#VanLife first invaded your Instagram and became more mainstream with the pandemic’s acceleration of the RV space and the proliferation of the massive camper van industry. Scrolling through social media displays a healthy and increasing level of interest in adventure vans, ranging from DIY builds to full, no-holds-barred creations from professional conversion shops.
The best 4X4 camper vans are easier to drive and open up more potential destinations for the adventurous traveler compared to other recreational vehicles.
Whether you are looking to emulate builds of four-wheel-drive camper vans you spied on your social feed, are searching endlessly for the deal you can’t turn down on a used model, or are looking to buy your dream adventure vehicle fresh off the production floor, there is surely a 4×4 camper van out there for you.
Take a look at our list for the best 4×4 camper vans to find the one that’s right for you.
The 10 Best 4×4 Camper Vans
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Versatility: The VanDoIt Do Model
Built on a Ford Transit AWD Passenger Van with available suspension and brake upgrades, the VanDoIt Do Model stands apart because of its internal aluminum skeleton grid and resultant modularity. Passenger seats, with factory anchoring and seat belts, can be added or removed, along with Murphy-style beds, a kitchen pod, shelving, water and Espar heater, TV, and other options.
The VanDoIt modular system also allows “à la carte” ordering. Customers can add whatever available features they wish, allowing for a high degree of customization without the usual associated costs. Anything from solar panels to toilets can be specified to suit individual needs and budgets.
VanDoIt conversions may not be the best 4×4 camper van for those seeking high-end interior aesthetics and luxuries. For flexibility, however, its modular system is hard to beat!
Using an AWD VanDoIt converted Transit with “Stage II or Stage III” suspension and brake upgrades yields impressive capabilities. A Quigley conversion is also offered for even greater off-road prowess. Engine choices depend on available inventory but include a 3.7L normally aspirated V6 and the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6.
VanDoIt 4×4 camper vans cost between $109,600 and $142,600 for the Ford Transit chassis and conversion.
(Disclosure: The author of this story is an ambassador for VanDoIt Camper Vans.)
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Rough Terrain: Field Van Ford Classic 4×4
Just looking at a Field Van Ford Classic 4×4 instills confidence for traveling to remote, off-grid destinations where other camper vans dare not tread. And the brand’s deep history in adventure vans adds assurance.
Starting with a Ford E-350 Cutaway body, Field Van drops a steel-reinforced fiberglass shell with an integrated penthouse pop-top onto the frame. Every creature comfort is available: cabinetry, kitchen, refrigerator, toilet, water and air heater, solar, and other options. Full custom floor plans are also an option.
Engine choices include the 6.8L Triton V-10 or the 6.2L Triton V8, but sadly there are currently no diesel options.
But the Ford Classic 4×4 is so much more than a home on wheels. The driveline and suspension have immense off-road prowess. An Advance Adapter Atlas II gear-driven transfer case, Dynatrac Pro-Roc 60 front Axle, and a Dana 60 rear axle are just the starters.
A high knuckle front end, heavy-duty steering arm, horizontal drag link, and a Spicer 1350 1-ton rated driveline add more capability. Finally, reverse shackle leaf springs, a front sway bar with quick disconnects, brake rotors from the F550, and partial military wrap springs prove this van isn’t just about looks.
Field Van offers the choice of open, limited-slip, or locking differentials to suit every off-roader’s preference. Even the finish means business, as the Ford Classic 4×4 is covered with Line-X.
Field Van’s no-holds-barred conversion results in one of the most capable four-wheel-drive camper vans in existence. The 16.5 inches of ground clearance, 44-degree approach angle, and 10,000 pounds of towing capacity put the Ford Classic 4×4 in rare company.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Reliability: Oasis Sienna Campervan
Oasis Camper Vans of Lafayette, Colo., specializes in building camper vans from minivans. The Colorado company offers conversions based on the AWD Toyota Sienna and its legendary reliability. Toyota minivans routinely log hundreds of thousands of miles.
The bulk of the interior houses a living area, complete with a Lagun table, 12 cubic feet of drawer space, hardwood laminate floors, and a foldable chair that converts to part of a full-size bed, suitable for two.
The rear of the minivan houses a complete kitchen galley with a sink, running water, drawers, shelves, and a sizeable countertop. A fold-up table and, on some models, a slide-out powered cooler drawer round out the kitchen that makes the most out of the least. Finally, curtains all around offer privacy.
Cabinets are constructed from oak or baltic birch plywood and finished with water-based polyurethane. Oasis conversion owners can remove the camper van interior and return it to the original seating configuration with ease.
Oasis can make minor design changes free of charge, while significant omissions or additions incur a discount or added fee. It will cost you at least $8,500 for a full conversion.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Luxury: Winnebago Revel
Famed RV manufacturer Winnebago utilizes the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 and its turbo-diesel powerplant as the base for its first off-road adventure vehicle.
The well-appointed and modern-looking interior boasts a 79-inch by 49-inch bed on a power lift at the rear of the van, with garage space below. Bump outs where the windows usually reside allow for laying across the width of the vehicle. A powered roof vent ventilates the area.
A wet bath, full kitchen with a single induction burner, removable pedestal table, above-cab shelving, refrigerator, pantry, and drawers fill the rest of the interior. A non-skid vinyl flooring makes cleanup easy.
A 21-gallon gray water tank handles wastewater from the wet bath and kitchen. Winnebago opted for a 5-gallon cassette toilet for ease of dumping and water conservation. Another nod to saving water is a momentary switch that must be activated to drain the kitchen sink. All the water lines are inside to prevent freezing.
An on-demand water heater and Espar diesel air heater keep things warm, while a 2.5 cubic-foot refrigerator keeps things cold. A 13,500 BTU air conditioner is an available option. Solar panels keep the two lithium-ion batteries charged off-grid.
An exterior ladder is usable on both the rear and driver side of the van. The running boards and powered awning have lighting.
Other thoughtful features include a powered vent designed to dry gear, removable storage shelving in the wet bath, an outside shower outlet, bug netting with magnetic auto closures, and an outdoor fold-out table.
The Mercedes Sprinter AWD system is relatively capable off-road and is great for all weather conditions. Winnebago chose the short-wheelbase chassis for the best ground clearance — specifically the breakover angle. The company also rerouted the exhaust to improve the exit angle.
The Winnebago Revel starts at $245,463.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Space Efficiency: Storyteller Overland Mode
The Storyteller Overland Mode boasts the capable foundation of the AWD 144″ Mercedes Sprinter, but the interior’s incredible efficiency sets this adventure van apart from the rest.
The Alabama-based brand’s intelligent design starts with the two-seater GrooveLounge passenger seat, which provides proper three-point harnesses. The seat even folds out into a bed suitable for one adult or two children.
Rearward, the DreamWeaver sleep platform resides in Flarespaces, which allow adults up to 6’5″ to sleep across the width of the van, saving precious length. The platform also folds longitudinally in sections, converting to a workbench and making space for taller gear.
Then there is the ingenious FlexSpace. It looks and functions as a floor-mounted storage trunk suitable for camp seating, but it also acts as a shower pan and is completed with a shower curtain and overhead shower system. Finally, this triple-purpose space serves as a tailgating cooler.
The Mode has a proper kitchen galley with a single induction burner, sink, fridge, and outdoor table. A portable toilet, microwave, powered and lighted 10-foot awning, lithium-ion batteries, extruded aluminum roof rack with ladder, Lagun swing arm table, and low-profile AC complete the package.
Pricing starts at $181,321 and can easily climb over $239,737.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Customization: Outside Van
Oregon-based Outside Van has been creating fully custom adventure rigs since 2007. It is currently fulfilling dreams on Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit chassis, including AWD versions.
Each custom build begins with its Premium Interior package, which includes insulation, sound damping, infrastructure, walls, ceilings, floors, and lighting. From there, inspiring van lifers can choose from an extensive array of options to complete the vehicle of their dreams.
Every system in the van has a menu to choose from — the customer can create the power system, water system, lighting array, heating, and cooling systems and adorn the exterior with any accessories desired. The floor plan can be created and executed to match lifestyle, activities, the number of occupants, and interior decorating tastes.
Each Outside Van is genuinely an expression of the customer’s vision. The sky is the limit, with in-house woodworkers, metal workers, upholstery professionals, engineers, and design gurus ready to bring these visions to life.
The Outside Van full custom program begins with the Premium Interior Package at $23,000.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Nostalgia: Volkswagen Vanagan Syncro
The VW Type 2 bus of the 1960s — the first adventure van? Quite possibly. My first car camping memories were from a Westfalia camper bus during the ’70s. I can still remember the curtains and how they felt in my hands and how cool I thought it was that a kitchen galley was inside a vehicle.
1980 heralded the arrival of a new “bus” with a new name: Vanagon. In 1986, VW flexed its 4WD experience (dating back to 1899) with a Syncro all-wheel-drive system in the Vanagon. The system utilized a viscous coupling to deliver power continuously and unnoticeably to the front wheels when it detected rear wheelspin. This system was cutting-edge technology at the time.
But the power was limited: 95 horsepower and 117 pound-feet of torque meant patience was necessary. But maybe for some, forced, slow meandering down two-track was part of the allure.
The interior of the “Camper” version of the Vanagan Syncro housed an integrated kitchen with a three-way refrigerator, a two-burner stove, and a stainless steel sink with onboard water. The “Weekender” version featured two rear-facing seats in the passenger area and a folding table that folded against the interior wall when not in use.
Owning one of these ground-breaking AWD camper vans would require administering constant TLC, but the immense feeling of nostalgia cannot be denied.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for JDM Fans: Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear L400
Mitsubishi offered the Delica Space Gear L400 from 1994 to 2006. This quirky van appeals to Japanese Domestic Market fans and DYI tinkerers as a base for a purpose-built 4WD camper van.
Earlier, boxier versions proved off-road capable, but the L400 ushered in modern performance enhancements. Disc brakes and rear coil springs aided handling, while more powerful gas and diesel engines (nine versions) doubled the available horsepower. The most popular powerplants were the 2.8L turbo diesel (140 horsepower, 232 pound-feet of torque) and a 3.0L gasoline V6 (185 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque).
The L400 inherited the L300’s off-road prowess. Delica vans, with their high ground clearance, adequate approach and departure angles, true transfer cases, and available limited-slip differentials, can tread in areas other vans fear. The newer L400 added the option of an improved Super Select transfer case. This offered all the usual driving modes plus a high and low 4WD through its locked center differential.
The standout feature of this particular Delica, which makes it an adequate camper van in stock form, is the seating’s amazing transformative ability. The middle two captain’s chairs slide forward and backward on tracks, pivot 180 degrees, and retract to fold up against the front two captain’s chairs.
The rear two-piece bench seat reclines, and then folds up flat against the sides of the vehicle. And if that weren’t enough for you to call this a camper van, every seat folds flat for sleeping.
Additionally, the rear windows open for venting, and some models have motorized curtains. The Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear 400 is ready for camping; just add car camping essentials. But it’s also a great platform to build a camper van for those inclined to keep and maintain this JDM gem.
Costs vary widely, and only vans 25 years or older are importable to the U.S.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Diehard Toyota Fans: Toyota HiAce H100
Toyota produced the fourth-generation HiAce from 1989 to 2004, making it a great starting point for a DIY campervan for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) tinkerer.
The available powerplants were 2.4L to 3.0L diesel or 2.0L to 3.4L gasoline versions. Toyota offered two wheelbase lengths and high-roof versions. Both part-time and full-time 4WD were available.
This generation’s HiAce models featured many parts shared with the Toyota Hilux pickup and 4Runner of the same era. This sharing of parts dramatically expands the list of available parts for retrofitting and upgrades popular for 4WD upfitting. Limited-slip or locking rear differentials are examples of options capable of crossing over to the HiAce in the hands of capable hobbyists or conversion shops.
Toyota is renowned for reliability, and the HiAce inherited that attribute and perception, making it a highly sought-after starting point for smaller camper vans and specialty conversion shops for JDM imports.
Cost varies; only vans 25 years or older are importable to the U.S.
Best 4×4 Camper Van for Budget Builds: Chevy Astro Van
Ah, the “lowly” Chevy Astro van (and GMC Safari). It is the first American minivan, and GM produced it from 1985 to 2005. They built 3.2 million units, and plenty still roam the streets and fill Craigslist pages.
And, starting in 1990, AWD was offered, making the Chevy Astro (or GMC Safari) an inexpensive platform for an off-road capable camper van.
A quick perusal of the internet reveals inexpensive ways to improve the primary platform. Kits to swap in an S10 transfer case for real 4WD with high and low, suspension lift kits, pop-tops, and prefabricated kitchen and sleeping platform kits are all available. You can endlessly peruse images and videos of DYI and professional builds, from the most basic to the outlandish.
And with prices that are hard to beat for a used AWD van (a quick search revealed some less than $4,000), it’s not surprising that the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari have an almost cultish following for DIY camper van aficionados.
The Best 4×4 Camper Vans Money Can Buy
This broad collection of the best 4×4 camper vans isn’t nearly exhaustive. However, it’s an excellent place to start for inspiration and guidance.
A 4×4 adventure vehicle should satisfy the expected needs for the type of camping you are most likely to do. Some don’t need to run hot water, while for others, it’s a must. In the end, it’s all about your personal priorities. After deciding which features are must-haves, the only limiting factors are the available space in a van and your budget. But beyond that, the only limitations are imagination and creativity.
We hope this article inspires you to take the first steps toward experiencing the road less traveled on your terms. The #VanLife is the good life. One of these best 4×4 camper vans might just be your ticket to adventure!
