2 in a van..very difficult with 17 sq ft shared!

[Dragonfly]

We took our trip down to Algadones Mex. The dental work was very successful. Yay for that.
However we didn't bank on the tiny amount of space 2 of us would be sharing, with a Luggable Loo in the 17 sq ft between bed and front seats. Or the stacked up buckets of needed items..food being one.
It was hard living. The comfort of the bed was the best part..very nice sleeping, very nice for reading on our tablets. However: 'stuff' fell from the small 'shelf-like places' down between bed and sides of van. Yikes. First night I saw a web under the bed and toughed it out. The occupant came out with the folded chairs.
Every day was an adventure in trying to keep the back privacy curtain up..so using the 'loo' was difficult nearly to the point of being impossible with 2 in the van.
We stayed on the desert for 4 days, cooked outside..that was cool..so was washing up and brushing our teeth.

But for a long camping trip..no..we struck San Diego off our list of places to visit, since the windows were condensating badly..a dead tip off we were sleeping in the van.
We spent 30 yrs traveling in vans, camper vans and RVs of various kinds. We decided the back of a truck didn't work..long ago.
Now at our ages..we have decided a passenger van won't work for us.
We need a camper van with closet, toilet, place to heat water...and move around in.

Back to the drawing board.
Oz and Mr. Oz.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Yeah two in a van would be super tight. One possible option is this setup with two smaller beds along the sides. Then use the space under for storage.

 

[Seraphim]

That's why we went from a camper van to a truck camper. We don't try to be stealthy, though. A TC has two distinct areas - a lovng area and a sleeping area - that can offer a bit od personal space when necessary

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Just for fun, I googled the average size of prison cells.

It appears to be 80 square feet.

Just think: If someone were FORCING the two of you to live in that van, the human rights groups would be all over them for the cruel and inhumane way they were forcing you to live!

Regards
John

 

[Almost There]

I've never done a long road trip with 2 in a van but my parents did - 10 and 12 week cross continent road trips.

Ford E150 with a high top roof - no chance of stealth with it but that wasn't an issue for them. It was equipped with a 2 burner propane stove and a 12 volt fridge. This was way before solar was ever being used so they used FHU campsites each night.

They had a few things figured out really quickly:

- both front seats had swivel bases so that they could be used for living/dining area.
- The table was on a pedestal base that set up at proper eating height between and just back of the two seats.
- Dad always got the drivers seat so that mom could play waitress at meal times. It also meant he was out of the way in the corner...lol.
- kitchen cabinets and clothing cabinets/drawers were all built in with good secure latches. Nothing was in totes.
- proper curtains on all windows were installed so that keeping 'a privacy drape' up was a non-issue.
- both used the porta pottie as little as possible and particularly for their 'morning constitutional'....that's what campground washrooms were for.
- Only 1 person tried doing stuff at a time. One got up, dressed and moved out of the way. No room for passing in the aisle type thing!

The only time they found it difficult was in Alaska when it rained for 3 days straight and they stayed in one campground. A little too much togetherness apparently..

Oh and they were doing this when Dad retired so it's not like they were young stuff!!

yeah, I know where I got my wandering feet from...

 

[rvwandering]

I know how you feel. We started out years ago with a Vanagon. Lived and traveled in that for a year with our 4 year old daughter. It was primitive - just an ice box, pump sink, storage and bed. The best part was the pop up roof. Almost everything was done outside. We had a blast but after that year we were ready to settle down and spread out a bit. A series of vans and a truck with a cap took us on many weekend camping trips. When we were ready to fulltime again we knew that we wanted more room and more comfort. Our little 25' class C feels like a mansion! Have fun finding for your next traveling machine!

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I've never done a long road trip with 2 in a van but my parents did - 10 and 12 week cross continent road trips.

Ford E150 with a high top roof - no chance of stealth with it but that wasn't an issue for them. It was equipped with a 2 burner propane stove and a 12 volt fridge. This was way before solar was ever being used so they used FHU campsites each night.

They had a few things figured out really quickly:

- both front seats had swivel bases so that they could be used for living/dining area.
- The table was on a pedestal base that set up at proper eating height between and just back of the two seats.
- Dad always got the drivers seat so that mom could play waitress at meal times. It also meant he was out of the way in the corner...lol.
- kitchen cabinets and clothing cabinets/drawers were all built in with good secure latches. Nothing was in totes.
- proper curtains on all windows were installed so that keeping 'a privacy drape' up was a non-issue.
- both used the porta pottie as little as possible and particularly for their 'morning constitutional'....that's what campground washrooms were for.
- Only 1 person tried doing stuff at a time. One got up, dressed and moved out of the way. No room for passing in the aisle type thing!

The only time they found it difficult was in Alaska when it rained for 3 days straight and they stayed in one campground. A little too much togetherness apparently..

Oh and they were doing this when Dad retired so it's not like they were young stuff!!

yeah, I know where I got my wandering feet from...

Morning Constitutional? I didnt think the Constitution had anything to do with it!

 

[LeeRevell]

In other words, as the English say, they 'went walkies'.......

 

[akrvbob]

I drove to Alaska with my girlfriend we were in the van together for 2 months. We designed the van extremely well so that even when we were stuck inside with a week of rain we did okay. But no, it's not the way I'd be willing to live forever. I do know people who do it but I have no idea how.
Bob

 

[MrNoodly]

On one hand, I know a couple that were in a standard length van pulling a utility trailer. After a little over a year they switched to a 26-foot RV. On the other hand, I know another couple who are still going strong in an Astro van. It all depends on the couple.

Oh, and I once met a pair of sisters doing a month-long camping trip with a Smart. I was amazed how much gear they pulled out of that thing.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

very difficult indeed we spent 3 months on the road this summer in a Dodge Caravan, 20,000kms, Vancouver, Alaska, Yukon then across Canada, it went extremely well, I think the design of the little pop top had something to do with it. In the afternoon I often had alone time on the top bunk, also I think the front swivelling seats had a great impact on giving everyone a little space, as for the potti we had a five gallon bucket but never had to used it even the pee bottler was rarely used somehow we managed without them most of the time. Of course we were in remote areas, it was summer and we were on the move. When we got back to the Kurbmaster we also thought we had entered a mansion.

 

[PastTense]

You can tow a trailer with a passenger van--which can be used as a second bedroom or whatever.

 

[wagoneer]

Or like I am trying to do with this 4 x 6 Cargo use it to store stuff like a big closet

 

[LeeRevell]

I don't quite get the '17 square foot' thing. Is this just the walkway not including the bed and other van areas? Total van area is a good deal more than 17 square feet.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Yep, even I feel pinched when my son comes with me in my van, and I'm just under 100 square feet of living space (total). There are two things I have to constantly remind him; 1) Sit down & sit still so I can move around, and 2) the counter-tops are NOT storage. Everything must be stowed or it will fall during travel... yes, even your $1400 laptop! Kids...

 

[akrvbob]

The 17 sq ft refers to the open floor area. I'm assuming the bed took the whole back of the van and the seats take the whole front. 17 s.f. is what's left over between them. If you're going to poop, that's where you are going to do it at.

On our trip to the Yukon and Alaska there were two good reasons to poop inside,1) it rained a lot and 2) the mosquitoes would carry you away outside if it wasn't raining. You would literally have to slather your privates with bug juice to survive it.

A third reason to poop inside for my girlfriend was the bears. They were thick! I'm used to bear country but her, not so much!

We were remote more than we were in town so public bathrooms weren't available. Often, if there were public bathrooms the smell made the van preferable.

My girlfriend and I just got used to it and kept ourselves occupied while the other person was doing there thing. It's just part of life!!

Bob

 

[AuricTech]

A TC has two distinct areas - a lovng area and a sleeping area (emphasis added)

Interesting typo (if typo it was)...

 

[jimindenver]

When we had the van or 13 ft trailer, there wasn't room for a separate bathroom. it wasn't until we got a three room tent that we had any privacy.

I have to say that i admire those that can live in such small quarters. I love small things like campers, houses, cars, but don't exactly fit well at my size. The other thing is that even with our 25 ft trailer I get stir crazy when we are cooped up due to weather. It would help if the furniture was a bit more comfy, (again too big) but my lazy boy recliner wont fit.

 

[akrvbob]

I have a friend who lives in a Truck Camper and tows a cargo trailer which is nothing but a "man-cave" for his Lazy Boy, X-Box and 50 inch flat-screen!

That's good livin!!

Poor guy though, he doesn't have anyone to give him the stink-eye!!
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

A true 'man cave' will have the mini-fridge for his beer, and his gun-locker and reloading bench included.