Hi top van or cargo trailer?

[Tuesdayafterlunch]

<font face="Arial" size="2">Hello all,&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></font><div><font face="Arial" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">I'm wanting to join your ranks on the road and have been trying to decide between a hi top van and a cargo trailer. &nbsp;I was all set on finding a van (has to have a hi top: standing is a must for me) until I started reading about cargo trailers and finding out what a great living space they can make.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Would you chime in with your opinion? &nbsp; I am thinking about fuel costs, stealth, and &nbsp;convenience, and would like to hear about anything else you experts have to say on the subject that a newbie doesn't know to ask about!&nbsp;</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Thanks much, and</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Cheers,&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">K</font></div>

 

[thomas7]

<p>Great question i was going to ask the same thing for i am just getting started myself.</p>

 

[Lucy]

When I was researching what to get, I was looking at trailers for a while. But a few sites I was checking made good points about how access to the driver's seat is a good thing, in case you end up in a bad situation. I guess it depends on how secure you think you'll be, but as a woman on her own I thought it best to be able to get behind the wheel without going outside first, especially late at night or in bad weather, or if I feel like I might be in danger.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>For stealth that's also an issue, though. Finding the perfect place to park late one night, then having to get out of your truck or car and go back into a trailer...it calls attention to itself.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Then again, I ended up buying a conversion without a high-top. I couldn't stand full height in a regular high-top anyway, so in the end it wasn't as important as I thought. I might regret that choice later, but I'll be walking around outside the van enough to make up for it.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fuel cost someone else would have to talk about. If you had a great-mileage truck or SUV that could tow the trailer you might be better off there, but I've got no idea.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Tuesdayafterlunch]

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial" size="2">I know what you mean about security, Lucy; I'm a woman alone, too, and I've also read about the importance of driver's seat access. I have read that cargo trailers can be very stealthy, though, because between RVs, vans, and cargo trailers, the trailers are the last thing people suspect of being a dwelling. I've also done some searching on security issues in a few forums and have found most people say they've had no security problems at all...but still.&nbsp; Hard to know which way to go, isn't it?<br></font></p>

 

[judycmomx6]

That is a hard choice to make. I think the choice should depend on how stealthy you really need to be. If you have to stay in a city for work, I'm sure a van would be the best, although if you have a lot of commercial areas around you could park there with a trailer. I have both a van and a cargo trailer/camper and I wouldn't give up either one in a million years, but I have a honda trike that I carry in my trailer, so it's essential to have a trailer to put it in. So, what I'm getting at is, you alone know what your need's are. I do love my little camper though, I couldn't live in such a small space as the van's have. I have a real kitchen, and a separate room for a bathroom, and standing is a must. My bed goes up against the wall, as does my dinning table when not in use so I can pull my trike in. When I'm traveling I still just sleep in the van till I get where I'm going and can pull my bike out. But even with my big trike in the trailer I can still get to the bathroom and kitchen, as they are at the front, I just have to step over the front wheel. I park at rest areas and truck stops when I travel. You just have to be careful, but that's true no matter where you park or what you drive. Anyway, see how we have to look at thing's? You just need to really take a look at how cramped or whatever you want to be, and weigh all the things you need to be comfortable and go from there. Hope that helps just a little.

 

[Seraphim]

<p>I'm partial to high top vans myself. Everything in one spot and accessible no matter what the weather. Never have to leave anything behind, can park anywhere a regular van can. Just me.<br><br>Ours is fully equipped and self sufficient.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">

I have a real kitchen, and a separate room for a bathroom, and standing is a must.

</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Just to note: these are also possible in a hightop van.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://bentfalcon.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/rear.jpg"></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br>&nbsp;</p>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hey Judy, do you have a pic of your trailer set up?&nbsp; I'd like to have a living space and ability to place my motorcycle in a trailer.&nbsp; Just curious as to how it would set up.&nbsp; Thanks.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[Seraphim]

<p>Addendum: It's true DW and I are looking at a truck camper to replce our B.&nbsp; She isn't as comfortable with two people in it as I am over extended periods of time (over a month).&nbsp; For me it's fine, and would be even more so for just one person. But, if momma ain't happy, then no one's happy lol.</p>

 

[judycmomx6]

Seraphim, when they said "hightop" van, I thought they were talking about a regular van with just a high roof on it, Duh me! Yesican, I will try and get a pic.

 

[angeli]

Hey Judy!&nbsp; <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br>Thanks for the reminder about security and cab access.&nbsp; I do remember that in the years I was in my little cabover, and travelling in NM and Colo, there were two times that I was very glad to be able to slide from the camper and thru the window into the cab to start up and move on. <br><br>It wasn't stealthy or even fuel efficient or even very good on the truck, but it was quite comfortable and being able to shimmy into the truck was a very good thing as I recall.<br><br>Once because we had parked somewhere that looked fine in the late afternoon hours but became a drug mart after dark.&nbsp; That was scary and I was glad to not have to get out of the cabover to leave.&nbsp; I think also once because a patrol car took a very close interest in us and kept driving by shining their spotlight in our windows.&nbsp; We were parked in a supermarket lot, and I assumed that they were waiting for the post midnight hours to roust us, so I just left my husband and the dog snoozing and slid into the truck and on down the road a bit.&nbsp; I was perhaps being paranoid, but felt better for it afterward in a much more out of the way corner.<br><br>I know there were other cases of being rousted, and other cases of having to move on, but this ol' girl hasta pick and choose her memories when she can find them!&nbsp; LOL.<br>

 

[judycmomx6]

Hey Angeli!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"><div>Your right about that security thing. When I travel with my cargo trailer and van, I'm usually sleeping in my van and I try to stay in the truck stops as much as I can and sometimes they are creepy too, being able to climb into the driver's seat right from bed is alot safer than having to get out in case there's a problem. Us girls have to be extra careful anyway, and not having to go outside to get out of a situation is a very real thing.</div>

 

[Seraphim]

05/04/12 at 10:42 AM #9 Seraphim, when they said "hightop" van, I thought they were talking about a regular van with just a high roof on it, Duh me! Yesican, I will try and get a pic. __________________ http://handmadejewelrybyjudy.blogspot.com http://www.zibbet.com/JudysCustomJewelry

That IS just a regular van with a high top on it: the a lot of other stuff was added. The point was you can get a high top to stand up in, and have all the features.

 

[Simran]

I have a hi-top &amp; love it. The advantages are many which leaves few disadvantages.<br>Disadvantages are thus:<br>Hard to see what is behind you.<br>Limited space. Limited by the length of the vehicle (cargo trailers come in multiple sizes).<br>To a degree the wind affects the way it handles. Not so much with a one ton though.<br>Parking in parking garages can be an issue.<br><br>The disadvantages I see with a trailer are:<br>parking: you can't park downtown like you can with a van. You have to drop the trailer somewhere or walk.<br>Have to leave one unit to enter the other.<br>More tires to maintain &amp; replace.<br>Initial cost: I'm not sure you could buy a decent pickup &amp; cargo trailer for the amount you can buy a decent van for.However, if you already have a pickup this point is moot.<br><br>DISCLAIMER: These points are certainly not comprehensive by any means and do not address the stealth factor at all.<br><br>Just a few points to ponder.<br><br>gus<br><br>

 

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: medium;">I vote for a Cargo trailer</span> &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: medium;">My tundra gets 13 MPG about the same as many vans</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: medium;">http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/</span>