rossiter78
Observer
I wanted to buy an adventure vehicle, but I’ve never seen or found what I really want, so I think it will need to be a fairly customized build. I am seeking some advice from some fellow adventurers like you guys for some advice. This vehicle will be used in the Colorado and Utah areas for the purposes of everything from camping and motorcycling to music festivals.
Here are some requirements for my vehicle:
1. Must be able to seat 4 people.
2. Vehicle must be self-contained – no trailer.
3. Must be able fit at least 1 motorcycle. (Optionally I’d really like to be able to fit my snowmobile which is about 10.5’ long.)
4. Passengers should not be exposed to fumes from fuel while driving.
5. Must be 4 wheel drive.
6. Must be able to sleep 2 people.
7. Must have the ability to support 4 people on some sort of roof top.
8. Must be able to travel in on single lane forest service roads.
9. Needs to be around or under $25k.
10. Does NOT need any fancy camping stuff like climate control, stoves, tables, etc. - I would rather use camping stoves and tables and such as needed.
Ideas I’ve considered so far:
1. I currently have a Toyota Tundra 4x4 with camper shell. I love my truck and I love camping in it, but I dislike towing a trailer for my motorcycle or snowmobile (camper shell is too short to put a motorcycle in the back). Plus, I really want to have some sort of roof platform to climb onto so that I can a) see the stars when I’m camped and b) look out over other vehicles when I’m truck camping at a music festival
2. I’ve considered a cargo van. Pros include easy cargo area for a bike, easy to make a roof platform, and has a profile that can make it through single lane forest roads. Cons include adding a 4x4 system is pretty costly and passengers (esp if more than 2) may be exposed to fumes if I were to have a motorcycle in the back.
3. I’ve also considered a truck with a box. Pros include ease to put in a motorcycle, easy to camp, easy to put on a roof platform, and easy to find in 4wd. The biggest con is the profile – it would be difficult for it make it down a single lane forest service road. Many of the places I go to camp/adventure require traveling some rather nasty roads.
This is leading me to think that my best bet is a custom made box like thing on a 4x4 truck chassis (may need a different truck though). That way I could maintain a reasonable profile, and add all the features I want like windows and such. I have no idea what something like that would cost – for all I know that is way more expensive than putting 4wd on a van.
What do you all think about this type of project?
Here are some requirements for my vehicle:
1. Must be able to seat 4 people.
2. Vehicle must be self-contained – no trailer.
3. Must be able fit at least 1 motorcycle. (Optionally I’d really like to be able to fit my snowmobile which is about 10.5’ long.)
4. Passengers should not be exposed to fumes from fuel while driving.
5. Must be 4 wheel drive.
6. Must be able to sleep 2 people.
7. Must have the ability to support 4 people on some sort of roof top.
8. Must be able to travel in on single lane forest service roads.
9. Needs to be around or under $25k.
10. Does NOT need any fancy camping stuff like climate control, stoves, tables, etc. - I would rather use camping stoves and tables and such as needed.
Ideas I’ve considered so far:
1. I currently have a Toyota Tundra 4x4 with camper shell. I love my truck and I love camping in it, but I dislike towing a trailer for my motorcycle or snowmobile (camper shell is too short to put a motorcycle in the back). Plus, I really want to have some sort of roof platform to climb onto so that I can a) see the stars when I’m camped and b) look out over other vehicles when I’m truck camping at a music festival
2. I’ve considered a cargo van. Pros include easy cargo area for a bike, easy to make a roof platform, and has a profile that can make it through single lane forest roads. Cons include adding a 4x4 system is pretty costly and passengers (esp if more than 2) may be exposed to fumes if I were to have a motorcycle in the back.
3. I’ve also considered a truck with a box. Pros include ease to put in a motorcycle, easy to camp, easy to put on a roof platform, and easy to find in 4wd. The biggest con is the profile – it would be difficult for it make it down a single lane forest service road. Many of the places I go to camp/adventure require traveling some rather nasty roads.
This is leading me to think that my best bet is a custom made box like thing on a 4x4 truck chassis (may need a different truck though). That way I could maintain a reasonable profile, and add all the features I want like windows and such. I have no idea what something like that would cost – for all I know that is way more expensive than putting 4wd on a van.
What do you all think about this type of project?