More people in the United Kingdom have been enjoying holidaying at home in the past couple of years, instead of going abroad. With the cost of accommodation increasing, there is a cheaper solution available and that is a camper van. You may be wondering what are the best vans to convert to a camper van.
With there being so much choice available for vans to choose from, it can be tricky to find a van that’s right for your camper van conversion. Rather than spend thousands of pounds on a purpose built camper van, it’s cheaper to buy a van and convert it into a camper van yourself.
If you are struggling to find a van that’s right for your latest camper van conversion project, that’s where Nationwide Cars can come in and help. This piece looks at the best vans for a camper conversion.
How Much Is A Camper Van Conversion?
This depends on how much you are willing to spend on your camper van conversion. Adding in a bed and cooking stove would require very little investment, but if you want to create your own home from home, it can cost you a few thousand pounds to do this.
With your camper van conversion, you should make sure that you prioritise comfort. It’s worth stretching your budget to include high-quality materials. By doing this, it means that you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep in your van wherever you are staying in the UK for your staycation.
When it comes to installing the electrics, gas and plumbing for your camper van conversion, we recommend getting it installed by a professional for safety reasons. If you decide to do this yourself, then it’s worth getting the electrics, gas and plumbing checked over by a professional before using them in your van.
Volkswagen Transporter
Volkswagen has been synonymous with camper vans for over 70 years, so it's no surprise that the VW Transporter tops the list for best vans for a camper van conversion. At Nationwide Cars, we have a wide variety of Transporter models that you can choose from to convert into a camper van.
If you decide to choose the VW Transporter for your camper van conversion project, its 2-litre diesel engine provides plenty of fuel efficiency. When it comes to the Transporter’s load area, it has 1600m, which gives it more than enough space for you to convert it into your own home from home.
With the VW Transporter being one of the most popular vans for converting into a camper van, it makes it easy to find components on the van that you can replace yourself.
Ford Transit
If you are unable to afford a Volkswagen Transporter, there is a cheaper alternative and that’s the Ford Transit. For more than half a century, the Transit has been the van of choice for many people and businesses across the UK.
The Transit offers a wide range of roof heights and load lengths, which allows campervan converters to create their own home from home. Where Ford’s flagship van shines is how fuel-efficient it is. The 2-litre EcoBlue diesel engine delivers nearly 44 mpg, making it one of the most fuel-efficient large vans for a campervan conversion.
Its large load length of 3044mm means that you have plenty of space to create your dream camper van.
Peugeot Expert
With there being so many medium vans available on the market, the Peugeot Expert is a good choice for converting into a camper van, particularly for solo travellers. The Expert is well-renowned for being one of the best medium vans to drive, making it perfect for the UK’s tight, twisty A and B roads, motorways and dual carriageways.
It’s also one of the most stylish medium vans that we offer when it comes to campervan conversions. Not only does the Expert deliver in terms of style, but it has plenty of space. Our Expert Long Professional Premium van model has a load width of over 1600m, giving you lots of space to add a sofa, bed and kitchen into your van.
Fiat Ducato
The Fiat Ducato is tailor-made for camper van conversions, making it the ideal choice if you are converting your newly-bought van into a camper van. When it comes to Ducato’s handling, it handles extremely well in tight city streets and tight country roads.
It’s also one of the most fuel-efficient large vans on the market as its 2.3-litre multijet diesel engine delivers nearly 48mpg, surpassing the Transporter’s 44mpg. If you are looking for a large van that you can easily convert into a camper van, then we recommend going for the Fiat Ducato.
Vauxhall Vivaro
If you are looking for a medium van to convert into a camper van that doesn’t cost you a lot of money, then it’s worth going for the Vauxhall Vivaro. Its low roof, as well as practical load area makes it a great van option for a camper van conversion project.
The load area of the Vivaro has enough space for you to convert it from a normal van into a camper van. You won’t have to worry about overloading it with a big bed or sofa, meaning that everyone in your family is able to sleep comfortably inside the Vivaro.
Start Your Camper Van Conversion By Buying Your Van From Nationwide Cars
Finding the right van to convert into a camper van is important for any camper van conversion project you are working on. We hope the vans we’ve listed in this piece have made it easier to pick a van that you can turn into your own home from home.
Nationwide Cars offer a wide range of small, medium and large vans that can be used to convert a van into a camper van. We offer vans at affordable prices and come equipped with the latest technology as standard to make it easy to drive to your staycation in the UK.
If you have any questions about the best vans to convert to a camper van, contact our team today. We also offer finance options to help finance your van that you are looking to convert into a camper van.
