Buying a Van
How To Choose A Van
Knowing how to choose the right van for van life means understanding what’s right for you. There are a ton of options out there and you probably have a few questions: Should you buy a used or new van? A Sprinter, a Ford Transit, a Dodge Promaster, or a Volkswagen? Build it out yourself or invest in a professional conversion? Here are some considerations to make before buying a van:
- Where will you be driving your van?
- Will you need 4×4?
- Do you plan on living in your van during winter?
- How much gear storage do you need?
- Are you handy with fixing things?
- What is your budget?
- Will you build it out yourself or hire someone to do it for you?
- Do you want a shower and/or a bathroom?
There’s no one right way to do van life, but it’s important to get an understanding of what you want your van lifestyle to look like and what will work for you.
Most Popular Van Options
When you’re deciding what type of van to get, these are the most popular types of rigs that you’ll find on the market:
Sprinter Van
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, it’ll come as no surprise that the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van is my vehicle of choice for van life. Because I spend my winters in snowy climates and like to spend my summers exploring backcountry roads, a 2-wheel drive was a no-go for me. Up until recently when the Sprinter switched to an AWD system, the Sprinter was the only van in its category to have a factory 4×4 option. Whether the Sprinter you get is 4×4 or the new AWD, it is a capable beast with a ton of storage space for bikes, paddle boards, and more. The downside of Sprinters is they are the most expensive van option and it’s not as easy to find mechanics to work on Sprinters.
High-roof Sprinter vans are perfect for those who want to be able to stand up and walk around in their van (and want something more modern and reliable. They also come in two different lengths – the 144” and the 170” wheelbase.
Dodge Promaster
The Dodge Ram Promaster is another popular vehicle choice for van life and it is considerably cheaper than Sprinters and Transits. It comes in two different lengths – 136” and 159” wheelbase, so it’s slightly shorter than a Sprinter and has less ground clearance, but it gets better gas mileage. The Promaster is also the widest vehicle option of the common panel vans. Promasters are typically FWD which can make driving up steep mountain passes and sandy areas more difficult.
Ford Transit
Like the new Sprinter, the Ford Transit also comes AWD option (2020 and newer), making it more versatile than a traditional 2-wheel-drive van. Ford Transits are also a bit less expensive in price and maintenance than Sprinters and come with a higher interior height – the AWD has an interior height of 6’8! Transits also come with 2-wheel drive RWD options.
VW Vanagon, Westfalia, or Buses
These are great for handy folks who love a vintage vibe. Keep in mind that they might not be as reliable as newer vehicles and will require more upkeep. They also tend to not get as good gas mileage.
Budget cargo vans
Ford Econolines, Chevy G Series, Chevy Express, and Chevy Astros are popular budget cargo vans. These vans are typically much older but they are the cheapest option for getting on the road. Remember, van life comes in many shapes and forms, and sometimes a budget DIY build is all you need.
New vs Used Vans
There are lots of pros and cons to think about when buying a used or new van.
Buying a new van obviously has its perks. It will come with a limited warranty, everything will be new, and the van becomes your ultimate canvas for a custom van conversion.
But you’ll also be paying quite a bit of money for a new vehicle, especially if you then hire someone to build it out for you. Buying a used van can cut down on initial costs and allow you to put more money into the conversion.
Another option is to find a used campervan that has already been converted. You’ll save yourself a ton of time and possibly money. The downside of buying used is, unless the van was converted by a professional conversion company with a lot of experience, there are really no guarantees on the quality of the conversion. Furthermore, if you have issues down the road, it might require more problem-solving.
Converting a Van into a Camper
You’ve settled on the type of van, got the design inspiration, and an epic road trip calling your name. However, when it comes to actually building out your home on wheels, there’s a lot to think about. Designing your van shouldn’t be a rushed process, and doing your homework before you start the conversion process is key. The more knowledgeable you are about layouts and components, the more likely you’ll be happy with the final product.
Designing your Van’s Layout
Here’s a quick pro tip: Take your empty van out for a trial run before it is converted. Throw in a sleeping pad and bag, a cooler, and your favorite camping gear, and go on an adventure.
You can learn a lot about how you’ll use the space after one week on the road. You may think you want room for kayaks only to find that you didn’t use the kayaks once on your road trip. Or a bathroom might seem like a necessity until you realize getting by without a bathroom (or at least a shower) in your van isn’t that difficult.
What you learn on this trial run will give you a much better idea of what you do or don’t want and will better inform your floor plan ideas.
See this blog post for more things to consider as you design your van’s layout.
DIY or Hire a Conversion Company?
After you purchase your van, the next step in van life 101 is deciding whether you will hire someone to convert it or if this will be a DIY job. There’s no right or wrong answer and you have to evaluate your personal situation to decide what’s right for you. I go over all the pros, cons, and considerations for a DIY van build vs hiring a campervan conversion company in this blog post.
If you have experience building stuff and have the tools, you’ve set aside the time, or you simply think that building out a van would be a fun and enjoyable process, going DIY can save you a lot of money. I’d just recommend setting aside more time than you think you need and having wiggle room in your budget.
If you do decide to hire a company, do your homework to make sure the company is legit. There are a lot of “van conversion” companies popping up everywhere who see the growing demand for van life. However, many of these companies are inexperienced and are delivering a low-quality product. To properly screen these companies, you need to do more than just scan their website and Instagram feed. You need more than pretty pictures to ensure you’re going to get a well-built, durable van. Your builder also needs to have an understanding of solar, materials, plumbing, and how to build cabinets in a van that is constantly flexing.