Mercedes Sprinter 144
OR
Ford Transit 148
Perfect for solo travelers or couples who want a compact adventure-ready van.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
19'Shower
Exterior * * Optional Add-OnsClass B RVs, Conversion Vans & Campervans for Sale in Philadelphia, PA
Mercedes Sprinter 144
OR
Ford Transit 148
Perfect for solo travelers or couples who want a compact adventure-ready van.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
19'Shower
Exterior * * Optional Add-OnsMercedes Sprinter 144
OR
Ford Transit 148
Includes a shower setup for longer trips without compromising comfort or space.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
19'Shower
Bench * * Optional Add-OnsMercedes Sprinter 170
OR
Ford Transit 148 E
Ideal for those who want extra living space and more storage for extended adventures.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
22'Shower
FullMercedes Sprinter 170
OR
Ford Transit 148 E
Luxury model with full amenities, extended power systems, and interior bathroom.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
22'Shower
FullMercedes Sprinter 144
OR
Ford Transit 148
Perfect for families who want space, comfort, and functionality in a compact build.
Seat & Sleeps
4Length
19'Shower
Exterior * * Optional Add-OnsMercedes Sprinter 170
OR
Ford Transit 148 E
A larger build for families who love extended adventures and more storage.
Seat & Sleeps
4Length
22'Shower
Bench * * Optional Add-OnsMercedes Sprinter 170
OR
Ford Transit 148 E
The luxury upgrade with interior shower and full power systems for long trips.
Seat & Sleeps
4Length
22'Shower
Full
Philadelphia gives you the Poconos in two hours, the Jersey Shore in ninety minutes, and New England, the Adirondacks and the Blue Ridge all within a day. The hard part is keeping the van at home. Rowhouse streets, permit parking and almost no off-street space make size the first decision rather than an afterthought, and Pennsylvania road salt makes underbody care the second.
The Vansmith builds Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit camper vans in Boulder, Colorado, and delivers them to buyers across the Delaware Valley. We have built more than 300 vans since 2016. Conversion packages on a van you already own start at $46,950, complete vans with the chassis included start at $115,950, and pre-built Bivy models run from $119,700 to $192,570 depending on trim. For the statewide picture, see
campervans for sale in Pennsylvania
.
A fuel-fired air heater runs off the vehicle's own fuel tank, draws very little electricity and dries the air while it warms it. Paired with insulation on all six sides, it makes winter camping in the Poconos comfortable. Read our Sprinter van heater guide .
A powered roof fan handles summer humidity and winter condensation. See roof vent installation and A/C installation .
Roof solar sized to your layout and daily use, paired with lithium storage. See Solar Installation and our solar sizing guide .
DC-DC charging does most of the work through overcast Northeast winters, when solar contributes far less.
Plug in at a campground or at home to fully charge without drawing down your reserve.
A 12V compressor fridge keeps food cold for days on battery power.
Fresh and gray tanks sized to trip length, routed to stay protected where the layout allows, with an accessible drain path for winterizing.
A gear garage beneath a raised bed, overhead cabinets and roof racks for skis, bikes and paddles.
| System | Specification to Compare | Philadelphia Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Fuel-fired air heater, output matched to van volume | The system that decides whether the van is usable from November to April |
| Insulation | Coverage on walls, ceiling and floor, plus thermal bridging at the ribs | Works in both directions, holding heat in January and keeping it out in July |
| Ventilation | Powered roof fan, placement and controls | Manages summer humidity and, just as importantly, winter condensation |
| Cooling | 12V air conditioning, capacity and power draw | Needed for July and August humidity; size the battery bank around it |
| Battery | Lithium capacity and usable power | In winter the heater and fridge are the main overnight draws; size for those |
| Solar | Panel wattage and charge controller type | Contributes far less in a Northeast December, so it cannot be the only source |
| Charging | DC-DC alternator charging plus shore power | Alternator charging is the reliable winter source here |
| Refrigeration | 12V compressor fridge, capacity and draw | Low draw in cool weather leaves more capacity for heat |
| Water | Fresh and gray tank capacity, routing and drain access | Must be drainable and winterizable before the first hard freeze |
| Storage | Gear garage, cabinets and roof racks | Four seasons of gear means ski equipment and beach equipment in the same year |
| Electrical protection | Fused and labeled circuits, routing away from heat | Standard on every build, and what makes later service straightforward |
| Interior materials | Baltic birch cabinetry, washable flooring, sealed surfaces | Handles road salt, snowmelt and wet gear through a Northeast winter |
A Class B is a camper built on a van chassis rather than a truck frame. In a city of narrow streets, tight turns and permit parking, that difference decides whether you use the vehicle or pay to store it somewhere. Browse our Class B RVs for sale and small camper vans .
If you already own a Sprinter or Transit, a conversion package starts at $46,950 and turns it into a camper without buying a second vehicle. Anyone searching for a conversion van for sale in Philadelphia, PA with a chassis already in hand starts here. A Foundation shell starts at $9,970 for self-builders.
Lower purchase price, cheaper routine maintenance, and Ford dealers throughout the Delaware Valley. AWD available and effective in snow. See our Ford Transit conversion builds and Ford camper vans for sale .
Stronger resale, diesel range for long Northeast drives, and proven AWD and 4x4 options. Higher purchase and service cost. Browse our Sprinter van conversion lineup and Sprinter camper for sale listings.
New builds are designed around your travel and carry a lifetime cabinet warranty. We also keep a rotating selection of inspected used camper vans that ship from Boulder.
The Northeast gives you four genuinely distinct seasons, and a properly specified van works in all of them. That is the difference between a vehicle you use twelve months a year and one that sits from November to April.
AWD with proper winter tires handles most conditions here. Tires matter more than drivetrain, and a loaded van brakes differently from a car.
July and August bring heat with real humidity. Airflow matters as much as cooling capacity, which is why a powered roof fan is one of the highest-value items in the build.
A van around 19.5 feet drives close to a full-size pickup. It is manageable in city traffic, though you will plan routes around low bridges and tight corners more than you expect.
This is the decision that shapes a Philadelphia build. Most city parking is street parking with permits, and a high-roof van stands roughly 9 to 10 feet tall, which rules out most garages. Confirm where the van will legally live before you order one.
New England, the Adirondacks, the Shenandoah and the Outer Banks are all reachable on a long weekend from here.
Most trips from Philadelphia are two or three nights, which is exactly what a short-wheelbase van does best.
Ricketts Glen, the Pine Creek Gorge and the Allegheny National Forest are all within a half day, with genuinely dark skies in the northern part of the state.
Two hours north, with skiing in winter and river trips in summer.
Ninety minutes east. Many shore towns restrict overnight parking, so plan stays at state park campgrounds rather than on the street. See camper vans in New Jersey .
Cape Henlopen and the Delaware beaches are about two hours southeast. See camper vans in Delaware .
Assateague Island, with its wild horses and oceanfront camping, is about three hours south. Sites book out well ahead in summer. See camper vans in Maryland .
The Catskills are three hours north and the Adirondacks about five. See camper vans in New York .
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are five to eight hours northeast, and Acadia is a genuinely great van trip in September.
Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge Parkway start about four hours southwest and run for hundreds of miles. See camper vans in Virginia .
| Comparison | Camper Van | Travel Trailer | Traditional RV |
|---|---|---|---|
| City parking in Philadelphia | Fits a standard street space at short wheelbase | Needs space for a truck plus trailer | Impractical in most of the city |
| Daily driving | Works as an everyday vehicle | Requires a separate tow vehicle | Rarely practical daily |
| Winter use | Good with a four-season build | Plumbing freezes easily | Good but harder to heat efficiently |
| Northeast road trips | Excellent, one vehicle to drive and park | Slower on winding mountain roads | Comfortable but limited on narrow routes |
| Storage at home | Fits many driveways; height limits garages | Needs dedicated space | Usually needs paid storage |
| Sleeping capacity | 2 to 4 | 4 to 8 | 4 to 8 |
| Running cost | Lowest of the three | Two vehicles to maintain and insure | Highest |
| Best fit | One vehicle for city life and weekend travel | Larger groups with a tow vehicle and storage | Extended stays in one place |
Conversion packages on a van you already own start at $46,950 for the DUO, $53,950 for the DUO S, $56,950 for the DUO XL, $63,950 for the DUO XLS, $51,950 for the FAMILY, $61,950 for the FAMILY XL and $68,950 for the FAMILY XLS. Complete vans with the chassis included start at $115,950. Pre-built Bivy models run $119,700 for the Classic, $145,845 for the Plus and $192,570 for the Deluxe, all ready in 8 to 10 weeks.
Current stock, including inspected used vans, is listed on our camper vans for sale page. Estimate monthly payments with our Financing calculator, and see our van conversion cost breakdown for how real builds add up.
Keep the water system either heated continuously or fully drained and winterized. Freeze damage to tanks, pumps and fittings is the most common and most expensive cold-weather failure.
Pennsylvania salts heavily. Washing the undercarriage regularly through winter protects brake lines, fasteners and the underbody, and it matters more for long-term ownership than anything done inside the build.
Proper winter tires make more difference than drivetrain on Northeast roads. Check pressures as temperatures drop, because they fall with the cold.
Check roof seals and vent gaskets each spring, and clear debris from the roof after winter.
Rinse the underbody after salt exposure and after any shore trip, since salt air is just as corrosive as road salt.
Keep the battery bank topped up during storage. Lithium batteries prefer a partial charge to sitting empty, and they cannot safely charge below freezing unless they are inside the heated space or self-heating.
If the van sits outside through winter, winterize the water system, keep it plugged in where possible and clear snow load from the roof.
Sprinter or Transit, your van or one we source for you.
DUO, FAMILY, pre-built Bivy or fully custom.
Side by side in our van designer or across all tailored models .
Heater capacity, battery size, solar, shower type and finishes.
A fixed, itemized quote before any build work starts.
$2,500 design deposit, 50% at design approval, 25% at build launch, 25% at handover. Tailored builds take 12 to 16 weeks; pre-built models take 8 to 10. See our process .
Fly into Denver and drive roughly 1,700 miles home, or have us arrange transport to Philadelphia.
Ready to find the right conversion van for sale in Philadelphia? Design your van , browse vans available now , or call (303) 414-6834 to talk with a builder. See campervans for sale in Pennsylvania , or our Pittsburgh page . We deliver across all 50 states .