Lately these have been getting my attention.
What do yall think of people turning vans into mini-RV's and adventure vehicles.
I want to do it!
Lately these have been getting my attention.
What do yall think of people turning vans into mini-RV's and adventure vehicles.
I want to do it!
Or buses!
Love adventure vans... I am especially fond of these E series fords by a company local to me doing solid axle 4wd conversions. U joint off road
They are spendy pieces, but they are really capable.
For me personally, if it doesn't have a sink, toilet & shower it wouldn't be of much use for me. I'm not sure that would work/fit within a normal van body?
I have a class B E250 Van no bigger than a normal van (other than height) and it has a toilet, sink and shower. It's great to have at the track, I can bring what I need plus a place to sit and eat lunch. The one I have now is a 1990 and at some point I'm going to update to a newer model. The one I have now has the toilet and shower in the back. It's not real a proper bathroom. The newer ones have a wet bath (I affectionately refer to them as shower closets) which leaves more room to carry things.
The vans also fit in a regular parking space, which is more convenient than you think.
They look amazing in pictures, but I can't imagine the reality is as glamorous.
Every thing you need... it's a bit tight when getting in or out of 1 price leathers at the track.
85 xplorer 228 class b by Frank industries.
Pete Gossett said:For me personally, if it doesn't have a sink, toilet & shower it wouldn't be of much use for me. I'm not sure that would work/fit within a normal van body?
I agree, but people build those into van conversions all the time. It's not as common because it requires a lot more work. Most are "wet baths" as Tom describes below. I always look at Class B RVs, but almost none are set up to haul large cargo inside (very expensive mtn bikes) like I want. Only the Winnebago Travato, but it's based on the ProMaster, which can't tow enough (I want a minimum of 7500 lbs).
There are also companies like Sportsmobile that will do custom builds, but the lead time is typically over a year and total cost is generally well into 6-figures.
I've been wanting to do a van-build for over 20 years - mainly so I would have a place to stay when on mtn biking trips, since I really don't like camping in tents. I even bought a van to convert a few years ago, although I've basically decided I need to sell this van and save up for something newer and larger (probably a Transit 350).
Search YouTube and you'll find hundreds of DIY van builds with finished results ranging from minimal (and obviously DIY) to ones that look professionally built. Like anything, it depends on how much time and budget you can invest.
I would like to see pictures of the toilet and shower in a van. Those are important for me, too.
I had an E350 van that I put a fold-down bed in. It was otherwise just a cargo van, but I could weekend in it no problem. It was a metal tent that didn't leak.
I constantly toss back and forth between vans and trucks. I buy a van because it's what suits my needs best for work, then lament not having 4x4 so I buy a truck.... then lament not having a van so I look for a 4x4 van. Then I remember I'm not made of money.
Someday.... that rare Express Duramax AWD will come knocking on my door and it will be my forever vehicle.
Those adventure vans look amazing. Take a picture of a beatnik millenial beside a teeny tiny woodstove with the widest possible angle lens and you have a winner.
Ever been inside one? Getting to the bed is sometimes like crawling in the hatch of your CUV because you locked the keys in the front.
They are one of the ultimate examples of how far reality is from the advertisement pictures.
Which is why I like my vans to be work vans with a cot and a cooler. Only so much luxury you can stuff in a wee little van before it's a nuisance.
Funny thing is, I think I know that beatnik millennial in that picture. I think it's my friend Travis. He's a designer and model from NYC. I have to ask him now.
In reply to Curtis73 :
I had to Google Beatnik Millennial lol
In reply to lrrs :
In the early 70's I had a Vega GT ( hatchback ) I loved that at the race track because fold down the seat and you had a flat floor to sleep in. Out, away from the mosquito's, rain, and reduced noise so the drunks around the campfires didn't wake me up.
I would park near the showers/ toilet, and near the concession stand. My buddy drove it to the track for me and it was OK for two guys. I'd drive my pickup loaded with tools spares and supplies, pulling the trailer with my Jaguar.
That was the best way to go racing. I've tried the tent, motorhome, race car hauler, even A semi Trailer. Everything else is too big, bulky, expensive, hard to store, time consuming, too prone to failure unless valuable race car prep time is spent maintaining them.
Definitely prefer the tall roof models. Crouching about's unappealing. It's pretty easy to drop 6 figures on one and transfer into the realm of "glamping" (glamorous camping). It's not much different from what people have been doing since...forever. Just now they're forgoing the big RV and dumping more money into a relatively little box.
Like anything else, there's 3 categories of users: The people who live or very nearly live out of them, the occasional users, and the people who like the idea but , like the 6-thousand dollar mountain bike in the corner it just gathers dust. They're real popular where I live - all three categories.
I had a row with a journalist who wrote a big article on them in the San Francisco Chronicle that read like copy out of a Mercedes Benz ad. Not once did they mention the big three.
For people who don't want to go full van, I'm seeing a lot of these around: 
yupididit said:In reply to Curtis73 :
I had to Google Beatnik Millennial lol
Just google "man bun" and you'll see thousands of examples.
I'm actually a beatnik gen-x-er, which is the same thing, just older.
Edit: Important side note... don't google "man buns." Entirely different results
I’ve been wanting to build one for, like, forever. But after spending a significant time as a medic jammed in the back of “vanbulances”, I can tell you that the low ceiling and minimal width makes your body cramp up like like a rheumatic octogenarian. Instead, I’ve been looking at shuttle bus-type vehicles. Roughly the same driving and parking dynamics as 3/4 ton van but with extra space for standing, changing clothes, cooking and moving about. You’d still have to be judicious with space, but I’m sure it’d be more comfortable. Also, in my searches, they seem to be about the same price for similar condition as the vans that’d I would consider.
I've also been looking for a van to use for towing and to camp out of at events.
I have been looking at shuttle vans for more space but most of them have a large rear overhang, I'm not sure what that would do for towing manners.
Another option I am looking at are the cutaway box vans with a 10-12' box. I would think it would be easier to build out the inside and look more stealthy.
EvanB (Forum Supporter) said:I have been looking at shuttle vans for more space but most of them have a large rear overhang, I'm not sure what that would do for towing manners.
The Ford and Dodge vans have the overhang ,
The Chevy Express / GMC Savanna have a longer wheelbase ,
My sister's family got one last year, based on a Dodge work van. To me it's small, but they fit 4 people and 2 dogs in there for trips on a regular basis. Personally I would probably just use a tent.
I've been eyeing a manual transmission AWD Element for awhile for an ECamper conversion and to add the tent accessory off the hatch/tailgate. Still need to Coleman stove for food and no fresh water or toilet, but it'll cover my needs, and with the hatch tent, have a larger "living space" footprint.
penultimeta said:I’ve been wanting to build one for, like, forever. But after spending a significant time as a medic jammed in the back of “vanbulances”, I can tell you that the low ceiling and minimal width makes your body cramp up like like a rheumatic octogenarian. Instead, I’ve been looking at shuttle bus-type vehicles. Roughly the same driving and parking dynamics as 3/4 ton van but with extra space for standing, changing clothes, cooking and moving about. You’d still have to be judicious with space, but I’m sure it’d be more comfortable. Also, in my searches, they seem to be about the same price for similar condition as the vans that’d I would consider.
If I was to do something like this, I would start with a shuttle bus or box truck. I don't have the skills or resources so...I fantasize lol
Clearly this
So here is what I've done / am doing in our van.
The bunk over the drivers seat; as pointed out it is like climbing into a hole, I use mine for storage, laid down rubber mate and use it for carrier extra set of wheels and tires (one car uses 13" diameter wheels the other use 10" diameter wheels so it's not an issue). I also bought very slim folding chairs from Ikea that can be turned on their side and stowed in the bunk. Additionally I also got little storage pouches to keep misc things so they don't get lost.
The couch folds out into a bed in 10 seconds.
I took the rear door cards off and use the pockets to various spray cans.
I reconfigured one of the cabinets in back so I have a shelf for my aluminum floor jack and another shelf above that for the small air tank. the tank has 25' of line so I can air up tires without having to hoist the tank out.
I mounted a hinged top on the bathtub (it's in the left rear corner of the van) so that can be used as a storage shelf for lightweight items. If you need to use the bath you just pick up the totes off the shelf. I also have hooks on the wall above the tub to hang a mountain bike.
Ultimately if I don't upgrade to a newer van I will either install or have installed the aforementioned shower closet as that frees up a lot of space.
I bought the van from the second owner who was a travel nurse and lived in it for several years. I've spent a full weekend in it and for that it's fine. The fact that you can stand up in it makes a big difference. We've previously had a Class C RV and frankly while there was more space it wasn't enough to make the extra hassle of parking & driving the pig worth it. If I were to do a larger motorhome I'd go to a class A.
Vans are awesome but you need to plan out how you're storing things.
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