Van or truck camper?

[LucidPhotographer]

Hey everyone, I have been researching what type of RV I want to get to do some travels for photography and probably live in for some time. I like doing nature shots so getting deep into the wilderness is important. I dont want a big rig or something I cant turn around in a tight spot so Class A, C motorhomes and travel trailers are out. That leaves me with either a Class B van or truck camper. I just would like to hear anyones preferences that have lived in or spent some considerable time in both. I like the idea of a truck camper (pop up for low clearance and save some MPGs) because it can be removed and also having 4x4 abilities when needed. Then again, I like the van idea because of being able to move from the driving area to the living area without having to get out of the vehicle. I know there are some 4x4 vans but they seem to be hard to find and expensive. I wont be in any cold areas hopefully so the pop up camper should be ok. Any thoughts are appreciated!<br>

 

[Tykster]

I'm in the process of converting a Ford Expedition for the reasons that you've just stated. <br><br>Having been on this forum lurking for a little while, and having looked around the web, I've not come across a similar conversion yet, so I'm pretty stoked that I'll have a fairly uncommon vehicle. My dream vehicle would be something like an Earth Roamer, but the cost is prohibitive.....<br><br>I can't yet comment on its practicality - but by Summer's end I'll have more to say on that front , hehe....<br><br><br>Nearing completion actually, I'll post pics very soon....<br>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Truck camper. Hear me now, believe me later.. if you wanna get out into the backwoods, a 4x4 truck camper is the way to go. Sure, you can get some 4x4 (most likely AWD) vans, but they're generally NOT made to handle rough terrain, unless it's a specialty unit. Also, the truck camper will generally give you more room/storage capacity. Get at least a 3/4 ton truck, else you might end up a sorry puppy. <br>&nbsp;When it comes to fuel economy, my 1990 F-250 (upgraded to, essentially, an F-350) w. a 302 5spd gets around 20 mpg unladen. My heavyass wind pushin' camper drops that down to 12-14 mpg.Not bad considering all the stuff I'm carrying. ..Willy. <br><br>

 

[akrvbob]

If you really want to get far back, you need 4x4, and like you said, that eliminates vans. The Expedition or Suburban are commonly available in 4x4 so it is a good choice. But they have so little headroom, I don't think I could live in one comfortably. Nothing will do as well as a truck camper for being reasonably comfortable and back road ability. You want at least a 3/4 ton and preferably a 1 ton. Nothing gets close to the Dodge with a Cummins diesel. It's probably the best engine every put in an American pickup. Empty it will get 20 mpg, and then it will happily pull a 40 foot 5th wheel up any hill in the country. <br><br>I think the best choice is a very simple, very light camper. I recommend the Capri camper. They are made in Texas and designed for rodeo riders who pull heavy horse trailers. They are very light, well made, and can be ordered in any configuration you want, from just an empty shell to full camper. if I were you, that is what i would get. here is the site;<br>http://capricamper.com/models.html <br><br>

 

[SoulRaven]

I am from the Northern Cascades of WA. and an avid explorer / outdoors man... I cant tell you the amount of problems with any trailer and allot of full sized pick up campers I have found people in... The biggest problem is they go off road into the forests with their beautiful campers and dont realize the height they are at and a low branch just destroys the front and top of the camper... I think a pop up camper is the way to go in a warm area, they are light, low, and saves gas...<br>

 

[Willy]

That's why I go out with a POS camper.. the holes actually ADD value to it; cheap air-conditioning, or something along those lines.<br>

 

[LucidPhotographer]

You all make some good points. I forgot to mention the whole headroom thing. Im right around 6ft and stooping is an issue for my lower back. Looks like I will be searching for a 3/4 ton truck soon then. I think that should be enough to handle a pop up camper and I already live with very few comfort items so overloading it with a bunch of stuff will not be an issue. Ive seen those 4x4 Sportsmobile vans but the cost on those are prohibitive and something that expensive, I would fear taking it out in rough country and putting it through the wringer.<br><br>Tykster, I have not seen an Expedition but I did see a 70s model Suburban converted to sort of a camper. Of course it didnt have much storage or a shower but he just used a 5 gallon bucket and electric pump for showers. <br><br>Willy, 12-14mpg is pretty good....Im assuming you have the hard wall camper? If so, a pop up should put mpgs roughly 14-17 I would think. I could definitely live in that range, Ive been going in my research hoping to come out of this with 15mpg and I would be happy.<br><br>Bob, thanks for the link. I have not seen or heard of those campers before so I will check them out. About the only ones I have seen are on the truck camper mag website.<br><br>Raven, those are the exact points I have been thinking about...plus Im not too find of the higher center of gravity on the hard walls. The lower the better I would think.<br><br><br><br>

 

[Willy]

I'm 6'1 1/4" without shoes, so I can feel your pain bro. Had to ditch my last setup (pop-top fiberglass camper) cuz the only way I could sleep on the bed was kitty-corner (the camper was the same width as the truck box), and even that left me rubbing my head and toes. I'm also a bit overboard with the tools, both power (115v) and otherwise, so need the space a regular camper can give me. <br>&nbsp;Actually, given my druthers, I'd strip off the box and build a PROPER camper.. but ain't happening soon. ..Willy.&nbsp; <br>

 

[mobilekev]

&nbsp;I've been coming to the same conclusions. I like my half ton chevy van but am going to want 4 wheel drive in the future.<br>&nbsp;I've got my possessions down to about 700lbs. and 32 square feet. This'll fit in the bed of a small 4x4 pickup. Ideally I'd take out the window and cut an opening out large enough to get in the back without going outside and have enough room to sleep in the back at a Walmart(or wherever) while traveling and when I'm camping I'd like the bed to flip open to a large enough tent/shelter to be comfortable with longterm.<br>&nbsp;Something like this mounted onto the bed-<br>http://www.litetentcamper.com/trailer.htm<br>&nbsp;Although possibly built with foam walls for better insulation like the shelters built at Burning Man 4x4 was talking about on another thread- http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Playa<br>&nbsp;Is that too much to ask? I mean I left out that whole part about being amphibious&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

 

[thinker]

are there 4x4 extended vans out there?

 

[Kisatchieman]

Hey Lucid,<br>&nbsp; I've got a 1/2 ton Toyota Tundra 4X4 with a 1300 lb. Travel Lite hard side truck camper. It works really well on good roads, tho the mpg drops from 19 highway unloaded&nbsp;to 12 with camper. It's top heavy, so I wouldn't go in the back country with it unless there were really smooth roads and no overhead limbs. I may eventually go to a popup TC to get around these&nbsp;problems, but I'm really not that crazy about popups. Owned one several years ago and didn't like the fabric walls.&nbsp;BTW, I did install Firestone airbags to level up the rear of the truck and load range E Michelin tires to carry the extra load.&nbsp;<br>

 

[Willy]

Have you looked into Alaskan campers (Pop-up HARDWALL)?&nbsp; http://www.alaskancamper.com/sitemap.htm <br>

 

[Kisatchieman]

<P>Thanks Willy. Nice rigs, never seen those before. All were a little heavy for my 1/2 ton except for the Mini and&nbsp;it's too small. They're a little pricey to for a&nbsp; po boy like me.</P>

 

[LucidPhotographer]

Starman, I really dont like the idea of a fabric wall either but I think the pros outweigh the cons because I would be doing lots of driving and the mpgs saved with a pop up would save lots of money. The top heavy thing is bad too since I would want to get off road often.<br><br>Willy, checking that site out now. The ones I have liked the most so far are the Four Wheel campers, they are really lightweight and decently priced.<br><br>

 

[Seraphim]

I like our older class B though it is not a4x4. As there are two of us though, we are now looking at truck campers. Getting older and the fold out sofa is no longer as comfortable. The new truck will be 4x4 for the mountain paths&nbsp;

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Every so often I see older Alaskan campers for sale at very reasonable prices; always wanted one. Fabric is just 'OK', and very much not so in the winter. They also tend to have condensation problems in cooler and/or damp weather, and that equals MOLD.<br>

 

[thehappymailman]

If u want 4x4 van &amp; can afford them check this sight http://www.sportsmobile.com. They make some that climb like a mountain goat.

 

[Marco1992]

What about stealth camping with a popup , would you just sleep with the popup down

 

[Big Country]

I had a pop-up in my 03 Chevy ½ ton (4.8 v8). I never liked it; I found the pop-up to be a pain in the butt, and the truck to be under powered. I sold the camper after only having it 18 months, now I’m undecided what I want to replace it with. I hate to have to buy a different vehicle, but if I get another truck camper I’ll buy a ¾ or 1 ton truck. I like the idea of going with a van but the low roof and the lack of four wheel drive are a big concern. I’m not concerned with stealth as most of my use will be BLM or national forest.
P.S. the Capri Campers look very appealing, I also like the Mory Master line, but I don’t even know if they are available on the US Or what the cost.
http://capricamper.com/
http://www.mastertruckbody.com/master-60/

 

[masterplumber]

For many years I had a F350 with the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel carrying a Four Wheel Pop Up Camper. I absolutely loved that rig and put well over 200,000 miles on it. I would still have it but I wore it out and wasn't in a position at the time to be able to park it and rebuild what needed rebuilding. I stealth camped on the rode many times by just leaving the top down and sleeping on the bottom bunk. Usually just for a night and usually in the parking lot of a Flying J. I could go anywhere I wanted to with that rig, and that included many 4x4 trails in the mountains and the deserts. There are really only 2 conditions where a popup is an issue. In the cold they lose heat seemingly faster than even a tent. And in the wind you pretty much are forced to sleep with the top down. That said, I have some hearty friends who took one through Siberia in the winter, so it can be done.