Best lifestyle model - van towing RV

[offroad]

This is not kissing up to the master van dweller bob. Honest. But have now settled on the fact that I want a van with an RV in tow, and a small motorcycle.

RV for guests visits and shelter when using HVAC with insulation. VAN to allow more freedom to stealth camp and to haul a motorcycle on the front or in the tongue.

So let's talk cost. Can you get one fully configured. All. For $10k? Or will you need $15k or more?

 

[Stargazer]

Offroad,

This is what I do, also. I have my original self-converted van, then purchased a very small TT that the van can tow to use as a home base. I love this setup. When I travel, I leave the TT behind and live in the van. When I need to fulfill family obligations or such, I use the van as my daily driver and live in the TT (with air conditioning! where my little dog is safe.).

As for cost, pick a number.

 

[owl]

I think that is a good choice also. Look for used, not at dealers. Craigslist is a good place to start. Lots of choices under $10,000. Good luck.

 

[Unchained]

This is the setup I'm going with as well. I bought an older 15' TT already and will be shopping for a van shortly.

ETA- I paid about $1500 for the trailer, which needs some work, and will be looking for a van in the $2500 range.

 

[Patrick46]

for 10K, you autta be able to set up everything...including a murdersicle. (even less if you're a thrifty shopper.)

It ain't gonna be brand new and shiney, so some sacrifices may be in order.

 

[akrvbob]

here are my actual prices:

2001 Express 1 ton G3500 -- $3500
New 6x10 cargo trailer -- $2400
1996 Honda Rebel (1076 Miles!)-- $2000
Rack for bike--$300
Cost for conversion -- $300
=================
Total $8500

You can probably get a decent used RV Travel Trailer for about the price I paid for my trailer and conversion. Ideally you would get a Scamp or Cassita but they hold their value so well they will be much more.

I think $10,000 is pretty reasonable.
Bob

 

[MrNoodly]

Best lifestyle model -- for some.

For me, towing anything would limit where I could go. It's more "stuff" to worry about, something more to insure.

It seems like there are two basic approaches to this mobile life. One wonders how much of the building-dwelling life they can keep, the other wonders how little of the building-dwelling life they can get away with. I tend toward the latter.

 

[akrvbob]

Very well said Mr Noodly!! You have a way with words! But remember, I know who you are!!
Bob

 

[offroad]

That's where the motorcycle comes in. Strap on a backpacking tent and sleeping bag and you are a minimalist. How little can you have.

---

Looked at the Cassita and Scamps during a meetup of that lifestyle of camper. Most folks did the weekend campground with their $10k to $15k plastic box (fiberglass). None were full time. Guess was expecting a gypsy vibe, but got mom & pop with toys feeling. If that makes sense.

 

[Reducto]

Where do you leave your trailer when you're on one of these van-only adventures in the city?

Seems like a converted cargo trailer would be easier to secure.

 

[offroad]

Reducto - good idea on converted cargo being cheap to secure. Lock it up. Lock the tongue. Chain it to a tree. Activate motion detector alarm with cellphone dial up. Good to go.

 

[AimlessWanderLust]

I too have been wondering about the logistics of "storing the trailer" when out with just the van. It seems to me that it could get pretty expensive to pay to store it at some lot. I don't suppose it would be possible to leave it on BLM land for longer than 2 weeks...

 

[MrNoodly]

There are places in RV-intensive pats of the country with storage lots for as little as $35/month.

Another alternative is to have vandwelling friends look after the trailer for you.

 

[user 423]

There are places in RV-intensive pats of the country with storage lots for as little as $35/month.

Don't know if it's still true but there was a storage business near Slab City that only charged $10/month. Some folks would just leave their MH or TT there for most of the year then pull them out in Nov. or Dec. to spend the winter. I wondered how the owners could make any money but I believe their main income was from the sale of abandoned RVs.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I am with Mr Noodly on this one, I had a set up like that, never full timed but did many extended trips over a 10 year period. A 10 foot by 6 foot tt, a small van I put my vespa in the back and hauled our see kayaks on the roof, I could also throw a couple of bicycles in as well. I used to say it was the best set up as the TT was cheap to licence required little maintenance and could be used as a guest room. For a few years we used to use it as batch\cottage by the seaside in a campground on a permanent basis during the off seasons, we enjoyed this and it made for cheap accomadations with a million dollar view.
After towing it for many thousands of kms, I had it, with looking in my mirrors, parking it, limiting where I could go etc... I converted my van, made a scooter rack and am much happier driving it around without that thing following me. However I did advocate for a long time that it was the best set up, Not anymore... for me it kinda took some of the joy of travelling down the road, it seemed like more work towing the thing then driving without it, so I grew to resent it. I also came to think about the scooter that way and now I am feeling the sea kayaks could be happier elsewhere.

 

[offroad]

Flying are you getting tired of being slave to your toys ?

 

[akrvbob]

Obviously no solution is best for everybody, we all have such different priorities. Beyond that, our priorities change over time. When I first hit the road I traveled constantly so a trailer would have been terrible. But I kindof worked that out of my system and now 6 years later I like to spend the winter in the desert without much movement. So the comfort of the cargo trailer is appreciated. Then in the summer i put the trailer in storage and take off in just the van.

For me, for now, it is the best of both worlds: extra comfort in the winter and total mobility and freedom to travel in the summer.

Plus, there just aren't that many places I want to go in the winter!

Finding a place to store the trailer is not even slightly an issue. Nearly every town has outside, secure storage for $25-$35 a month. I think that is a cheap price to pay for the best of both worlds!!
Bob

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Flying are you getting tired of being slave to your toys ?

only a bit, I have always known that whatever I own owns me and asks me for attention. I am just tired of having to say leave me alone

 

[wagoneer]

Last year I purchased a 20 foot tt took it to the mexican border for some dental appointments. I have to say it felt very conventional and that turned out to be a problem for me. It is an easy tow and loaded with amendments, but not my style. Got lucky to find a nice place to store it 47 dollars per month (in the bay area) is cheap. Pulling it was a non issue 7.3 powerstroke in an extended 2001 ford hightop.. all in all too much room. I have been shopping for a 6 x 10 cargo trailer.

 

[MrNoodly]

IF I were ever to tow a trailer, it would be something like the smallest Airstream, but gutted and renovated so that it's just a decent sized bathroom and a kitchen. Then the van would be the bedroom and storage. (Yeah, I could modify a utility trailer, but I figure it's easier to not start all the plumbing and electrical from scratch.)