So you’re considering buying a van and converting it to your home on wheels? Congratulations! You’re about to make a decision that will change your entire life! This was one of the biggest and most rewarding decisions we have ever made for ourselves. In 2021, we decided we wanted to be able to see more of the beautiful things this country has to offer and be able to do it with our dog and we haven’t looked back since. Now we want to help others just like you have the same experience of taking their home with them everywhere they go.
Here are some things we think are important to consider before purchasing a van:
- What is your budget for the entire build: aka the van itself + the interior?
This is important to determine upfront because while having the best van, or the van you want, can be important, having everything you want in your van to live and travel comfortably is probably more important. Of course, if you can have both, that’s great, but it’s not in the cards for everyone. What we mean by this is do you have enough saved for the build? Are you going to work throughout the build? Are you going to continue to work after the build is done/while you are traveling? Are you taking out a loan to pay for the build? These are some important things to think about or questions to ask yourself when it comes to the financial aspect of your van.
- What kind of van or vehicle do you want?
There are so many types of vehicles you can convert into your tiny home on wheels (vans, ambulances, box trucks, buses, etc.) but for the sake of most of the information we’re providing, we are talking about the 3 main high-roof van options as that is what we have the most experience with, but many of our resources can be applied across the board. The three main options are Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster. All of these come in different lengths, so determining how big of a van you want will also be important in this decision. For more specifics on the pros and cons of each of these different vans, click here.
- Do you want to buy new or used?
Buying new is always great because you do not have to worry how someone before you has treated or maintained the vehicle, plus you will most likely have the option for a good warranty. But this can be expensive and may not fit your budget. Our advice would be if you are willing and able, a new van is a smart route to go, but if you can’t afford a new van or simply want to go the used route, do your research and always take the van to a trusted mechanic for an honest opinion and know what you may be getting yourself into!
- Do you want to build it yourself or have someone build it for you?
The DIY route is definitely going to save you money but if the actual build part sounds awful and you are willing to pay someone to build for you this may be the route for you. There may also be parts of the build you aren’t comfortable with that you would rather have someone with experience handle for you. Or you may feel totally up to all of it yourself, which is awesome too! Either way, there are options and we would be happy to help get you started on your own or even build for you. If you’re interested in us building a van for you, doing parts of the build you’re not comfortable with, or even just want to chat with us about tackling certain areas on your own, shoot us an email or a message on instagram!
- Have you considered renting a van first?
One thing we wish we had done was to try renting a van with a similar layout as the one we built to see how it worked for us. This may not always be possible but doesn’t hurt to look and see if you can, even if it’s only for a night or two. There are apps like RVshare and Outdoorsy where people rent their vans, so it may be worth looking into this before committing to a layout.
- Lastly, don’t skimp on the research or time spent planning your layout and all the components you want to have in your build. Having a step-by-step plan for your layout and the products you will put in your van will help the build process go much more smoothly but it will also help you make sure you stay on track for your budget. The last thing you want to do is end your build with an oh shit moment when you realize you went over budget and don’t have the funds to get out on the road! There is so much more to dive into here but this is a good list of things to know or think of when planning to buy and build a van. For more information check out the other pages on our website or for specific questions reach out to us and we would be happy to help.