5 Reasons We Bought a Campervan

By Todd Bonner

As we considered a possible RV or campervan purchase in 2021, my thoughts were all over the map. Some days, I felt certain the campervan option was the best one for this “nearly-empty nest” phase of life we have entered.

Other days, my more analytical self would rule the internal conversation, pointing out that the price per square foot was outrageous for campervans and arguing a travel trailer or small fifth wheel would be the more practical, responsible decision.

With the total cost being approximately the same when factoring in a truck purchase for the towable, it was a constant mental tug of war. In the end, five factors helped us make a confident decision.

1 - Simplicity

The last five years have seen several monumental shifts in our life. This included transitioning into and out of full-time RV life with our family of five and taking an eight-month hiatus in Hawaii.

But the one thing that hasn’t shifted is my insatiable desire for simplicity. I am always drawn to fewer moving parts, less to maintain, and less that can go wrong.

As we considered a campervan purchase, I couldn’t get away from the feeling that this would be the simplest path forward in our desire to continue exploring after our youngest child had launched, for a few reasons.

At less than 20 feet long, a campervan could easily be parked in our driveway, stocked, plugged in, and ready to roll out of town for an adventure at the drop of a hat.

There’s no additional cost and hassle of storing a larger RV at a separate location and transporting it back and forth before and after trips.

We wouldn’t need two purchases, like a truck as a towing vehicle plus an RV.

There are relatively few moving parts compared to towable RV options.

We also knew we weren’t looking for luxury with this purchase. We were looking for adventure, mobility and the freedom to see a sign as we traveled down the road and say, “Let’s go check that out!” The campervan seemed to tick all of these boxes.

2 - No Towing And Backing

Before we bought our first travel trailer in 2017 with the intention of quickly hitting the road full time, I had almost no towing experience at all. In fact, I had never even owned a truck!

After a few months on the road, I got pretty comfortable with it. But backing never got truly easy and always added a layer of stress to the end of a long travel day. That was especially true when we were stuck in a tight space with obstacles.

The reality of avoiding the added stress and the frustration of speed restrictions while towing has been a dream in the campervan. Yup, you just might see me buzzing past you at 75+ mph on the interstate with a stupid grin plastered on my face.

3 - Easy To Maneuver Almost Anywhere

With our 50-foot total setup during our full-time RV excursion, I came to think of traveling with the trailer in tow kind of like a game of chess—you always have to be thinking and looking 3–5 moves ahead to avoid disaster.

Maybe you’re wired for this and it’s no big deal. That is not the case with me.

Contrast that large setup with a campervan that’s less than 20 feet long and has a turning radius that rivals my Honda Accord. Basically, our campervan can fit in just about any standard parking space on the planet and navigate any parking lot. How’s that for easy?

Factor in the campervan’s very manageable 9-foot-5inch clearance requirement and we have some stressfree travels ahead. Heck, we can even take her through some drive-thrus for a quick bite without having to leave the driver’s seat!

4 - Exploration Efficiency

What? You’ve never heard of exploration efficiency? That’s because I just made it up.

I want to see everything we can possibly see out there in the big, wide world, but I want to do it as efficiently as we can. For that reason, I wanted to take the campervan’s exploration efficiency compared to a towable RV into account.

In my mind, exploration efficiency consists of two main factors—your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and your ability to boondock regularly without any need for electrical, water, or waste connections.

Because the campervan can get 17–18 mpg (more than double what we got while towing a travel trailer) and is equipped with solar panels on top and a second alternator under the hood to recharge the batteries while we drive, it has very high exploration efficiency.

Overall, I expect us to be able to travel at less than half the total cost per mile compared to the travel trailer What did we sacrifice to gain this efficiency? Space and luxury. For us, it’s the right call.

5 - Lower Overall Cost Of Ownership

In addition to lower cost of operation, I believe the campervan will retain its value far better than an average towable RV and will be less susceptible to water damage.

The weakest points in most towable RVs are the rubberized roof and the slides, where water intrusion is common. And I’ve learned that when water damage happens, the cost is always, always more than you expect.

Because the campervan is simply a metal cage with a few holes drilled in the top, keeping water out is a much simpler and less demanding chore.

At the end of the day, I feel confident the campervan has a much better chance of retaining its value through the years. The outcome? More money stays in our pockets whether we keep it or sell it.

STILL NOT SURE ABOUT YOUR DECISION?

We strongly recommend renting a campervan for a few nights to get a feel for the space. Our decision to rent a campervan to explore the Big Island of Hawaii for a couple of nights had a big impact on our choice.

Here’s to your next grand adventure! ■

About the Author

Todd and Julie Bonner are a couple of adventurous souls who spent 17 months RVing full time with their family of five in a 26-foot travel trailer. Now nearing an empty nest, they’ve transitioned to a campervan that fits their desire for simplicity perfectly. You can follow their wanderings on Instagram @trekkndotco or on their blog at TREKKN.co.