If you want to transition into van life, the first thing you need to do is to get a habitable van that you can live in comfortably and safely while on the road. One of the more popular options is converting a sprinter van into a camper van. How much does this cost?
Converting a DIY sprinter van into a camper van can cost anywhere between $5000 to over $50,000. However, most individuals spend around $30,000 on the conversion. Setting your budget for around $30,000 will create a realistic budget that you can follow while still having a comfortable home on the road.
To learn more about how much it costs to convert a sprinter van, keep reading. This article fully explains the average prices, factors that impact the price, and how DIY conversions compare to other van options.
How Much Does It Cost To DIY Convert A Sprinter Van?
DIY converting your sprinter van can cost as little as $5000, but it can cost as much as $50,000 if you have a wide budget. Most individuals who have converted their own sprinter van recommend starting with a $30,000 budget.
A budget of $30,000 is much more suited to an effective, functional, and comfortable camper van for van life. However, you can easily customize your camper van customizations so that it matches your budget perfectly. In other words, you can spend as much as you want or as little as you want on your sprinter van conversion with DIY jobs.
Even so, a budget of around $30,000 is recommended for first-time conversions. Adjust your budget as necessary.
Factors That Impact Price
To get a better idea of how much it costs to convert a sprinter van, you have to know what factors impact the price. Some of the cheapest sprinter van conversions cost about $25,000, but many end up costing more than $100,000, including the van.
Here’s a look at the most pertinent features when estimating price:
Sprinter Type
There are three main sprinter vans two select. Sprinter cargo, sprinter crew, and sprinter passenger. The sprinter cargo van is the cheapest, starting at about $34,000. The sprinter crew van starts at about $41,000, and the sprinter passenger van is about $43,000. You will need to select the sprinter type based on your ideal size, space, and price.
Additional Features
The prices mentioned above are just the basic starting prices for each van type. You can buy sprinter vans from different manufacturers and add additional packages and features for extra costs. Some features may be important for your needs, but they will add on additional money.
Pre-Converted vs DIY vs Professional Conversion
How you convert the sprinter van into a van suitable for van life will also largely impact the price. Pre-converted sprinter vans are actually the outright cheapest option, whereas professional conversion is often the most expensive. DIY jobs often fall in the middle, but they can be cheap or expensive, depending on what you do to the van.
Most pre-converted vans range anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000. Purchasing a used van is the cheapest way to go since the cost of the van and conversion are rolled up into one easy price.
Professional conversions can cost anywhere from $7500 to over $100,000, but that does not include the van. Since it does not include the van, you have to add the price of the van in addition to the conversion for a complete picture.
DIY van conversion ultimately depends on the products you use, when you need help from a professional, and a number of other factors. Some people have gotten away with DIY projects starting as little as $5000, but it’s better to shoot for a $30,000 budget. This does not include the van either.
Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own Camper van?
Building your own camper van is certainly way more affordable than getting it fixed up by a professional company. Especially since you have complete control over your budget and items, building your own camper van for van life is a cheap option.
However, building your own camper van is sometimes more expensive than purchasing pre-converted vans. The downside of selecting pre-converted vans is that you do not have complete control over the features and design of the van as you would if you built it yourself.
At the same time, building your own DIY sprinter van conversion isn’t perfect either. This will be a lot more time-consuming and requires some expertise. Many individuals recommend doing as much of the job as you can, but save some of the more difficult tasks for professionals. This will increase the price a bit, but it may make the van more effective and safer.
What this means is that building your own van is cheaper than getting it professionally done, but it might not be as cheap as buying a pre-converted van. It certainly isn’t as easy as buying a pre-converted van either. Since you have more control over the DIY job, you can possibly make it more affordable than pre-converted options, though.
Closing Thoughts
Most DIY van conversions cost around $30,000, but you can customize your van so that it meets your budget and financial needs. If you are on a strict budget, you can technically DIY convert a van for as little as $5000, but the van will not be fancy. On the other end of the spectrum, you could easily spend more than $30,000 for a fully decked-out van.
When you compare DIY conversion prices to other van options, it falls in the middle of the pack, but it is more customizable than pre-converted and professionally converted options. This customization makes DIY jobs a favorite among van lifers.
When it comes down to it, converting a sprinter van is one of the more affordable options. Plus, it will create memories that you will not forget and bond you to your van before you even start living on the road. So, we recommend converting the van yourself. Just adjust your conversions based on your budget to save some money when needed.
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