CASE STUDY: Inside the Ultimate Off-Grid Gaming Van Build with Combe Valley Campers

Serious power. Serious play. This neon-drenched party and gaming van by the team at Combe Valley Campers is fully loaded and ready to roll - delivering wall-to-wall screens, booming sound, and zero need for a plug socket.

Designed to deliver off-grid digital carnage to up to 10 partygoers at a time, this beast of a Mercedes Sprinter is more than just a mobile gaming lounge; it’s a rolling, WiFi-powered, solar-charged dream machine.

We caught up with the team at Combe Valley Campers to talk about batteries, big screens and fitting a small data centre into a long-wheelbase van…

🎮 Can you tell us a bit about your project?

The Gaming Van is a 2021 long-wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter, kitted out to entertain up to 10 guests at a time. Whether it’s kids’ parties, corporate events, or muddy field festivals, this van is locked, loaded, and ready to roll. 

It’s the second Gaming Van we’ve built for this client – so yes, we’ve levelled up. Inside, you’ll find:

• Eleven 32” LED screens
• Five Xbox consoles
• Five PS5 consoles
• Roof-mounted aircon
• 4kW diesel heater
• And more LEDs than the Vegas Strip!

Each van is built to run fully off-grid for at least eight hours. We’ve specced enough battery and solar capacity to power up to four parties per day – with a 5G Kuma WiFi system to keep those pesky console updates from ruining the fun.

🔋 What led you to choose a Fogstar leisure battery?

We originally used Fogstar Drifts in the first Gaming Van on the recommendation of James at Rayne Automotive – and we’ve never looked back. They performed flawlessly, so when it came to version 2.0, it was a no-brainer.

⚙️ Technical Details

Which Fogstar battery are you using?

We’re using 4 x Fogstar Drift 24V 280Ah batteries, connected in parallel and series to build a 48V system. It’s been designed by James at Rayne Automotive specifically to handle the high output needed for 240V AC.

What other components are in your system?

Plenty! This is a serious setup:

• Victron 5kW 48V Inverter/Charger
• 780W Victron Solar (4x panels wired in series)
• Victron 48-24V DC-DC Converter
• Victron 48-12V DC-DC Converter
• Victron MPPT Controller
• Plus a host of other goodies tucked neatly into the van

How simple was the battery installation?

Honestly? Pretty slick. The batteries are mounted under the seats – not only does it keep the weight evenly distributed, but it also means if we ever need to swap them out, it’s an easy job.

⚡ Performance & Experience

How have Fogstar batteries performed so far?

Like champs. After a full initial charge, they’ve delivered consistent, reliable performance. The customer tells us they often go days without needing to plug in, thanks to the solar input.

Have you noticed any specific improvements for customers?

Absolutely – we built this van to over perform. That’s meant more parties, longer sessions, and way fewer worries about running out of juice. And when you’re dealing with ten screaming eight-year-olds mid-FIFA match, that’s no small victory.

What challenges did you face – and how did you solve them?

The big one was space. Trying to fit all these high-end components into a van and still make it look slick was a proper game of Tetris. It took some serious planning, but we managed to get it all in cleanly.

💡 Tips & Advice

What advice would you give to someone planning a similar setup?

Get the pros involved early. We worked with James at Rayne Automotive to design a system that was future-proof, over-specced and totally reliable. Don’t guess your way through it.

Is there anything you wish you’d known before starting?

Luckily, we’d already done it once – so round two went smoother. The first van taught us a lot, and we carried those lessons forward.

🚐 Want to learn more about the team behind the build?

Check out Combe Valley Campers - the brains (and spanners) behind this epic Gaming Van.

Website: www.combevalleycampers.co.uk
Instagram: @combe_valley_campers
Facebook: Combe Valley Campers
YouTube: Combe Valley Campers