Metris Conversions - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

While there are technically two parts of the purchase (the vehicle and the conversion), Peace Vans is your point of contact whom you complete the total purchase with. We have an inventory of vehicles pre-ordered and configured for this project. The vans belong to us, and we control them.

To start the process, 50% of the conversion cost is due. At that point, we will assign you one of the vehicles from our inventory and send you the MSRP/Build sheet for that specific van.

Typically, the van itself will need to be purchased between 30-60 days from your deposit on the conversion.

Because the vehicles are pre-ordered and configured, there is no negotiation or usual “car dealer” drama.

We will generate a detailed estimate for you on the conversion side early. That, together with the MSRP/Build Sheet for the van, makes up the total purchase price.

First and foremost, we are a deeply established company with an impeccable reputation for quality, craftsmanship, transparency, and ease of working. We aren’t a couple of guys in a garage—we are craftsmen, project managers, business people, and passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Having worked on over 1000 VW Camper Vans, we know this space extremely well and have the talent, IQ and EQ to support you.

Peace Vans also has a dedicated project management team, so any time you call or email us, you will reach someone who knows who you are and can answer your questions.

Our relationship with Mercedes (at the Corporate US, Global HQ, and local dealerships) is unmatched. They have vetted out designs, engineering, and manufacturing processes. We know how to escalate things, whom to call, and how to get things done within the complex Mercedes world.

Passion. Visit us. You’ll quickly get it - we love what we do. There are usually over 100 different camper vans of various vintages throughout our properties. Camper vans are in our blood, and bringing a modern version of our beloved VWs to market is a mission we are incredibly proud of.

Currently, we don’t have inventory vans to sell. We are partnering with some folks to try to make that happen, but people keep buying them quickly. Historically, it has been 4-6 months from order to delivery, and that is our goal. However, the COVID supply chain hangover continues, and we say closer to 9 months from order to delivery.

But don’t let this dissuade you. The good things are worth waiting for, and the bottom line is that we are never, ever going to cut a single corner to finish a project. We strive to be efficient, constantly improving, hard-working, and diligent - but we will not take shortcuts to meet deadlines.

We love our corner of the US - Seattle, WA. And we hope you come and visit us before your purchase to meet the team, pick out your van, or even rent for a few nights. But if that’s not possible, plenty of customers purchase their vans without visiting. We can video chat to show you a finished van and work in progress. When it’s time to come pick up, we would love to do that in person. Many customers plan a road trip back home after pick up - we will happily fill your van with groceries and other goodies for that journey home!

We have driven all the possible vans for conversion in the US, and - by far - the Metris is the best. Not only does it drive beautifully, but it is ideally suited for conversion. It has a towing capacity of 5000 pounds, it’s comfortable to drive long distances, and there are seatbelts for five. It was an obvious choice when we thought about what we wanted to bring to market, examined the quality of the underlying chassis, and how it fits with our higher-end build. Don’t get us wrong; the Metris isn’t perfect - we’d love to see more advanced features in the cabin, and a few more excellent touches here and there, but where it matters - the Metris shines.

We put a cropped Peace sign on the first couple of vans we built for ourselves (and our rental fleet). We hate huge branding and would never ask you to do that. When you pick up your van, there will be a subtle piece of Peace Vans Modern branding. It’s your van, not ours. Note: some customers ask us to put the cropped Peace sign on their van. We will pay if you want this :)

As of 2022, all the vans are manufactured in our Seattle HQ. When we first launched the program, we partnered with a local company adjacent to the Mercedes factory to assist with some production. This is the same team that built the Getaway vans, but with that project being phased out, it made more sense to consolidate the manufacturing in Seattle.

While our priority for building vans is the brand new vans supplied to us by Mercedes, we understand that a brand new vehicle can often put a Peace Van out of budget for many people and that buying a good quality used van is a great way to reduce the price. We call these projects "BYOV" or Bring Your Own Van. We typically schedule these projects 6-8 months in advance and can only take on a few a month. If this is something you are interested in doing, let us know. But please check with us first—not every van is a candidate for us to build on.

In February 2020, we announced an exciting partnership with Mercedes-Benz where our Weekender product could be purchased nationwide at any Sprinter/Metris dealer. In the summer of 2020, the project was renamed the Getaway Van. It is still what we consider a Weekender with a few minor differences.

Mercedes no longer offers the Getaway vans. The ‘why’ is a long story we are happy to share—it had nothing to do with their popularity!

We get asked this a surprising amount. They are entirely different products, not what economists classify as "substitute" products. The Sprinter is an excellent van if you can afford the purpose-built vehicle and are okay with something that will likely sit idle quite a bit. The Metris is a daily driver that you can take camping! Many of our customers are trading in SUVs/minivans for this camper. We often remind people that our vans don't have bathrooms, AC, or TVs—if you need/want any of those things, a Sprinter or larger RV is probably a better fit.

Absolutely! While not an AWD/4WD vehicle (yes, we are also waiting), the Metris is very capable when lifted, and beefier tires are added. There are probably only 5% of places you'd want to go that it wouldn't be able to take you.

Reach out to us, and we can often put you in touch with someone excited to show off their van. We increasingly have customers in most corners of the US - from Washington (of course!) to Maine ... San Diego to Atlanta, and many places in between.

We think so. And with well over two dozen customers who have already made the switch, we believe the path forward for many people is evident. We've made a few videos about the difference you can watch on our Youtube. Still, the benefit of a functioning AC, a quiet ride, modern safety, and maintenance-free conveniences far outweigh the increasing anxiety of owning an aging VW. With that said, we still drive our Vanagons all the time (but we are also the largest VW camper repair shop in the US with the resources to keep our vans in excellent shape!) and love them.

A Metris Camper customer recently emailed us this:

"I have finally had the experience I’ve missed and longed for with my van: the finger wave. I remember fondly what it was like coming across another VW pop-top camper on the road and using the hand on the top of the steering wheel, making the little wave with one, maybe two, or three, sometimes all four fingers lifted in tribute. That finger wave said, “I see you; I know you; we are simpatico; we know so much more than all the others on the road today; we have nailed camping and road trips like no one else has.” It was true with the Westfalia and the Vanagon, and I say it is also true with the Peace Vans Metris. So, when I got my Metris, I felt I deserved that same feeling and to give and get the acknowledgment wrapped in the gesture. This Saturday marks one year since I picked up my Metris. Now, finally, I have had that longed-for experience, have gotten my just recognition, and know there is a start to the exclusive, cool, wise group of owners who finger wave because this week I passed on a city street a sand-colored Peace Vans Metris, and both of us raised a finger; the beginning of my new clan."

So...there you go :)

Indeed. In August 2022, Mercedes announced they would stop making the four-cylinder gas engine that powers the Metris. Without that motor, they are stepping back from the mid-size van market and won’t produce the Metris for the US after 2023. Their plans for the small van market are still TBD, and a van like the Metris might return as electric after 2023.

Harley addresses this question in detail on our youtube.

Apart from sadness over not having the near-perfect van to build a camper on, not much. Mercedes is still legally required to service the van for at least seven years from production, and the vehicle is still available in Europe. That means parts and services will still be available for a long time. Peace Vans will be building and selling Metris campers well into 2024. These vehicles are only going to be more valuable and more sought after. If you have wanted one of these vans, we strongly encourage you to order soon.