4 Best Vans to Convert Into a Camper: Top Picks of 2024

Camper vans are surprisingly spacious and offer lots of room for customization when converted properly– but not every van is ideal for conversion.

Whether you plan to live full-time in your camper and travel the country or just have the occasional adventure, before you invest in converting a van you need to know the right van to pick. 

There are a few types of vans that are ideal for camper conversions, no matter whether your job will be DIY or you’re hiring a company.

Below, we’ve broken down the absolute best vans to convert into a camper to help you find something that fits your needs.

4 Best Vans to Convert Into a Camper

These are the best vans to convert into a camper by overall popularity.

Keep in mind: We’ve included links to the current year of each model from the manufacturer for an overview of the current model of the vehicle. However, we consider buying used as you can often find a great deal if you do your research. 

Models tend to only be updated every 3-4 years (despite what manufacturer marketing will have you think), which means you can often find essentially the same current model from two to three years ago at a greatly discounted price. 

With that said, here are the vans you should consider first when looking at a camper conversion:

1. Ford Transit

Starting with the Ford Transit line, including the larger Transit and more compact Transit Connect, we have one of the most go-to reliable vans on the market.

There are many great vans that can be used for conversion, but the Ford Transit might be the most commonly used.

And it’s no surprise why, as the Ford Transit– no matter the version– is incredibly reliable, affordable, and offers lots of flexible trims and options. 

If you’re looking for a great all-around van, you can’t go wrong with a Ford Transit. 

Pros:

• Reliable
• Affordable
• Lots of flexibility in terms of models and options
• Great starting point for conversion with lots of customization

Cons:

• Fewer features compared to something like the Mercedes Sprinter, namely advanced safety features

2. Ram Promaster

The Ram ProMaster is another frequently used van for conversions due to its great combination of customization options and large interior. 

Similar to the Ford Transit, you can go with the Ram ProMaster for a larger model or the ProMaster City model if you want something more compact. 

In addition, the ProMaster overall is about $5,000 less when comparing equivalent models making it highly affordable.

The one negative is that they’re generally considered less reliable than other more popular models such as the Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter, particularly in older models. 

Pros:

• Spacious interior
• Lots of flexible options
• Front-wheel drive
• Affordable

Cons:

• Older models less reliable than competitors

3. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes Sprinter is arguably one of the two most often used vans for camper conversions alongside the Ford Transit.

The Sprinter is similarly reliable with high-quality components and a spacious interior with standing room. Where it differs is in price and features.

On the positive side, the Sprinter offers the most advanced smart safety features on the market alongside amazing performance and the longest engine life among its competitors.

On the negative side, as the name would suggest the Mercedes Sprinter is the most expensive not only in price but via maintenance costs. 

With that said, in terms of purchase price it’s only about $5,000 more expensive on average compared to the Ford Transit depending on the year and model, so it’s certainly not luxury level pricing outside of the additional maintenance costs. 

Pros:

• Large interior with standing room
• Advanced smart safety features
• Reliable and durable

Cons: 

• High performance means high maintenance costs typical from a luxury brand like Mercedes-Benz
• More expensive than competitors

4. Nissan NV200

While no longer in production, the Nissan NV200 is easy to find used and at a great price. 

Combined with the van’s large number of benefits for camper conversions, it’s worth mentioning as an amazing budget option. 

The Nissan NV200 is a smaller van ideal for solo travelers or couples looking for something either compact or simply highly affordable.

It provides a great base for conversion with a good amount of interior space, high ceiling, and high maneuverability compared to the other options on this list. 

Pros:

• Highly affordable (easy to find for $10,000-15,000 in good condition)
• Flexible with lots of room for upgrades
• High maneuverability and compact, making it easy to park just about anywhere
• Good amount of interior space for its size

Cons:

• No longer in product, have to buy used
• Simpler interior
• Smaller than the average size across models like the Transit and Sprinter

What to Consider When Purchasing a Camper Van

What the “best” van is to convert depends primarily on you. 

While the above options are generally great, you’ll also want to consider what you need and want before purchasing a van.

So, let’s talk about what to consider before buying and converting:

Reliability

Every vehicle has a general reliability rating. Some vans are known for easily reaching above 100,000 miles and still trucking on without a dip in performance while others don’t last quite as long.

If you’re mainly concerned with reliability, for example, a Ford Transit is generally the way to go. Fewer bells and whistles compared to something like a Mercedes Sprinter but at a lower cost and with greater reliability and lower maintenance costs.

Size / Space

All vans typically used for conversions are relatively close in size, but not equal.

If size is your paramount concern, the above-mentioned Ford Transit might be a good option as they come in a good range of sizes with the largest models being some of the largest vans on the market.

However, the Mercedes Sprinter has a massive 170” model that’s larger than any of the Ford Transit models. 

In addition to this, some companies are now releasing vans with extra tall roofs which while potentially a bit less convenient on the driving side offer an even more comfortable living experience inside.

Price

Your budget will largely determine what van you choose, which includes how much financing you can be approved for (and want to pay per month). 

It also factors in how much you can pay for the van conversion itself, which can range anywhere from $10,000 for something more DIY to $50,000+ if you’re hiring professionals. 

This point is a little obvious, so we won’t harp on it. Just know that there are several great van  and conversion options depending on your budget, so you don’t have to feel like you’re giving up on quality even if you have to make cuts.

Conversion options

Not every van converts as effectively as another. Some vans are shaped in a way that they’re a large and spacious rectangle/square making converting the interior into whatever you want (or fitting everything you want) easier.

Some vehicles are easier to strip down than others, or have a lower floor or a higher ceiling that allow for more conversion possibilities, or more base options in the vehicle’s features itself for things that would benefit a conversion in other ways.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a van conversion cost?

A DIY van conversion typically costs around $5,000+ while a professional conversion is $10,000 and up. 

However, these are just starting points. DIY van conversions can go above $10,000 depending on the work you do to them and professional conversions can go above $100,000 on the top end. 

What is the cheapest van to convert?

One of the most affordable vans to convert is the Nissan NV200. It has since been discontinued, but you can find used models for anywhere around $10,000 – 20,000.

How do you convert a van into a camper?

The typical process for van conversions is:

1. Remove unnecessary components

Remove the unnecessary components such as seats, floating, roof, interior panels, etc.

2. Add insulation

Insulation is added to control temperature and reduce exterior noise to make your van a comfortable interior space.

3. Install electric and water systems

Next, you’ll need your basic housing systems such as electrical, water, and waste so that you can live comfortably from your van.

4. Finish the interior design

Add a backsplash, paint, custom flooring, etc.

5. Add interior components such as furniture and appliances

Equip your van with everything you need to make it functional and comfortable. This includes your kitchen appliances, living space furniture, bedding, storage, and anything else you want. 

6. Finalize your design

Finish by adding any interior design and storage elements that layer over your furniture, appliances and other components that couldn’t be added earlier and clean things up!

Get Your Van Conversion Started

Keep in mind that this is just a general overview. Several of these steps can be reordered depending on the work you’re doing in your camper and how you’d prefer to do things. 

No matter what van you decide to go with and how you decide to do your van conversion, we hope this guide helped get you started in the right direction!