Try Before You Buy: Why You Should Rent a Campervan Before Going Full-Time

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Updated: April 3, 2026

Van life looks incredible on Instagram. And the dream is real — I'm living it. But before you sell your house, buy a $40,000 rig, and load everything you own into a minivan, let's talk about one question worth answering first:

Do you actually like sleeping in a parking lot?

Van life is a major lifestyle change. It's not just sunsets and scenic drives. It's finding somewhere to park at 11 PM, dealing with condensation, figuring out where to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, and living in a metal box that vibrates down the highway. It's genuinely wonderful — and it's genuinely not for everyone.

That's why I always recommend the try before you buy approach. Renting a campervan for a week is the best insurance policy you can buy before committing to the lifestyle.

I recorded a video walking through my experience with one specific rental company — it's a good companion to this post if you want to see what the rental process actually looks like.

Watch: Is Van Life for You? Try Before You Buy with Avanti Minivan Campervan! →

What a Rental Actually Tests

A week in a rented campervan answers questions you cannot answer any other way.

Can you handle the size? There's a real difference between thinking you can live in a minivan and actually doing it. You might discover you need more headroom, more storage, or a different layout than you imagined. Better to find that out before you build.

Can you sleep? Some people settle into van sleeping immediately. Others lie awake at every noise for the first three nights. Knowing which one you are before you commit to full-time living is genuinely useful information.

Can you drive it comfortably? A fully loaded van handles differently than an empty one. If you're considering a larger rig, a rental gives you a low-stakes opportunity to find out if you're comfortable behind the wheel.

Where to Rent

Outdoorsy is essentially the Airbnb of campervans — a peer-to-peer rental platform where you can find everything from a converted minivan to a full-size RV from private owners. It's a good starting point for seeing what's available in your area and price range.

A Specific Option for Minivan Life: Avanti Campervans

If you're specifically curious about minivan life — which is what I live — I vetted Avanti Campervans and went through their full rental pickup process to see how beginner-friendly it actually is.

The short answer: very. The process is seamless and contactless. You pick up at a convenient location, get a code for the keybox on the window, and you're ready to roll. No long counter wait, no complicated handoff. Their vans are fully road-ready and give you a realistic experience of what living in a Sienna or Odyssey actually feels like — without having to build anything yourself.

From Renting to Owning

If you rent and decide this is absolutely the life for you — congratulations. Now you can build with confidence, knowing exactly what worked and what you'd want to change.

When you're ready to build your own, the Roadloft removable non-permanent conversion kit is what I use and recommend. It turns a minivan into a fully functional camper with no carpentry skills and no permanent modifications to your vehicle. Use code RLVLS at checkout for nearly $100 of free accessories. Check out Roadloft Conversion Kits →

The Two-Step Approach

Don't guess with your life savings. Rent first — spend a few hundred dollars to test the lifestyle. Build second — once you're certain, invest in a setup that will actually serve you.

That's how you start van life smart, safe, and on budget.