Vehicle suggestions?

[David]

I'm really in limbo when it comes to what to replace my truck/camper van with. The van is a extended full size class b, which is just too big to drive around every day. It's just not much fun and can't go places I'd like to go.

Because of this I've been using my truck most of the time. Every time I start to settle on a van, I find something like the attached pic. I just can't get a 2wd van places like that.

I've tried finding a good deal on a 4x4 van but they sell like hot cakes and besides that I just can't deal with 10mpg and travel like I want to, so I'm looking for suggestions.

I'd love a 4x4 vanagon but those things are like pink unicorns and cost their weight in gold.

Anyone have any other suggestions for a go anywhere affordable camper that gets decent mpg?

 

[David]

Edit.. OK posted image on a image hosting site.. I wanted to add either beavers are really smart and made a nice guardrail or they can't aim very well... LoL

 

[MrNoodly]

Bob Wells (owner of this site) just did a 2-part blog post on this subject.<br><br>http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/2013/06/mobility-vs-freedom-best-vehicle-for-boondocking-part-1/<br><br>http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/2013/06/comfort-versus-freedom-part-2-specific-choices/

 

[bee]

Those are good articles, I hadn't seen them before. &nbsp;I think, not sure, but I think you can get a full size chevy van in awd. &nbsp;From what I have gathered over at the expeditionportal.com is that most truck campers are to top heavy for anything more then a dirt road, If you plan on doing decent offroading the trailer seems to be the choice a lot of people take. &nbsp;Of course what happens if you get to a downed tree on &nbsp;the trail, its not like you can just pull a 20 point turn if you have a trailer.

 

[user 423]

4WD has been popular for quite a while but 90% of the time it's not needed and you're hauling around added dead weight. Most 2WD trucks have pretty good ground clearance and can go lots of places. I took my old 2WD VW bus into some pretty rugged places way back when. Sure, I know there are places you can only go with 4WD but is it so necessary to go there? Haul a trail bike and really see some scenery....at 80MPG.<br><br>JMHO<br><br>P.S: my dad used to say 4WD was for those who don't know how to drive.

 

[David]

MrNo, try for the links, I always forget to check up on the blog. I must admit I've looked at all those choices myself while trying to figure out what best meets my needs. Each has it's good and bad and I had pretty much come to the same conclusions with the choices he mentioned.

I'm kinda fishing for out of the ordinary ideas that maybe I hadn't thought about.

Example, I never knew Mazda had the MPV van which is a older 4x4 van. So I'm fishing for stuff like that.

I also looked at Land Rover Discovery and even the Isuzu Trooper.

Slowday.. My Tacoma is 2wd with the locking diff. I've taken it a lot of places but I've also had to turn around quite a few times.

We have lots of rocks here that can be problems if you just have 2wd, not to mention the snow.

 

[MrNoodly]

Maybe the rocks are nature's way of saying, "No, I don't want vehicles here. Hike in if you like, but leave the machines behind."<br><br>Meanwhile, there's a difference between 4WD and AWD. The MPV and certain Express vans have AWD, which is for street driving in low traction conditions, like snow and rain, not for off-roading. AWD might help some on slippery trails. And an MPV wouldn't take the abuse something like a 4x4 pickup or full size SUV could. It's a street vehicle, it's not as rugged. And it doesn't have a lot of power on tap to bully its way through rough stuff. It's not geared for low end grunt. It's a soccer mom wagon for the snow belt.

 

[bee]

I am building my own camper on a Cummins 3/4ton chassis because of similar issues to what you describe. &nbsp;I never found something pre-made that met my needs or I could afford.<br>By far the easiest solution is a pickup and trailer if the trails you ride on don't require sudden turning around do to downed trees and obstacles. &nbsp;Most rv's cant handle the abuse of off road, they will just fall apart.<br><br>I remember seeing early 90s camper vans when I was in canadian rockies. &nbsp;I forget the name but i saw a bunch of them with bull bars and larger tires. &nbsp;They were minivan sized and pretty cool looking. &nbsp;Not a model sold in the us. &nbsp;Maybe you could find a canadian forum that could tell you what it was. &nbsp;This was 4 years ago, so I am sure they are still around.<br><br><a href="http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/</a>&nbsp;has sections dedicated to truck campers and off road trailers. &nbsp;If you have specific questions about certain models that would be the place to ask.

 

[David]

That sounds cool on the self build. You should post up a build topic.

Far as trucks go, I've stayed in my Tacoma quite a bit since going full time this month. Granted it's not set up to live in but man of man it's a big difference in comfort com paired to my falcon.

If my Tacoma didn't have the 5ft bed due to being a quad cab I'd just rough it in it for awhile.

I have toyed with the idea of a stealth contractor topper on a full size truck.

The problem then becomes it's a full size truck and no where near as comfortable as a van.. 8(

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I've hauled a 9 1/2' full sized Vanguard camper on my F-250 4x4 along some pretty scary trails with no problem. The thing to remember is to take it slow.. it's not the Paris to Dakar rally. It really helps to have, as on my unit, beefy front and rear sway bars and suspension. Also, the 2 spd transfer case can make a really big difference, allowing one to crawl through difficult terrain. Mine also has a Posi rear-end, so rarely have to lock the front hubs. A few places DID require locking them, but that's generally reserved for deactivated FS/logging roads and ditches/water-bars. ..Willy.&nbsp;

 

[wagoneer]

The US auto industry lobby is VERY GOOD at keeping certain VERY USEFUL vehicles out of the country. THE DieSEL THING HAS SOMEWHAT SOFTENED. Canada is much more aware and should you try to drive any red tagged vehicle from Canada you will be stopped. A good friend did manage a Diesel Toyota through the woods and into Montana. I have not seen or heard from him in a while perhaps he is serving some time somewhere..... or roasting weenies at the Beach

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Prob'ly stuck him in Gitmo as one of them 'economic terrorists', trying to destroy the US auto industry with subversive pinko commie and undoubtedly fascist ideas. ..Willy.

 

[MrNoodly]

Unimog, man.

 

[Guest]

If you are mechanicaly talented, I think you can swap the transfere case on Astro/Safari vans with an NP231 case and get true 4x4 with low range, combined with a lift and larger tires would make a fairly capable off-roader. &nbsp;A good place to research this is astrosafari.com or forums, &nbsp; Duane

 

[David]

Yea I've heard of that being done before. A guy also did it to a full size awd express over on expo forum.

 

[idn88]

<p>I think if your primary motive is to see the world beyond the pavement, then a 4wd truck with a lightweight camper is the way to go. &nbsp;You could do the pop up type, or even get a decent cap and pull a trailer - leave the trailer behind or at storage when you really want to go exploring.<br><br>If your motive is more just to van dwell or want some stealth, and gravel roads or slightly more are enough for you, then you will definitely get more bang for your buck from a van - 2wd or awd - whatever suits your budget.</p><p>As for the 2wd vs 4wd thing - nothing against 2wd but you can go a lot more places with a lot more confidence with 4wd - no doubt. &nbsp;The modern ones &nbsp;- ie last 10 years or so ride about the same and imho don't burn much more gas. &nbsp;I owned a series of 2wd and after my first 4wd I would never, ever go back. &nbsp;My dad said he would never own one and drove places in his 2wd I would question even with 4wd, but now at 71 he just bought his first also. &nbsp;FWIW.&nbsp;</p>

 

[Willy]

If you get a 2WD vehicle (RWD), especially one with a full-floating rear-end, it's not that difficult to swap in a posi gear set. You can even buy an aftermarket Detroit Locker (improved) that essentially replaces the spider gear. That can vastly improve your off-road capabilities. ..Willy. &nbsp;

 

[MrNoodly]

<em><strong>"...</strong></em><span style="line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><em><strong>you can go a lot more places with a lot more confidence with 4wd..."</strong></em><br><br>Which means you'll be farther from help when you eventually get stuck.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp; That's particularly true if your goal is to get away from other people.<br><br>I don't really have anything against 4WD, but it does give&nbsp;<strong><em>some</em></strong> people an unjustified feeling of invincibility which has them trying to go places even 4WD shouldn't attempt. YouTube has plenty of examples—and those are just the ones that were caught on tape and posted. So don't be crazy out there. But don't be too sane, either.</span>

 

[shrimpstew]

4x4 vans are expensive. Quigley conversions are expensive. I wish I could afford a 4x4 van.&nbsp;

 

[highdesertranger]

on a side note about 4x4 vans you always end up with at least a few parts that are not factory and if you break one in the middle of&nbsp;nowhere what are you going to do?&nbsp; highdesertranger