Camper Vans

I’ve never been a camping person other than the trips I took with my son when he was in Boy Scouts. But the thought of getting a camper van seemed like it might be fun. I had never really thought about it much, but I came across a You Tube video last year that some bass pro put out. He was launching his big bass boat with a van, and I thought that seemed strange. But after I looked up the van, it was a model called the Beast I believe, I found that the base van is a 4×4 diesel from Mercedes. I was surprised to learn that these things cost about $200K or more.

We went to the Camping World RV show in Minneapolis last weekend to look at camper vans and other smaller RVs to get a feel for what’s available. Dang, camper vans are just plain expensive, especially when compared to a slightly larger RV. A Thor camper van build on a Ram ProMaster was listed at $120K. A Thor build on a 4×4 Mercedes diesel was $140K. But a little larger RV build on a Ford 350 was only $70K. The dealer said they make so many more RV and the construction process is simpler and hence the lower cost.

It seems like the used camper vans hold their value pretty well. Either that or they’re so expensive to start off with that even after depreciating, they’re still pricy. If I didn’t want to tow a small boat behind the camper, I could just get a smaller camping trailer and tow that around.

I’ve looked into a pickup camper for my Ram 1500 with a 6.5-foot bed, but even small ones look like they’d tend to max out the payload capacity pretty quickly. I see that there are companies that sell “install-it-your kits” for various vans. Some of them look pretty nice. But I’m also thinking maybe I should just get a Ram ProMaster 2500 and throw a couple of sofas in the back, a couple coolers, and little propane cook top and call it good. For as much as I’d probably use it, I’d probably be better off just staying a resorts or VRBOs.

Anyone have any experience with camper vans? I might not be looking to get one real soon but maybe the fall of 2025 or sometime in 2026.

Boone,

Try just a topper for your truck for a season or two and see how you like it. I bought a cheap used topper for my truck 5+ years ago and use it a lot in the spring and fall for camping trips. Cheap and easy to just hook the boat up and go. Not always the most comfortable but I continue to make improvements to my setup. Then if you like it make the investment and get something more comfortable.

x2 on the topper and truck camping. Andy Fiolka (old IDO guy) has a whole series on YouTube about building out his truck camper. I think his channel is Outside605.

We bought a new 2017 Ford Transit diesel cargo van, tall with long wheel base. We had Wahldoch finish the inside with two single beds, cassette toilet, all 12v & 120v wiring, shore power to include inverter, converter, and transfer switch. They also put a removable high back bucket seat in. I installed the kitchenette with refrigerator and sink! I also did the grey water tank and all cabinets. Wahldoch doesn’t do any plumbing.We drove the wheels off of it until we traded it in last year on a new Thor Ford Transit, class B+. Wanted the diesel but Ford stopped selling it in 2021! When we arrive back in MN at our summer home at ML lake, we travel with the boat to fish from Devils lake, LOTW, to Green Bay! The class B+ gave us a little more room and grandma likes the shower!

Camper vans rock, so much more comfortable than a truck with a topper that it’s barely even comparable. Being able to wake up, stand up, get dressed, and go hop in the driver’s seat and take off is really living. Done the mattress in the back of a cargo van a few times and if you like to keep it simple it’s really a great easy option. Done the mattress under a topper a few times too and it works but just annoying getting in and out and have fun trying to move around or get dressed in there. Mid-night pi$s break while sleeping under a topper is the worst. Totally doable, just saying doesn’t compare the ease and comfort of a big beautiful van.

Of course the pickup with topper has a bunch of advantages like being a normal everyday vehicle and being a truck and not being $140K. But for comfort and convenience while actually using it as a camper, the van is so much better.

Camper vans are absolutely awesome. But they are spendy. One day I hope to have one. Until then I still do the topper style thing. I’m in the market for a pickup camper at the moment but I want something older and cheaper. I had one for years and loved it, I should have never sold it.
My good buddies mom bought a Mercedes van camper and that thing is sweet.

If the main purpose is camping on the road, I’d take a good camper van over a truck with a topper without question. I do a lot of national park exploring (have hit close to 30 NPs in the last 4 years) and there’s a reason why you see 20 camper vans to 1 truck in those areas.

A buddy of mine owns 2 nice camper vans as a side business and he does quite well with them. He originally bought one to subsidize/pay for their own camping/traveling use. The first one did so well that he bought a second one and rents them both out. There’s a big demand for them all over the country. Lots of different platforms/websites where you can rent them.

BigWerm wrote:

x2 on the topper and truck camping. Andy Fiolka (old IDO guy) has a whole series on YouTube about building out his truck camper. I think his channel is Outside605.

I looked at a few of those videos and he’s got an impressive setup. With that said I think I’d opt for a completely seperate tent more often than not. Heights, bugs, water, snakes, none of that bothers me whatsoever. …but put me in a small tight space with no headspace and my gear packed around me and I’ll want out in a hurry. I’d wake up in that box and be kicking out windows.

You could always rent one and see if you like it before spending the money to buy and find out it’s not for you. My brother works for an RV dealer and he rented one from the lot for him and his wife to go on a road trip with for a week.

Stanley wrote:

You could always rent one and see if you like it before spending the money to buy and find out it’s not for you.

Since this is along the line of this thread: Any good place to rent one that has a larger daily millage cap? Our RV gets 4-6 MPH and the camper vans we looked at claim 22-26. We would like to rent one and drive to visit family in Texas. Any recommendations of places? I saw many people offering to rent their camper van like a VRBO. But limit to 50 miles a day. So if you rent for 4 days you can do a total of 200 miles for the trip.

Rodwork wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Stanley wrote:</div>
You could always rent one and see if you like it before spending the money to buy and find out it’s not for you.

Since this is along the line of this thread: Any good place to rent one that has a larger daily millage cap? Our RV gets 4-6 MPH and the camper vans we looked at claim 22-26. We would like to rent one and drive to visit family in Texas. Any recommendations of places? I saw many people offering to rent their camper van like a VRBO. But limit to 50 miles a day. So if you rent for 4 days you can do a total of 200 miles for the trip.

I’m not sure on daily mileage but when my brother rented his he put on a few thousand miles I believe on his week long trip. The place he works for is in Duluth. Just send me a PM and I can get you his contact info to see if he can answer your questions better. Maybe since he works for the dealership he was able to use it differently than other places?

I thought about making a fishing van that had room for my rods and a futon and tv for when it rains or midday nap time. All the old vans are so overpriced now though that my cheap little idea is like 3-8 grand just to start. Friggin Rona.

Rodwork wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Stanley wrote:</div>
You could always rent one and see if you like it before spending the money to buy and find out it’s not for you.

Since this is along the line of this thread: Any good place to rent one that has a larger daily millage cap? Our RV gets 4-6 MPH and the camper vans we looked at claim 22-26. We would like to rent one and drive to visit family in Texas. Any recommendations of places? I saw many people offering to rent their camper van like a VRBO. But limit to 50 miles a day. So if you rent for 4 days you can do a total of 200 miles for the trip.

You can filter by “unlimited miles” on Outdoorsy

Rodwork wrote:

Any recommendations of places?

Pleasureland RV, I believe they bought Brambilla’s in Shakopee.

I follow a couple Van campers on YouTube, One guy in Alaska has a actual cabin he built on the back of his F350.

Not sure about camper vans but my Pri Master has been a maintenence nightmare. About the only things that haven’t gone out has been the engine and tranny. Van has 100k on it. Oil pumps,wheel bearings, rebuilt front end, water pump, Well over 15 head lights. Door locks, sensor out on a break pad and a 2nd or third water pump are currently on the to get fixed list. If you get one get the best warranty available.

Dodge are junk, we have 6 City Pro Masters, a 1500 and a 3500 and they are always in the shop.

Mike W wrote:

Not sure about camper vans but my Pri Master has been a maintenence nightmare. About the only things that haven’t gone out has been the engine and tranny. Van has 100k on it. Oil pumps,wheel bearings, rebuilt front end, water pump, Well over 15 head lights. Door locks, sensor out on a break pad and a 2nd or third water pump are currently on the to get fixed list. If you get one get the best warranty available.

bigcrappie wrote:

Dodge are junk, we have 6 City Pro Masters, a 1500 and a 3500 and they are always in the shop.

Oh no I just heard a bell ring.

supercat wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Dodge are junk, we have 6 City Pro Masters, a 1500 and a 3500 and they are always in the shop.

Oh no I just heard a bell ring.

Thread about to be derailed.

Mike W wrote:

Not sure about camper vans but my Pri Master has been a maintenence nightmare. About the only things that haven’t gone out has been the engine and tranny. Van has 100k on it. Oil pumps,wheel bearings, rebuilt front end, water pump, Well over 15 head lights. Door locks, sensor out on a break pad and a 2nd or third water pump are currently on the to get fixed list. If you get one get the best warranty available

That’s very concerning. From what I’ve seen, a lot of camper vans and built on the Ram Pro Master. Hopefully your experience with your Pro Master is not common. It also seems the other option for camper vans are Mercedes Sprinter vans. Some of those are diesel and some are 4×4. The Mercedes diesel 4×4 camper vans are the most expensive.