So you’ve heard of van life, seen some of the amazing converted vans that people are getting around in and are now looking for a great base van to convert out ?
No problems, this article is about my top picks for the best vans which can be converted for van life. I look at some of the most popular base vehicles, and discuss their respective pros and cons to help you determine which is the most appropriate for your situation and future van life dream.
Because of the practicality of choosing a quality van with a reasonable amount of mileage on the clock, this review focuses on the more modern options from approximately 2005 onwards.
“The World is a book and those who do not travel read but only one page.“
St Augustine
Introduction to converted vans
One of the biggest decisions campers face is determining exactly what style of camping suits them; some choose to go incredibly basic and decide to backpack – hiking the outback or wilderness and living in small tents or shared accommodation and taking all their worldly possessions on their back. Some go to the opposite end of the spectrum, with incredible ‘homes on wheels’ such as large converted buses, RV’s and luxury caravans which feature all the creature comforts of a conventional home.
The truth is, there are virtually no limits to the style of camping you choose and there is an entire spectrum for you to choose from. For those in the Van life community, we choose to be somewhere in the middle – not too extra, but with all the creature comforts of a home to make the experience or lifestyle sustainable.
Ultimately, sustainability and a degree of self sufficiency is the name of the game here. Van life is a balance between too much and not enough; it centers its core focus on minimalism and mindfulness (when you live in a van there just isn’t room for any unnecessary crap!).
Most people are drawn to the deliberate nature of van life, the simple life, the decluttering. But to make it sustainable, you will need to of course include enough necessities to make your van ‘livable’ – just a matress or swag in the back of your pickup generally wont cut it for most people.
This is why a proper sustainable design for your converted van is so important, which of course starts with selecting the best van for your personal circumstance. It must be livable, comfortable, convenient and easy to use. Things that might not sound that important at the outset end up being incredibly so – for example a toilet, shower, hot water, room to stand up, a comfortable bed and a nice place to sit with a table to work on are all considered essential creature comfort features for the modern van life.
So without further adieu, read on for my top list of vans for van life conversion, ranked in order of preference.
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Ford Transit
- Ram ProMaster
- Fiat Ducato
- Nissan NV Cargo
- VW Transporter *
- Renault Trafic *
It is worth noting that the top 4 are the best choices for ongoing van life due to their size.
* The VW transporter and Renault Trafic are more suited to overnight, weekend or stealth camping due to their smaller size and lower roof heights (which could be fixed using a ‘pop top’ conversion, however these types of conversions have their own limitations)
Mercedes Sprinter
“Mercedes Sprinter panel vans are undoubtedly the most popular van models for van life conversions. Professional (commercial) conversions typically cost around $30,000, but a DIY fit out can be achieved for less than $5,000.”
It is a gold standard van for those planning to live and travel in a van. Moreover, the van has been around for many years. Therefore, it means you can easily find a used one on the roads and get it examined if you are planning to invest.
If you are planning to invest in a new sprinter you can go with camper van conversion. Besides that, you can convert the van yourself if you are planning to save money. An expert can also convert a sprinter into your dream camper van.
The best feature of a sprinter is that it comes with three different lengths. Thus, the longest models have a similar length as an RV. It means you can have your bathroom, kitchen and decent living space. Besides that, it is a good option because it is also available in the 4×4 model. However, one complaint that owners have is high repair and maintenance cost. Here are some reasons why a sprinter is the best option.
- Popular among van lifers.
- Versatile and attractive interior design.
- Tips for van conversion are easily available online.
- The conversion layout is simple to follow.
- Available in 4×4.
Ford Transit
“In an ever-changing world, the Transit is one of the few things we can still rely upon“
Top Gear, BBC
One of the best vans to live in is Ford Transit. It is very famous in the US market because of its looks and easy conversion options. Moreover, the cargo vans of transit are available in three unique lengths. It has three different heights for roof. It means you can have more room inside for your conversions.
In the past transit was only available in the rear-wheel-drive option but now you can have an all-wheel variant as well. However, you need to know it is a new addition to the market. Thus, you may not be able to find an already converted van but a few used options are available.
The biggest attraction of ford is its cheap maintenance cost and affordable spare parts are easily available. Moreover, any qualified mechanic can service your Ford. Some benefits of having Ford Transit are.
- High roof versions are available which are affordable as compared to other variants.
- Conversion companies are working on transit as well.
- Easy and cheap repairs and maintenance.
- It is famous for its easy maneuverability.
- Popularity is rapidly increasing the van life community.
“Ignoring a Transit when you’re buying a van is like ignoring a Golf when you’re buying a car. Or a kebab when post-nightclub food shopping. Do so at your peril”
Top Gear, BBC
Ram (Dodge) ProMaster
When looking for the best vans to live in, A Promaster is a good option. The best thing about this van is that it has a variety of heights and lengths, but the widest width in its class. Promaster is an ideal option for van life because it will be easy to convert.
The widest width of all potential van conversions means you can easily install full-size mattress in a side dimension (across the van, rather than along it). It comes with a special space-saving feature; Promaster comes with the front-wheel-drive option which maximizes cabin height and overall decreases the height of the vehicle. Besides that, you will get better fuel economy and more traction during winter. A few reasons to invest in Dodge Promaster are.
- The wide interior of the van makes it easier to convert and introduce changes that you need.
- It is a cheap option available in the market which is good for people with a low budget.
- Due to the front-wheel drive, it can perform perfectly when it is snowing.
- Off-ground ability is limited due to low ground clearance.
Fiat Ducato
The Fiat Ducato is a European Panel Van that has become synonymous with van life and recreational vehicles. Now you might be thinking – it is pretty similar looking to the Ram ProMaster, right?
That’s because it is! the front wheel drive Fiat Ducato was actually a joint venture between Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, and has been licenced built for different markets by a number of other auto manufacturers, for example both Ram and (previously) Dodge.
For this reason I wont go into great detail, so please refer to the above summary of the Ram ProMaster review. Rest assured though, this is a tried and tested vehicle. The Ducato is the base vehicle of choice for the overwhelming majority of European camper van conversions, motor homes and recreational vehicles, making up nearly two-thirds of all of them.
Nissan NV Cargo
It is not a very popular option in the list of best vans to live in. However, its conversion into 4×4 is easy which makes it worth considering. Nissan will be a perfect van for off-roading.
NV cargo comes in many configurations with amazing features. It has spacious cabins but the cargo room is less. Besides that, Nissan has the second highest ceiling which makes it a perfect option for those who are looking for high roof options. Benefits of having Nissan NV Cargo are.
- Perfect for a single person.
- You can easily score an affordable deal because it is less popular.
- Conversion into 4×4 is possible.
- Only available in rear-wheel drive option.
VW Transporter
The VW Transporter is a reliable van and a great choice for small camping trips like weekenders or small road trips. It is a much smaller van than the others on the list, and is targeted for smaller commercial delivery use and tradies.
Having said that, if you are looking for a great, reliable base vehicle and prepared to live minimally or install a pop top, this can be a great choice. Because it is a smaller van, the VW wis more manouverable and will be able to squeeze into much tighter spaces and roads than a larger van might.
“The VW may be the best van because it shows that the very notion of van life is totally subjective. It’s really all down to how small a space you can comfortably live in.“
Renault Trafic
Similar to the Fiat, the Renault Trafic shares a lot in common with jointly produced vans by Citroen and Vauxhall. They are basically the same vehicle, with some slight styling differences.
Due to its low cargo height and overall small size, the Trafic is best suited for occasional weekend camping and isn’t really practical for long term van life. There are some companies who specialise in converting these with pop-tops, which do make them much more livable
Best Van for conversion summary
Realistically, those on the journey for Van life are often constrained by budget. When we look at the project management triple constraint of: Time, Cost and Quality, that means most of us are optimizing our van life conversions to have the best Quality and the lowest Cost, and we sacrifice the project Timeline. I think this is acceptable for the majority of most people, and is especially true for buying second hand vans.
I personally will not be rushing out to purchase a brand new Van to convert for Van life, but I will be keeping a close eye on the second hand market, especially for any mid or long wheel base Mercedes Sprinter panel vans!
