1996 Mitsubishi Delica
Imported from Japan
~Passenger van conversion to off-road camper van~
This van was a complete passion project of mine. I’ve wanted to own a Delica since the moment I first saw one driving around Lake Tahoe in 2016. Seeing that van sparked a love in me for all things Japan, even leading me to live in Japan for a few months in 2018. In 2022, I decided to buy a Delica of my own. I had very specific requirements for my first Delica purchase, and I finally found this beautiful 1996 Mitsubishi Delica L300 Active World edition that had been imported from Japan earlier that year. When I picked it up, I was immediately in love. It was still in its original passenger van form, and couldn’t wait to bring it to life as an off-road camper van.
One of the first things I did was take the van to Rising Sun Auto Imports in Vancouver Canada. These guys are Delica experts. In fact, they only work on Delicas, and they have a direct line to original Mitsubishi parts straight from Japan. I knew if anyone could make this van mechanically perfect, it was them. $3500 later, my Delica had their seal of approval. Buying a classic import can be tricky - you really never know what you’re going to get. I was happy to have access to Rising Sun’s expertise so I could drive the van around the country with peace of mind knowing it would take me anywhere safely.
Camper Van Design
Before I even committed to buying a Delica, I’d dreamed up and modeled my ideal camper setup. Modeling a new build is my favorite part of the whole process! I knew I wanted to have a small kitchen with an electric fridge and running water, as well as storage space under the bed. Most importantly, I wanted a comfortable place to sit while working and a bed that would set up easily without me having to get out of the van at night. After several layout iterations and lots of perfecting measurements, I’d modeled a setup that feels roomy and fits everything I need for daily life.
My other favorite part about the conversion process is coming up with an aesthetic design and picking materials. I love projects like this that allow me to be creative and work with the character of the van. I wanted it to have a 90s feel (think Eddie Vedder in a corduroy jacket 😂); I wanted to use bamboo throughout as a nod to the Japanese home I lived in for a bit; and I wanted to bring the amazing exterior color of van into the interior.
Construction
Building vans is such a joy. There’s something about turning on some loud music, cranking up the table saw, and watching a camper come to life under my hands. Nothing beats it, for me. For the Delica, I chose to use all the same premium construction materials I put in the Promaster camper vans - extruded aluminum structural framing, Dometic appliances, professional veneer cabinet panels, and a top-of-the-line electrical system with rooftop solar PV. Cutting the dense bamboo panels turned out to be much more of a job than I expected. And it created a crazy amount of saw dust! I worked into the night to get the van finished as quickly as possible. I slept in the van every night as I was building it out, so I always had to deconstruct everything and move my roll up mattress into it at the end of every day. It was quite the process!
Life in the Delica!
I’ve loved living in this van. I’ve loved it even more than I thought I would. I’ve lived in many vehicles over the years - Sprinters, minivans, truck beds, camper trailers, ProMasters. The Delica has honestly been my favorite vanlife experience of all of them. While it is smaller than a ProMaster, it’s the perfect cozy size for a single person. And it goes… everywhere. It feels so nice to pull onto the dirt, confident I can go pretty much wherever I want to go. The vibe of living in a van with so many windows really can’t be beat. It’s how vanlife was intended to be lived. Up with the sun and more connected to your surroundings.
Another thing about Delicas, particularly this Delica,.. you’re going to get a lot of thumbs up wherever you go! And you’re going to be asked “what’s it like driving on the right hand side?” about a dozen times a day. As a shy and introverted person, this van has definitely opened up my social network on the road. It’s such a conversation starter!
So far, I’ve taken this van to Canada, the Pacific Northwest, California, a few trips to Utah and a few trips to Arizona. It’s a joy to drive. It’s an experience. It’s not a fast car, but it is a relatively fast house.
Completed Camper Van Details
1996 Mitsubishi Delica L300 Active World trim - the Active World was the last release of Mitsubishi’s ski edition L300 trims before the model changed over to the L400 in 1998. This limited edition trim was available only in 1996 and 97.
Active World standard features: 4WD, limited-slip rear differential, dual batteries, more robust alternator, added roof insulation, special edition color and graphics
Special edition mirrored window film for privacy
Engine: 2.5 L Turbo Diesel
130,000 miles, ~18.5 mpg avg
Van specs
Off-road & Lifestyle Upgrades
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 Baja Champion tires
Baja Designs Squadron Sport Spot LED light pods
Glowshift 3 in 1 boost and exhaust temperature gauge
Grimm Speed manual boost controller, set to 14 psi max boost
Custom fabricated 2” hitch receiver
Brand new OPTIMA YellowTop starter batteries for cold cranking and powering off-road lights/backup camper loads
Delica Works stainless steel turbo back exhaust to extend life of turbo system by reducing strain and heat
Front Runner Outfitters Slim Line II roof rack
2 Wolf Pack Pro storage boxes with locking straps
2 Typhoon Bag waterproof storage duffles
RotoPax 2-gal backup diesel storage tank with Front Runner Outfitters roof rack mount
MAXTRAX MKII recovery boards with Front Runner Outfitters roof rack side mount
Front Runner Outfitters Easy-Out 2.5m awning & roof rack mounts
Front Runner Outfitters Pro Water Tank with handheld shower head for sun-warmed outdoor shower
Campervan Build
Cali Bamboo plywood: bed platform, bench and countertops made of 3/4” horizontal 3-ply bamboo plywood
Slide-out platform that easily converts from bench to twin size bed
Custom yellow corduroy bench cushions with medium density foam
Natural talalay latex 2” mattress topper from SleepEZ US (twin size, soft firmness) with organic cotton zip cover. Rolls out on top of foam cushions for comfortable mattress.
Custom color-matching durable vinyl veneer cabinet panels and doors
The structure of the bed and cabinets is made of extruded aluminum, and the whole structure is bolted to the structure of the van. This makes for a strong, safe, durable, and squeak-free build structure.
Dometic Slim 2-burner stove/sink combo with glass lid and fold-down RV faucet
Dometic CFX 345 46 liter cooler style electric refrigerator
14 gallons of fresh water storage with electric Shurflo pump
5 lb propane tank for stove, with extra connection for future Mr Buddy space heater
Lagun table mount system with custom table top for working and eating at the bench
250-watt monocrystalline solar PV panel, mounted to roof rack. Plenty enough to power the refrigerator and all other power consumers in the van, including powering a Starlink all day!
EcoFlow DELTA Max Portable Power Station with 2000 Wh of lithium ion battery energy storage, integrated solar charge controller and power inverter, 12 v and 120 volt plugs, bluetooth energy management app
Custom bug screen on the sliding door opening
Custom blackout curtains to block the cab area
Original Delica 90’s sliding curtains on the living area windows
Completed Camper Van Pictures
