Campervans 101
So what exactly is a campervan and how does one go about building one? Good question.
A staple of the RV world in much of the world, but not really mainstream in the U.S., campervans are essentially just very small motorhomes. The original campervan was probably the ubiquitous Volkswagen camper.
VW Camper
Campervans differentiate themselves from motorhomes by being much more concerned with space, efficiency, and often stealth than their larger brethren. Many of the creature comforts found in traditional motorhomes are omitted in campervan builds. While there are several companies offering standard campervan conversions (Roadtrek, Winnebago, Pleasure-Way, Airstream), many campervans (the coolest ones) are custom built either by their owners or to the owner’s specs. A few examples of DIY builds:
Traipsing About’s DIY Sprinter with ample bike storage
There are also some very nice (and expensive) professional shops that will do custom conversions to your specs. The most well-known is probably Outside Van.
Because of the very limited space a van offers, builds are frequently tailored to match the intended use of the owner. Only the necessary features need be included, and the owner can prioritize things like storage space, sleeping layout, passenger capacity, and the whether to include amenities such as a sink, toilet, shower, or more specialized options like “toy hauling” space or off-roading capability. Campervan builds can be as simple as a bed and some storage space, or as complex as a full RV with complete plumbing and solar power systems.
In addition to getting a van that is customized to your needs, building out your own van is significantly cheaper than buying a pre-converted camper and also affords the opportunity to know all the intricate details of your vehicle for when things inevitably break on the road. Not to mention the satisfaction that comes with doing the work yourself, and the many other benefits of hard work (which Mr Money Mustache has a great article on).
Those of you that know me probably aren’t surprised that I opted to build out my own van rather than purchase a pre-converted vehicle or just buy an RV. I wanted something small that won’t have difficulty with rough back roads, and didn’t want to be reliant on campgrounds. The ability to park on a side street overnight without looking out of place was important too. Fuel economy alone basically ruled out most RV’s, but RV’s have always felt clumsy, cheap, and poorly constructed to me anyway and I never seriously considered one. Because I wanted to fit a lot into not much space and get it done quickly and without spending a fortune, a custom DIY conversion made the most sense to me.
I’ve had my eye on the Mercedes Sprinter for a while, but there are a few other common base vehicles as well including the Ford Transit and the newer Dodge Promaster. For me, the Sprinter was the clear choice for a few reasons:
- They’re very durable and can run to 400K + miles with proper maintenance
- Parts are widely available, along with mechanics that know the vehicles
- Lots of interior space, along with pretty good ground clearance
- Mileage is great for a vehicle this size, with 20-25 MPG common
There are a number of good resources out there if you’re interested in learning more about building out your own campervan. In addition to the links above, here are some that I found particularly helpful:
Sprinter Forum and Sprinter Wiki
Sprinter RV and Conversion Sourcebook
And finally, check out these Instagram hashtags for inspiration and to get excited about being out on the road. #sprintervan, #homeiswhereyouparkit, #vanlife, #campervan, #diycampervan