How often do your see the question on forums “recommend a van to use for my campervan conversion project”?
We decided to have a look at what is the most popular project van based on the thousands of quotes we have done. This is just the quotes done in the last five years, ie since 2018.
The top ten base vehicles for self-build campervan conversions are:
1. Volkswagen (predominantly T4, T5, and Crafter models)
2. Ford (with a significant focus on the “Transit”)
3. Mercedes (largely Sprinter models)
4. Renault (Master and Trafic models)
5. Peugeot (Boxer, with a minority comprising the Expert model)
6. Citroen (mostly Relay, with a few Dispatch models)
7. Vauxhall (Vivaro and Movano models)
8. Fiat (primarily Ducato models)
9. IVECO (largely the Daily model)
10. LDV (Convoy and Maxus models)
Additional models that have gained popularity include Japanese import MPVs. Notably, the Mazda Bongo leads in this segment, with Nissan Elgrand and NV200, as well as Toyota Alphard, also enjoying popularity. All are still a minority though with less than 2% each.
Of interest, Volkswagen, Ford, and Mercedes account for over half of all self-converted campervan insurance quotes by Caravanwise, with Volkswagen and Ford nearly neck-and-neck with around 20% each, thanks to the desirability of VW campervans and the availability of the Ford Transit vans for conversion.
One of the main benefits of choosing a popular model is availability of parts and kits for your conversion. If that is your main focus then a VW Transporter or a Ford Transit are well worth looking at. Ford Transits are widely available so you should have examples to look at close to home, plus the initial price will be lower than that for a similar age and mileage VW Transporter. It is worth considering resale value as well. VW Campervans tend to hold their value better than just about all other converted vans.
In terms of insurance the make a model does not have any bearing on cost but engine size and value do. If you are starting out on a plan to do your own campervan conversion and want to get an idea of insurance cost for a few options that you are considering we are happy to give you a quote and then change the vehicle and see what the difference is for you. Just call us on 0800 3282084 during office hours. This is entirely free of any obligation and we we’ll not contact you unless you ask us to.
If you’d like full details of our converted campervan insurance just follow that link.