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One of the biggest trends in travel right now is the camper van or “Class B” motorhome. This trend can be found everywhere: flipping through RV magazines, scrolling through Instagram posts, or on YouTube. It seems like camper vans are everywhere. Some buyers choose an American made van while others go for something like Mercedes-Benz vans.

While some people choose to purchase a ready-made camper van, others rather take the DIY route and build their own customized van. All sorts of people are taking up this growing trend, from solo travelers, couples, and families. But one thing holds true for all camper van owners: they absolutely love to travel.

The Mercedes-Benz Metris and Sprinter vans hold value the longest

One of the most important things for any vehicle owner is its capability of retaining value. This probably holds particularly true for owners of camper vans.

Of the commercial vans that do hold value the best, ALG has awarded two Mercedes-Benz vans the Residual Value Award: the Metris and Sprinter. ALG’s Residual Value Awards (RVA) endorse vehicles in 27 segments that are predicted to keep the highest percentage of its MSRP after three years.

The Mercedes-Benz Metris is built to work hard

A Mercedes-Benz Metris van on display at an auto show
A Mercedes-Benz Metris on display | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

The Mercedes-Benz Metris comes off the production line intended to be a commercial work van. However, when studying what this van offers, it’s clear there is more valuable to be found than meets the eye.

The Mercedes-Benz Metris has a form that makes it easy to turn it into a stylish camper van. It’s a vehicle that’s entirely customizable. According to Car and Driver, the Mercedes-Benz Metris comes in two wheelbase sizes: 126-inches long and 135 inches (3.43 meters) long. The overall length of the Metris is 211.4 inches (5.37 meters), making it longer than many other cargo vans in this segment.

It’s a little taller and wider as well. The Metris has nothing behind the front seats by design, leaving plenty of room to customize the rear cargo area the way you please. For those seeking something that is already somewhat done, Mercedes-Benz offers the Metris Weekender for four people to sleep in.

A 2.0-liter Inline four engine powers it along, producing 208-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. And with its seven-speed automatic transmission and 5,000 pounds (2.27 tons) of towing capability, you can haul a trailer on your adventures as well.

Furthermore, the Metris also has around 2,400 pounds of payload capacity. This Mercedes-Benz workhorse can carry almost anything you might need on a long trip.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Unlike the Mercedes-Benz Metris, the Sprinter is a full-size commercial cargo or passenger van. In the United States, most Sprinter vans are sold as cargo vans.

The new generation of Sprinter offers a cargo space of 13 and a half feet long and has a payload capacity of around 3,000 pounds. Four-cylinder 2.1-liter and six-cylinder 3.0-liter turbo diesel engines are the only types of engines available in the United States for now.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has always been a fashionable choice for camping vans. And there is a good reason for this. It’s a great van overall. Many people have owned one and given it great ratings.

The van’s walk-through cabins prove to be a valuable selling point for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, while also offering countless equipment options. Owners considering themselves road warriors put thousands of miles on their Sprinters in just a short time.

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