Updated on June 24th, 2025
How do you decide on a van to convert into a campervan? There are so many options out there! Sprinters, VWs, minivans, cargo, the list goes on and on. We’ve broken it down to 7 questions to ask yourself before deciding on a van.
1. How Are You Going to Use Your Van?
There is a huge difference between living in your van and using it just for the occasional weekend adventure. If you are planning to live in your van full-time, you will likely need more way more creature comforts (i.e. space) than you would if you are just planning to take it out for holiday weekends. Will you be staying in campgrounds? Boondocking all the time? Parking it in your parents’ driveway? This will determine if you need the space for toilet facilities, showers, and full cooking area. Also if you are going to be living in it full-time, you’ll probably want to be able to stand up.
2. What is Your Budget?
We did our entire first conversion, including purchasing our van for less than $4500. We set out to create an adventure van for less than $5,000. A budget that low meant we needed to look for something older, with more miles, and we likely could not afford the extra material that a high-top van would require. Our budget was the #1 deciding factor for us beyond knowing that we were only going to use our van for the occasional adventure, no more than 2-3 weeks at a time.
Our second build was similar, as we were trying to build a full-time high-top van for just $30,000. We knew that our budget would require us to buy used, and almost immediately ruled out Mercedes or anything four-wheel drive.
3. How Tall Are You?
The taller you are, the less comfortable a low-top van will be. Andy and I are average-sized Americans at 5’6″ and 6’0″ and we could both comfortably sit on our ottomans in our low-top build without our heads touching the roof. Our friend who is 6’4″ cannot. In our low-top, neither of us could fully sit up in bed, and Andy at 6’0″ could just barely fit when we were sleeping sideways.
In our high-top build, we both could comfortably stand, sit up in bed, and sleep side to side. But with the promaster seats being pretty high, Andy was near the upper limit before his head touches while driving!
Promasters are known for being the widest option and Ford Transits for being the tallest. Ram also has an additional “super tall” option that puts it above the ford transit but it’s *almost* overkill. We were able to fit a queen size bed in our promaster without needing any sort of extension, but know that flares are an option if this is an issue for you!
4. Can or Will You Do Repairs Yourself?
Mercedes and Volkswagon are both notoriously hard to work on yourself. Their electrical systems are complicated, and they contain a lot of proprietary parts, aka pricey! Whereas, Chevy’s and GMC’s are more simply built and especially in the US parts are cheap because the Express and Savannah have been around in their current configuration for nearly three decades. Ford falls somewhere in the middle.
Reliability is also important! RAM Promasters have a well-earned reputation for breakdowns. Parts are very inexpensive, and are typically in stock at your local dealer or online parts supplier. However, if you are not doing the work yourself, you may find long lines at the dealership for repairs. We knew there is practically nothing on the American vans that Andy can’t fix himself, which was one reason we’ve ended up with a Chevy and a RAM.
If you aren’t planning to do the work yourself, it might be worth taking a look in the areas you plan to be in to see if there are dealerships for the van you’re considering. While you will find a Chevy, Ford, or RAM dealership every 50 miles in the USA, Mercedes dealerships may be harder to come by.
5. Where Will You Be Driving?
Or in other words, do you need four-wheel drive? Are you planning to drive in areas with snow and ice? Stay mainly on highways? Or are you going to be off-roading your van regularly? If you are unsure, you may want to look at four-wheel drive options. Keep in mind this will be more expensive.
6. How Many Miles Will You Be Driving?
Gasoline (petrol) or diesel is a big decision. There is a bigger upfront cost to diesel engines, but they have better fuel economy. If you are planning on driving 10-20k miles a year, you are probably better off just going with a gas vehicle. If you’re planning on driving 40-50k mile a year you might want to consider diesel.
A couple of other points to consider on the gas vs diesel debate before deciding on a van:
- Gas engines usually have cheaper parts.
- Gas engines are usually easier to maintain and repair.
- If you run a gas vehicle out of fuel, you are going to have a long walk and a gas can. If you run a diesel vehicle dry, you are going to need a tow and a shop.
- Many diesel vehicles have special fluids for their emissions systems.
7. How Comfortable Are You Driving a Large Vehicle?
If you have never driven anything bigger than a Honda Civic, your first time behind even a low-top short van might be a shock. Big vehicles have a different center of gravity. They handle very differently, and you may have blind spots you never thought could exist. Our Chevy Express drove very similarly to the pick-up trucks we’ve had in the past, except that it had the turning radius of a battleship. On the highway, you didn’t notice it, but let me tell you, in a parking lot you did!
Our Promaster, on the other hand, has a high center of gravity, and is heavy, so it is a lot softer in the corners which takes some getting used to.
Height, wheel length, weight and driver seat layout are all important to comfort at the wheel, and the best thing you can do is test drive a few options. Just know that the van will probably feel a little “softer” in the corners, and the engine a little less powerful when you finish your van build.
When it comes to comfort level, consider all of your possible drivers. Everyone should feel comfortable behind the wheel if necessary. For us, this wasn’t a big factor as we are both confident drivers who have handled large vehicles in the past.
What is your biggest concern about buying a van? Comment below and we’d be happy to help!
I’m new about the whole van life and I’m working hard to find the van for me before July. I have a driver’s test and the moment I’ll pass this test I will be free to go through the open road.