Stealth Camper Van: Building An Unnoticeable Home On Wheels

how to make a stealth camper van

How to Make a Stealth Camper Van

A stealth camper van is a vehicle that has been converted into a living space, designed to be inconspicuous and blend in with its surroundings. Stealth camper vans are often used by people who want to live a nomadic lifestyle, travelling from place to place without attracting attention. Here are some tips on how to make your own stealth camper van:

Choosing the Right Vehicle

When creating a stealth camper van, it is important to choose a vehicle that is common and inconspicuous. Standard white cargo vans, such as the Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter, are popular choices. Minivans, such as the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey, can also work well. Avoid vehicles with bright colours or large signage, as these will draw attention.

Keeping a Low Profile

To maintain a low profile, it is crucial to keep your vehicle clean, both inside and out. A neat and tidy van will attract less attention than a rusty, junk-filled van. It is also important to arrive at your parking spot late at night and leave early in the morning. This reduces the chances of people noticing your presence. Cover your windows with dark shields or curtains to avoid drawing attention.

Finding Parking Spots

When it comes to finding parking spots for your stealth camper van, there are a few options. Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and Cabela's are known to allow overnight parking in some locations, but it is always a good idea to check with the store manager first. Truck stops, rest areas, and 24-hour businesses like casinos or gyms can also be good options. Industrial areas and neighbourhoods with other cars parked overnight can be ideal, but be sure to avoid areas with No Parking signs or restricted zones.

Staying Safe

Safety is a key consideration when living in a stealth camper van. Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts when choosing a parking spot. Park in well-lit areas and consider investing in an alarm system or a strong lock for added security. It is also a good idea to keep your valuables hidden and out of sight.

Building Your Stealth Camper Van

When building your stealth camper van, remember that less is more. Avoid adding solar panels, bikes, or other accessories that will make your van stand out. Focus on functionality and practicality rather than aesthetics. If you plan to spend most of your time in cities, consider forgoing features like showers and fridges, as these can lead to excess moisture and condensation. A portable toilet and a cooler can be more practical options.

Characteristics Values
Vehicle type Standard white cargo vans, minivans, delivery vans, small cars
Vehicle colour White, neutral
Vehicle condition Clean, no decals, no rust
Vehicle features No windows, no external hatches or doors, low-profile solar panels
Ventilation Roof vent, fan
Electrical needs 110V AC power, 12V DC sockets, extra batteries, inverter, solar power

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Choose a stealth van

Choosing a stealth van is the first step in your journey towards van life. There are many types and models of vehicles out there, and the best one for your tiny home on wheels depends on your needs and wants. Some vans are better for extra space, some are better for stealth camping, and some are better for keeping your van conversion costs low.

If you want to do a lot of city camping, a cargo van is your best option. There are so many of them on the road that people just don’t notice them, and they have a lot of floor space to play around with your perfect layout.

Within the cargo van category, there are different types and brands. These can be broadly broken down into “modern vans” and “old school vans.”

Modern Vans (Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, Dodge Ram Promaster, Nissan NV, etc)

Modern vans are especially known for their interior height, long wheelbase, and boxier shape – making them ideal for building out a spacious, functional tiny home on wheels. This category includes Mercedes Sprinters & Dodge Sprinters, Ford Transits, Dodge Promasters, and Nissan NV-series vans.

If you want the ultimate vehicle to customize for your DIY van conversion, this is the van for you. They have enough headroom even for tall people to stand up, and enough interior space to design any kind of layout. And if you’ll be off-roading, the Mercedes Sprinter comes in a 4x4 version and the Ford Transit offers All Wheel Drive.

However, modern vans are a lot more expensive than other options. For the Mercedes Sprinter, parts are more expensive and it may be difficult to find mechanics that have experience working on them (this is less of an issue with Ford Transits and Ram Promasters). And, since these are complex computerized vehicles, they don’t lend quite as well to tinkering as something classic like a VW Vanagon or old Ford Econoline.

There are some variances in the features and reliability of different model years, and differences between the Sprinter van, Ford Transit, Dodge Promaster, and Nissan NV (now discontinued, but still available on the used van market).

Depending on your wants and needs, one type of van might be better for you than the others. In our opinion, the Ford Transit offers the best blend of features, cost, repairability, and size among new vans. A new Ford Transit is significantly cheaper than a new Sprinter, parts and mechanics are commonplace, it has available AWD, and it comes in multiple roof heights and wheelbases. However, if you’re shopping for a used van, it’s much easier to find an affordable older Sprinter since they’ve been around the longest.

Note: Many of these vans are also available in smaller versions. The Ford Transit Connect, Ram Promaster City, Nissan NV200, and Mercedes Metris are all smaller cargo vans that offer similar benefits to their bigger siblings, get better gas mileage, are more affordable, and fit into a standard parking space. However, the footprint is smaller so there’s less space to work with when planning your camper van conversion.

If you have the money to spend on a modern van, there are few better van life vehicles out there. There’s really nothing else that competes in terms of flexibility and space for a dream van buildout. But if you’re on a budget, there are other options that work well and cost less.

Old School Vans (Chevy Express, GMC Savanna, Ford Econoline, Dodge Ram Van, etc)

The quintessential “creepy white van” van, these are super common, dead-on reliable, more affordable than modern vans, and are an excellent choice for living in. This category includes the Chevy Express/GMC Savanna, Ford Econoline, Dodge Ram Van, and the old Chevy G-Series vans.

Old school vans are ubiquitous and their base designs have barely changed for decades. That means they’re overall reliable, parts are common, and mechanics know how to work on them. They’re also generally good, flexible vans – nothing fancy, but they offer a perfect blank canvas for your own custom van build.

People tend to buy old school cargo vans for work and hold on to them for years, so many vans on the market can be pretty beat up. Although you can find inexpensive cargo vans in good condition, it can be tough to find anything with lower mileage – so be prepared for all that comes with owning a higher mileage vehicle.

A cargo van also doesn’t offer much headroom. There’s no way even shorter people will be able to stand in one, and the lack of headroom also cuts down on storage space (however, you can always add a custom high top if you have the budget). If you don’t plan on stealth camping and you value headroom, there may be better choices.

There are a few different types of old school vans out there. From GM, there’s the Chevy Express / GMC Savanna, as well as the older Chevy Van G-Series and GMC Vandura. From Ford, there’s the E-Series (now discontinued), as well as the older Econoline. From Dodge, there’s the old Dodge Ram Van.

The “Ford vs Chevy” debate is alive and well in the van world, and there’s no clear answer here. Our mechanic friends like the long-standing reliability of the Chevy 5.7L V8 engine and the newer 5.3L and 6.0L LS variants. Ford has gone through more engines with more issues in the same time span, but there are some gems and they tend to have better quality trim than Chevy vans. But as long as you find a solid vehicle that’s been well-cared-for, the brand doesn’t matter as much.

High-Top Conversion Vans

Our first van was a conversion van. A conversion van is a full-sized passenger van (Chevy Express/GMC Savana, Ford Econoline, Dodge Ram Van, etc.) that has been converted into a comfortable traveling vehicle, or even a wheelchair lift van.

Conversion vans have some pretty sweet built-in amenities, including high-tops for extra headroom. Many have comfy captain chairs, leather seats, mood lighting, TV/VCR, and a rear bench seat that folds down into a bed. If you’re not picky about your living situation, this could be all you need to get started. And if you gut it and customize it yourself, the high top offers tons of great overhead storage options.

You can often find these vans for cheaper than other vans. Most conversion van owners don’t use them as their daily driver, so you may be able to save money on an older lower-mileage vehicles in good condition. However, conversion van prices have been on the rise due to the growing popularity of van life.

Conversion vans are awesome, but there are some downsides. If you want to customize the interior you’ll have to completely gut the entire thing, which can be a lot of extra work. The weird shape and fiberglass construction of most high tops also make it more difficult to install solar panels, a ceiling, or anything else on the roof. The typical conversion van is also older, so you’ll have to deal with the mechanical hassles of driving an older vehicle.

Still, with the high top and low cost of conversion vans, they offer a great combination of affordability, versatility, and space compared to many other van life vehicle options.

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Keep your van clean

Keeping your van clean is an important part of stealth camper van life. Here are some tips to help you keep your van clean:

  • Regularly sweep out floor dirt. Every time you step into your camper, you bring dirt inside. Take a few moments, multiple times each day, to sweep out all the dirt and dust that accumulates on the ground.
  • Clean and wipe down the sink. If you cook often, your sink will get grimy over time. Wash down and wipe the sink interior daily.
  • Wash bedding and rugs regularly. Dust accumulates on your bedding and rugs, which can irritate your throat and lungs. Wash your bedding and rugs at least once a week.
  • Clean out the fridge or ice cooler weekly. The bottom of a fridge can get wet and grimy, especially in warmer and more humid environments. Clean out the grime at the bottom of your fridge once a week.
  • Keep the vent fan on 24/7. A vent fan expels dust and improves internal air quality.
  • Get a welcome mat. Keeping a fibrous mat by the entrance helps trap any dirt from shoes before they enter.
  • No shoes inside. Leave your shoes on the welcome mat and never wear them inside.
  • No food scraps down the sink. Wipe all plates and cookware before washing them in the sink. Removing food scraps keeps pipes and grey water tanks cleaner and reduces grime.
  • Monitor mould and mildew. Mould and mildew are common, especially if you spend a lot of time in cold temperatures with the heating on. The main reason for mould and mildew is poor airflow. The first line of defence is damp-proof paint on any wooden surfaces.
  • Regularly empty your grey and black water tanks. The grey and black tanks (the black one is linked to your toilet) need to be emptied and cleaned regularly to prevent smells from building up in a small space.
  • Wipe down your solar panels and roof. From time to time, you will want to climb up onto the roof and clean down your solar panels. You can just clean them down with a car sponge and a bucket of water, then use a soft squeegee to dry off and keep a streak-free shine.
  • Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! The first step in cleaning out your camper van should be to vacuum it out. Vacuum everything – the walls, the ceiling, inside the storage compartments, under the seats, everywhere!
  • Harness the power of the sun. Since you will be pulling everything out to vacuum, lay everything in the sun. This is especially good for big items like mattresses that you might not be able to easily replace.
  • Use a DIY cleaning solution. Similar to a DIY floor cleaner, all you need is water and laundry detergent. In a small container of hot water, add a teaspoon of laundry detergent. Using a microfiber cloth, get your rag wet and then apply the cleaning solution to your camper van's walls, ceiling, and hard surfaces.
  • Buy a small cordless vacuum for all the pesky corners. Sweeping is great, but it's hard to get your brush into all the little nooks and crannies in your van. Grab a small cordless vacuum that you can charge up on sunny days and give your camper a weekly clean to keep on top of it.

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Arrive late and leave early

When stealth camping, it is important to arrive late and leave early. This is the cardinal rule of stealth camping. By arriving late and leaving early, you can avoid the times that people are most active. Plus, the less time you spend in your stealth camping spot, the less likely you are to get discovered.

In addition, it is recommended to change your location every night and not to spend multiple days in a single stealth camping spot. This will help you to avoid raising any suspicion.

It is also important to keep things quiet and keep movement to a minimum. If people hear loud noises from your van or see it rocking with movement, they will know it is actually a camper van.

Finally, be aware of the area you are parked in. Make sure you are not blocking traffic or any driveways, and know the way out in case you have to leave in a hurry.

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Rotate parking spots

One of the biggest concerns for those considering the van life is how to keep their vehicle and themselves safe and secure during their travels. The biggest piece of advice is to embrace the “stealth” van life. This is the practice of making it appear as if you don’t live in your van and your vehicle is just like any other vehicle on the road. This will give you the flexibility of staying out in nature when you want, but more importantly, living in urban areas with ease and without hassle.

The key to stealth camping is to never park in the same spot two days in a row. If you’re in an area for an extended amount of time, find several legal overnight parking spots and rotate between them every night. It’s also recommended to have a selection of “night” spots that are used only for sleeping and several “day” spots that you leave your van at during the day.

When it comes to the actual act of sleeping, it’ll take time to adjust to the noise. Being parked and sleeping in the city brings you a lot closer to the urban noises of the concrete jungle. Eventually, you’ll learn to tune it all out. For very light sleepers, there’s always earplugs.

In the city, the best place to park overnight is anywhere where cars are normally left overnight or where it’s not uncommon for people to arrive and leave throughout the night. Places like hotel parking lots, 24-hour grocery stores, rest stops, and even Walmart. However, in most cities, it’s totally fine (and advised) to park on the street where most local residents park their cars. As long as you obey local parking signs and laws, you won’t have a problem.

One of the best free camp spots on the West Coast is hidden away in the mountains in Big Sur. Did I mention it was free? The van easily blends into the normal everyday cars parked on a city street. Even more effective if you can find a street with another cargo van parked on it.

If you follow the above advice, you won’t have to experience police or security knocking on your door in the middle of the night. However, some people, regardless of how careful they are, have gotten a knock on their door from cops or private security. What to do next is a somewhat controversial and divided subject. Some believe that if you have been discreet, are positive you are parked legally, and the person knocking on your door is unsure if someone is inside, it’s best to stay quiet, ignore the knocking, and move your van once they leave.

However, if you’re unsure about being legally parked, or the police have noticed you living in your vehicle, it’s best to turn on your lights and talk with them. And yes, you do have inherent rights on US soil to what questions you need to answer and what police can search, but overall, it’s better and less aggressive to be honest, open, and cooperative with them.

I’d tell them I’m traveling and just passing through the area. Most of the time, they’ll tell you you can’t park in your current spot for any number of reasons (a sign you didn’t see or it being private property, etc.) and they’ll ask you to move. To this, I would then ask them where might be a good place to park and then I’d move my van there. End of interaction. I have heard on rare, rare occasions of someone being fined and ticketed for improper parking or living in your van (if it’s illegal in the area), but these are extremely rare and something I’ve never experienced personally. Be safe, be nice, and know your rights.

A visit from the cops at night is definitely an experience you want to avoid.

Most van dwellers’ worst nightmare is about someone breaking into their van. Not only would they be breaking into a vehicle, but they would be breaking into a home. An incredibly invasive experience I’m sure. To prevent this, it’s incredibly important to lock your van if you step out, even for just a minute. You can get much more involved with your vehicle’s security if that’s something you feel is important or desired. Things like advanced alarm systems, door deadbolts, caged dividers, padlocked door locks, or even GPS systems. For those with especially precious materials with them (laptops, passports, hard drives, camera gear), I’ve heard of folks securing a safe to their van’s floor. Just a thought.

For those leaving their van for extended amounts of time (i.e. international travel), find a place that allows long-term parking that has some sort of night security, cameras, a gate, etc. You may have to pay for this. This will ensure your home on wheels is safe and secure while you’re gone.

Locking your doors whenever you leave the van is an easy habit to practice. Just make sure not to lock your keys in your car. That’s happened to me a couple of times.

To protect themselves from a would-be burglar, some van dwellers feel the need to have some sort of “personal security” item with them in their van. Something like a bat, a taser, or mace. I don’t carry any of those things with me because I feel like I’m smart enough about where and how I park to avoid an interaction with someone looking to steal things. However, in the extremely rare case that you hear someone starting to tinker with your doors or windows (the sounds of a would-be burglar), the best thing to do is to let it be known that someone is in the vehicle. Yell, bang on the walls, or remotely start your car alarm.

99% of folks breaking into cars just want to break in, steal something, and get out quickly without anybody noticing them. If they know someone is in the vehicle, it’ll scare them and most likely get them to run off. I would then recommend moving your vehicle immediately after.

Like I said, to get a knock on your door from the police is rare. To get someone to break into your vehicle (especially when you’re inside) is nearly impossible if you use your common sense.

This is my personal security. A thug of a bodyguard named Frank. Don’t mess with him. He’s a real prick.

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Find a good stealth camping location

Stealth camping is all about finding a place to park your van for the night without drawing attention to yourself. This is especially important if you are planning to park in urban locations, where you will want to avoid causing a stir.

  • Arrive late and leave early: Try to arrive at your chosen location just before bedtime and leave early in the morning. This will help you avoid attracting attention from locals or law enforcement.
  • Rotate parking spots frequently: Avoid parking in the same location two nights in a row. If you are stealth camping in the same city for an extended period, try to find 7-10 different locations and rotate through them. Once you are asked to move on from a spot, do not return.
  • Park in well-lit areas: Parking in well-lit areas will make it easier for you to spot suspicious activity and deter potential criminals. It also helps CCTV cameras to pick up a physical description of any perpetrators.
  • Avoid nice neighbourhoods and gated communities: Try to park on side roads or streets with other cars parked overnight. Avoid parking directly in front of someone's house.
  • Use apps and websites: There are several apps and websites that can help you find free or low-cost places to park your van for the night, such as AllStays Camp & RV, BoondockersWelcome.com, and iOverlander.
  • Ask for permission: If you are unsure about whether it is legal to park in a particular location, it is always best to ask for permission first. This could be as simple as going into a store and asking the manager if it is OK to spend the night.
  • Be aware of local laws: Before parking overnight, make sure you are not breaking any local laws or ordinances. For example, in California, it is illegal to sleep in your car within 500 feet of a public beach or campground.
  • Be considerate: Remember to be respectful of your fellow van lifers and travellers, and always leave your campsite cleaner than you found it!

Frequently asked questions

A stealth camper van is a vehicle that has been converted into a living space, but does not look like it from the outside. It is designed to be inconspicuous and blend in with its surroundings, whether that be in a city or out in nature.

Good vehicles to use as a base for a stealth camper van include standard white cargo vans, minivans, and conversion vans. Delivery vans and box trucks can also work well, especially in industrial areas.

Some tips for stealth camping include keeping your vehicle clean, arriving late and leaving early, rotating parking spots frequently, and being aware of your surroundings. It is also important to follow local laws and be respectful of others.

When building a stealth camper van, it is important to blend in and not draw attention to yourself. This means avoiding bright colors, large signage, and anything else that will make your vehicle stand out. It is also important to consider your electrical needs, ventilation, and insulation.

Some safety tips for stealth camping include being aware of your surroundings, parking in well-lit areas, and keeping your doors locked. It is also important to have a plan for dealing with knocks in the middle of the night and to know how to defend yourself if needed.

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