The value of Sprinter camper vans doesn’t go down all that much, so if you need to sell, it won’t be as big of a hit to your wallet. There are tons of used vans out there, and some people rave about the Dodge Sprinter vans being some of the most reliable for van life. It can be tough to locate a Sprinter van, especially if you want a certain model like the 4×4 high-roof Sprinter crew van. Sometimes you’ll need to order one and wait months to pick it up.
Just like living in a traditional home, living in a van comes with a number of different costs, some recurring and others one-time. And just like in a traditional home, these costs can vary significantly from month to month . If you want to DIY convert your own camper van, looking at other people’s conversions can be a great starting point. This is done by acquiring a van and converting it into a camper van.
When we first started our trip, getting comprehensive insurance for a self-built camper was nearly impossible. Keep in mind, just like furniture in a house, you can spend as little or as much as you want on a conversion. When it comes to food, expenses vary widely from person to person.
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The Cost Of Van Life: Reality Check
As sketchy as Craigslist can be, you can find a lot of vans in your area. Usually people are pretty honest about the shape the car is in, but make sure you have a mechanic look at it if you aren’t sure what to look for. I’ve thought about doing van life before, but because I’m a tall guy I think it would be tough! Maybe I could do it myself, but with a significant other that would just make it even tougher. But after it’s all said and done, I’m still not sure I could actually do it. And frankly, just from the perspective of having a bathroom with a door… living in an RV or even a houseboat seems a lot more practical.
Really though, any type of van can be made into a camper van with a little determination – even a minivan. When we talk about camper vans, we’re most often talking about Class B motorhomes. These are the smallest type of RV, with a form factor similar to a cargo van.
Depending on the country you live in, you may also have a medical insurance policy to cover any health care you may need. A separate car insurance policy covers at least the minimum legal requirements of the country you’re in. You’ll upgrade it to comprehensive cover if you feel the need. You’d probably have a home insurance policy to cover your contents and building, if you own it. The same policy may even stretch to cover portable items in your car.
Things To Consider When Choosing Your Van For Full
These start at around $22 dollars/month and tend to go up from there. We’ve seen RV insurance for converted Sprinter Vans running about $1500 per year. However, this depends on your policy, the value of your van, and the value of the stuff you have inside. My RV Insurance policy is with Progressive and currently runs $2,000 a year. Be sure to read our lesson on how to choose the best RV insurance policy for your van life. Just like budgets vary from van lifer to van lifer, so can the cost of the van conversion.
Thank you for writing this article, it was really helpful for me. The roomy interior of a stepvan means you’ll have plenty of space for things like a full kitchen, bathroom, bed, and workspace. There’s also no problem with standing up inside your van. This is a very small van that doesn’t offer the same cargo space as some of its competitors. This Mercedes Metris has a turbocharged 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a 7-speed transmission.
Budget cargo vans – Ford Econolines, Chevy G Series, Chevy Express, and Chevy Astros are popular budget cargo vans. These vans are typically much older but they are the cheapest option for getting on the road. Remember, van life comes in many shapes and forms, and sometimes a budget DIY build is all you need. Category% of overall spendingnotesTotal SpentGroceries25%Food isn’t cheap in New Zealand. We ate lots of lentil curry, cheese and crackers, eggs… And not a lot of meat.$2311Fuel & Registration23%When I tracked these numbers, I couldn’t see into the future and know I’d be sharing them with y’all one day.
Most people do insulate their vans.The most common materials to use are foam board insulation, spray foam, thinsulate, fiberglass, and wool. Each material varies in effectiveness and some are easier to install than others. Upfitting your van should be done in conjunction withdesigning your electric system. That’s because you don’t want to purchase a refrigerator without taking into account how much power it’s going to draw.
The previous 6 months was a fair bit more at 2782Euro , although a fair bit of this fuel cost was shared. Probably not… I hadn’t either until one of my fellow Broke Backpacker Adventure Experts told me it was the perfect place for a non-standard campervan road trip. JUCY Campers Australia have been around serving backpackers for a long-long time, so they know their clientele and they know them well. Even while growing up in Byron Bay almost twenty years ago, I remember seeing scores of JUCY campervans parked at the beach. Usually, with some happy-go-lucky, not-a-care-in-the-world bangin’ their lack-of-woes away in the backseat. There are a lot of ways to travel a country, but I’d imagine we all have a soft spot for having our own vehicle.
If you have a full-time job that allows you to travel, you might also want to consider a side-hustle to help make ends meet during rougher months. If you’re staying in an area for an extended period of time, cheap gym memberships—like Planet Fitness—often offer showers. Here’s where the expenses can add up—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing considering how much you’re saving on rent each month.
The axle shaft has the wheel lugs on it, and the outer diameter is larger than the rotor itself so it has to be pulled before pulling the rotor. You will usually have to top off the diff with a few oz of fluid, not a bad idea to do every 50k anyway. That said, brakes & suspension are a pretty usual service item on heavy duty vehicles.
Hire a campervan, or an RV, or a converted ice-cream truck… Hell, build one from scratch! You’re going travelling in a van and that means getting travel insurance before you do because, like it or not, things go wrong. Personally, I’d prefer that someone be a faceless insurance corporation with the cash to spare rather than my mum. Meet ‘n’ greet – Use the nights you stay at campsites, backpackers, or wherever else to make friends. Anti-moisture packs – The desiccant ones (of the ‘DO NOT EAT’ variety) that come in just about any sorta packaging and fresh packets of burrito wraps. Use them for keeping away the damp in your campervan’s storage.
You state in your sub notes that replacing your brake rotors required the removal of the axles. I really don’t think that is the case, but if it is I’d love to hear why that is. There are many situations where you can refill water for free. Making your own meals is almost always going to be cheaper than eating out. Practice creating minimalistic meals or reheating extra dinner for breakfast in the morning.
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