The Pros and Cons of a Campervan

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I love our Ram ProMaster Campervan

I love our campervan! I love the fact that we can go anywhere and park anywhere. We can even fit in a regular parking spot and we do not have any trouble driving through a large city or on gravel or dirt roads. There is this nostalgia when I get in our van, this love that overwhelms me knowing I can travel as far as I want and just stop and camp at my convenience. I love this freedom our van provides us! Even though our campervan is wonderful in so many ways, there are some things I wish were different.

The Pros and Cons of a Campervan

I made a list of the pros and cons of having a campervan. I hope this list is helpful to you in your decision whether a campervan is right for you.

I did a lot of research on converting a commercial van into a camper. I wanted to make sure I made the right decision on what van to purchase and if this decision was right for our family. After my extensive research I determined I could make this work and was so excited to start dreaming of new adventures we could take once it was complete!

Ram ProMaster

We purchased a 2017 Ram ProMaster 3500 with a 149 inch wheelbase. We purchased our van in 2021 and converted it into a camper right away. I chose the ProMaster because I liked the size and from listening to other bloggers, I felt it would be easier to find mechanics than it would for a Sprinter van. We purchased our van with a hightop and I highly recommend it. Others mention the high top as not alway a necessity as you are out of the van exploring so often and just in it for sleeping, but when I am in my van I want to feel comfortable and having a high top has felt great!

We have made many small trips and two month long trips traveling around 8,000 miles each. Driving our van is easy and we have had no major problems.

For more details of my van click HERE and for the cost of our build, click HERE

What I LOVE about our CamperVan

• Parking is never an issue. I can park in any parking space. Our van does tend to be a little long but for the most part we can park anywhere

• When visiting friends and family we are able to park in their driveway or the street overnight

• Has enough room for a small kitchen to include a dorm size fridge

• Cheaper than a full size camper. We purchased our van for around $24,000

• Better gas mileage. 24 gallon tank with 16.4 MPG City/20 MPG Highway

• Can drive on back country roads and in tight spaces

• Easy to drive

• I love the convenience of having a van where I can get in and go at anytime and it can park in our driveway at home

• Perfect size for 1-3 people

• Can fit a queen size bed in the van

• The ability to stand up and walk around without ducking my head due to the added high top

• The freedom to travel anywhere and save money on sleeping accommodations. We could spend around $150-200 per night on a hotel or boondock for free or for a very minimal fee. Check out my list of FREE boondocking locations throughout the US.

• Peaceful nights sleeping in the middle of nowhere. Many nights we have no neighbors or they are far away giving a sense of quiet

• Bathrooms/toilet can be added for convenience so you don’t have to stop as often

What I DON’T LOVE about our campervan

• Small space. For our large family, space is limited. For a couple it would be perfect.

• Not enough sleeping space for a large family. I have a full size bed, 2 benches, floor space and hammock hooks. The benches I made are small.

• Smaller dorm fridge and limited kitchen counter space

• No privacy. There is no place that is private which means if someone is getting dressed everyone has to leave the van

• No bathroom. We chose to only have a portable toilet hidden in the van but we have never had to use it yet because we use the restroom every time we stop to get gas

• Not a 4x4 so although we can travel on a lot of gravel/dirt roads, I do worry about getting stuck. I do carry traction boards in case we do get stuck. Purchase a good set of tires also. Let the company know you plan to travel on gravel/dirt road and for long distances so you get the right set of tires. Tires will cost between $800-1200 for all 4 tires.

• Limited space for clothes/shoes - We can wear clothes a couple days in a row which helps but there is limited storage space. We have two storage areas underneath the benches and an upper storage above the front seats which helps

• No living room space. We are always sitting on the bed or benches which brings lots of dirt and sand in that space

• Sliding door has to be slammed to close properly

• No air or heat vent in back of van or when the van is shut off

• Minor things break

  • automatic mirror mechanism doesn’t work properly

  • window fell down and mechanism had to be replaced

  • headlight goes out every couple months, needed to replace

I still love our van and the model we chose

Despite the smaller space I absolutely love my van. Every time I get in it I get this overwhelming sense of comfort knowing I can get in and drive to any adventure my heart desires. I know you would love a Ram ProMaster as well. There is plenty of space to build it out how ever best fits your needs. If you only had a couple people the van would be the perfect size or if you don’t mind the tight space with multiple people it works that way also. You could also purchase a tent for some people to sleep outside to give more space for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Go get a van and start traveling!! You won’t be disappointed.

Dream it, then do it!

If you see me on the road, wave! I love meeting new people.

What do you love or hate about your campervan? Comment below.

Enjoy your journey,

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@adoptinglifesjourney