Best van chassis for camper van conversions

A good foundation is essential to every home, even those on wheels. Choosing the right chassis is the first step in building your dream camper van. All three major chassis options currently on the market — Ram ProMaster, Mercedes Sprinter, and Ford Transit — provide a solid foundation. However, there’s likely one “right” choice that will check all your boxes!

At Noovo, we use the ProMaster exclusively for our own builds because of the reliability, versatility, and interior detailing (and access to the super high roof for our Plus model!).

However, there are other options to consider, depending on your needs, budgets, and ideal destinations (such as extensive off-road use).

Today we are going to compare these three chassis and give you all the details you need to find the perfect fit for you! But before we jump in, consider your budget, duration and frequency of use, types of destinations you seek, and how many people will be traveling with you.

Quick Recommendations

Ram ProMaster

• Best value for full-time van lifers and weekend warriors.
• Offers the highest roof, providing excellent interior space.
• Easy maintenance and widespread availability of parts.
• Suitable for most travel needs including full-time living and light off-road use.

Mercedes Sprinter

• Best for those seeking all-wheel drive and high-end stock insulation.
• High-end interior detailing and robust off-road capabilities.
• More expensive and less accessible for service, especially in remote areas.
• Often used for recreational trips rather than full-time living.

Ford Transit

• Best for those needing all-wheel drive capabilities.
• Versatile for various driving conditions and customization options.
• Good service availability and widespread parts.
• Balanced option for both recreational trips and potential full-time use.

The ProMaster stands out for its affordable up-front cost and low maintenance costs. This is a big part of why we picked it as our go-to base for full-time and part-time vanlifers. The high roof provides ample interior space, and the widespread availability of parts lowers the chances of getting “trapped on the side of the road.”

The Sprinter comes at a higher initial cost and potentially high maintenance expenses, especially in remote areas. It's ideal for those seeking a premium experience for mostly off-road use. However, that combination comes at a much higher cost.

The Transit offers a balanced option with moderate upfront costs and good parts availability, which lowers maintenance costs and wait times. It provides versatility for various driving conditions and customization options, making the cost sensible for those who intend to do a DIY build for off-road use.

The ProMaster has a gasoline V6 engine and front-wheel drive. It’s easy to maintain and gets about 17 MPG. We consider the drive experience best-in-class for everyday travel and light off-roading.

The Sprinter offers diesel and gasoline engines. You can choose between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It gets 17 to 20 MPG. If you need a wide range of engine and drivetrain options — especially for off-road — this is your top option.

The Transit also offers gasoline and diesel configurations. You can pick all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. It gets 17 to 20 MPG. You get a balanced and powerful drive experience, essentially in-between what’s offered by Ram and Mercedes.

The ProMaster has a boxy shape and lower cargo floor, which is critical for our customers who typically live in their van for at least half the year and need to maximize their interior usable space. The high roof provides ample headroom up to 7’ with the Super High Roof model. This means more room for storage, but also more breathing room for you and your travel companions.

The Sprinter offers a high roof with a high interior space; on the low-end, the height is typically higher than comparable base models from Ram and Ford. The walls taper at the top, which can help maximize cabinet space but is very challenging for DIY builders. Installing cabinetry, appliances, and other fixtures requires advanced carpentry skills and more expensive fixtures to accommodate the curved non-standard shape.

The Transit provides a spacious interior with moderate to high roof height. It’s versatile, with a good balance of headroom and width, making it easy to customize for both recreational trips and full-time use. The “boxier” interior makes it a good option for DIY conversions, offering a similar conversion experience to the ProMaster.

The ProMaster driving experience is easy thanks to the tight turning radius of 36 feet. The higher-than-average seating position at 28 inches gives a good view of the road, and the cabin noise level is moderate at 70 dB, making long drives more pleasant.

The Sprinter offers a smooth and stable ride, as expected at this price point. It has a cabin noise level of 65 dB, enhancing the overall driving experience. The mid-level seating position at 26 inches provides a good balance of control and comfort, though its turning radius is larger at 47 feet.

The Transit provides a car-like driving experience with very comfortable seating. Its lower seating position at 24 inches feels familiar to those used to driving standard vehicles. Noise levels are moderate at 68 dB, ensuring a quiet ride, and the turning radius is 42 feet.

How well a van handles off-road terrain depends on three key factors:

• Ground clearance
• Drive configuration
• Tire choice

Higher ground clearance helps navigate rough roads and obstacles, while drive configuration (like all-wheel drive) improves traction. The right tires can also significantly enhance off-road performance.

The ProMaster has a ground clearance of 6.9 inches and comes with front-wheel drive. It's best suited for paved roads and light off-road conditions. You can add all-terrain tires to improve its capability on rougher paths, but it's not designed for heavy off-road use.

The Sprinter shines in rugged terrain with ground clearance ranging from 8.0 to 9.5 inches. Its advanced all-wheel drive system offers excellent traction and stability, making it ideal for challenging off-road environments. The Sprinter's higher clearance and robust build allow it to handle more demanding adventures.

The Transit, with ground clearance between 7.8 and 9.0 inches, offers a versatile off-road experience. Its intelligent all-wheel drive system adapts to various terrains, providing reliable traction. This makes the Transit a good choice for those who need a van that can handle diverse conditions, from city streets to rough trails.

The ProMaster, with its gasoline engine, has a fuel consumption of about 17 MPG and moderate emissions. It doesn't offer diesel options, which some consider a drawback for long-term environmental impact. However, its simpler engine technology can mean fewer complex emissions-related issues.

The Sprinter offers both diesel and gasoline engines, achieving 17-20 MPG. The diesel engines, while efficient, produce higher emissions compared to gasoline. The Sprinter's advanced engine technology contributes to its efficiency, but the higher emissions make it less eco-friendly than some alternatives.

The Transit provides a balance with fuel consumption between 17-20 MPG and moderate emissions. It offers both gasoline and diesel options, including the EcoBoost engine, which is designed for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. This makes the Transit a more environmentally conscious choice for those concerned about sustainability.

Ultimately, the interior choices of a camper van build matter just as much if not more than the chassis choice when it comes to environmental impact.

How to Decide on a Camper Van Chassis

To summarize:

• Choose the ProMaster if you’re planning on living in your van or traveling for an extended period of time.
• Choose the Sprinter if you’re doing primarily off-road trips and your budget is higher.
• Choose the Transit if you’re doing a DIY build and want a more traditional driving feel.

Our experience has been that the ProMaster makes sense for the majority of the van life community. We see it works best for full-time nomads, adventure couples, remote workers, retirees, travel nurses, and weekend warriors. The Sprinter has become trendy in recent years, but many owners simply don’t use their van in a way that justifies the much higher costs, and they often have long wait times for maintenance due to parts availability and Mercedes-qualified mechanics. The Transit offers a fantastic middle ground for DIY conversion projects.