Search Google or YouTube for “camper van” or “vanlife” and you’ll find that people have converted every possible make and model of van (and minivan) into camper vans. When it comes to picking a van many people assume “bigger is better,” which isn’t always the case. Many factors go into selecting a van that best fits a person’s needs, and size is only one of those variables.
An individual’s budget is one of the most important factors when it comes to purchasing a van. For those with deep pockets, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a very popular choice. It has enough head room to stand up inside without stooping, and a diesel engine that will run for hundreds of thousands of miles. New Sprinters cost nearly $70,000, and I’ve seen professionally converted models priced around $200k. They’re nice if you can afford one! On the other end of the spectrum are used minivans, which can be found used for only a few thousand dollars.
There are lots of vans that fall in between those two options. On the smaller side are Ford Transits; from there you move into full-size vans that are longer and wider, offering more space inside. Believe it or not, not everyone wants a large van. Smaller vans get better mileage and are easier to park. Two more factors that come into play are whether or not the owner will be living in the van full time (as opposed to taking shorter trips in it), and how many people will be staying inside the van. Smaller Transit vans seem to be a popular choice among women travelling by themselves, while couples often opt for a bit more space.
Another deciding factor is whether or not the owner plans to stealth camp. Stealth or urban camping involves parking your van in parking lots and other locations, often without permission. The ideal van for stealth parking is a nondescript van that blends in with its environment. Things mounted on the outside of a vehicle may tip people off that a person is sleeping (or living) inside.
Like many people, when I began investigating vanlife, I considered starting with a hotel shuttle bus or small school bus. A vehicle just a little wider and taller seemed like it would solve so many issues! Unfortunately the more I began to look into it, the more reasons I discovered why those wouldn’t work for me. Here are a few of those reasons:
- My neighborhood has an HOA that prohibits parking trailers, campers, RVs, and buses in my driveway or in front of my house. That means paying storage fees, worrying about my vehicle every night, and finding a place to work on it for a year or so.
- Repairs on and parts for commercial vehicles are often expensive.
- Any vehicle in Oklahoma designed to carry 16 or more passengers requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
- Most buses are insured as commercial vehicles for personal use, which is not cheap. Some people purchase renter’s insurance to cover their belongings.
- Typical AAA does not cover vehicles like buses. That requires “AAA Plus RV” coverage.
- Depending on the size, maneuvering a bus in town might be difficult. I’m guessing drive-thrus and certain parking locations might not be possible.
- Stealth camping in a school bus is right out.
I have seen lots of super cool bus and box truck conversions on YouTube. They’re super big and look beautiful and roomy inside. For the reasons listed above, those were not the best fit for me.
