What if you could replace your campervan without having to replace the camper inside it? That is the idea behind the Hunker Pod, a removable conversion that transforms a Ram ProMaster into a fully equipped tiny home on wheels in about an hour.

Unlike a conventional build, the entire living module can be taken out and installed in another compatible van, allowing owners to keep the expensive part of their camper setup long after the original vehicle reaches the end of the road.

The clever system was created by Jon Moran and Dillon Hansen, the founders of Native Campervans. The pair started the rental company more than a decade ago after falling in love with campervan travel and wanting to make it accessible to more people.

What began with a handful of vehicles eventually grew into one of the largest campervan rental fleets in the United States. Along the way, Moran and Hansen learned plenty about what makes a campervan comfortable, what tends to break, and which features travelers genuinely use.

They also began questioning one of the biggest drawbacks of a traditional conversion: owners can spend tens of thousands of dollars creating a beautiful interior, only for that investment to remain permanently attached to a vehicle that will inevitably wear out.

The Hunker Pod is their answer.

A Campervan Conversion You Can Keep

Rather than building cabinetry, plumbing, electrical systems, and furniture directly into the van, Hunker combines everything into a single removable module.

The Pod slides into the cargo area on retractable legs, which lower it to floor level. It is then bolted into the van’s existing factory inserts, eliminating the need to drill into the floor or walls. The installation follows a certified load-securing standard commonly used for transporting commercial cargo.

/>A standard installation does not require any permanent exterior modifications, either. If the owner needs the ProMaster as an ordinary cargo van—or eventually wants to replace it—the Pod can be professionally removed by Hunker or an authorized installer.

When it is time for a newer vehicle, the same conversion can be transferred to another compatible ProMaster instead of being discarded along with the old van.

That flexibility could also make the system particularly useful for campervan rental companies and other commercial fleets, which typically replace their vehicles more frequently than private owners.

It Has Everything You Need in a Tiny Footprint

Although the interior arrives as one compact module, it includes the main comforts expected from a professionally converted campervan.

During the day, the central living area functions as a lounge with bench seating for up to six people.

When bedtime rolls around, the seating quickly transforms into a true queen-size bed, creating a generous sleeping space without requiring a permanently fixed mattress to dominate the interior.

Upper cabinets and large compartments beneath the benches provide room for two carry-on suitcases, bedding, camping chairs, and other everyday travel gear. The storage has been planned around the items people actually bring on the road, rather than simply filling every available wall with cabinetry.

Durable RV-grade surfaces are used throughout, reflecting the founders’ experience maintaining heavily used rental vans.

A Compact Kitchen With Running Water

The Hunker Pod’s kitchen is refreshingly straightforward. It includes a Dometic refrigerator, food and cookware storage, a preparation surface, and a removable two-burner grill.

An electric pump supplies running water to an extendable faucet, while separate seven-gallon containers hold the fresh and gray water. Because the tanks are removable, they can be filled and emptied without requiring a permanent connection beneath the van.

It is a relatively simple setup, but that is part of the appeal. There are no complicated built-in plumbing systems to winterize or large fixed tanks taking up valuable storage space.

The Pod is equipped with a 312Ah lithium battery, a 1,200-watt inverter, USB charging points, and dimmable LED lighting. According to Hunker, the integrated system can supply up to two days of off-grid power with moderate use and recharges while the vehicle is being driven.

An optional ProBreeze roof fan can be added to improve ventilation inside the cabin. Because the fan is optional, buyers who want to preserve the van’s factory exterior can choose the standard configuration without a roof opening.

The result is a camper that can support road trips and short off-grid stays without loading the interior with overly complicated systems.

Why It Only Fits the Ram ProMaster – for Now

The first Hunker Pod has been engineered specifically for Ram ProMaster vans with the 159-inch wheelbase from model year 2014 onward.

Limiting the system to one model allowed the designers to make better use of every inch instead of creating a universal pod that fits several vans imperfectly. The ProMaster’s wide, relatively square cargo area leaves enough room for a proper queen bed, comfortable seating, and generous storage without unnecessary gaps around the module.

It is also one of the more affordable full-size cargo vans on the North American market and is widely available, making it comparatively easy to purchase, repair, and replace.

Most importantly, Moran and Hansen already had more than 11 years of experience operating ProMaster campervans through Native Campervans. The Pod’s layout could therefore be refined using feedback and maintenance knowledge gathered from thousands of real-world rental trips.

Hunker says versions for the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are also in development.

New or Used, the Pod Stays the Same

Buyers do not need to purchase a brand-new van to use the Hunker Pod. The $32,995 module can be installed in either a new or used compatible Ram ProMaster, with the same installation process, features, and interior experience.

For the most affordable route to ownership, Hunker recommends looking at used ProMasters from model years 2018 to 2024. These vans typically have between 30,000 and 75,000 miles on the odometer and are estimated to cost between $19,000 and $25,000.

Once the $32,995 Hunker Pod is added, the company estimates a complete used setup will cost approximately $55,000. Unsurprisingly, this is expected to be the most popular option.

Buyers who would prefer to start fresh can pair the Pod with a new 2025 or 2026 ProMaster. Hunker estimates that a new van will cost between $45,000 and $50,000, bringing the starting investment for the van and Pod to approximately $78,000.

Actual vehicle prices will naturally vary according to location, condition, mileage, trim level, and dealer charges. However, the ability to begin with a used van makes a professionally equipped camper more accessible—and the Pod can later move into a new ProMaster when the owner is ready to upgrade.

German Engineering Meets a Decade of Road-Trip Experience

To bring the idea to life, the Native Campervans founders partnered with Innovation4Van, the German engineering and manufacturing company behind PlugVan’s modular camper systems.

Innovation4Van had already spent years developing removable conversions, while Moran and Hansen brought extensive knowledge of the North American market and the daily realities of running a campervan fleet.

Together, the companies adapted the concept for North American vehicles and travel habits. The result combines a German-developed modular system with a layout informed by more than a decade of renting, repairing, and living with campervans.

You Can Take One on a Road Trip Before Buying

Anyone curious about how the Hunker Pod feels in daily use can try one before committing to ownership.

Native Campervans offers fully equipped “Biggie” campervans containing the same Pod through its rental fleet. Prospective buyers can take one on a proper road trip, sleep in the queen bed, prepare meals, test the storage, and experience the off-grid systems under real travel conditions.

Hunker is also accepting reservations with a fully refundable $100 deposit. Once production begins, the company will help buyers select a compatible new or used Ram ProMaster, arrange installation, and prepare the completed camper for delivery.

Whether it is installed in a $19,000 used van or a brand-new ProMaster, the defining feature remains the same: when the vehicle is eventually ready for retirement, the tiny home inside it does not have to retire with it.