Are you thinking of getting a camper van? And the Dodge ProMaster seems like the perfect candidate for this task? If that is the case, you are on the right track because the Dodge ProMaster camper van is one of the best when it comes to camping. This is the case because this van is extremely versatile and it has a lot of benefits by using it as a camper van. But you shouldn’t worry we are going to cover everything.
- What Is Camper Van?
- ProMaster Specs
- Which One To Get?
- 5 Reasons To Get One
- DIY Conversion?
- Conversion Cost
- Conclusion
Getting a camper van is probably one of the most difficult tasks out there since these vans are mostly aftermarket. But what does this mean? This means that Dodge isn’t making camper vans but you have to put your own effort and money into the van and make it livable and also camper friendly. This task can be extremely difficult and could last for months.
That’s why your best bet would probably be a company that is doing these conversions or do it yourself. That’s also important that you have the skill to perform such a complicated task. But we are going to cover everything you need.
In this article, we are going to learn what is camper van and then we will learn the specs of the Dodge ProMaster camper van. Also, which van is going to fit the bill for a camper van. Then we will cover how this process is done as well the cost involved in it. So, let’s get to it.
What Is A Dodge ProMaster Camper Van?
A camper van as the name implies is a van that is quite handy for camping (just make sure you’re wary of things like the Ford Econoline common problems) and has all of the commodities that you need to do your daily routines without suffering a loss of comfort.
What is good for camper vans is that you can use them almost anywhere and they will allow you that. Since a camper van is basically a house on four wheels and depending on your desire. Today you can be somewhere in the east like Florida. And if you are into camping you can travel across the country and enjoy the beauties of all of the 51 states.
That’s why I love camper vans and I plan to get one when I retire. There is nothing better than traveling the world on four wheels and taking your home with you. You can go skiing, fishing, do everything and still enjoy your home. You don’t have to pay for hotels and sleep in rooms that have never been cleaned. With a camper van, you basically take your bed with you. It cannot be cooler than that.
Also, a camper van will make your travel easier. You can take a rest whenever you want at a gas station and after a few hours of rest, move on to the next gas station and so on until you reach your destination. This will make sure that when you reach your destination you don’t feel tired and exhausted from that long travel like you would when you travel by bus or by a jet let’s say.
But what is the best camper van? The Dodge ProMaster camper van is probably one of your top picks. That’s why in the next chapter, we are going to cover the Dodge ProMaster in detail.
Dodge ProMaster Specs
The ProMaster is a van that was designed by Fiat in Italy. So, Fiat which is owned by FCA also owns Chrysler and RAM. This allowed them to move the production of the ProMaster into the US market and make the ProMaster one of the top picks when it comes to getting a van in the US.
The ProMaster is produced in Saltillo, Mexico plant, and this van has replaced the Sprinter that Dodge has offered.
The ProMaster is a modern van that implements a unibody design. Unlike the body-on-frame from the predecessors. This makes the unibody ProMaster a real master in handling and the body roll of this van has completely been reduced compared to other body-on-frame vans that are out there on the market.
The ProMaster is offered with only two engines. One of them is the Pentastar V6 that produces 260 hp and the other is an Iveco 3.0 diesel engine. The latter one is the way to go if you are looking for a van that can tow a lot and on the cheap. Since diesel engines are not wasting a lot of fuel like gasoline engines.
These two engines are paired with either a six-speed automatic Chrysler transmission or a 6-speed automated manual on the earlier models. The six-speed automatic is the way to go in my opinion if you want a smooth and reliable transmission.
Since this is a van there were a number of different wheelbases that were offered. The smallest was the 118 inches, then was the medium 135.8 inch, and the 159 inch which was the largest. There were also low and high roof configurations that made the Dodge ProMaster camper van a perfect option for campers.
Why The ProMaster Is A Good Option For A Camper Van?
The ProMaster is not just a good, but an excellent option for a camper van. You can find these vans even new at a really affordable price of only $25,000 and with a good investment you can get this van to become the perfect camper van.
A brand new ProMaster can be found in 10 different colors. Unlike the boring white or black that most of the vans out there come with. And all this for only $200 extra on the base price. You can’t beat this. This will make sure that you will not need to repaint later before the conversion if you don’t like the color. You can just snatch a ProMaster in the color that you desire just like that.
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The ProMaster also comes with other commodities like safe equipment that helps to protect the drivers. Airbags are included in all of the offerings and also from this year there is autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. These options were only included in cars. But for an extra, you can have them in your ProMaster and enjoy all of the commodities that other participants in traffic are.
There are also power-heated mirrors that will help you in those freezing cold winter days along with the front fog lamps and also the LED cargo lamp that is included as a standard.
If you want to spend an additional extra $3,500 you can get a ProMaster that already has all the plumbing done for an RV. This means that there will be very little that the van contains all of the needed plumbing for the conversion.
Spending more money on options can also get you Uconnect 3 infotainment system and satellite navigation along with a SiriusXM subscription.
Which ProMaster To Get For A Camper Van?
When planning to make a Dodge ProMaster van, you don’t want to get any ProMaster van out there. Because not all of these vans are going to fit the bill. Remember that you need a lot of space to make this thing work and have a reliable camper van (just like you would with a food truck conversion).
What camper van is that if you cannot stand upright or you do not have space to add a bed and a kitchen. Smaller vans might cost less than bigger ones. But for this purpose, they are not the right option for you. With a smaller ProMaster series van, you will only get frustrations and you will not enjoy your camper life at all. That’s why you need to play it smart.
If you don’t have enough money to get a new bigger van from the ProMaster series. It is better to go for a good used one. A used van might have more miles on the odometer. But the practicality that this van will offer is considerably bigger than getting a new but smaller ProMaster. But which size will fit the bill when it comes to the Dodge ProMaster camper van? Let’s elaborate.
As we said. There are three wheelbase variants when it comes to the ProMaster. One of them is short, then it comes the medium one and the large 159’’ long wheelbase. For your purpose, you need the largest one that you could get. That is the 159’’, this version will fit the bill when it comes to building a reliable Dodge ProMaster camper van.
Also, you are going to need the high roofline version. If you have a higher roofline, you will have some extra leverage when it comes to height.
The Upsides Of Having A Camper Van, 5 Reasons Why You Should Get One
In this chapter, we are going to share the 5 reasons why you should get a camper van. Knowing this will help you make the decision quicker and you will know what to expect from your Dodge ProMaster camper van. Also, you will know what could achieve by getting one for yourself in terms of activities and traveling.
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You Will Save A Lot Of Money
The first and the obvious reason is that you are going to save a ton of money. Getting a proper camper van is an investment by itself. But if you are a regular camper who loves to travel, this investment will pay off sooner than you have previously anticipated. And why I’m saying this?
This is the case because with every trip you are saving more and more money, while you enjoy the natural beauties and landscapes that you visit. Especially if you are retired and you have a lot of time at your disposal. But let’s see some examples of saving money while you are camping.
The number one reason is the cost that you have to pay to get somewhere. With a van, you can expect to pay considerably less for fuel than paying flight tickets that could cost hundreds of dollars. The Dodge ProMaster camper van is fairly economical and you will get the most out of it when it comes to fuel mileage.
The second reason is that campsites are much cheaper than hotels. You can expect to pay a lot less to park your van instead of booking a room for a hotel and paying a ton of money on hotel services.
The third reason is that you will save a ton of money on food. In a camper van, you have your own cooker and you can cook food along the way. You stop at a gas station and you make a meal, then you move on the road again. You are not paying money for restaurants.
That’s how with motor homes you save a ton of money. Now let’s see what are the other perks of owning a Dodge ProMaster camper van.
It Gives You Freedom
The number two reason why you should get a Dodge ProMaster camper van is that this van will give you the freedom to live whenever you want. You will not have to pay rent, except for some fees at motorhome places which are extremely small and symbolic.
This van is also perfect if you are a digital nomad. Imagine that you work online and you only use your laptop to do your job. Once you are done you can go outside of your camper van and you experience the Grand Canyon or any other landmark where you can go and park right next. This will fill you with positive vibes and energy. Especially if you are doing these trips with your loved one.
Can it get better than this? That’s why I think of getting a camper van when I retire or in a few years from now. I want to experience that freedom of working and traveling at the same time. Something for which the camper van is the way to go.
You Can Visit A Ton Of Destinations In One Trip
Another perk of owning a Dodge ProMaster camper van is that you can visit a ton of destinations in one trip. You can basically go through a chain of places that were on your bucket list and enjoy them one by one.
From the east coast to the west coast in a few months while visiting every place that you ever dreamed of as a kid. It cannot get better than this. With this, you will be able to relive the childhood memories and revive the times when you went by the lake with your parents. Or you can visit some of the landmarks which are a never-ending list.
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You just open Google and plan your trips across the whole country. You only need Google Maps and free time to plan everything for your trip. No more booking flights, booking hotels, and other annoying things that you were previously doing as a traveler. With a camper van, you can visit everything you plan in one go and without any nerves lost on the phone. Saving a ton of money in the process.
Camper Van Is A Moving Home
The camper van as we said is also moving home. You can basically live in it. Imagine that you are renovating your house and you don’t have a place to go. You don’t want to pay hotels until the work is done and the Dodge ProMaster camper van would be your best bet when it comes to living until you get things sorted and resume living at your home.
If you have a camper van in reality you don’t even need a home if you live alone or with a partner. If you like that lifestyle, you can live in your camper and enjoy your life while traveling. You will only need a property of course where you could park the van without paying taxes and other fees that are normal if you own a house let’s say. Doing this would be extra cheap and your budget will benefit in the long run.
There are ton more reasons why you should get a camper van. That’s why if you have that traveling spirit in yourself and the budget, you should not even think twice if you want to get a Dodge ProMaster camper van. That’s why in the next chapter we are going to cover some conversions that have been done to the Dodge ProMaster camper van for you to have a better perspective of what you should expect. After that, we are going to cover the costs that are involved in this conversion. So, follow along.
Dodge ProMaster Camper Van Conversion DIY?
There are a ton of conversions of these vans into campers. The Dodge ProMaster is one of the most popular choices when it comes to converting a van into a camper. This is mostly owed by its large size and also the versatility of this platform which has the perfect dimensions when it comes to converting a transport van into a camper.
There are companies that are doing these conversions and charge a lot of money to do so. But you can also do a conversion by yourself. But you need to be experienced in order to do this work. And I mean experienced with working with wood and you also need to have good electrical knowledge.
Dodge also has an offer that you can get a pre-plumbed van with all of the installations that you are going to need and this is also extra useful if you plan a conversion. This will help you out not to start from a blank page.
The key aspect of this conversion is planning. You need to fully plan how you are going to tackle this conversion. Where everything is going to be laid out. Knowing this will save you a ton of money because you are not going to make a lot of expensive mistakes while you do the conversion.
Depending on your budget, you can do a basic conversion with added insulation and a place to sleep. Then you can get a step further and install a kitchen, toilet, fridge, window, and other commodities that will make your life easier.
Here is a video of a proper Dodge ProMaster camper van conversion for you to have a better idea of what could you expect and what your goals should be if you want to make a conversion.
Dodge ProMaster Conversion Cost
Conversion costs can be quite expensive, to be honest. The base price for the van is only somewhere around $25,000. So, considering that you want to add a couple of options like more comfortable seats and other equipment like navigation and plumbing. The cost could go up considerably more. And you could easily end up paying more than $35,000 for the van alone.
In addition to this are the conversion costs that are not cheap. If you, do it by yourself, you could save money. But this isn’t recommended if you are not experienced in this type of work.
That’s why the way to go would probably be a company that could do this work for you. There are a ton of companies that are offering these types of services. Because the interest in these conversions is quite high. The prices that they list are different. But the sweet spot is somewhere between $10,000 to $20,000 for the conversion alone. This is if you want a quality conversion and not something cheap. That will only be a headache for you in the long run.
That’s why it is useful to learn the portfolio of the company and see their previous builds and learn more about their offering. Doing this will save you a lot of nerves in the future.
Facts about Dodge Camper Van Conversions:
- The Dodge Ram ProMaster is one of the top picks for van life enthusiasts.
- Custom camper van companies consider the Dodge ProMaster an ideal van for conversion due to its wide body, easy maneuverability, durability, and all-around use.
- The Dodge camper van is a Class B motorhome, smaller than Class A and Class C motorhomes but bigger and taller than standard vans.
- The conversion package for the Dodge camper van typically includes a bed, kitchen, dinette, bathroom, and storage space.
- The Dodge ProMaster is an affordable option for a camper van compared to other brands.
- The Dodge camper van comes in three load changes and three lengths, with the most popular being the Dodge Ram or Dodge ProMaster van measuring 16 feet to 22 feet.
- The Dodge camper van features a Ram engine, with a base engine of a 3.9L V6 and a 295-ft-lb torque or a 5.9L engine and 335 ft-lb torque.
- The exterior of the Dodge camper van can be customized according to personal preferences, such as a rooftop deck or outdoor shower.
- The Dodge camper van can accommodate small families or groups and is less expensive than other brands with similar specifications.
- Tips for maintaining a Dodge camper van include conducting regular maintenance, choosing an all-wheel-drive for off-roading, maintaining fluids, checking sliding parts, replacing windshield wipers every six months, and inspecting other parts monthly.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered a lot when it comes to camper vans. Especially the Dodge ProMaster camper van that is one of the hottest vans out there for doing camper conversions.
We learned more about this van and the engines and trims it is offered in. Then we have learned are right dimensions of this van for doing this type of conversion. As we mentioned, the perfect Dodge ProMaster camper van is the 159’’ wheelbase and the high roofline transport van. Getting this van will guarantee a perfect conversion.
Then we have covered the five pros of having a camper van. and also, we noted the DIY possibilities of getting this work done by yourself. Lastly, we have covered the cost. That will be involved in this type of conversion for you to have a better idea of what to expect.
