If you've ever shopped for a camper van or RV, it's likely you've been met with sticker shock. With rising material costs, prices have risen for everything from basic cars or trucks to motorhomes. However, today we want to focus on custom Mercedes-Benz Sprinter camper vans like those offered by Outside Van. 
 
While recreational vehicles have never been "cheap" necessarily, the build quality for the price has changed over the years for better or worse. With a constantly changing landscape, though, Outside Van partners have continued to make financing more flexible for the aspiring custom van owner. This means it's never been easier to get a high-quality adventure van that's reliable, with a premium interior, home-like amenities, and modern technology.  

When you go to buy a new car or truck, especially if you’re financing, you’re typically looking at a 5-7–year term with varying interest rates depending on your credit. With RVs and camper vans, the cost is typically much higher so therefore, the terms of the loan are generally longer. In general, the terms are more flexible and mostly depend on what you can afford monthly.  

For instance, 10-15-year loan terms are not uncommon, but van buyers know this is a long-term investment, especially if they’re planning to live in it full-time. We spoke with Clayton Andrews, sales associate at Outside Van, to better understand who buys our vans and how they should approach financing their next home on wheels: 
 
“They’re looking for quality and understand it. They’re willing to go to a higher price point to get quality and get a vehicle that they can have for years,” he noted. Outside Van partners and lenders want to help our customers’ dreams come true, whether it’s seeing the national parks or just having more flexibility for work. 

When financing an Outside Van, both the van and the build-out are bundled into the loan terms along with add-ons and an extended warranty. Partner lenders are familiar with the Outside Van brand and the value the conversion brings, resulting in a standardized process that makes it easy for future van owners. 

Of course, buyers can bring their own financing from their credit union or bank, pay cash, or trade in a used van or RV towards their purchase. However, financing greatly reduces the barrier to entry for these $100k-$200k+ price-point builds. In general, lenders at the dealer ask for 10-20% down with rates around 7.75%.

For your unique situation, visit your nearest partner dealer to get started on the journey of owning your own Outside Van.  Click to learn more! 

Let’s say you decided to sell everything and adopt the “van life”, so you’re sitting on some cash. You may be asking yourself whether it’s still better to pay cash or finance your van and pocket the cash for later. The short answer is that it all depends on how long you plan to own the van.

If you’re planning to own the van for 3-5 years, you may consider paying in cash or a large down payment for flexibility when selling down the road. However, if you’re planning on the long haul (7-15 years+), financing may be more attractive as a long-term asset. You might also consider what the van is replacing for you.

Compare your rent/mortgage costs, travel costs, whether you need office space, or if the nature of your job is remote or travel-based. Cash is generally the cheapest option since you’re avoiding interest, but it’s only ideal if you have the money lying around. However, as always, you should be doing your due diligence as a consumer and comparison shop your financing options.

If you’re looking to finance an Outside Van for business use, it’s important to chat with an authorized dealer and discuss your state-specific rules and regulations. You’ll also want to consider whether you’re planning to write the purchase off on your taxes or not.

One of the biggest mistakes first-time van buyers make when considering financing is not getting clear about what monthly payment they can afford and not knowing where their credit stands before visiting the dealer.  Andrews advised a word of caution regarding this topic: 
 
"They need to evaluate their credit before coming without actually pulling their credit. That will ding you." There are many free credit score sites out there that give you a general picture of where you stand without flagging an inquiry. Inquiries are pulled when you try to apply for a loan, which can negatively affect your ability to get financing at the dealership. 

In our sit–down with Clayton, we asked him what advice he would give to someone in the early research stages of buying a camper van. His advice is simple: Go rent one. 
 
“Go rent a van and give it a try for what you’re looking for. Outside Van does offer a 170 and a 144, so try in both sizes. We’re one of the few who offer multiple models on the 170 and 144,” he explained. Even if it’s not one of our specific vehicles from Outside Van, he encourages potential buyers to test the water before making their large purchase. There can be an adjustment period to living in a smaller space with fewer amenities, and the care and maintenance that comes with living in a camper van.

Visit one of our authorized dealers or contact us today to start dreaming about your next adventure van from Outside Vans.