Sealand’s Latest Adventure: The Custom Roof Top Tent and My VW Transporter Build
Hey there! I’m Jasper Eales, founder of Sealand, and I’m excited to share a special project I’ve been working on with you. As a family man, I spend a lot of my time with my wife and two kids, exploring the beautiful coastlines of South Africa. But here’s the thing - I want to make sure that our adventures are as comfortable as they are thrilling.
When you live an adventurous lifestyle, whether it’s surfing, camping, or road-tripping, your vehicle has to do more than just get you from point A to point B. It has to work seamlessly in both the natural playgrounds of South Africa’s coastline and the busy streets of the city. I need a car that can handle the school runs and the surf runs with equal ease!
This brings me to my latest project: my VW Transporter LWB 4Motion, which I’ve been customising to suit my adventurous lifestyle.
Building the Ultimate Adventure Vehicle
The first step in this transformation was an internal conversion. I swapped out the back row of seats and replaced them with a custom storage system that doubles as a fold-out bed, seat, and shelving unit. This setup was perfect for the two of us (my wife and I), but then I realised… we needed a four-sleeper.
It became clear that I had to get creative again. After all, when you love what you do and pour your heart into it, you can’t help but keep improving. This is what led me to team up with Alu-Cab, a fellow proudly South African company that shares my passion for creating products built to last. Together, we aimed to create the perfect rooftop tent - one that would not only fit the needs of my family but also align with the same sleek, functional, and sustainable design principles that Sealand is built on.
A Strategic Partnership
At Sealand, we are all about upcycling and sustainability. So when the opportunity arose to collaborate with Alu-Cab, a brand that specialises in creating some of the toughest, most reliable rooftop tents on the market, I couldn’t say no. Both of our companies are committed to building high-quality products that can withstand the harshest conditions - and we share a love for the outdoors.
What followed was an exciting, creative journey to combine our expertise. The result? A custom rooftop tent that not only fits perfectly on my custom-built roof rack but also carries a story of its own.
Designing the Slimline Roof Top Tent
One of my top priorities for the rooftop tent was making it as slim and low-profile as possible. So, after designing a custom roof rack that’s secure and sleek, I knew the tent had to match that vision. This is where Alu-Cab’s LT50 rooftop tent came into play. Its design was everything I was looking for - functional, compact, and durable.
Next came the fun part: choosing the materials. As a company that thrives on upcycling, I knew we had to incorporate recycled materials into this project. After searching for the perfect fabric, we found an advertising banner that featured bright orange tones (a signature colour for both Sealand and Alu-Cab). The banner also depicted local fynbos and pincushions - a beautiful representation of the natural beauty we so love to explore.
For the external soft shell, we used ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon fabric that’s both eco-friendly and durable. The combination of the upcycled banner for the internal lining and the high-performance ECONYL® for the exterior gave us a rooftop tent that’s not only functional but also stunningly unique.
Testing the Tent in the Real World
Once the rooftop tent was built, it was time to put it to the test. And what better way to do that than by heading up the coast? This lined up perfectly with Sealand’s annual sponsorship of the World Surf League (WSL) Open J-Bay event in the Eastern Cape. During the event, we refurbished an old shipping container into a pop-up retail store, which was part of the event’s key footprint.
But beyond work, we took the van and tent to explore the Addo Elephant Park and enjoyed a picnic at St. Francis Bay with the family. The tent performed like a dream, providing us with a cosy, functional space to sleep and relax after a long day of adventuring.
What’s Next?
This project has been an incredible journey - one that has brought together my love for design, adventure, and family. With Sealand and Alu-Cab’s partnership, we’ve not only created a unique product but also a symbol of our shared values: sustainability, adventure, and quality craftsmanship.
I’m looking forward to many more trips with my family, exploring the stunning coastlines of South Africa with our new rooftop tent in tow. And who knows? Maybe your next adventure could use a Sealand touch, too.
Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’re as passionate about the outdoors as we are, I encourage you to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible - because when you love what you do, every journey becomes a little bit more rewarding.
