I found four vans that fit the bill:
- Dodge Ram Promaster
- Ford Transit
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Nissan NV (Discontinued)
The main reason is reasonable ownership cost and is the widest and straightest of all vans.
This article says it all.
CHOOSING A VAN: TRANSIT VS SPRINTER VS PROMASTER VS NV
Very Important note: Might not be the best vehicle to take on the back roads which I don't plan to.
Front Wheel Drive (thumbs down, that's right). A converted van has more weight on its rear axle, which means more traction on the rear wheels. Here in British-Columbia, we frequently have to go up very steep 4WD high-clearance roads to get access to our favorite mountain-biking trails or backcountry skiing zones; a front wheel drive doesn't have enough traction to do this. Seeing the astonished reaction of people when we arrive on top of what's considered a rough 4WD road doesn't get old 🙂 "Is that van four wheel drive?"
Other good readings:
Why I Picked the Promaster for my Camper Van Conversion
Ram Promaster For Van Conversion – Everything You Need To Know