Two miles of ocean beach beside them, and no trucks or vehicles allowed on that beach at all
Vans in a state with a sand permit
A van is welcome on paper and awkward in practice at Assateague. The permit requires four-wheel or all-wheel drive, so a two-wheel drive van is out of the sand zone however it is fitted, and the 26 foot cap rules out the longest wheelbase with a carrier hung off the back.
For the west the picture flips. Green Ridge, Savage River and the canal campgrounds are reachable on gravel and pavement, and a van suits a state where most sites are a table and a fire ring with no plumbing. There are no hookups anywhere in the canal park, so build for days off the grid near a city.
A conversion is a small house on a moving, flexing, weight-limited platform. The builder insulates and lines the shell, installs the electrical system, plumbing, heat and ventilation, builds the bed, galley and storage, and cuts the holes for windows, fans and vents that you do not want to get wrong.
Some shops build complete vans to a set floor plan. Others build to order, and a few will take on partial work such as electrical only.
A typical conversion includes
01Insulation, wall and ceiling panels, and flooring
02House battery, alternator charging, solar, inverter and shore power
03Roof fan, heater, and sometimes air conditioning
04Fresh and gray water, a sink, and sometimes a shower and water heater
05Bed, galley, seating and storage
06Windows, racks, ladders, awnings and exterior lighting
How to choose a van builder
Floor plans are easy to fall for. The questions underneath them matter more.
01Decide between a shop's standard layout and a custom build. Standard layouts are faster, and the shop has already solved their problems.
02Ask what the finished van weighs with water and gear. Sprinters are sold in several gross weight ratings, and a heavy build on the lightest chassis leaves little margin.
03Ask how the electrical system is protected and documented, and whether the components can be serviced on the road.
04Ask how cabinetry is fastened to the van. Furniture that is only screwed to thin wall panels works loose on rough roads.
05Ask how added seats and seat belts are engineered and anchored if anyone rides behind the front row.
06Get the scope, price, payment schedule and delivery date in writing.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
The van you order decides what can be built in it, so it helps to talk to a builder before you buy.
01Model year, 144 or 170 wheelbase, roof height, and two-wheel, all-wheel or four-wheel drive
02How many people sleep in it and how many ride in it
03The seasons and climates you travel in
04Whether you need to work from it
05What goes inside with you: bikes, boards, dogs
06A budget range and the date you want to be traveling
Questions people ask
Do I need to own the van before I contact a builder?
No. Many builders would rather talk first, because the wheelbase, roof height and drivetrain you order decide what can be built. Some shops can also source a van.
How long does a Sprinter conversion take?
A full custom build is usually measured in months, plus whatever wait the shop has before it can start. Standard layouts are quicker. Ask for both numbers.
Should I get the 144 or the 170 wheelbase?
The 144 is easier to park, turn and drive on tight roads. The 170 gives you room for a fixed bed and a real galley without compromise. Think about where you will actually drive it, then about how you want to live in it.
Can these builders work on a Ford Transit or Ram ProMaster?
Many do. If you are on another platform, say so in the form and we will look for shops with that experience.
How high is Maryland?
From Snow Hill at 16 feet to Hoye Crest at 3,360.
Altitude decides what your engine, your brakes and your lungs have to work with, and how late in the year the passes open.
02,0004,000
Feet above sea level
Towns
McHenryDeep Creek Lake services, and where an ORV permit is sold2,482 ft
OaklandGarrett County seat, and the way in to Potomac-Garrett State Forest2,404 ft
GrantsvilleSavage River State Forest headquarters is two miles down New Germany Road2,309 ft
FrostburgOn the old National Road between the plateau and Cumberland2,063 ft
FriendsvilleThe northern Youghiogheny, near the Mill Run campground1,500 ft
FlintstoneGreen Ridge State Forest headquarters, where campsites are registered814 ft
CumberlandThe western end of the canal towpath and the last full-service city624 ft
HagerstownTires, parts and freight-road access for the whole Potomac valley542 ft
ThurmontThe gateway to Catoctin Mountain Park and its firewood rule519 ft
HancockThe narrowest point of the state, between the canal and the Pennsylvania line446 ft
SharpsburgAntietam and the Snyders Landing stretch of the canal418 ft
FrederickThe last big supply stop before the mountains going west283 ft
BerlinThe mainland town before the Assateague bridge and the sand permit36 ft
SalisburyThe service centre of the lower Eastern Shore26 ft
CambridgeBlackwater refuge and the Wildlife Drive are south of here18 ft
Snow HillPocomoke State Forest and the cypress swamp country16 ft
Passes, high roads and summits
Hoye CrestThe state high point, on the crest of Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The USGS published figure; our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 3,3683,360 ft
Meadow MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. Its 12-mile trail carries the four-mile section open to off-road vehicles3,033 ft
East Shale Road, Meadow Mountain TrailThe I-68 corridor to New Germany Road, Savage River State Forest3,033 ft
Big Savage MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, above Savage River State Forest2,970 ft
Dans MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Allegany County2,892 ft
Margraff PlantationMargraff Plantation, Savage River State Forest2,800 ft
Town HillOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. The Green Ridge driving tour passes its 1931 fire tower2,029 ft
Catoctin MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Frederick County1,877 ft
Green RidgeOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, the ridge the state forest is named for1,424 ft
Pass, road and summit elevations are the figures published by the agency that manages them. Town elevations are the town’s or county’s own
figure where it publishes an exact one; the rest are from the U.S. Geological Survey (3D Elevation Program at the place’s official coordinates),
retrieved September 18, 2026. Every source is listed at the foot of the page.
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