1. The Features I Want in my Mini Camper
2. My Quest For a Worthy Van
3. Why I Chose My Peugeot Partner Van
4. The Pros and Cons of My Minivan
5. Planning Out a Mini Camper Van

Welcome to my first ever post on this Freedom & Travel Blog! I recently bought a small van with the intention to convert it into a campervan. This is one way I will improve my freedom in this modern world. But what is the best van for my camper conversion? This is how I made my choice:

The Features I Want in my Mini Camper

If you want to buy the best van for your camper conversion, then it makes sense to make a list of all the features you are looking for before making any financial decision. At least, that’s how I see it. So, after getting inspired by countless campervan videos on YouTube, I wrote down a short list of personal requirements. Here’s my list:

• the van has to be long enough to lay down comfortably (+/- 2m)
• high enough to sit straight up (standing is not required)
• space for a small basic kitchen
• being able to move from the front to the back of the van while staying inside
• at least one window in the back of the van (for sunlight)
• reliable engine
• budget friendly (second hand)

My Quest For a Worthy Van

After occasionally browsing the web for a few weeks, I went to inspect some of the vans that stood out to me. At that point, I didn’t have a budget in mind, so I inspected both large and smaller vans. The first real candidate was a Renault Master L1 H2. Logically, it ticked off all the boxes on my list, but it didn’t feel right. It was large enough to make something comfortable, even luxurious out of it. But a larger van comes with more headaches during the conversion process. That’s what I think my gut feeling was trying to tell me. I recommend you follow your intuition.

Why I Chose My Peugeot Partner Van

If a bigger van wasn’t for me, then a smaller van had to be. So when I found a minivan for sale in my local area, I took my shot and scheduled an appointment. As you could have guessed, the van was insanely small. I initially declined the van because of its size. But as I drove off, I started to regret it harder and harder every minute. It was like having a crush on someone while on vacation, never having the chance to get to know each other and then going back home with heartbreak and regret. It sounds stupid to talk like this about a van, but this intuition has helped me prevent bad decisions before.

After getting the insane luck to inspect the van again (there were a lot of other candidates), I bought this small Peugeot Partner in good shape and for a fair price. You might also recognize this as a Citroën Berlingo van, since they are basically the same.

The Pros and Cons of My Minivan

It is clear to me that every van has its advantages and disadvantages. Being a small van, this Peugeot doesn’t have a lot of space. Sleeping in it will be difficult, but not impossible. But this is a point I’m now willing to compromise on. This van made me meditate on what lifestyle I want from this van. My conclusion is that I actually don’t need a lot of luxury. A bit of comfort is enough. Some people live in vehicles a lot smaller than mine, not even by choice. I am grateful for finding this van.

Now let’s focus on the benefits of a smaller van:

• Cheaper purchasing, cheaper maintenance, cheaper conversion cost
• More stealth; nobody would suspect someone living in such a tiny van
• Less parking space required: both at home and when traveling
• Simpler to convert; I stick to the basics of a campervan / sleepervan
• Owning a bigger van feels like a bigger responsibility
• I’m forced to live and discover new places outside my van; more adventure

And here are the features I got in my minivan:

• Windows in the back
• 2 passenger seats
• Side door that can be opened from the inside
• I can fold the passenger seats to create more space
• Enough space to lay down comfortably (although not the 2 meters I wanted)
• I’m sure the engine is good to go for at least 5-10 years (properly maintained)

Planning Out a Mini Camper Van

Since I want to keep my micro camper very simple to build, I don’t need to plan out every single detail in advance. I have a general idea of what the van will look like and where I will place the bed and counter. But I will make this custom camper van step by step, in an order I deem logical. When the time arrives, then I decide the ins and outs.

I’ve already started working on the van. In just a couple of months, I will turn this minivan into a comfortable camper. Since I don’t have any real experience, this will be a beginner-friendly camper conversion. You can follow the latest progress updates on this blog or on my YouTube channel Freedom Travel Guy.

Kind regards