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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
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As someone who's done that lifestyle in a Honda accord , and now an older Toyota 4x4 , I can say having the 4x4 has made so many more roads possible . Dirt roads , forest service roads , mining roads , steep roads , whatever , the little Toyota has never let me down .
You can sleep in the back with a camper , and get about 24mpg with a 4 cyl. There's no substitute for ground clearance , and 4hi and 4low .
Pllus , only lesbians drive Suburu's right ?
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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2012 - 12:30pm PT
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And plus , only lesbians drive Suburu's right ?
LOL!
Truck with a camper is a good options as well. Ideally i would like more than two seats, but I guess I could get by with the small rear seats on some tacomas.
What about a mazda mpv 4wd? Yeah they look kinda dumb, but they have good clearance, 4wd, and can take the seats out to sleep in. Anyone know have any experience with these?
Edit: Damn those pictures make that look like a really good option!
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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For me, the conversion van with hightop has been very good, except of course for the poor gas mileage(averaged 15mpg on last cross-country trip, gets 13 in off-highway). I have had an '88 GMC one for the last 2 years(but alas...it won't pass inspection now and what will I do?)
I need a little more room, because I really do live in the thing from November-April, carry inventory for the chalkbags and hair accessories I sell, and also have a dog. Plus, I am not a young guy who is willing to suffer a bit or else drink themselves into the denial of how cramped they are for space.....
But - the things that make me feel a conversion van (with all but front two seats ripped out, and platform installed) are a good way to go are:
 Tinted windows keep out some of the heat from sun during the day, and also allow for privacy. I could change clothes parked right next to people and they could be looking right at the van and have no idea.
High Top gives enough room so you can sit on the platform to read or do whatever, and still be comfortable. My platform was set high enough I could slide 17 inch tall bins underneath.
The conversion vans have extra insulation compared to regular vans or other vehicles. This makes for great comfort on cold winter nights, and also helps keep interior heat down in the sun. If you have a dog, this is really important, since there are times the dog must stay behind.
Very easy bivy in places others can not. Especially if the conversion has those fancy window shades.
Fairly secure, as far as vehicles go, and because they look the way they do, aren't going to attract the attention of thieves thinking construction gear, as with a cargo van. The tinted windows, and under-platform storage also mean people can't peak inside and see what's available for the taking.... Opportunity IS the reason most thieves act. Reducing opportunity is important, when your world possessions depend on it.
You can cook inside when weather is sucky.
I have seen plenty of people living out of their vehicles the last two years and they make the best with what they have, but having enough space that you don't have to maneuver stuff from one section to another just to sleep is really good.
Sure, I would like to have a Sprinter, but they are SO expensive. And that's without outfitting the interior.
A Westie/Vanagon? It's the romantic's vehicle, but the reality is less rose-tinted.
One thing - if you go with a cargo van that has been used commercially and has no interior work - definitely put in extra insulation and flooring with covering to help keep out the cold.
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mwatsonphoto
Trad climber
los angeles, ca
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Hey eKat,
What year is that? 4 cyl or 6?
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
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One other thing: Don't forget the gas. On a road trip it really adds up and can severely shorten your trip. But you have to balance up front cost and MPG -- do the math to avoid the surprises.
This is really good advice . My g/f and I did a cross country motorcycle trip this summer , my bike gets 40-45 MPG , and I fill up about every 150 miles . Each fill up would only cost about $13 , no big deal , that's a bargain right?
By the end of the trip my gas bill was almost $700 dollars , you don't really think of the cost when it's only $13 at a time , but it adds up .
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FRUMY
Trad climber
SHERMAN OAKS,CA
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Well I really like Vans, big or small -but this is what i've been using the last 5 years
4x4 - 16 city 19 highway
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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I had a Volvo 240 that I lived out of for a while.
Great car, wish I still had one.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2012 - 03:49pm PT
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Thanks for the advice everyone! I knew this group would have some great personal insights. I'm leaning towards either a van conversion or tacoma with a camper shell now.
Dan a motorcycle would be rad! But a. i have no throttle control and b. I have way too much sh#t to bring along the way.
FRUMY that setup looks cool but I can't afford that MPG.
I like the high clearance of the tacoma and the 4x4 capabilities...but my parents actually have an old Honda odyssey that I might be able to buy from them and convert...hmmmmm thinking time. Keep the ideas coming though, thanks a lot!
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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DMT I often see quite the opposite: Subris - the condition of thinking your Subaru is infallible with it's AWD so you drive too fast.
My Subaru is usually on CC at 9 mph over the speed limit. Some people may get pissed at me when: I drive somewhat fast up the grade, but slow down going over the summit and down the other side when it's snowing/icy. Of course these were the people going slow up hill but speed up going downhill in slippery conditions - dumb. Or they get pissed because I'm not tailgating the person in front of me, so they pass on the right so they can tailgate the guy in front of me and get there 2 seconds faster!
Then you got the boy racers in their WRXs with big wings on the back and LED lighting under it. And of course you do get the granolas with the Outbacks going super slow in all conditions even when they should be speeding up to have momentum to get through a snowbank left over from a plow...
Anyway, good advice so far. I would highly prefer a van to live in. You can live in a van, anything else mentioned you just survive in. I'd rather get the better mpg and space of a minivan and do more hiking, than deal with crawling into the camper shell of a Toyota P/U and having to shuffle stuff around all the time to sleep, eat, drive, climb (I've done it). If you do get a p/u with a shell, at least get a storage box for the roof to get a lot of your stuff out of the way. I wouldn't want to live out of a station wagon (suby/volvo), unless I set up a tent base camp somewhere at each location.
You can find Toyotas 2004+ and Hondas 2001+ used under $10K now. The Hondas can have tranny issues though. Get a Toyota with about 100,000 and it will go 200,000 probably no problem. 27 mpg highway, very reliable, and ok driving and clearance.
A full size van with a 6 cyl will give you more room at the expense of mpg.
A conversion van would be nice but not good mpg. Class B camper vans are great but always expensive.
I've never owned a Astro, Aero.
A Dodge/chrysler minivan would be cheaper but less reliable and probably not any cheaper over the life of how long you keep it.
If your parents have an Odyssey I'd go for that. You can fold the 3rd seat flat most of the time but if you want to give a few friends a ride you can.
You'll lose a little in terms of 4WD, but you can use chains for snow, and carefull driving will get you to a lot of places. You have good space, mpg, and reliability.
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this just in
climber
north fork
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There's a guy in El Portal that fixes up Salvage Title Subarus and sells them from 3,000 to around 6,000, depending what he has. I know three people who have purchased from him and they love their cars and have never had a problem. I've talked to him and he's a cool old dude. If you're interested, email me and I'll track down his contact info.
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland-GulfBreeze
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What a bunch of fig eating yuppies.
Get a full size truck with a topper and you'll be living large while the other knuckledraggers shoehorn their stuff into clown cars.
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Cole
Trad climber
los angeles
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There is only one answer to this question: TOYOTA PREVIA, get the super charged 4 cylinder and it will last forever. Mine has 180K miles on it and it's my daily driver, runs like a freakin champ. Pull out the middle row seat and you're left with the back seat, which fold up to the side when you need em to. Because the engine is mid mounted, under the driver, you have more room inside compared to a Sienna. I could go on forever but I won't, just make sure you check em out before you buy anything else.
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland-GulfBreeze
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khanom
Trad climber
The Dessert
Aug 7, 2012 - 02:34pm PT
But your trip will be half as long 'cause you're getting 12MPG
I get 22 mpg on the highway with a 6 cyl F150 with 270K miles.
Not all full size trucks are 8 cylinder.
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Sparky
Trad climber
vagabond movin on
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Toyota Previa?
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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As I posted on another thread a while back... we got screwed in the US out of the updated Toyota Previa. I was cruising around Africa last year in one. They still make them, you just can't get them in the US. They have them with 4wd, we did some pretty burly mtn roads. And diesel, they get 30 mpg. The perfect climber road trippin vehicle.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
los gatos. ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 7, 2012 - 07:48pm PT
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Wow fet that does sound perfect
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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I have way too much sh#t to bring along the way. Jettison the sh#t and just keep what you need.
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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+1 for the Sienna. 1st generation w/o seats 3l engine gets 25mpg overall.
Stick a cot in it and stow underneath, good on dirt roads too.
The Ekat's sister ship!
And she'll give blueprints for blackout shades too.
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Every morning about this time
she get me out of my bed
a-crying get a job.
After breakfast, everyday,
she throws the want ads right my way
And never fails to say,
Get a job Sha na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
but, 1969 VW Bus. Modifed peace emblem on the front.
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
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Two wheel drive is fine until the first time you get stuck .
There is not a lonelier feeling than getting your impervious vehicle stuck way out in the middle of God's country . It is humbling and scary , and a great learning experience .
I highly recommend it .
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