How many miles is too much for a campervan?

How much does mileage matter?

This topic is crucial to consider when buying your base vehicle to convert into a camper van or an already converted one. Using a simple common sense approach, it’s clear that the more miles an engine has done, the more worn it will be. Furthermore, the more miles the vehicle has done, the more it will have depreciated from its original sale value. Therefore there is a range of milage to choose from when purchasing a vehicle. It could have 20000 miles on the clock or 200000 miles on the clock. With so much choice it’s important you use all the information available to you when purchasing your van. Then you can decide for yourself how many miles is too much for a campervan.

How many miles can a van do?

Van’s are designed to be workhorses. Eating up thousands of miles as they make there way from A to B. But just how far can vans go. The truth is not all vans are built equal. Below I will explore some popular vans in the market that are commonly converted. Milage can also affect the insurance quote you are likely to receive.

Mercedes Sprinter Van

In the camper van conversion world the most notorious vehicle known for racking up considerable mileage whilst being reliable is the Mercedes Sprinter Van. Sprinter vans have been known to comfortably reach 250,000 miles or even 300,000 miles in some cases. It’s even been seen that some sprinters have hit the 1 million mile mark! This is a serious distance meaning an engine that makes it to 300,000 miles will have done 12 laps of the world. So how many miles is too much for a campervan is challenged by a well looked after Mercedes sprinter. This is only possible with TLC from the owner and regular on time servicing.

Mercedes Sprinter Servicing

A sprinter will have an A service at 10,000 miles from brand new then every additional 20,000 miles from this eg 30,000, 50,000 etc. In this service, the oil is replaced along with the oil filters. All fluid levels are checked along with the brakes and tyres then you can get back on the road. Then at 20,000 miles, a B service is required and at 20,000 intervals after this. This service is like the A service but dust filters are changed. The garage will also change brake fluid. Therefore, if aa approved Mercedes service centre has regularly serviced a sprinter, it can reach the high milage they are known for. However, this may not always be the case.

A van is only as good as it’s service history. Therefore the more miles a van has done, the more closely you must look at its ownership and service history. Assuming regular maintenance and servicing choosing a sprinter will be more about what budget you have. A Mercedes sprinter’s average price for sale is £26,875, so they are a more costly base van. They hold 29% of their original value after three years/60,000 miles being valued at £7,913. Therefore, at face value, a merecdes sprinter could be a great choice regardless of its miles on the clock.

VW Transporter

At the heart of the camper van community VW transporters make up the most significant van conversions percentage. This medium-sized van is practical for daily life, hugely customisable and there is plenty to buy on the market. They are held in the same esteem as mercedes sprinters as its commonly been seen that these can reach 250,000 miles with regular VW approved servicing and maintenance.

Transporter Trouble

There are some significant problems with these models, however. On models produced before 2010 heater controls can be faulty. Cambelts need replacing every 60,000 miles, so this is worth checking as if if you need one, these aren’t cheap. The electric fuel pumps in T5’s and T6’s are known for having issues. Driveshaft issues are notorious for a loud clunking sound which can be a costly repair. The average cost of a transporter on the market is £21,825. After 60,000 miles, the average price of a transporter on the market is £7985. After three years, they retain 37% of their original value, reflecting their popularity and recognised build quality.

Deciding your milage and exactly how many miles is too much for your campervan.

Purchasing any campervan is a risk. Whether it is already converted or if you are going to do it yourself. Firstly you must decide how many miles you will do in your camper and what budget you have to spend. Then you can search the market accordingly. For example, if you plan to live in your van, it may be wise to get a camper van with lower milk as you aim to keep it for a long time and cover many miles. However, if you only have a small budget and will only use your camper van for the odd weekend away, it would be wise to buy a cheaper van with more mile on the clock.

Questions to ask yourself before you buy

Any purchase is a gamble to some extent. You could purchase a new camper and it could develop all sorts of issues. Or you could purchase an old camper that has done a huge milage that gives you nothing but trouble. How many miles is too much for a campervan could be a limited way of viewing a vehicle’s quality in this case? In normal times a test drive can be invaluable as the first hand you can experience the van. The pandemic means this isn’t possible, so you have to rely on photos and videos. To limit the risk and give yourself the best chance to purchase a reliable camper, ask yourself the following 10 questions.

Does the vehicle have a complete service history? This is a good sign at face value that the vehicle is well maintained.
What has this vehicle been used for previously? EG It could have been a delivery van
Why is the vehicle for sale? If somebody trying to offload a troublesome car or is the sale more natural. For example, a guy has retired and no longer needs his work van.
What common issues does this vehicle have
If the vehicle has issues, could I afford to fix them
When is it’s MOT and next service due
How worn are the tyres
How many miles has it done, and how many more is it likely to do
Is the van price in line with the market. Usually is something sounds too good to be accurate; it is. EG a relatively new van at a surprisingly cheap price could have significant issues you don’t know about.
Given all the research I have done, I feel comfortable and somewhat confident to purchase this vehicle.

Conclusion on How many miles is too much for a campervan

There is no such thing as a camper doing too many or few miles. As long as the vehicle runs without problems you will be able to use it and that’s why you buy one in the first place. Purchasing a more reputable vehicle such as a Mercedes Sprinter or VW Transporter can improve the car’s chances of being reliable. Ultimately how well the car has been looked after over its lifetime will determine how well it runs and how long it will run for. Looking out for regularly serviced and maintained vehicles from reputable dealers and sellers will give you the best chance of getting a car you can count on.