So you want to convert a van into your dream camper van? How exciting! I finished my own camper van conversion in January and wanted to share how I thought about selecting the right van for the type of vanlife lifestyle I wanted to live.
Choosing the right van is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable life on the road. Below are key considerations to keep in mind when choosing which van to buy. When I was looking for my own van, I was deciding between the Mercedes Sprinter, RAM ProMaster and Ford Transit. Basing my decision around these categories helped me choose my perfect van! (By the way, I’m not a van expert by any means. I just did a lot of research before sinking money into my own van.)
- Define Your Vanlife Lifestyle
- Set Your Budget
- Prioritize Sleeping and Space Requirements
- Mechanical Repairs
- Drivetrain Options
Define Your Vanlife Lifestyle:
I see this as something that can be divided into a few categories. How much time are you planning to spend in your van? Where are you going to be traveling most of the time? Are you planning to experience all 4 seasons?
How Much Time Do You Want to Spend in Your Van?
Are you planning to do vanlife full time? Just on the weekends? For a season at a time? Or maybe you just don’t know yet. I’m very type A so this was an easy decision for me, but you do you…On second thought, I highly recommend you figuring this out .
You’ll want to consider how you plan to use the van. Understanding your lifestyle needs will help you figure out which van aligns with your travel style. For example, crouching down or always sitting in a low roof van is manageable for a short time, but probably not 24/7.
Where Do You Want to Vanlife?
The types of roads and parking availability will be very different if you plan to hop from beach town to beach town vs. off roading, or spending a lot of time on washboard dirt roads. Different vans have different driving capabilities. Buying a van that can’t meet those needs could ruin your experience entirely.
What Type of Weather Will You Experience?
This question is more of a consideration when it comes to your actual build, but should be at least in the back of your mind when choosing your van. If you’re at all interested in including a shower to clean off in the winter months, you might want to look at vans with longer wheel bases. On the flip side, if you only want to stay in warmer climates, an outdoor shower might be the only thing you need, which would allow you to choose a shorter wheelbase.
My Considerations:
I knew that I wanted to travel in my van for most of the year and experience all four seasons while visiting cities, national parks and public land. In my search, I prioritized a high roof vehicle to ensure that I could stand up inside. I also went with a longer wheelbase (I had 2 to choose from), but not the longest van option (there was the option to get an extended length that added about a foot to the end of the van). I ultimately decided not to go with the longest ProMaster to make it easier to find parking in cities and increase my van’s maneuverability when driving on dirt roads. In the end, picture the life you want to live and thoroughly research the available vans in your area to find the right fit.
Budget and Price Points:
Price will obviously play a significant role in your van choice. Take a look at your budget and decide what works best for you. One of the biggest benefits of vanlife for me is the freedom that comes with it – including financial freedom.
Used vs. New
Are used vans priced significantly lower than new? If they are, it could be worth considering as long as it passes inspection and has no visible defects. Dents = potential water leaks. Water leaks = extreme sadness and inconvenience.
My Considerations:
Unfortunately, when it came time for me to actually buy my van, the used-car market was wild. I could find a used van, but the mileage was insane for the “discount” I was getting. In the end, the price difference wasn’t worth the risk and I ended up buying a new van.
Sleeping and Space Requirements:
Good sleep is so essential and should be at the top of your list when it comes to buying a van to build out into your dream home on wheels. (I don’t know about you, but if I get bad sleep I am a terror upon society). Think about your sleeping preferences and the space you need. For example, you may be ok sleeping diagonally with your partner on your bed for a night or two, but I bet that would get a little tiresome if you had to do that every night.
Figure Out Your Bed Layout
There are two main ways to position your bed – left to right or front to back. If you plan to sleep left to right, make sure that your van accommodates your height as some vans are wider than others.
Note: even on the widest vans, there is a limit. I’m 5’4” and I can comfortably sleep left to right, but my friend who is 5’6” has to sleep diagonally.
If you don’t want to sleep left to right, are you comfortable installing your own window flares or paying someone to do it for you to give you those extra few inches? If you choose to sleep front to back, make sure the length/wheelbase of your van still allows for enough room for the rest of your build. Positioning your bed front to back will take up more space than if you were to sleep left to right.
My Considerations:
Personally, I prefer to sleep left to right because this gives me more space in my van build for my bathroom and kitchen.
Mechanical Repairs:
Consider the engine for each type of van you are interested in and determine what you will need to do if you have to get something fixed.
If you’re comfortable and knowledgeable on gas engines, take that into consideration. Are you looking for a van that can be serviced at just about any mechanic shop or are you okay only going to a dealership? Each van has its own specifications and limitations. Understanding these will set you up for a better experience when repairs are required (and they will be).
My Considerations:
By this point in my van search, I was fairly certain I wanted a ProMaster. Thinking through mechanical repairs was just another validating reason for me. I wanted a van that I could take to just about any service shop. I also wanted a gas vehicle since my family is full of engineers that frequently do at-home car maintenance (shoutout to my dad!).
Driving Preference:
Do you have drivetrain preferences? Honestly, before I started considering vanlife I had no idea what that meant. So here are the types and what they stand for. There are four types: AWD (all wheel drive), 4WD (four wheel drive or 4×4), FWD (front wheel drive), RWD (rear wheel drive) Research the drivetrain of all of the vans you’re considering so that you don’t end up with one that doesn’t fit your needs.
My Considerations:
I knew that the ProMaster didn’t offer AWD or 4×4. While it would be nice to have the peace of mind that AWD or 4×4 offer, I knew that the areas I would be traveling to likely wouldn’t require serious off-roading capabilities. I also tested out a ProMaster camper van prior to buying my own. It actually held up really well on some sandy and rocky dirt roads, which made me feel more confident in my decision to get a van without AWD or 4×4.
Conclusion:
Selecting the right cargo van for your camper conversion is a significant step toward creating your ultimate home-on-wheels. Thinking through the categories outlined above will point you in the right direction. There’s a ton of information on exact dimensions and recommendations for each van (FarOutRide has a lot of great resources). While it can be overwhelming, take into consideration your lifestyle, comfort threshold, and budget to find the perfect fit. Remember, the ideal van is the one that allows you to roam freely and explore the world!
