Best Full-Time Camper Vans For Living In | Guide

Last Updated on 05/03/2024 by Glynn Willard

What Are The Best Campervans To Live In?

 
The best camper vans for full time RV living require a few standard features to make it possible.
 

• A designated sleeping area.

 

• Easy access to a bathroom.

 

• Enough storage space for your different needs.

 

• A decent amount of freshwater storage

 

• Adequate waste storage tanks to match your RV lifestyle.

 

• A way to power your appliances (battery and solar panel or a generator).

 

• And in my opinion (if that counts) decent fuel efficiency.

 
Sure, you can rough it and “live in a van down by the river,” but you’re reading this article because you want to maintain a decent quality of life in a campervan.

Right?

Imagine boondocking full-time for two years in a bumper pull travel trailer with a family of four.

And then you decide to “downsize” to a campervan for 4-8 week trips.

That’s just what we did!

How does our story benefit you?

The benefit for you is that we can give you some real-life comparison between living in a campervan and a 28′ travel trailer.

Then you’re better equipped to select the best RV for you.

 

 
 

How Will You Use Your Van Full-Time?

 
I can’t stress enough that your priority should be to decide how you plan to camp with the van before you begin shopping rather than just going with a popular choice.

It makes a real difference in the vans you’ll test drive!

And it will eliminate a lot of wasted time.

The most important factor is to find the right type of van that will make your road trips comfortable and get you into the locations you desire.

Let’s break this down further.
 

Do You Plan To Live Exclusively In RV Parks?

 

 
If you plan on residing in campgrounds with hookups, you don’t need to shop for a van equipped for boondocking.

You can focus more on class B motorhomes with creature comforts like:
 

• More interior space (more “living room”)

 

• A larger bathroom

 

• Larger air conditioning unit

 

• Power-hungry appliances to meet your individual needs.

 
You won’t have to focus on the features listed in the next section.
 

Will You Be Boondocking Most Of The Time?

 
On the flip side, if all you want to do is boondock, the van will need the systems in place to allow boondocking for a longer duration.

You’ll be shopping for an “adventure van” and focusing on the following aspects:
 

• Large freshwater holding tank

 

• Decent amount of capacity in your waste holding tanks.

 

• High ground clearance without tanks, batteries, or generators residing on the bottom of the van.

 

• A way to generate your own power off-grid.

 
Less space inside the van is less of a concern since you’ll have plenty of space outside the van when you’re boondocking on public lands.

Again, how you plan to use the van makes all the difference in how you approach the shopping experience.
 

How Many People Living In The Campervan?

 

 
Let’s face it, class B camper vans are really meant for one-to-two people.

Especially for full-time living.

We travel part-time as a family of four in a Roadtrek Zion campervan and it’s too tight to consider for full-time.

So if there are more than two of you, consider a travel trailer and tow vehicle instead of a campervan.

You’ll end up with a better “bang for the buck” and be far more comfortable!
 

What Part Of The Country For Van Life?

 

 
If you plan to spend the majority of your time on or close to the East Coast of the US, don’t plan on boondocking (much).

This means you can shop for a class B RV that’s not equipped for challenging terrain or long-duration boondocking.

In other words, you really don’t have any limitations in the type of van for which you shop.

But if you plan on spending a lot of time in the West of the US, having a campervan equipped for boondocking will allow you to enjoy some beautiful remote locations.

Yes, a lot of the boondocking locations in the West are accessible by almost any van.

But, there’s no way our Roadtrek could make it to some of the remote locations that we found in our Outdoors RV travel trailer.
 

Which Van Chassis Is Best For Full-Time RVers?

 
Okay, this is a lot like asking people what the best ice cream flavor is!

It is somewhat subjective, but when it comes to vans, some considerations may influence your decision on the best choice.
 

• The most important consideration: Is it a reliable van (overall)?

 

• Fuel type and fuel efficiency.

 

• Is it easy to find service centers all over North America for that particular chassis?

 

• Does it have low maintenance costs?

 

• Is it available in four-wheel drive or just two-wheel drive?

 
Currently, you have the following chassis to choose from if you want a new van:
 

• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
   
  The Mercedes Sprinter van has an excellent track record, but you’ll have to get used to diesel and adding DEF.

  Maintenance costs are higher and service centers are not as pervasive as some of the more common American chassis.

  You’ll enjoy better gas mileage with a diesel. Who knows how fuel prices will compare when you’re reading this article?

  It’s also available in two or four-wheel drive.

 

• Dodge Ram Promaster
   
  Our Roadtrek Zion campervan is built on a Ram chassis (Promaster 3500), is reliable (so far), gets approximately 16 mpg on the highway, and is easy to have serviced.

  I’m not a huge Dodge fan (sorry if you are), but the Promaster checks off a lot of boxes for us and we like the “bang for the buck” Roadtrek offers.

 

• Ford Transit Vans
   
  Ford makes a reliable cargo van that’s available in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive.

  It too gets decent fuel economy and is easy to have serviced.

  In recent years, Ford has come out with the Transit Trail Adventure which is designed for both professional and DIY conversion kits.

 

 
For those of you located outside the United States, you may have the Fiat Ducato as an option.
 
If you’re looking for a used van or one to do your own conversion, you can broaden your search to the following:
 

• Nissan NV

 

• Chevy Express

 

• GMC Savana

Again, some of the vans listed will require you or a professional to do your own camper conversion.

Once you figure out the right van chassis, you can move on to standard and optional features.

Keep in mind the most suitable production campervan may be built on a chassis that’s not your first choice.

Try to stay open-minded since your full-time comfort is important.
 

 

What Standard Features Are Necessary?

 
To live in your van, you’ll need to cook, bathe, work (maybe), and sleep comfortably.

I realize that’s obvious, but keep each of these aspects in mind as you narrow down your selection.

Many van builds do not include a shower and it’s easy to think you can shower at campgrounds or chain gyms, but in reality, it’s nice to have a shower on-board.

And I hope you’re putting effort into cooking and preparing your food rather than living off processed, convenience foods.

Enough counter space, a large sink, and several ways to heat your food make a measurable difference when you’re preparing food in a small space.

A large enough table to make dining comfortable as well as offer adequate “real estate” for your laptop is also a necessity.
 

 
In addition, it would be nice if the full-size bed could be left in place, still allowing room for your dining/work table.

Setting up and breaking down your bed daily gets old very fast!

Remember, inconveniences are amplified in small vans.
 

What Are The Best Vans For Your Full-Time Van Life?

 
We’ll look at this from two perspectives.

First, if you’re not going to rely on boondocking as a primary means of camping.

And second, if you plan to boondock almost exclusively.

The vans listed are in no particular order.

Research each one before seeking one to see in person.

Again, less time wasted is a good thing.
 

Best Full-Time Campervans For RV Parks

 

• Noovo Pop

   
  

  

  Photo courtesy of Noovo website.

  
   
  Noovo is a newer campervan manufacturer with a unique background worth looking into while you’re researching.
   
  I believe you’ll find Noovo to have the best craftsmanship and be very livable.
   
  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • The cabinetry is both high-end and beautiful.

      

     • Great insulation.

      

     • There’s a nice flow of space around the living area.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • Forty gallons of fresh water in a van is outstanding!

      

     • Although small, the wet bath serves the bathing needs well.

      

     • A large, efficient DC refrigerator is standard.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust and expandable.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • A cassette toilet may not be appealing to many full-time RVers.

   

• Roadtrek Zion

   
  
   
  When we were shopping, this is what we kept returning to during our research and ultimately purchased.

  Currently, Roadtrek models are built on a Ram Promaster Chassis, but that may change in the future.

  I believe Roadtrek offers the best “bang for the buck” for full-time van living.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • The cabinetry is upper-mid grade.

      

     • There’s a nice flow of space around the living area.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The freshwater and wastewater tanks a very large for a van.

      

     • Although small, the wet bath serves the bathing needs well.

      

     • An onboard macerator makes for easy dumping of the waste tanks.

      

     • A large, efficient DC refrigerator is standard.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust (although confusing initially).

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • Because of the low profile and batteries on the undercarriage, it’s not great traversing rough terrain on public lands.

      

     • The insulation could be better.

   

• Winnebago Solis 59PX

   
  

  

  We came close, but the quality just wasn’t there.

  
   
  When we first began our search, the Winnebago Solis was the first to appear on our radar.

  The price was right and it seemed to have everything we needed.

  After touring one several times, we decided there were too many cons for the price.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • Insulation is “mid-level” decent.

      

     • There’s a nice flow of space around the living area.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The wet bath is well laid out.

      

     • For some, the onboard generator may seal the deal.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • Because of the low profile and batteries/generator on the undercarriage, it’s not great traversing rough terrain on public lands.

      

     • The freshwater tank is too small.

      

     • Not everyone will find the cassette toilet to be “livable.”

      

     • The passenger seats are too close together if you’re carrying three or more people.

   

• Pleasure-Way Plateau TS

   
  

  

  Photo courtesy of Pleasure Way RV website.

  
   
  This particular Pleasure Way Van is built on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis, so you’ll need to be comfortable with diesel.

  Also, it’s more difficult to find Mercedes service centers that can accommodate a campervan.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • Insulation is decent.

      

     • There’s a nice flow of space around the living area.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The wet bath is extremely well laid out.

      

     • The refrigerator is large enough for all of your needs.

      

     • The battery system is comparable to Roadtrek’s (600 AH of lithium).

      

     • There’s a separate generator in addition to the batteries. This is a real plus!

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • Because of the low profile, dually wheels and equipment on the undercarriage, it’s not great traversing rough terrain on public lands.

      

     • The freshwater tank is too small for the size of the van.

   

• Airstream Interstate 24GT

   
  

  

  Photo courtesy of Airstream website.

  
   
  The Airstream is also built on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis, so you’ll need to be comfortable with diesel.

  It’s more difficult to find Mercedes service centers that can accommodate a campervan.

  If Airstream is your jam, they also produce a newer model on the Ram Promaster chassis, called the Rangeline.

  It’s very similar to the Winnebago Solis.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • Insulation is solid.

      

     • There’s a nice flow of space around the living area.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The cabinets are high-end.

      

     • The wet bath is a little bigger than the competition.

      
      

     • The refrigerator is adequate (just big enough)

      

     • There’s a separate generator.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • Because of the low profile, dually wheels and equipment on the undercarriage, it’s not great traversing rough terrain on public lands.

      

     • The freshwater tank is too small for the size and high cost of the van.

      

     • The battery bank is too small.

 

Best Full-Time Campervans For Boondocking

 

• ModVans MH1

   
  

  

  Photo credit: ModVans.com

  
   
  ModVans would have been our first choice if we lived on the West Coast. The creative layout was clearly designed by enthusiasts who have lived in a van.

  And its off-road capability makes it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to live and boondock full-time in a van.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • The cabinetry is solid and high-end.

      

     • Your living space is customizable (modular).

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust and expandable to the largest in the industry.

      

     • Great insulation.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • A small refrigerator.

      

     • Less water storage than I like.

      

     • A longer wait time since they’re not sold on lots.

      

     • Expensive, but still a great value

   

• Storyteller Overland

   
  

  

  We really wanted this van to suit the four of us!

  
   
  We came very close to buying a Storyteller Stealth Mode.

  It checked so many boxes but was just too cramped for four people.

  It’s very off-road capable and would be our second choice for a full-time boondocking campervan.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • The cabinetry is the best we’ve ever seen in an RV.

      

     • A very comfortable mattress.

      

     • The bed seconds as the perfect height standing desk large enough for two workstations.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust and user-friendly.

      

     • Great insulation.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • A small refrigerator.

      

     • Less water storage than a van of this caliber should have.

      

     • Expensive, but still a great value.

   

• Winnebago Revel

   
  

  

  Photo credit: Winnebago website

  
   
  The newer Revel models have a better passenger seat setup than older models.

  It may look like the Storyteller Overland, but the quality is inferior for the price.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • It’s a great chassis that’s very off-road capable.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust.

      

     • A decent amount of freshwater.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • A small refrigerator.

      

     • Expensive for what you get.

      

     • A cassette toilet, again, is not very feasible for full-time living.

   

• Tiffin GH1

   
  

  

  Photo credit: Tiffin website

  
   
  Tiffin makes a high-end line of motorhomes.

  I have not seen a GH1 in person, but the other Tiffin products I’ve toured have exceeded my expectations.

  So it may be worth a look for you.
   

  1. What makes this van livable?
      
     • It’s a great chassis that’s very off-road capable.

      

     • Plenty of storage.

      

     • The off-grid battery system is robust.

      

     • A decent amount of freshwater.

      

     • An onboard air compressor is a real plus.

      

  2. What makes this van less livable?
      
     • A small refrigerator.

      

     • Expensive for what you get.

      

     • It could use a larger freshwater tank.

      

     • A cassette toilet, again, is not very feasible for full-time living.

 

Which Campervans Didn’t Make The Cut?

 

 
I did not include the following vans in this article because after touring them, we found the quality to be subpar.

There will be a lot of wear and tear living full-time in a van, which requires a good-quality build.

The last thing you need is frequent repairs while enjoying your van life adventures.
 

• Thor Motorcoach Tellaro

 

• Coachman Galleria

 

• Jayco Swift

 

 

Custom Van Builds For Full-time Van Life

 

 
If you’re fine with the high price tags of custom vans, there’s a lot to be said for starting with a blank slate to make it “your own van.”

There are a lot of up-and-coming custom van builders all over the nation.

Consider looking into one who has been around for a while, has a good reputation, and can warranty their work.
 

Wrapping Up The Best Campervans For You

 
A pro tip before finalizing your decision is to join a private FB page specifically for the type of campervan in which you’re interested.

You’ll be immersed in with camper van owners of that particular brand and they tend to disclose all and answer questions better than a dealership.

I hope I have given you a solid springboard to jump off of as you start researching the best campervan for YOU.
 
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