VANNADO builds campers based on the Mercedes Sprinter and MAN TGE - made by hand, from real natural materials, completely without plastic. Three models that can be fully personalized are created in the company's own factory in Warsaw, where every detail counts. The result: vans that don't look like all the others because they are not built like all the others.
Tomek Bascinzki - founder of VANNADO - my story, my vans, my idea
I never planned to set up a camper van manufacturer. It all started with the desire to travel. To be free. To find out how far you can get when you build your own van. So I built my first van back then - in a small garage, with simple tools, but with a lot of heart.
On the road, somewhere between gravel tracks, coastal roads and cold nights in the mountains, I realized that such a vehicle is far more than just a means of transport. A good van is a home, a retreat, a tool for independence - and often also a faithful companion when you're traveling alone.
When I came back, it all started as a matter of course: Friends asked if I could build them a van too. Then friends of friends. And suddenly the two of us were standing in a garage again and said to each other:
"If we get this right now, we'll build vans that we would drive ourselves - without compromise."
VANNADO is and remains a manufactory.
Even though there are around 40 of us at VANNADO today: We are not a factory. No series production. Not an "off-the-peg van". Our factory is located in Warsaw. With a team that builds with passion. Every van is unique - just like the people who will be traveling in it.
Our vision? To build the best, most beautiful and most sustainable vans. Not the most. We want to build exactly the vans that we would like to drive ourselves.
What makes VANNADO different - and why we build differently
On my trip, I quickly realized how important the interior is for your own well-being. A van is a living space - and a living space should not smell of plastic. That's why we work exclusively with natural materials. We build our furniture from solid wood, which is oiled several times by hand. We deliberately avoid laminate, plastic or synthetic coatings.
Our furniture is constructed in such a way that no screws, joints or profiles are visible. The interior looks like it was made from a single piece - calm, warm and homely. Many visitors say when they first enter: "It smells like a mountain hut." That's exactly what it should be.
Sustainability is not a marketing term for us, but a basic principle: a van that is built to a high standard lasts longer and ages better.
The basis: Sprinter or MAN - both with all-wheel drive on request
We build all VANNADO models on two proven van platforms: the Mercedes Sprinter and the MAN TGE. Both vehicles are reliable, can be flexibly configured and are ideal for high-quality interior fittings. A decisive factor for many travelers: both the Sprinter and the MAN TGE are available with all-wheel drive, which makes the vans suitable for winter and off-road use.
The Sprinter impresses with its smooth handling and modern assistance systems, while the MAN TGE scores with robust technology and a very powerful all-wheel drive system. For us, a good camper always starts with a good basic vehicle.
The three VANNADO models - simply explained
Not everyone needs the same van. People travel differently, have different habits, different destinations. This has resulted in three models, each with a clear idea.
Each model can be fully personalized. Our configurator covers most wishes, but if someone has a special idea, we will build it if it makes technical sense. No two VANNADOs are exactly alike - and that's what makes a van from a manufacturer.
VANNADO Altiplano - the compact van
For me, the Altiplano is the van that comes closest to my very first own conversion. Small enough to get everywhere and big enough so that you don't feel like you're missing out on anything when you're on the road. Many people who come to us want exactly that: a vehicle that you don't have to plan all the time. The Altiplano drives like a normal car, is maneuverable in the city and hardly needs any space, but still offers everything you need for real travel. I often say: if you drive a lot, like to be spontaneous and don't need a huge suitcase, then the Altiplano is probably your van. It's uncomplicated, lightweight and well thought-out - a compact home on wheels.
The VANNADO Altiplano based on the MAN TGE is ideal if you:
- are traveling alone or as a couple
- want a maneuverable, lightweight vehicle
- want to remain as flexible as possible - even in everyday life
- attach great importance to clever use of space
- don't want to drive a huge van around
VANNADO Ontario - the space miracle
The Ontario is the model that makes most people take a deep breath when they get in. It is simply spacious. If you're on the road for longer or traveling with several people, it's this extra space that makes all the difference. Families, couples, people with dogs or lots of luggage - there's space here without sacrificing comfort. For me, the Ontario is a real living space, not a compromise. Everything is a little wider, a little broader, a little quieter. When someone says to me: "We really want to live on the road and not just sleep", I always take them to the Ontario first. It's the tiny home among vans, without feeling like a heavy vehicle.
The VANNADO Ontario is ideal if you:
- are traveling as a couple, a threesome or as a family
- want to be on the road for longer
- appreciate real living space
- need different seating and sleeping solutions
- want a van that feels like home
VANNADO Karakorum - the adventure van
The Karakorum is our classic, our most popular model - and to be honest, it's also the van I'd most like to take into the unknown. It's built in such a way that you don't have to worry about anything: Winter, altitude, gravel roads, weather changes - it can take it all. And yet it has exactly the kind of quietness inside that I like so much on the road. All-wheel drive is optional, but almost everyone opts for it. The version with the internal tanks and pipes makes it completely winter-proof. And because it comes in short and long versions, you can choose whether you prefer the maneuverability or the extra interior space. When someone says to me: "We really want to be able to do everything", I show them the Karakorum. It can do that.
The VANNADO Karakorum based on the Mercedes Sprinter or MAN TGE is ideal if you:
- want to be on the road all year round
- also want to go off-road or into the winter
- don't want to compromise on technology
- want to use the optional all-wheel drive
- want to choose between short and long versions
- want a vehicle that "simply can"
"If you ever walk into a VANNADO, you'll realize it. It's not just craftsmanship. It's attitude."
What does VANNADO mean to me?
The name comes from "wanna do". A VANNADO is a van for people who want to drive off instead of waiting. It was precisely this feeling that made me set off back then: not waiting, not postponing, but doing.
I didn't set up this company to build VANS. I founded VANNADO to give people the feeling I had back then on my journey:
- Freedom.
- Independence.
- Being at home - even on the road.