One special feature is the air-suspended passenger seat. It makes a noticeable difference to comfort, especially on longer journeys. Anyone looking for an Atego as a base vehicle should look out for this detail – the passenger will appreciate it.
Hopsie
Hopsie motorhome tracking
Vehicle & concept: Mercedes Atego 818
Hopsie was originally a Hermes delivery vehicle: a 2017 Mercedes Atego 818 with a box body and automatic transmission. It had covered around 200,000 kilometres when we bought it.
The Atego provides a robust base and considerably more room than a classic panel van. Its box body makes space for a layout with a separate bathroom, a lengthwise sleeping area, a generous seating area, and ample storage.
Originally, the body had a roller shutter at the rear. For the motorhome conversion, it was removed and replaced with a fixed GRP rear wall.
Light and a connection to the outdoors
A defining element of the living concept is the large window front opposite the seating area. It will be created with a two-leaf sliding door measuring around 2.00 metres wide and 2.10 metres high.
The generous glazing brings plenty of daylight into the living area and, when the door is open, creates a direct connection to the outdoors.
Our goal is not an expedition vehicle for covering as many kilometres as possible, but a cozy, practical, and easy-to-maintain home on wheels. We carry out the build at home; when travelling, we use Hopsie and gather experience for later improvements.
Vehicle data
- Vehicle Mercedes Atego 818
- Year 2017
- Original use Hermes delivery vehicle
- Mileage when bought around 200,000 km
- Transmission Automatic
- Body Box body
- Rear Roller shutter removed, fixed GRP rear wall
- Special feature Air-suspended passenger seat
- Rear axle Air suspension
- Rear tyres Twin tyres
- Interior box dimensions approx. 7.00 m × 2.48 m × 2.55 m (length × width × height)
- Vehicle exterior dimensions 8.90 m × 2.55 m × 3.60 m (length × width × height, excluding roof vents, solar panels, and other roof-mounted equipment)
Anyone buying an Atego or a comparable vehicle as the basis for a motorhome conversion should make sure to check its unladen weight before buying. The figure in the registration certificate is not enough: depending on the body, equipment, and previous use, the actual weight can differ considerably.
For Hopsie, the actual weighed unladen weight was even 540 kilograms higher than the figure in the registration certificate.
So our clear advice is: take the vehicle to a weighbridge. Only its actual weighed unladen weight shows how much weight is really available for the build and later payload.