What Van is Best For Camper Conversions

Camper vans are becoming increasingly popular, as more and more people are looking for a way to travel and explore the world without having to worry about hotels or B&B’s. If you're looking for vans for camper conversions there are a few things you will need to consider.

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One of the primary factors to take into consideration when choosing vans for campervan conversions is size. If you are looking to live in your camper for extended periods of time you may need a larger van in comparison to coastal weekends away. There are varying size options available on the market and these are some of our favourites

The VW Crafter is considered the best option when converting a van into a campervan for a number of reasons

The VW crafter offers ample interior space with various length and height options, providing flexibility for designing a comfortable living area, kitchen and storage compartments. As with all VW models, a Crafter is known for its exceptional built quality and durability, ensuring a reliable base vehicle for your campervan conversion. 

Due to their popularity, an added bonus is there is a wide range of parts available that are specifically designed for this model, simplifying the conversion process. 

Lastly, the VW Crafter has a solid resale value, making it an excellent long-term investment if you to sell your campervan in the future.

One of the more well-known vans out there with a distinctive style, the VW transporter (also known as the VW T5, T5.1, T6 or T6.1) is popular amongst many campers due to its outstanding reliability, durability and the wide variety of conversion kits that are available, making the conversion process a breeze. This medium-sized van is perfect for extended trips away as its interior dimensions of 1.7m x 2.7m provide plenty of space for a living/sleeping area as well as storage for all your gear. Take a look at our current stock for some inspiration.

When looking at vans for conversions, you need to keep a close eye on mileage and age, and how this factors into how much you are willing to spend. If you have a higher budget you can look to invest in a newer van that will have a lower mileage, or if you have a lower price point you may be looking at older models with a higher mileage.

Van mileage compared to car mileage is a completely different ball park. Typically when you are looking for second hand vans for camper conversions you will see a much higher mileage compared to what you are used to seeing on a second hand car. If you see vans with over 100,000 miles on the clock it is highly likely that it will still have a long lifespan. Typically vans have a 30% longer lifetime mileage compared to cars. In the UK, the average van mileage is between 120k to 240k so you have a bit of room to play with here.

There are increasingly more conversations on whether electric or diesel vans are better. The matter of fact is both have their pros and cons so this would be more of a personal choice on what fits best with your lifestyle.

As they are becoming increasingly more popular, electric vans certainly fit well with a more sustainable lifestyle, or with someone who is just looking to make more conscious changes. The downside is these are very rare and come at a higher price point. The only smaller van out there is the Nissan eNV200. A larger option would be the Renault Master ZE but as expected, it is only capable of driving 75 miles before recharging and takes 6 hours to get to full battery. Not really viable for trips away!

This is the more realistic option for a campervan conversion however there are a few regulations you should look to meet to steer towards a more sustainable choice. It is wise to look if the van is Euro 6. This is a concept introduced by the European Commission to help reduce carbon emissions. Euro 6 engines use new technologies to lower the emissions of the vehicle, but with this, you have a higher mpg and are exempt from any low emission zones and diesel taxes. It is certainly a smart choice to look into when searching for the best van for your van conversion.

It’s good to factor in how much your whole conversion will cost prior to choosing your van. If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful campervan conversion this price will be a lot different to if you are after top-of-the-line specs and upgrades. On average, people spend around 60% of their total budget on the base vehicle. From here, you can calculate what would be your budget for each step in the process. Keep in mind that your converted campervan will only be as good as the original van, so it's worth making a sensible decision with this purchase and working around the conversion to fit your budget.

Selecting the best van for your campervan conversion is dependent on your lifestyle and the intended use of the camper. Considering the main factors such as size, mileage, age and budget will help you to narrow down your options, but ultimately you will need a van that perfectly aligns with your needs and vision. Whether that be a VW Transporter or an ultra-luxurious VW Crafter, you are sure to make some unforgettable memories along your conversion process in your newly converted camper!

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