Vacation Van-ing?

[WeNeedaChange]

Hello,

I was toying with the idea of a vacation/camping van-ing experience and would like your opinions, please.

I would like to fly into Arizona, rent a van, and camp in it instead of shelling out mega bucks for a motel/hotel. This way I could be mobile and move around and go where I want too. I would bring sleeping bag etc in luggage.

I could experience some of the lifestyle, see the sights, and still keep my job here.

What do you think? Am I totally crazy?? My friends think I am.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I could see it being done, but I don't think you could bring everything you would need as luggage.

I would want a cot and mattress.  Depending on time of year and insect life, an insect net for over the cot.  A stove.  An icebox.  A 12 volt fan.  The list could go on.

Then there's the issue of going off road on BLM land.  Recovery gear.  A tow strap, a shovel, a 12 volt compressor so you could air down tires.

Possibly you could box all that up and ship it out via UPS or something.  Relying on just what you could bring on a plane would lead to a pretty miserable vacation, I would think . . .

 

[Wabbit]

If you're a camper already and know what kind of gear you require, why not? Although...prob cheaper to do it in your area in reasonable weather. Gear cost $$$. Its more than just a sleeping bag unless you can afford to eat @ diners\live off cold canned food\other ideas. Hope you get something figured out!

 

[ArtW]

you'd have to fly in, buy your gear for the van, which might cost as much as a hotel room, and buy food, etc
if you don't plan to go far off the beaten path, you could rent a Jucy rv, it at least has most of what you would need, and you could likely bring things like lights with you

 

[rvwandering]

Not only is it possible to do this it works very well!

Years ago we did the exact thing that you're considering. We bought very cheap tickets to Las Vegas, rented a small car, and spent a week visiting national parks in Utah and California. We packed a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, our back packing stove, pots and utensils in our luggage. It's not a problem to pick up anything else that you might need as you're traveling around - certainly a lot easier than it is for a backpacker and they survive just fine with what fits in their packs!

 

[slynne]

I did something similar to this on a trip to Hawaii once. Not a van but when I got there, I bought a tent, an air mattress, and some misc gear that I didn't bring with me. Those were the days of being allowed to check TWO bags for free so I brought things like sleeping bag on the plane with me but could have easily bought one there too. Some state parks there have cabins and common kitchen facilities plus I like to eat out a lot on vacation so I didn't bother to buy anything for cooking but I think that even on Hawaii, one could buy the minimum amount of gear for the price of just one night in a hotel.

 

[rvpopeye]

Be mindful of seasonal temps where you want to go.
You can do it.
You should do it.
Ask all the questions you want.
Welcome aboard !

 

[eDJ_]

I would say that you could do it if you have some tools and skills.  Wouldn't take much in terms of materials & fabrication,  but you will be spending some money.   This is do-able but not cheap.  Yet it may prove worthwhile.

I could see this as some kind of challenge to take on and blogg about.

You may want to find a local self employed carpenter and contact him about doing the floor, building the bed frame,  and finding a used floor cabinet for you to set up as a kitchenette.    You could send him my website
address for Van Conversion.  (the first link below)   Then when you get there, meet with him at a Lumber Yard
and get some supplies.   Meanwhile contact some Carpet places to see if you can find some basic carpet to go over your flooring.

Then you would want to get some kind of sub-flooring down.  Masonite or 3/8 plywood sub flooring. (I got mine at Lowe's for less than $10 a 4x8 sheet and used 3 of them)  Next some kind of simple carpeting.  If you visit a few carpet stores they may have some used you could get for cheap and for a few bucks get it laid for you.

Then you would need to rig a bed.  2x4's and 5/8" plywood would make a platform so you may find a mattress or an air-mattress that would fit it. (I would lay an old blanket on the plywood before putting an air mattress on the wood base.  

A used kitchen floor cabinet could have a counter top fitted to it and some kind of cook top and a basin could be installed in that.  For water a Jerry Jug of 5 gallon capacity would furnish drinking water.  And ice chest would provide refrigeration. There are stores now that re-sale home furnishings . Good Will operates one where I live.  

You may also want to pick up a show curtain rod and wire shower curtain pins to
install above the driver and passenger seats in the front.  A beach Blanket could be hung from it by it's long side for a privacy curtain. 

You could find card board boxes to slide under the bed for clothing and bath towels & toiletries etc.

You could find a blue plastic tarp to rig over the roof of the van and extend out over the side door(s).  Pieces of tree limbs could serve as poles and clothesline rigged as guy lines. (tied to home made tent pegs)

This would be bare bones camping but would likely serve you well enough to have an enjoyable first experience.  

You may want to join one or more of the National Networked Gym's such as Planet Fitness.  In this way you could stay on their parking lot over night,  use the bathrooms & showers there.  They have lounges with WIFI where you can recharge your laptop & Cell etc.   Meanwhile you may stay in camp grounds where they have
shore power, bath houses and even coin op laundry equipment.   Part of the strategy is finding access to things that exist that you would have at home while you are traveling in a Van and Camping.  Thus you don't have to have much more to carry than your bedding, a kitchenette, a little refrigeration for light food fare when traveling.  Otherwise you may be eating at affordable food places.  (I've eaten at some fine Hospital Cafeterias when traveling where the food was great and the low prices was greater)

So, this is my take on how you could go about doing this.   It may be hundreds of dollars instead of thousands.   You could make some of the other things as you go.  Pick up packages of ceramic magnets
at Dollar stores,  rolls of vinyl screen for re-screening sliding screen doors to use for screens in your van doors and windows.

I'd allow a couple of days for the build out and it may not take that much.  Just depending on how you can
coordinate things.

If you really like this way of life,  before you turn in the Van, remove all the stuff and ship it home.   Then when you see a deal on a Van like the one you rented,  you'll have your build ready to install in it.  And if you install it in such a way that you can quickly remove it and store it in a garage, you'll have a cargo Van to use and convert back to your RV when you are ready.

 

[Almost There]

Not only is it possible to do this it works very well!

 Years ago we did the exact thing that you're considering. We bought very cheap tickets to Las Vegas, rented a small car, and spent a week visiting national parks in Utah and California. We packed a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, our back packing stove, pots and utensils in our luggage.  It's not a problem to pick up anything else that you might need as you're traveling around - certainly a lot easier than it is for a backpacker and they survive just fine with what fits in their packs!

Just a word of warning - do NOT try to pack a backpacking stove in your luggage these days! After 9-11 all those easy to do things got incredibly hard.

I packed for a two week backpacking/camping trip and made sure that ALL my metal items (tent poles, hiking sticks, pocket knife etc. etc. etc.) were all on the top of my suitcase so when it was x-rayed and searched no one had to go diving in to the bottom of the suitcase...they would never have gotten it all back in there once my bedding expanded...

If you're willing and able, then you can make an alcohol burning 'can stove' from instructions available on YouTube. If that's not suitable then W/M sells butane stoves for $20 +/- that you can use and then either pass on to some one or mail it home with no butane canister.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I've done a few of these type trips. Once after my Dad died, he had an 03 Chevy express cargo van. I took out all his tools, hosed out the inside, threw down an area rug, my full size mattress, cooler, clothes, camping gear and hit the road for a month. Came back and enjoyed it so much, hit the road again for 6 weeks. Then came back, threw my Harley in the back and went out to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally for another 3 weeks.

Flew into Hawaii in 09 and rented a Jeep Wrangler for a month. Other than the clothes and small one burner back packing stove, I bought everything else over there....sleeping bag, tent, cooler, etc. I rented the jeep off of a local (placed an ad on CL and asked if anyone had an extra vehicle they'd rent and got one reply and it was a Wrangler!) I offered her all the stuff I had bought for the trip when we were leaving for free, and she was super appreciative.

Flew to New Zealand in 07 and bought a car, same thing bought all the camping stuff and offered it to the person I sold the car too a few months later and again, super appreciative.

So I think what you're doing is absolutely realistic and it's an excellent way to travel. Show the nay sayers all your great pictures when you return and have a blast!

 

[Dgorila1]

You can buy most of the stuff you need at wal mart and dollar stores. No need to build out the van since it's a rental and will only be used temporarily. Pack light and just do it! Buy stuff along the way as you need it. Keep it simple and have fun.

 

[ZoNiE]

Not sure if you plan to fly to PHX, but everything is pretty cheap here.

They sell these cheap stoves at the Chinese grocery stores for about $15 so you don't need to bring one.
MeKong market in Mesa has them.

You may also want to call CAPPS Van rentals in Mesa. Might (don't really know) be cheaper than the usual rental places at the airport, and never rent at the airport if you can help it. You will pay $15-20 more per day in PHX which pays for the pro sports stadiums.

CAPPS
1426 W BROADWAY,AZ 85202
1-800-969-9329

 

[Dgorila1]

I like the soda can alcohol stove. Pretty much free and works like a charm to cook on.

 

[steamjam1]

Hello,

I was toying with the idea of a vacation/camping van-ing experience and would like your opinions, please.

I would like to fly into Arizona, rent a van, and camp in it instead of shelling out mega bucks for a motel/hotel. This way I could be mobile and move around and go where I want too. I would bring sleeping bag etc in luggage.

I could experience some of the lifestyle, see the sights, and still keep my job here.

What do you think? Am I totally crazy?? My friends think I am.

There ain't nothing crazy about it. All you need is a rental cargo van, a duffel bag full of your clothes, Some bedding, a bucket, some thrift store pots and pans, and a penny stove...

 

[Reducto]

It can absolutely work. You don't need a fully built camper van for a vacation. Pick up the van and hit up some thrift stores for cheap supplies, bedding, and a mattress or buy an air mattress after you arrive. A sleeping bag is fine but personally I prefer a comfy blanket. A blackout curtain is about $10 at Walmart, use binder clips or magnets from home depot to hold it in place. Or instead of the curtain get a extra thrift store blanket, that way you'll have it if you get a colder than expected night.

 

[hepcat]

What do you think? Am I totally crazy?? My friends think I am.

Not only is it not crazy, it's very do-able.  You don't mention what your camping experience is...  but if you've done any backpacking or bicycle touring at all, the experience will be very similar.  You can amass the gear you need very reasonably online on clearance and on-sale over the course of a couple of months.  That also gives you the opportunity to source good quality stuff at reasonable prices.

I do/have done some touring with my recumbent tadpole trike, and have a small Burley trailer that I tow with everything I need to be self-sufficient as long as I care to be out.  My trailer is roughly the size of a large backpack, and there's PLENTY of spare room in it after I'm loaded.  

P1030788a by Roger H, on Flickr

If you're a novice and haven't attempted anything like this before, knowing what to take and how to find the stuff can be daunting.  Several years ago, I wrote a short "how to" guide for a disabled friend on another forum whose dream it was to tour on his trike, but didn't know where to start.  He's since passed away, but the guide remains online:  Camping gear selection  It's been five or six years since I wrote it, so some of the specifics may be dated, but the general info still applies.  The idea is to spend as little as possible on high quality gear that won't fail you when you need it the most.  Gear of that quality can be packed away when you're done with it, and then be re-used for years.  Much of what I carry in my B-van came from my bike camping kit and will go back to the Burley if I decide to do another tour on the trike, so it really is good, useful stuff.

The only caveat is that you'll be flying, so the advice about buying a cheap butane stove and any other gear locally that you think would attract the attention of the TSA if you packed it is sound.  I'd probably also buy an inexpensive cot and camp chair locally.  Buy the best sleeping pad you can afford and use it on the cot for both comfort and insulation.  If you're comfortable sleeping under the stars when it's hot in the van, you won't need a tent; but having one along can be nice too.

Good luck!!!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I would rent a van locally and try a weekend trip to a nearby state park.  Do this once or twice and you will work out exactly what you need before you fly across the country.

 

[highdesertranger]

hate to rain on everybody's parade but if you read the fine print in the rental agreement it says "no off highway use". that eliminates boondocking. now you can get away with it but if something were to happen, you would be in trouble.

there goes my joke,
what's the difference between a 4x4 and a rental car?.........A rental car will go anywhere. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

I ran in to the same rental agreement problem when I flew to British Columbia for a 3 week camping/touring trip.

The agreement said I wasn't to take the vehicle off of pavement....come on, how was I supposed to even drive in a BC provincial park??

I just drove slow so there'd be no stone throwing!

 

[bullfrog]

Some people I know used to ice race rental cars and get the rental car companies complete coverage then manage to get them back to pavement just to have a one car accident, after taking off their studded tires. One once went off ice covered asphalt and landed in a tree needed a chain saw and a wrecker no questions asked by the rental company although they became curious why all the same kind of cars had accidents on the same weekend, so much for spec racing!