An affordable mini camper for the (somewhat dirtbag) outdoors enthusiast.
An affordable mini camper for the (somewhat dirtbag) outdoors enthusiast.

Turn Your Dodge into a Camper—For $4,700

No luck finding a Westy? Try this conversion kit instead.

An affordable mini camper for the (somewhat dirtbag) outdoors enthusiast.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

The American propensity for the preposterously gargantuan should leave no doubt as to why Winnebagos and other Greyhound-bus-sized RVs rule the road. Testament to this: the discontinuation of Volkswagen's Eurovan and Westfalia—two of the most popular small camper vans ever made. 

(Courtesy of Horgan at Wayfarer Vans)

That's where Ian Horgan and his Wayfarer Vans Dodge camper-conversion kits come in. Horgan, despite being vice president of operations for a company that owns and operates RV parks catering to land yachts, is a sleep-under-the-stars camper at heart. The term “dirtbag” might apply. “I’m an outdoorsy guy,” says Horgan. “I hike, I mountain bike, I ski, I climb. I look at Outside Van, Road Trek and Sportsmobile, but they’re charging six figures for a camper van. I look at the VW Westfalias; they’re compact, you can drive them around day-to-day, and you can go camping over the weekend, but they break down all the time. When somebody’s looking to buy a camper van, it’s either super expensive or super unreliable.”

(Courtesy of Horgan at Wayfarer Vans)

Horgan wanted to make a kit that would let buyers turn a Dodge camper into a full house-on-wheels. At first, he set out to build a simple camper van he and his fiancé could take on weekend camping trips. The couple were pleased with the design's utility, and quickly realized how desirable a modular conversion kit could be for those of us who are petrified at the very mention of DIY.

Using treated birch wood, heavy-duty five-pound pull strength magnets, some tasteful upholstery (selected by Horgan’s fiancé), and half a dozen bolts, Horgan created a $4,700 kit (excluding delivery) for the 2015/2016 Dodge Ram ProMaster City. All you need is a Phillips head screwdriver and a socket wrench, and you'll have the entire kit unpacked and installed within 25 minutes. 

If you want to give a Wayfarer Van a test run, you can rent one from Basecamper Vans in Salt Lake City, Utah.

sms