With so many camper van options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which is best suited for your needs. Some people prefer small and compact vans, while others prefer larger vans with more amenities and luxuries. Some campers prefer to go off-grid, and others prefer RV parks. “What is the best type of camper van?” is a question many people ask when planning their next camping adventure.
Here are the top camper van picks for 2023:
- Pleasure-Way Ontour 2.0
- Pleasure-Way Ontour 2.2
- Coachman Beyond
- Pleasure-Way Rekon 4×4
- Winnebago Solis
- Winnebago Roam
- Winnebago Travato
The choice of the best camper van depends on the individual’s needs and preferences. In this article, we’ll explore different types of camper vans available on the market, their features, benefits, and drawbacks to help you make an informed decision and find the best camper van for your next adventure.
Size
First, consider the size of the camper van. Smaller camper vans, such as the Volkswagen Westfalia or the Ford Transit Connect, are great for solo travelers or couples who want a compact and easy-to-maneuver vehicle. These smaller vans are also great for those who want to save on fuel costs, as they tend to have better gas mileage than larger vans. However, larger vans may not have as much living space or storage.
On the other hand, larger camper vans, such as the Mercedes Sprinter or the Ford Transit, offer more living space and storage, making them perfect for families or groups of friends. They also tend to have more amenities and luxuries, such as a full kitchen and bathroom. However, they may not be as easy to drive or park and tend to have lower gas mileage.
Use Type
Another essential factor to consider is the type of camping you plan on doing. If you spend most of your time in RV parks and campgrounds with hookups, a van with a built-in generator and air conditioning will be a great option. However, if you plan on boondocking (camping without hookups) in remote areas, a van with solar panels and a water storage system will be more appropriate.
Additionally, you should also consider the conversion options of the van. Some vans come pre-converted with living quarters, while others are left as cargo vans and need to be converted by the owner or by a professional conversion company. Pre-converted vans are generally more expensive, but they save you the time and hassle of doing the conversion yourself. On the other hand, purchasing a cargo van and converting it yourself gives you more freedom to customize the layout and amenities to your specific needs and preferences. If you’d like tow if building your own van is worth the cost, read the article I wrote. I also wrote an article about finding the perfect van chassis for your build.
Budget
Also, it’s essential to consider your budget. Camper vans can range in price from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000, depending on the make, model, age, and condition of the van, as well as the level of conversion. It’s essential to determine your budget and stick to it while also keeping in mind that a higher price tag may mean more amenities and luxuries.
As far as pre-built vans, here are some of my favorites.
Ford Transit Chassis
If you read my article on finding the perfect camper for your DIY build, you’ll know that the Ford Transit is my favorite van chassis.
Pleasure-Way Ontour
The Pleasure-Way Ontour comes in two different lengths. The longer model, the Ontour 2.2 is 21′ 10″ long, and the Ontour 2.0 is 19′ 8″ long.
Ontour 2.0
At 19′ 8″, the Ontour 2.0 fits snuggly into a regular-size parking spot. Pleasure-Way has packed a ton of functionality into the kitchen of this van.
The kitchen features a large, stainless-steel, farm-style sink. The sink is recessed into Corian countertops, which you can order in either white or grey.
At 3.2 cubic feet, the compressor-style refrigerator is smaller than the one in the 2.2. However, it still has a small freezer. Both models feature an induction cooktop that is supported by 200 amp hour lithium batteries powered with 200-watt solar panels and an Onan generator.
A rear lounge converts into a 68 x 77″ North-South bed. Having a North-South bed means you won’t have to climb over your partner to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The other feature I like about this bed configuration is that you can leave the bottom section of cushions out to create more of a twin-bed style.
A Lagun table swivels into the lounge area to create a dining or workspace. Its proximity to the kitchen also makes it useful as additional counter space.
The front seats swivel to the rear to create more seating.
As you can imagine, the wet bath is relatively compact. However, there is plenty of headroom for standing inside the bath while taking a shower.
Ontour 2.2
With a slightly longer length, the Ontour 2.2 packs punch in design. Design-wise, it’s the 2.0 on steroids.
My favorite feature of this trailer is the wet bath. You can also stand up in this one! This bath has a large sink, under-sink storage, and a medicine cabinet. It’s pretty roomy.
Both the 2.2 and the 2.0 utilize an on-demand water heater, which means you’ll save water and be able to step into a hot shower quickly.
The 5.5 cubic foot refrigerator holds even more food and has a larger freezer than the 2.0.
The bed area is identical in size and function to the 2.0.
Coachman Beyond
The Coachmen Beyond is a Class B motorhome produced by Coachmen RV, a brand of Forest River, Inc. Class B motorhomes, also known as camper vans, are built on a van chassis and include a bed, kitchen, and bathroom amenities.
The Beyond is designed with a sleek and modern exterior and a spacious interior. It is built on the Ford Transit chassis and has various floor plans and options. Some included features are a full-size bed or twin beds, a wet bath, an induction stovetop, a refrigerator, and a microwave.
The Beyond has various technology features, such as a touchscreen control panel and a rearview camera. It also has solar panels and can be equipped with a generator. The coachmen Beyond is known for its fuel economy and ability to drive smoothly on any road.
The Beyond is available in three-floor plans, the Beyond 22C, 22D, and the Beyond 22RB.
The Beyond 22C has a rear dinette that converts into a queen-size bed, a wet bath, a two-burner stove, a refrigerator, and a microwave. It also has a dinette that converts into a bed for extra sleeping space. The Beyond 22D is similar but has a dinette that converts into a larger bed. And the 22RB has two twin beds and a rear wet bath.
The tank capacities are nearly identical in each floor plan. The 22C and 22D have a 27-gallon freshwater tank, a 15-gallon grey-water tank, and a 12-gallon wastewater (black) tank. The 22RB is similar, except it has a 28-gallon freshwater tank.
The Truma Combi Eco Plus furnace/water heater provides on-demand hot water and heat.
The interior of the Beyond is designed with a sleek and modern aesthetic and includes various technology features, such as a touchscreen control panel and a rearview camera. The Beyond also comes with various options, such as solar panels, and is equipped with a generator.
The bathroom in the Coachmen Beyond Class B camper van is referred to as a “wet bath” this means that the bathroom and shower are combined in one space. This type of bathroom is becoming increasingly popular in Class B motorhomes because it allows for more efficient use of space.
The bathroom in the Beyond includes a toilet, a sink, and a shower. The bathroom is equipped with various features to make it easy to use and maintain, such as a skylight for natural light and ventilation, and a built-in, water-saving showerhead.
The bathroom also has a built-in fan to help remove moisture and odors and is equipped with an LED light for visibility. The bathroom is also designed to be easy to clean, with durable, easy-to-clean surfaces.
Options
Popular options on the Beyond include Grey tank heaters and the Cozy Wrap® upgraded insulation package. This combination will help you keep you camping longer through the shoulder season and “beyond.”
Other popular options are the 630 amp-hour lithium battery with an internal heater, Bluetooth battery management system, and a remote LCD with a Xantrex XC Pro 3,000W inverter/charger. Unfortunately, if you choose this option, you’ll forgo the Onan Generator.
As an option, you can get a two-burner propane stove instead of the induction cooktop.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis
Pleasure-Way Rekon 4×4
New in 2022 is the Pleasure-Way Rekon. If you like to get off the beaten path as I do, you’ll love the features of this van. There aren’t too many four-wheel-drive vans on the market that have a bathroom and can still fit in a parking spot. But the Rekon checks those boxes.
The van’s “Murphy” bed system sits on top of a sizable gear garage with 52 cubic feet of storage space. The “L” track system allows you to lash that gear down. Flexible” cargo netting above the bed provides additional gear storage without removing too much headroom.
Speaking of the bed, the Murphy bed system is a North-South orientation, meaning you won’t have to crawl over your sleeping partner to get out of bed! This bed is 70″ wide by 72″ long, which is comfortable for most people. If you’re taller than 6′, there is a little space gap near the rear doors, adding more room.
The bed drops down in two separate sections. These sections are stowed flat against the wall when the bed is not in use. Remove the cushion, and you’ll have a desk-like space that you can utilize for work or food preparation.
And, to put the icing on the cake, this is a four-season van. This means you can get off the beaten path even in the off-season.
One very unique feature of a van of this type is the ducted heat. Truma provides heat for the van and the water heater. If you know anything about the Truma, you know this is a coveted choice for any build.
The van stores a ridiculous 40 gallons of fresh water. The wet bath has a 5-gallon cassette toilet inside a very small shower area (think showering sitting down). This area functions as a storage area when not in use. Ducted heat is plumbed into the bathroom for a comfortable shower or as a gear and clothing drying area. There is also an exterior shower available.
The Truma chest-style, top-loading, 12-volt refrigerator offers 2.1 cubic feet of space. To be honest, this is my least favorite part of the design. There is no freezer, meaning no ice cream storage. Plus, it takes up a lot of horizontal space. However, one advantage to this refrigerator is that you can remove it for easy access if you are cooking outside.
The front seats swivel to face a moveable Lagun table where you can eat or work.
400 amp hours of lithium battery is ready to charge all your devices. Plus, the van is outfitted with 400 watts of solar on the roof. A Dometic air conditioner is optional on the build.
Several features of this van make it an overland build. Besides the four-wheel drive, the Rekon features durable Black Rhino wheels and Toyo off-road tires.
These compact vans are great for getting off the beaten path and into dispersed campsites. If you’d like to know more about that, read this article that I wrote.
As of this writing, Pleasure-way has not announced the release of a 2023 model, and Mercedes-Benz is discontinuing its 4×4 chassis. I’m so impressed with this van that I hope that Pleasure-Way can continue the build.
Ram Promaster Chassis
As I mentioned in my article, “Finding the Perfect Van for Your Camper Build in 2023,” the Ram Promaster is my least favorite chassis. You’ll have to read the article to find out why. However, it is also the least expensive chassis for a van, and that’s why it’s so popular.
Winnebago
Winnebago has the largest number of camper van choices on the Ram Promaster Chassis and includes the following:
- Solis Pocket
- Solis
- Solis NPF
- Roam
- Travato
I’ll just briefly touch on each one.
Solis Pocket
The Solis Pocket is the most compact of the Winnebago vans coming in at 17′, 10″. This makes it the most maneuverable van that Winnebago makes. It has a lovely little floor plan that sleeps three but lacks a bathroom.
Solis
The slightly larger Solis comes in two lengths, 19′, 9″ and 21′. The floor plans are very similar and both vans sleep four people. Both models feature a pop-top sleeping area.
Solis NPF
The NPF is the National Parks Foundation limited edition. This is Winnebago’s answer to an overland van with all-terrain tires and a more robust suspension. I wouldn’t take this too far off the pavement though. The NPF also includes a pop-top roof that utilizes its space as a sleeping area.
The floor plan is identical to the 19′ 9″ Solis.
Roam
The Winnebago Roam makes camping accessible for wheel-chair using individuals. The primary feature of this van is the remote-controlled wheelchair lift and wheelchair tie-downs. The open floor plan of the van makes it maneuverable for a wheelchair. But it still features the pop-up with the bed and a bed in the van’s rear.
Travato
Of all the vans I mentioned, the Travato is the most popular. In fact, it’s one of the top-selling camper vans on the market.
One reason the Travato is such a hit is that it has two very space-efficient floor plans. In both models, the 59G and the 59 K, Winnebago utilizes the driver and passenger seats as dinette seats. Both of these seats swivel.
In addition, two forward-facing seats create the dinette area. This allows the rear of the camper to be dedicated to a sleeping area, either for twin beds or an angled double-sized bed.
Both models have a wet bath, but the twin configuration has a wet bath in the rear. The double bed model sports a wet bath that is tucked up next to the bed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best type of camper van depends on the individual’s needs and preferences. Factors such as size, type of camping, conversion options, and budget should all be considered when determining the best camper van for you. Considering these factors, you can find a camper van that will provide you with the perfect balance of comfort and functionality, allowing you to make the most of your camping adventures.