Greetings!
I’m definitely in the camp of buying a cheap, older, FACTORY camper van or RV, especially for newbies entering into the lifestyle. Keep your risks and expenses as low as possible, especially when first starting out. You might quickly decide this lifestyle isn’t for you, because others glamorize it way to much for their own gain. Most of what you find online is a far cry from reality.
It’s not all rainbows & roses. For most people, myself included, it is much harder living as a nomad than it would be in a house or apartment. I traveled with my job, so it was practical for me, and saved me a fortune over living in motels. Since I retired from the construction industry, I make my living online, and I love to travel, so I’m still living on wheels.
While I save a fortune by driving a nearly 50 year old, under $1500, reliable, no frills camper van, many people with newer stuff pay big bucks for repairs, and the simple truth is that living on wheels costs them considerably more than traditional living.
What about MONEY? Money/jobs/income, cargo vans, DIY builds, expensive newer vehicles & equipment, and a lack of a large emergency fund, are among the major failure points for this lifestyle. You need a reliable income, and multiple backup plans. Proper planning helps prevent premature failure. Forget the promoters and the people who urge you to “Just Do It”, misery loves company.
All that being said, I live like a king, on about $6k per year total expenses. That’s without trying to be frugal, but I practically never pay for camping. I am mainly a city dweller, and park for free on city streets. When I do go camping, I try to choose free places. My rig is totally self contained, just like most factory campers, so I don’t need hookups, just a place to park.
Later, once you have experience and actually know what you want, is the time to consider a DIY version, but don’t get influenced by all the online garbage to start out with a DIY rig. Most of the DIY rigs are money pits, that only make the promoters happy.
Cheers!