Pro/Cons of Class C vs Bus vs Box Truck vs Step Van?

[AlwaysRt]

I am looking for a full time rig for my wife and I. Want to be able to fit in National Parks, campgrounds, boondocking access (no need to get as far away as Bob but certainly will be on dirt/gravel BLM/Forest roads). Every few hours it seems I rotate through which of these three rigs would work out best. Being a newbie I figured you guys could help clarify things for me. Here is the combined 'requirements' list of my wife and I.

$15k - $20k boondocking ready (finished)
less than 30' total length
Full Bath (separate shower - not a 'wet' bath)

Concerns are:
Class C - so much talk about low quality construction (can't afford $1,000 repair bills every month), have to accept some designer's idea of a layout vs one I come up with best for us (can't afford to buy a good rig and rip everything out to remodel.)

Bus - Stairs where passenger seat should be, ceiling height, replacing windows for better insulation, I have heard there is campground bias against skoolies?

Box Truck - Seems to be very few available with pass-through, is it structurally ok to cut a pass-through large enough to have the front seats swivel?

Step Van - Stairs where passenger seat should be, I have heard very unstable driving in cross-wind, may not be large enough to add a full bath

Thanks for your input,
Steve

 

[John61CT]

The low quality issue is the buildout stuff, electric not designed for off grid etc. But the base vehicles can be found with low mileage, not sure with that budget though.

Only way to be able to depend on the nice campgrounds though.

Bus is the cheapest, shuttle style less so.

No big cutting through a box truck afaik, structural issues, need a cutaway.

 

[John61CT]

Step van issue also true for anything with the standing height, just need to go a bit slower, stay put in tornadoes.

 

[ratfink56]

Your budget will buy a pretty nice class c. Wait until fall if you can. Many owners try to sell before winter hits. And the prices go way down.

 

[bullfrog]

Most if not all your perceptions if not all seem generally correct but every person is different in their amount of concern with those issues. You will have to compromise no matter what you choose. Not one is perfect. It seems to me a truck and trailer work better for us because of the amount of stuff/hobbies we have, but so does a truck camper pulling a towd and sometimes just a large SUV. We still both work seasonally, we use a four wheel drive vehicle, I like to fish and ride a bike, my wife loves her big four wheel drive SUV. The answer may be all of the above or more than one at different times in your life.

 

[DannyB1954]

The Class C is the only one listed that is not a commercial vehicle. In some States it can be a lot of trouble if not nearly impossible to get registration and insurance changed to RV status from commercial. There are work arounds like be domiciled in one State and registered in another, but this adds to complications. Before buying a commercial vehicle, take the vin number from the vehicle, (or even a similar vehicle), and get insurance quotes.
For me in Nevada it is easier to buy an RV tear it down completely and rebuild any way I like, than it is to modify a commercial vehicle.

 

[skyl4rk]

I vote a small class c or class a. Dont underestimate the time and effort to build out a vehicle.

 

[John61CT]

Getting a cheap RV is very dependent on where you are

 

[AlwaysRt]

Sounding to me like consensus is buying a class C is much easier and I was putting too much weight on the low quality issue. As long as I check for water damage and have it checked out mechanically, then maintain it, it should be good for many years?

For re-registering a commercial vehicle and insuring it, it seems Florida is simple enough. (Will be 'based' out of Tampa)

I would 1st be looking to buy around Tampa, then I have family in St Louis Missouri, then anywhere else if the deal is good enough.

Was in residential/light commercial construction for 20 years so building out a vehicle actually sounds fun, although I am concerned the nerve damage in my back could turn that fun into torture.

 

[bullfrog]

If you can find an older Pickup truck class C and have the skills I would go for that as I hate working on vans.

 

[wmyers4u]

I have a cutaway van but still won't accomodate swivel seats. It's a case by case issue.

Mine is a chevy van with 12' box with 6' of headroom. All aluminium. I haven't built it out yet. Still planning and collecting materials but I am very happy so far. 12' box will give me room for a shower with a portable potty that will live in it when not showering.

I've read that most stepvans are geared for lower speeds and not well equipped for a lot highway driving. that might be something to look into if you go that route.

 

[Jim_Rockford]

After owning several RVs and campers I can say they are built like ****, even though the barth I bought it built good, but the interior stuff is garbage , particle board counters and cabinets , they are just built out of crap. Never again will I even waste money on an commercial RV ever again.
My plan now is to build a 6.2 equipped step van .