In recent years, camper van conversions have exploded in popularity as more people trade traditional living for a flexible, adventurous lifestyle. The vanlife movement isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming a new way of living for digital nomads, retirees, and weekend travelers alike, and the massive industry growth is a testament to that. 

Why the shift? Many find that a van conversion provides all the comforts of an RV in a more compact, versatile form. From couples who want to travel cross-country to solo explorers looking for freedom, custom van conversions are built to fit a wide range of needs, lifestyles, and activities. 

Many people express concern over the size of van conversions, as they are significantly smaller than many RVs and travel trailers. This is true. The space difference is real, but what you sacrifice in space, you make up for in maneuverability, accessibility, and efficiency. A van can go places where RVs, travel trailers, and fifth wheels can’t. If you see a gravel road headed toward a world-class view, a good van can get you there and back. The other options? We wouldn’t be so confident. Not to mention, who travels just to sit inside all day?

And if you want to get up into the mountains? A van can handle steep jack-knife turns and get you up there, and once you’re there, make sure to pull out your binoculars and look down at the RVs at the campsite at the bottom and remember that you made the right choice.

Professional vanlife outfitters like Highland Rigs are at the heart of this growing movement. We take bare cargo vans and transform them into classy, off-grid mobile homes, complete with sleeping quarters, kitchens, bathrooms, and energy systems. Unlike mass-market RVs, every conversion is unique, reflecting the owner’s lifestyle and travel goals. We speak with customers about custom builds regularly and can give great insight into what features are necessary and unnecessary for each person. 

Another reason for the rise in popularity of van conversions is cost savings. While RVs and travel trailers require larger storage spaces and often come with expensive maintenance, camper vans are easier to manage, fuel-efficient, and can even double as a daily driver. You can park them in your driveway as is or even on the street in front of your house, like mine is as I’m typing this article. 

Whether you’re planning weekend getaways, long-term travel, or full-time van living, Highland Rigs vanlife outfitting team can bring your dream to reality. From budget builds to luxury designs, we are helping to redefine what travel freedom on the road looks like in the 2020’s. .

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