After six months on the road, 20,000+ electric miles, and 25 states, our little yellow Volkswagen ID. Buzz has officially become home.
When we first hit the road, our VW ID. Buzz camper setup was… let’s say “minimalist with a sprinkle of chaos.” We made it work, but we knew we could do better. So we rebuilt, upgraded, and refined everything we use to cook, sleep, work, and feel safe on this 48-state EV journey.
This is our VW ID. Buzz camper setup 2.0 — what changed, what surprised us, and what we’d absolutely do again.
Our DIY Drawer System: The Heart of Our VW ID. Buzz Setup
Let’s start with the trunk, because that’s where our whole ID Buzz camping setup lives.
We built a simple DIY drawer system with plywood and a very loose “design plan.” It took about 3–4 days from idea to finished build, and it completely changed how we use the space.
We designed two big pull-out drawers: one for the kitchen, one for storage and utility gear.
Left Drawer: The Tiny EV Kitchen
This side is our full kitchen in a box:
A movable divider for spices, utensils, and smaller items
Space for pots, pans, and cooking gear
A larger food box where we organize by weight
Because we still needed counter space, we screwed a few wooden supports into the drawer and use a loose wooden board as a countertop.
We pull the drawer out, drop the board on top, and suddenly we’ve got a little outdoor kitchen: a place to prep food, make coffee, and cook with a view.
Right Drawer: Everything Else
This side is all of the practical stuff:
Our camp cooker
Cleaning supplies for dishes and the car
Gas canister for the stove
First aid kit and other “just in case” items
We didn’t use enough screws on the sliders on this side, so it sags a little when it’s fully loaded. It’s not perfect, but even with that small mistake, the drawer has survived thousands of miles. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough — especially on a first-time van build.
Cooler & Water Setup: Small Upgrades, Big Comfort
Two simple additions made our VW ID. Buzz vanlife setup feel way more livable: a better cooler and a real water system.
We upgraded to a Yeti cooler that fits perfectly next to the bed. It’s where we keep:
Ice and cold drinks
Fresh food and road snacks
All the little things that are just better chilled
We also cover it with stickers from all the places we’ve visited — so it’s part fridge, part scrapbook.
We use it to:
Refill our water bottles before bed
Wash vegetables
Rinse dishes
Wash our hands at camp
We usually set the tank and faucet at the back of the van, tap the top, and water flows. No built-in plumbing, no complicated install — just a simple, portable system that covers most of what we need for everyday vanlife.
One moment on the road in Albuquerque — with a very angry, very impatient driver behind us — made us realize how vulnerable long road trips can feel.
That’s when we added a VIOFO A329S Pro dash cam to our VW ID. Buzz setup.
The system includes:
A 4K front camera
A 2K rear camera
The cabin camera covers both of us and the sides of the van, and automatically switches to infrared in low light, so even nighttime footage stays clear.
Right now we power it through the USB-C port in the ID. Buzz.
It’s one of those upgrades you hope you’ll never really “need,” but it gives us peace of mind on every mile.
If you’re going to live in a car your bed matters a lot.
We use an Exped car mattress, which is half air mattress, half foam. That combo means:
- It’s softer and more supportive than a basic inflatable
We often sleep better here than in hotels or Airbnbs
It’s still big enough for two people, and that’s what counts.
Our favorite part is how flexible it is: we can deflate the mattress when we want the Buzz back in “car mode”.
Staying Organized: Clothes, Toiletries & Tiny Essentials
One of the quickest lessons from EV vanlife: if something doesn’t have a place, it will be on top of the bed. So we got serious about organization inside our VW ID. Buzz.
Clothing: Soft Boxes + Pouches
Between the front seats and middle seats, we each use a soft storage box from REI:
The boxes are flexible enough to squeeze into tight spaces
Overall, this system has worked really well for six months of full-time EV travel.
Toiletries & Laundry
Between our clothing boxes we keep:
A repurposed organizer bag that now holds all our toiletries.
A dirty clothes bag tucked underneath, ready for laundromat days
The toiletry bag lives right in the middle so we can grab it quickly without digging through the back.
Up front, we both use Owala water bottles. They’re huge, but the narrow base fits perfectly into the VW ID. Buzz cup holders.
The only downside: if you grab them too fast, they can bump the infotainment screen. So it’s a built-in reminder to stay calm and hydrated.
The Buzz has a lot of windows. Amazing for scenic drives. A little tricky when you’re trying to sleep in a parking lot.
Somewhere along the way we added a simple moisture absorber/damper, and it quietly became a game changer.
It pulls humidity out of the car
You can see water collecting inside it
It’s especially useful on hot nights when you’re sweating
If you get one, we’d recommend going unscented. Our first scented one was so strong we couldn’t sleep with it near us.
Window Shades for Privacy
For privacy and temperature control, we use reversible window shades:
Silver side for hot and sunny days
Black side for cooler weather and stealth
We’re not obsessed with the quality — after heavy use, some of them are starting to break, and a few sizes are a little off — but there aren’t many shade options for the ID. Buzz in the US yet, so these are doing the job for now.
We’re still tweaking and improving things as we go and we hinted in the video that the Buzz might be looking a little different soon. 👀
So Setup 3.0 may not be too far away…
Until then, we hope this little peek into our VW ID. Buzz Setup 2.0 helps you dream up your own version of electric vanlife.
If you want to see everything in motion, you can watch the full tour on our YouTube channel. And if you have questions about our setup, drop them in the comments, we love nerding out about this stuff.
3 Responses
Great setup! I’ve seen many videos of similar setups, and they’re pretty cool.
Thank you! Have you seen another ID. Buzz setup?
You’re welcome. Not for the ID, but for other SUV types.