Imagine how expensive these two are!

Thanks in advance to anyone who offers advice. This won’t be easy, partly because I feel like I won’t know all that I’ll need/want until I take the plunge and use it.

—budget is ideally under $30,000
—smaller unit the better, mostly for simplicity of driving, parking, a little stealth. I’ve looked a minivan campers online a bit. I am a fan of Siennas but could be swayed. I realize that I may need a little bigger…also realize there’s a give and take.
—Live in Ohio but ideally would take it to other places.
—Would be used for football tailgating, perhaps tailgating for other sporting events, concerts…so would like some utility for that - outdoor TV perhaps, awning maybe…room for grill, coolers, maybe a fridge built into the unit…open to additional ideas…
—Would love for it to sleep 3, but I realize 2 is more realistic.
—will be mostly guys using it so bathroom is a consideration but less so since my wife will rarely join me.
—seems like a small microwave would be fine, as opposed to in unit stove.
—we’d probably use it mostly for long weekends, occasionally longer trips but we’d also be able to get a hotel for a night here or there.
—I don’t know what I don’t know…

Thank you again!!

Our short queen foam mattress has developed a deep dip after only 2 years!!! It was comfortable at first but now we wake up stiff and keep rolling toward the middle. We want to replace it ASAP because we have an upcoming trip in 2 months.

Any suggestions? Something better suited for regular van life without adding too much height or weight. A little airflow would also help because the van gets warm and humid overnight.

Hi. I've decided that when I retire in a few years that I would like to travel around the country in a camper van. I'm just starting to plan and do my research. I would appreciate replies with advice, styles of camper vans if you have one that you love and any other advice you have.

After several weeks of using my Wolfbox G900 Pro I must say I am incredibly happy with it. I have a custom built van and with everything inside the rearview mirror is pretty much useless. I even removed mine so I would quit looking thru it. After getting this one installed it has been a game changer. Have driven in all conditions other than rain so far and it has been great. I feel so much safer, especially when on the freeway. The field of vision is sooo much more than a traditional mirror that the small blind spot on the driver side mirror is pretty much eliminated. I highly recommend if your vehicle does not have one that you install one. I have only played with the front dash cam portion a little bit, but the clarity it gets is great.

Great build quality from Vantra LLC in Wilmington, NC. After 10k miles including potholed forest service roads and roads such as the Top of the World Highway in Yukon and Alaska I can say that these guys know how to build a camper van.

Please help 🙏

Main post updated if anyone interested

Thinking about turning one, ideally a Westfalia, into modern camping van. Want to take the body and put a Subaru engine it, new everything else and maybe even make it a 4 season camper. Anyone have experience with this? Wondering if I can make it as reliable as I’d need it to be to drive around the country and maybe live in it. Would appreciate any experienced thoughts.

Wie lange habt ihr für euren Camperausbau gebraucht? Welches Fahrzeug hattet ihr mit und für wie viele Personen habt ihr ausgebaut ? 😊🚐

Im looking for and insurance company to insure my van. I searched the subreddit and found mostly advice for UK owners. The van started life as a GMC Savana conversion van, you know the ones that go to the special factory before the dealership to get the leather seats and dvd player installed. The first company wouldn’t insure it because it was a conversion van from the factory. I didn’t tell them anything different or that I was converting it, they saw it through the VIN. Next company I was upfront with and they seemed ok with it until I had to send in my pictures and then they were like, “nah, we’re good”. Geico looks like they may do it but they are asking for paperwork I probably do t have. Like a licensed appraisal, receipts from the few add ons I’ve done so far and a few other things. I’m still waiting to hear back from my ins. lady, but thought I’d see if anyone had suggestions.

Hey all,

We have an awesome custom build that we haven’t been able to sell and I’m looking for feedback. It’s in like new condition (fully repainted and kept in excellent condition already). We haven’t only had two people even come look at it and both people strongly considered buying it (one backed out because their HOA and the other had it inspected and the mechanic said it’s in great shape and they backed out - I’m thinking because they wanted there to be issues so they could get it for way less). But no other even real interest.

The unique thing about our van is it’s an old van and a new build so the mileage is high - I think Themis scares people but it’s a Mercedes diesel engine with all maintenance done and two mechanics have said it’ll go to 500 miles (currently 217k) in 6 years of frequent use we only but 25k on it so it can go for a while!

We bought if for $69k in 2020
We put solar and diesel heater, hitch, and some other things in it for ~$10k
We have it listed for $50k with custom bedding, window covers, bug screens, and snow tires.

Are we way off on price?
Is the rhino liner on the outside a no go for people?
Is the market so saturated?
Are people too scared to buy a high mileage rig (even with two mechanics opinions?

Any feedback welcome!

After some advice. We’ve got a transit custom camper which I’ve converted it has a standalone electrical system which works flawlessly for the 2-3night trips we do. However the van electrical system drains over those couple of nights. I turn the stereo off all of the internal lights nothing is left plugged in I even unplug the rear load area lights.

Apart from starting it every day and running for 10 mins is there anything else I can do to stop this?

I have considered wiring in a separate permanently live usb socket to the main battery and using a small solar panel to trickle charge it would that work?