Gear Guide · Vehicles

Choosing Your Rig: Van vs RV vs Truck Camper for Mobile Living

A practical comparison of vans, RVs, and truck campers for mobile living and workamping. What each costs, where each works, and how to choose the right rig for your lifestyle.

There Is No Universal Right Answer

The van life community has a tendency to treat cargo vans as the only legitimate choice for mobile living. This is wrong. The right rig depends on your lifestyle, your budget, your physical needs, and where you plan to travel. A retired couple who workamps at RV parks has different needs than a solo remote worker who boondocks on BLM land. A family of four has different needs than a single person. This guide gives you the honest comparison so you can make the right choice for your situation.

The Cargo Van: The Stealth Option

What It Is

A cargo van (Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, Mercedes Sprinter, Dodge Grand Caravan) converted into a living space. The conversion can be as simple as a mattress and a cooler, or as elaborate as a full kitchen, bathroom, solar system, and custom cabinetry. The van is both your vehicle and your home.

The Advantages

Stealth. A cargo van parked on a city street looks like a work van. Nobody knows you are living in it. This opens up urban camping options that are not available to RVs. Maneuverability. A cargo van fits in normal parking spaces, drives like a large car, and can access roads that RVs cannot. Fuel efficiency. A cargo van gets 15–22 MPG. A Class A motorhome gets 6–10 MPG. Over 20,000 miles, this is a $2,000–$4,000 difference in fuel cost.

The Disadvantages

Space. A high-roof Transit has about 130 cubic feet of living space. That is enough for one person to live comfortably, tight for two people, and not realistic for a family. You cannot stand up in a standard-roof van. You cannot have a real bathroom without significant compromise. You cannot have guests.

Cost

A used cargo van: $15,000–$30,000. A DIY build: $3,000–$8,000. A professional build: $20,000–$60,000. Total for a functional DIY van build: $20,000–$38,000. Insurance: $150–$250/month.

Right For

Solo travelers, couples who are comfortable in small spaces, remote workers who need urban stealth, people who prioritize access to remote areas over living space.

The Class B Motorhome (Camper Van): The Middle Ground

A Class B motorhome is a factory-converted van — a Winnebago Solis, Airstream Interstate, or similar. It has a real bathroom, a real kitchen, and a real bed, all in a van-sized package. It drives like a van and parks like a van, but it has the amenities of a small RV.

The cost is the main barrier: new Class B motorhomes cost $80,000–$150,000. Used ones cost $40,000–$80,000. For the same money, you could buy a cargo van and build it out exactly the way you want. But if you want a factory-finished, warranty-backed, ready-to-go solution, a Class B is the answer.

The Class C Motorhome: Space With Maneuverability

A Class C motorhome is built on a truck or van chassis with a cab-over sleeping area. It is larger than a Class B but smaller and more maneuverable than a Class A. A 24-foot Class C has a real bedroom, a real bathroom, a full kitchen, and enough space for a family of four to live comfortably.

New Class C motorhomes cost $80,000–$150,000. Used ones cost $20,000–$60,000 depending on age and condition. Fuel economy is 10–14 MPG. They fit in most campgrounds but cannot access many dispersed camping areas. They are the right choice for families and couples who want real living space without the size and cost of a Class A.

The Fifth Wheel and Travel Trailer: The Workamper's Choice

A fifth wheel or travel trailer is towed behind a truck. You unhitch at your campsite and use the truck for daily driving. This is the most popular setup for workampers and long-term RVers because it separates your living space from your transportation.

The advantages: you can leave your home at the campsite and drive the truck to work, to town, or to explore. The living space is larger than any motorhome at the same price point. The disadvantages: you need a truck capable of towing (a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck), and moving requires hitching and unhitching, which takes 15–30 minutes.

A used travel trailer costs $10,000–$30,000. A used fifth wheel costs $20,000–$50,000. Add the cost of a capable tow vehicle ($25,000–$50,000 for a used half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck) and the total investment is $35,000–$80,000. This is the right setup for workampers who stay in one place for weeks or months at a time.

The Truck Camper: The Off-Road Option

A truck camper is a self-contained living unit that slides into the bed of a pickup truck. It is the most capable off-road option — a truck with a camper can go anywhere a truck can go, which is significantly more remote than any RV. The living space is small (comparable to a cargo van), but it includes a real bathroom, a real kitchen, and a real bed.

A used truck camper costs $10,000–$30,000. Add a capable truck ($25,000–$45,000 used) and the total is $35,000–$75,000. The advantage over a van is the bathroom and kitchen. The advantage over an RV is the off-road capability. The disadvantage is the small living space and the high center of gravity.

How to Choose

Ask yourself these questions: How many people are living in the rig? (Solo or couple → van or truck camper. Family → Class C or fifth wheel.) Do you need urban stealth? (Yes → cargo van. No → any option.) Do you need off-road access? (Yes → cargo van or truck camper. No → any option.) Do you need a real bathroom? (Yes → Class B, C, fifth wheel, or truck camper. No → cargo van.) How long will you stay in one place? (Days → van. Weeks or months → fifth wheel or travel trailer.)

Whatever rig you choose, OGS connects mobile workers with employers across the country. Create a free Trekkie profile and let employers find you wherever you are parked.