In a bid to prove the versatility of the Eeco, Suzuki Auto South Africa has handed the compact panel van the camper-van treatment.
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A compact panel van turned into a camper van? Indeed. Although a conversion such as this might — at first, at least — seem curious when considering camper vans are mostly sizeable people-movers, not to mention all-wheel drive, the Suzuki Eeco might just prove the best for when you are on a budget.
Recently, Suzuki Auto South Africa embarked on a brand-new campaign to prove just that. Billed #VanLife, with the campaign the local arm of the Japanese automaker challenged leisure-equipment designers and creative spirits to modify the small-size panel van into a camper … and the result looks promising.
The Eeco camper conversion features additional pews in the loading compartment, a ‘smart’ bed, which doubles as a bench and can be converted to a single- or three-quarter bed, drawers sited below the floor for additional stowage space, and a basin with washing facilities. A veranda is also present and is fitted to a roof rack. The front seats were left untouched.
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As a reminder, the Eeco’s loading bay measures 1 620 mm in length and 1 300 mm in width. In addition, it offers a carrying capacity of 615 kg. The Eeco is powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which transfers 59 kW and 104 N.m exclusively to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual cog swapper.
Said Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki SA, “For the #VanLife campaign, we were inspired by the social media trend where young and the young-at-heart were converting large panel vans into mobile homes. Their novel use of space and unique ways of converting a stark panel van into a homely living space drove us to try the same, but with a panel van that is compact and affordable.”
Carpenter added, “The Eeco #VanLife concept showed that you did not need a seven-figure budget and a heavy-vehicle driver’s licence to enjoy the life of a nomad.”
