I would probably look into a Ford Transit van, and convert with foldable benches into beds,
Two adults three kids. But obviously the kids will get bigger in time.How big are the people and how close together is acceptable? Thinking 5 in a Chevy van might not be too fun unless 3 are little.
I have zero interest in anything that has to be pulled around.There are some pretty reasonable pop-up campers that you might look at. They don't take much to pull around, and you wouldn't have another vehicle to maintain. Several of them would sleep 5 so long as 4 of those people wouldn't mind doubling up. I know you said no towing, but......
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…European "caravans" are typically set up for 2 people. I can't think of anything small that's set up for 5.
Your also wanting HVAC - which means you need power, which means you need to stay at an RV Park or State Park. Most now have rules about sleeping in your "vehicle" that isn't titled as an RV. There trying to keep the van life folks out. So your going to have trouble on that front.
Your going to be more comfortable with a decent tent and 5 cots, and it will be a lot less money. Or just get a small trailer as recommended. Reconfiguring from driving to sleeping each night will take longer and be less comfortable than the tent anyway. If the weather looks bad just head to the Hilton instead.
See if you rent a small setup and see how putting 5 people together works out. My wife and I thought a pop up was a good idea for 5 and we borrowed one but our middle was tossing and turning all night and we slept poorly.
Your pickup is not extracab? Why not a slide in bed camper ?
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.Compromise a bit and get one of these
View attachment 115257
and one of these
View attachment 115258
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.I was in Europe in June. The price of unleaded gas was the highest in Denmark at $9.45 USD a gallon, followed closely by France. Didn't see too many RV's on the road at those prices.
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.5 in a van will be tough. The tent in top of a van/truck looks doable, but is a real injury hazard. Bathroom run at night, not a great idea with a rooftop tent. Kid or adult falls breaks a bone ,then you be at the mercy of what ever healthcare you are near.
I think 5 in a van will be a pain and will get old fast . Van capable of sleeping 5 will probably not get much more mpg than a small class c.
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.
View attachment 115314
Im 6’4 or a tad more. Wife is 5’9. Kids are kids and will become our heights at some point.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.
You don't have to stand up when still half asleep when nature calls at home?crawling in and out of the tent is getting harder as is standing up when still half asleep when nature calls.
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.
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!!!
Could help you out there.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.How many miles were you driving per year ?
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.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!!!