I would probably look into a Ford Transit van, and convert with foldable benches into beds,
Smallest vehicle for 5 campers?
- Thread starter JHZR2
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JHZR2
Staff member
Two adults three kids. But obviously the kids will get bigger in time.
I have zero interest in anything that has to be pulled around.
We aren’t turtles, and for that money and fuel bill we can stay in LOTS of nice hotels.View attachment 115275 These are fine for 5 campers.
Yeah, climate has much to do with comfort. In Northern Europe, it’s just comfortable. Currently it’s 45F, going up to 62F. You sure don’t get summer temperatures like that and low humidity in the eastern US. So some airflow/cutting the humidity is desirable. Haven’t thought it all the way through yet of course… RV parks seem to destroy any semblance of economics of camping…
You said van life. I need to look into that more. Perhaps that is what I’m talking about? I’m sure some take it off an obnoxious deep end.
Otherwise, tent camping is what we do when conditions permit. And I’m a diamond member at Hilton otherwise
I don’t want to tow and store a camper. The slide in camper thing is an option, I have a truck that would handle it, and frankly wouldn’t be opposed to buying another truck (crew cab) in time if that is more comfortable. But I’d want to be able to use/drive the truck, so then the slide in storage is another matter I just don’t really have interest in.
That’s why a van or a slim camper type thing is of interest. Pull it into one of my garage bays, keep it out of the sun and rain, and keep it out of sight until the next adventure. While I suspect you could argue we could do that with a pop up or tow along trailer, that’s much less incognito and just not what I’m looking for IMO.
JHZR2
Staff member
We have the minivan and other vehicles. We stayed in a number of cabins like you show. The issue is that they are in one place.
I am working towards a beach house. That’s important to us. And that’s in one place. The intent of a van type setup would be to be able to go see a lot more of the country. And do it in more remote places than you can at the typical hotel or even Airbnb. But those are options too… drive/fly and just go somewhere from there (status quo).
My interest in a van is to get a hybrid outcome. Camp some nights, hotel others, etc. Do so to get the most flexibility for where we want to go, how we want to stay/rest, and without the baggage of a giant rv/trailer or something we can’t park when we go to more normal locations (like hotels).
Interesting. Im in Norway now and gas/diesel are around 22NOK/L ($2.20/L or so). RVs are all over. Drive the E6 and it’s non stop campers. Most are these smaller units, like a sprinter or fiat van, some with a bigger rear section.
That’s an interesting point. But at that point I’ll stay in a hotel room or rent a cabin. I’m not concerned about MPGs, I’m more concerned that I don’t really want some obnoxiously sized thing that I really can’t use for anything else, and frankly, the $100k+ of most of these bigger units creates such a ridiculous economic situation for the whole thing, I can stay in lots of nice places and plan trips for years for that money without the baggage of some big camper thing.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
I can't think of anything that can sleep 5 without it being an RV. Well, without being stacked like Vienna sausages.
I know you said no tent, but something like this would keep everyone still together, and you could have a nice air mattress for sleeping. And deflate the mattress during the day and use this for a screened in area to keep away from bugs. And it could keep the vehicle to something more realistic, like your current van.
I know you said no tent, but something like this would keep everyone still together, and you could have a nice air mattress for sleeping. And deflate the mattress during the day and use this for a screened in area to keep away from bugs. And it could keep the vehicle to something more realistic, like your current van.
How tall are the adults?
A late 80's chevy, sheet metal to sheetmetal or conversion window glass to glass, side to side, would allow a 6'3" inch person to sleep side to side, with no headroom or footroom.
The jackknife sofa bed in most conversion vans is wide enough to sleep two adults side by side who are under 6 foot, but the rear insulation adjacent to windows can suck out 5 total inches from this forcing a diagonal position for those who cant just sleep in fetal position the whole night.
Fitting three kids on floor and or on front captains chairs folded flat, is possible, unless they too are 5'7" and more. This of course does not account for the luggage one is carrying, though a trailer hitch cargo carrier can take some of that load.
Keep in mind conversion vans are unsafe, in the extreme, in accidents, especially those with raised fiberglass roofs, as so many supports are cut off and the roof goes flying off, and the bases of swivelling captains chairs often prove to be sub engineered and poorly welded.
What you want to do can be done, with a late 80's conversion van, with caveats, sacrificing comfort.
Expect 13 to 16mpg at 65mph on the highway. 8 to 11 around town.
Hot temps require more than pop out windows, that have no screens.
Airconditioning, parked, engine off, without access to grid power/generator is not the holy grail it once was, but 5 humans make a lot of heat.
A lot of battery would be required, as would a lot of BTU's, and these will cost more than the van itself, which could require its asking price itself put into it, to make reliable.
A late 80's chevy, sheet metal to sheetmetal or conversion window glass to glass, side to side, would allow a 6'3" inch person to sleep side to side, with no headroom or footroom.
The jackknife sofa bed in most conversion vans is wide enough to sleep two adults side by side who are under 6 foot, but the rear insulation adjacent to windows can suck out 5 total inches from this forcing a diagonal position for those who cant just sleep in fetal position the whole night.
Fitting three kids on floor and or on front captains chairs folded flat, is possible, unless they too are 5'7" and more. This of course does not account for the luggage one is carrying, though a trailer hitch cargo carrier can take some of that load.
Keep in mind conversion vans are unsafe, in the extreme, in accidents, especially those with raised fiberglass roofs, as so many supports are cut off and the roof goes flying off, and the bases of swivelling captains chairs often prove to be sub engineered and poorly welded.
What you want to do can be done, with a late 80's conversion van, with caveats, sacrificing comfort.
Expect 13 to 16mpg at 65mph on the highway. 8 to 11 around town.
Hot temps require more than pop out windows, that have no screens.
Airconditioning, parked, engine off, without access to grid power/generator is not the holy grail it once was, but 5 humans make a lot of heat.
A lot of battery would be required, as would a lot of BTU's, and these will cost more than the van itself, which could require its asking price itself put into it, to make reliable.
JHZR2
Staff member
We already tent camp. The hope was a vehicle we could sleep in at rest stops and campgrounds without the setup and teardown. And be able to do it in more places. I’m not setting up a tent at a rest stop for example.
Im 6’4 or a tad more. Wife is 5’9. Kids are kids and will become our heights at some point.
The metal to metal conversion approach you mention is probably more of what I’m looking for.
I get it regarding hvac. That’s a nice to have, thinking a unit like you see on top of some school busses, run for some time in the night maybe. Or to cool down before sleeping. Don’t know yet. I agree a huge array of batteries or a long term idle aren’t great options, or necessarily safe.
Im thinking more like wall bunk beds, two to a side, but that leaves the +1. And getting in and out. I know that starts to push towards a van with a body on the back….
My ideal is a low top more incognito van, front seats, second bench all OE, regular roof, then the space behind for sleeping.
It would be a fine assumption that every other day was in a hotel or air Bnb.
From the silly answers department:
JHZR2
Staff member
Ok… tel me about the smallest no-frills teardrop that could sleep five, and why that would be better than the tail end of a 15 passenger van.
Maybe an overland version… maybe not. Maybe a 1960s aluminum shell that we rip everything out of and put in bunk beds…
Thanks!!!
Maybe an overland version… maybe not. Maybe a 1960s aluminum shell that we rip everything out of and put in bunk beds…
Thanks!!!
I did expediting for FedEx Custom Critical. I went anywhere in the 48 states and Canada that needed an emergency delivery of something. I had a 2008 Chevy G3500 extended, the biggest van Chevy offered. It was insulated and paneled, Onan Quiet 2800 generator, Coleman roof a/c-heat, Fantastic Fan and custom e-track etc. for my work. I lived in my van while I was out on jobs. I had plenty of room solo. I know couples who do the same and have adequate room as intimate husband/wife, i.e. used to bumping into sweaty/stinky other half. Add 3 ambulatory size kids in as well? Not on a bet. Broken down with no other option until car trouble fixed? Accepting and grumbling until relieved. Repeatedly, by choice? When did they idiotically decide I should be released from the asylum? There are options, Sprinter/Transit/ProMaster that offer more floor area than my G3500 but not enough to alter my decision. I'd opt for the largest Eureka tent and take the half hour to set up and be comfortable, at least comparatively. YMMV Good luck.
Curious what you end up with.
I dont see how you can get around not having a tent, or pulling a trailer for 5. Doesn't mean you and Mrs JHZR2 are sleeping in it.
It could be the kids, and it could be fairly deluxe
the attached type of tent insures you cant go get cheap groceries, fuel up, or basically move after setting up a basecamp.
On the extra stretch vans, they come in both a 1/2 ton platform and this on a 3/4 ton platform.
I dont see how you can get around not having a tent, or pulling a trailer for 5. Doesn't mean you and Mrs JHZR2 are sleeping in it.
It could be the kids, and it could be fairly deluxe
the attached type of tent insures you cant go get cheap groceries, fuel up, or basically move after setting up a basecamp.
On the extra stretch vans, they come in both a 1/2 ton platform and this on a 3/4 ton platform.
A Rialta or similar works for 3 snouts for a few weeks. Anything smaller and someone will have to stay at home even if it's only a three-day adventure. A van is good for two snouts tops until cabin fever sets in. Carry a tent so you can evict with a clear conscience.
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I was just at the RV show. The Ford 250/350 transit vans seem to be a great choice. There were many configured for 4 to travel (4 seats with belts). But I'm sure 5 could be done also. I don't like the Ram vans. Too many reliability issues, but the FWD minivan drivetrain "might" have slight space advantages.
If I were to do it, I'd purchase a tall Transit 250 cargo van, the one without windows and outfit it myself.
If I were to do it, I'd purchase a tall Transit 250 cargo van, the one without windows and outfit it myself.
also depends on your age. I now camp with a comfy twin 8" air mattress, no sleeping on the ground for me. crawling in and out of the tent is getting harder as is standing up when still half asleep when nature calls. in college 5 of us could ride in a VW. Now no way
Rod
Rod
You don't have to stand up when still half asleep when nature calls at home?
I don't think you'll find a small teardrop that will sleep 5. The small popup tent campers will do it and there's a ton of different versions and flooplans of those. Plus they're super light all things considered, most are well under 3000#.
No frills:
Rockwood Tent 1940F - Forest River RV
Details, floorplan, specifications, and more about the 1940F Freedom Series.
forestriverinc.com
I should also mention, the last time I looked at some of the smaller teardrop trailers, they seemed to be super expensive. I would hope they would be built a little better than some of the other mass-market stuff, but they weren't cheap by far.
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I had a Conversion van much like your pictured old Chevy. Mine was an ‘85 GMC. 305/TH350 with 2.73 gears… it was slow and thirsty (13 mpg hwy at 60mph a/c off), but I still kinda miss it. It could realistically sleep 3 adults.
8x,000 a year give or take.
When I was a kid, my dad gutted a 60s aluminum van and put bunk beds in it for all 6 (?) kids and 2 adults. We sold it after a few years because it's hard to offroad with a double axle trailer, it took up space in the yard, it always needed work, and setting up the kitchen in the trailer and all the beds was as much work as tent camping. And towing sucks gas.
