Choosing your van life vehicle is one of the biggest decisions you make when transitioning to full-time van life. If you’ve ever shopped for a car or van before, you know how stressful it can be.
When you’re buying a van to live in, you put even more pressure on yourself. It’s a scary process.
The best advice I can give is to do your research. Start with a general search of van life vehicles. Get to know what’s out there! Focus on what you want and don’t want out of a van. Then take your new-found knowledge out into the real world.
When you find a van you like for sale, do more research. Look up reviews on that van and do an in-depth (but free) VIN search.
If you can’t tell, I’m a huge fan of research. It helps you make an informed decision when the time comes.
Let’s talk about some van life vehicles! In this post, I cover:
- Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Van Life Vehicle
- High Roof Van Life Vehicles
- Low Roof Van Life Vehicles
- Vintage and Classic Van Life Vehicles
- My Recommendation & Final Thoughts
Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Van Life Vehicle
What are your van life priorities? What do you want van life to look like for you? Narrow down your van life vehicle options by asking yourself these questions:
- Do you want a high roof or a low roof van?
- What is your desired price range?
- Diesel or gas?
- Do you need a big cargo area, or can you work with any size?
- Do you have a preferred layout? If so, will you need more cargo space for your layout?
- Do you have any special considerations like needing more than one passenger seat in the van or an extra tall cargo area because you are over 6ft?
- How and where do you plan to travel? Do you need a “tougher” vehicle to handle that travel?
- Do you want to be able to stealth camp?
It’s okay if you don’t have an answer to all of these. Another strategy I used to narrow down my van options was to make must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breaker lists of van features.
If nothing else, at least have a price range in mind.
Let’s get into the different vehicle options.
RELATED: 5 Ways to Prepare for Van Life
High Roof Van Life Vehicles
Ford Transit
The first van I’d like to mention is the Ford Transit. The Transit is the vehicle I would have purchased if I found one in my price range. I’m a huge fan of Ford Transits as van life vehicles because of the low cost and easy accessibility of maintenance and parts. Ford manufactures transits, so their parts are easy to get, and most mechanics around the US can work on them. That can save you tons of money in the long run.
Ford Transits are also great van life vehicles because they come in three different cargo area sizes. If you plan to travel with a partner or need extra space, having the 148″ Wheelbase Extended option is amazing. A longer van means more space to work with, different layout options, and the ability to add things like a shower or stove that shorter vans cannot accommodate.
High Roof Cargo Dimensions:
- 130” Wheelbase: 111” (L) x 69” (W) x 6’8” (H)
- 148” Wheelbase: 122” (L) x 69” (W) x 6’8” (H)
- 148” Wheelbase Extended: 151” (L) x 69” (W) x 6’8” (H)
The biggest downside to Ford Transits as van life vehicles is the initial price. If you are looking for a cheap van, this is probably not the one for you. My original plan was to get a Transit, but I went with a Nissan to save some money. You may be able to find a used Transit for a low price, but used vans in my area rarely run under $20,000. They haven’t been on the US market for very long, so even the oldest Transits aren’t cheap.
Where to learn more: I was first introduced to Ford Transits by Sydney from Divine on the Road. Her current van life vehicle is a Ford Transit, which she switched to from a Mercedes Sprinter. Even if you aren’t interested in Ford Transits, definitely check out her website. Her van build guides are amazing, and she has an extremely useful (and entertaining) podcast!
RELATED: Nissan Cargo Vans: Are they an option for van life?
Mercedes Sprinters
Up next is arguably the most common and well-known van life vehicle, the Mercedes Sprinter. All Sprinters – including Dodge and Freightliner Sprinters – are manufactured by Mercedes.
There are a few good things I’d like to mention about these vans. First, Sprinter Vans are very common in the van life community. That makes it easy to find build tips, layout guides, and general van life information centered around Sprinters. Second, because Sprinters have been on the US market for a while, it is possible to find used vans (with high miles) at a more affordable price than other vans. Third, Sprinters come in an extended length option, making them another good choice if you need extra space in your van. The extended version is 15 feet long! Finally, they also have diesel engines, which some people find preferable to gas engines.
High Roof Cargo Dimensions:
- 144” Wheelbase: 123 (L) x 69” (W) x 6’2” (H)
- 170” Wheelbase: 165 (L) x 69” (W) x 6’2” (H)
- 170” Wheelbase Extended: 180 (L) x 69” (W) x 6’2” (H)
The biggest downside to Sprinters, particularly older Sprinters, is the constant need for repairs and maintenance and the high cost of parts. New Sprinters are easy to maintain and typically don’t have issues. However, I’ve heard older Sprinters require a lot of maintenance. And because most issues have to be fixed at a Mercedes dealership, repairs can take a long time, parts are expensive, and the overall maintenance cost is higher. Most, if not all, Sprinter parts are manufactured overseas, resulting in higher rates and longer wait times.
Overall, Mercedes Sprinters can be good vehicles if bought fairly new. Some van lifers – like Kristen from Bearfoot Theory – love their Sprinters. Other van lifers– like Divine on the Road – have had less than ideal experiences with them.
More affordable Sprinters usually have high miles and lots of maintenance needs, so keep that in mind if you choose a used Sprinter as your van life vehicle.
Where to learn more: As I mentioned, Kristen from Bearfoot Theory has a Mercedes Sprinter, and she loves it. She has information on her Sprinter, her past two builds, and general van life tips on her blog. She also has an awesome (and free!) van life course (it’s also on YouTube).
Nissan NV
My van life vehicle is a Nissan NV cargo van. These aren’t super common in the van life community, but I’m finding more and more people who travel in them! As with Ford Transits, it is easy to access maintenance and repairs for Nissan NV vans. Most mechanics can work on these vans because they have the same engine as the common Nissan truck. There are also Nissan certified mechanics in every major city in the US.
Used Nissan NV vans with low miles are fairly easy to find and are more affordable than the previous two vans on this list. I’ve consistently seen 2012 Nissan NV vans on the market for under $15,000, and I paid $12,000 for mine. The overall cost of these vans – both in purchasing and repairs and maintenance – makes them great for people with a smaller budget. I have the NV 2500, and it was a great choice for me.
High Roof Cargo Dimensions:
- 146.1” Wheelbase: 121.9” (L) x 70.2” (W) x 6’5” (H)
The biggest downside to a Nissan NV cargo van is the size of the cargo area. There are no extended wheelbase options for Nissan vans, and the overall length of the van is pretty short. The small cargo space works well for me, but that may not be the case in your van build.
Another downside is the lack of van life specific information on these vans. Because Nissans aren’t as common among van lifers, finding build tips or layout guides specific to these vans will be difficult, if not impossible.
In sum, I think Nissan NV vans are a great option.
Where to learn more: If you’re interested, I wrote an in-depth article on Nissans as van life vehicles. I talk about the different types of Nissan vans, some build considerations, and share some opinions. Check it out here. Lisa Jacobs also wrote a great article for Gnomad Home on why she chose a Nissan cargo van for van life. If you’re considering a Nissan, I highly recommend you read it.
Want to know how I saved $20,000 for van life on a graduate school budget? Check out this post on the 20 ways I saved money for van life!
Dodge Ram Promaster
Dodge Ram Promaster vans are another popular vehicle choice among van lifers. A major benefit to a Promaster is they have the same engine as other common vehicles in the US (e.g., the Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram trucks). This makes maintenance and parts inexpensive and easy to access. They are also more square than other high roof vans, making them a bit easier for van builds. Promaster vans also come in an extended length option, but they are not as long as other extended wheelbase vans. Promaster vans are also cheaper than Transits and Sprinters, which makes them great for people on a tight budget.
High Roof Cargo Dimensions:
- 136” Wheelbase: 106” (L) x 73” (W) x 6’2” (H)
- 159” Wheelbase: 126” (L) x 73” (W) x 6’2” (H)
- 159” Wheelbase Extended: 140” (L) x 73” (W) x 6’2” (H)
While I’ve heard many good things about Ram Promaster vans, there are a few downsides to consider. First, these vans are known for their low clearance in the back due to a lower rear axle. This axle makes it difficult to navigate rough/rocky areas. They are prone to dragging in the back, making this van not ideal for rough roads. Second, it is common to have to add coolant to your Promaster more frequently than with other vans. This isn’t a huge issue but something to consider.
Where to Learn More: I recommend checking out Drifter Journey’s blog post on Dodge Promasters. Van Life Outfitters also has an article on them here.
Low Roof Van Life Vehicles
Ford Ecoline, Chevy Express, and other “regular” low-roof vans are good options if you’re planning to travel short term or want to give van life a try. If you are looking for something cheap and easy to find, don’t mind living in a low roof van, and are in a hurry to take off on your adventures, low roof vans are perfect. They are inexpensive and have less space to build in, making it possible to get on the road in a short amount of time.
The biggest downside to these vans is their lack of headroom. I love being able to stand up straight in my van while I cook or get dressed. Low roof vans only allow enough room to kneel or hunch over. They are also typically shorter in length than other van options.
You can sometimes find these vans in high-top conversions for a cheap high roof alternative. They have the same body as traditional Ecoline and Express vans but have “raised” roofs that allow enough room to stand up straight. While high-top conversions can be difficult to build in due to their curved walls, they offer a great alternative if you can’t afford a high roof van. This was one option I considered during my van search.
Vintage or Classic Van Life Vehicles
The final van category I want to cover is vintage camper vans. If you are anything like me, you probably love the look of vintage VW camper vans. They may look effortless in Instagram photos, but they take a lot of work. If you purchase one of these vans, you need to have the skills or be willing to learn how to repair these vans yourself. Their age makes them classic, but it also makes repairs and maintenance more difficult.
If you can find a vintage van for cheap, it will probably take a lot of work to rehab because if it’s cheap, it’s probably not in the best shape. The ones in good shape tend to be very expensive, and they still break down frequently. While these vans are certainly the most Instagramable, they aren’t the most practical option for van life.
My advice: if you have the skills and the desire to learn how to take care of a vintage vehicle, go for it! Otherwise, you might be better off sticking with one of the vans above.
My Recommendation & Final Thoughts
Before I give my recommendation, please keep in mind that your situation is unique to you. The best van life vehicle is often the one you can find in your price range that meets your core needs.
My number one recommendation for a van life vehicle is a Ford Transit. They have the most options for cargo size, most mechanics can work on them, and parts are fairly cheap and easy to come by. They are becoming more and more popular within the van life community, with people like Divine on the Road and So We Bought a Van choosing Transits as their van life vehicles.
If you don’t need extended cargo space, I also highly recommend Nissan NV cargo vans. I love my Nissan and would absolutely buy one again.
I encourage you to keep an open mind during your van search. The best van for you is the one that is available for sale near you, most closely fits your needs, is in your price range, and feels like the right purchase.
Dan & Beck
Hi Laramie,
This is a great resource for those looking into anything and everything van life! Beck and I recently went on a road trip and car camping in a sedan. We agreed that we could have done with a van during the trip!
Thanks for the great tips. We’ll keep it in mind if we ever take the leap of faith with acquiring a van.
Cheers, Dan & Beck | Travel Made Me Do It
Laramie
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful! I considered car camping in my SUV before buying a van, but I was intimidated by its small size. Having a real bed is a luxury!