Urine-separating dry toilet
– Outdoor shower in the wild
Having private sanitary facilities in a camper radically transforms the travel experience. For Sophie it was a must, as I believe it is for many female travellers.

Electrical System

Energy Autonomy of the Pickup Camper

Our Defender camper carries:
– High-capacity lithium auxiliary battery
– Flexible solar panels (optimal lightness)
– 220V inverter for all appliances
Full autonomy of 2-3 days
The flexible panels on the roof of our pickup camper offer discretion and performance, even in overcast weather.
To learn more about the electrical installation of a camper, check out our IntotheWild magazine #1.

Thermal Comfort

Heating and Water Heater

To ensure comfort in our pickup camper, we installed a two-in-one system from Autoterm.
It offers the best value for money we found — granted, it doesn’t have the altitude kit, but so far even in the middle of the mountains we’ve had no issues. We’re looking forward to adding that kit for our heater and water heater.
Diesel heating remains the optimal choice for a pickup camper: maximum autonomy and easy fuel supply anywhere in the world.

Feedback

3 Years with Our Pickup Camper: Defender Camper Plan Provided

After three years of intensive use of our pickup camper, certain choices have proven themselves:

Highlights
Indoor removable shower: a truly well-thought-out feature, perfect when showering in urban areas or in very cold conditions.
Fixed Queen size bed: a comfort that has become indispensable on the road — we even added the luxury of a memory foam topper which adds even more comfort.
Removable cooktop: genuine versatility in everyday use
Areas for improvement
Lower sleeping space to optimise when the roof is closed: in strong winds or storms (which has happened to us more than once), sleeping for two becomes tricky in the lower section.
Good news: we’re actively working on it and think we’ve found a solution. We’ll share more very soon!

Our pickup camper has allowed us to live extraordinary adventures in complete autonomy.
Follow our travels on our YouTube channel!

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Our Pickup Camper

An empty pickup camper allows for total customisation of the layout, equipment and comfort level. It is the ideal solution for designing a space truly suited to your way of travelling, while keeping costs under control. This is precisely the choice that led us to work with ModulIdea.

Yes, provided the layout is well thought out. With a comfortable bed, genuine electrical autonomy, integrated sanitary facilities and effective heating, a camper becomes a true little home on wheels, perfectly suited to long-term travel.

After several years of travel, sleep comfort has become an absolute priority. A fixed Queen size bed (160×200 cm) with a Froli slatted base and memory foam topper guarantees optimal rest, essential after long days on rough tracks. We started our off-road journey in a 4×4 van with a 120×175 cm bed and I can tell you the experience was completely different. The urge to go home to a proper bed at the end of the holiday was very, very strong.

Yes, absolutely. The removable Primus burner offers great flexibility: it can be used indoors or outdoors depending on conditions. Its power allows for quick and efficient cooking, which is a real advantage on the road — especially when you love cooking as much as we do.

The budget depends greatly on the level of customisation and equipment chosen. Opting for an empty camper like ModulIdea cost us €16,000 — though the price may have changed over 3 years. As for the interior, everything depends on the materials you use and the electrical power you need. The budget will range from €15,000 to €30,000 depending on your choices.

Our Defender camper provides full autonomy of 2 days in bad weather and complete autonomy during sunny days, thanks to a high-capacity lithium battery, flexible solar panels and a 220V inverter. This setup allows us to work, cook and live comfortably without depending on the grid.

Having sanitary facilities radically changes the travel experience, especially in cities, in bad weather or in cold conditions. The indoor removable shower and the dry toilet were an essential criterion, particularly for Sophie, as they are for many female travellers.

For us, yes. The diesel heater and water heater offer excellent autonomy and easy fuel supply anywhere in the world. Even without an altitude kit for now, our Autoterm system has proven reliable, including in the mountains.

After three years of intensive use, one point stands out:

the lower sleeping space when the roof is closed, particularly in strong winds or storms.
Good news: we are currently working on a solution, which we will share very soon.

You can find all our adventures, field tests and feedback:

on our YouTube channel Defintothewild
on our Instagram Defintothewild
in our IntoTheWild magazine, dedicated to travel, overlanding and nomadic life