A four-wheel camper offers a completely different way of life on the road. Whilst you'd be surprised by what a two-wheel drive camper can do, in a truly off-road van you can go anywhere. If you're an outdoor enthusiast wanting to explore without limits, a four-wheel camper is the only way to go. However, there are added complications when buying and owning one. The range of options is very different to traditional campers, with a different set of key features. They're also significantly more expensive. Do you need one, and what format is best? This article looks in detail at the world of offroad campers. We'll talk about what they can do over conventional campers and the different types on the market. We'll also look at costs and give tips for choosing and buying one that matches your ambitions.
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Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He has authored Roaming Home, and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.
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Why Choose a Four-Wheel Camper?
The allure of a four-wheel drive camper van is the greater freedom, adventure, and closeness to nature it affords. A 'go anywhere' vehicle allows you to drive on rough dirt tracks and offroad terrain, getting further away from the crowds and more into nature. Four-wheel drive also handles difficult surfaces like snow, mud, and sand with ease. This is a game changer in places with a lot of undeveloped open space, like North America, Australia, and New Zealand. A rugged four-wheel drive camper van allows you to see more of the country's natural landscape, bringing your base of operations to places unreachable in a normal van. Further, in countries with undeveloped infrastructure, an off-road van is almost mandatory for seeing the best the country has to offer. In rural areas in Central Asia and South America, locals have four-wheel drive vehicles just to get around. It's easy to rent 4x4 vehicles in such countries, but this gets expensive quickly. 4x4 taxi services are often well-established, but you're on your own once they've dropped you off. With your own four-wheel drive camper van, you retain your independence.
In short, if you're an outdoor enthusiast in a country with a lot of open land that isn't tamed by paved roads, a four-wheel drive camper enhances your experience. You'll be more able to access the landscape, get away from other people, and pursue your chosen activities with more freedom.
Types of Four-Wheel Campers
The main division among four-wheel drive camper vans is between those based on 4x4 cars or pickups and fully integrated 4x4 motorhomes and RVs.
Truck Bed Campers
A truck bed camper is a self-contained unit that mounts to the bed or rear chassis of a pickup truck. Four Wheel Campers make a wide selection of these, and their models are typical of the format. Some truck bed campers are removable, meaning your truck retains its functionality. Pickup trucks are some of the most capable 4x4 vehicles around, with many models renowned for their toughness and ease of repair. Such a base vehicle serves very well for offroad caravanning. They also have the advantage of being comparatively light and compact, driving like a car. This makes them less unwieldy on rough terrain. They'll sink less into soft ground, escape getting caught on trees and overhanging terrain, and turn in a tighter circle.
The downside to these setups is size. The interiors are compact and better suited for discrete trips rather than long-term living. If you have lots of gear or are travelling with company, you'll likely find a truckbed camper poky after a while. Some solo travellers, however, may find them suitable. If you live simply and don't have a lot of bulky gear, there's no reason you couldn't get used to the size.
Choice is another limitation with truckbed campers, as they're custom-built units made in relatively small numbers. There's not a huge range of manufacturers, meaning the variety of configurations and styles isn't huge. In general, the design aesthetic is quite spartan. If this style isn't your thing, you might not find much in the way of choice available.
Converted 4x4 Cars
In this class, it's also worth mentioning campers based on 4x4 cars like Land Rovers, Jeeps, and Toyota Land Cruisers. These vehicles have the same advantages as pickup trucks, being car-sized, tough, and very offroad-capable. Additionally, this kind of conversion can be much more bespoke than a ready-made truckbed camper. The downside, of course, is that you have to do it yourself or pay for a custom conversion.
4x4 Campervans
On the other side of the four-wheel drive camper van spectrum are those built from 4x4 panel vans. Most panel van manufacturers produce four-wheel drive versions of their vans (think Sprinters, Crafters, Transits, Promasters etc.) You can either buy an offroad motorhome built by a 3rd party manufacturer or buy a 4x4 van and convert it yourself. A vehicle of this size is much better suited to long-term living, whether you're alone or with a partner. There's plenty of space for storing even very bulky gear like mountain bikes and surfboards. The space inside and out allows you to install a much higher-spec electrical system, and you'll have room for a wider range of spacious interior configurations.
The size of a 4x4 panel van is also its downside, however. They're much heavier, bulkier vehicles. Their weight can make off-roading in soft terrain an issue even with four-wheel drive. A van is also more ungainly, running a greater risk of getting caught on trees and overhanging terrain, and possibly even tipping over on very uneven ground. Vans in general are large vehicles and drive like large vehicles, meaning they're slower, harder to park, and less fuel-efficient. Weighing interior space against vehicle size is always an important consideration when choosing a base vehicle. Our comprehensive article on choosing a van goes into much more detail on how to make the decision.
Third-party 4x4 Motorhomes
Many third-party manufacturers build 4x4 campervans, just as they produce conventional motorhomes built on panel van bases. Hymer are a well-known manufacturer of both conventional and 4x4 motorhomes. Manufacturers will make these to a variety of preset specifications or else completely custom. Either way, a third-party four-wheel drive camper will include specific details and four-wheel camper accessories, like ladders, roof racks, rugged awnings, floodlights, exhaust snorkels, shovels, and traction boards. There's plenty of choice on the market in interior style and configuration, meaning you're likely to find something that suits you. The downside here is cost, with a third-party build incorporating a hefty premium for the labour and quality of the conversion.
Custom-built 4x4 Campervans
The alternative is to buy a 4x4 panel van and do the conversion yourself. You'll save a lot of money, and the result will be totally bespoke, exactly suiting your needs and tastes. This, of course, comes with all the drawbacks of building your own camper. It's a big project, which requires a lot of planning, a suitable workspace, tools, and knowledge. If you're ready to take the plunge, we have a comprehensive list of guide articles on everything from cabinet making to batteries and solar panels, to plumbing, water filters, and more.
Other 4x4 Vehicles
A final mention should be made to dedicated 4x4 vehicles bigger than cars, which range from comparatively conventional 4x4 minivans to esoteric overlanding beasts. Japanese 4x4 minivans like the Mitsubishi Delica, Toyota Hiace, and Hyundai Starex are very capable offroaders and are popular in developing countries with limited road infrastructure. These make a good base for a compact, mid-sized off-road van which drives more like a car than a panel van. They're not as easy to find and repair but are more ubiquitous than other larger dedicated offroaders.
Beyond this is the huge range of ex-military and heavy-duty offroad trucks. The most common of these is perhaps the Mercedes Unimog, but the Hummer H1, Mercedes Zetros, Pinzgauer, Iveco Powerstar, MAN TGS, and Tatra 815 have all been converted into campers by ambitious, adventurous vanlifers. Actionmobil are one of the more well-known 3rd-party manufacturers, making expedition campers based on MAN and Unimog trucks. Meanwhile, in Central Asia and the ex-Soviet Union, there's a thriving market for Soviet ex-military trucks and vans like the GAZ-66, UAZ-452, and Ural-4320. These are about the most capable offroad vehicles in the world and make for formidable expedition campers. They're predictably harder to find, as well as expensive to buy and maintain.
A Note on Cost and the 4x4 Premium
It's important to appreciate the premium you pay for four-wheel drive. When buying a 4x4 car like a Land Rover or pickup, you can expect to pay £4,000 - £8,000 ($5,000 - $10,000) more than when buying a conventional small van like a Volkswagen Caddy or Transit Custom. Looking at 4x4 panel vans, the 4x4 version costs roughly £6,000 - £12,000 ($8,000 - $15,000) more than the two-wheel drive version. With third-party 4x4 motorhomes, the extra cost for four-wheel drive is about £8,000 - £16,000 ($10,000 - $20,000).
Looking at the cost of truckbed campers against 4x4 campervans, the price difference lies in the cost of the base vehicle. Converting a panel van to a camper costs about the same as buying a truckbed camper, although you can pay much more for high-spec third-party builds. However, a 4x4 pickup truck costs about £4,000 - £12,000 ($5000 - $15,000) less than a 4x4 panel van. Thus, choosing a truckbed camper will save you money over a converted 4x4 panel van.
Key Features to Consider in a Four-Wheel Camper
When choosing the base vehicle for your four-wheel drive camper, some of the decision matrix is the same as for choosing a normal van.
Size
You'll need to decide on the size you need, balancing bulkiness and fuel efficiency with interior space. Height and length are separate considerations, and factors like whether your bed is fold-out or fixed, the size of your kitchen, and gear storage are all determining factors. How many people will be living in your van? Do you need a full electrical system or a shower? These factors will determine the size of your base vehicle. For a more detailed look, check out our comprehensive guide.
Format
Having decided on the size of your vehicle, you'll need to decide on a model that works for you. Ruggedness and ease of repair are important here, as not all vehicles are equal. Japanese-made pickups are classically well-regarded as being tough and easy to repair almost anywhere in the world. Ford vehicles also have the advantage of being prevalent worldwide, meaning spare parts aren't hard to find. German-made panel vans are known for being more reliable than French marques and their sister brands like Opel, Vauxhall, and Fiat, but are more expensive to buy and maintain. Make sure you read reviews of any vehicle you like to get an idea of its reliability.
Offroad Capability
Offroad capability is the next question. Where will you be taking your camper, and how will you be using it? Will you be driving on dirt tracks and firm, flat ground, or will you be truly offroading on rough terrain, mud, snow, and sand? Pickups, Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, and Jeeps trump panel vans for offroad capability, whilst ex-military trucks come out on top of the pile.
Components and Accessories
Finally, it's worth considering the components and accessories you buy for your camper. Flexible solar panels are more rugged than rigid ones, meaning they can take more punishment from harsh weather and overhanging trees. An awning for a four wheel camper is better made from ripstop nylon or canvas than from more conventional materials. Some sealant materials are more vibration-resistant than others and can handle harsher weather. A water filter is worth considering depending on how far off the beaten track you'll be going. Do you need a ladder to access the roof? What about a spare wheel carrier? Finally, specific offroading accessories like folding shovels and traction mats are indispensable when traversing soft ground.
Do You Need a Four-Wheel Camper?
Why four-wheel drive? Four wheel drive campers are differentiated by three main factors: clearance, suspension, and the fact that all four wheels drive the vehicle. When driving offroad, clearance and suspension work together to soften the ride, prevent impacts with the terrain, and ensure all four wheels touch the ground. A conventional vehicle risks tipping over on rough terrain, losing traction with its driving wheels, and damaging the bodywork and chassis with impacts.
Four-wheel Drive vs. Two-wheel Drive
Four-wheel drive doubles the number of wheels which provide driving force and halves the load on each driving wheel. This improves traction and allows movement through soft and low-friction terrain. Further to this are locking differentials, where individual wheels are forced to rotate at the same speed. This means that wheels touching higher-traction surfaces receive all the power the engine can give them, helping the wheels on lower-traction surfaces get unstuck.
By contrast, two-wheel drive vehicles only have traction in the front or back wheels. This puts more strain on these wheels and increases the risk of slippage. A two-wheel drive vehicle's open differential varies the speed at which the wheels rotate depending on traction, giving more power to wheels experiencing less traction. This is good for turning on roads, but the exact opposite of what's needed to get through uneven terrain.
Making Two-wheel Drive Work
All of this is to say that four-wheel drive vehicles are most necessary for very uneven or soft terrain. You'd be surprised at what a two-wheel drive vehicle can do in less extreme offroad conditions. Dirt tracks or firm offroad ground are no problem for most two-wheel drive vehicles with sufficient ground clearance. Rougher sections of terrain, like ditches or boulders smaller than the width of the wheels, are navigable with thoughtful driving. Meanwhile, winter or all-season tyres do a lot to enable driving even in 20 or 30cm of snow.
The author lived in a front-wheel drive Iveco Daily in Turkey and Georgia for two years. The van had all-season tyres and a slightly higher ground clearance. We drove on bumpy dirt and gravel roads, rutted tracks, snow, high grass, and semi-desert scrubland. Slow, careful driving was necessary to overcome rougher sections and ditches, but we rarely felt limited by the van's capabilities. It was only ground that was very rough or ground that was both rough and steep that defeated us, along with deep mud, sand, and snow.
The key to making two-wheel drive work offroad is selecting a rear-wheel drive vehicle and putting more weight over the driving wheels. Good-quality all-season tyres make a huge difference, as does a shorter wheelbase. Finally, you would do well to visit a mechanic that can raise the vehicle's clearance and soften the suspension.
You should only consider the significant extra expense of a four-wheel camper if you'll regularly be encountering very rough ground and mud, sand, and snow. Destinations like Central Asia, South America, and Africa are prime four-wheel camper terrain. The same goes for exploring rugged terrain away from roads in countries with a lot of open land like the US, Canada, and Australia. Freely roaming around these places in your home on wheels isn't possible without a dedicated off-road van.
Checklist for Buying Your Four-Wheel Camper
Decide on your budget, noting that you'll pay a roughly £4,000 - £12,000 ($5,000 - $15,000) premium for four-wheel drive. Balancing the upfront cost with maintenance costs is an important consideration (more on this here).
Decide on your requirements, including:
Number of occupants
Length of trips
Amount of gear storage
Size of kitchen
Interior showers or toilets
Offroad capability
Decide on the format of your 4x4 setup:
Truck bed camper
4x4 car
4x4 motorhome
4x4 converted campervan
4x4 minibus
All-terrain truck
Find your vehicle through dealerships, online marketplaces, auctions, or vehicle brokers
See the vehicle in person and ask key questions about its service history and provenance (more on this here)
Organise an appointment with a mechanic, having them inspect the vehicle and do a professional checkup
The final checks before purchasing a vehicle are important and will save you money in the long run. Maintenance and repair costs can mount very quickly if you buy an unreliable vehicle. Remember that any seller who doesn't want to answer questions or cooperate with a mechanic is likely not worth dealing with.
Finding Community and Support for Your Four-Wheel Camper
Having purchased a four-wheel camper, it can be useful to join a community of like-minded campervan owners. Here you can find support for specific issues, tips for modifications and how to make the most of your camper, inspiration for overland itineraries, and meetups.
Forums like Expedition Portal, Overland Bound, and Adventure Rider are dedicated websites for the discussion of offroad campers and overlanding.
The r/Overlanding forum on Reddit hosts discussions, Q&A threads, and guides on the subject of four-wheel campers.
Facebook groups like Overlander Community and Overlanding Europe are good places to discuss the lifestyle as well as to find vehicles for sale. Special mention goes to Overlanding for the Poors and Overlanding for the Actual Poor, which focus on self-build budget offroad campers.
Final Thoughts
A four-wheel camper isn't for everyone. Whilst the idea is appealing, it's important to be realistic about the cost. The 4x4 premium is significant, and can only be justified if you'll be using your offroad camper in a way you couldn't use a conventional van. We would almost recommend buying a four-wheel camper only after you've used a conventional camper for some time and found yourself frustrated. After all, there are some things only a fully offroad vehicle can do. If you use your four-wheel camper to its full potential, you'll be rewarded with a unique, adventurous lifestyle, experiencing the natural world in a way most people can't.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion (we'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join).
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book Roaming Home, or in our online course The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed!
Until next time.
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