The Surprising Reasons I Chose a Minivan for Van Life

Do you want to start van life, but don’t know where to start or feel like it’s out of reach? Maybe you just need some practical ideas to get the ball rolling.

Today, I want to share with you the reasons why I chose a minivan to jump start my van life journey and how I was able to start sooner than later.

When it comes to van life, there are so many options for vehicles, but I ultimately decided on a minivan for several reasons. In this video, I'll be sharing my thought process and the advantages I've found in choosing a minivan for my campervan.

When I decided I wanted to live van life, I knew a larger campervan was out of reach for me financially. I wanted to start van life, but I didn’t want to go into debt to do it.

I love tiny spaces, so a minivan was an easy idea for me to explore and affordability was one of the main reasons I chose a minivan for van life.

Reason #1: Affordability

Minivans are generally less expensive than larger campervans, both in terms of initial cost and maintenance.

I did some research and quickly learned that the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odessey were the top two picks for minivan campervans.

As I started to look for a van, I initially thought I would need to spend anywhere between $12,000 and $15,000 in a van, but when I included the other expenses that come along with starting van life, I was not going to be able to start this lifestyle within the time frame I wanted.

If you are already living van life, you know, once you make that decision, you don’t want to wait to start!

After more research and some discussions with mechanics, I realized if I got a Toyota Sienna that had been well cared for and properly maintained and if I continued to stay up to date with preventative maintenance, I could anticipate the van to last to well over 300,000 miles, and I was able to find people in situations where that was true. That meant I could start looking for older vans with more miles and bring the initial cost of a van down to an obtainable number for me!

I sold my car for $8,000 and purchased 2006 Toyota Sienna with 197,000 miles on it for $6,000. I had all the preventative maintenance that needs to be done at 200,000 miles and still had money left over. By doing this, I could start van life earlier.

Reason #2: Space optimization

Space optimization was the second reason I chose a minivan.

While minivans may have less interior space than larger campervans, they still offer plenty of opportunities for creative and affordable customization to create a comfortable living space.

To customize my van, I chose to install a RoadLoft removeable conversion kit.

Here is a picture of the RoadLoft Removeable Conversion Kit installed in my van. 

I had two requirements when it came to my van. I needed to have room for a toilet and needed to have a workspace, aside from that, I was flexible. 

The table I use for my workspace is so awesome. I can even fit 4 people at that table in my van comfortably.

Before I set out, my friends and I would sit in my van and have lunch! I don’t generally leave the table up unless I’m working or need a table, but the table is really what sold me on this for my conversion.

I have so much storage, under the bench and under the bed. 

Then in the back there are pull out drawers for your kitchen and even more storage.

They make conversion kits for all different types of minivans, and even SUV’s and hatchbacks.

Use coupon code RL3249 for $150 off.

While there are several companies that make these kits, ultimately, I chose RoadLoft because of the quality. Their conversion kit was designed by travelers who actually use their product. They developed and tested their system and after more than 13 prototypes, they really do have the best product available. 

All of their wood is marine grade, which allows it to resist humidity and moisture to escape, and it’s also covered with multiple ways of an ecological varnish. 

I didn’t realize how important that was. When wood is exposed to heat and humidity it can give off toxic fumes and easily grow mold. Since I was going to be living and sleeping in my van, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t living in a space that was toxic or full of mold. 

There are lots of other reasons I chose RoadLoft for my van, but since it’s non-permanent and I didn’t have to make any modification to my van, if I need to replace my van for any reason, I still have my conversion kit.

Reason #3: Fuel Efficiency

Another advantage of minivans is their fuel efficiency. With gas prices constantly fluctuating, having a vehicle with better gas mileage helps me save money and travel further on a single tank.

Reason #4: Maneuverability and Parking

The ease of driving and parking a minivan camper is another consideration for choosing a minivan. 

A few years ago, I had a 33’ motorhome and while that is much larger than a traditional campervan, maneuvering and parking a larger vehicle limits where you can park and makes navigating an urban area a challenge. 

Since I can park in a normal parking stall, it makes parking easier and getting around in cities is no more eventful than normal.

This is my van next to a Mercedes CamperVan.

Reason #5: Stealth

Lastly, minivans offer a more stealthy option for van life. They blend in better allowing me to park and sleep without drawing too much attention. This has been especially helpful when it comes to finding overnight parking spots that are free.

And there you have it!

• Affordability, 

• Space Optimization, 

• Fuel Efficiency, 

• Maneuverability, and 

• Stealthiness.

These are the reasons I chose a minivan over a larger campervan for my van life journey. 

 I hope this helps you see there are options that put van life into reach for you. With a minivan you can embrace van life while balancing convenience, cost, and sustainability. 

Until next time, stay wild and free!