School Me on the Camper Van Life

[klauss]

[Norseman]

That is fucking awesome.

[east or bust]

^ good watch, thanks for posting

[frorider]

This year I’ve put on wider/taller tires, custom tuned Fox shocks, aluminum bumper, and a minimalist awning solution that’s been working great. With the front and rear TrueTrac diffs and decent clearance (around 12”), the 4WD capability is pretty good. Got up some steep muddy roads in S Utah that would’ve been difficult for many AWD rigs.

I’ve camped comfortably in zero F nights often enough I don’t think twice about never booking a hotel.

Unibody vans with IFS will never be truly off road monsters no matter what your local trustafarian on instagram thinks, but can be comparable to a lightly modded F150 if you avoid the long WB vans.

[tmokes]

Do premade camper vans I see on RV lots leasable??? I would lease one for few years...


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[simple]

Try 20 years of payments....long term screwed...

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[k2skier112]

.....

[frorider]

As rumored, Ford announces AWD Transit (but only with gas engine). And diesel gets downsized to 2.0 L (with more turbo boost I assume).

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2019/0...van-craze.html

Since the Transit outsells the Sprinter by 10x, this will likely start a trend toward somewhat cheaper AWD vans finally.

[North]

As rumored, Ford announces AWD Transit (but only with gas engine). And diesel gets downsized to 2.0 L (with more turbo boost I assume).

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2019/0...van-craze.html

Since the Transit outsells the Sprinter by 10x, this will likely start a trend toward somewhat cheaper AWD vans finally.

Excellent news

[dcpnz]

AWD, swivel seats, upfitter switches and dual alternators from the factory....2020 transit is sounding like a good platform for a camper build.

[gravitylover]

Yeah but what's going to be the outcome of yesterdays tariffs on stuff from Turkey? The Transit is built there still, right?

[AdironRider]

Plus, you will probably actually be able to buy one new off the lot. Sprinter wait times are insane.

[m2711c]

This transit got a sticker price yet?

[liv2ski]

This transit got a sticker price yet?

With the 3.5 liter turbo, 10 speed trans and AWD, I am guessing not cheap. Built in Turkey? Fuck those guys.

Prices and more information will be available when the 2020 Transit goes on sale in the fall. We won't pity the software engineer making $200,000 a year who buys one, but among temporary shelters with standard Wi-Fi, there aren't many this well equipped.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...an-photos-info

[frorider]

It’ll depend on options obv...this new gen Transit gets a lot of bells and whistles. But the non turbo gasser AWD cargo van model will likely sell in the 40k range, and climb to 60k with turbo and full options.

The non turbo gasser cargo Gen 1 Transit was available as low as $28k as long as you liked White (and RWD obviously)

There are a metric shit ton of transits in commercial use. The used market for these gen 2 transits should be large in a couple of yrs.

[bagtagley]

That's badass, but yeah, not going to be cheap.

I want a 2020 version of a Vanagon Westfalia. I'm sure it'd cost a shit ton, but that's the ultimate to me. Daily driver that's nice to drive and is great for camping. Can I curse the chicken tax for the lack of such a thing?

[frorider]

Another option is the FWD Transit Connect. Much smaller, but for $6500 you can convert to pop top: http://www.ursaminorvehicles.com/cam...nversions.html

If you don’t need off road capability and want great hiway mpg, and a complete campervan for $40 k assuming you do the conversion (solar, heater, bed, insulation, pop top). And there’s now a diesel version that I assume gets ridiculous hiway mpg.

With studs or decent winter tires I’m sure it’d be fine for ski safaris.

[Tamburello Rouge]

That's badass, but yeah, not going to be cheap.

I want a 2020 version of a Vanagon Westfalia. I'm sure it'd cost a shit ton, but that's the ultimate to me. Daily driver that's nice to drive and is great for camping. Can I curse the chicken tax for the lack of such a thing?

You mean like this:

https://autoweek.com/article/car-rev...-ever-get-here

VW doesn't bring those to the US because they wouldn't sell very many. The typical RVer in the US wants the biggest land yacht they can afford. Not something that is compact, efficient and well thought out.

[simple]

That's badass, but yeah, not going to be cheap.

I want a 2020 version of a Vanagon Westfalia. I'm sure it'd cost a shit ton, but that's the ultimate to me. Daily driver that's nice to drive and is great for camping. Can I curse the chicken tax for the lack of such a thing?

Sportsmobile makes a MB Metris conversion.

[frorider]

You mean like this:

https://autoweek.com/article/car-rev...-ever-get-here

VW doesn't bring those to the US because they wouldn't sell very many. The typical RVer in the US wants the biggest land yacht they can afford. Not something that is compact, efficient and well thought out.

Tend to agree but shit is changing. Winnebago realized Sprinter based camper vans were taking market share, so they eventually responded with the Revel ... which is more compact than typical RV. Besides that cool T6 VW vanagon’s $110k pricetag is the street price of a 4WD Revel.

And let’s not forget that the home of 6x6 based off-road $500k land yachts is W Europe.

[Brownski]

Sportsmobile makes a MB Metris conversion.

Plus this outfit is making Westy-like campers from NV200s
https://www.reconcampers.com/

[bagtagley]

Holy fuck, $110K!? Makes that Metris seem cheap.

Transit Connect is on the small side for four. AWD mid or high roof Transit with beds, heat and a roof fan would be a good start and kinda cheap, but not really.

[El Chupacabra]

At the more budget end of the spectrum:

https://www.hitchhotel.com

[mcski]

Wow , that hitch thing seems like a good way to make a wheelie mobile

[frorider]

At the more budget end of the spectrum:

https://www.hitchhotel.com

The website seems to avoid listing the weight. LOLs at the suby crosstrk in the video...with that aerodynamic brick at the back, the crosstrek would top out at 50 mph.

But for an E series van or similar, it might work OK. Seating for 4 in the van along with cooking/fridge area, convertible bed for 2 in van plus 2 in the hitchhotel.