Camper vans versus travel trailers...which is for you?

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Flip Flop

climber

Earth Planet, Universe

Oct 27, 2018 - 04:22am PT

hooblie

climber

from out where the anecdotes roam

Oct 27, 2018 - 07:43am PT

the point of this picture is:there are far too many "points of interest" between here and there to vehicularize yourself in such a way
that whistle stops, diversions and deeper probes are reduced to rubbernecking on forced roll-bys
... as if the journey was just a mission to deliver the pleasure palace
to it's destination in anticipation of legitimate exploration.

agility is thus rewarded, along with what we sometimes refer to as stealth,
which is really just the reaping of benefit for not making a spectacle of yourself ...
tho there could be a subtle upside to discretely wielding the odd conversation starter

JLP

Social climber

The internet

Oct 27, 2018 - 10:20am PT

... a new Four Runner and Trailer and still paid considerably less than what a built out Sprinter will set you back.

I don't think this is true unless you're comparing to a new top of the line full commercial Sprinter conversion - which is rare, and even rarer among climber types. Even then, you'll likely have to upgrade your truck and trailer to get apples to apples in features and quality.

A base Sprinter is comparable in price to a modestly equipped 4 Runner or Sienna. Thereafter, the majority of conversions are likely less in value to what you paid for that trailer - 10k ish - from what I've seen. A DIY or a basic upfitter package with a platform bed, basic cabinet or two, jumper seat and maybe a fridge - it's just not that expensive. It's definitely not a display of wealth.

If you want all the features you get in a typical RV trailer, you're off to the used market for Sprinters - ie, you'd probably have to downgrade the Sprinter to used to match your setup in cost, expected useful life and build quality.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Oct 27, 2018 - 11:51am PT

Moosie, an F350 with an Arctic Fox camper would be no big deal, even for you. 😉
There would be a learning curve in terms of spatial awareness but not a steep one, especially with proximity sensors and cameras.

clifff

Mountain climber

golden, rollin hills of California

Oct 27, 2018 - 12:14pm PT

Why compromise? You want luxury. Go all the way with the New 2019 Entegra Coach Aspire 44B. 500 plush square feet to relax in after a hard day battling the elements.

https://www.generalrv.com/product/new-2019-entegra-coach-aspire-44b-933428-10#photos

Just imagine a porcelain tile floor and backsplash, solid surface countertops, a residential refrigerator that includes an ice maker and water dispenser, and appliances to make any meal you like. You don't have to give up your way of life to travel the world. Now imagine waking up from a restful night's rest on a king size gel memory foam mattress with nightstands including USB ports and solid surface tops. You and your spouse can choose from the rear full bathroom with a washer and dryer or the half bath to get ready for the day. If you have some work to do, the free standing dinette would be a perfect setup while your spouse watches TV while sitting on the L-shaped sofa with her legs on an ottoman. If you need some outdoor time, the exterior TV under the awning might be one of your favorite spots. Take a look today!

GuapoVino

climber

Oct 27, 2018 - 02:59pm PT

I keep seeing lots of van haters on the internets. Not sure what it's from. Cedar Wright and some chick did a scathing bash of van for Outside Magazine a while back.

I bought a used Promaster for $23K and spent about $5K building out with my own labor. It turned out really nice (I'm skilled) and is great to travel in. I hate staying in hotels by myself. It seems like a waste of money and is a pain bringing my gear in every day and wondering if I'll be able to find a place to stay if I change my plans. Sleeping in a tent in the summer is fine but mid-winter it sucks. I ski out of my van and have been in it in temps as low as 5 degrees and it's toasty warm inside, perfect for one person. I have slept in several ski area parking lots which = free lodging.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Oct 27, 2018 - 03:06pm PT

I keep seeing lots of van haters on the internets. Not sure what it's from

Guapo, being a looker you should understand this better than most. 😉

TWP

Trad climber

Mancos, CO & Bend, OR

Oct 27, 2018 - 05:14pm PT

Moose wrote:

"I'm not sure if I want to drive a huge truck"

Dude, I'll let you practice with mine; driving lesson no extra charge. It's all in the suspension. Get a Ford F-450.

hooblie

climber

from out where the anecdotes roam

Oct 29, 2018 - 05:45pm PT

[Click to View YouTube Video]

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2018 - 05:51pm PT

TWP has a motto...lumber and slumber when buying gas ignore the number.

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Oct 30, 2018 - 06:19am PT

Thanks, Hooblie. That was cool.

BAd

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 30, 2018 - 07:41am PT

Correct Dingus...maybe this should be on the “first world problems” thread.

ECF

Big Wall climber

Ridgway CO

Oct 30, 2018 - 07:51am PT

I’ve lived out of a Oldsmobile estate wagon, a Volvo sedan, a S-10 pickup, a Chevy van, and a Honda FIT.
More room leads to more stuff, which leads to less actual Funtime.

John Muir called it “impedimenta”.

All this modern van life is the absolute opposite of dirtbagging.
I saw a sprinter in IC that cost more than my last two houses combined.

It would actually be cheaper to stay in nice hotels and get room service, but hey, they are “living the dream”...

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Oct 30, 2018 - 08:05am PT

No question that it’s the opposite of dirtbagging but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In my long climbing history I’ve stealth camped, scarfed, bivvied in the open, and slept on just about every surface imaginable. I have also stayed in my van and in nice hotels...now comes the trailer experience.
I still love camping out, my recent six weeks in the Karakoram can attest to that, but I’m pretty much finished setting up a tent in a car camping situation. I think that I now have a good combination...Four Runner, high clearance Toy Trailer, to put me in posistion to hike, climb and explore the magnificent American west. To each, his own.

Roots

Mountain climber

Redmond, Oregon

Oct 30, 2018 - 08:13am PT

Our trailer is in the driveway. We fired up the heater for the first time to burn off the contaminants. It'll be nice in a couple of weeks when we head out...this morning it was 28 degrees.

I'm assuming that it'll be colder in a couple of weeks, especially where we are going. It'll be so warm inside our trailer that I may sleep in : )

MikeL

Social climber

Southern Arizona

Oct 30, 2018 - 08:48am PT

We had two 4 wheel campers over 12 years, one on a Ford Ranger, and the second on a new F150. We initially wanted to get into the back country. We took a tour of various 4-wheel drive roads in California with a friend who had an old VW synchro, and we busted an anchor to the camper on a class-3 road, which led to much concern. We stopped trying to be a real 4-wheel, backcountry camper. Our friend's synchro went everywhere; amazing.

We got a lot of use from both of our set-ups. The 4-wheel drive was not worth the extra expense for us. Our trucks were heavy enough to drive through snow easily with aggressive tires, and extra springs on the rear made the truck drive on paved roads like it was on rails.

I have other things that keep my interests in my workshop, but my wife still loves camping—so off she goes by herself to various campgrounds (and meets other women who also like to camp). Here in southern Arizona, however, she complains about the length of the heat spell (4.5 months), so we are thinking about maybe moving back to the West Coast or to find something to do for 3 months out of this area. I’m looking at some 24 foot RVs (Navion, e.g.), but I am unsure that I want to live away for that length of time.

The real issue for us might be to come together about what we want to do *together* as a married couple now that we’re fully retired. (Sometimes I think I’ve been married too many times to take it all that seriously; gotta go with the flow, I guess.)

JLP

Social climber

The internet

Oct 30, 2018 - 09:13am PT

we busted an anchor to the camper on a class-3 road, which led to much concern.

I think most people seeking 4x4 campers don't yet have the experience as to how common and expensive these kinds of problems are. Take the extra mass and volume of any RV whether it's a trailer, slide-in, whatever - then realize it's not going to be tight and rigid like a Wrangler - now bend and twist the whole thing over rough roads.

4x4 for ice, snow and maybe CA's chain laws - seems like a separate subject. Snowy roads don't bend and twist the vehicle.