Which conversion van is the best

The quintessential conversion vehicle has to be the Mercedes Sprinter. They come in all shapes and sizes, and are the go-to vehicle for many conversion companies, thanks to their durability and power. Indeed, it is an ideal candidate for the off-the-grid home of your dreams. Mercedes are a global name in the motoring world. The Vauxhall Movano is the van I began full-time van life with.

We bought a model, with 90K miles on the clock and a fibreglass maxi roof. As a live-in vehicle, the Movano has been a dream to run. Another classic VW product, and another quintessential van life pick.

Its spacious nature, plus its amazing build quality from a trustworthy manufacturer, make it a top pick for van dwellers around the globe.

These vans can cope with rough terrain just as well as they cruise down motorways and country lanes. This is in no small part due to its universally renowned maker, with plenty cheap parts, and overall rugged construction. Besides, their shape makes them easy to add wood panelling and interior features without too much hassle. Think about how these busses get used day in and day out during their service lives. Parts are readily available because American schools still use them.

So, why do we like this little adventure bus so much? Well, they can take on pretty much anything that you throw at them, and they look very homely inside once converted. Trust in the people, and buy yourself a bus!

Renault, Citroen, and Vauxhall vans are usually very much alike. That being said, the Renault Trafic has seen some major conversion upgrades by certain companies that have thrown it ahead of its competition. Take German conversion company Kompanja. It is, however, perfect for the weekend warrior who likes to get out whenever they can.

So naturally we built a custom cabinet for her. This info should give you a good base to start thinking proactively in your search for the optimal van to convert. Overall, there is no bad choice for your van conversion, only personal ones. Each van has it's pros and cons and your choice is dependant on your use. We go even more in depth on what to look for if you're ordering from the factory below! If you have any further questions or are interested in doing a custom van conversion , contact us!

Paved To Pines is a full-scale custom camper conversion company based in the prairies of Canada. If you need some inspiration for your own build, check out our van conversion gallery to see our latest builds. We get asked all of the time, what do I look for in a vehicle, conversion van or school bus, that is worth converting into a custom campervan or skoolie. When you choose to build with Paved To Pines, we can help you find and procure the vehicle for converting as we have relationships with the dealerships locally.

But if you are looking on your own, there are definitely features you want to look at making sure your van has. Make sure you buy a Cargo van, not a crew or passenger van —. You should be searching for cargo vans because they're a blank slate and have the least amount of features that you don't need that increase the cost of your rig. A fantastic thing with the cargo van for van conversions is you can order specific window's to be installed whereas a passenger van is loaded with windows and you have no other options.

If you find a great conversion van on the lot already and it doesn't have windows, we can add some at our shop! We have different styles to choose from. If you want a bench seat, that doesn't turn into a bed, you may consider a crew van. Not to worry, we can always add in aftermarket seats as well. Nearly all of the conversion vans that we work on are high roofs. This is mostly because you can stand up in them BUT if you feel you'd have enough space with a medium roof, or something smaller, for parking, budget, or other reasons, we can work on that as well.

The best wheelbase for you really depends on your personal preference and needs for the van conversion! The largest difference is the roof space for fans, air conditioner units, rack space, etc and the interior floor space to add more into your mini studio apartment on wheels. As mentioned above, in the conversion van comparison tables:.

The Dodge Promaster van with a " WB gives you 8'8. The Ford Transit van with a " WB gives you 8'8. The Mercedes Sprinter van with a " WB gives you 10'6" of buildable floor space, whereas the " WB gives you 14" of buildable space with the longest version giving you 15'6" of useable floorspace for your conversion. The short wheelbase van conversions make it easier to navigate around cities and off-road.

The longest version of the Transit, Promaster and both models of the Sprinter is a great choice for a conversion if you are looking to travel long term in your conversion van. The reasons being, if you get an interior wet bath or need additional seating or storage in your van, you're going to need a longer van as it takes up a large footprint. The WB Sprinter is longer than all models of the Transit and Promaster and is just over 20 feet at '9" but will still fit into a regular parking spot.

Parallel parking is tricky when you get into the longest versions of each the Transit and Promaster and next to impossible with the " WB Long body Sprinter.

But the longest sprinter offers a ton of available space to use for your conversion and is great if you're not going to be doing a ton of city driving, which, really, is not what you wanna be doing in a camervan anyways. You wanna be out in nature. Both are great options for van conversions. The market might see a massive shift due to the massive price difference and affordability by Ford offering something similar.

However, the 2WD to be is an awesome and capable vehicle for a much more reasonable price, especially with the weight of the van conversions cargo area preventing it from being too light to drive in snow and ice. With the right tires and driver, the 2WD can do what you need your van to do. First , a much lower initial cost and increased availability. Purchasing a Ford Transit AWD may also require a waiting period but they are 10's of thousands of dollars cheaper than the Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 option.

Second , lower maintenance cost and better gas mileage. On top of that, this is another reason we redirect most of our clients to the Ford Transit for their van conversion in the first place, cheaper parts, more availability in terms of mechanics, and you still get great gas mileage and while being a much much cheaper basecamp to start your campervan on. If you are looking for a nimble, rock crawling, mudding, sand duner vehicle, this isn't it.

These van conversions can handle a lot of roads and weather conditions, even in a 2WD, but a non-ideal wheel base and low clearance height before you add on aftermarket wheels and tires and suspension kits along with the high roofs, it makes these vans susceptible to high centring or other damage. Especially if tanks and other modifications are added underneath the van. At the end of the day it is your van conversion and your use that determines the van you buy, but you should get by with the Ford Transit AWD or a 2WD van in any of the models.

Gas vs. Diesel — Once again, both are good options for your van. A major benefit of diesel is that they last so long. Diesel is also more fuel efficient.

Sprinter vans get an average of mpg with diesel. Gas Sprinters are new in and are less common whereas gas options are much more common in Ford Transits and Dodge Promasters.

In saying that, a gas engine will give you faster acceleration and higher speeds than a diesel vehicle will, but less torque for carrying loads.

However the new 3. If you'll be travelling remote or south of the border into Mexico and South America as stated earlier in the van comparison you'll want to consider getting a petrol vehicle. In very cold climates, diesel tends to have a tougher time starting, so gas could be more applicable to extremely cold climates like Canadian Climates.

The smaller wheel wells of single axles allow for more conversion space and you'll very rarely ever need a dually. The has a single and a dually option in some of the vans, dually means larger wheel wells inside and less floor space for the conversion but a larger GVWR and tow rating.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the extended and have the same lb towing capacity and GVWR. Roof rails can be added later if need be, but they are a must. The OEM roof rails allow you to fasten products on the roof without drilling holes or having to access the interior of the roof. It's easier to add this when ordering the vehicle vs adding it aftermarket in terms of cost. Think of your solar panel setup or hauling additional gear.

These are a must! This is a no brainer! Swivels are awesome and open up the entire cabin area for more usable space in your van conversion. There is a whole bunch of space and two extra comfy seats at the front, why not use them.

Swivel bases can be added later, but the factory ones are cheaper and are shorter so when you rotate your feet don't dangle depending on your height. Some other things to think about, though, is that you may be limited in your seat options from the factory if you add swivels. So if you need all the fixings and seat options in your van then it might be a better option for aftermarket swivels. We always recommend upgrading shocks, struts, wheels and tires to increase drivability and increase the weight rating to better handle the weight of the van conversion.

We recommend waiting to increase your suspension until you get your van to us as the aftermarket accessories are better than the factory options in this case. Additional alternator or heavy duty alternator—. This one isn't mandatory but it is a fantastic option and acts as a generator for your house battery system. Full-time vanlifers appreciate this huge space-saving advantage.

We found the ProMaster relatively maneuverable in urban areas despite its width, with a turning radius similar to that of a standard-sized car. Dealers who will work on the van are plentiful, and owners report the ProMaster is affordable to maintain.

Combined with its low ground clearance, this limits off-road driving options. In addition, its resale value is less than those of similar used vans.

The Ford Transit is a popular choice among vanlifers. Photo: Amanda Ellis. The Econoline is now offered only as a cutaway chassis cab. A popular choice for camper conversions, the Ford Transit boasts three size configurations, including the highest roof of any van on the market.

Camper vans may look small when you compare them to larger RVs, but they are deceptively hard to drive. These vehicles are heavy and hard to maneuver. For this reason, test-drive your van before purchase. Make sure that it has an automatic transmission if you are not ready for manual driving. While used vans may be cheaper, make sure they are in excellent condition before purchase.

Avoid extremely old budget options that will leave you with high maintenance costs. And make sure the new camper van has a warranty. Then study the warranty to stay on the safe side.

Seriously, read your warranty! Camper vans cost a pretty penny. They are versatile, hardy, and efficient holiday vehicles. Winnebago Revels are hands down the best camper vans you can find in the market today.

Your Winnebago Revel will look at home on the rugged coast or up high on beautiful highlands. The Revel may be an aggressive all-wheel vehicle, but they made it for easy maneuverability. It is a remarkable camper van for home-away-from-home coziness made to delight even the toughest to please outdoor enthusiasts. Its high ride heights, low torque, and excellent braking system can take on any camping destination. The well-balanced, rugged four-wheeler has an incredibly sophisticated living space with a large back bedroom.

Simply convert its seating and dining area into a sleeping area when you have extra nomads in tow. The Winnebago Revel has cassette toilet technology and a shower room as well. Made from the chassis of a Mercedes Sprinter, its modifications make it heavier. It has a brakes-based collision prevention mechanism and a control system for easy hill descent. Besides its beast-like engine and comfort features, the Winnebago Revel is also quite spacious. Four persons can comfortably sleep in its four-foot power lift bed and its hidden supplementary sleeping spot.

Keep the power lift bed up and you will have enough cubic ft. At the very top is a handy rooftop rack that will haul more cargo, including skis and kayaks. Last but not least, its galley is dazzling.

We are talking about a sizable pantry, stainless steel sink, and an induction stove with energy efficiency features. There is also a small 2. This bourgeois camper van comes at what you would call a budget price for an Airstream. It has all the trim gleaming aluminum trailers of its legendary pricey predecessors. And it is one of the best camper vans out there, basing its design on the popular Mercedes Sprinter. They include the robust 3. The Airstream Interstate Nineteen also has the superior Garmin navigation system and a luxury infotainment system from Fusion.

There is a cockpit bed for that extra touring couch bed and a large fold-out bed at the rear. Other handy features include a kitchen with a useful microwave. The bathroom has the Truma Combi feature that heats not just bath water but the kitchen water as well.

Its sliding door mechanism is effective and there is a screen cover for the rear door. Two Ah lithium deep cycle batteries feed all the components on the power system. Mercedes Sprinter vans are popular amongst outdoor nomads. They are reliable and hardy and, for this reason, are the best camper vans for conversions. The Nomans Vanz Sprinter is a spectacular Sprinter van conversion.