When choosing a camper van, you must consider the physical dimension of the camper van. The physical dimensions of a camper van will determine what kind of equipment can be add to the camper van. While many people focus on the sleeping capacity of the camper van or the distance that it can travel on a single tank of gas, the number of individuals that can sleep in the camper van and the distance that it can drive both relates to the interior space of that camper van.
Vans with extended wheelbases provides more interior length, while vans with high roofs provide more interior height. Each of these variations alter the size of the camper van in a way that impacts a variety of other van specification. The chart provides information about the interior length, interior width, and interior height of the most common base van.
How Camper Van Size Affects Space, Weight and Fuel
This information is provided together because the interior length and interior height of the camper van will help to indicate whether the camper van will provide standing room for the individual traveling in the camper van or if it will provide enough floor space for van cabinets. The payload information for each camper van is also provided to allow individuals to understand the relationship between how much weight the camper van can carry and how much cargo the camper van can hold. While it is true that camper vans with larger cargo volume have more space for the individual to store there gear, it is also possible that those same models will have a heavy weight when converting the van to a camper van.
While a longer wheelbase will add to the interior length of the camper van, it will also increase the turning radius of the camper van. This means that the camper van will be more difficultly to park in tight spots like the heart of a city. While high roofs allow individuals to stand up within the camper van, these same features make it impossible for the camper van to drive into many parking garages.
Additionally, high roofs also increase the amount of wind resistance that the camper van will experience. This will reduce the fuel economy of the camper van. This information is included in the chart to provide individuals with an overview of each model without having to read the manufacturer’s brochure for that camper van model.
The level of setup that a person chooses for the camper van will impact the amount of space that will be available within the camper van. If a person chooses a stock or stealth camper van build, there will be very little weight to the camper van. Additionally, the cargo volume that is available from the camper van will be the same as the original van.
A partial camper van conversion will add some insulation and a sleeping platform to the camper van. However, an individual can still move there gear within the camper van. A full custom build will include cabinetry, a fixed kitchen area, and a wet bath.
While these feature will provide additional comfort to the campers occupants, they will take up a large portion of the interior and payload space of the camper van. Individuals looking to perform a full custom build should of considered purchasing a camper van with a large factory cargo volume so that there is enough space to include the kitchen and cabinetry. The weight of a camper van and the height of the camper van will impact the fuel economy of the camper van.
Camper vans with more weight will have a reduced fuel economy due to the additional weight that must be move from the camper van from point A to point B. In addition, camper vans with high roofs will also have a reduced fuel economy. This can be noticed on long journeys, when comparing the distance that each camper van can travel on a single tank of gas. While diesel engine will have higher fuel economy estimates provided by the manufacturer, the weight of the camper van and the road condition in which it travels will impact the actual fuel economy.
The fuel economy information provided on the chart is provided for individuals to have an understanding of the fuel economy of the camper van when it is built and outfitted with the gear that they plan to include. The size of the camper van will determine how well it can fit into available spaces for camping. While extended high-roof camper vans may be the perfect sleeping area for individuals on there journeys, they may be too long for some camping areas in national parks.
While shorter camper vans will find it easier to park in standard spaces, they offer less space for individuals to sleep or store there items. The height of the roof of each camper van model will represent the garage clearance of camper vans in the chart. This specification will allow individuals to see if the camper van will be able to pass under low clearances in their driving routes.
Begin by noting any constraint to the camper van that cannot be changed. The size of the individual’s garage and the height restrictions of their driving routes will impact the camper van that is chosen. Additionally, it is important to note how many individual will need to sleep in the camper van.
With these initial specification noted, individuals can refer to the chart to determine which camper van matches their requirements. The camper van that is chosen should be the one that allows the camper’s modification to function without having to make numerous workarounds.
