How to Build a Badass DIY Camper Van
If you have enough money, it’s easy to buy an incredible adventure rig. Building a camper van, on the other hand, is trickier but a helluva lot more affordable.
You can either go the cheap, bare-bones route or opt for the nicest amenities around, but I prefer an approach that strikes a balance between the two.
I spent less than $15,000 (plus the vehicle) retrofitting my Sprinter cargo van, including items like a stainless-steel fridge and a full electrical system with solar. Some people fully devote six months to a build-out, but mine took about four months of part-time effort. (I’d rather mountain bike than build stuff.)
Whether you’re retrofitting a used Ford Econoline or a new Mercedes Sprinter 4×4, here’s a framework to guide your decisions…
Read the full article at Outside Magazine.
Nice! Congrats on your first article with Outside!!
Thanks, Megan! Hopefully not the first AND last. I’ve already got a few other ideas I’m working on for future article pitches.
Wow! I love this idea over any other camper. Just curious, how many miles per gallon do you get?
It’s prettttty fun, gotta say. I track all our mileage and so far we’re right at 20.5 mpg. Not bad for a little house with all our possessions, if you ask me. I don’t think mileage is a huge deal unless you’re driving a ton, actually. Power and longevity of the engine is a big factor too. The Ford Transit is a new rig in the last couple years that is great too!
Wow, that’s good mileage considering all your hauling. Love it, maybe some day I’ll have a rig like that. Happy travels!!
Congrats Dakota on the Outside article! Thanks for sharing the world with your readers via all these thoughtful and photographic posts!
Gracias, amiga! I love sharing our journey; thanks for reading and for the shout out. Hope all’s well.
I have just sold my VW California size van and I like your van so much Im going to use it as a basis for my next conversion. Thanks for the blog. Go neiri an bothar leat (may the road always rise to meet you).