If you’re thinking about investing in camping van conversions, now is a great time to begin your research. When you start planning and shopping during the cooler months, you’ll have several advantages. First, few people are thinking about camping so you’ll find a lot of great deals. Second, you’re doing the hard work in the off season so you can take your time and still have everything you need to make a final purchasing decision well before spring. In this article we’ll give you some tips and tricks on comparing camping van conversions including how to go about trying before you buy.

Camping Van Conversion Models
There are two primary models of camping van conversions on the market currently:

• Chevy Express Conversion Van – The Chevy conversion is one of the most popular conversion vans on the market. There are hundreds of ways to customize a Chevy Express straight from the factory to make building out a custom conversion easy. You can also purchase a fully customized Chevy Express from several camping van conversion dealers.
• Sprinter Van Conversions – If you want a truly luxurious experience and don’t mind paying a little extra, it’s well worth looking at a Sprinter camping van conversion. Built by Mercedes Benz, Sprinters have a reputation for comfort, quality and elegance. They also afford great maneuverability and styling.

Know Your Needs
The best way to prepare for this kind of major purchase is to determine your needs. Will you be using your conversion for weekend getaways, or do you plan on taking longer road trips? How many people on average will travel with you? Will you be cooking in your camping van or only sleeping? The more you know the ways in which you’ll use your camping van conversion, the easier it will be to make the right decision.

An Extended Test Drive
The best way to truly try out the conversion van you’re thinking of, why not investigate conversion van rentals? The beauty of renting is that you can take a similarly equipped model out for a week or a weekend to see how it truly performs. This can also be a good way to compare several campers side by side over the course of a season. The only drawback to renting is that you’ll need to plan a bit ahead and the per-day expense is a bit higher than it would be if you purchased. However, if you think of renting as an insurance policy for getting the right conversion van, the expense is well worth it.

If you’re in the market for a Sprinter van conversion, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you get the right van at a price that you can be happy with. In this guide we’ll help you determine your needs, give you a shopping checklist and recommend a few things to try before you make your purchase. A Sprinter van conversion is a major purchase and taking a bit of time at the beginning to plan and prepare can make all the difference in your final decision.

What Are Your Needs?
First, what prompted you to investigate camper van conversions? Take a notepad and spend some time writing down what benefits you hoped to have from a Sprinter van conversion. Which of the following categories of conversions were you thinking of?

• Accessibility van – To make transport with a wheelchair or stretcher easier.
• Camper van – A comfortable home-away-from-home for extended road trips.
• Mobile office – Take your business on the road with built in office and meeting space.

In addition to the primary purpose, think about the types of features you’d be looking for when you start to look at specific conversion vans for sale. Here are just a few features that you may wish to consider:

• Kitchenette
• Sleeping area
• Bathroom and/or shower facilities
• Entertainment options such as iPod docking, LCD or plasma TV, DVD or Blu-Ray, surround sound, satellite radio
• Lighting packages – Built in lighting, ground lighting
• Built in storage
• GPS

Why a Sprinter?
While there are many brands of conversion vans on the market, the Sprinter is literally the Mercedes-Benz of them all. Built on a Mercedes chassis, the Sprinter lineup offers some of the most luxuriously appointed options available. In addition to some of the finest appointments, the Sprinters also are maneuverable and provide a comfortable ride. It’s no wonder that they’re among the most popular conversion vans on the market.

Try Before You Buy
Since a Sprinter conversion van is a major investment, it’s a very smart idea to first try conversion van rentals. Contact a local RV rental facility and find a Sprinter that is similarly appointed to the model you’d purchase. Plan a road trip that would be similar to a trip you’d take and rent a Sprinter. See how you like it, what features you love and which you could do without. By taking a Sprinter on an extended trip you’ll get to really experience all that a Sprinter has to offer.

If you’re in the market for a conversion van, you should definitely take a look at a Chevy Express conversion van. As one of the leading types of conversion vans on the market, the Chevy Express is loved by a big percentage of the conversion van market. With lots of great features and the ability to do a lot of customization, the Chevy Express is a great option. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the features available and give you some tips and tricks on getting a great deal.

Chevy Express Conversion Van Features
Depending on the dealer that you buy from, you can expect to have some or all of these features:

• AWD or 4WD (4WD is often custom)
• Room for 9 or more passengers
• Sleeping area
• Entertainment options including DVD, iPod docking stations, flat screen LCD or Plasma TV, surround sound
• GPS Navigation system
• Kitchenette including range cooktop
• Marine toilet
• Built in storage
• Captains chairs
• Coat rack(s)
• Reading lights
• Leather interior
• Heated Seats

Shopping for Camper Van Conversions
When you shop for conversion vans for sale, there are a few things you can do to be assured of getting the right van at the right price.

• First, spend some time to determine exactly what your needs are. How many people will you travel with? What kind of kitchen and sanitary features are you looking for? Do you need state-of-the-art entertainment components?
• Second, investigate conversion van rentals to test drive a few to get a good feel for which makes and models you prefer. The Chevy Express conversion van has a lot of great features and if you can take one or two models out for a test-trip you’ll be able to see first hand whether one will suit your needs.
• Third, determine your budget. When thinking about how much you can afford, there are two numbers you want to determine. You’ll need to know how much you can spend up front on a camper van conversion including taxes and licensing. Then you’ll want to know how much you can afford on a monthly basis in terms of insurance, maintenance and storage costs. As you figure costs also think about how much you want to spend on gas and how important fuel economy is.

Chevy makes a great Express van which can be customized in a limitless number of ways. You can order from a conversion van dealer for a wide selection of options and have the confidence of knowing your van will come from conversion van experts.

While nearly any kind of cargo van can be used as a camper van conversion, there are some brands that are more popular for that purpose than others. Here is an overview of some of the more common types of vans:

• Sprinter Van Conversions – These luxurious camper vans are built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. This style of camper van conversion is at the top of the line and includes many deluxe features such as satellite radio, full leather interiors, marine toilets and more. These also tend to be at the top of the price range as well.
• Chevy Express Conversion Van – With the raised ceiling and side and rear doors, the Chevy Express is one of the most popular conversion van options available. You can order new direct from Chevy and choose from a huge variety of options. You can also purchase a stripped down version and do your own customization work or hire a professional.

Types of Conversion Vans
When it comes to converting a van, there are essentially three types of conversion options:

• Travel camper van conversions – These are by far the most popular. An empty van is completely overhauled and upgraded to fit the needs of traveling families. Most camper conversion vans include a sleeping area, stove or kitchenette with a sink, seating for additional passengers, and in deluxe models, restroom facilities. Almost all camper van conversions also have deluxe entertainment options like high end stereo systems, flat screen TV’s and a DVD or Blu-Ray player.
• Accessible van conversions – For individuals who use a wheelchair, accessibility vans are a great option. Most feature lowered floors and raised ceilings to compensate for the difference in seat height found in a wheel chair. Many accessibility conversions feature an automatic lift at either the side or the rear of the van to make entering easy.
• Office conversions – Probably the least often used type of conversion, an office conversion is useful for traveling salesmen or other individuals who have to combine travel with business. Most feature built in workspace with electrical provisions for computers, phones, printers and more. Some have additional seating for passengers or business associates. These types of vans are often used by film crews.

As you begin to shop for a camper van conversion, make a list of your needs. By doing some organization at the beginning you’ll have a better understanding of what you’re looking for and will be better equipped to evaluate camper van conversions as you find them.

If you enjoy the great outdoors but also want the comfort of indoor accommodations then a conversion van may be the solution you’ve been looking for. There are now more conversion vans for sale than there have been in recent years thanks to a resurgence in their popularity. If you’ve been thinking about investing in one, now is a great time to be in the market.

Types of Camper Van Conversions
There are a variety of camper van conversion types, each unique in features and functionality.

• Travel Vans – Travel conversion vans are the most common type of conversion vans for sale. Travel conversion vans typically carry several passengers, have a sleeping area, small kitchen area and extensive entertainment electronics.
• Disability Vans – These type of conversion vans typically have a raised roof, lowered floor and a platform lift to accommodate wheelchair access.
• Office Vans – Occasionally referred to as a Land Jet, an office van is customized with a desk and chair in the back along with electrical outlets for computer equipment. There is sometimes additional seating for passengers. These are popular with film crews and business professionals who travel frequently.
• Motorhomes – Class B camper vans are essentially camper van conversions whose back section has been extended a few feet. Lengths range from 17 to 20 feet in total. Class C camper vans are conversion vans where the back has been cutaway to allow for a much longer extension – typically 18 to 30 feet in total. Longer conversion vans allow more room for restroom facilities, kitchenettes and sleeping areas.

Where to Find Used Camper Vans for Sale
There are a few places to begin your search for used camper vans. First, look at the RV dealerships near your home. Many will carry new and used camper vans in addition to the larger RV’s. While their prices many be a bit higher than buying from a private party, they are likely to provide the opportunity to look at several models and even test drive a few. Also, dealerships will give you the opportunity to finance your purchase which will be more difficult to do when buying from a private party. Alternatively, you can look for used camper vans from individuals. Look on local want ad websites such as Craigslist to see what is available. If you’re a cash buyer you’ll have a good chance of finding a high quality camper van at a lower price than you would at a dealership.

Whether you purchase from a dealer or a private party, if you shop wisely you will get many years of enjoyment out of your camper van.