The Best Van for Van Life (& What Vans To Avoid)

You’re ready to take the plunge into van life! Congratulations! But before you can hit the road you need to decide what the best van to live in is. The best van for van life is a very personal decision, but there are also a few I’d never recommend to anyone.

I chose a Ford Transit because I wanted a van tall enough to accommodate my brothers who are both over 6’3″ and the Transit high roof is the tallest van on the market.

After 4 years in van life, I know all the in’s and out’s of vans for van life, and I’m putting all of that knowledge into this post so you can make the best choice for your rig!

Here’s what you can expect from this post:

• An overview of the best vans for van life and their pros and cons
• What to consider when deciding between the best vans to live
• Detailed specs for each van – dimensions, MPG, features

Now, let’s find the best van for you is!

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#1 Best Van for Van Life – Mercedes Sprinter

The Mercedes Sprinter is typically what most people imagine when they hear “van life”. It’s the OG van and (in my opinion) one of the best looking vans.

Until 2024, Mercedes Sprinters were available in either gas or diesel. Starting in 2024, only diesel engines are available.

Mercedes has also made changes to their drivetrain. 4×4 Sprinter vans were available through the 2022 models. Sprinter vans built in 2023 or later are available with AWD only.

The AWD Sprinter will cost around $7,000 more than the RWD van. AWD Sprinters come with a 4-inch lift from the factory, which really helps with ground clearance.

I personally think ground clearance is far more valuable than your tire traction. You can also achieve a 2- or 4- inch lift with a RWD Sprinter with an after-market upgrade.

Available Options for Mercedes Sprinter Vans

Wheelbases: 144”, 170” and 170” extended.
Roof height: Standard and high
Drivetrain: RWD or AWD (4×4 available on 2022 and older)
Width at floor: 70.4”
Gas mileage: 14-17 MPG
Fuel type: Gasoline or diesel (2024 and newer models available only in diesel)
Warranty: Limited warranty covers 3 years / 36,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers 5 years / 60,000 miles.
Starting Price: $45,795

Read this article for a complete overview of Mercedes Sprinter van dimensions.

#2 Best Van for Van Life – Ford Transit

Another one of the best vans for van life is a Ford Transit. This is the van I decided to buy after a significant amount of research and I’ve been really happy with it.

I was surprised by how easy it is to drive a Ford Transit. It drives like a car. The only difference is how long it is, but the actual feel of the drivers seat, the turning radius, and the vehicle handling is identical to a large SUV.

I strongly debated between the Ford Transit and the Mercedes Sprinter. Ultimately, I liked the price of the Transit, as well as the interior height (it’s the tallest van available).

Available Options for Ford Transit Vans

Wheelbases: 130”, 148” and 148” extended.
Roof height: Standard, medium and high
Drivetrain: RWD or AWD
Width at floor: 54” (extends to 70” mid-height)
Gas mileage: 14-19 MPG
Fuel type: Gasoline or diesel
Warranty: Limited warranty covers 3 years / 36,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers 5 years / 60,000 miles.
Starting Price: $45,350

Read this article for a complete overview of Ford Transit dimensions.

#3 Best Van for Van Life – Ram ProMaster

If your van life plans include a lot of city dwelling then the Ram ProMaster may be the best van for van life.

Largely, the downfalls of the ProMaster revolve around its ability (or lack thereof) to maneuver off-roading well. That’s great news for anyone who doesn’t plan to do much overlanding because the ProMaster is one of the most affordable options.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Ram ProMaster is the poor quality transmission. Vans built between 2014-2021 at known for having a lot of problems, many requiring new transmissions (some with fewer than 40,000 miles!).

While it appears that many of these transmission problems were solved for 2022 models and newer, keep in mind it’s still early on, and it’s possible the problems just haven’t surfaced yet.

If you’re building out your own van, the ProMaster is one of the easiest vans to build. It’s boxier, which means fewer curves and unusual angles to try an build around.

It’s also the widest van available, so if you plan to sleep side-to-side and are taller this is a great option.

Available Options for Ram ProMaster Vans to Live In

Wheelbases: 118”, 136”, 159” and 159” Ext
Roof height: Standard, high and super high
Drivetrain: FWD
Width at floor: 75”
Gas mileage: 17-20 MPG
Fuel type: Gasoline or diesel
Warranty: Limited warranty covers 3 years / 36,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers 5 years / 60,000 miles.
Starting Price: $43,085

Read this article for a complete overview of Ram ProMaster dimensions.

#4 Best Van for Van Life – Ford Econoline

The Ford Econoline van (also known as the Ford E-Series) is no longer manufactured.

In 2015, Ford replaced the Econoline with the Transit. Since then Ford has only offered the Ford Econoline as a cutaway or stripped chassis, not as a van. This means you cannot buy a new Ford Econoline van today.

However, it’s still possible to find used Ford Econoline vans and they make a great van for van life.

#5 Best Van for Van Life – Nissan NV

You probably haven’t seen many of these on the road. That’s because Nissan only produced these from 2011 through 2021.

Nissan NV’s were largely known as contractor vehicles, so you’re probably more familiar with seeing these vans with plumbing and electrician logos on them.

Although they’ve been discontinued you can still find these vans reasonably priced on the used market.

#6 Best Van for Van Life – Ford Transit Trail

Starting in 2023, Ford released a new version of the Transit which is marketed towards the overlanding community as the Transit Trail.

The Transit Trail takes your standard Transit and upgrades it with enhancements like front swivel seats, an onboard AC inverter and built-in fuse panel, as well as a more rugged style, all-terrain tires and standard all-wheel drive.

If you’re looking for a van to convert yourself, this isn’t a bad option. It takes a lot of the prep work out of the build.

However, you’ll pay a premium for that. Additionally, you’ll have fewer options when it comes to customization because the Transit Trail only has a few options for placement of things like roof vent fans.

My opinion is that the increased cost of this van isn’t worth it. I suggest you get the regular Transit and save yourself about $10,000.

Currently, the Transits are easier to find, too. Transit Trail still has a long wait list with many people placing orders, waiting months, and then being told their order was canceled. Safe to say, the rollout of the Transit Trail has been brutal and embarrassing for Ford.

Available Options for Ford Transit Trail Vans

Wheelbases: 148” and 148” extended
Roof height: Medium and high
Drivetrain: AWD
Width at floor: 54” (extends to 70” mid-height)
Gas mileage: 14-19 MPG
Fuel type: Gasoline
Warranty: Limited warranty covers 3 years / 36,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers 5 years / 60,000 miles.
Starting Price: $67,770

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Van for Van Life

These are the top things you need to think about when you’re narrowing your list of the best vans for van life:

• Roof Height
• Wheelbase
• Length
• Fuel Type
• Fuel Efficiency
• Maintenance Frequency and Cost
• Off-roading Capabilities

Let’s discuss…

Roof Height

Do you want to be able to stand up inside your van? I do.

If you’re planning trips longer than a weekend here and there in your van then you’ll be much more comfortable in a high-roof van.

Having the ability to stand up in your van makes simple tasks like brushing your teeth, cooking dinner, showering in your van and folding laundry more convenient.

Additionally, rainy days can keep you “indoors” for hours at a time and it can be incredibly miserable to feel cramped and unable to stretch.

Most vans come with options for roof-height. If you’re unable to find a high-roof van you always have the option to retrofit with a fiberglass roof to add more height.

The tallest van is the Ford Transit High-Roof model.

Wheelbase Options for the Best Vans For Van Life

Van wheelbase refers to the distance between the front and rear axle. A majority of the best vans for van life come in several wheelbase options.

Longer wheelbases (more distance between the front and rear axle) give you more interior space (good for living in) but are trickier to park due to their length and are more prone to “bottoming out” on bumpy roads (bad for driving.)

Length Options

Length is closely tied to wheelbase options, with a few exceptions. 

For example, the Ford Transit comes in two wheelbases: 130” and 148”. However, there is also an extended option for the 148” wheelbase which provides about 3 more feet of interior beyond the standard 148” wheelbase.

The longest van available is the Mercedes Sprinter 170″ extended – approximately 24 feet long. The Ford Transit 148″ extended is almost as long as the longest Sprinter – around 22 feet long.

Bumper-to-bumper length has a few considerations beyond drivability. 

Ferry’s may have length limits, or impose additional fees for longer vehicles. In my experience the length limit is typically 22 feet, which will fit every camper van (except the Mercedes Sprinter 170” extended which is roughly 24 feet).

Additionally, most parking spaces are 16-18 feet long. Having a longer van limits options for street parking (yikes on parallel parking too!) as well as parking lots. 

In my experience, most parking lots have enough space that I can find tandem spots to park in. Occasionally, I have to find a perimeter spot that I can back into and have my back bumper overhand the curb or grass.

Fuel Type

Gasoline or diesel? I went with gasoline, but there’s not a wrong choice, it just depends on what you need.

Gasoline is cheaper per gallon but has less efficiency. One gallon of gasoline won’t get you as far as one gallon of diesel. On average, diesel is 20-35% more efficient.

For example, that means one gallon of gasoline can get you 10 miles, and one gallon of diesel can get you 12-13 miles.

Diesel is typically more expensive, but not by more than 20%. It’s often 25-50 cents more per gallon (roughly 15% more). That means diesel is actually more cost effective than gas.

But the fuel cost isn’t the only part of this equation. Vehicle prices are different for engines that will work with gasoline vs diesel, and you need to account for that, too.

Gasoline engines are cheaper. The upfront cost of buying gasoline is much less than buying a diesel. Repairs are more frequent, but less expensive.

While you’ll pay more for a diesel van, diesel engines tend to last much longer. They don’t need repairs as frequently, but when they do expect to pay a lot.

If you’re looking for a brand new, or low milage van, either gasoline or diesel is a good option.

If you’re looking at vans with over 100,000 miles on them, I would strongly consider looking at diesel engines.

Fuel Efficiency

Realistically, there isn’t a van that gets terrific gas mileage. These vans max out around 20 mpg, but realistically you’ll be lucky to get around 15 mpg.

My Ford Transit 148″ Extended averages 15.6 mpg after fully building it out.

Maintenance & Repairs

While maintenance and repairs aren’t something you want to deal with, knowing what to expect is far better than being surprised.

Consider the reliability of the vehicle and whether it has any known issues that occur at specific mileage milestones. 

Additionally, be sure to factor in the accessibility of a mechanic and for the availability of parts.

Mercedes can be more difficult to find service shops for and any vehicles that are no longer being manufactured may not have parts that are easily found.

Ford dealers are really easy to find across the country, as are Ram dealers. While you see a lot of Mercedes dealers, they don’t all service vans which is why it’s harder to find repair shops.

Mercedes repairs are going to cost a bit more, but in my experience you’ll have fewer of them. Meaning, the lifetime maintenance costs are comparable to Ford Transit and Ram Promasters.

My general recommendation is to buy a Ford Transit van if you’re looking for something new, or under 100,000 miles. If you’re looking for something with more than 100,000 miles then a Mercedes Sprinter van will be the most reliable older van.

However, I would absolutely not buy a Ram Promaster between 2014-2021 unless it’s recently had the transmission rebuilt and you’ve had a third party do a thorough inspection.

Promasters between these years are riddled with transmission problems, some needing multiple new transmissions even before 100,000 miles.

Off-Road Capabilities – 4×4 And Clearance

Chances are that you’re interested in van life because you want to explore. Me too! You won’t spend all of your time on paved roads and parking lots, so having the ability to off-road is helpful in a van.

Do you need a 4×4 van? For most van lifers the answer is no.

4×4 sounds useful, but after several years on the road I can tell you there were only two times I even considered needing 4×4, and I was always fine without it. Even in sand I never got stuck.

It’ll cost you more upfront to buy a van with 4×4, and limit your options for vans (most don’t have 4×4 available). You’ll also sacrifice fuel efficiency.

Most times you can handle off-road terrain with good tires, and some recovery equipment like a shovel or traction tracks.

This is what most people don’t talk about. 4×4 isn’t the crucial component, it’s ground clearance.

Any time I couldn’t reach a campsite it was because my vehicle was bottoming out on the eroded forest road. The road was so uneven the bottom of my van was literally scraping over the rocks and debris in the road. Clearance was my problem, not having good tire traction.

If you’re going to invest money in an upgrade, I would prioritize lifting your vehicle with better leaf springs or taller tires.

Also consider which van you buy. Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter sit higher off the ground, so they’re easier to drive off-road. Ram Promasters sit really low to the ground, which makes off-roading more difficult, but getting in and out of the van much easier.

The Best Van for Van Life: Ram ProMaster vs Ford Transit vs Sprinter Conversion Van

When comparing Ram ProMaster vs Ford Transit vs Sprinter Conversion Van which one is the best van for van life?

If your budget allows, the Mercedes Sprinter is the best van for van life. They’re reliable, comfortable to drive, and have the most number of after market upgrades available. However, they can be very expensive, and the increased cost is not always worth it.

Overall, Ford Transit is the best van for van life and provides the most value for its price. It’s a fairly affordable price with low maintenance costs. Additionally, the Ford Transit has many options for roof height, length and drivetrain- including AWD since 2020.

If you’re looking for a budget option, or you plan to spend most of your time on paved surfaces then the Ram ProMaster is the best van for van life.