Over the past two years we’ve been asked by a number of people for help evaluating a van purchase. Is this a good deal? What about this one? What would it cost to turn this one into something like yours? The answer, as with most things in life, is “it depends.”
We did a ton of homework on this topic prior to taking the leap into van life. Below are a few key questions and considerations you’ll want to take into account before pulling the trigger on your ultimate adventure vehicle.
How Much Should I Budget for a Van?
Be realistic about your budget and how you plan to use your van. I highly recommend that people set their budget from the beginning and stick to it. This is especially important if you are budgeting for full-time travel. Every dollar spent on your van is a dollar less you have to explore and make the most of your travel experience. Don’t get caught up in the picture perfect IG photos. At the end of the day, you want a vehicle that works for you, and not the other way around.
Knowing how you will be using your van is an important component to establishing an appropriate budget. When we first purchased our van I used it as my primary vehicle, which allowed us to justify the cost of buying new model. We bought it with the hopes of building it out eventually, but we also knew that we could use it as our primary family vehicle until the kids were grown and it would still be running strong.
If you are considering purchasing a van as a secondary vehicle and only plan to use it a few times a year, I would suggest looking into less costly options like a small rugged camping trailer. You’ll get about the same amount of space and amenities without the high costs of maintenance, insurance and registration. You don’t have to give up all of the “cool factor” either as there are some very neat little trailers available in the marketplace. Restoring a vintage camping trailer can also be a fun project for those looking for a DIY option.
What is the Financing Like for Vans?
When we purchased our van from our local Mercedes dealership they we offering $0 down, 0% financing for four years. It was a no brainer. However, if you are looking to buy a used van that was converted by its previous owner, you may have trouble finding such generous terms or any financing options at all.
If paying cash isn’t an option, be sure to shop your financing options before looking at vans. You might find that purchasing a DIY conversion just isn’t an option, and that terms on a “certified RV” are much better. It is not uncommon for banks to offer 15-20 year terms on RV loans. Depending on how you plan to use the vehicle, having small monthly payments might be more advantageous than plopping down a large lump sum. Just make sure to do the math so that you don’t get upside-down and end up selling your van for less than you owe when you are done with it.
Spend a good amount of time considering your financing options and doing the math on what works best for your situation. You don’t want to waste your time test-driving vans that don’t match your budget, or that don’t meet the financing criteria of your lending institution.
Another less expensive route is to buy a used van. With outdoor travel booming like it is these days, you can usually find good deals on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or on Instagram under the hashtag #vanforsale.
Should I Buy a New or Used Van?
This will largely be dictated by your budget, but based on my experience I would suggest buying new/newer if you are planning a full DIY or professional build out and buying used if you are looking for something that is already fully or partially built out.
If you are planning a DIY or professional build out, you will likely be putting a lot of money into your vehicle, and it would be heartbreaking to only get a few years out of it because the vehicle suffers from serious mechanical issues. The more money you plan to spend on your build, the newer the vehicle should be.
If you are looking for a van that has already been converted I would highly suggest buying used. A brand new professionally converted van can run you well over $100k, and is likely to come with less functionality than you might think. Buying a conversion that is a few years old will save you a ton of money, and it is very likely that the previous owners have made significant upgrades to the vehicle to improve its livability.
When we first built our van, it wasn’t actually livable. It took months of fine-tuning our systems to turn it into the go-anywhere-do-anything beast that it is today. Buying a used conversion (especially if it has been well lived in) increases the chances that you won’t have to make a ton of changes to the vehicle to make it meet your needs.
What About Van Maintenance?
Part of deciding between buying new and used should be your comfort level with the maintenance requirements of your new adventure rig. New rigs require less maintenance, but are usually more expensive to service than older models.
Mercedes Sprinters are notoriously expensive to service and it is difficult to find folks to work on them on the road (excluding pricy dealerships). As I write this I am waiting on a local repair shop to replace the brakes on our rig, which also requires new rotors, because apparently your can’t resurface rotors on newer Mercedes. With just 55k miles, I’m looking at a $800-$1,000 maintenance bill. A Chevy Express or GMC Savana on the other hand can be readily repaired just about anywhere in the U.S. and abroad. Or if you are mechanically inclined you are likely to be able to do the repairs yourself.
Another consideration is frequency of service/repairs. If you are traveling full-time, servicing your vehicle on the road is a hassle, and major repairs may require that you stay at an Airbnb or a hotel for a few nights while you wait for your house on wheels to get out of the shop. If the van you choose shows signs of mechanical problems, it’s best to have them looked at before you get on the road, or schedule services/repairs somewhere along your route where you can stay with friends or family.
How Do I Choose Between 2WD vs. 4WD?
I should probably be more nuanced here, but I struggle to see the utility of a 4WD full-size van. While it is true that one of the greatest perks of having a van is that you can get in/out of places that most people wouldn’t be comfortable taking a travel trailer or traditional RV, they rarely require 4WD. Truly 4WD only roads are often too much for 4WD full-size vans and risk damage to the interior of the build. 4WD also adds significant weight to the vehicle and raises the body height a few inches, which will cost you about 2mpg in fuel economy. The additional 3”- 4” body height doesn’t necessarily translate to greater ground clearance either. Check the specs carefully. Couple these limitations with the $10k price tag on a new van, and it is hard to justify.
Our high-roof 2WD Sprinter with oversized all-terrain tires has gotten us into and out of some pretty gnarly situations. Coupled with some basic recovery gear and knowledge, you should be able to get just about anywhere you care to go with 2WD.
The Big Decision: Sprinter, Transit, Promaster or NV?
I would rank these options as they are listed above and suggest staying away from the Dodge Promaster or the Nissan NV. The Promaster has terrible ground clearance and is front wheel drive, which won’t allow you to get to many of the places that having a van would usually afford. As for the NV. it just looks ridiculous. Petty I know, but c’mon – you know its true.
When it comes to choosing between the Sprinter and the Transit the only real reason to choose the Transit is the lower price point. The purchase cost and maintenance are cheaper, but the resale value will also be significantly less. In the long term, I believe the true cost of ownership is about the same and I believe the Sprinter to be a far superior vehicle.
For an in depth comparison of these models, check out this post.
If none of these options fit your needs, or budget, there is a host of other low-roof or pop-top vans that can be picked up for under $10k like an older-model Westie, GMC Savana, or Chevy Express. We have met tons of people on the road who have made just about anything on four wheels their home, so don’t be afraid to venture out from the standard options. My only caution would be to stay away from low-roof vans for full-time travel. Not being able to stand up inside your house gets old fast.
What’s the Optimal Van Interior Layout?
Be realistic about how you plan to use your van and how much storage you need when selecting a layout. Will you be “stealth camping” in urban environments? Camping on the weekends? Or hitting the open road for months at a time? Traveling with your kids? The layout that is best for you depends largely on what you hope to accomplish with your vehicle.
Fixed platform beds tend to provide the most storage space and work best for full-time travel. However, if you are looking for a “weekender,” a layout with a rear dinette that converts to a bed is a great option. It is also a realistic option for a solo full-time traveler, but if you’re eating alone do you really need a dinette designed to seat four people?
The extra storage space under a fixed platform bed also allows room for fun toys like mountain bikes, inflatable paddleboards, or in our case, actual toys for our kids.
Most van layouts will accommodate two people fairly comfortably. If you’re planning to seat/sleep more than two people, then things get tricky. You’ll want to make sure that your layout can provide each occupant with a safe seat while driving and provide a reasonably comfortable space to sleep at night. You can always pitch a tent or blow up a mattress to create more sleeping area, but comfortable and safe seats should be non negotiable.
You’ll also need to decide whether an indoor shower and/or toilet are negotiable or must-haves. I have yet to meet anyone who does not have a shower in their van that regrets their decision to forgo the space it would have occupied, but I have met plenty who now use their indoor showers primarily for storage. There are very easy ways to set up outdoor showers, and vans just don’t have enough freshwater and grey water storage available to make indoor showers worth the hassle. You could potentially make it work with a recirculating water system, but they are fairly complex and very expensive. You’re going to be living in a van — embrace the “dirt” in dirtbag!
When it comes to toilets, I am a bit more ambivalent. This is highly personal, and you know your needs better than anyone. Most vanlifers get by with a pee jug, public restrooms and/or the great outdoors as their primary toilet options. Others opt for dry flush toilets or composting toilets – which can be quite large for a van, but might be worth the space depending on your circumstances. If you plan to use your van primarily for road trips and camping, I would suggest keeping things as primitive as you are comfortable with and saving the space for something fun. If you will be using your van to live in an urban environment, then one of the indoor options mentioned above is a solid investment (no pun intended!).
Other Things to Think About When Buying a Van
I could probably go on for days with many other variables that you may or may not need, but here are a few other questions that you might want to consider:
- How many people will be traveling with you?
- Will you be primarily cooking indoors or outdoors?
- What are your power needs?
- Do you really need a 12v fridge or can you get by with an ice chest?
- When will you be traveling? (And are you suited for cold/hot weather variances?)
- Are you bringing a pet?
- What are your must-haves and things you’d like?
Final Considerations
At the end of the day, choosing the right van all comes down to your individual needs. Do you want something totally Insta-worthy, or one that requires a workspace? Are you traveling with your family, or solo? How much are you willing to spend? All of these questions are worthwhile to consider before making the leap into van life. We’ve met lots of fellow van lifers on the road, and nearly everyone has a completely unique setup that works best for their situation. Just remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do van life!
