Camper Vans for Working Remotely
During the last few years, there’s been a lot of interest in what is now dubbed “Van Life”. Peruse the more than 9.3 million Instagram posts with #vanlife tagged on them or watch the thousands of videos that Van Life YouTubers post every month, and it’s easy to see why. It’s partly a nostalgic flashback to the 1960s and 1970s when a hippie-like lifestyle traveling and living in a Volkswagen Bus was all the rage. And it’s partly just a modern-day desire to have more work-life balance and freedom over one’s daily life.
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic only intensified people’s interest in being able to live…and work…anywhere they want to. So, for all the obvious reasons and more, you might be wanting to find just the right camper van, known in the RV industry as a Class B, so that you can start living and working remotely from anywhere across the U.S. With a camper van and mobile internet service, you can have a viable “office” and make a living from wherever you want to be.
What is a Class B Camper Van?
A Class B motorhome, or camper van as it is affectionately nicknamed, is an RV built from an automotive van or on an automotive van chassis. It’s the smallest of the three types (classes) of motorhomes. With a more compact size, camper vans can feel less intimidating and more comfortable than the larger motorhomes on the market. They’re perfect for single people, people traveling with pets or couples because they easily sleep 1 to 2 people, but some camper vans work well for small families or families with small kids, especially if the camper van comes with a pop-top option for an additional sleeping area on the roof. They’re easy to drive and maneuver into just about anywhere you can drive a car. And they generally get more affordable gas mileage compared to the bigger motorhomes.
Photography: @entegracoach
8 GREAT CLASS B CAMPER VANS FOR WORKING REMOTELY (in alphabetical order):
Entegra Coach – Ethos / Jayco – Swift – Click Here for Inventory
The Ethos is the first Class B motorhome from Entegra Coach. It features two very different floor plans that provide a camper van with a lot of flexibility. For working remotely, the 20T is a great choice with its flip-out table at the Passenger seat, providing a functional workspace for typing on a computer and writing. It has a rear wet bath, two twin beds, a galley kitchen, and plentiful overhead cabinet storage. Built on a Ram Promaster chassis, with a V6 gas engine, this RV is easy to drive and maneuver wherever you need to go. The Jayco Swift is a sister product to the Ethos.
Photography: @sanchezwong
Midwest Automotive Design – Passage – Click Here for Inventory
Luxury is top of mind in Midwest Automotive Design Passage Sprinter RV. Built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, with a diesel engine and a host of safety features, the Passage is longer than a typical camper van, providing extra space that can be critical for working remotely. There are multiple work stations and table surfaces, at both the Driver and Passenger seats, and in the rear lounge/bed area. So you can move your workspace to adjust to your needs. The Passage is packed with all the typical camper van features and so much more.
Phoenix USA RV – Phoenix TRX – Click Here for Inventory
In 2019, Phoenix USA RV introduced the Phoenix TRX Class B motorhome as its answer to those looking for something just a bit bigger than the typical camper van. The TRX is built on a Ford Transit chassis, features a full kitchen and dry bath, sleeps two, and is equipped with premium features that can make working remotely super easy. It comes in two-floor plans, the Double Sofa or the Sofa Dinette, both with ample workspace. The Sofa Dinette with its Ultra Leather custom seating and built-in tabletop is ideally suited for working on a laptop, taking Zoom calls, and being productive on the road or in the middle of nowhere.
Photography:@sarah.mcrgaw.explores
Roadtrek – Zion – Click Here for Inventory
The Roadtrek Zion is an outdoor adventure enthusiast’s perfect travel companion. The open concept floor plan allows you to pack all your gear, from bikes to kayaks, in the spacious center aisle. Both the twin bed sofa layout and the forward facing sofa layout have a large work table that’s excellent for a relaxed and comfortable rear “office”. This camper van easily provides space for two people to work separately, with both driver and passenger seats having the ability to swing around and share a large worktable in the cab area. A built in bathroom, large refrigerator, galley kitchen, and ample storage provide all the functionality for your road trips.
Photography: @fredericeenma
Thor Motor Coach – Tellaro – Click Here for Inventory
Tellaro will easily remind you of the European camper vans of the past, both from its Italian name, and its optional pop-top sky bunk sleeping area in the 20AT floor plan. This motorhome is built on a Ram Promaster chassis, with a well-appointed Euro-Style interior. The 20AT plan that features the optional retractable roof has a very work-friendly dinette table with dual seating from either the swivel captain chair or the dinette booth seat. The rear pull-out bed has abundant under-bed storage, and the kitchen and bath areas have all the necessities for your workday.
Winnebago – Era – Click Here for Inventory
With some extra length, the Era is Winnebago’s spacious answer to working remotely in a camper van. In both the 70B and 70X floor plans, the front cab area has multiple seats at a large movable pedestal table, providing an excellent collaborative workspace and RV office. If you prefer, you can setup the movable table in the rear where the sofa/bed is located. This flexibility allows you to work where you feel most comfortable and productive. A large galley kitchen and wet bath, with high-end finishes and bountiful storage space, make Era a camper van for the ages.
Winnebago – Solis – Click Here for Inventory
The pop-up top, premium insulation, and solar charging capabilities of the Solis make it a smart choice for boondocking and remote work. In both available floor plans, it has a pedestal table that’s a great work surface from either the driver’s seat or the dinette seats. There’s also a movable table that can be used as a work surface with the rear Murphy+ Bed at the back of the Solis (except when the Sofa/Bed option is chosen). Solis, built on a Ram ProMaster gas-powered chassis, is one of the more affordable value-focused camper vans, so it’s definitely one to consider on a lower budget.
Winnebago – Travato – Click Here for Inventory
As one of the top-selling camper vans in North America, you’ll definitely want to check out the Travato for working remotely. Its package of high solar power charging capabilities, fuel-efficient systems, and all-season construction, make it a value-packed option for those looking to work remotely on an extended timeframe from just about anywhere. All of the available floor plans feature a good-sized worktable surface, either in the form of a dinette near the cab area or as part of the twin sofa beds that are available. Travato features two different wet bath layouts and an excellent galley kitchen area.
Do you work from your van full-time? We’d love to hear from you. Leave us a comment sharing your story for a chance to be featured on our Rec Van blog.
