By far the most brilliant van conversion I’ve seen:
https://youtu.be/ZPgGHKixEnI
With a van you CAN buy a shell and trick it out how you like. Having camped and traveled with a camper though, I absolutely agree about the inconvenience of trips to the store, etc.
I tow my 13’ behind my Volvo V70, and even packed full of sailing gear we move as though nothing is back there. My only concern about trips to the store is that some thief will hitch her up and steal her in my absence (but there are safeguards against that people here will happily tell you about).