Native Campervans is reimagining the rental experience with a modular pod system that transforms a cargo van into a fully built-out camper in under an hour. Delivering on that promise at fleet scale required an electrical system purpose-built for commercial use. For their new fleet of 27 standardized camper vans, Native needed a Victron-based system engineered to fit their specific cabinet, built consistently across every unit, and simple enough for their team to install without specialized training.
Native Campervans operates a rental fleet built around a modular pod system. Each pod inserts into a Ram ProMaster 2500 cargo van, expanding to become a fully built-out interior complete with a bed, countertop, cabinetry, LED lighting, a 12V refrigerator, and a sink. The pod arrives pre-wired for all 12V loads. What it doesn’t arrive with is a power system. That had to be designed, sourced, and installed separately.
The electrical systems Native had used previously were consumer-oriented all-in-one units not designed for the sustained daily demands of a rental fleet, and the failure rate was higher than they were willing to accept. For a customer who has planned a trip months in advance, a power failure isn’t a minor inconvenience. It can ruin the experience entirely. Native needed something more reliable, and they needed 27 identical copies of it.
The challenge wasn’t just specifying the right components. It was fitting them into a fixed space. Native’s pod has a dedicated kitchen galley cabinet with specific interior dimensions, and everything had to live inside it.
The system architecture started with an energy audit covering the actual loads: LED lighting, a 12V refrigerator, a water pump, USB charging ports, and a 120V outlet for laptops and camera gear. Each unit is built around a Victron MultiPlus 12/1200 inverter/charger, which handles both AC inversion and shore power charging through a single integrated unit. A secondary shore power inlet is also built into each system for fast charging via a Victron Blue Smart Charger, which can be used alongside the MultiPlus to maximize charge rate and bring a depleted battery back to full as quickly as possible between rentals.
The primary charge source while driving is a Victron Orion XS 12/12-50 DC-DC charger, which pulls from the van’s starter battery. To make this connection as straightforward as possible, a site visit was made to Native’s facility to determine the correct routing from the starter battery to the trekMount. A custom wiring harness was designed and built for each of the vans, so Native’s team makes that connection with a single quick-connect. Two additional quick-connect ports handle the battery connection and chassis ground, keeping every step of the install tool-light and repeatable.
Battery monitoring is handled by a Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor, the only display in each unit, giving rental customers a clear readout of state of charge without requiring them to navigate any additional interfaces. System data and remote troubleshooting access run through a Victron Cerbo GX MK2, which connects to VRM whenever the van is within range of a known Wi-Fi network.
The battery bank in each unit is a 12V 314Ah Epoch Eco Series LiFePO4 battery, mounted separately from the trekMount bracket with a custom steel retention bracket and cushioned tape to protect it from road vibration.
DC load distribution was engineered for the same plug-in simplicity. All interior 12V loads in the pod are terminated with Molex MX-150 connectors. Each trekMount system has three MX-150 ports pre-installed, two covering the DC positive branch circuits via an EGIS ATO/JCase Fuse Block, and one covering the DC negative return circuits via an EGIS Sealed Busbar. When Native’s team installs a unit, the entire 12V load side of the pod connects in three plug-in steps.
All 27 units were assembled, wired, and pre-programmed before leaving Trek’s facility. Each Cerbo GX is pre-configured with VRM access, giving fleet-wide visibility into system performance and enabling remote troubleshooting without requiring Native’s staff to intervene on the Victron side.
Native’s fleet is now humming along on blue power. For camper van rental customers, the energy system operates silently in the background and requires little consideration while they enjoy their adventure. For the Native operations team, these identical plug-and-play Victron systems simplify everything from installation to ongoing support. Native’s team doesn’t need to be Victron experts, they have Trek Systems ready to handle remote support if needed. A network of vetted installers across the country provides an additional layer of field support if a unit ever needs hands-on attention.
This project represents the trekMount OEM service: a turn-key design, engineering, and production capability for fleet operators and OEMs who need a reliable Victron-based energy system built to their specific space constraints and delivered ready to install.
If your operation requires a custom solution at scale, contact Trek Systems to get started.
Presented by Trek Systems, in partnership with Native Campervans.
