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The Best Camper Vans of 2018: From Full-Time Living to Weekend Trips

A historical comparison of the 2018 camper vans documented by New Atlas, with the layouts, features, and reported prices that distinguish them.
Entry111 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The 2018 camper vans highlighted by New Atlas show how differently a conversion can serve full-time living and short trips: some prioritize built-in facilities, others transform between passenger and cargo use, and some make room for bulky outdoor gear or campsite work. This is a historical look at the models and details documented in the article published December 22, 2018—not a current buying guide. The available text identifies several vans but does not establish the roundup’s complete lineup or all of their specifications.

How to compare the 2018 vans

The useful distinction is not simply “best” versus “worst.” It is what each layout makes easier—and what it asks you to give up. A full-time road dweller may value a bathroom, kitchen, and dependable sleeping arrangement; a weekend traveler may prefer a van that can return to passenger or cargo duty. Equipment-heavy trips make enclosed storage important, while remote work or longer stays can make electrical capacity and usable seating more relevant.

  • Sleeping: Check the stated capacity and whether the bed is fixed, adjustable, converted from other furniture, or extended outdoors.
  • Facilities: Compare the bathroom and kitchen provisions rather than assuming every camper conversion is self-contained to the same degree.
  • Gear and flexibility: Look for enclosed storage, removable furniture, and a layout that can change between passengers, cargo, and camping.
  • Size and electrical setup: Vehicle length, roof height, battery capacity, and solar provision affect practical use, but the available 2018 descriptions do not give a complete, consistent specification sheet for every van.

These are comparisons of features described in the 2018 article, not results from identical tests of the vehicles. For any used van, independently confirm its dimensions, payload, safety equipment, maintenance history, and local availability.

Camper vans documented in the roundup

Volkswagen Grand California: built-in facilities for longer stays

Volkswagen introduced the Grand California in two versions: the longer 680 and the taller 600. New Atlas described sleeping space for a couple or a family of four, a height-adjustable bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom with a swiveling partition separating the toilet and shower. That combination makes the Grand California the clearest example in the available text of a conversion designed around onboard living facilities. Some conspicuous features from the California XXL concept did not carry over to production, so the concept should not be treated as a specification for the van.

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RP Rebel Sporthome: storage for bulky outdoor equipment

The cited description presents the RP Rebel as a 233-inch (593-cm) Mercedes Sprinter conversion for two. Its optional Sporthome package puts a gear garage beneath a raised rear bed; a special rear lift-gate separates stored equipment from the cabin. That arrangement directly addresses the needs of travelers carrying substantial gear, though the available text does not provide the garage’s dimensions or capacity.

The article also mentions an optional slide-out bathroom and Mercedes 4×4. The described kitchen has a three-burner stove, oven, broiler, and 90-liter refrigerator. New Atlas reported a £54,995 base price from RP Motorhomes in 2018, before options; it is a historical figure, not a current quote.

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Kompanja: a modular van for passengers, cargo, or camping

Based on a Renault Trafic, the Kompanja uses a pop-top, floor rails, and removable or rearrangeable seating and furniture. The article describes three possible roles: a six-seat family van, a cargo van, or a camper that sleeps four. This flexibility is its defining advantage for someone who does not want a dedicated camper layout all the time.

Optional features mentioned include “Bus Kino,” a projector system, and an extended tailgate “Bivouac Bed.” The source does not establish further details such as projector compatibility or the bed’s dimensions.

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Glampervan MUV: compact layout with a roof deck

The MUV is described as a conversion for a medium-wheelbase, 136-inch Ram Promaster. Its layout includes swiveling cab seats with a table or desk, a central kitchen, and a flip-away transverse rear bed. A roof-rack-mounted deck is the model’s distinctive feature, making outdoor lounging part of the setup rather than adding another indoor facility.

The 2018 description specifies a 300-Ah battery bank and an optional 175-W solar panel. Glampervan’s Winter 2018/19 pricing sheet, as reported by New Atlas, listed MUV package prices of $25,500–$58,350 excluding the van. Those package figures and specifications describe the historical offering; they should not be read as current configuration or pricing.

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Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX: lounge and bathroom details

The retrieved portion of the roundup also mentions the Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX, including a multi-window Sky-lounge, kitchen block, and “duplex” bathroom. New Atlas reported a £48,835 base price from Adria UK in 2018. The available description does not establish the model’s full place in the roundup or provide enough detail to compare its complete layout with the other vans.

Which layout fits which kind of trip?

Use case Documented match Why it may fit What remains to check
Longer stays with onboard facilities Volkswagen Grand California Kitchen, bathroom, adjustable bed, and stated sleeping space for a couple or family of four. Exact configuration, dimensions, payload, and current condition are not established by the 2018 description.
Trips with bulky outdoor gear RP Rebel Sporthome Optional under-bed gear garage with a separating rear lift-gate; optional 4×4 and slide-out bathroom are also noted. Garage capacity and the cost or availability of options are not stated.
One vehicle for family, cargo, and camping Kompanja Removable/rearrangeable interior and stated six-seat, cargo, and four-sleeper configurations. Detailed dimensions and current configuration availability are not stated.
Compact conversion with a work surface and outdoor deck Glampervan MUV Swivel-seat table/desk, flip-away bed, 300-Ah battery bank, optional solar panel, and roof deck. Actual usable work area, payload, and current electrical package are not stated.
Evaluating an additional lounge-and-bathroom layout Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX The excerpt identifies a multi-window Sky-lounge, kitchen block, and “duplex” bathroom. The available description does not establish a complete specification or comparable sleeping details.
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What the 2018 prices do—and do not—tell you

The reported figures are useful as a record of how these products were presented in 2018, but they are not directly comparable. The Adria and RP amounts are reported base prices, while the Glampervan range is package pricing that excludes the van. The figures also come from different sellers and, in the MUV’s case, a Winter 2018/19 pricing sheet. They cannot establish today’s used-vehicle value, current new-vehicle pricing, or the cost of options.

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  • Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX: £48,835 base price, reported by New Atlas from Adria UK in 2018.
  • RP Rebel: £54,995 base price before options, reported by New Atlas from RP Motorhomes in 2018.
  • Glampervan MUV: $25,500–$58,350 package pricing excluding the van, reported by New Atlas from Glampervan’s Winter 2018/19 pricing sheet.

The details above come from C.C. Weiss’s New Atlas article, “The best camper vans of 2018 for full-time road dwellers down to weekend warriors,” published December 22, 2018.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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