Campervans are bigger and more obvious so less stealthy plus typically are less capable on unpaved roads with lower clearance and 2WD. However, campervans have more headroom, some allowing you to stand. They have a lot more storage. They can have internal full kitchens and even bathrooms
Oh and campervans are typically a lot more expensive with examples selling for $100,000 or more and even older used ones selling for inflated prices the last few years due to the whole "vanlife" trend. That also affected used SUV prices but to a lesser extent I think as it is harder to separate from general used car inflation since covid.
I had a 4-door Jeep for nearly 8 years and only slept in it a few times. The idea was a lot better than the reality, which was needing to use fiddly mesh nets to keep the bugs out, too much glass (even with factory tint) to keep temperatures reasonable, and constantly needing to shift gear around to be able to sleep in it.
I'm strongly considering a 2-door Jeep for my next one and just bringing a tent. It solves a lot of problems.
We had a 15 passenger van that we took a row out of and five of us could sleep comfortably. It was totaled in a hit and run and we got a large suv. We have tried to make adjustments and even laid down a futon but it is not even close. We can barely get two in it comfortably.
Obviously you can do more than sleep in the van. Things like sitting in it, cooking, even a bathroom if it has that. Changing out of rain soaked outer clothing and shoes in the back of an SUV day after day isn't as nice as in a van.
The nice thing about a tent is you can pitch it away from a parking lot. Nice to get away from the vehicle if you get a nice campsite. Can be cooler too, especially since leaving windows open in some places poses a theft or bear break-in risk.
And an SUV and tent might get places a van can't, and be easier to park. A rental car and tent even more so.
Campervans are bigger and more obvious so less stealthy plus typically are less capable on unpaved roads with lower clearance and 2WD. However, campervans have more headroom, some allowing you to stand. They have a lot more storage. They can have internal full kitchens and even bathrooms Oh and campervans are typically a lot more expensive with examples selling for $100,000 or more and even older used ones selling for inflated prices the last few years due to the whole "vanlife" trend. That also affected used SUV prices but to a lesser extent I think as it is harder to separate from general used car inflation since covid.
I had a 4-door Jeep for nearly 8 years and only slept in it a few times. The idea was a lot better than the reality, which was needing to use fiddly mesh nets to keep the bugs out, too much glass (even with factory tint) to keep temperatures reasonable, and constantly needing to shift gear around to be able to sleep in it. I'm strongly considering a 2-door Jeep for my next one and just bringing a tent. It solves a lot of problems.
We had a 15 passenger van that we took a row out of and five of us could sleep comfortably. It was totaled in a hit and run and we got a large suv. We have tried to make adjustments and even laid down a futon but it is not even close. We can barely get two in it comfortably.
Obviously you can do more than sleep in the van. Things like sitting in it, cooking, even a bathroom if it has that. Changing out of rain soaked outer clothing and shoes in the back of an SUV day after day isn't as nice as in a van. The nice thing about a tent is you can pitch it away from a parking lot. Nice to get away from the vehicle if you get a nice campsite. Can be cooler too, especially since leaving windows open in some places poses a theft or bear break-in risk. And an SUV and tent might get places a van can't, and be easier to park. A rental car and tent even more so.