Drifter Vans frequently asked questions

Where is Drifter Vans located?

Drifter Vans is located at 24175 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, Michigan. Every custom camper van build happens at this facility — by hand, by named builders, on the production floor.

Drifter is a Michigan camper van builder that delivers nationwide. Completed vans have been delivered to Texas, Florida, Colorado, California, and across the U.S. The build happens in Michigan. Delivery is wherever you are.

Commission inquiries are accepted from anywhere in the country. The brief process is remote. The build is not.

What is Drifter Vans?

Drifter is a Michigan-based custom camper van builder. Every build is executed on Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, finished to Drifter Coachcraft Standard.

Each van is designed before it is built. A Production Designer and Interior Designer develop the layout, materials, and systems as a single integrated object before anything reaches the production floor. Structure, cabinetry, electrical, and interior finish are planned together and executed together. No afterthoughts. No bolt-on compromises.

Drifter commissions a limited number of custom campervans each year. Each one is numbered, attributed to a named builder, and entered into the Drifter Archive Registry.

Is Drifter Vans a legitimate camper van builder?

Yes. Drifter Vans is a licensed custom campervan builder operating out of Southfield, Michigan. Physical address: 24175 Telegraph Rd #100, Southfield, MI 48033.

Every build is documented. Each campervan is numbered, attributed to a named builder, and entered into the Drifter Archive Registry before delivery. The record is public. The builders are named. The address is real.

Drifter Vans has completed custom campervan conversions on Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis for owners across the United States — from Michigan to California, Texas, Colorado, and Florida. Completed builds are in the gallery. Owners who have gone through the build process have documented their experience publicly.

Commission inquiries are reviewed within five business days. Specific questions follow. The brief process is direct and documented from first contact through delivery.

Built for what comes next.

How does the custom campervan build process work?

The process begins with a 15-minute discovery call, followed by a one-hour design consultation. From there, a $5,000 deposit secures the build slot. Design is then developed with Drifter's Production Designer and Interior Designer before anything reaches the production floor — layout, materials, systems, and cabinetry planned as a single integrated object.

Once design is approved the van enters the production floor in Southfield, Michigan. Builds move through a disciplined sequence — structure, systems, cabinetry, interior finish. Each stage is documented. Owners track progress through a private Owner Studio portal with photo updates throughout.

At completion the van is numbered, the builder named, and delivery is arranged nationwide — in-person pickup in Michigan or white-glove delivery to your door.

Full details on every stage, payment milestones, and delivery options are on the Drifter Vans build process page.

How long does a custom campervan conversion take?

Three to four months from production start, depending on the brief.

Timeline is confirmed at the start of the commission. It does not change unless the brief changes. If it changes, both parties know why.

The three to four month window covers the full build — cabinetry, electrical, plumbing, systems integration, interior finish, and quality review. It does not include the design phase that precedes production, which varies by build complexity.

How far in advance do I need to book a custom campervan build with Drifter Vans?

Six to twenty-four months, depending on current production schedule and build complexity.

Drifter Vans commissions twenty-four custom campervan builds per year as part of an annual collection series. Slots fill well ahead of production start dates. Current availability is on the contact page.

A $5,000 deposit secures the build slot. From there the design process begins. The sooner the brief is submitted, the more lead time the design team has before production start.

Commission inquiries are reviewed within five business days.

Does Drifter Vans build camper vans for clients outside Michigan?

Yes. Drifter Vans delivers custom campervan conversions nationwide.

Every build happens at the Drifter facility in Southfield, Michigan. The design process is remote — owners across the U.S. work directly with the design team through a documented brief process without needing to travel to Michigan. Completed vans have been delivered to Texas, Florida, Colorado, California, and across the country.

The build is in Michigan. Delivery is wherever you are.

Do you offer fully custom van conversions, or only set layouts?

Both. Drifter builds fully custom van conversions and offers four Signature Layouts — the Wanderer, Drifter, Scout, and Nomadik — as starting points for how the space flows.

The distinction is where the design begins, not how it ends. Every Drifter is developed by a Production Designer and Interior Designer before anything reaches the production floor. Layout, materials, systems, and cabinetry are planned as a single integrated object regardless of starting point. Signature Layout or blank canvas — the build process is the same.

Owners who start from a Signature Layout can adjust materials, finishes, storage configurations, and systems to fit how they travel. Owners who start from scratch work directly with the design team to build the layout from the ground up.

Different starting point. Same standard. Same build.

Does Drifter Vans do full custom campervan conversions?

Yes. Full custom campervan conversions are one of two ways to commission a Drifter.

Owners who want to start from scratch work directly with Drifter's Production Designer and Interior Designer to build a layout from the ground up. Every spatial decision, material, system, and finish is developed to a specific brief before anything reaches the production floor. There are no pre-set packages and no default finishes. The brief determines everything.

The second option is a Signature Layout — the Wanderer, Drifter, Scout, or Nomadik — which serves as a starting point for how the space flows. These are not pre-built vans. Every Signature Layout build goes through the same custom design and build process, with materials, finishes, storage configurations, and systems adjusted to each owner.

Drifter Vans does not sell inventory vans or pre-built conversions. Every campervan conversion is built to order, in Southfield, Michigan, by a named builder.

Does Drifter Vans build on Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter?

Drifter Vans builds on two chassis — the Ford Transit and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Both are available in extended and regular wheelbase configurations. High roof only on all builds.

Ford Transit camper conversions The Ford Transit is Drifter's most versatile platform, available in 148 long, and 148 extended wheelbase. High roof. The extended Transit gives the most interior length of any Drifter build and is the most common choice for full-time travelers and dual workstation layouts.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter camper conversions The Sprinter is available in 144 and 170 extended wheelbase, high roof. The 170 extended is the longest Drifter platform and the most capable for off-grid systems and gear-heavy builds. The Sprinter's higher roof clearance and narrower body make it a strong choice for owners prioritizing urban drivability alongside off-grid capability.

Drifter does not build on the Ram ProMaster. Every build is executed on Transit or Sprinter, sourced through Drifter's network of trusted Michigan dealerships — often at competitive pricing on current-year models.

No inventory vans. Every campervan conversion is built to order.

How much does a custom campervan conversion cost?

Drifter Vans custom campervan conversions start at $115,000–$130,000. This is the base conversion price — design, cabinetry, electrical, plumbing, systems integration, and interior finish at the standard build level.

Final cost varies depending on the brief. Upgrades to solar capacity, air conditioning, premium cabinetry materials, wet bath configurations, off-grid systems, and custom interior finishes are added on top of the base price. Most builds land higher than the starting range once the brief is fully specified.

The chassis is purchased separately. A Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter typically adds $50,000–$70,000 depending on configuration and model year. Drifter sources chassis through trusted Michigan dealerships, often at competitive pricing on current-year models. Total investment when bundled typically runs $200,000–$250,000.

Financing is available covering both the chassis and conversion in a single RV loan. Full details and a payment calculator are on the Drifter Vans financing page.

Specific pricing is discussed during the brief process. A $5,000 deposit secures the build slot.

Does Drifter Vans offer campervan financing?

Yes. Drifter Vans offers RV financing through a trusted lending partner, covering both the chassis and the full conversion in a single loan.

Terms are available up to 10 to 20 years with competitive rates. A soft credit application is available to pre-qualify with no impact to your credit score. Most builds in the $200,000–$250,000 range finance comfortably within standard RV loan terms.

Financing is available for both Signature Layout builds and full custom campervan conversions.

Full details, a monthly payment calculator, and next steps are on the Drifter Vans campervan financing page.

What warranty does a Drifter Vans campervan come with?

Every Drifter Vans custom campervan build includes warranty coverage on all systems and components installed by Drifter — electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, heating and cooling, and interior finish. Coverage is available in one-year and two-year options depending on the package selected.

Nationwide DrifterCare coverage is available as an upgrade. If an issue arises while traveling outside Michigan, DrifterCare coordinates service through qualified repair facilities across the country — owners are not required to return to Southfield for service.

The Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis remains covered under the original manufacturer warranty from Ford or Mercedes-Benz separately.

Full warranty terms and coverage options are discussed during the commission process.

What is the Drifter Vans annual collection series?

Drifter Vans commissions twenty-four custom campervans per year as part of an annual collection series. Each build in the series is numbered, attributed to a named builder, and entered into the Drifter Archive Registry at completion.

Every van in the collection is built to order — there are no carry-over builds, no inventory vans, and no repeated layouts. Each one is commissioned to a specific brief and built once.

Twenty-four builds per year. Each one documented. Each one delivered.

Commission inquiries for the current collection series are on the contact page.