The Camper Van Has Returned

There are many reasons why we are seeing more and more camper vans on our nation’s highways today. The pandemic we have been experiencing for the past year or so is a big reason; people are tired of being cooped up in their homes and are looking for an escape to get out of their homes. Converted vans can be a quick solution.

The van that started it all

Some of these vans are converted by the owners who are somewhat handy and have some basic tools while others are done by all the mom and pop businesses that have sprung up that will convert them for you. The cost to convert a van from a basic cargo van to a tiny home on wheels can run from 10 – 12 thousand dollars upwards to $100K and more. These vans are quite popular as evidenced by the lack of vans on car lots and those that are available are bringing top dollar.

Converted van

Oh yes, the old supply and demand thingy.

Another reason for their popularity is that they are easily maneuvered in small towns and can be parked practically where any car can park. These converted vans are perfect for a single person or even 2 can live and travel in them. I’ve seen a family of 4 living in a converted van and they seem to do just fine.

Back in the 1960’s, the camper vans that were popular were primarily Volkswagen buses with pop-up tops that allowed a person to stand erect. The appealed primarily to the hippie movement. They basically were finished at the Volkswagen factories in Germany and came equipped with a propane stove, water tank, sink, refrigerator and electrical outlets.

The most popular camper vans we see today are mainly Ford’s Transit van, RAM’s Promaster series and Sprinter van by Mercedes. These vans come in a high top which affords one to stand erect and they have plenty of room for a queen size bed, a portable water system, a portable toilet, refrigerator, swivel seats, a propane or butane stove, solar panels and a house battery for powering all your off-grid power needs and other amenities.

RAM Promaster High Top

So, what’s holding you back? Toss in some food and water and let’s go camping in the back country or desert.

Source: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of unsplash.com.

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