You’ve heard of tiny homes, and you’ve heard of van life, but what about…tiny van life? Well, it’s a thing, and it’s tinier than tiny.
Micro camper vans are on the rise – not just as vacation novelties, but as viable vehicles for those seeking downsized, off-grid, and remote homes. The normalization of remote work brought about by the pandemic, combined with rising real estate prices and cost of living expenses, have made many seek out not just the digital nomad life, but the tiny digital nomad life.
So what, exactly, is a micro camper van? In this article, we’ll break down the how and why of this mini camper craze, plus give you a look at some of our favorite mini camper options.
Table of Contents
How "Micro" Is a Micro Camper Van?
What makes a micro camper different from a regular van or RV? Size, obviously, but the complete answer is slightly more complicated. There are a few different types of micro campers, from tiny purpose-built vehicles like the XBus RV to conversion kits that turn your regular car or minivan into a camper (like those made by Love Campers) to towable trailers compact enough to fit into an 8ft garage.
Ideally, a micro camper is no bigger than a minivan or pickup truck. Most only seat 2-3 people and sleep 1-2 comfortably. Some come with amenities like a refrigerator and a small kitchen, while others do not.
Who Is a Micro Camper Van Best For?
Those intending to make a micro camper their full-time home should keep in mind that this lifestyle requires you to think “tinier than tiny.” For those seeking to downsize, simplify, and de-clutter their lives – or just their vacations – a micro-camper is a good choice.
Due to their very small size and limited storage space, micro campers can be challenging for families. Couples seeking adventure, a tiny home, and a day vehicle all in one will find them extremely valuable.
If you’re unsure if a micro camper van is right for you, try renting one for a week and testing the waters…er, roads! Escape Campervans and Avanti Campervans both have great nationwide options and are super affordable.
Why Choose a Micro Camper Van?
A micro camper is a great idea for adventurous spirits seeking a cost-effective and easy way to experience van life, whether full-time or part-time. Campervans offer the excitement of open-road adventure with a low price tag.
Pros of micro-campers
- Price. A large, fully-equipped RV or campervan can easily drain your budget, leaving you no money for actual adventuring.
- Off-road capabilities. You may be surprised that despite its limited space, a compact campervan can easily go off-road if designed the right way. Camper van conversions of off-road vehicles and custom campers allow you to reap the benefits of small size and remote travel.
- Fuel-efficiency. Because of its small size, a tiny campervan gets better gas mileage and uses less fuel than a traditional, full-size camper van conversion.
- Space and maneuverability. Tiny campers open up more options for parking, garages, storage, and exploring narrow city streets.
- Day vehicle. Many micro-camper solutions can also be used as your daily driver.
Cons of micro-campers
- Limited space. A compact campervan has limited storage and cargo space, and seats fewer people than a large RV.
- Stripped-down amenities. Many micro campers and camper van conversions only come with half-size kitchens, or with no kitchen or amenities other than a bed and some storage.
Our Favorite Micro Camper Vans
If you’re ready to take the plunge and get your own minivan camper, check out some of the ideas on this list. Although most of these companies are overseas, their build ideas are super cool so we wanted to share them to help you with your own DIY micro camper van build ideas!
We’ve included custom campers, camper van conversions, and even an eBike option!
Let’s dive in.
Love Campers Mandalay
Love Campers is a full-service camper van conversion company specializing in hand-crafted eco-friendly campervan builds and removable camper conversion kits. They offer a range of micro-camper conversion kits that can turn a regular driving vehicle into a custom camper.
The Mandalay minivan camper conversion is suitable for small electric campervans such as the Nissan E-NV200, Citroen e-Dispatch, and the Toyota Proace. The kit comes with a full buildout, including a rock’n’roll bed with two three-point seatbelts (4 belted seats total), water tank and hot water heater, insulation and carpet, Eco Flow Delta Pro backup battery, induction or gas stovetop, 2000-watt inverter, fridge, stainless steel sink, USB/USC & 240V pin plug sockets, and bathroom with toilet.
Toyota Land Cruiser Micro RV
The Kamelback from South African RV specialist Bushwakka is a pre-converted small campervan with a Toyota Land Cruiser base model. It’s kind of like a Swiss Army Knife, but in a car. Its swing-out components fold out to give plenty of functional space – as long as you’re okay with all that extra space being outside the vehicle.
You’ll find plenty of pull-out counter space in the fold-out outdoor kitchen, and a full bathroom with toilet in the outdoor bathroom. Additionally, there’s plenty of storage space in the oversized bedroom, and sufficient roof space for storage when the vehicle is folded up and acting as a vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz EQT Tiny Camper
Mercedes-Benz is at the forefront of limited space E-RVing with their latest camper model, the EQT. It seats and sleeps four and features a full indoor dining lounge, plus all the amenities you expect from a camper, like a cooler, waste water tank, water system, and plenty of functional space, including overhead cabinet space.
Fold down the rear seat and add a few cushions, and you get two double beds. Best of all, the kitchen and other features neatly fold away so it can be used as a day vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz EQT mini-camper offers adventure seekers the chance to live completely off-grid in a fully electric vehicle.
Eco Evolution
Scottish caravan outfitter CampervanCo’s Eco Evolution is a mini camper with a Ford Transit PHEV Custom base model. It supports fully electric camping with a solar panel capable of putting out up to 1000 watts of solar power. It also features a water heater, portable toilet,
CampervanCo features a range of micro-camper solutions, including a rugged 4×4 Mitsubishi-based camper. They declare the Eco Evolution to be their lowest-emission camper van to date.
GoCamp EBike Micro Camper
Looking for something even smaller? We couldn’t put out this micro-camper list without including the delightful GoCamp EBike. Innovative Dutch company Flevobike produces this pedal-powered camper: their GoCamp module slotted onto their GoLo e-assisted cargo quadricycle. Picture how a camper shell fits onto a pickup truck, and you get the idea.
This list’s greenest micro-camper features a hard-roofed interior with a convertible lounge/bed, dining area/workstation, and solar-charged battery powering both camper and electric drive. The pedals can also generate power while the bike is moving.
Should You Consider a Micro Camper Van?
Consider a compact caravan if you’re tired of hearing “bigger is better” and are looking for a scaled-down approach to van life. These custom campers and mini removable camper conversion kits are much more affordable than their full-size counterparts. While they offer limited floor space, they leave space for plenty of memories, and you’ll still have big adventures while you Find Your Outside™!
