Camper for family of 4

[mporter]

vehicle choice

This site maybe helpful. http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Site/Our_Vehicle.html I know it's not a van but it my have some insights into the logistics.

 

[ianc]

Thanks for these two replies. Both look like interesting options. I've noticed that although there are almost 1,000 RVs for sale on ebay there are no campers like these. Am I searching incorrectly or are these advertised elsewhere?

I

 

[1leglance]

smaller production numbers make them harder to find...
national craiglist searches might help..
sportsmobileforum.com
here on expo
samba.com for VW vans

often they aren't listed as RV's..

If you aren't concerned with offroad travel then I have often wondered about a diesel short schoolbus...you could take out the seats and block out some of the windows and be very creative.

Honestly I think the most important thing is to keep the vehicle investment (both money and time) low and simple....then just go!
People have traveled around the world in VW Bugs, Datsun coupes and on moto's....don't wait too long for the "perfect" solution...

You don't mention the age of your children or you & your spouses size...but a used short school bus can be had for cheap. Add a RV style self contained toliet, some folding camp tables & a folding camp kitchen, 4 camping cots with foam & sleeping bags, remove all the seats and bolt in 3 van style captain chairs that swivel and you are ready to go for dirt cheap.
Of course you can upgrade all of this before you leave or for a real adventure wait until you get to a cheap labor country and have a local there build out your interior after you have lived with it for a while and know what you want.

 

[xped]

Honestly as the owner of a 4x4 Dodge Transvan it is fine for the wife and I, but if we take our daughter and friend it is just not big enough.

My buddies converted Fuso FG on the other hand easily fits 4 people comfortably and will go places mine will not. It gets better mpg and has been very reliable. The downsides to the FG is no A/C, no cruise control, its a manual trans and it tops out at about 60 mph. Oh yea it only holds 3 people up front so the kids would have to be in the camper part. Even though my buddy build a small pass thru you are pretty much isolated from the front. Check the Mitsubishi Fuso section for what I'm talking about.

 

[Navman]

Your checklist is the same as mine and I just don't think the perfect vehicle exists. Each has it's +s and -s.

While I love my VW (and the kids do too of course), I just couldn't see doing a trip like that in it with them. After 2 weeks out we would either want blow it up and buy a Lexus and stay at 5-star hotels or everyone would decompress enough and just enjoy the slow trip. Not sure which way it would go.

I've also broken down on a camping trip with the VW. Not exactly a fun experience with the kids. Of course, this could happen with any vehicle but more likely on a 30 year old vehicle even if it is well maintained.

A Sportsmobile seems logical, but it's still a little cramped and not exactly low-key. I would also be paranoid the whole time taking a $100k rig to some of the places I would want to go.

 

[labbe66]

I have been looking for quite a while for a similar vehicle and I agree with what others here have said. There are pluses and minuses to all options. The reality is that there are very few vehicles that are comfortable for a family of 4 for frequent or extended use. Being an enginerd I started a spreadsheet to look at how different platforms rate. Obviously the ratings are subjective and can be adjusted to give whatever results you want but it is a good way to organize your thoughts.

The way the spreadsheet works is that the importance of trait at the top weights each catagory. For me reliability and cost are both highly important so they both get a 10. Stealth isn't very important so it gets a 3.

There are other columns I have thought about adding but haven't yet: safety, security, ease of repair,...

Have a look and enjoy.

PS As you can see I clearly need to build my own custom vehicle from scratch!

 

[Navman]

^^^

That's cool. I'm a spreadsheet jockey so I do similar things all of the time. I may take that and personalize it for myself. Thanks.

 

[ianc]

Just FYI
We ended up buying a 25ft ex Cruise America RV and only going as far as Panama. Blog here: http://grumpyinamerica.wordpress.com/

It did fine even on some really poor dirt tracks in Honduras and Costa Rica.

 

[SWbySWesty]

Not cool man. I have a stack of work to do and I happen upon a fresh blog to South America?!? Decisions decisions....