Let’s face it, breaking into VanLife can be intimidating! Of all obstacles to overcome, purchasing the right van will be the most difficult. Your van will be the most expensive part of the project, but it will also be the backbone of your newfound lifestyle; so you don’t want to mess up here! In this overview we’ll cover an array of van brands and their configuration to aid you in making the right choice.
To keep things simple, we’ll only be looking at high roof options. If you’re not interested in the details, you can skip to the bottom for our top picks!
If you need a little inspiration, check out our van details!
Without further to do, let’s get to it!
Contents
Dodge Promaster VanLife
Dodge Promasters are one of the most popular vans for van life and for good reason! The Promaster offers the most square cargo area of any van on the market. Why does that matter? Because consistent square corners make the building process much less complex. Whether you are a master craftsman or a beginner DIYer the Promasters uniform cargo shape makes the design and building process the easiest of all vans.
The Promaster also boasts the widest wall to wall cargo space of any van. This means that most occupants can comfortably lay in bed side to side instead of placing the bed length-wise in the van (Which eats into precious floorspace). Positioning the bed side to side in the van allows for more open floor space without having to create a sliding bed frame. In most cases sliding bed frames create more headaches than they’re worth.
Finally, the Promaster is the only van in our breakdown to come in FWD. For information on FWD vs. RWD vs. AWD vs. 4WD you can continue reading here.
Ford Transit VanLife
There’s a reason that the Ford Transit has continually been the best-selling commercial van for the last few years; it’s huge! The Transit boast the tallest roof height of any van on the market. At 81.5” (6’ 9”) the Transit provides an additional 6” of headroom when compared to the Promaster.
The Transit also offers an Extended length (EL) model that is one foot longer than the Promasters Extended version. This makes it a great candidate for van life!
However, what really set the Ford Transit ahead of the Promaster is their AWD capability. In 2020 Ford released this option and it’s undeniable that it puts this van on another level. If you are considering van life you will likely want to take your van off road to places such as BLM land and trail heads that are off the beaten path; Or maybe you’re chasing snow and need to cross snowy mountain passes or icy ski resort parking lots. AWD will make accessing these places easier, safer and highly reduces the likelihood of getting stuck.
While the Transit does offer some serious perks over the Promaster it does come at price. The 2021 models start $42,500 for a RWD and $47,200 for AWD compared to the Promasters $36,400 for 136” WB and $38,000 for the 159” WB.
Mercedes Sprinter VanLife
Ah, the original land yachts. The Mercedes Sprinter has long been the gold standard for van life. Why you ask? They offer 4WD and diesel configurations.
For years this put the Sprinter at the top of the food chain for many van lifers and overlanders. However, Ford recently made an attempt to level the playing field by releasing their AWD Transit and at a lower price! An AWD Ford starts at $47,200 for the 148” wheelbase, while the Mercedes starts at $51,370 for the 144” wheelbase. The Mercedes logo certainly comes with a certain level of prestige, but it also comes with an increased price tag.
Additionally, these vans have been known to be plagued with mechanical problems and the cost of parts and labor is significantly more expensive than brands such as Dodge or Ford. Mercedes dealerships are often only found in large metropolitan areas so if you break down off the beaten path you could be facing a hefty tow fee. Overall, we believe the Sprinters are overhyped. Their upfront cost, questionable reliability and high maintenance cost make them tough to recommend. One upside to the Sprinters is that thier long history in the van market means that theres a TONS of aftermarket accessories available for them. However, the accessory market for Promasters and Transits are starting to catch up.
Nissan NV Vanlife
2021 will be the last year that the Nissan NV is on the market. The NV is arguably the least desirable van for van life solely for its unique appearance. However, that doesn’t mean the van isn’t perfectly capable of performing.
The NV comes in a V6 and V8 option and offers plenty of space to accommodate a comfortable build. The actual downside of the NV is its relatively low gas mileage. No van offers outstanding mileage, but the NV ranks the lowest with an avg. 11-13 mpg based off various sources. Additionally, parts could become expensive or hard to find in the future due to the vehicle being discontinued. All negatives considered; the NV is possibly the best budget high roof van if you’re buying used.
So which van is right for you?
Overall Winner:
Ford Transit: The all-wheel drive capabilities, reliability, cheap cost of maintenance, and reasonable price make this van our top pick!
Best Bargain:
Dodge Promaster: The Promaster offers an array of sizes and features at a cheaper price than Ford and Mercedes. There’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular vans for van life.
Best for Overlanding:
Mercedes Sprinter: There’s no other van on the market today that offers 4×4 capabilities with the bonus of a luxury interior. Just remember that those luxuries come at a premium cost.
