WTB: Honda Element e-camper conversion

[joshr]

Hi there,

I'm looking for a Honda Element with the Ursa Minor e-camper conversion. (I'm new to the forum and just saw that someone sold one of these just a few days ago -- darn!)

Willing to purchase, but also looking to replace my 1988 Vanagon (with Subaru conversion), so will consider trade.

Thanks!
Josh

 

[Juanblzer]

I owned the one just sold on here. I hated the ground clearance. I absolutely hated the ground clearance. It dragged over everything... Even slightly rutted forest service roads.
My opinion: buy a Jeep Wrangler 4 door and have its minor modify its hardtop. It's the best bang for your buck. It's minor builds an awesome product but you will be severely limit yourself with an element. The jeep tops Ursa Minor is making are top notch and the camper is removable (take the hardtop off) when not in use. This saves mileage per gallon etc. and allows you to sell it separately if desired.

 

[dstn2bdoa]

Not that I have what you want, or am in a position buy your vanagon, but I'd really like to see some pics and details on the vanagon.

 

[joshr]

I owned the one just sold on here. I hated the ground clearance. I absolutely hated the ground clearance. It dragged over everything... Even slightly rutted forest service roads.
My opinion: buy a Jeep Wrangler 4 door and have its minor modify its hardtop. It's the best bang for your buck. It's minor builds an awesome product but you will be severely limit yourself with an element. The jeep tops Ursa Minor is making are top notch and the camper is removable (take the hardtop off) when not in use. This saves mileage per gallon etc. and allows you to sell it separately if desired.

That's really good advice -- thanks for weighing in here. Ground clearance is actually a big concern for me and did wonder about that on the Element. I was considering the Jeep, but I guess was drawn by the idea of having a smoother ride and better MPG. But yeah, ultimately I'm looking for something to camp in with my wife and dog that can get me to campsites that aren't necessarily way off-road but will probably require driving on some rutted roads.

 

[joshr]

Not that I have what you want, or am in a position buy your vanagon, but I'd really like to see some pics and details on the vanagon.

Hey, I'll share some photos here in a week or so; unfortunately I don't have any on this computer. I'm in Oregon now, and the van is at my folks' place down in Arizona. I plan to take some camping trips around the SW this fall/winter, but ultimately want to sell it for something that's 4wd (it's not a synchro). There are only a few thousand miles on the subie engine, new transmission, bunch of work done on it -- I used it primarily as a surf mobile up and down the west coast. but yeah, circumstances changed and now I'm looking for something a little more rugged and, you know, I've found I really don't need everything in the van (like the kitchen, for instance). But man, it's so fun to drive -- sitting up high, big front window, etc.