buying a campervan | Enjoy Travel Life

Buying a Camper Van: An Easy Guide to Getting the Right One

By Jackie Gately
(Reading Time: 6 minutes)
No time to read now? Click here to download as a PDF.

Buying a camper van is a great way to embrace the great outdoors and get back to nature.

Living off-grid and exploring the world can be a lot easier and more enjoyable when you have the convenience and comfort of a camper van.

That’s especially true when you purchase a camper van equipped with essential amenities like a bed, bathroom, and kitchen. You will be able to travel far and wide without sacrificing the comforts of home.

Of course, you want to make the right buying choice when it comes to this investment.

Continue reading to figure out the best camper van for you to buy, below.

camper van with awning in woods
Buying a camper van can be a great investment

CONTENTS – In this article, you will learn useful tips for buying a camper van, including: 

Campervans For Sale: How To Find The Right Camper Van of Your Dreams

Being off-grid is a great way to get more in touch with nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

And one of the best way to keep yourself comfortable outside is by having a campervan.

You’ll be able to explore at leisure while your camper van provides your needs for the entire tip.

Many camper vans are outfitted with your bed, bathroom, and a small kitchen to cook meals. This makes it a good investment, because it can save you travel expenses in the long run.

With the benefits campervans bring to the table, it’ll be nice if you could purchase the one of your dreams. As you look for campervans for sale online or in-store, you should buy a unit that fits your needs.

Yet, with the number of features and sizes you can consider, you might be confused about what you need to purchase.

To keep you on track, below are some ways how you can find the right campervan of your dreams.

rv parked in field
When you’re buying a camper van, consider how often you’ll use your camper van and who will join you.

Identify Your Purpose

The first thing you need to do when finding the right campervan is to identify your purpose.

This will help you list out every needed feature you must have for your campervan.

You might purchase one that’ll help you explore as you retire, or allow yourself to have a fantastic weekend getaway by yourself or with your family.

Alternatively, you can also use a campervan as:

  • Your main vehicle
  • A small office space
  • just for leisure and enjoyment

When you identify your purpose, you can narrow down the options that best fit your needs.

Determine How Often You’ll Use It

Along with identifying the purpose of your campervan, you need to determine how often you’ll use it, too.

If you’re planning to use it every weekend or every day, you might as well want to keep it as comfortable as possible. And, it may be worthwhile to invest in materials that have lasting power.

Nonetheless, if you only plan to use it once a year, you don’t have to worry too much about using the highest quality materials. That’s because it won’t experience too much wear and tear.

That said, the last thing you want to happen is to purchase a cheap campervan that you’ll regularly use – only to find yourself uncomfortable due to the thin bed and suffocating bathroom experience.

Decide How Many People Will Sit

There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a campervan only to find out that your entire family cannot sit comfortably inside.

In most cases, you’ll probably have a set idea of how many people will tag along inside your camper van.

But to avoid any inconvenience, you should decide how many people you really want to fit inside your campervan. It could be for the entire family, you and your partner, or yourself.

Consider the seating during during lunch and dinner, along with how sleeping arrangements at night. For instance, you could prepare one bed for the couple and lay a mattress in the dining area to fit children comfortably.

Check The Safety Features

You’ll likely be bringing your camper van into the woods, which can be tricky and challenging to drive especially in the dark. As you navigate into the woods, you main concern should be guaranteeing everyone’s safety.

Ideally, your campervan should include:

  • Airbags
  • Rear seat belts
  • Head restraints

While it might not make everyone entirely comfortable on the road, a well-equipped camper van helps ensure everyone’s safety throughout the trip.

You also want to make sure the emergency breaks are well-maintained, and that window and doors locks function securely.

This way, you don’t have to worry too much about everyone’s well-being safe and sound during the entire trip.

Envision The Layout in Use

Because you’ll spend most of your time inside your campervan to keep yourself comfortable, it’ll be wise to maximize the layout and make it as functional as possible.

Depending on the purpose and the vehicle’s size, your campervan’s design should match your needs and wants.

In most cases, you’ll probably have the main bedroom at the end of the campervan, which can accommodate a double or queen size bed.

Beside the bedroom could include a bathroom and a small closet or storage space in front of it.

In the middle of your campervan, you could dedicate the entire side to a full-sized kitchen, which includes a fridge, stove, and sink.

The other side of the kitchen can consist of a dining area to keep everyone seated and comfortable during meal times.

Alternatively, you can camp outdoors to experience the full camping adventure. This will make camping more fun as you get to be direct with nature and make the most of what your surroundings can provide.

As you imagine the layout of your campervan, decide which areas you need to prioritize.

Since you’re working with a small space, you might need to minimize some areas to expand what’s more important for you.

For example, you can use a smaller bed to give way for a larger dining space.

When you’re buying a camper van, the right layout all depends on your priorities, purpose, and how many people could fit inside.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, you’ll want to take some time to envision how the layout of your campervan will be put to use.

Look For The Right Features

Apart from the actual layout of your campervan, certain additional features help to make it your dream campervan.

For starters, you can look for a campervan with an amazing bed and complete bedding set.

If you’re expecting more people to join you on occasion, you can look for a space that can transform the dining or living space into a bedroom at night.

For maximum comfort, make sure the campervan’s air conditioning and heating features work well. This is a key consideration If you plan to camp during the peak of summer or winter.

Your campervan should help to keep you comfortable by maintaining a cozy temperature for everyone.

If you’d like to maximize living off-grid, you could look for a campervan that already includes solar panels.

This will help to give you unlimited power without relying on your camper van’s batteries.

Alternatively, if you’d like to keep yourself connected to the internet, you might want to look for a campervan integrated with a Wi-Fi router to keep you connected at all times.

These are all important considerations when you’re buying a camper van.

Check The Interior Design

While you can easily renovate the innards of a campervan, it’ll be nice to purchase a campervan with an amazing interior design, when possible.

This will save you time and potentially money when you’re buying a camper van.

You can easily move into your campervan rather than waste time renovating it to suit your needs.

And while this might be a bit more challenging, especially if you’re eyeing specific features, buying a campervan with the right interior finish will help you get your dream space fast.

Final Thoughts on Buying a Camper Van

Buying a camper van of your dreams can be challenging, especially since there are plenty of options from which to choose.

But as you get clearer on your purpose and desired features, you should be able to narrow down your choices. Then, you can find the best one that suits your needs.

When you’re buying a camper van, give priority to how it will look and how it can serve you.

Then, you can thoroughly enjoy your camper van, making every penny worth it.

Next Steps

For some more detailed articles about campervans, trips and adventures, read the articles below, next: