As a high-roof estate, the Dacia Dokker is a true all-rounder for everyday life and leisure. Germany's most affordable high-roof station wagon shines with a surprisingly generous amount of space and high variability - at a sensationally low price . Whether as a family van or delivery van: all Dokker variants are basically suitable as a basis for camping, even if no specific camping equipment is available ex works. Compared to more expensive camper models, the Dokker lacks an integrated bed, kitchenette or storage furniture, but this is where flexible retrofit solutions come into play. With a little planning and the right equipment, any Dokker can be transformed from an everyday car into a cozy mini-camper in no time at all.
Dacia Dokker at a glance: Variants and camping potential
The Dacia Dokker was offered both as a passenger car version with 5 seats (partly in the "Stepway" crossover look) and as a two-seater panel van. All versions offer plenty of cargo space - with the rear bench folded down, the Dokker can swallow up to 3,000 liters of luggage (loading length approx. 1.57 m) . The robust budget vehicle scores points with practical sliding doors on both sides for easy access and a low loading sill, which makes it easier to load camping luggage . The numerous storage compartments in the interior provide space for small items . In short: the Dokker may be simply equipped, but it offers an excellent basis for camping conversions.
Sleeping in the Dokker: Despite its compact exterior dimensions (length ~4.36 m), an astonishingly large sleeping area can be created in the interior. Even in a Dokker, you can build a bed measuring approx. 200 × 110 cm - enough for two people . This is made possible by the cuboid, high interior. In the passenger car version, you fold down or remove the rear bench seat, push the front seats forward and use the space gained for a flat bed module. As an empty load compartment, the Dokker Van offers even more uncomplicated options for a bed frame. Many camping enthusiasts rely on simple DIY solutions (e.g. folding wooden frames) or ready-made sleeping modules from the aftermarket to make optimum use of the available space . A comfortable mattress is important to ensure a good night's sleep even in a small space .
Conclusion: Whether Dokker Essential, Comfort or Stepway - every variant can be used as a mini camper. More decisive than the equipment line is the individual adaptation to your needs. The Stepway is distinguished above all by its visual off-road flair, but offers neither more ground clearance nor all-wheel drive . This makes little difference for camping: the interior layout and stowage options are more important. As the Dokker doesn't have a camping bed or kitchen module ex works, you have to get creative yourself - or resort to modular camping kits. There are practical solutions from BOXIO that make it easy to retrofit missing equipment.
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Camping options: Where and how can you camp with the Dokker?
Whether it's a planned road trip or a spontaneous weekend trip - the compact Dokker offers you a wide range of camping options. Here is a brief overview of where and how you can camp:
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Campsite: On official sites you will find infrastructure such as electricity, sanitary facilities and often also play facilities for children. Ideal for Dokker travelers to spend the night in comfort, take a shower and charge the on-board battery if necessary. You have a secure pitch and comfort - perfect for longer stays or family vacations. However, campsites are not free and are often full in the high season, so it may be advisable to make a reservation.
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Motorhome pitch: Specially designated parking areas (often in towns or at tourist attractions) for overnight stays. Usually cheaper and more simply equipped than campsites, they at least offer parking space and often supply and disposal stations (fresh water, toilet emptying). With a small mini camper such as the Dokker, you can park almost anywhere where larger motorhomes are permitted. Pitches are ideal for travelers passing through or city trips - park in the evening and continue your journey in the morning without much effort.
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Free standing (wild camping): Spend the night somewhere in the countryside away from official sites - it gives you a feeling of freedom and adventure. Stealth camping is particularly popular with an inconspicuous high-roof van like the Dokker, as it is not immediately recognizable as a camper from the outside. For example, you can sleep in the van at the edge of a quiet forest or on a beach without attracting much attention. Please note: In many countries - including Germany - wild camping is officially prohibited or restricted. In Germany, however, it is permitted to spend the night in the vehicle once in order to restore your fitness to drive. This means that if you are tired, you can legally park in a parking lot for one night and sleep in your car. It is important to really only "park " - i.e. not set up camping furniture outside, extend an awning or light a campfire. If you simply spend the night in the Dokker without any visible camping behavior, one night is usually tolerated. It is best to find out about the local rules in advance. With the compact Dokker and its simple exterior, the chances of spending a night in the wild undisturbed and discreetly are good.
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Urban camping (city trip): You can even spend the night in the city in the Dokker - camping in the urban jungle, so to speak. The concept is similar to free standing, but in an urban environment: you look for a legal public parking space and spend the night in the vehicle. Thanks to its handy size, the Dokker is hardly noticeable on the street, especially with the appropriate blackouts on the windows. Urban camping is ideal, for example, to avoid having to drive home late after a concert or when passing through. Important here too: Stay inconspicuous (park where overnight stays are tolerated - avoid residential areas with bans) and avoid noise or bright light on the outside. This way, you can sleep relatively stealthily in the city in the Dokker and have a café just around the corner for breakfast in the morning. Everyday life and adventure are then close together!
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Important equipment for camping in the Dokker
Don't worry - you don't need a huge motorhome or permanently installed equipment for your camping adventure in the Dokker. With some clever essential equipment, you can transform the Dokker into a functional and cozy micro-camper :
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Comfortable sleeping accommodation: A good bed is the be-all and end-all. Either use an existing folding bed frame (e.g. from the accessories or build your own) or use mattresses to create a flat sleeping surface in the load compartment. The main thing is to have a sufficiently thick sleeping mat or mattress to ensure a restful night's sleep. Tip: A slatted frame or a ventilation mat under the mattress prevents moisture and mold.
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Mobile kitchen equipment: Cooking and eating in the fresh air is part of camping. A small gas stove (with gas cartridges) and a water canister with a hand pump for washing up are often all you need. A modular outdoor kitchen (see BOXIO Kitchen below), which combines a hob, washing-up bowl and cool box, makes it even more convenient. This means you can make yourself a coffee in the morning or prepare a meal in the evening - even without a permanently installed kitchenette.
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Storage space & tidiness: As space in the mini camper is limited, clever storage solutions are worth their weight in gold. Stackable boxes, hanging shelves or custom-fit camping box modules help to store clothes, food and equipment in a space-saving manner. In the Dokker, for example, the trunk and the area under the bed can be used as storage space. Velcro or Molle pockets on the side windows can also be used as darkening and storage space. Important: Everything should be secured during the journey (lashing straps, anti-slip mats) so that nothing rattles or flies around.
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Light & power: As the Dokker does not have an integrated motorhome electrical system, a power bank or small power station is recommended for charging cell phones, lamps, etc. A USB camping lamp or LED light chain provides light inside the vehicle in the evening without draining the vehicle battery. If you use a cool box, plan for the energy requirement - passive cool boxes with ice packs do not require electricity and are ideal for short trips. Small battery-powered fans and window ventilation grilles can be very helpful for fresh air when the vehicle is closed .
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Optional accessories: The setup can be extended as required. For example, thermal mats or curtains on the windows increase privacy and insulate against heat/cold. A mosquito net on the tailgate or the front windows keeps annoying insects away. In the fall/winter, a small, safe fan heater or a parking heater solution may be useful (with ventilation and CO alarm!). For longer stays, many people are happy to have an awning or tailgate tent to increase the living space - a simple tarp can be attached to the Dokker as an awning (see picture above). Also think about a portable toilet for emergencies if there are no sanitary facilities on site.
As you can see, it doesn't take much to take the Dokker on tour. And this is exactly where BOXIO products come into play: they provide custom-fit, modular camping modules in Eurobox format that allow you to sleep, cook, wash and relax in the minivan without any fixed conversions . Below we present the most important Boxio solutions with which you can equip your Dokker for camping (Note: All the products mentioned are linked on the German Boxio website so that you can find them directly ).
Mobile bathroom: BOXIO SANITARY PLUS
If you want to camp self-sufficiently, the issue of sanitation is crucial - especially on remote pitches without toilets. With the Boxio Sanitary Plus bundle, you get your complete bathroom in two handy Euroboxes . This well thought-out set includes a compact urine-diverting toilet (dry toilet without chemicals) with accessories and a mobile washbasin with hand pump - supplemented by a mirror, shower attachment and even a privacy tent for the necessary privacy outdoors . Everything you need for hygiene on the road is included and works completely without electricity or fixed water installations - ideal for independent camping . After use, everything is simply stowed away in the two stackable boxes, which have a footprint of just 40 × 60 cm. With a total weight of around 12 kg, the set is also light enough to be easily transported in the trunk .
Advantages in the Dokker: The sanitary bundle fits right across the trunk or behind the front seats and hardly takes up any space. Nothing is permanently installed - you can set up your mini toilet with washing facilities at the campsite and stow it away again afterwards . Especially if the Dokker doesn't have a fixed bathroom (and it never does), this solution is worth its weight in gold: no more wandering around the campsite at night with a flashlight to the toilet or having to rely on questionable sanitary blocks . If you ever want to do without the "bathroom" part (e.g. on short trips or when using a campsite with sanitary facilities), simply leave the boxes at home - maximum flexibility. Product tip: The BOXIO SANITARY PLUS ("mobile camping bathroom with tent") - all your sanitary needs in two boxes, self-sufficient and stowed away to save space.
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Outdoor kitchen to go: BOXIO KITCHEN PLUS
Cooking like at home - even in the middle of the wilderness? It's possible with the Boxio Kitchen Plus. This bundle is a mobile outdoor kitchen in the Eurobox system that really does come with everything: gas stove, sink, cooling solution, work surface and crockery set, modularly stowable and ready for immediate use . You can think of it as a miniature kitchen island that can be transported in the Dokker and set up at the campsite in minutes. Specifically, the Kitchen Plus package includes: a single-burner gas stove (Boxio Cook) with matching gas cartridges, a stackable pot and pan set (Boxio Cookware), a mobile sink (Boxio Wash) with fresh and waste water canister plus hand pump (can also be used as an outdoor shower), as well as a passive cool box (Boxio Cool) with special cool packs . There are also useful extras such as a cutting board, seat cushions for the boxes, a lid, storage boxes (Solo Up) and fastening clips - in other words, an all-round solution for the camping kitchen .
Assembly and use: All components are based on the standard Eurobox format (40 × 30 cm modules) so that they fit together perfectly and can be stacked . At your destination, you take out the cooking box and the washing box, for example, place them on a suitable surface or the optional camping table (see Boxio Table below) - and you have a fully functional kitchen in the open air. Cooking, washing up, opening the cool box: everything goes without a hitch, and after cooking everything goes back into the stackable boxes. Advantages in the Dokker: The entire kitchen fits exactly into the trunk of the Dokker. With dimensions of approx. 40 × 90 × 28 cm, the bundle makes ideal use of the width . It weighs around 14 kg - easy to handle for one person. Nothing rattles, nothing leaks: Boxio relies on robust materials (ABS plastic, stainless steel, etc.) and tight closures . Especially in a small van like the Dokker, it's great when everything has its fixed place and you can cook without having to repack a lot. After the meal, the kitchen is dismantled again and the boxes stacked - ready for the next journey. Product tip: The BOXIO KITCHEN PLUS - the deluxe outdoor kitchen in box format that allows you to cook and wash up in comfort wherever you are.
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Outdoor camping furniture: BOXIO CHAIR and BOXIO TABLE
What would camping trips be without sitting comfortably under the stars in the evening? Boxio also has something for relaxing around the campfire or in front of the camper: the ultra-light camping chair BOXIO Chair and the modular camping table BOXIO Table . This camping furniture is specially designed to be transported in a space-saving way and still be comfortable to use - perfect for the tight storage space of a mini camper.
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BOXIO Chair: This foldable camping chair only weighs approx. 1.2 kg (including carry bag), but can carry up to 150 kg - remarkable for such a lightweight chair. It can be disassembled compactly and even fits into a Eurobox. A Boxio Solo (standard Eurobox 60×40×32 cm), for example, can hold up to 4 chairs - ideal for vanlifers who pay attention to every cubic centimeter . Despite its lightweight construction, the chair is robust: a high-quality aluminum frame makes it stable and rust-free . Many users praise the surprisingly comfortable seat - with a small cushion you can adjust the seat height a little to sit ergonomically at the table. In short, the Boxio Chair is the perfect companion for relaxing in front of the Dokker in the evening or enjoying a leisurely breakfast outside in the morning.
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BOXIO Table: As mentioned above for the kitchen, the camping table is modular and height-adjustable. It can be used as a cooking station at standing height (up to ~90 cm) or as a normal dining table. With a few simple steps (remove the boxes and insert the supplied table tops instead), you can conjure up a sturdy table for 2-4 people - ideal for dinner under the stars or a game of cards in the camper. The telescopic frame also allows you to lower the table (up to approx. 40 cm) so that you can eat comfortably in the low camping chairs. The table is weatherproof (powder-coated aluminum) and very stable - it can safely support up to 30 kg. Nevertheless, it is light enough to carry and store with one hand. The beauty of the Chair & Table: both are optimized for minimal storage space. The table comes in its own bag and fits neatly into the trunk, and the chairs - as mentioned - can be stowed directly in matching Euroboxes. No annoying rattling or playing Tetris when packing - everything has its place. Product tips: The BOXIO CHAIR - ultra-light, foldable camping chair - and the BOXIO TABLE - modular camping table, perfectly matched to the Boxio kitchen system.
(Note: Boxio also offers clever cooking and eating utensils - e.g. the BOXIO EAT stainless steel cutlery set and the stackable BOXIO COOKWARE pot/pan set - so that you are fully equipped when camping. These useful helpers round off the setup, but are almost beyond the scope of this Dokker article 😉. You can find more information on the Boxio website or our blog)
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Outlook: The BOXIO RACK - modular extension for the camping bed
Finally, we would like to give you an outlook that is particularly interesting for Dokker drivers who are planning a real camper conversion without permanently changing the vehicle. BOXIO is working on a "rack", a modular conversion system especially for compact vans like the Dokker. This BOXIO Rack will be a mobile furniture system in Eurobox design that combines storage space and sleeping accommodation . A type of wooden module (a kind of shelf) is planned, which can hold several Euroboxes for luggage, kitchen etc. and also serves as the basis for an extendable bed . The highlight: the flexible slatted frame can be extended into a bed for one or two people as required (presumably from a single to a double bed). Of course, this rack can also be installed and removed without tools - you can install or remove your camping bed in just a few simple steps . Leasing customers in particular are likely to welcome this, as the rack can simply be removed when not in use and the vehicle can be used again in its original condition . This means that the Dokker remains a normal car in everyday use and can be converted into a camper when required.
It is not yet clear exactly when the Boxio Rack will be launched on the market - but the anticipation is growing! Initial glimpses promise a well thought-out solution that allows you to make optimum use of the storage space and sleep comfortably at the same time - without drilling, without sawing, without complicated removal . So stay tuned and follow the Boxio channels for the latest news. Maybe your Dokker will soon be upgraded to the perfect micro camper with the Boxio Rack! 🚙✨
Conclusion: The Dacia Dokker may be a simple utility vehicle, but with the right equipment it becomes a reliable companion for adventures big and small. Whether you're planning spontaneous overnight stays in the countryside or a road trip in comfort - the Dokker provides the basis, Boxio supplies the accessories. So you can enjoy maximum freedom without having to do without important comforts. Pack up your Dokker and set off on your next camping adventure - vanlife freedom awaits!
