Anyone here doing the “van life” thing?

[Nevwild]

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.

This is exactly how I use my van. It is just as good as you think.

 

[Serrano]

It's the "Van life" people in town I have a problem with.
Camping where they shouldn't, and etc.

 

[canyonhunter47]

This is exactly how I use my van. It is just as good as you think.

Do you have a 4x4 conversion or just 2wd? And do think 4x4 is or would be useful enough to justify the cost?

 

[Nevwild]

Do you have a 4x4 conversion or just 2wd? And do think 4x4 is or would be useful enough to justify the cost?

I have a 2003 E-350 with a Quigley 4x4. I use it year-round, and there have been multiple times where I would have been very very stuck without being able to put it into 4Low.

One instance in particular stands out to me, I was driving through Montana, and spent the night at a campsite that I particularly like there. The campsite is at the bottom of a long, medium grade hill on a standard, well maintained dirt road. When I drove in, it was totally dry, when I woke up, there was 3 inches of snow on the ground. I tried to get the van out of that hill in 2 wheel and I had zero chance of making it up.this is with good snow tires. I flipped the hubs, got it into 4 low, and made it up with zero troubles.

If you intend on using your van for skiing, and hunting, there will inevitably be moments where four wheel is the magic ticket to get you out. With that said, 4x4 get you more stuck, so don’t be cocky about it.

When it boils down to it, I would not buy a Van, or any vehicle for that matter, that I intend to use in the outdoors that does not have 4Low.

If you’re looking to purchase something that might work for you, Facebook marketplace and the Vancamper app will be the place to look.

 

[canyonhunter47]

I have a 2003 E-350 with a Quigley 4x4. I use it year-round, and there have been multiple times where I would have been very very stuck without being able to put it into 4Low.

One instance in particular stands out to me, I was driving through Montana, and spent the night at a campsite that I particularly like there. The campsite is at the bottom of a long, medium grade hill on a standard, well maintained dirt road. When I drove in, it was totally dry, when I woke up, there was 3 inches of snow on the ground. I tried to get the van out of that hill in 2 wheel and I had zero chance of making it up.this is with good snow tires. I flipped the hubs, got it into 4 low, and made it up with zero troubles.

If you intend on using your van for skiing, and hunting, there will inevitably be moments where four wheel is the magic ticket to get you out. With that said, 4x4 get you more stuck, so don’t be cocky about it.

When it boils down to it, I would not buy a Van, or any vehicle for that matter, that I intend to use in the outdoors that does not have 4Low.

If you’re looking to purchase something that might work for you, Facebook marketplace and the Vancamper app will be the place to look.

How would the van compare to something like a 4 wheel camper? I’m looking for something for short hunt/fish/ski trips or hunts where being mobile is important and the adventure van or 4WC seem to fit the bill better than an RTT or a small trailer

 

[Nevwild]

How would the van compare to something like a 4 wheel camper? I’m looking for something for short hunt/fish/ski trips or hunts where being mobile is important and the adventure van or 4WC seem to fit the bill better than an RTT or a small trailer

Trailers in snow and off-road are sketchy. That’s why I don’t have one. Instead, I have my van that can tow my ATV.

When you say four-wheel camper, I’m assuming you mean a slide in? That’s the other viable option, but the reality is that I’m 6 foot three, and I require space to stand up, and it’s hard to get an insulated tall enough camper shell that is reasonably sized, reasonably priced, and not sketchy as hell off-road. I guarantee I would break a lot of things in there. Also, the thing is already built out, and you can’t move things around in there to your specifications as all the finish work is already done.That said, the advantages of a camper is that you can take it off and just use the truck as a truck, which is something I am jealous of. I’m also jealous of the fact that you can put the camper on a notoriously reliable truck, like an early 2000 Toyota, and have that thing run forever without any issues. Econolines are known to have their issues.

One of the things that I love about the van is that I can park my van, turn around, and already be inside of my abode for the evening.

With all that said, my van is rather tall due to the bubble top, so I do pack a pole saw in the event that I am going up a forest service road and come across a branch that would interface negatively with the top of my van.

One of my favorite things is to go skiing, get back to my van, have the diesel heater cranking, fire up the Starlink, and crank out a few hours of work. It feels like cheating. The same can be said about glassing mornings and evenings in the week before hunting, without taking time off of work.

Feel free to DM me if you have further questions

 

[3forks]

When it boils down to it, I would not buy a Van, or any vehicle for that matter, that I intend to use in the outdoors that does not have 4Low.

Agree with this 110%.

FWD or AWD is fine if you’re just on gravel roads or the highway. However, add steep punchy climbs or any situation where you need torque and can’t rely on forward momentum, and you’re going to be in trouble.

Any kind of offroad driving that requires you to move slowly and maneuver over or around obstacles is going to be way more challenging without 4 low (especially on any kind of grade).

Also, I’d ensure the van has the ability to turn traction control off. Newer vehicles with traction control won’t allow you to do what you need to do in even light/simple Offroad driving situations without trying to counter the input you’re putting into vehicle.

 

[Poser]

 

[Mr. October]

It's the "Van life" people in town I have a problem with.
Camping where they shouldn't, and etc.

Seems to be the big "challenge" when you look at their social media pages. The whole idea seeming to be getting away with camping where you shouldn't. I mean, some of the time (most?) it is probably harmless enough. Who cares if someone is sleeping in that van parked on a back street? But a lot of the activities not mentioned on social media involve inappropriate disposal of human waste, etc.

From some of the videos I've seen, it hardly seems worthwhile. They'll lock themselves in a van without air conditioning or even adequate ventilation for hours on end so they don't get caught.

 

[Pochuck]

View attachment 946426

Now I wanna put a skull cap mount on the front of my pickup

 

[canyonhunter47]

Trailers in snow and off-road are sketchy. That’s why I don’t have one. Instead, I have my van that can tow my ATV.

When you say four-wheel camper, I’m assuming you mean a slide in? That’s the other viable option, but the reality is that I’m 6 foot three, and I require space to stand up, and it’s hard to get an insulated tall enough camper shell that is reasonably sized, reasonably priced, and not sketchy as hell off-road. I guarantee I would break a lot of things in there. Also, the thing is already built out, and you can’t move things around in there to your specifications as all the finish work is already done.That said, the advantages of a camper is that you can take it off and just use the truck as a truck, which is something I am jealous of. I’m also jealous of the fact that you can put the camper on a notoriously reliable truck, like an early 2000 Toyota, and have that thing run forever without any issues. Econolines are known to have their issues.

One of the things that I love about the van is that I can park my van, turn around, and already be inside of my abode for the evening.

With all that said, my van is rather tall due to the bubble top, so I do pack a pole saw in the event that I am going up a forest service road and come across a branch that would interface negatively with the top of my van.

One of my favorite things is to go skiing, get back to my van, have the diesel heater cranking, fire up the Starlink, and crank out a few hours of work. It feels like cheating. The same can be said about glassing mornings and evenings in the week before hunting, without taking time off of work.

Feel free to DM me if you have further questions

I had in mind the 4 wheel camper brand popup slide ins that are at least somewhat offroadable. You definitely have the advantage of zero setup and more space with your van

 

[doc holiday13]

I have a 2wd, 170wb sprinter with minimal build out. Wife and I use it for weekend camping and roadtrips. It’s fun but I wouldn’t recommend for hunting or serious backcountry travel due to size and lack of 4wd. Anywhere I hunt I want 4wd, that’s big bucks in a sprinter. To build it out with what you want that ain’t cheap either. I bet you’re pushing 100k at that point. Better off with a 1ton pickup and slide in IMO.

Also Mercedes maintenance is a pain. Diesel system is a pain, computer system is a pain, parts aren’t that easy to get in a small town. The list goes on.

not hard to convert to 4wd. get a divorced transfer case, shorten the rear driveshaft and find solid front axle. convert wheel bolt pattern as necessary

 

[ozyclint]

Where are you finding beaches in South Dakota?

Don't know about the Dakota's but I know there's beaches in Cheyenne.

 

[vectordawg]

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

Lol! I know. I was just joking. My daily driver is a 2004 Toyota Corolla with no clear coat left on it and 273k+ miles and I have a “Can’t hide money” sticker on the back glass.

 

[*zap*]

4x4 8' bed pickup and a slide in camper is hard to beat. I am looking for a slide in for my f250 at the moment. If it has good jacks Taking it off is no issue at all.
Jmo

 

[Mr. October]

Lol! I know. I was just joking. My daily driver is a 2004 Toyota Corolla with no clear coat left on it and 273k+ miles and I have a “Can’t hide money” sticker on the back glass.

As long as it keeps running it keep driving. We are gonna have our Class A until the end of our RVing days. I can't afford a new one.

 

[Nevwild]

I had in mind the 4 wheel camper brand popup slide ins that are at least somewhat offroadable. You definitely have the advantage of zero setup and more space with your van

There are no solutions, only trade-offs. Decide what’s important to you, and make it happen.

 

[acooper1983]

As long as you live in it down by the river.

27 posts for someone to finally drop this low hanging Gem lol

 

[vectordawg]

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 understand how you feel. If I lived in an area where that was popular I’d probably hate them too. I hated saying “van life” in my original post but I didn’t know another way to phrase it. I’m not a millennial or a liberal. I never camp in the left lane. And I don’t have a trust fund. lol. Just a middle-aged white guy and his wife retiring next year after 25 years of government service.

 

[AG8]

It's the "Van life" people in town I have a problem with.
Camping where they shouldn't, and etc.

So, to sum it up: you have a problem of bums crapping in your yard, but otherwise know nothing about the OP or the topic and hand. Got it. Thanks for clarifying.