Dwelling in a Chevy Astro van confirmed us how superior small camper vans are for van life. They’re technique cheaper and stealthier than large vans like a Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit. We’d park wherever all through the metropolis with out drawing consideration, good for full-timers and weekend warriors.
They’re simple to drive and park, and the gasoline mileage is an enormous plus. It’s a sensible alternative within the occasion you wish to maintain factors easy and low-cost on the street.
We’ve since upgraded to a Sprinter van as we wished the realm for full-time van life, nonetheless I’m nonetheless an infinite believer that small camper vans are an environment friendly technique to get began.
1) The Mercedes Metris
- Worth: $26,000-$34,000
- Cargo Quantity: 199 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 19
- Exterior Measurement: 202 inches
- Exterior Prime: 75 inches
- Exterior Width: 76 inches
- Inside Headroom: 39.6 inches all through the first row; 41.4 inches all through the 2nd row
The Mercedes Metris is a mannequin new van launched to the North American market in 2015. With the cargo model of this van, you most likely can choose from an uncommon or extended wheelbase. It’s in the marketplace in two lengths – commonplace and prolonged.
This small camper van within the market has a turbocharged 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a 7-speed transmission. The Mercedes Metris can carry higher than the opposite vans with a most payload of two,502 kilos. Think about that to the Nissan NV200, which has a payload of 1,480 kilos.
Mercedes Metris vans have an excellent greater cargo space than the rivals, which suggests extra room in your campervan assemble. They arrive with every a 270-degree swing-open rear door or a hatchback tailgate. The pores and skin appears equal to that of a bit van, making this automobile a extraordinarily stealthy camper.
The principle draw again with this van is that it’s the costliest of the smaller vans, needs premium gasoline, and is extra sturdy to park as a result of it’s longer wheelbase. The opposite situation to ponder is the dimensions of the home house home windows – these are smaller than these fitted on completely completely different vans, which suggests you lose visibility and procure some additional privateness.
Within the occasion you happen to’d wish to get a Metris reworked professionally, attempt Contravans, the Getaway Van by Mercedes-Benz, Peace Vans, GTRV, Keystone Coachworks and Oregon Motor Coach.
2) Ford Transit Be part of
- Worth: $24,000-$31,000
- Cargo Quantity: 104 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 25
- Exterior Measurement: 174.2 inches
- Exterior Measurement: 174.2 inches
- Exterior Prime: 72 inches
- Exterior Width: 72 inches
- Inside Headroom: 46.9 inches
The Ford Transit Be part of is an inexpensive camper van that may get good gasoline mileage. It’s been spherical since 2012, which suggests yow will uncover quite a few used vans for reasonably priced, and even camper vans which might be already constructed out.
When looking for your subsequent residence of wheels, get a mechanic concerned – Transit Connects are acknowledged to have transmission elements.
You are going to get two sorts of engines with this small camper van, a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder van, or a turbocharged 1.6-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder. Most payload on this van is 1,620 kilos.
This could possibly be a really small camper van within the market (the second smallest on this class) that doesn’t current the equal cargo house as quite a few of its opponents or 4WD drive. Nonetheless, it selections double sliding doorways on the sides, which makes it fairly easy to air out and entry.
The look of the floor makes it an beautiful stealth tenting automobile. Plus being small it’s easier and cheaper to revive. Furthermore, a few of us say this small tenting van doesn’t have quite a few vitality nonetheless is snug to drive.
If you are going to get maintain of a extra moderen mannequin (2014 or newer), Freeway Camper Bundle produces a sturdy and sensible conversion instruments.
3) Ram Promaster Metropolis Small Camper Van
- Worth: $24,000-$27,000
- Cargo quantity: 132 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 24
- Exterior Measurement: 188 inches
- Exterior Prime: 74 inches
- Exterior Width: 74 inches
- Inside Headroom: 46 inches
The Promaster Metropolis small campervan within the market was launched in 2015, and prides itself on being setting nice with a freeway gasoline monetary system of 28 miles per gallon.
This little van packs a cargo performance of 131.7 cubic toes, and a nice-sized cargo space width of 48.4 inches between the wheel wells. This van is on the market in second for cargo house behind the Mercedes Metris.
The Promaster Metropolis drives with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine, and is prone to be loaded correct all the best way all the way down to 1,886 kilos. It furthermore has a nine-speed automated transmission. Homeowners love how dependable and long-lasting the engine is.
One diploma up from the basic cargo van mannequin, or the SLT, will get you a van that needs oil modifications each 10,000 miles, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise administration and heated seats.
The proper attribute of this nimble van? The partitions on the as soon as extra are practically vertical, which suggests it’s fairly easy to transform DIY. Nonetheless, it’s not in the marketplace in 4WD drive and doesn’t embrace a diesel choice.
Within the occasion you happen to’d wish to get it reworked professionally, you’re spoiled for alternative. Go for Contravans, Cascade, Voyage Campervans, Craft Autoworks or Kuku Campers.
4) Nissan NV 200 Compact Cargo Van
- Worth: $22,000-$23,000
- Cargo Quantity: 122 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 25
- Exterior Measurement: 186 inches
- Exterior Prime: 74 inches
- Exterior Width: 68 inches
- Inside Headroom: 41.7 inches
The Nissan NV 200 is an inexpensive small camper van within the market with good gasoline mileage, constructed for easy maneuvering in a metropolis. The van does fall quick in cargo house in contrast with the Metris, Ford Transit Be part of and Promaster Metropolis.
Some van lifers managed to swimsuit a hidden moveable toilet of their very private builds.
The NV 200 has rather a lot a lot much less vitality than its opponents with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. This makes it good for van lifers who intend to journey long-distance repeatedly.
The Nissan NV 200 small camper van solely has a most payload of 1,480 kilos, so maintain that in concepts when planning out your DIY campervan assemble. Make this van too heavy and it obtained’t carry out as accurately.
The good thing about this van is that it’s primarily probably the most worth environment friendly of this group of vans.
You are going to get your palms on a used one for as little as $15,000. Need to put money into an expert conversion? Check out Recon Campers, Contravans, GTRV, Caravan Garments retailer and Apex Vans.
5) Toyota Sienna AWD
- Worth: $34,710-$42,250
- Cargo Quantity: 101 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 22 mpg gasoline / 35 mpg hybrid
- Exterior Measurement: 204 inches
- Exterior Prime: 69 – 70 inches
- Exterior Width: 79 inches
- Inside Headroom: 40.1 inches all through the first row; 39.9 inches all through the 2nd row; 37.4 inches all through the third row
The Toyota Sienna is a well-liked mini camper van as its actually one in all many solely model new vans in the marketplace with All-Wheel-Drive. That’s among the many many most attention-grabbing camper vans to take boondocking as you obtained’t have to fret masses about sand, snow and dust.
The Sienna might be giant dependable, which makes it low-cost to keep up up and sturdy. You obtained’t menace getting caught all through the desert with an engine draw again.
In addition to, the Toyota Sienna is greater than quite a few of the extreme cargo vans we talked about above.
The massive aspect sliding door makes it fairly easy to nip out and in of the van, which is good for immediately whenever you put together considerably bit outdoors entrance room beneath the aspect awning.
The as soon as extra seats are fairly easy to take away, so that you simply most likely can convert this minivan your self, saving quite a few money on the assemble.
Lastly, the flat roof allows you to prepare loads of {photograph} voltaic panels to generate electrical vitality wherever. Within the occasion you happen to’re eager just a few Toyota Sienna customized assemble, attempt Oasis campervans and Contravans.
6) Chevy Astro
- Worth: $2,000-6,000
- Cargo Quantity: 170 cubic toes
- Exterior Measurement: 189.8 inches
- Exterior Prime: 75 inches
- Exterior Width: 78 inches
- Estimated Blended MPG: 15
- Inside Headroom: 39 inches all through the doorway; 38 inches all through the rear
I’d be remiss if I didn’t degree out my beloved Chevy Astro van on this file of small camper vans for van life.
I bought this Astro conversion van with solely 57,000 miles for merely $6,000 on Craiglist and made just a few modifications to make it completely off-grid. Two of us sleep on this terribly low cost camper van by reclining the as soon as extra seats correct proper right into a campervan mattress, and I bought two footstools from TJ Maxx to increase the mattress.
We’d have preferred a conversion van on account of larger fiberglass roof. Typical Astros have a low roof, and are cheap, like $2,000 or rather a lot a lot much less.
I like how dependable this van is – it by no means lets us down. We reworked it slowly over quite a few years, making fast and straightforward modifications as and as quickly as we wished them. We now have a Mercedes Sprinter van, nonetheless have the Chevy Astro in storage and convey it to Mexico as quickly as we drive to our sailboat.
7) Mitsubishi Delica
- Worth: $10,000-12,000
- Cargo Quantity: not specified
- Exterior Measurement: 189.8 inches
- Exterior Width: 70.67 inches
- Exterior Prime: 75 inches
- Estimated Frequent MPG: 28
- Inside Headroom: 48 inches
Looking for one issue quirkier? Try the Mitsubishi Delica. It’s a mid-90s Japanese standard minibus that’s robust and dependable, together with low cost.
The Delica comes with 4WD drive. It’s very small, which suggests you most likely can merely uncover parking even in cities, nonetheless with a excessive clearance, which lets you enterprise off-road.
This van transports 8 of us and the seats fold flat, permitting you to maintain them mounted. Whereas driving the Delica is easy, on account of its measurement, it will be greatest to do it on the flawed aspect as these beauties have all been imported straight from Japan. Furthermore, do not forget that the inside peak is just 51.8 inches.
On condition that this van hasn’t been manufactured all through the U.S., there aren’t firms specializing in skilled conversions. You can, nonetheless, adapt quite a few of the smaller conversion kits in the marketplace inside the market. Ponder QuQuQ Topic and Egoe Nest. Within the occasion you happen to’d like one issue extra everlasting, it will be greatest to take the time to hold out a DIY conversion.
8) Honda Problem Small Camper Van
- Worth: $3,500-$7,000
- Cargo Quantity: 130 cubic toes (with seats eradicated)
- Exterior Measurement: 170 inches
- Exterior Width: 72 inches
- Exterior Prime: 70 inches
- Estimated Frequent MPG: 22
- Inside Headroom: 43 inches at highest stage
The Honda Problem is a cult SUV camper fashionable amongst van lifers in all places inside the U.S. The mannequin was discontinued in 2011, nonetheless an increasing number of of us have determined to transform used ones into campers in the previous few years.
It’s simple to acknowledge, on account of its boxy kind and the weird bi-parting doorways. The design relies on a lifeguard station. Nevertheless, it appears equal to a automotive, making it very stealthy.
Searching for a used Honda Problem is giant economical – some fashions are as low-cost as $3,499. It furthermore is on the market in four-wheel drive, so you can too take it on some pleasing off-road adventures. Not like completely completely different minivans, the cab of the Problem is form of tall, which suggests you are going to get modified inside with out having to take a seat down down down. Sitting up in mattress is snug, too.
There mustn’t any firms that perform skilled conversions for the Honda Problem. Nonetheless, you most likely can attempt Ursa Minor, Fifth Problem Tenting, Freeway Camper Bundle for conversion kits.
9) VW Eurovan Camper
- Worth: $10,000-24,000
- Cargo Quantity: 166.6 cubic toes
- Exterior Measurement: 188.5 inches
- Exterior Width: 72.4 inches
- Exterior Prime: 76.4 inches
- Estimated Frequent MPG: 20
- Inside Headroom: 41.3 inches
Nothing is extra iconic than a VW Eurovan Camper. Within the occasion you happen to’re in love with these little jewels, there are loads of used and pretty low-cost ones within the market inside the market.
The gasoline mileage is phenomenal, so it’s supreme for extended journeys all through the nation. The weak stage of the VW Eurovan is the automated transmission – it’d give factors. As quickly as you begin potential vans, it’s a superb suggestion to analysis a automobile’s historic earlier and even ask a mechanic to return once more test it out with you.
The Eurovan obtained proper right here out of the manufacturing unit as a camper (Volkswagen teamed up with Winnebago to assemble them) and has been out of manufacturing since 2003, so there aren’t any firms who take into account altering them. Nonetheless, you most likely can every spruce up the sooner inside or commerce it completely. It’s as rather a lot as you.
The floorplan typically included a ramification, a sink and a sofa that was a mattress. Some fashions even had a pop extreme, providing far more inside room. Whether or not or not or not you retain factors precisely as that that they had been imagined to be or change them completely, this little bus makes for an beautiful camper.
Additional VW fashions have been imported into the U.S. by the use of the years – the Combi, the Westfalia and the Splittie. These are rarer to look out and can value considerably bit extra, nonetheless yow will uncover them with considerably bit persistence.
10) Dodge Grand Caravan Mini Camper
- Worth: from $27,290, new
- Cargo Quantity: 140 cubic toes with seats eradicated
- Estimated Blended MPG: 20
- Exterior Measurement: 189 inches
- Exterior Prime: 69 inches
- Exterior Width: 79 inches
- Inside Headroom: 39.3 inches
Within the occasion you happen to wish the decrease profile of a minivan, attempt the Dodge Grand Caravan. Whereas it looks as if a automotive, it’s very extended, providing a substantial amount of legroom for sleeping.
It will sit as rather a lot as 7 of us and the dimensions is spectacular. It has a complete measurement of 202.8 inches, 78.8 inches of width and a peak of 67.9 inches. You can merely match a double mattress and a kitchen. The rear hatchback door allows you to put collectively dinner behind the automobile.
The Dodge Grand Caravan is a really well-liked automotive and camper with a protracted manufacturing historic earlier. Attributable to this, it’s simple to look out numerous components. Nonetheless, it may be sturdy to discover a used one within the market.
For a similar causes, it holds its worth accurately – in case you’re considering of shopping for one for a once-in-a-lifetime journey after which return to frequent life.
To remodel the Grand Caravan, attempt Oasis Campervans, Roadloft and VanPackers.
To get $100 off your Roadloft order, use the coupon code TWH100.
11) Honda Odyssey
- Worth: from $33,040, new
- Cargo Quantity: 141 cubic toes with seats eradicated
- Estimated Blended MPG: 22
- Exterior Measurement: 205 inches
- Exterior Prime: 70 inches
- Exterior Width: 79 inches
- Inside Headroom: 40.7 inches all through the doorway; 39.5 inches all through the guts; 38.3 inches all through the rear
The Honda Odyssey is one completely different fashionable small nonetheless spacious minivan. With a 205.2-inches measurement, this automobile is appropriate for taller van lifers, too.
One draw again is that to transform the Odyssey correct proper right into a camper you will want to remove a row of seats to build up a flat sleeping flooring. So whilst you plan to level out your automotive correct proper right into a camper on the weekend, it’d take considerably bit little little little bit of time.
It’s furthermore dependable and long-lasting, which makes it simple and economical to keep up up. Nonetheless, it doesn’t maintain its worth accurately. Go for a used one.
Within the occasion you happen to an identical to the look of the Honda Odyssey, you most likely can select amongst 4 firms which produce conversion kits: RoadLoft, Freeway Camper Bundle and Ququq. For a full skilled assemble, search for Oasis Campervans.
To get $100 off your Roadloft order, use the coupon code TWH100.
12) Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Mini Camper
- Worth: from $27,541 to $56,998
- Cargo Quantity: 140 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 22
- Exterior Measurement: 204 inches
- Exterior Prime: 70–71 inches
- Exterior Width: 80 inches
- Inside Headroom: 40.1 inches
Another choice to the Honda Odyssey is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. It’s a 7-seater minivan which appears very related and has practically an equal measurements. As such, it’s inconceivable for stealth tenting.
To learn from out of the realm in the marketplace, many van lifers create a mattress platform as large as attainable and match drawers beneath it, to allow them to slide out behind the automotive.
The benefit of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is that two rows of seats fold down completely flat into built-in flooring storage. This lets you maintain the minivan put together as a automotive often.
Nonetheless, a few of us declare it isn’t very dependable. Some have elements with failing transmission strains. So it’s important you get a used one checked by an expert ahead of looking for it.
Conversion kits for the Pacifica might be found from Avenue Loft and Freeway Camper Bundle.
To get $100 off your Roadloft order, use the coupon code TWH100.
13) Kia Sedona
- Worth: $16,000 – $43,000
- Cargo Quantity: 142 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 21
- Exterior Measurement: 201.4 inches
- Exterior Prime: 68.5 inches
- Exterior Width: 89.3 inches
- Inside Headroom: 39.8 inches all through the doorway; 39.4 inches all through the second row; 38.9 inches all through the third row
Within the occasion you happen to’re searching for an reasonably priced minivan that’s good to drive, look no additional than the Kia Sedona. It’s cheaper than luxurious vans an identical to the Dodge Grand Caravan and enormous simple to transform, because of the seats are merely detachable. The inside headroom is modest, as a result of it is with most minivans, nonetheless the it’s not masses lower than that of comparable, extra expensive vehicles.
Contained inside the Kia Sedona there’s sufficient house to put in a platform mattress, a small desk, and a conveyable toilet. You can create an easy conversion an identical to the one above by Hayley and Kevin, or purchase a instruments from Avenue Loft, Freeway Camper Bundle, House On Wheels or Compass Campers.
14) Kia Carnival Mini Camper
- Worth: from $34,565, new
- Cargo Quantity: 145.1 cubic toes
- Estimated Blended MPG: 22
- Exterior Measurement: 202.95 inches
- Exterior Prime: 69.88 inches
- Exterior Width: 78.54 inches
- Inside Headroom: 40.9 inches all through the doorway; 39.5 inches all through the guts; 38.6 inches all through the rear
The Kia Carnival is a flexible minivan with beneficiant inside house. It’s simple to drive, low-cost to run and presents a cushty experience when fully loaded. The as soon as extra seats recline or fold down and are merely detachable, so that you may need completely completely completely different alternatives in your conversion.
New Kia Carnivals embrace an in-built sunshade and a quiet cabin, which make sleeping inside it a comfortable affair.
Conversion kits for the Kia Carnival might be found at Avenue Loft, Oasis Campervans, Van Packers, and Simpler Methods. Add a pop extreme with Unicamp.
15) Toyota Rav4 Campervan
- Worth: from $28,275
- Cargo Quantity: 69.8 cubic toes with the seats folded
- Estimated Blended MPG: 27
- Exterior Measurement: 180.9 inches
- Exterior Prime: 67 inches
- Exterior Width: 73 inches
- Inside Headroom: 37.7 inches
The Toyota Rav4 is a well-liked SUV camper which can flip proper right into a inconceivable minimalist camper van for a solo adventurer. Within the occasion you happen to get a 4×4 mannequin, it is doable so that you could to journey practically wherever.
Merely take away the as soon as extra seats and prepare a sleeping platform all through the as soon as extra. You’ll maybe ought to assemble an extension which you’ll flip at evening time time by shifting the doorway passenger seat ahead. Subsequent to it, it is doable so that you could to retailer your tenting gear. There isn’t an infinite quantity of cargo house inside a Rav4, so that you simply simply’ll maybe want so as in order so as to add a roof storage topic to your setup.
Within the occasion you happen to’re in search of a ready-to-install conversion instruments, Freeway Camper Bundle and SimplerWays make good ones.
16) Jeep Grand Cherokee Tiny Campervan
- Worth: from $40,000 new / from $3,000 used
- Cargo Quantity: 70.8 cubic toes with the seats folded
- Estimated Blended MPG: 21
- Exterior Measurement: 189 inches
- Exterior Prime: 68 inches
- Exterior Width: 77 inches
- Inside Headroom: 39.4 inches
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been spherical eternally, so whilst you’re making an attempt to purchase an inexpensive SUV to transform correct proper right into a small camper, it makes for a sensible alternative. Discovering numerous components for this automobile is fairly simple and most mechanics may need mounted one ahead of.
There isn’t an infinite quantity of room inside, nonetheless you most likely can merely match a platform mattress with a slide-out kitchen on the as soon as extra.
Freeway Camper Bundle make a satisfying conversion instruments for the Grande Cherokee.
For extra SUV camper concepts, try this textual content material.
So, Will You Go With a Small Campervan?
Within the occasion you happen to’re in search of a small van to transform correct proper right into a DIY camper , there are loads of selections inside the market. Whether or not or not or not you select a cargo van or a passenger van is as rather a lot as you and depends upon the form of campervan assemble you need.
Furthermore, keep in mind that you could possibly be purchase a automotive tenting conversion instruments to level out your small cargo van correct proper right into a camper. Then you definately definately undoubtedly don’t ought to do every issue your self!
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