r/CamperVans

Just bought my van (promaster*) from a certified dodge/jeep/ram/chrysler dealership and long story short** they are giving me the option to order parts and accessories for the build (which I’m doing myself) at cost.

I would SO appreciate tips of what items I should try to prioritize sourcing through them. It stands to reason that OEM/Mopar branded items would have the deepest savings through the dealership, and a lot of aftermarket things would have a much smaller discount for them (but still likely better than what I would get and even 5-15% off adds up!) and it’s also possible that certain aftermarket items that have popped up in this niche industry may not be available through them yet and might be the better choice for some things.

Some context that may be helpful:

-I am very handy but this is my first build (I’m so excited 🥹)

-I do not have an endless budget, but I put a lot of value into longevity and build quality and want to keep this forever so I am okay with investing more in certain crucial systems (please see my *footnote about buying a promaster if you had any thoughts when I said I care about build quality/longevity after purchasing a promaster 🤣)

-I live in nyc and have access to a robust fb marketplace community

-I am very much interested into reusing and repurposing materials within reason when the cost in time doesn’t outweigh the savings

-The only things I plan to outsource are the final connection and inspection of electrical, and the additional passenger seating install (I have a young son and additional fmvss compliant seating is a requirement for our usage.)

-I need to add windows and I’m particularly curious about how the windows I could get from the dealership would compare to the aftermarket camper van windows because the aftermarket options might still be more affordable than OEM but since I live in NYC I really don’t want anyone breaking in so the quality and safety matters here.

-I’m also interested in security upgrades for that reason

-I will be adding solar, an awning, and Scopema swivels to the front passenger and driver seats

Thank you so much, any info is helpful and I am so excited to be a part of this community!

*I definitely know the promaster reputation, I did an absurd amount of research and comparisons and I bought a 2024 that is the second gen after the major redesign in 2023 which replaced the old unreliable transmission with a significantly upgraded one that’s used in many other vehicles with only 2,300 miles that was traded in by a small business owner that used it minimally in a suburb for one year and realized it was overkill so he traded it in for a truck. It drives GORGEOUSLY and I did an extremely thorough inspection paying special mind to promaster specific quirks and issues and it is an exceptional van that I got for about $15k less than I would’ve paid for a comparable Transit, money which I can put into a better build that will significantly impact my actual enjoyment of the van. I also really preferred the FWD and lower base of the promaster for city use and I won’t be off-roading. I’m going to take very good care of her and I think we will live happily ever after :). I also have a whole rant about how usage history of promasters vs transits and confirmation bias amplify the perceived (and legitimate) reliability issues of the promaster if anyone would like to hear that as well 😂.

**happy to elaborate here if anyone is confused or curious.

Good morning everyone!

I'd like to get opinions from people with unusually large vans: what GPS system do you recommend, to avoid getting stuck on streets where the van won't fit? And one that has information on zero-emission zones in historical centers, etc.?

At the moment we are undecided between a device like TomTom or Garmin, or the Sygic app, which also allows us to input vehicle dimensions. Does anyone here have any advice for us?

Thank you

Good morning everyone!

I'd like to get opinions from people with unusually large vans: what GPS system do you recommend, to avoid getting stuck on streets where the van won't fit? And one that has information on zero-emission zones in historical centers, etc.?

At the moment we are undecided between a device like TomTom or Garmin, or the Sygic app, which also allows us to input vehicle dimensions. Does anyone here have any advice for us?

Thank you

When we were away recently we saw a group of mature ladies who had saloon cars converted into camper vans for one. These were bolt on fibreglass extensions that gave a standing room space for a bed with limited facilities. We thought one may have been a Talbot, but didn't take any details and now we can't find anything online that isn't a van. These were all car-based, can anyone help please?

I’m planning to buy or build a campervan, and I’ve been looking at the Caravelle and the Multivan, but I also want to stay low‑profile when parking to sleep
Should I buy a panel van without windows, or is it possible to black out the windows so that no light is visible from the outside?

we bought a campervan from a dealership 6 months ago and have had issues with our battery life since the start. hoping someone with more knowledge than us might have some advice

we have a 100ah deep cycle battery and 15l brass monkey fridge. when we’re not using the fridge the inverter is reading a steady 12.5v and this will stay stable after charging phones etc. but after 5 hours of the fridge being on it’s gone down to 12.2 and continuing to go down. the battery is supposed to last several days without having to drive!

at this voltage the battery struggles to recharge even on a long drive. we have had a new battery, isolator and fridge fitted recently (because the seal was broken) but the issue persists and we are at a bit of a loss now. it feels like the battery isn’t charging as much as it should AND as though the fridge is draining it… is this just normal and we need solar panels or?

Does anyone know if this is purchasable as a DIY kit? Also has anyone ever lived with one of these in their van? They are expensive but they look so versatile.. I guess you get what you pay for.

I have a fiamma awning and a zip privacy room. I have found in high winds (>20mph) the fastclip system that locks onto the side of the canopy material can slip , allowing the canopy material to pull free.

Any one else had this issue, and any tips on how to prevent it ? Would putting grip tape on the aluminium fastclip surfaces help ?