Class B Camper Van Costs: What You’ll Really Spend Beyond the Sticker Price

As the title aptly suggests, Class B campervan costs go well beyond the sticker price, often surprising those who are unprepared. Sticker shock shouldn’t be a “shock,” per se, to those looking for a new or used campervan.

It’s those hidden prices—the ones that some don’t consider in the long run. They add up, and they do so in a hurry. It’s kinda like owning a chlorine swimming pool. At first, it seems like a fantastic idea. The kids will love it! Then it turns green for the first time, and you realize just how expensive pool chemicals are.

A campervan is a lot more complicated than a swimming pool, and there is much to consider if you’re in the market for one. Let’s kick things off with the initial price and work our way through the more complex costs from there.

Initial Purchase Price

The average brand-new camper van costs range from $60,000 to $380,000. That’s a huge disparity and depends on brand, model, selected options, location of purchase, and so much more. The average cost for a used version also comes with a wide disparity—$10,000 to $260,000.

Used campervan values take into account age, condition, mileage, specific upgrades, customizations, and more. Now, this is just a general guideline, of course. The focus here is more on hidden costs than purchase prices. However, it’s still a good idea to establish a sort of baseline (as much as possible with that degree of disparity) before proceeding.

If you already have your eyes on one, that’s your baseline. From here, you can calculate the average yearly cost of owning it, depending on how much you intend to use it and how often it will sit silently parked in your garage. Since you have to have insurance on it before you can drive it off the buyer’s lot, that seems like a safe place to start.

Insurance Costs for Campervans

Navigating the complexity of insurance is certainly not the most exciting topic.

“We’ve used Progressive for several years. Affordable coverage but you may need to compromise on repair shops.”

–raeburn2000, -iRV2 Forums

However, a basic understanding of yearly insurance costs is essential, especially if you’re trying to build a cost/spending profile to refer to throughout your future adventures. Unlike automobiles, carriers view the “usage” of campervans differently.

Cars and trucks are straightforward, but campervan usage includes full-time vs seasonal, depreciated values (more drastic than automobiles), size, complexity, the potential for more repairs, separate deductibles for different types of RV coverage, potential for additional endorsements, and potential regulatory considerations.

Your age, location, and overall driving record matter as well.

• Liability: Bodily injury and property damage you might cause to others (size and potential to damage is greater than that of automobiles).
• Comprehensive: Non-collision events like theft, vandalism, natural disasters, etc.
• Collision: Damage to your campervan from accidents, regardless of fault.
• Specific RV Coverages: Personal belongings within, emergency expenses, awnings, and other attachments, etc.

With all of that being said, the RV insurance range, specifically for campervans, is between $400 and $1,200 per year. How high it will be is an estimate dominated by usage, with the remaining factors relegated to secondary consideration. More use = more risk, and insurance companies are nothing if not gamblers on probability factors.

Maintenance

Maintenance is one of the largest, if not the largest, “potential” factors in terms of Class B campervan costs. Using the word “potential” is appropriate since preventative maintenance and a proactive preventative approach help mitigate this “potential.”

Things get even more complex when we pair “maintenance” with DIY renovation projects, at least in the short term. Throw in “usage,” and the disparity between the average low-end and the average high-end becomes an immeasurable gulf.

Generally speaking, a Class B Campervan’s average annual maintenance costs are between $500 and $1,000 per year. This includes essential maintenance, such as oil changes, brake pads, alignments, tires, cleaning/polishing/waxing, etc.

• Lifetime Costs: On average, the lifetime maintenance cost (20 years) is $15,000 if you go with a middle-ground number from the annual maintenance average.
• Potential Major Repairs: This only counts insofar as poor maintenance or lack thereof is a factor.
• Savings: On average, Campervans cost 4 times less in terms of repairs versus Class A and Class C alternatives.

Class B campervan costs are significantly less than Class A and Class C motorhomes, thanks to the smaller size and lesser degree of complexity. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice much in the way of creature comforts other than space to move around in.

Fuel Efficiency

For obvious reasons, the fuel efficiency of a campervan is much better than a Class C or Class A. Fuel costs can be really high or nearly negligible depending on how much you use it.

“Like others, we chose the size and features we wanted. 17-18 MPG was just a nice bonus.”

–magicbus, -iRV2 Forums

You may be a full-time RVer or you may just want a romantic getaway mini-home for couples, only heading out on the occasional weekend. With that being said, let’s make a few assumptions based on averages to calculate a number.

• Estimated Fuel Efficiency: On average, campervans get 12 to 20 mpg. Let’s go with 15 mpg to estimate our fuel efficiency.
• Usage: For full-time RVers, 10,000 miles per year is a decent average, which will consume roughly 667 gallons.
• Cost: Let’s go with an average price of $4 per gallon (honestly, they’re all over the place, depending on where you live or travel to), which results in an annual fuel cost of $2,668.

Tips for Reducing Fuel Costs

Now that you know a decent average fuel cost per year, there are ways to work that cost down a little bit, and they don’t involve testing the chassis and tires out by doing donuts in the Publix parking lot.

• Lighten the Load: If you don’t need it, don’t bring it. The lighter the van, the higher the fuel efficiency.
• Aerodynamic Improvement: Consider removing external accessories you don’t need or use (awnings, bike racks, etc.). This will reduce drag and improve your overall fuel costs.
• Speed: You’re not in a Maserati (though that would be nice in its own way). Once you exceed 60 mph, fuel efficiency drops significantly.
• Tire Maintenance: Underinflated tires place more rubber on the asphalt. More rubber on the asphalt = more drag. More drag = lower fuel efficiency.
• Route Planning: Unless you just enjoy living life in a complete sphere of randomness, plot out your routes each day. The shortest path between point A and point B is a straight line.
• Driving Habits: As appealing as John Wick’s driving habits may be, let go of that instinct and use cruise control on the highways and accelerate slower.
• Regular Maintenance: Class B campervan costs are significantly lower when you stay on top of the maintenance.
• Consider Hybrids or Diesel: While you’re still in the purchase phase, remember that diesel engines and hybrids typically get a whole lot more mileage for the buck.
• Aerodynamic Add-Ons: Some RVers use aerodynamic fairings or wind deflectors to reduce air resistance, especially on the roof. It’s just a thought.

As you can see, the numbers are all over the place, depending on how you drive, your overall maintenance, and how often you hit the road. This is one of those cost factors that you have a lot of power over.

Depreciation

This is a cost factor that no one likes to think about. Unfortunately, the moment you drive the campervan off the lot, it’s dropping value like Clumsy McDropalot (yeah, it was a bit corny…sorry…not really). The good news is that the most significant percentage of depreciation occurs in the first year.

This drop is roughly 20 to 21% of the original cost. Of the three, Class A, Class C, and Class B, the campervan (Class B) sits in the middle, depreciating less than a Class A but more than a Class C.

A Class B campervan will depreciate roughly 37% in 5 years. Interestingly, Class Bs are not always included with Class A and Class C motorhomes, at least in terms of depreciation. This is probably because they could technically fall into different classes of transport-vehicle.

Since Class B campervan costs are usually premium (these are typically luxury campers), the level of depreciation is more intense. As with fuel costs, however, you can minimize the degree of depreciation. Proper, year-round care, routine maintenance, routine inspections, and thoughtful/premium upgrades will slow the decline.

Storage

This is another cost factor that is heavily influenced by the consumer and the consumer’s needs. For instance, you’ll save a lot of money if you own a campervan and don’t mind storing it on your property when not in use.

If not, the costs climb, depending on the storage solution. Location, amenities, size of the campervan, and contract length all share an impact on the overall cost. In general, using a storage facility will cost anywhere between $350 and $5,400 per year.

Indoor storage typically features climate controls and other amenities throughout the storage timeframe, making it the most expensive option. Depending on location and amenities, indoor storage costs range from $1,800 to $5,400 per year.

Outdoor storage is usually the cheaper option, though security is not as robust as an indoor option. Going with an outdoor storage solution will cost anywhere between $350 and $2,000 per year. Again, the amenities determine the overall costs.

The size of the campervan and the contract length also share an impact, so consider those as well.

Modifications

When considering all Class B campervan costs, this category is the one where you, the consumer and owner, exercise the most absolute control. It all depends on what you want and how far you want to go with it. With that being said, here are some basic modifications campervan owners choose:

• Basic Solar Setup: For burgeoning boondockers and off-grid thrill-seekers, a basic solar setup will run between $500 and $1,000.
• Mid-Range Solar Setup: $1,500 to $3,000
• Kitchen Upgrades: $400 to $3,000, including sinks, fridges, permanent stove installation, improved water systems, advanced storage solutions, etc.
• Seating: Custom seating, such as swivel seats, benches, a modular approach, new designs, upholstery, etc., can cost between $200 and $4,000.

“Sounds like you’ve turned your RV into quite a retreat! I love architecture and design. I love seeing how people use space. Something as small as replacing the hardware on cabinets and drawers can completely change how that space feels. Thanks for sharing this.”

–Jack Parker, -iRV2 Forums

That’s just a few examples, but it can go well beyond that. If most of this is a DIY thing, you’ll save quite a bit, though you’ll still absorb the costs of the tools and appliances. You can always hire a professional to do the work, but now we’re talking thousands of dollars, even on the low end. This is especially true with anything plumbing or electrical.

Hidden Costs

Considering the wide range of costs above, it’s not easy to peg an exact estimate. We can only deal in averages that include a low and a high—sometimes a middle ground. Here, things get even murkier, especially for the non-discerning buyer who has no experience with RVs.

• Specialized Repairs: We’re talking weird stuff, like the passive anti-theft system no longer communicating with the PCM (powertrain control module).
• Winterization: If you don’t own a four-season (all-season) campervan, you typically have to store it throughout the winter. Whether that’s in your garage or at a facility matters not in terms of winterization. This is a preparation process, preparing the campervan for cold weather with preventative maintenance procedures.
• Campground Fees: The beauty of campervans is their mobility and versatility. However, using campervans instead of boondocking adds up throughout the year.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Being on the move requires new methods for establishing internet connectivity and communication. This might include HAM Radios, CBs, mobile internet plans, navigational devices, cell carrier plans, etc.
• Off-Grid Living: If you prefer to eschew campgrounds and go off-grid, that comes with its own short-term costs—batteries, generators, solar panels, portable windmills, propane, and more.

It’s difficult to peg an exact number or even throw averages out there when including the hidden prices under the umbrella of Class B campervan costs. It really depends on what you need. Plus, there’s more to it than just the above list. This is why you must do your due diligence and heavily research campervan uses that you are interested in.

Budget Planning

So, with all of the Class B campervan costs and hidden costs to consider, how in the world can anyone budget for all of this? Well, it’s a matter of writing down one thing at a time and keeping track of each. Fortunately, there are apps for doing just that. Even a basic notes or calendar app can be helpful.

Whichever way you choose to do your budgeting, here is a list of all the things you should include to get the best out of your budget planning and tracking:

• Initial Cost and Depreciation: Understand that your new campervan will depreciate significantly in the first year. If depreciation is a concern, consider purchasing a used campervan.
• Estimate: Consider annual maintenance, fuel, and storage when estimating your annual budget.
• Modifications and Upgrades: Everything you can handle as a DIY project, do so. Heavily research professional services and conduct your price comparison to get the best value for your decisions.
• Emergency Fund: Buffer for unforeseen costs, roughly 10 to 20% of the total annual budget.
• Cash Flow Management: Spread costs out over time and within reason.
• Savings for Future Upgrades: Set aside a savings fund for future upgrades and remain disciplined with it.
• Review Your Budget Regularly: Come up with a routine to go over your expenses, adjusting as necessary.
• App Alerts: Set up app alerts to notify you when specific maintenance routines arrive and to flag you when approaching your set budget.
• Manually Enter Everything: Whether you write it down or enter it on an app, manually recording and calculating everything will keep you intimately involved with your finances.

There are also several apps you can use to help you keep track of your budget, maintenance, and habits. Mint, YNAB, PocketGuard, Monarch Money, Tiller Money, Expensify, Good Budget, TravelSpend, or Trail Wallet are all solid options, depending on your specific needs.

Conclusion

Well, that was a long one, but hopefully, you get the gist of Class B campervan costs. For the newbies out there, a lot of this is probably very new. Don’t let it intimidate you. With a proper budget, an understanding of how often you plan to use it, where you plan to travel, and what add-ons you want to incorporate will help you take things one step at a time.

Ultimately, campervans provide a degree of freedom and flexibility that other RVs can’t match. As with everything, there are costs, but whether or not it’s worth the hidden costs and the overall budget is entirely up to you. One way or the other, owning a campervan is certainly an adventure.