It Took Me Years to Afford a Tall Van. Now, I’ve Rounded Up the Best Campervans You Can Stand Up In.

My first van was a Chevy Astro minivan. It was what I could afford at the time; I didn’t have the budget for a Sprinter or a high-roof cargo van. So I crouched. I contorted. I did a lot of yoga-adjacent maneuvering just to get dressed in the morning. I knew vans you could stand up in existed. I just couldn’t swing it yet.

Years later, I upgraded to a 2021 Sprinter with full standing room, and I want to be clear about something. It is not a small thing. Being able to stand up straight inside your home, even a rolling one, changes the entire quality of your daily life. Getting dressed without hitting your head. Cooking without a backache. Just existing in your space like a normal human being. If you are in the research phase of van life and wondering whether standing room is worth prioritizing, I am here to tell you: yes. Build your budget around it if you can.

So whether you’re just starting to research vans you can stand up in, or you’ve been dreaming about the upgrade for a while, this guide breaks down the best options across different budgets. Because standing room shouldn’t be a luxury — it should be the baseline.

Here are the top vans you can stand up in.

Ford Transit High Top

Interior Height: 6′ 7″ (81.5″)
Width: 4.5′
Gasoline vs. Diesel: Gasoline or Diesel
4WD vs. 2WD: 2WD Standard, AWD Optional Add-on

The Ford Transit is a pretty standard cargo van you can stand up in available in three different sizes: low, medium, or high. You’ll only be able to completely stand up in the high-top version.

However, keep in mind that you can add storage compartments on the roof to make the van even more accommodating. 

One component of high-top vans like the Ford Transit campervan is that you have to worry about overhangs and clearance heights. While these vans are not as disruptive as trucks or massive RVs, they can force you to reconsider some routes. For example, if you want to camp out in the woods, you’ll likely have to worry about branches and brush hitting the van’s roof.

Beyond the size dimensions, you get a wide array of features and interior elements with this cargo van, such as air conditioning and climate control.

Most of these features help you store cargo and stay safe on the road. For example, you get braking assist and front and side sensors. The center console also comes with a power outlet, which you can utilize for camping. 

Mercedes Sprinter 2500 and 3500

Interior Height: 6.5′ (79″)
Interior Width: 4.4″”
Gasoline vs. Diesel: Both options are available in 4 and 6 cylinders, with a 4×4 option, too
4WD vs. 2WD: 2WD (rear) and 4WD options

When it comes to cargo vans, the Mercedes Sprinter is the gold standard and is the one I chose after the Chevy Astro minivan.

As far as height goes, you need to buy the 2500 or 3500 series, which offers up to 6.5′ of interior clearance. Better yet, this van has the option of using diesel fuel, meaning that you can save money on travel costs when going long distances.

Because this van is made by Mercedes, you know that the ride will be smooth and comfortable. The engine is powerful and can help you get up steep hills and semi-rugged terrain.

Even with vans that offer four-wheel drive, they’re not built for hardcore wilderness traveling. 

Another advantage of this Sprinter van you can stand up in is that it comes with a spot for a tow hitch. So, you can bring along a small trailer with supplies.

We’ve had our Mercedes Sprinter for five years now and love it!

Dodge Ram ProMaster

Interior Height: 6′ 5″
Width: 6′ 3″ maximum cargo width
Gasoline vs. Diesel: Gasoline
4WD vs. 2WD: 2WD Standard

The whole point of buying a high-top van that you can stand up in is to allow you to build out a campervan interior.

The main benefit of Dodge Promaster vans over the Transit and Sprinter is that the 6’5″ width allows you to sleep sideways without other modifications such as Flarespace flares.

The ProMaster van you can stand up in comes with tons of features and amenities, including a touchscreen control panel, a collision warning system, and even a trailer sway dampener. Since this van can tow up to 6,700 pounds, bringing an extra trailer is a breeze.

For example, perhaps you want to bring your dirt bikes or ATVs on the trip. This way, you can haul them and not have to buy a massive toy hauler RV. 

These do have a lower clearance than the Sprinter so keep that in mind if you’ll be doing a lot of boondocking.

Nissan NV

Interior Height: 6’4″
Width: 5′ 8″
Gasoline vs. Diesel: Gasoline
4WD vs. 2WD: 2WD Standard, 4WD Optional

Finally, we have the Nissan NV van you can stand up in. The NV has been discontinued by Nissan so you’ll have to scour the remaining dealer inventory or find a used one.

One element we haven’t mentioned yet is the overhead shelf built into these units. Most high-top vans have a wooden shelf built over the cab as extra storage space. This shelving can work as-is, or you can build on top of it and make it more practical. 

As with the other vans, this model has tons of interior features and extras that make it ideal for driving and traveling. Examples include two power outlets, a traction control system, and audio controls on the steering wheel. 

Alternative RV Chassis Options

While high-top vans can work well for building a customized RV, they’re not the only viable option. Let’s break down some alternative chassis options that can work for your needs. 

Box Truck Camper

A box truck is a vehicle that has a standard truck cab with a box-style rear cargo section. The best part of box trucks is that the rear compartment is fully customizable.

Usually, these trucks have wood paneling on the sides, enabling you to attach screws and nails wherever you like. So, you can install shelves, a bed, and other elements quickly and easily. 

On the small end, box trucks can be about nine feet high with a six-foot interior space. They can be up to 12 or 13 feet high on the larger end, with about 7.5 or 8 feet of clearance inside.

If you choose a taller box truck, you have to worry about clearance heights much more often. For example, you might not make it under low bridges about 11 or 12 feet tall. 

Another element to pay attention to with box trucks is whether they come with a rear ramp or not. Depending on how you build it out, a ramp can make it easier to load and unload the RV.

That said, you have to use the rollup door to get in and out of your rig, limiting your build layout options. Usually, larger box trucks will have a front access door that enables you to pass items through the cab into the rear section.

You can use this door as an access point to get into the RV, or you can use it for moving belongings in and out of the RV. 

4-Wheel Pop Up Truck Campers

As the name suggests, these vehicles are designed for off-roading, thanks to their four-wheel drivetrain.

However, these units go a step further by adding a camper to the back of a pickup truck. Since you’re driving a truck, you can go virtually anywhere without worrying about getting stuck.

Most of these trucks have a relatively tall wheel clearance, meaning that it’s hard to bottom out or get caught in mud and snow. 

Another advantage of four-wheel campers is that you can sometimes swap the camper model. Since this piece mounts to the flatbed, you can change it as necessary. Alternatively, you can put your current camper on the back of a different pickup truck if needed. 

The primary downside of these campers is that you don’t get much living space. Typically, these rigs just have a bed, maybe a hot plate, and then some storage compartments.

They’re usually not big enough for a bathroom, but they might have a toilet with a small black water tank. Overall, you will have to figure out how to take showers and keep yourself clean during your travels. 

Another disadvantage is that the interior height of these campers is relatively short. For example, six feet is often the limit since it’s hard to build bigger campers that can still fit on a pickup flatbed.

Sometimes, to alleviate this issue, the camper will come with a pop-top section. 

Low-Top Campervan w/ Pop Top

While building your own campervan from scratch can be exciting, the process is relatively time-consuming and can be as expensive or cost more than an “off the rack” motorhome.

One alternative is to buy a pre-made campervan. Usually, these vans are not very tall, so you might not be able to stand up inside. To prevent this issue, you can buy models that come with a pop-top. 

In many cases, the pop-up section contains a bed, giving you more living space inside the van. On average, campervans are around seven to 10 feet tall, with less room inside. Once you add a pop-top, these vans can go up to 14 or 15 feet. 

One advantage of pop-top campervans is that you don’t have to worry about height clearances when traveling.

Since the van itself is pretty short, you can go under bridges and branches without any issues. Then, once you arrive at your destination, you can pop the top and get comfortable for the whole stay. 

Another point to consider about these vans is whether the pop-up section is soft or hard. Usually, these vans have canvas walls to make it easier to pop up. Canvas also weighs less and doesn’t require any complicated mechanics.

Hard pop-tops are pretty hard to find these days – often, you’ll have to buy a vintage model. The benefit of hard shell campervans is that they can insulate heat better than canvas. The downside is that they can break down more easily since there are complicated internal mechanisms. 

Ambulance Camper Conversions

If you want the ultimate upcycled RV, you can convert an ambulance. These vehicles are tall enough for someone to stand up in since paramedics have to move around freely. That said, this option can be a bit challenging for a few reasons, such as: 

Hard to Find – Buying used ambulances is kind of challenging, so you might have to search for a while to find what you want. 

More Complicated Conversions – Since ambulances are built to contain medical equipment, they have more interior components than a cargo van. So, you’ll have to remove these sections before converting the ambulance to an RV. Doing this can inflate your costs and add time to the conversion process. 

High Mileage – Ambulances will often go for more than 200,000 miles before getting retired. So, even if you find a used model, it may have lots of miles on it.

While you can do some preventative maintenance, you likely won’t be able to use a converted ambulance for too long. Overall, these units are less adept at long-distance traveling than brand-new vans or RVs. 

Step Vans

For the uninitiated, step vans are what postal carriers and delivery drivers use. These boxy vehicles have a side entrance with a couple of steps to get to the cab.

These vans work well for RV conversions because they have plenty of interior space and very little infrastructure. So, it’s relatively easy to add internal components like a bed, sink, or storage compartments. 

One significant disadvantage of step vans is that they often don’t have extra seating in the cab. So, if you plan on traveling with a partner, you’ll have to keep them in the back of the truck. 

You can find brand-new or used step vans for conversion. If you find a used model, it may have been utilized as a delivery vehicle, meaning that it has high mileage. 

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s that standing room is not a nice-to-have. After years of crouching in a minivan, I can tell you firsthand that your body will thank you for prioritizing it. Van life is already an adjustment. There’s no reason to make it harder on yourself than it needs to be.

That said, I also lived the budget version of this life for years, and it was still worth every cramped morning. If a tall van isn’t in the cards right now, don’t let that stop you from getting on the road. Start where you can. Upgrade when you’re ready. The best van is always the one that gets you out there.

But if you ARE in a position to choose, choose the one you can stand up in. Future you — the one making coffee at 6 a.m. in the Nevada desert with nowhere to be — will be very, very grateful.