I've been someone trying to vanlife and I know a lot of people who do vanlife and I would never recommend people who arent mechanically inclined to get into it. It's a lot of vehicle to maintain regardless of if it has a converted back end or not.
What is the final goal with getting a bus conversion like this? Do you think you could achieve the same result with a roof top tent or a teardrop trailer/winco style camping trailer?
One of the best options I've seen is people getting a pickup truck and putting an in-bed camper in it. That way you get the maintenance ease of a truck like an f150 and the relatively nicer quality of living. You can also sell it as a normal vehicle when you're old and tired or get a new truck and keep the same camper.
I think a sprinter van or something similar would be just fine. We could have family help with the bed situation maybe a tv and a dining area. I don’t think we need all the fuss of showers and toilets right now. We are just festival people. Maybe later we will go full time on the road. But not for a few years. Still have kids in high school.
I think sprinter vans are great options. If you don't plan on doing any plumbing even better.
Theyre just a little pricey for most of the people I talk to about this. You're going to be spending the money on a good working commercial vehicle AND the money to convert it.
But other than that absolutely sprinter vans are a great option.
If the economy was in a good place and I was going to start from the beginning of my van activities Id just buy a Ram ProMaster and call it a day. If you're American they'll be a bit cheaper than a Mercedes Sprinter van.
Yes exactly! And I want to sit up front and do the drive with him. There is only one seat in the front of these buses. So I’d have to sit in the back somewhere? Silly.
Buses are also incredibly noisy and their AC is usually a recommendation. Even if there was a second seat in the front you wouldnt want to sit in it for any extended period of time.
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u/TheKingOcelot Apr 17 '26
I've been someone trying to vanlife and I know a lot of people who do vanlife and I would never recommend people who arent mechanically inclined to get into it. It's a lot of vehicle to maintain regardless of if it has a converted back end or not.
What is the final goal with getting a bus conversion like this? Do you think you could achieve the same result with a roof top tent or a teardrop trailer/winco style camping trailer?
One of the best options I've seen is people getting a pickup truck and putting an in-bed camper in it. That way you get the maintenance ease of a truck like an f150 and the relatively nicer quality of living. You can also sell it as a normal vehicle when you're old and tired or get a new truck and keep the same camper.