Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Ram ProMaster, Nissan NV... Choosing the best van to build for vanlife is a major decision and a huge investment. To help us make the right choice, let's look at some specifications, facts and real-world reports.
1- Ford Transit
1.1- Overview
While the Sprinter draws a lot of attention in the campervan world, the Ford Transit dominates the commercial van market with close to 32% of total sales (source). Introduced in 2015 in North America, the Ford Transit is getting an overhaul for 2020 with new engine options, a long awaited AWD (All Wheel Drive) drivetrain and other high-tech upgrades (adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist, etc.).
1.2- Build & Price
Style
- Cargo Van
- Passenger Van
Length
- Regular 18.5 ft (130" WB)
- Long 20 ft (148" WB)
- Extended 22 ft (148" WB)
Height
- Low Roof (83.2")
- Medium Roof (100.8")
- High Roof (110.2")
Engines
- 3.5L Direct Injection (Gas)
- 3.5L EcoBoost (Gas)
- 2.0L EcoBlue (Diesel)
Drivetrain
- RWD
- RWD LSD (Limited Slip Differential)
- AWD (All Wheel Drive)
Use the Ford.com "Build & Price" interactive tool to build your own Ford Transit (and find out the price). Try it, it's neat:
1.3- Exterior Dimensions
1.4- Interior Cargo Dimensions
All photos credit: https://www.adriansteel.com/item/cargo-vans/dimensions/
Regular Length (130WB),
Low Roof:
Regular Length (130WB),
Medium Roof:
Long Length (148WB),
Low Roof:
Long Length (148WB),
Medium Roof:
Long Length (148WB),
High Roof:
Extended Length (148WB),
High Roof:
1.5- Repair & Maintenance
$866 USD Annual Repair Cost (source: repairpal.com)
Ford, Mercedes or Ram: regardless of makes and brands, repair and maintenance is inevitable in the long run. Sure, you might get a free espresso at the Mercedes dealer, but Ford dealers are all over the map (dealer locator), are way cheaper and parts availability is VERY good. Knowing we live full time in our van and travel a lot to remote places, that’s a MASSIVE reason to go for the Ford Transit instead of the Mercedes Sprinter!
How reliable is the Ford Transit? We’re tracking absolutely all the repair cost of our Transit; in 3 years of ownership (2016 to 2019), we spent $750 USD (excluding tires & oil change). We’re very pleased with that! See our detailed repair log book:
1.6- Our Opinion
What We Like
- Reasonable ownership cost.
- Extensive dealership network.
- Get parts cheap and fast.
- Drives like a minivan.
What We Don't Like
- Rear brakes wear fast. Keep an eye on them.
INITIAL COST: We initially looked for a Sprinter (because that’s what everybody did back in 2015), and quickly realized we could get a brand new Ford Transit (full warranty, no previous owner, customized options, etc.) for pretty much the same price as a used Sprinter…
REPAIR & MAINTENANCE: Then we realized that even if the Sprinter is a high-end vehicle, they do break down a lot. Looking at the Mercedes dealership map (Mercedes dealer locator), it got us thinking: what would happen if we wanted to travel to Alaska or South America? Heck, even in the USA, there are no dealers outside of the major cities!
TEST-DRIVE: We then test-drove both a Transit and a Sprinter… we much preferred the Transit as it felt more like driving a minivan (nimble and predictable), whereas the Sprinter felt like driving a full-size cargo van.
COMMON SENSE: At very last, we asked ourselves this question: “If we had to buy a car, would we buy a Mercedes or a Ford?” Yep, it all made sense now: we much prefer spending money on mountain biking gear and adventures rather than on a luxury vehicle!
Needless to say, we went for a brand new Ford Transit 2016 and we’re glad we did! (it’s October 2019 at the time of writing these lines)
1.7- Resources
2 Years of Winter Vanlife
Build & Price Your Own Ford Transit
Modifications & OEM Guidelines
More Ford Transit goodies
Tested and Reviewed from our research lab facilities (a.k.a. Our Van)
2- Mercedes Sprinter
2.1- Overview
Until a few years ago, DIY campervan conversion (almost) necessarily meant Sprinter-van (in North America). Indeed, the Sprinter has been around since 2001 (branded back then as “Freightliner”, then re-branded as Dodge in 2003) wayyyyyy before the Transit or the ProMaster. Today, the Mercedes Sprinter takes 6% of the commercial van market in North America (source).
2.2- Build & Price
Style
- Cargo Van
- Passenger Van
Length
- Standard 19.5 ft (144" WB)
- Long 22.8 ft (170" WB)
- Extended 24.15 ft (170" WB)
Height
- Standard Roof (96.3")
- High Roof (110")
- Super-High Roof (120.1")
Engines
- 2.0L Turbo (Gas)
- 3.0L Turbo (Diesel)
Drivetrain
- RWD
- 4x4
Use the MBvans.com "Build Your Van" interactive tool to build your own Sprinter van:
2.3- Exterior Dimensions
2.4- Interior Cargo Dimensions
All photos credit: https://www.adriansteel.com/item/cargo-vans/dimensions/
Standard Length (144WB),
Low Roof:
Long Length (170WB),
High Roof:
Extended Length (170WB), High Roof:
2.5- Repair & Maintenance
$1,778 USD Annual Repair Cost (source: repairpal.com)
Sprinter vans are great until things go wrong. Dealers are only located in major cities (see dealer locator), parts & labor are VERY costly, and parts availability is poor and can take time.
Vans are ALWAYS at the center of discussions when meeting other van people. And we met MANY vanlifers during our two years on the road. There are just too many horror stories with the Sprinter: black death, limp mode, DEF heater failure, clogged DPF, etc. Whatever it is called, it seems every Sprinter owner had to deal with it at some point.
2.6- Our Opinion
What We Like
- Good mileage.
- Free espresso at the dealer.
What We Don't Like
- High ownership cost.
- High risk of turning into a money pit on wheels.
High initial cost, reliability issues and massive maintenance/repair cost… For some reason, the Sprinter has a big appeal among campervan builders, but we don’t really know why. Is it the good mileage? The 4×4? The Mercedes name? Whatever it is, we think it’s not worth the risk. We personally know too many people wasting huge amounts of money trying to keep their Sprinter alive.
No thanks, we’ll pass.
2.7- Resources
Online Communities
3- Ram ProMaster
3.1- Overview
The Fiat Ducato is marketed as the ProMaster in North-America since 2013. With 11% of total commercial van sales in North America (source), the Ram ProMaster is doing well. It is most notably known for its FWD drivetrain and for its “square” cargo area, which makes the life of campervan builders easier!
3.2- Build & Price
Style
- Cargo Van
- "Window" Van
Length
- 136" WB 17.75 ft
- 159" WB 19.75 ft
- 159" WB Extended 20.85 ft
Height
- Low Roof (88")
- High Roof (99")
Engines
- 3.6L Chrysler Pentastar (Gas)
Drivetrain
- FWD
Use the RamTrucks.com "Build Your Van" interactive tool to build your own ProMaster van:
3.3- Exterior Dimensions
3.4- Interior Cargo Dimensions
All photos credit: https://www.adriansteel.com/item/cargo-vans/dimensions/
136" Wheelbase,
Low Roof:
136" Wheelbase,
High Roof:
159" Wheelbase,
High Roof:
159" Wheelbase Extended,
High Roof:
3.5- Repair & Maintenance
$859 USD Annual Repair Cost (source: repairpal.com)
We honestly don’t have much data on the ProMaster. Asking around, it seems very similar to the Ford Transit in terms of cost and dealership network.
Are you a ProMaster owner? Share your experience with us using the comment section below!
3.6- Our Opinion
What We Like
- With its "square" cargo area, the ProMaster is the widest of all vans and straight walls are easier to build in.
- Reasonable ownership cost.
What We Don't Like
- Front Wheel Drive (thumbs down, that's right). A converted van has more weight on its rear axle, which means more traction on the rear wheels. Here in British-Columbia, we frequently have to go up very steep 4WD high-clearance roads to get access to our favorite mountain-biking trails or backcountry skiing zones; a front wheel drive doesn't have enough traction to do this. Seeing the astonished reaction of people when we arrive on top of what's considered a rough 4WD road doesn't get old 🙂 "Is that van four wheel drive?"
Knowing that MORE WEIGHT = MORE TRACTION, we’re glad our van is RWD!
We get more traction when climbing a steep incline, because there is even more weight on the rear axle!
3.7- Reality Check
We recently reached out (December 2020) to a friend who lived in his Sprinter van for 4 years and just switched to a ProMaster (full time as well). Keeping the same habits, he says that he got stuck as much in 3 months as he did in 4 years in his Sprinter. So while we have nothing against the ProMaster (we have absolutely no affiliation with any brand), it might not be the best vehicle to take on the back roads.
3.8- Resources
Modifications & OEM Guidelines
- Design Recommendations
- Frame Alterations
- Wiring
- Etc.
4- Nissan NV
4.1- Our Opinion
While we should stay objective and look at the specifications and be rational in making a decision, we just can’t handle how this thing looks. Sorry, but that’s how we feel. So we’ll leave it here for now.
————————- EDIT 2020: LOOKS LIKE NISSAN IS ABOUT TO DISCONTINUE THE NV VAN: https://www.thetorquereport.com/nissan/nissan-nv-vans-are-likely-being-discontinued/ —————————–
4.2- Build & Price
Style
- Cargo Van
- Passenger Van
Length
- 146" Wheelbase (20 ft exterior length)
Height
- Standard Roof (84")
- High Roof (105")
Engines
- 4.0L V6 (Gas)
- 5.6L V8 (Gas)
Drivetrain
- RWD
Use the NissanUSA.com "Build & Price" interactive tool to build your own NV van:
4.3- Exterior Dimensions
4.4- Interior Cargo Dimensions
All photos credit: https://www.adriansteel.com/item/cargo-vans/dimensions/
Nissan NV Low Roof:
Nissan NV High Roof:
4.5- Repair & Maintenance
$657 USD Annual Repair Cost (source: repairpal.com)
5- Best Van For Camper Build: Our Humble Opinion
We have to be totally transparent here. We’re biased towards the Ford Transit. Not because we have any affiliation with Ford; we’re biased because we’ve owned our Transit since 2016 and living in it full time since 2017 and we’re still totally in love with it.
We were looking for a reasonably priced van that’s easy & cheap to maintain and that would not let us down no matter what. And that’s exactly what our Transit has delivered. For this reason, if we totaled our van tomorrow, we would buy another Transit in a split second without any hesitation.
Van tour, 3D Model, Cost & Labor, Build Journal, Weight, etc.
6- Ford Transit Long Term Review
Ford Transit Long Term Review (For DIY Camper Van)
Wait for it!
Coming soon...
That's it folks, hope that helps!
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about us
Nice To Meet You.
Hello! We’re Isabelle and Antoine 
In 2017 we sold our house (and everything in it), quit our engineering careers and moved into our self built campervan. We’ve been on the road since then and every day is an opportunity for a new adventure; we’re chasing our dreams and hopefully it inspires others to do the same!
This is great! Thank you!
One question (and it’s a bit involved) but if you were to order a new Transit today, what would you build? There are so many accessories that it’s a bit overwhelming.
Hope you can help.
i have a fort transit, e-Series, and im inLove with the Transit. better gas mileage .
When your Van stepladder goes missing, you can hang out a sign:
“Whoever took the stepladder, please return it – or further steps will be taken.”
Sounds like if you need any kind of offroad, the Promaster is a non-starter. But if you don’t need offroad and want something for cheap urban and suburban stealth living, then it seems to have the best internal dimensions with the highest width and squarish dimensions.
We had a 2015 Transit extended, High roof, ecoboost engine and loved it, especially the handling and power. In 2020 we decided to replace it with a new Transit, but could not find one with an EcoBoost engine which was non-negotiable for us. We drove a Promaster, it was a brand new leftover and the price was so low we couldn’t turn it down. Being mtn bikers and kiters, we have a lot of gear in our garage space. The Promaster (extended, high roof) fits our space needs OK but my husband HATES driving it. It seems to shift all the time and for no reason. It even drops down to a lower gear and holds the van back when going downhill. I got so tired of hearing him complain, we’re going back to the Transit. This is our LAST build out. At least now we know what we like and don’t like
Hi to you both,
I just ordered a single rear wheels AWD Transit last december. My choice of a SRW over a double was based on a claim that some people make about the DRW tendency to float on the snow.
One advantage of the DRW that I ignored until yesterday is that the cargo width is 74 inches instead of 68.5 making it possible to lay the bed widthwise provinding 20 supplementary inches for the living space. Another advantage is the GVWR that can therefore increase from 9500 lbs to 10300 providing room for heavier accessories etc.
Have you guys heard of complaints regarding double rear wheels vans when driving in the snow, especially with AWD??
Have a Promaster 195″ tall. For a year now, no problem what so ever. Am I lucky?
BTW, there are Promaster before 2016 with 3.0 diesel engine and automatic-manual transmission. That one gets 23-25MPG, where mine gets 19-20(combined). I am at 17.8MPG now from running lately a lot of short trip in city. How much does your RWD gets? Besides, I never heard anybody loosing traction in a Promaster. For off-road yes, RWD is a must.
I have owned transits, pro master and express. They all have pros and cons. Agreed the pro master had a harder time making it up my snow covered drive in Vermont than rear wheel drive. Sometimes was worthless .. but I loved the seats , easy access to rear and short turning radius. Transits just offered the awd but the price starts in the 50 -60k range plus and they raised prices across the board. Love the eco boost engine too and gas mileage but tow capacity was horrible! 3900 pound tow on a 350 extended hd drw. Not much better than a minivan. Would buy another but hard finding one equipped how I want gently used at a good price. Express has the tow power at 9900 pounds, and. reliability but I just need the extra headroom. It would be great if the had an awd option again! The older awd model was a beast in the snow.
How about Chevy/GMC Express/Savana? I see a lot of those converted into vans. Seems like a good reliable vehicle and not as complicated to repair as some of the “modern” offerings mentioned here. It doesn’t have the high roof though, but to me that’s an advantage when talking about off road and hard to reach destinations.
YES! I am evaluating which van to buy to replace my 1999 GMC Savana 3500 Extended body that has a Quigley 4WD conversion. Doing tons of research and comparing. Need reasonable towing ability. /// A $72K Sprinter 4×4 3500XD with a $3K FrontRunner full roof rack and ladder is on the list but for $41K I get another GM 3500 Ext and I already have full rack on the 1999 that will transfer. Quigley will 4×4 convert used GM up to 60,000 miles for $13K so I can start with RWD and think about it and save my dollars for 50,000+ miles before going AWD. //// GM is cheaper to work on and easier to get service in the hinterlands and most any shade tree mechanic can handle it.
I think a Promaster makes the best van for camper conversion, you can mount the bed widthwise (freeing up a lot of space) and the lower floor makes the van really easy to step in and out of (no steps needed). We have the model with the lower roof, if you are under 5ft 9″ you can walk inside (bend your head a little, or slouch) and I can fit in a dozen or so underground parking lots downtown Vancouver even with the Solar and the Fantastic Fan on the roof! All other vans the low roof’s have very low height inside! Low roof’s are at great advantage when driving in wind. Every driven past the wind turbines near Palm Springs in a windstorm with a high roof? We have gone camping on logging roads many times and never been stuck. Have driven 15 hours North in January twice with snow covered roads and poor conditions, FWD has been excellent
I live 5 miles from the turbines. It’s summer 6 months out of the year. I don’t see ACs installed for the rear. Ice box won’t be ok either.