Camper Vans, Conversion Vans & Class B RVs for Sale in San Diego, California
"We love having the freedom to head out of San Diego whenever we feel like it. Our Vansmith gives us a comfortable place to sleep and enough room for our gear. It's made weekend trips feel a lot more relaxed, and we're already planning our next one."
— Jessica M., San Diego, CA
"We bought our van mainly for road trips, and it's been such a good decision. We can stop wherever we want, make a meal, and enjoy the trip without rushing to find a hotel. The interior feels really well thought out, and everything has its place."
— Ryan K., San Diego, CA
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-Ons
Mercedes 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-Ons
Mercedes 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
Full
Mercedes Sprinter 170
OR
Ford Transit 148 E
Luxury model with full amenities, extended power systems, and interior bathroom.
Seat & Sleeps
2Length
22'Shower
Full
Mercedes 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-Ons
Mercedes 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-Ons
Mercedes 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
If you are shopping for a camper van for sale in San Diego, you probably want one van that can do it all: a dawn surf check in Encinitas, a weekend in Anza-Borrego, and a cool night in the mountains above Julian. The Vansmith builds Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit camper vans in Boulder, Colorado, and delivers them to buyers throughout San Diego County and Southern California.
We have created more than 300 vans since 2016. Conversion packages start at $46,950 on a van you already own, complete vans with the chassis included start at $115,950, and our pre-built Bivy starts at $119,700 and is ready in 8 to 10 weeks.
Every electrical system is designed and installed by our own team, and every cabinet carries a lifetime warranty for the original owner. Explore our available options or connect with The Vansmith team to discuss your next adventure.
Some of the best van trips in the country start within a few hours of San Diego. From desert landscapes and mountain escapes to coastal drives and international road trips, The Vansmith helps you travel comfortably through changing conditions. For longer routes up the coast, read How to Plan the Ultimate California Campervan Road Trip .
About three hours from downtown, Joshua Tree brings hot days, cold desert nights, and very little shade. A van with solid insulation, a roof fan, and a heater helps manage both ends of the thermometer during desert travel.
California's largest state park is roughly two hours east and allows open camping in much of the park. Sandy washes reward AWD or 4x4, and the spring wildflower season draws crowds, so plan to arrive early.
About an hour inland, Julian and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the coast. It is an accessible weekend escape from summer heat, and a heater becomes especially useful during winter trips.
Big Bear offers a mountain lake setting and real winter snow around three hours north of San Diego. Chain controls are common on mountain roads during storms, so plan for appropriate traction equipment if you travel in winter.
Around two hours away, Palm Springs is a popular winter destination and extremely hot during summer. These conditions put your ventilation and electrical systems to the test, making airflow, battery capacity, and energy management important considerations.
Baja is a classic San Diego van trip. U.S. auto insurance policies generally do not cover driving in Mexico, so purchase Mexican auto insurance before crossing the border. Carry extra water and a well-charged battery bank for longer stretches between towns.
San Diego weather looks easy on paper, but a dark metal box parked in full sun gets hot fast, and the inland deserts are far harsher than the coast. These are the problems we design around for San Diego camper van conversions.
| San Diego Pain Point | The Vansmith Solution |
|---|---|
| Strong sun and high temperatures | Insulation, ventilation, and climate-control systems help manage heat during warm-weather travel. |
| High electrical demand from cooling | Solar, lithium batteries, and integrated charging systems support electrical needs during off-grid trips. |
| Coastal air and moisture exposure | Durable materials and professionally installed exterior systems help support long-term performance in coastal conditions. |
| Limited legal overnight camping in the city | Self-contained systems support travel to permitted campgrounds and remote destinations outside the city. |
| Beach gear takes up interior space | Purpose-driven storage provides space for surfboards, bikes, and outdoor equipment. |
| Beach-to-mountain temperature changes | Four-season insulation and heating systems help maintain comfort across changing elevations and temperatures. |
| Limited campground hookups | Solar, battery, water, and off-grid electrical systems support more independent travel. |
| Long Southwest road trips | Reliable integrated power, water, and storage systems support extended road trips. |
A quick note on city camping: San Diego enforces rules on sleeping in vehicles on public streets, so plan overnight stays at permitted campgrounds, state parks, or public land outside the city. A self-contained van makes those trips far easier.
Find the right camper van for sale in San Diego and the rest of Southern California. Browse vans available now, or call 303-381-0740 to talk with a builder about a camper van conversion in San Diego on a van you already own.
Heading north? See our Los Angeles camper vans, or explore camper vans in Arizona for desert road trips. We also serve buyers in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Austin.
San Diego buyers often want a van that can handle beach weekends, desert road trips, mountain escapes, and longer journeys through Southern California. Our DUO and FAMILY Series offer practical layouts for couples and families, while our pre-built Bivy models provide a faster path to getting on the road.
A two-person layout on a Sprinter 144 or Transit 148, approximately 19 feet long. It offers an efficient footprint for city driving, coastal trips, and weekend adventures. An exterior shower is available as an add-on. Explore the DUO.
The DUO S uses a compact footprint with a bench shower setup inside. It is suited to travelers who want interior washing space after a day at the beach, on the trail, or in the desert. Explore the DUO S.
Built on a Sprinter 170 or extended Transit 148, the DUO XL offers additional interior space, a full shower, and more storage for longer trips. It is a practical option for couples carrying bikes, boards, outdoor equipment, and extra supplies. Explore the DUO XL.
Our most complete two-person layout includes an interior bathroom and extended power capacity. It is suited to travelers planning longer stays away from hookups or extended trips through California, the Southwest, and Baja. Explore the DUO XLS.
The FAMILY layout seats and sleeps four on the short-wheelbase Sprinter 144 or Transit 148. It offers a practical balance of seating, sleeping space, and maneuverability for family trips around San Diego and beyond. Explore the FAMILY.
The long-wheelbase FAMILY XL layout provides additional space for kids' gear, sleeping bags, food, and outdoor equipment. A bench shower and expanded storage make it suitable for longer family journeys. Explore the FAMILY XL.
The FAMILY XLS is a full-featured family van with an interior shower and integrated power systems for longer road trips when campground hookups are not guaranteed. Explore the FAMILY XLS.
Our pre-built two-person Sprinter is available in three trim levels and is ready in 8 to 10 weeks, starting at $119,700. The Bivy XL seats four or five and starts at $153,700. Compare Bivy models or compare Bivy XL models.
Still deciding? Browse our camper vans for couples, our family van conversions, or every Class B RV for sale we currently list.
A camper van conversion in San Diego has to handle more heat and more sun than many other travel environments, along with salt air on the coast and significant temperature changes on the way to the desert or mountains. Here is how we approach it.
The Sprinter holds its value, the diesel engine gets more range per tank, and its AWD and 4x4 options have years of proven use on rough roads. It costs more to buy and service. Buyers who plan long desert runs or trips into Baja often choose it.
See our full Sprinter van conversion lineup or look at each Sprinter camper for sale we have available, including any Sprinter camper van for sale to San Diego buyers right now.
The Transit costs less up front, the gas engine is cheaper to maintain, and any Ford dealer can work on it, which is useful anywhere between San Diego and Yuma. AWD is available for additional traction on suitable roads and routes.
Explore our Ford Transit conversion options or browse Ford camper vans for sale.
Our DUO Series is designed for two people, while our FAMILY Series seats and sleeps four. Both series are available in short and long wheelbase versions, with shower options ranging from an exterior rinse to a full interior bathroom.
Start with our tailored models or compare camper vans for couples and family van conversions.
Not every San Diego buyer needs a full build. We also install air conditioning, solar, roof vents, heaters, and electrical upgrades on existing vans at our Boulder shop.
See our repairs, installations, and services, A/C installation, and solar installation pages.
Every system in a Vansmith van is designed and installed by our own team. For San Diego buyers, we focus on keeping the interior cool and the batteries full through hot coastal days, desert travel, and trips away from campground hookups.
Southern California sun is a real asset. We fit as much roof solar as your layout allows and size the array around your daily power use. Read our solar sizing guide to see how the calculations work.
Lithium batteries provide deep, usable capacity and fast recharging. A larger battery bank is important when you want to run fans, a refrigerator, and air conditioning on hot days away from hookups.
DC-DC alternator charging refills your batteries on the drive to Borrego or Big Bear, while shore power takes over at campgrounds with hookups. Together with solar, these systems provide three charging methods for different travel conditions.
Batteries, inverter, charging equipment, and monitoring are designed as one integrated system rather than a collection of separate parts. See our electrical system work for details.
Air conditioning helps manage hot afternoons, while a fuel-fired heater handles cold desert and mountain nights. Our 12V air conditioning guide explains how off-grid cooling works in a van.
For heater maintenance on an existing van, see heater service.
A powered roof fan pulls hot air out through the ceiling, where it collects. Paired with insulated window covers, it can make a noticeable difference in interior temperature without relying on air conditioning at all times.
Fresh and gray water tanks can be sized for multi-day desert trips, with the option of an exterior shower for rinsing sand and salt before you climb inside.
A compressor fridge keeps food and drinks cold for days on battery power, reducing ice runs and preventing melted cooler water from collecting on the floor.
Plenty of shoppers start by browsing used camper vans for sale in San Diego. A used van can save money up front, but it comes with someone else's layout and wiring. Near the coast, inspect the underbody, roof rack mounts, exterior hardware, and electrical connections carefully for rust and corrosion.
A new build gives you a layout designed around how you travel, a lifetime cabinet warranty for the original owner, and systems you can understand and maintain with confidence. Depending on the model, the process typically takes 8 to 16 weeks.
We also keep a rotating selection of inspected used camper vans, so you can compare both options. Before buying any used camper van for sale in San Diego, review our used Sprinter pre-purchase checklist.
You can buy a camper van from San Diego without visiting Boulder until pickup day. Here is how the process works.
Pick a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or a Ford Transit. Bring your own van or have us source one for you, so you have one purchase and one point of contact.
Choose a DUO, FAMILY, or pre-built Bivy layout, or start a fully tailored design based on your travel needs.
Select finishes, colors, cabinetry, and systems such as A/C, solar capacity, battery size, and shower type through our van designer.
We finalize the details over video and send a fixed, itemized quote. A $2,500 design deposit secures your slot, and 50% is due at design approval.
Your van enters our Boulder shop with 25% due at project launch. Tailored and fully designed vans typically take 12 to 16 weeks in total.
Learn more about our process.
Pay the final 25% at handover, then drive approximately 1,100 miles home through the Southwest, or have us arrange shipping to San Diego.
Many buyers use an RV loan or personal loan. Estimate your monthly payment with our Financing calculator and read how to finance a camper van conversion.
Our layouts have been refined across more than 300 builds since 2016.
We work on both platforms every week and provide practical guidance on which one fits your travel plans, budget, and service requirements.
Choose a ready-built Bivy for a faster path to the road or a tailored DUO or FAMILY layout with your preferred finishes and systems.
Our electrical systems are designed and installed in-house and tested for demanding conditions, from Colorado winters to desert summers.
Baltic birch cabinetry is cut on our in-house CNC and finished by hand for years of dependable travel and reduced rattling on the road.
Our cabinets are covered by a lifetime warranty for the original owner, with no mileage or year limits.
Every van is crafted in-house by our family-owned shop, and we are NOAH certified.
Pick up your van in Boulder or have us arrange shipping to San Diego.
Video design calls, clear payment milestones, and project updates keep you informed from the initial quote through handover.
Email: info@thevansmith.com
Text: 303-381-0740
Form: Tell us what you need
Call: 303-381-0740
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