Why I Chose a Custom-Built Sprinter Van
Whether you’re thinking about van life and not sure which van to purchase or how to go about it, or you’re just curious about this wild life I’ve decided to live, I want to share a bit about the decision-making process and research that led me to choosing the Mercedes-Benz 4×4 Sprinter 170” wheelbase, and also why I decided to hire a professional builder. You can find many articles about van life and why you should choose this van or that, and the pros and cons. I’m not going to try to convince you to make the same decisions I made, but I I know I found value in reading other perspectives on these topics, and it helped me make the decisions that were right for me (and especially the pups). While the nomad community is growing, it’s still a fraction of the population, and we all do it for different reasons. Reading others’ perspectives and reasoning helped me decide what was best for me, so I hope this will help someone too.
Why I Chose Sprinter (and 4×4)
The most popular vans to convert in the US are the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Dodge Promaster. Before I did much research, I thought I’d want to go with a Transit or Promaster, simply for the ease of finding someone to maintain it (and also cheaper maintenance costs). I quickly learned neither offer a 4×4 option (although Transit does offer AWD). 4×4 is a must-have for me. I plan to spend the majority of my time off grid and in the wild, and would like the ability to go offroad to find the very best campsites in the mountains or on beaches without worrying (as much) about getting stuck. I’m not saying you can’t get stuck with 4×4, but without 4×4, it’s almost guaranteed to happen on a regular basis. While 4×4 is the single biggest reason I decided to go with Sprinter, these factors also played a part:
Resale value. While I do want to live this lifestyle for at least two years, it probably won’t be forever, and you never know what can happen. Based on what I was seeing on the market on websites like vanlifetrader.com, Sprinters easily have the best resale value–especially 4x4s.
Reliability. I know there are many out there who would argue this, but there seem to be just as many, if not more people who vouch for the reliability of Sprinters and their overall performance. I’m also buying new to mitigate maintenance costs, so while maintenance on a Sprinter is easily more expensive, I think it will likely balance out with any potential maintenance costs corresponding to buying a used Transit or Promaster.
Aesthetics. I’m not perfect; you all know this. Looks matter. At the end of the day, a van is a van, and I certainly didn’t rule out the Promaster or Transit for their frog-faces (you can’t unsee it now, but hey, frogs are cute), but I won’t say I’m unhappy about having the best looking van on the market.
Why I Chose 170” Wheelbase
Admittedly I really wanted to go with a smaller wheelbase (the 144” Sprinter or even the middle-sized 159” Promaster), because the idea of driving (and especially parking) this thing is daunting. Either way it will be an adjustment, and these are the reasons I chose the 170” wheelbase:
Dogs. I have two of them, and considering I’m constantly tripping over them in the house (especially Harley, my terrier mix, who always curls up right under wherever it is I’m sitting), I figured we could all use the extra space. I don’t want them to feel too cramped on days when we’re stuck in the city or the weather is too bad to hang out outside.
Shower. I decided I definitely want an indoor shower. I almost had myself convinced I could just have an outdoor shower and use gyms during the colder months, but considering I want to stick to more rural areas, I know gyms will be hard to come by. The less I have to plan my travels around relying on something like finding a gym, the better. What I haven’t decided is whether I want to have a fully enclosed wet bath, or whether I want a hideaway shower in a counter or a bench, so if you have any experience or insight into this, please comment below!
Fixed Bed + Extra Seating Options. Since I’m going to have a fixed bed rather than a convertible living/sleeping area (I really want that garage space under the bed for extra storage + more room for the dogs), I wanted a little more interior space in the van for seating. It’s important that I have a comfortable workspace, and it will be great for dining and hanging out with friends in the van too. I’m also trying to figure out the best layout to work a guest sleeping area into the equation.
Why a Professional Build Over DIY or Buying an Already-Converted Van
While I would have loved to go the DIY route for the cost-savings alone, this was the easiest option to rule out for me. I’m not mechanically inclined, and while I’m willing to learn, the amount of time that would have taken I simply did not have. The money I would have saved going this route, I would have lost by continuing to pay for housing during the 6+ months it would take me to build it. The time spent building the van is also time I wouldn’t be able to focus on my copywriting business, which is something I simply can’t afford as I transition careers.
Ruling out DIY left me with the option of paying a professional builder or finding an already-converted van. You can find so many awesome converted vans for sale on websites like vanlifetrader.com. I came so close to almost buying a converted short bus (skoolie, as they’re called) and a 1970s-era Dodge camper (I still dream about that vintage masterpiece!), but a few things pushed me to wait for my custom Sprinter. Even with the newer vans you can find on those websites, there was always something I had my mind set on that they didn’t have (no shower, too small of a water tank, no 4wd, unknown maintenance history, not enough insulation, etc.). The ones that did have everything I was looking for were far more expensive than what I was quoted to have mine built and totally customized to me; prices for used 4×4 Sprinters are sky high right now since they are so hard to come by.
So, professional build it is! I will admit there are drawbacks here–they are expensive to have done (rightfully so, as there is a lot of labor and skill that goes into them), and so many established, reliable builders have 1 year+ long wait lists. It was disheartening at first and I really started to think I’d just have to build an already-converted van. I then found Dan and Kristina at Roam Overland Vehicles.
When I found them, they were in Texas which would have been perfect for me as I could have stayed with family during the build, but when I reached out, they let me know they were about to move to Oregon. I still wanted to try to make it work and chatted through some initial ideas with them, but ultimately I decided I wanted to work with someone closer to me on the east coast. They are so innovative, passionate about what they do, and were so helpful when it came to deciding on my van and how to go about finding one, so I had to give them a shout out. If you’re on the west coast or comfortable with not being close to the build, I highly recommend them.
I later found Sam at Stand Up Vans in Boone, NC. I felt great about moving forward with him after chatting through my ideas and questions on our initial call. I also had total confidence in him after looking through his past builds and learning about his engineering background. He also spent time living in a van, so I knew he’d have a good idea of what van lifers really need. His carpentry and design skills are also incredible, and I loved that he was open to the idea of letting me spend some time in the shop during the build to learn about things such as the electrical system. It’s important to me to learn as much as I can so I can do my own troubleshooting, at minimum, if anything ever goes wrong.
It’s so reassuring knowing my van/future home is in the hands of a skilled professional who does this for a living and has learned from past experience. I recently sent my 50% deposit to Sam so he can start ordering materials, and I can’t wait to drop off my van to him at the end of August/beginning of September. I’m sure as I continue to research and when I actually move into the van, I’ll learn more about what I do and don’t need; more than likely, I’m sure I’ll realize I need a lot less than I think I need, but that’s all part of the minimalism journey.
Now that the major decisions have been made, I can focus on the fun stuff like layout (which I’m admittedly struggling with) and colors/materials/design. I’ll be sure to update you here as it takes shape. If you have any questions about any of the options I’ve chosen so far, feel free to drop them in the comments!
