BEST SMALL CAMPER VANS FOR SALE
Easy to drive. Easy to park. Ready to go.
Six models on the short Sprinter 144 and Transit 148, from $115,950 including the van and the build. Hand-built in Boulder, Colorado.
Six models on the short Sprinter 144 and Transit 148, from $115,950 including the van and the build. Hand-built in Boulder, Colorado.
Small camper vans built on the short Mercedes Sprinter 144 and Ford Transit 148 platforms. Easy to drive, easy to park, and ready for the road. Hand-built in Boulder, Colorado by The Vansmith.
The best small camper vans for sale, hand-built in Colorado
A small camper van is built on the short Mercedes Sprinter 144 or Ford Transit 148 wheelbase, about 19 to 20 feet long. That makes it far easier to drive, park, and live with day to day than the longer 170 inch and extended builds, without giving up a real bed, galley, water, and power. These are premium small vans for camping you can also drive every day. Browse our small camper vans for sale below. Every price includes the van and the build.
Why choose a small camper van
A shorter van is the most maneuverable, easiest-to-own way to get on the road. Here is what the smaller footprint gives you.
Easy to drive & park
Easiest to driveAt about 19 to 20 feet long, a small camper van handles much like a full-size truck or SUV. Slip into normal parking spots, work through tight city streets, and reach trailhead lots the longer builds cannot.
Goes more places
A shorter wheelbase means a tighter turning radius and better maneuverability on narrow forest roads and switchbacks, so you can get farther off pavement and closer to camp.
Better efficiency, lower cost
Less length means less weight, better fuel economy than the longer 170 inch and extended builds, and a lower starting price, so more of your budget goes into the build itself.
Easier to live with
A smaller van is simpler to store, friendlier for first-time van owners, and an easy daily driver between trips, all without giving up a real bed, galley, water, and power.
Want more interior room, bunks for a bigger family, or a longer galley? Our 170 inch and extended builds add length when you need it.
Compare our small camper vans
Every van below is built on the short Mercedes Sprinter 144, about 19 and a half feet long. Here is how they compare, so you can choose the best small camper van for the way you travel.
| Model | Sleeps | Platform | Starts at* | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter Duo | 2, 3 with a bunk | Sprinter 144 | $115,950 | Couples who want a flexible layout at the best value. |
| Sprinter Duo S | 2 to 3 | Sprinter 144 | $122,950 | Couples who want an enclosed interior shower. |
| Bivy Classic | 2 | Sprinter 144 | $119,700 | Couples who want a premium prebuilt van, ready to go. |
| Bivy Plus | 2 | Sprinter 144 | $145,845 | Off-grid trips: 10kWh power, awning, exterior shower. |
| Bivy Deluxe | 2 | Sprinter 144 | $192,570 | The most equipment included, fewest upgrades to add. |
| Sprinter Family | 4, seats 5 | Sprinter 144 | $120,950 | Families who still want a nimble footprint. |
*Every price includes the van and the build, and updates automatically with current pricing. The Sprinter 144 is available with all-wheel-drive diesel.
Prefer a Ford Transit?
Every model above is also available on the Ford Transit 148, at a slightly lower price. Call us and we will walk you through the differences.
Small camper van dimensions and standing height
Every van here is built on one of two short-wheelbase platforms. These are the manufacturer measurements, so you know exactly what you are parking and how much room you have inside.
| Measurement | Mercedes Sprinter 144 high roof | Ford Transit 148 high roof |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior length | 233.5 in (19 ft 5 in) | 235.5 in (19 ft 8 in) |
| Exterior height | 107.5 in (8 ft 11 in) | 109.6 in (9 ft 2 in) |
| Exterior width, no mirrors | 79 in | 81.3 in |
| Interior standing height | 79.1 in (6 ft 7 in) | 81.5 in (6 ft 9 in) |
| Maximum interior width | 70 in | 70.2 in |
| Interior floor length | 133 in | 143.7 in |
Factory cargo measurements for the high roof. Finished interior height is reduced slightly by the floor and ceiling in any conversion, including ours.
Can you stand up in a small camper van?
In these, yes. That is the whole reason we build small campers on a full-size chassis with a short wheelbase rather than on a compact van.
Compact vans and minivan campers generally top out around four and a half to five feet of interior height. In a van that size you sit, kneel and crawl. A Sprinter 144 high roof gives you 79.1 inches, and a Transit 148 high roof 81.5 inches. Most people stand up straight, cook at a counter, get dressed without contorting, and wait out a wet afternoon without hunching over.
You keep the parkable footprint either way. At roughly 19 and a half feet these are about the length of a crew cab pickup, so they take one parking space, fit a standard trailhead lot, and go down a forest service road. The next size up, the Sprinter 170, adds about three and a half feet, and you feel every inch of it in town.
One honest caveat on height: a high roof puts you near nine feet before you add roof vents, solar or a rack. Plan on staying out of older parking garages, which are often posted at seven to eight feet.
Small on the outside, complete on the inside
A shorter van does not mean roughing it. Every small Vansmith build still has a full, comfortable bed, a real galley with a sink and fridge, fresh and gray water, house power, heat, and storage designed around how you travel. We fit a complete home into the most maneuverable footprint we make, so you give up length, not livability. Want to add a shower? A convertible bench shower tucks into a small van without taking over the floor plan.
Small camper vans, built in Boulder, Colorado
At The Vansmith, we have been hand-building custom camper vans since 2016. Our small camper vans are built on the short Mercedes Sprinter 144 and Ford Transit 148, the most agile, easiest-to-own platforms we offer. As skiers, bikers, hikers, and climbers ourselves, we know how much easier the right-sized van makes everyday life, from the grocery run to the trailhead. Every one of the small camper vans for sale here is a fully finished, premium build, not a conversion kit or a bare cargo van, which is what makes them some of the best small camper vans you can buy. Shopping factory-built RVs instead of a hand-built conversion? Our guide to the best small motorhomes and compact Class B RVs walks through the factory-built models alongside custom conversions.
What counts as a small camper van?
We build our small vans on two short-wheelbase platforms:
- Mercedes Sprinter 144: the short-wheelbase Sprinter, about 19 and a half feet long, available with all-wheel-drive diesel.
- Ford Transit 148: the standard-length Transit, about 19 and a half feet long, available with all-wheel drive gas.
By comparison, our longer builds on the 170 inch Sprinter and the 148 Extended Transit run roughly 22 to 24 feet. A small van is two to four feet shorter, which makes a real difference when you are parking downtown, threading a forest road, or storing the van at home. Our Bivy, Duo, and Family lines are all available on the small platform. The Bivy and Duo make excellent small camper vans for 2 people, while the Family sleeps four and seats five. For a deeper look at how the two lengths actually drive and live, read our short vs long wheelbase camper van guide.
How our small camper vans are built
Every van here is complete: the van and the build in a single price, starting at $115,950 for the Sprinter Duo. The Bivy Classic, Plus and Deluxe are pre-built and ready in 8 to 10 weeks. The Duo, Duo S and Family are made to order around your layout, finishes and features, in 12 to 16 weeks, and backed by our lifetime cabinet warranty for the original owner.
One price, one build slot, one warranty. You do not source a chassis, arrange transport or coordinate two suppliers. We buy the van, build it, and hand you the keys.
Frequently asked questions
What is a small camper van?
A small camper van is a fully built camper on a short-wheelbase chassis, about 19 to 20 feet long. We build ours on the Mercedes Sprinter 144 and the standard Ford Transit 148, so they are easy to drive and park while still having a real bed, galley, water, and power inside.
What are the best small camper vans?
The best small camper van depends on how you travel. Our Bivy is the premium pick for couples, the Duo is the most flexible value, and the Family sleeps four and seats five. All are built on the short Mercedes Sprinter 144 or Ford Transit 148, so they stay easy to drive and park while still feeling like a complete home inside, which is what makes them some of the best small camper vans you can buy.
Are mini, micro, compact and small camper vans the same thing?
Not quite, and the difference matters before you shop. A mini camper van, micro camper van or tiny camper van usually means a converted minivan or a compact cargo van, roughly 15 to 17 feet long, where the bed sits across the back and most of the cooking happens outside. A compact camper van like the ones on this page is a full Class B on the short Sprinter 144 or Transit 148, about 19 to 20 feet, with 6 ft 7 in of standing room, a fixed bed, a galley with a sink and fridge, plumbed fresh and gray water, and house power. It is the smallest size that still holds all of that.
What is the best small camper van for 2 people?
For two people, our Bivy and Duo builds are ideal small camper vans for 2 people. You get a near-queen bed that extends to a near-king, raised over a large gear garage, a real galley with a sink and fridge, plus water, power, and heat, all in a footprint you can park almost anywhere. The Bivy is the premium, fully finished option, while the Duo offers the most flexible value.
What is the best small camper van with a bathroom?
You can add a bathroom to any of our small camper vans. A convertible bench shower folds away when you are not using it, and a dry-flush or cassette toilet tucks into a bench, so neither takes over the floor plan. That makes the Duo S and the Bivy Deluxe, both on the short Sprinter 144, two of the best small camper vans with a real bathroom.
What is the difference between a 144 and a 170 or extended van?
It comes down to length. The Sprinter 144 and Transit 148 are about 19 and a half feet long, while the 170 inch Sprinter and extended Transit run roughly 22 to 24 feet. The shorter vans are easier to drive, park, and store; the longer vans trade some of that for extra interior room, bunks, and a longer galley.
Are small camper vans easier to drive and park?
Yes. A small van handles much like a full-size truck or SUV, with a tighter turning radius and a footprint that fits normal parking spots and tight trailhead lots. It is the easiest van to live with day to day, especially for first-time van owners.
How many people can a small camper van sleep?
Our Bivy and Duo builds on the small platform sleep two on a near-queen bed that extends to a near-king, and a Duo can add a bunk for occasional extra sleeping. Our small Family builds sleep four and seat five. A bunk bed and a kids hammock are available as upgrades.
Can a small camper van still have a shower or toilet?
Yes, on the short 144 platform. The Sprinter Duo S adds a hot-water shower to the Duo layout, and the Sprinter Bivy Deluxe includes a fully integrated shower and a built-in toilet as standard. On the Sprinter Duo, Bivy Classic and Bivy Plus a convertible bench shower is an option, and it folds away when you are not using it. A dry-flush or cassette toilet tucks into the bench on any of them. The Sprinter Family is the one layout with no interior shower.
Do small camper vans get better gas mileage?
Generally yes. A shorter van weighs less than the longer 170 inch and extended builds, which helps fuel economy. Exact mileage depends on the chassis, drivetrain, and how you drive and load the van.
Will a small camper van fit in my garage?
Most of our builds are high-roof vans, which are too tall for a standard residential garage even though the length fits. The footprint parks like a full-size truck, so it is easy to store outside or in a driveway. If garage height matters to you, ask us about lower-roof options and we will check the exact dimensions.
Which is the most affordable small camper van?
The Sprinter Duo at $115,950 is our most affordable small camper van. That price includes the van and the build, so there is nothing else to buy.
Can I get 4x4 or all-wheel drive in a small van?
Yes. The Mercedes Sprinter 144 is available with all-wheel-drive diesel, and the Ford Transit 148 is available with all-wheel drive gas, so you can have a capable small van for snow, dirt, and forest roads.
How much does a small camper van cost?
Our small camper vans run from $115,950 for the Sprinter Duo to $192,570 for the Bivy Deluxe. Every price includes the van and the build. Browse the listings above for current pricing, or start a build for a custom quote.
How long does it take to get a small camper van?
The Bivy Classic, Bivy Plus and Bivy Deluxe are pre-built and ready in 8 to 10 weeks. The Duo, Duo S and Family are made to order around your layout and finishes, which takes 12 to 16 weeks.
Can you deliver outside Colorado?
Yes. We deliver fully converted camper vans nationwide from our Boulder, Colorado workshop, so you do not need to live in Colorado to buy one. You are also welcome to collect it in person and drive it home, which many owners do.
Can I finance a small camper van?
Yes. Camper vans are usually financed with an RV loan, which typically runs over a longer term than a car loan and so keeps the monthly payment lower. See our financing options, or work out a monthly figure with our RV loan calculator.
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