Intro

[Ferretz]

Hi. I’m a new member seriously considering purchasing an RV to live in full time. Fully outfitted ones are too expensive. I’m currently looking at used Transits with AWD as I like to go off road in the mountains when the weather is nice.

 

[INTJohn]

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the Van Living Forum ! You'll find plenty of good information from experienced people in this forum.
I wouldn't go off road or into the out back without AWD either.

 

[bullfrog !]

Welcome! Treat the van as a steel tent and just use it as a sleeping area to begin with. Getting a good nights sleep makes solving any other problems easier in the morning!

 

[rruff]

Hi. I’m a new member seriously considering purchasing an RV to live in full time. Fully outfitted ones are too expensive. I’m currently looking at used Transits with AWD as I like to go off road in the mountains when the weather is nice.

Transits have only had awd since 2020, so it won't be very old. They also have terrible ground clearance.

Get a 4wd pickup and camper instead.

 

[Ferretz]

Transits have only had awd since 2020, so it won't be very old. They also have terrible ground clearance.

Get a 4wd pickup and camper instead.

For going off road? Wouldn’t that make the center of gravity excessively high? Thank you in advance.

 

[twomountainlions]

Huh, low mileage large cargo van will cost the same or more as RV or truck/trailer even before you build it out, vans are ridiculously overpriced.

If you want real off road get a 4x4 truck plus RV topper camper.

 

[bullfrog !]

For going off road? Wouldn’t that make the center of gravity excessively high? Thank you in advance.

You can’t have ground clearance without raising the center of gravity but you can keep heavy items lower.

 

[twomountainlions]

Truck campers are designed by engineers specifically for off/rough road travel with proper center of gravity in mind

 

[twomountainlions]

Yes, stuff like tanks and main storage is all in the lower part. Even the empty one got center of gravity designed to be in proper place, filling the tanks and loading stuff only makes it all even more stable

 

[rruff]

For going off road? Wouldn’t that make the center of gravity excessively high? Thank you in advance.

Not at all. Why would it have a higher CG than a van?

The camper I built is over 9' long plus a cabover sleeping berth, 76" high inside, and the weight of the shell plus mounting parts, bumper and step... minus the original bed and bumper that was removed, comes to ~550 lbs. I have no cabinets up high, only clothes in hammocks. Nothing on the roof either. Heavy stuff is on the floor or under it, and far forward if possible.

Tip-over is a very overblown concern anyway. Mostly when it happens it's because someone was stupid. Driving too fast and turning up a hill for instance. We get worried about it long before it's an actual danger... unless we do something stupid.

 

[Ferretz]

Huh, low mileage large cargo van will cost the same or more as RV or truck/trailer even before you build it out, vans are ridiculously overpriced.

If you want real off road get a 4x4 truck plus RV topper camper.

I love F-150’s but am concerned about not being able to get into the cab quickly if I need to escape.

 

[rruff]

I love F-150’s but am concerned about not being able to get into the cab quickly if I need to escape.

From what?!

 

[twomountainlions]

I love F-150’s but am concerned about not being able to get into the cab quickly if I need to escape.

Highly unlikely situation...unless you are urban camping in big cities, but for that you def dont want a truck camper anyway

 

[twomountainlions]

Transits have only had awd since 2020, so it won't be very old. They also have terrible ground clearance.

Get a 4wd pickup and camper instead.

Pretty much all stock vans have lousy ground clearance, 6-7", 8" in the best case. Transits can have more than Promaster depending on the model. Then you can generally safely add a couple of inches to that, which still doesnt amount to a lot. Crazy mods for even more clearance... not sure how reliable and safe the stuff is. Trucks just offer better clearance options.

 

[twomountainlions]

One drawback of stock RV truck camper as I see it is having to climb pretty high up to enter the living area. With a van you have more flexibility as how to position your tanks and storage and its not as much climbing. That's one of the reasons I didnt go with truck camper as I enter/exit vehicle gazillion of times a day and carrying stuff too

 

[bullfrog !]

One drawback of stock RV truck camper as I see it is having to climb pretty high up to enter the living area. With a van you have more flexibility as how to position your tanks and storage and its not as much climbing. That's one of the reasons I didnt go with truck camper as I enter/exit vehicle gazillion of times a day and carrying stuff too

You still have steps in most campers no mater what kind. Even vans have one or two. Modern technology has made light weight staircases that go from side to side behind the truck and lift gates as well as accommodating handicap lifts but they are expensive for most applications. I saw one aluminum one that folded down to make a rear deck then unfolded again to make a stair case 4 or 5 steps high. Yes the high living area can be a problem if you have mobility issues.