Inside a $200,000 custom-built van that’s perfect for cross-country road trips and outdoor adventures

What: A 22-foot Mercedes Sprinter van Who: Krista and Peter Flaschner Where: The Beaches Size: 94 square feet

While many Torontonians scrambled to buy cottages during the pandemic, Krista and Peter Flaschner opted for a $200,000 custom-built van to satisfy their wanderlust and love of the outdoors. But the couple, who live in the Beaches, didn’t want just any van. Peter is a marketer and graphic designer and Krista is an interior designer. They wanted a van that was as stylish as it was functional and settled on Yama, a Calgary-based company known for its sleek, feature-packed builds.

In July of 2021, the couple purchased a 22-foot black Mercedes Sprinter that was one of Yama’s show vans. After picking up the van in Calgary, the Flaschners’ first trip was an epic journey to BC, mountain biking through Whistler and across Vancouver Island before driving back to Toronto. Following a brief respite, they continued east to Halifax.

Related: “I live in my van, rent-free, in downtown Toronto. Here’s how I make van life work”

Van life comes with trade-offs. The bed is slightly more than six feet long, making it tough for Peter, who is six foot two, and even Krista, who is five foot nine, to fully stretch out. But the upsides far outweigh the down. Since acquiring their Yama van, the Flaschners have travelled 50,000 kilometres, including a recent two-week trek through the Appalachians in the US, going as far south as Georgia. With Peter’s plans to transition to more remote work, they envision longer, more ambitious trips ahead. “Our only regret is not doing this sooner,” says Peter.