I’ll admit that I have an almost addictive fondness for the Facebook reels made by modern vagabonds who converted their vans into little rolling homes. These 20- and 30-somethings are not just taking their converted vans to Yellowstone for two weeks. These folks are on the road for the duration, working digital jobs remotely and stopping for the night in Walmart parking lots when necessity forces it. My favorite reels depict various owners’ DIY conversions.
My fantasy of owning one of these conversion vans is heightened during festival season. It would be incredible to park a van in a date grove during Coachella and Stagecoach. But, which van is the best to convert? Most experts agree on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (though the Ford Transit and RAM ProMaster EV are certainly contenders). The basic 2025 Sprinter Cargo Van, with rear-wheel drive and a 168-HP diesel engine, is priced at over $53,000. The 96 inches of headroom, 111-inch width, and 533 cubic feet of interior cargo space means that a conversion van could be vastly more luxurious than a bed on top of milk crates.
As long as we’re indulging in a bit of fantasy, let’s opt for the Sprinter’s Premium package. It includes all-wheel drive (which is essential, since our fantasy will take us from beaches in Baja to off-road camping in Nova Scotia) and a 208-HP turbocharged diesel engine. The Sprinter Comfort Plus package includes a heated steering wheel plus heated and electrically-adjustable seats. The top package features a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, navigation, wireless charging, traffic sign assist, and noise reduction. It also includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an onboard wireless hotspot.
Of course, a big consideration in choosing a van for conversion is how the addition of a bedroom, cabinetry, and kitchen will affect performance. In good news for the Sprinter, the payload capacity of the Premium package with a high-output engine is over 6,800 pounds – and a well-thought-out conversion van will use only a fraction of that. The price for your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van with a Premium package? A mere $67,145.
I say “mere” because conversion vans can run about the same price as a nice condo. Fully converted Sprinters at an RV dealership often cost approximately $250,000. On the other hand, if you can wait several months, a much cheaper option is to find someone who builds custom conversion vans. Depending on the level of luxury, they can run from $35,000 to $150,000. The price is still jaw-dropping, but every single detail would be as ordered. And why put limitations on this fantasy?
