Best Camper Vans For Long Road Trips
A camper van is an excellent option to hit the road with family and friends. Whether you’re celebrating a new milestone in life or getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you can never go wrong with a camper van road trip. With its affordable luxuries, you can have both the freedom and flexibility to go wherever and whenever you want.
However, there’s a wide range of camper vans and not all of them will suit you and your activities. It can be hard to determine what you should look for, from small and medium-sized vans to pop-top and high-top campers. With so many factors and opinions to consider, it’s pretty much easy to get overwhelmed.
But thinking about what’s best for you and your trip is an excellent place to start. For guidance and reference, here are the best camper vans for long road trips.
Compact camper vans
A camper van with a much bigger space is ideal if you plan to live and travel in your van for a long time. With that said, a compact camper still makes a great choice for long road trips for several reasons.
It’s easier to drive than the larger rigs, and you can move freely around busy towns. If you want to travel light but still take some recreation items on your trip, a compact camper may suit you. However, you may have to sacrifice other conveniences, such as a private bathroom, due to its size.
Volkswagen camper van
Compared to full-size conversion vans and the smallest motorhomes, the Volkswagen camper van is more compact and quick-moving. It can double as a family car and comfortable accommodation for two. This type of camper van remains one of the most-fancied by outdoor enthusiasts and collectors.
Bell-and-whistles camper vans
Since you will be spending a long time on the road, a camper van with more room and amenities is a better option. If you don’t want to miss out on comfort and convenience, look for special custom camper vans with all the bells and whistles.
Below are some bell-and-whistle campers that might provide you with additional room & amenities:
Ram Promaster City Converted Campers
Another camper van that is fitting for anyone searching for something smaller and more affordable is the Ram Promaster City conversion.
Although it is small, it has a roomy feel inside due to its boxy shape, allowing more headroom when you’re sitting down, and plenty of space to build out your own kitchen and bed.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a perfect camper van for traveling and leisure. It has amenities that you can fully enjoy without forgoing comfort. According to Benchmark Vans, a conversion van builder, the Sprinter stands out for quality and design.
Off-road camper vans
If you’re planning to venture deep into the backcountry, off-road campers are the best choice. You would need a camper van with greater ground clearance to maneuver through looming boulders and gaping holes. But since it offers both luxury and accessibility, this type of van comes at a high price.
Have a look at the off-road camper vans highlighted below:
Winnebago Revel
Winnebago Revel is a modified Mercedes Sprinter van with a power lift bed for increased camper storage space. The latest one comprises a new internal freshwater tank and a simplified water control panel. Typically, the Winnebago Revel is a spacious rig that could be turned into a great overlanding camper for a small family with a little tweaking.
Customized Sportsmobile
Sportsmobile has been a camper favorite for more than five decades. Although not all of their conversions qualify as off-road campers, their classic 4×4 camper van certainly does.
Specifically designed as functional and durable, it can handle even the roughest terrain. The Sportsmobile camper van provides both optimal off-road performance and exceptional on-road comfort.
Are you renting or owning?
Whatever type of camper van you choose for your long trip, it’s important to consider whether you are renting or owning. Note that each comes at a certain price, and assessing how much you can comfortably afford is crucial. If you’re planning to own one, you may have to plan and get financing for a motorhome, camper, or trailer.
Takeaway
The best camper van ultimately depends on your needs and preferences. Although suggestions and guides can help, always choose the camper that will best suit you and your activities. It should also be noted that each camper may cost differently, so you may have to consider your resources.
You can learn more from other van lifers on RV forums such as iRV2 and Sportsmobile Forums. There is also a wealth of useful information from resources like Do It Yourself RV.
See also: What Is The Best RV For Your Lifestyle?
I am Tony, an RV designer and RV developer. I create bill of materials for RV manufacturers for travel trailers and fifth wheels. I worked as a freelance transportation consultant for Lyft. As an RV development consultant, I create customization trees for RV manufacturers who want to offer a solution to prospective customers to design their custom RV with variant configuration. Apart from this, I sell in Indiana trailer hitches, hitch balls, goosenecks and weight distribution systems where I provide advice to customers who want to know which is their towing capacity, which hitch ball should they utilize and how to deploy a weight distribution system. I do my best to explain all these processes and their installation, in the Lifestyle edition of Business Finance News.
