WANTED: 4×4 Mercedes Vario

Readers of this blog probably know that Mark and I have been looking for a very specific van as our new home on wheels. With this vehicle, we hope to explore Europe and beyond – Asia, Africa, and the Middle East when safe again.

This next stage of our lives requires a robust, reliable, fixable, durable, and yet comfortable camper. That’s why we are looking for a 4×4 Mercedes Vario, as it ticks all those boxes. The living area and the cab are connected, the engine is almost bulletproof, and these vehicles are known to be resilient. The 4WD part is non-negotiable for us (there are plenty of 2WD versions available) as we plan to venture off the beaten path and know the importance of high clearance and four-wheel drive from our previous overlanding experiences.

But… this particular vehicle is extremely popular and difficult to come by and that’s why I am asking for help. If you know of anyone who might be thinking about selling their Vario or you have one for sale yourself, please get in touch.

Mark and I are interested in just the empty van (to build out ourselves/with a company) or in one that’s already converted into a camper.

You might remember that we have been looking for this type of Vario for a long time. I’d say for almost an entire year. First the research, then pursuing a few options in Chile (which all failed), and then in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

We have followed leads in Peru, Chile, Bahrein, Dubai, Germany (we just returned from a 12-hour drive to check one out that has too many issues and rust), and the Netherlands. It has taken a lot of time, effort, focus, and energy and we are running out of steam… Soon, we will need a different plan and approach.

Thank you for sharing our quest and spreading the word, especially if you are a fellow overlander or someone who knows these kinds of vehicles or owners.

Happy May!