Best 10 vans for micro camper conversions (in 2023)

Micro campers present a range of benefits that make them an appealing choice for those seeking adventure on the road with vanlife. With their compact size, these vans are highly manoeuvrable, allowing easy navigation through narrow streets and tight parking spots. Micro camper conversions are perfect for city camping and wild camping alike.

Despite their size, micro campers are designed to maximize space, offering clever storage solutions and functional layouts that optimize comfort and convenience during travel.

The vans listed in this article are all micro vans long enough to accommodate a full-length bed, but none are big enough to stand in.

We have written dedicated blogs for larger full-time vanlife conversion vans and cargo van conversions, so check them out if that’s what you’re looking for.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Micro Campervan

• Space Optimization: Making the Most of Limited Room
• Budget and Affordability: Making Smart Choices
• Reliability and Durability: Ensuring Longevity
• Size Restrictions: Maneuverability and Parking Ease
• Safety Features: Prioritizing Peace of Mind

Space Optimization: Making the Most of Limited Room

When converting a micro van into a camper, it is crucial to consider space optimization. Every inch counts in these compact vehicles, so careful planning is necessary to ensure efficient use of the available space. This involves strategically placing furniture, storage compartments, and essential amenities to create a functional living area without compromising comfort. Take some time to plan your van conversion layout.

Budget and Affordability: Making Smart Choices

Budget is an important consideration when selecting a micro van for camper conversion. Determine your budget by setting realistic expectations, and see what vans exist on the market to use as your guidelines. Use our budget planner to help you.

There are different ways to save money on your van conversion cost, and just about anything is possible where vanlife is concerned, so let your mind dream and be brave to chase your dream… corny I know, but still true.

Reliability and Durability: Ensuring Longevity

No one wants mechanical trouble when on holiday and off-roading, bouncing up and down mountains. From our experience investing in a reliable campervan rig is vital. Few vanlifers have not experienced some mechanical malfunction when on the road… and most in foreign countries. 😄

With micro campers, many people also use these vehicles as a daily run around, so reliability is even more key! Look for vans with sturdy construction, robust components, and a reputation for longevity, and if you are buying a used second-hand van, check for rust on the chassis.

Size Restrictions: Maneuverability and Parking Ease

A benefit of a micro campervan is its size, or lack thereof in some cases. It is essential to consider size restrictions when selecting a micro van for conversion. If you need it to fit in multistorey car parks or under height barriers, this is something to keep in mind when hunting for your perfect micro camper.

Safety Features: Prioritizing Peace of Mind

Safety should always be a top priority when selecting a van for van conversion. Look for vans with advanced safety features such as stability control, anti-lock brakes, airbags, and collision warning systems. Some of our top picks to add are features like rear-view cameras (a MUST), blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control for enhanced safety during your journeys.

Campervan safety from break-ins and theft is also a huge topic, though most people choose their own third-party security systems.

Which van should you pick for your micro camper conversion?

Any vehicle can be used as a micro camper.

You heard right. Any vehicle.

We personally started our vanlife journey in New Zealand in a 7-seater 1998 Nissan Serena named Bumi. We converted this car into a micro camper in a few months through trial and error, not really knowing what we were doing most of the time, but it was certainly possible.

This ‘camper’ was just long enough for us to stretch out and sleep fully. By ripping out the back seats and adding some custom storage and small hidey holes, we transformed this car into our first micro camper.

Whilst any 7-seater has the space to fit a bed, cooking appliances, maybe even a fridge and toilet, some small van vehicles are better suited for conversions into micro campers due to their space optimisation.

The truth is that a lot of manufacturers just copy each other’s van blueprints which means that you can have the exact same interior from different van models.

Most modern small vans all come with decent cab interior setups (AC, Sat Nav, heated seats etc.), so it mostly boils down to what’s on the market when you’re looking and if you prefer one brand over another.

In the categories below, we have already clustered the vans that share a body type.

Fiat Doblo – Vauxhall Combo GEN 2

The Generation 2 Fiat Doblo and Vauxhall Combo vans are identical in all but the badge. These vans are pretty common on the second-hand van market and are great for a beginner micro campervan conversion. These vans cannot be bought new anymore.

For reference, GEN 2 is Fiat Doblo 2010 – 2022 and Vauxhall Combo 2012 – 2018.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• Used: £2,000 – £10,000

Pros of Fiat Doblo – Vauxhall Combo

• These vans are very common since they are used for trade vans everywhere and are easy to get.
• Campervan Accessories made to fit. Due to their popularity, lots of accessories are made for these vans that are custom fit. Things like windows, vent fans, swivel seats and rock-n-roll bed seats can all be found.
• Spare parts. Body panels, and mechanical parts, all these are easy to come by and cheap to replace.
• High roof option. These vans have an extra high roof option, gaining some 25cm extra height!
• These micro camper conversions are very common, so finding good examples of layout ideas and designs is super easy.

Cons of Fiat Doblo – Vauxhall Combo

• Second-hand only. Since these are older model vans, you cannot find these new anymore, so you have to buy them second-hand.
• Often a workhorse. Due to them being popular with traders, finding one in good condition might be hard since they are often given a hard life.
• Easy to overload. The weight-carrying limit is not high, so especially if you get the biggest van of this size, it is easy to overload it with campervan goodies.

Who is the van model best for?

If you want to give vanlife a go, on a smaller budget, a micro camper conversion in a Fiat Doblo or Vauxhall Combo is a good place to start. They are cheap to pick up, easy enough to repair when things break, and fun to play around with to get a feel for vanlife and take some summer trips out.

Examples Fiat Doblo Camper Conversion →

Citroen Berlingo – Fiat Doblo – Peugeot Partner – Toyota Proace City – Vauxhall Combo – GEN 3

Generation 3 of these vans share a body type, so their rear interior is the same. Your camper layout would stay the same, but the cab, facelift and engines are all different. This is especially true depending on where in the world you purchase these vehicles. All five are superb for a micro camper conversion.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• New: £20,000 – £30,000
• Used: £2,000 – £10,000

Pros of Citroen Berlingo – Fiat Doblo – Peugeot Partner – Toyota Proace City – Vauxhall Combo Cargo

• They are everywhere. These vans dominate the small van market worldwide and are used everywhere, so parts are often interchangeable and cheap.
• Campervan Accessories made to fit. Due to their popularity, lots of accessories are made for these vans that are custom fit. Things like windows, vent fans, swivel seats and rock-n-roll bed seats can all be found.
• Cheap as chips. Because of their popularity with small businesses, these vans are cheap second-hand. You can find bargains as low as a few thousand for a decent vehicle.
• High roof option. These vans have an extra high roof option, gaining some 25cm extra height!
• These micro camper conversions are very common, so finding good examples of layout ideas and designs is super easy.

Cons of Citroen Berlingo – Fiat Doblo – Peugeot Partner – Toyota Proace City – Vauxhall Combo Cargo

• Quality is iffy. Being cheap, their quality is not as good as some other brands, meaning things might break more often.
• Easy to overload. The weight-carrying limit is not high, so especially if you get the biggest van of this size, it is easy to overload it with campervan goodies.

Who are these vans best for?

If you want to give vanlife a go, on a smaller budget, a micro camper conversion in a Fiat Doblo, Vauxhall Combo, Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, and Toyota Proace City is a good place to start. They are cheap to pick up, easy enough to repair when things break, and fun to play around with to get a feel for vanlife and take some summer trips out.

Example Citroen Berlingo Camper Conversion →

Mercedes Vito

Like its big daddy, the Sprinter van, Mercedes has a micro van to offer for any micro camper conversion. With the Mercedes badge on its front and a good solid build quality, this van is a serious contender if you have the budget.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• New: £25,000 – £40,000
• Used: £5,000 – £15,000

Pros of Mercedes Vito

• Excellent build quality and longevity. Mercedes often outlive most of its competition and go on for years.
• Good size options. Though not the smallest vans, if you’re looking for that sweet spot between a micro camper and a transporter-sized vehicle, these are a perfect size.
• High weight capacity. These vans can take nearly 1000kg of payload, meaning there is plenty of weight left for a proper micro camper conversion and people!

Cons of Mercedes Vito

• Expensive, expect to pay at least £1000 extra for the Mercedes badge, even when buying second-hand.
• Repairs cost more as well. Due to it being a Mercedes, you get hit with the premium parts and repair costs that come with it.
• Not that ‘micro’. The length and width are big, but if you’re looking for the smallest vehicle possible to fit in some tight spaces, this van is quite large in comparison.

Who is the Mercedes Vito best for?

The Mercedes Vito is a solid base for a camper if you have the budget, are looking for a longer micro camper and don’t mind the lack of headroom in your micro camper conversion.

Example Mercedes Vito Camper Conversion →

Ford Transit Connect

The Ford Transit Connect is a jack-of-all-trades micro camper conversion. These vans can be highly customised, meaning you can find nearly any size you want, and if you have the money can order one specifically to your required dimensions. Being a Ford, they are cheap to repair, and parts are available worldwide…though they do break more.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• New: £25,000 – £40,000
• Used: £2,000 – £10,000

Pros of Ford Transit Connect

• Nifty for tight spaces. The Ford Transit Connect is quite a low-roof, narrow van meaning it fits in tight spaces well, through busy city streets and small carparks.
• Blends in. Ford Transits are known for being ‘the stereotypical van’ so your vehicle won’t look out of place anywhere. Perfect for a stealth micro camper conversion.
• Customisable. If you have the money, you can customise one of these new to nearly any height or length needed or find some great oddly shaped second-hand custom Transits on the market.

Cons of Ford Transit Connect

• Very short height. This is one of the shortest vans on the market, and in a micro camper where every cm counts, this is noticeable in comparison.
• Rust buckets. Ford Transits are not great with rust, with older models (quite literally) falling apart.
• Quite expensive. This mid-range micro van is quite expensive compared with a lot of the competition when new, so buying second-hand might be the way to go with the Transits.

Who is the Ford Transit Connect best for?

• If the short height doesn’t bother you, and you’re looking for a good stealth micro campervan, the Ford Transit Connect is a great option (and you’re prepared to do some repairs).

Example Ford Transit Connect Camper Conversion →

VW Caddy

Mercedes couldn’t have all the fun, right? The VW Caddy is a great, reliable small van ripe and ready for a micro van conversion. They aren’t cheap but run forever and are common in Europe for parts. This is a modern iteration of Volkswagen’s original campervan.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• New: £25,000 – £40,000
• Used: £5,000 – £15,000

Pros of VW Caddy

• Reliable and dependable. VW Caddy vans are often used for small business cargo vans and service vehicles and easily go on for over 300,000 miles.
• Solid build quality. These vans are workhorses and are built as much, meaning parts are good quality and last longer than others.
• Not overly expensive. Despite carrying the VW badge, comparatively, they aren’t excessively expensive when compared with other options when new.

Cons of VW Caddy

• Still short in height. Just like the Transit, the VW Caddy is quite low, and if you’re tall and/or plan to spend a while inside, the lack of headroom will be noticeable.
• Second-hand premium. VW Caddy vans second-hand tend to cost more, purely because they are a VW, so finding a good deal can take more patience and time.

Who is the VW Caddy best for?

• If you want a solid, reliable vehicle and are a short person, or don’t mind the cramped headspace, then the VW Caddy would be a serious option to consider.

Example VW Caddy Camper Conversion →

Renault Kangoo – Nissan NV 200

Another affordable option for a micro van conversion would be the Renault Kangoo and Nissan NV 200. These are the same van shell underneath and offer a good shell for a micro camper, which won’t break the bank.

Interior Dimensions

Price

• New: £17,000 – £30,000
• Used: £2,000 – £10,000

Pros of Renault Kangoo – Nissan NV 200

• Cheap, even when new. Especially the Renault Kangoo, when new, can be very cheap. And second hand, you can find some great deals.
• Repairability. Parts are cheap and easy to get, so repairing anything on the road is easy enough.

Cons of Renault Kangoo – Nissan NV 200

• Not too common. These vans aren’t as common as others, so finding a great second-hand deal might take more hunting.
• Shortest of the lot in height. Out of all the vans covered, these are the shortest by far. Even sitting on a low bench inside might be a struggle.

Who are these vans best for?

• For the smallest ‘van’ possible on this list, these two van models can make a great little micro camper for the summer, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

Example Nissan NV200 Camper Conversion →

Which is the best van for a micro camper conversion?

The best van for a micro camper conversion depends on personal choice and circumstance.

Most of the vans on this list can be found for under £10,000 second-hand in great condition, and if your budget is only a few thousand, you can still buy one second-hand with change to spare for the conversion itself.

If you want a micro conversion but have a larger budget, an electric van might also be an option. Many of the vehicles listed above come in an electric version, with a range around the same as most electric cars.

Another thing to note is that most of these vans can also be fitted with pop tops. A pop top might be ideal if you still wanted to fit in underground carparks but wanted the extra headroom when parked up. These can be added as an extra to your micro conversion.

Something to bear in mind is how these vehicles are also like to drive. Many people forget to do this research when choosing their vehicle. You must test drive any contenders before picking your base vehicle for your van conversion.

At the end of the day, no “best” vehicle exists. If you research and ensure you have the optional extras you require (AC, Sat Nav, heated seats etc.), your choice will be the best fit for your conversion.

Use our van buying checklist and common sense before buying a used van for your campervan conversion.