Converting a vehicle to RV duty?

Here's a low budget way to convert something to an RV in name only (mostly):

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/2425/The-Ultimate-No-Budget-Racecar-Transporter.aspx

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I think it depends a bit on where you are camping. Here on the East coast, most camping areas tend to be in wooded areas with a lot of trees.

That said, I would still install as many solar panels as can fit.

I don't have personal experience yet, but so far everything I've heard about composting toilets is they are surprisingly oder free, provided they are used correctly.

We camp under trees when we find them. But we rarely stay put. For example, last year we spent quite a bit of time in Yellowstone. We were camped under serious cover. We'd pack up in the morning and head into the park. We'd only drive a few miles at a time so the engine didn't contribute much to the charging, but the parking lots were sunny. Later, we parked for a couple of days in a shaded site but it still recovered easily.

When we're at Lake Powell, we tend to be stationary for a few days. But there's no shade there.

If I expected my camping to involve extended immobile periods under cover, I'd have at least one extra panel (like this) that I could set up away from the vehicle. It would actually be more efficient than one mounted flat on the roof as you could angle it towards the sun. I saw a couple of these at Yellowstone in the big RVs that park and stay.

It's fun playing with solar powers and an ammeter. It's amazing what a difference a few degrees of tilt or even a single shadow across part of the panel will do to the output. But man, it's like magic when you see that battery meter fill back up again on its own.

Yes, one of the YouTube channels subscribe to did a thumbnail test on panel angle. They also did an interesting test regarding how shade can affect panel performance. They had a ~900w array of panels on top of their RV with ability to angle them, although they only did that when parked for a few days since it took awhile to do.

I just took a loose panel, hooked up a multimeter and started playing around

One nice thing about the Westfalia is that the pop top is at a good angle for the panels. You just have to park in the right direction if you want to take advantage of it.

Keith Tanner wrote: I just took a loose panel, hooked up a multimeter and started playing around One nice thing about the Westfalia is that the pop top is at a good angle for the panels. You just have to park in the right direction if you want to take advantage of it.

That's very dependent of where you live.

Where I was for the 4th, one would need a slight incline north. But just a few degrees. At least for another month or so...

It's not the idea angle, but it's better than flat. Thus the term "good" angle.

Here's a question for you guys who already have RVs:

Would you rather have 4x4 and less space, or more space and 2wd?

Vans are cheap, but most are not 4x4.

Trucks are cheap, but camper shells are not nearly as comfortable as a van.

on the LMTV thing, a friend of mine bought one a few months ago. I have been discussing this same thing (custom 4x4 camper/rv) long term with him. He ended up with an s-280 shelter, fits perfectly, but very spartan, not much windows etc.

On the LMTV front (i have wanted one forever) get E36 m3 for gas mileage, like 5.5 ish, and is a maintenance hog, dont do all the stupid maintenance stuff it eats $$$ parts. Like 200+ grease zerks. After going back and fourth over and over I will likely end up wiht a F550 or similar to start with. LMTV's are awesome, but if you dont need to move 5 tons around over 4x4 needed roads its just too much truck.

The Hi-lo campers are sweet for this as they fold up nicely which creates a lot less wind resistance.

If your not going offroad I would stick with a box truck and convert it.

Isuzu also makes their diesel cabover as a 4x4, they are hard to find and pricey though, many wood land fire trucks are built on them.

PHeller wrote: Here's a question for you guys who already have RVs: Would you rather have 4x4 and less space, or more space and 2wd? Vans are cheap, but most are not 4x4. Trucks are cheap, but camper shells are not nearly as comfortable as a van.

That is a debate I've been having with myself for years. I still look at slide-in truck-bed campers for that reason. For me, secure space for my bikes is more important than the very occasional need for 4WD. At least as I'm writing this.

If money were no object, I'd get an extended frame 4x4 pick-up chassis and build a custom RV on it (google: Super-C RV). That would also be one of the easiest ways to get a diesel and possibly even a manual transmission. The Dodge Ram 5500 models are available with the Cummins, 6MT and 4WD up until this year (which I believe is the final year). The website shows the chassis at about $63K (this is before you build an RV on the back...), but still available.

I also ponder a small toy-hauler trailer such as the Forest River Wolf Pup. About $13K and done. Unfortunately, no vehicle I currently own can tow even that much (about 3000 dry).

But in the end, I keep coming back to a modified conversion van as the cheapest option.

I'd go 2WD with tires if I wanted to get further offroad. LSD if you're really crazy.

Having done some light offroading on the way to campsites, the big thing that comes to mind is rollover angle. Any road (around here) that would require 4WD would also toss around the contents of the camper at minimum, and flop it over at worst.

Throw in extra space and I'd be 2WD, no question.

2wd with space and tow a small 4X4.

Toyman01 wrote: 2wd with space and tow a small 4X4.

Or the easy option -- a used RV towing a used 4x4.

Seems like this would be an easy conversion- http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/5666815029.html

Or this- http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/5672326080.html

Both have high roofs and A/C already installed for a large space. If one can convert the right side back to a normal door and seat- you would be all set.

Before, some have brought up these kinds of vans for toys stored in the back. With that kind of space, it's feasible to even put a separation wall in.

nderwater wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: 2wd with space and tow a small 4X4.

Or the easy option -- a used RV towing a used 4x4.

SanFord is a 1956 and Son (the Samurai) is a 1988. They are both pretty used.

PHeller wrote: Here's a question for you guys who already have RVs: Would you rather have 4x4 and less space, or more space and 2wd? Vans are cheap, but most are not 4x4. Trucks are cheap, but camper shells are not nearly as comfortable as a van.

Hard one to answer since I personally don't need much luxury. If I did a lot of off-roading, I'd go for the 4x4 with a cap. If I wanted more plushy, I'd do the van. But a van equipped with good tires and a locker or LSD will get you most of the places you could in a 4x4. The big caveat is that if you get stuck in a 2wd van, better have the means to get yourself free. 4x4's big benefit off road is that when you get one axle stuck you still have the option of engaging another axle that is 12' away from the hole that has you stuck.

But comparing a stock conversion van with 2.73 gears, an open diff, and whitewalls is a far cry from a 4x4, LSD, and M/T tires. It all depends on how far off-road you want to go.

The simpler answer (I think) is a smaller slide-in truck camper on a 4x4. More amenities than most vans, best of all worlds.

Keith Tanner wrote: I disagree about solar being not much good. We've got a single 100W panel on the roof of our Westy, and it'll top up the batteries in no time.

Then you have conquered the art of micro energy use He was talking about Microwave/convection combos, and even 1000w of solar won't help him there.

An ammonia (3-way) fridge is an absolute power hog when you run it on 12v. I actually burned out a couple of golf cart solenoids before I discovered this. They're very efficient on propane. So I'd consider them two-way - propane or 120v, with 12v only for short-term emergencies.

Agreed on the 12v evap fridge. 12v on a fridge is a last resort. Use 120v first, then 12v to light the propane, and last resort is the 12v operation.

I would suggest a pilot-style evap fridge, but they haven't been made for years, and they tend to blow out the pilot when you pass a truck or get a good breeze in the vent. Usually if an RV fridge has 120v operation it also has 12v ignition for propane.

I missed that. If you need a microwave in your life, you need massive power. Might as well park in the pull-through KOA with all the other big boats.

I grew up camping in a canoe. Having something as simple as a stove that doesn't need to be assembled and an overhead light is a luxury to me, never mind being able to read after dark! I keep forgetting that campers aren't just tents with wheels to some folks, they're houses that can be moved occasionally. Different needs there.

Yea exactly why I feel like a van with a real bed in the back and a composting toilet would be like paradise.

if I were to run a fridge/freezer in an RV.. it would be one that would only be used when the engine is running or shore power hooked up. You can super insulate one to stay cold for over a day or more to facilitate this. Sailors have been doing it for years

RossD wrote: Conversion vans (and even conversion suburbans) make a good start. The reason being lots of the smaller ancillary stuff has probably been upgraded already. Ie alternator, battery, heavier cooling and suspenion even. Of course each conversion company is different....

This would also apply to an ambulance, and that would be more Class C ish.

I kill a lot of time reading Expedition Portal and there are some impressive builds. I would like to one day build up an LMTV or some other 4x4 monstrosity since I have a delusion that one day I will burn up my vacation time spectating at Rally Raids like the Dakar. Realistically a 2wd can probably go anywhere I'm likely to travel. Heres a build based on a Mercedes truck that was pretty interesting. Jim the truck

MadScientistMatt wrote:

RossD wrote: Conversion vans (and even conversion suburbans) make a good start. The reason being lots of the smaller ancillary stuff has probably been upgraded already. Ie alternator, battery, heavier cooling and suspenion even. Of course each conversion company is different....

This would also apply to an ambulance, and that would be more Class C ish.

If you can deal with the short interior height of an ambo they are built REALLY well. Aluminum framed, way overkill electrical etc. And they can be found in 4x4, usually from Fire dept's

mad_machine wrote: if I were to run a fridge/freezer in an RV.. it would be one that would only be used when the engine is running or shore power hooked up. You can super insulate one to stay cold for over a day or more to facilitate this. Sailors have been doing it for years

When we still had the 3-way fridge, I simply replaced it with a marine cooler and a bunch of ice. But a good compressor 12v fridge/freezer is impressively efficient - like I said, mine runs at about 1 Ah, so it'll run for a long time on a relatively small battery. Turns out keeping an insulated box cold is a lot easier than ramming a bunch of heat into something in a hurry

A friend uses an old Land Rover ambulance as a camper. I think he sleeps on the stretchers.

PHeller wrote: Yea exactly why I feel like a van with a real bed in the back and a composting toilet would be like paradise.

As a mtn bike DH racer/rider, my needs are also fairly basic. I often joke they are the "4S" requirements: Sleep. Shower. Sh1t. Secure bike storage. Any RV can pretty much cover the first three. It's the 4th one that has me pondering custom builds. I've had too many bikes stolen to trust leaving my $5-8,000 race bikes outside on a rack.

A decent cooler will keep food for a long weekend and I don't have a problem cooking outside on a camp table under my EZ-up (or even better - an attached awning). It's not like I'm trying to do gourmet cooking. All I need to do is boil water for pasta and heat up some Classico sauce. Cooking inside requires venting and that's a PITA.

I also like conversion vans for stealth, so it's not obvious to most people that the contents inside could be worth more than the van.