Benchmark Vehicles' 143 Camper Van Is Its 143rd Build, a Custom Sprinter 3500 XD

Benchmark Vehicles has completed the 143, a custom camper van built on a 2026 AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 XD with a 170-inch wheelbase. The name marks the Portland, Oregon company's 143rd build, Autoevolution reported on November 7, 2026.

Inside the 143 Sprinter Build

The 143 rides on Owl Vans Talon wheels with BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tires and an Agile Offroad ride improvement package with Fox shocks and Bilstein struts. Benchmark Vehicles added an XPEL clear matte paint protection film wrap and covered the side rocker panels and part of the front bumper in truck bed liner. An S&B 40-gallon (151-liter) fuel tank replaces the stock unit.

At the front, the van has grille-mounted TripleR lights and an FVC bumper with a skid plate and a Warn Evo VR12S winch rated for 12,000 lb. (5,447 kg). Two hood-mounted solar panels bring total capacity to 416 W alongside the roof panels, which share a Paragon Offroad rack with a 50-inch Rigid light bar, a Starlink antenna and a 12-foot Girard power awning.

The interior has an open layout with no wall between the cabin and living space, and the driver and passenger seats sit on swivel bases. The kitchen is split into two units, one with a stainless steel sink, a slide-out coffee machine and a portable stove, the other with a tall fridge and freezer compartment. A bathroom behind a conventional door holds a shower and a Trelino composting toilet, and a king-size bed occupies the rear. A garage underneath is accessible from inside and outside.

Power comes from a 3,000 W inverter and a battery bank of just under 1,000 Ah. Plumbing includes a 35-gallon (132-liter) freshwater tank with heating pads and two heated under-mounted greywater tanks. A diesel-powered Espar heater provides heated air and water and powers radiant floor heating, and a Nomadic Cooling X3 unit handles air conditioning.

Benchmark Vehicles' Build Record

Benchmark Vehicles was founded in 2015 and is based in Portland, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list more than 100 named completed van builds and a build process that averages six months from a van's arrival at the shop to completion. In 2025 the company launched Benchmark Kasten, a chassis cab Sprinter line built on a Mercedes Sprinter 3500 with an Off Grid Customs expedition box.

Other Camper Launches

Grand Design RV unveiled the 2027 Solitude 394RO, a 42-foot-10-inch fifth-wheel with a rear office, two kitchens and 660W of solar, at a starting MSRP of $158,788, Autoevolution reported on October 27, 2026. Cube Series introduced an expandable travel trailer weighing 2,730 lbs and starting at $56,879, Autoevolution reported on November 4, 2026. Tommy Campers built its first Ford Ranger Super Duty S6X camper at AU$214,990, New Atlas reported on October 28, 2026.