Anyone here doing the “van life” thing?

[Hoosker Doo]

This thread is about living in a van, so I’ll try to avoid sending it on a bit of a tangent. In looking at some of these van conversions, they seem quite pricey. Wouldn’t it be more economical to do a cargo trailer conversion and tow it with a small truck or SUV than buy and convert a van?

I'm also considering going down the camper van road in the next decade maybe, but a couple big factors for me are the ability to pull a boat or trailer with a 4 wheeler...

 

[AG8]

No toilet.

I guess you expect everyone else to provide that for you.

What does that even mean?

 

[vectordawg]

What does that even mean?

It means he’s a condescending prick that always holds it until he gets home.

 

[Nevwild]

One more for keep it simple in terms of serviceability. I got involved in helping a family friend sell an '08 ish Dodge branded Mercedes Sprinter Class B motor home. (Factory van life) It was a low mile creme puff but it went through a few glow plugs while she had it. The last time was while I was helping her sell it and she was out of the country for an extended period of time so I had to deal with it. Despite the Dodge emblem in the front no Dodge Dealership within a literal 100 miles would touch it, I finally found one place 2 hours away, after that was 3.5 hrs away. No Diesel shops would touch it. I think it was $1200 for one glow plug, they were concerned about snapping it off and if that had happened they said the head would have to come off and that would be a couple grand. It seemed overly dramatic, but I called 20 places to find the 1 that would touch it.

Ford vs mercedes
there is defiantely more ford dealerships in rural america than there are mercedes dealerships.

These are excellent points, and one of the big advantages of the Econoline platform. There were countless numbers of these produced while they were being made from something like 1999 to 2014. Parts are plentiful, every shop knows how to work on them, and repairs cost an order of magnitude less than repairs on a transit or a sprinter.

 

[Mr. October]

Define “Van Life”.

 

[Maverick1]

Define “Van Life”.

View attachment 945715

That’s a bus, Reggie.

 

[Boarmaster]

I can do the tiny home/ cabin thing for hunting season. I spend a lot of time at my lease Nov thru Feb.
I could definitely live in something like that full time but I would need two. One in the north and one in the south. I would need a bit more porch and lean to’s on my 12x16. I think van life would be a little tight for me. I know it would be dang tight for someone who had to live with me….

 

[Beendare]

I built a cargo trailer into what you described. IMO, Double insulated was the key. Solar to run AC is not feasible, you dont have enough roof space, Ac takes too many amps. Max air fan works well for most areas unless it doesnt cool off at night.

 

[WstrnCP]

I have a 2008 Dodge branded Sprinter. I’ll second, or third, that maintenance is a real concern. Being a Mercedes it’s hard to do work yourself. I have a great shop which makes it easier. Still really expensive and seems like there is always something. That being said, the convenience of the van is great. It’s a very simple build, I can take everything in and out in about 15 minutes. I find I use it just as much to haul stuff. It’s way more convenient and secure and dry than a pickup. I would probably get a van again, just not a Sprinter. I would get a Ford most likely.

 

[vectordawg]

Define “Van Life”.

View attachment 945715

Can’t hide money!

 

[CMF]

I built a cargo trailer into what you described. IMO, Double insulated was the key. Solar to run AC is not feasible, you dont have enough roof space, Ac takes too many amps. Max air fan works well for most areas unless it doesnt cool off at night.

Most of the rigs I've seen running AC on solar are using minisplits. This is on bumper pull and fifth wheels, not vans, so a little more roof area.
Furion also came out with a roof top inverter AC that is supposed to draw a lot less power than the standard roof tops.

 

[Mr. October]

Can’t hide money!

I promise that Class A costs a lot less than most factory-built "van life" Class Bs. A LOT less.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I have a hatred of camper vans here in CO. I think it's the fact the lifestyle has been overrun by millennial trust fund kids pretending to be poor in $80k + builds for Instagram. Or liberals from Denver that cry about the environment that have no trouble driving their 10 mpg van all over the state. Or the fact they are everywhere in the high country driving slow or clogging up space. It feels like a plague on the weekends.

I think it's an awesome alternative to an RV or pulling a camper though. I just can't get the association out of my head.

 

[loganwayne]

I had a camper Van for a couple years. it was "ok" it definitely has its pros and cons.
i had a early 2000s sports mobile with a 7.3 diesel. could pull anything i wanted with it. it was setup from the factory as a 4 ride 4 sleep van. which was nice since i used it for hunting trips we could get a good group all in one van. downside the ac/ heat for the back area sucked. also had to break camp down to move spots for the day, also no shower.

i sold it during covid and bought a 20ft camper with a small slide that had bunk beds. so we could still take 4 people and easily sleep 4. pros not having to break camp to do anything, has a shower, more room, and since i sold during covid i made money on van and paid for new camper outright. only downside is if we want to go to the lake someone else (my wife) has to pull our boat and take 2 vehicle's.



if i was looking for a camper van again id be looking for a sportsmobile or a colorado camper van based on a ford ecoline chassis. all these other newer vans dont have chassis and are unibody construction. they are going to twist up more than an ecoline when taken offroad, if thats your plan. also the ecolines have a ton of support since they have been around so long. the market for camper vans has softened alot in the last 8 months. id get on some facebook groups, and expedition portal and start looking there.

 

[omicron1792]

My buddy could hook you up with one of these.

Storyteller Overland: Adventure Vehicles

We build premium off-road, off-grid adventure vehicles that include MODE Camper Vans and GXV Adventure Trucks - so you can live free, explore endlessly and have better stories to tell.

www.storytelleroverland.com

 

[3forks]

I have a hatred of camper vans here in CO. I think it's the fact the lifestyle has been overrun by millennial trust fund kids pretending to be poor in $80k + builds for Instagram. Or liberals from Denver that cry about the environment that have no trouble driving their 10 mpg van all over the state. Or the fact they are everywhere in the high country driving slow or clogging up space. It feels like a plague on the weekends.

I think it's an awesome alternative to an RV or pulling a camper though. I just can't get the association out of my head.

I wish these vans weren’t as popular as they, and there wasn’t such a stereotyped (and often correct) demographic associated with them, because they really are a very practical vehicle.

I cringe every time we pass a van coming the other direction on the road and the hipster driver gives me the shaka brah/hang loose hand sign.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I wish these vans weren’t as popular as they, and there wasn’t such a stereotyped (and often correct) demographic associated with them, because they really are a very practical vehicle.

I cringe every time we pass a van coming the other direction on the road and the hipster driver gives me the shaka brah/hang loose hand sign.

The stereotype is dead on...

If you're in a Quigley E350 you get a return wave at least.

 

[Poser]

No toilet.

I guess you expect everyone else to provide that for you.

Its the exact same scenario as people truck camping at trailheads or unofficial camp spots along the various FS and BLM roads.

Dan sleeps in the back of his Tacoma on a plywood bed. Maybe he even has a buddy heater for cold mornings.

John sleeps in a conversion van with a diesel heater and an electric blanket.

Stacey pulls up in her Subaru and sets up a Kelty tent.

Dan, John and Stacey all walk a few dozen yards from camp, dig holes and squeeze out some stinky steaming turds. Stacy eats a lot of corn. John has hemorrhoids. Dan does't eat enough fiber.

What does Serrano do?

 

[Jordan Budd]

I did an excursion with solar/lights. Also have cargo trailer I did that we’ve used a ton for hunting trips, I feel like I have the solar/battery/charging dialed. You’ll want a generator for the AC. I have seen some 12v ac units but haven’t tried one and I hear they suck power.

 

[Poser]

It would definitely be nice to have one for mobile hunting -bounce around trailheads with no time setting up camp, few if any daily camp chores to perform, less stressing about the availability of good camp sites since you can make anywhere that's reasonably level work. I'd use one for sure. I'd really love to have one for ski season.