Non-Running Sienna as camper?

[TheBreeze]

New 'ghost' here looking for ideas. I have looked at many of the wonderful conversions that you folks have made and had visions of turning my 1997 Sienna into a camper to use for short term camping (2-5 days with outside facilities). Basically use it for sleeping in cold/hot environments. Well the transmission and engine decided to give up after 275,000 miles but it still has a great body. What if the motor/trans were removed and the van was converted to a towable camper? All unnecessary weight stripped if course. I have a tow vehicle very capable of towing (up to 7,500lbs). Any ideas on what might be the best way to actually pull the van? Tow bar? Remove front wheels and modify rear axle position? It's a project that would be better using a cargo trailer conversion for sure, but the van is in excellent condition other than it won't go by itself and funds are tight right now. I even thought about using the engine compartment to house a small generator and such. Any thoughts or ideas will be very much appreciated. If it's a goofy idea full of pitfalls tell me that too!

 

[highdesertranger]

try to trade the sienna for a cargo trailer. for the same length of the sienna you would have much more room with the cargo trailer. I see many problems with trying to flat pull the sienna. highdesertranger

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

HDR is absolutely right.  To pull the Sienna, you would have to:

1: Find a tow bar and a mounting plate designed for the Sienna.

2:  Modify the wiring so the taillights, turn signals and brake lights are worked by the tow vehicle.

3:  Figure out some way to get the Sienna brakes to work synched to the tow vehicle.

Probably cost a grand or two.  Absolutely, Positively not worth messing with.

Sell it to the junkyard for scrap and walk away from it.

Regards
John

 

[LeeRevell]

It certainly has been done. Go to Google Images, and type in "Trailer made from van". Lots of ideas.

But as said, it may be some expense and trouble, getting the welding doe and the brakes working. The minivan usually has a beam axle though, which could be swapped out for a heavy duty trailer axle with trailer brakes.

 

[TucsonAZ]

I'm guessing you have a 750 pound tongue weight rating? Cool idea for sure but you may be best off finding a rough travel trailer for $200 to use the frame from that to mount the Toyota body to. Otherwise you would need to get the tires 60% of the way back for a nice pull and even weight distribution. It would be awesome to remove the entire drive train and simply put a hitch on the front but the tongue weight would kill you if you did that. If you didn't want to do this for the novelty I would sell it for $700 and buy an enclosed trailer, I actually bought one for $650 after a fair amount of searching, they are out there though.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

It certainly has been done.  Go to Google Images, and type in "Trailer made from van".   Lots of ideas.

Sure.  You can do anything if you've got access to a machine shop, a welder, all the time in the world, and a big enough pile of money.

But stuff like that are built by people with a bad case of "Look at me!  Ain't I cool?"

And there's nothing wrong with that, IF you can afford to indulge your narciscism.

I seriously doubt that they even come close to breaking even when it comes time to sell Project Supercool.

Regards
John

 

[ZoNiE]

Put a rebuilt engine and tranny in it and drive it?

 

[LeeRevell]

Sure.  You can do anything if you've got access to a machine shop, a welder, all the time in the world, and a big enough pile of money.

But stuff like that are built by people with a bad case of "Look at me!  Ain't I cool?"

And there's nothing wrong with that, IF you can afford to indulge your narciscism.

I seriously doubt that they even come close to breaking even when it comes time to sell Project Supercool.

Regards
John

Never said it was a great idea, but some folks apparently like it.  But I'll stick with my 5'X10' open utility trailer.  I could enclose it pretty cheap.

 

[ttpadilla]

I also agree with HDR. Trade for a cargo trailer if you can. It's lighter, has more interior space overall, and is already designed to be towed.

 

[akrvbob]

If I were going to add the hassle of towing a trailer and spending all the money to covert that van into a trailer, I would insist on being able to stand up in it. That's the deal breaker for me.
Bob

 

[minimotos95]

I would love one of those van/trailers to match my van.

I have been using my non driving minivan as my home for over a year while I work on getting it road worthy, stationary for the most part. If it's something to just set up on some land it works, you cold fit a lot of batteries into an empty engine bay. If you want to to travel it would be wise to trade for an enclosed trailer. 4x8' being roughly the same size but with vertical walls and probably more height. It never hurts to put a barter ad on CL, with a bad motor and trans someone may want that Sienna for an EV project or have a crashed Sienna with a good powertrain.

 

[TheBreeze]

I was definitely bummed out when the Sienna started acting up. I really wanted to use it as a short term camper and pull a light bass boat with it to a local marina/campground. I appreciate all the input about converting it and I also think it would be better to scrap the idea of converting it to a camper. I don't have the time to swap out the drivetrain so I think I'll just shelf the idea and go another route. Thanks again for all the insight/thoughts...You guys have been down this road before and can offer advice that is proven through experiences. I'm too old to learn the hard way...but smart enough to listen to sound advice.

 

[ttpadilla]

I'm too old to learn the hard way...but smart enough to listen to sound advice.

That's wisdom, right there! Good luck, and keep us posted on your plans!