RV sales have skyrocketed throughout the US, and have shown that tiny homes on wheels are here to stay.
A van gives a sense of freedom and mobility that is not possible with a traditional house. Since the start of COVID-19, the #VanLife community has expanded to include remote workers, digital nomads, travelers, and more.
The number of people who have realized their passion for tiny homes on wheels has grown to include a large community on social media.
The camper van community has been in the news. In March 2020, camper van conversion company Boho Vans was featured on "Shark Tank", where the company's owners secured $150,000 cash upfront and a $150,000 line of credit for a 10% stake.
camper van conversion companies and RV makers have seen a surge in sales and client inquiries during the coronaviruses epidemic. In June, a major RV maker that owns brands like Jayco and Airstream reported a 14.32 billion order backlog. Bob Martin, the president and CEO of the company, told Jim Cramer that the company was sold out for the next year.
There are many ways to purchase a camper van, from doing it yourself to getting help from a conversion company. If you're interested in buying a tiny home on wheels, you should ask seven questions.
Why do you want a camper van?
A camper van is in Houston.
There is a person named Justin Orton.
Establishing your reasons for wanting to purchase a camper van will allow you to figure out what you want inside of your van. If your plan is to live in the van from Saturday to Sunday for weekend warrior adventures, you might not need a large battery pack or water tanks.
If you plan on living in your van full-time and off-grid, you may need a larger battery pack, solar panels, or an inverter.
It's important that you clarify why you want a camper van because the final product could potentially amount to more than $100,000 for a custom build. If you want a camper van for an occasional trip, the big-ticket price might not be worth it. If you plan on using the camper on a weekly or daily basis, it may be.
"If you want to know that it's something you want, you have to be patient and do research," said Gianna Bachowski of Our Van Quest. It's important to trust that process when you get a little uneasy.
What is your budget?
There are Vans.
The Vans are called the Wayfarer.
The budget question affects how you want your camper van converted.
If your budget is in the single-digit thousands, you may want to consider doing your own conversion or purchasing a conversion kit, such as the $5,196 to $11,394 kit from Wayfarer Vans.
If you want a camper van to be able to sleep in your car, maybe it's not a good idea to own an entirely equipped van. If you want to go with options like an inflatable car tent or a bed-in-a-box, you should lean towards them.
If you want a full kitchen on the road, there are also kitchen units that can be placed in the trunk of a car.
The possibilities are endless for those who want a custom converted van, but the price tag is something that some fully converted campers could eventually amount to.
If you don't want to design a custom build but still want to pay a higher price, several companies offer fully converted and designed vans. Advanced RV has a camper van that is over $400,000 and has a 170-inch Mercedes-Benz cab.
There is an in-between option for those who want a full conversion but don't want to pay life savings. There are companies in the market that do less expensive conversions. The price of the final conversion can be decreased by having a set universal interior design.
Do you want a base for your van?
The Last Resort Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversion was done by Advanced RV.
An advanced RV.
Several companies will only convert certain van models if you know what vehicle base you want. Some conversion companies may require clients to purchase their own van or van purchases for the conversion.
The popular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is used in many camper vans. The Ram ProMaster is a popular camper body.
The Mercedes-Benz Cargo Sprinter is currently priced at $36,355, while the Ram ProMaster City is currently priced at $25,065.
The Ford Transit van is used by several conversion companies. The Ford Transit Cargo has an MSRP of $35,270.
When do you want your camper to be ready?
The Van's encore.
The person is named Micah Adams.
Knowing when you want your camper to be ready to go could affect how you convert your van.
Setting a time you want to complete your conversion project by will allow you to create a week-by-week or month-by-month schedule.
Depending on the time it takes to convert the van and the company's potential wait time, the wait could be between several months to over a year. In May, Vansmith told Insider that it usually booked two to three months in advance but spends about five to eight weeks creating its builds.
A general rule of thumb is that conversion companies that work with a set interior design will be able to deliver a finished van faster than companies that focus on custom conversions.
Campovan spent four months on its custom camper with a Japanese soaking bathtub, while Cascade Campers only spent three days on its builds, but the final product won't be to spec.
What are your must-haves?
The Fitz Roy build was done by Freedom Vans.
Freedom Vans.
It's important to have a list of things you need, but don't need, but amenities that you would like.
It's important to plan according to the size of the space since it might be difficult to fit larger items, like a toilet. A list of must-haves will allow you to design your van around items that you consider a necessity.
It is possible that sacrifice will have to be made in the "must-have" list.
It's important to remember that a camper van may not be as important as a home. An outdoor shower may be necessary if you consider an indoor shower space too small.
"It is a small space, so what we try to do is figure out what kind of gear would you be hauling, and then what are your top gear needs, and then just get creative," co-owner of Freedom Vans, Kyle said. Every person's needs are different.
There are some compromises in the small space, but if you're willing to have more modular design, you can fit more things in there.
Is it possible that any of the amenities could play double duty? Creative use could help conserve space. The goal is to maximize the small van to fit as many features as you want, while still creating a space that doesn't feel cramped.
Instead of creating a "living room" and seating area, make the passenger and driver seats so that they face the interior space. If there isn't room for a heating unit in your van, you can make your diesel stove work double duty as a heating unit, like what Campovans did in its custom build.
What is your favorite interior style?
The Atlas will be made by Airstream in 2020.
The car is called Airstream.
Different shops have different design styles, so it's important to find a conversion company that has that style. Make sure you have an idea of how you want the interior of your van to look, and try to find a company that best reflects this. If that isn't possible, look for a company that can create everything from scratch.
Rogers says that it's important to find a company that meshes with your vision and also communicate well with you.
If you have questions about the van, you want to reach out to the company and talk to them about it.
Where are you going to take your camper?
Ready.Set.Van.
Ready.Set.Van.
It's important to outfit your camper according to where you want to go. If you are going to stay in tropical places, you may not need a heating unit. You can lounge outside your van in the shade with an awning.
Extra insulation and a heating system may be required for those who want to brave the winter winds in a van.
If you plan on trekking through unfamiliar terrains in your camper van, you might need protective gear, such as a grille bar, or systems that improve the van's handling off-road, such as better tires or a suspension lift kit.
