fishboat

The VW demand is larger collectors-based and this drives the price up. Modern Class B RV versions (van conversions) are the Roadtrek & Sportsmobile, but both have asking prices that are similar (conceptually) to the teardrop trailers...excessive for what you get. You can easily drop $100K on a Roadtrek van...then look what $100K buys in a good quality slightly used Class C, or even Class A RV.

Most, or at least a, cost-effective very versatile option (4x4, tons of aftermarket mods including bike/kayak racks, last forever, few maintenance issues, decent mileage, very good resale......) .. used Toyota 4-Runner with a V6, towing a small trailer, or not. Small used campers (trailer or popup..popups are nice as they feel like a tent) can be had for a few thousand dollars...and sold for the same.

rydabent

If you put a toneau cover on it like I did, it limits requests. Also when you travel, the bikes are locked up secure out of sight.

gattm99

Thanks for all the ideas and advice,

I thought it might help to make a list of requirements.

1. Wife's Daily driver, short drive to work and stores. No children to haul. She doesn't want to drive an oversized vehicle.

2. Decent gas mileage.

3. Enough room in back for us to sleep in with back seats taken out and air mattress installed.

4. Not be completely dorky.

Offroad, AWD and ground clearance aren't really concerns as we've never had those things in vehicles and never missed them.


"Lastly...if you blow off you're wife's desires-needs as frivolous..you'll find that soon you'll be doing the trips alone, not at all..or as a single guy."

Yes I sort of represented my wife's desires-needs as frivolous. She likes to camp and be outdoors, but has health issues that keep her from it, or at least that's her excuse. The two biggest problems are bad back and bad knees. She isn't real fond of sleeping on air mattresses, and she says it's hard to get up from the ground, but she thought an air mattress at bed level might work. I usually do a bike tour once a year and a few odd (and even) camping trips but she almost never goes.

I just did a 3 night bike tour and camped in a hammock with a tarp over my head, so I don't have many requirements.

She has asked me about camp cots before. I hadn't really thought about that, maybe that would work with some kind of air mattress on it?

This summer I'd like to take at least a week long camping trip and have her go with me. We started talking about campers but don't have the money to buy one, the space to keep it, or a vehicle that can pull it. NO TOWED CAMPERS!

I feel like VW vans are a lifestyle choice that I can't afford. NO VW VANS

I spent some time looking at Transit connects last night, I'm thinking that could be a strong choice, though not sure how my wife will like driving one to work.

My personal favorite choice is VW station wagon. maybe because I grew up with a celbrity station wagon? Not sure how easy it would be to take out seats and sleep in back.

I'm wanting to check out a Honda Element. That could be thing thing we need and be way cooler then transit connect.

CliffordK

Camping and Cycling...

It sounds like a touring bike to me
Or at least a bike & rack.

gattm99

I've got that covered, but wife isn't interested in riding.

CliffordK

no1mad 

A Mopar minivan with two rows of Stow-n-Go seats sounds like the ticket- unless your wife considers it too large or dorky.

Sangetsu

I had a GMC Suburban 2500, AWD with a 7.4 liter engine. It was smooth, comfortable, powerful, and with locking axles, didn't get stuck. It held 44 gallons of gasoline, and I could get from Miami to Tallahassee (1000km) on one tank of gas. I preferred it over a van because it drove and handled better, and there was room in the back for me and my two Huskies to sleep on long road trips. Bikes could go on the roof, or on a hitch rack. My neighbors loved it; they often borrowed it from me to go to Costco, Home Depot, or other places, in exchange for a tank of gas (usually not knowing how much gas it held).

I traded the Suburban for a Ford F-350 extra-cab 4x4 with a Powerstroke diesel. The Ford got 22 mpg, and had amazing power, but it was noisy, and had a very rough ride. My dogs didn't mind, I drove it from Miami to Tok, Alaska (now there is a drive), and we had a great time. I used a pop-up camper which had all the comforts I needed.

rekmeyata

Just because it's a Mercedes Diesel doesn't automatically make it a good engine. That engine suffers from fatal issues after 100,000 miles and it has to do with the smog control systems. Nox sensors are failing that will cost at least $500 to fix, then the EGR valve will fail about the same time and it will cost only about $1,000 to fix, while all this is going on the SCR Cat converter will fail which will cost about $2,000. In a lot of cases the entire exhaust system clogs up and must be replaced at a cost of $6,000! The average cost to drive this MBZ diesel is 10 cents a mile vs 2 cents per mile for either the Dodge Ram Pro Master or the Ford Transit. Maintenance cost like a simple oil change will cost you $200 to $400 depending on the MBZ dealer but the Dodge and Ford will only cost $40 to $50; just the first 100,000 will cost a MBZ owner $1700 to $4000 vs the Dodge or the Ford that will cost $300 to $400.

Stay away from the MBZ diesels.

Steve B.

We camp for a week or more every year and as we got older have migrated to a larger stand-up-inside tent as well as a cot for my wife, same reasons, bad knees. I'm good with an air mattress.

The larger tent and the bulk of a cot is not really a big deal in overall scheme and I can fit all our gear in my '11 Forester with a 11 cu. ft. Thule roof box. Benefit is I can also get my bike on the Thule as well and it all comes off the roof when I don't need it, so don't find the need for a larger car.

In truth I'd love a camping van that we could sleep in as it is somewhat less stressful in bad weather, but that advantage of tent camping is you can leave setup at the campground and explore in the car. As well a camping van is pricy for something we use 2 weeks of the year.

For just biking I can fit a bike with F wheel attached laying down in the Forester, rear seats folded down. That's been a requisite of every vehicle I've owned for 25 years.

fietsbob

Local Newspaper gets 30+ MPG.. with such a rig.


Lots of Europe Tent Camps with whatever car they Own ..


maybe you can Get a Skoda when the Pro Bike Race Teams are sone with it.

JGM411

I have owned 4 chrysler corp mini vans in the last 23 years, and my wife had one. she now drives a durango. I also have a first generation Ford Transit connect and have owned cargo vans.

thoughts....for what it is worth.

Cargo vans are big and roomy and they suck gas. they also are loud while driving down the road.

Ford transit, great maueverabilty and good gas mileage @25-28 mpg. Con's road noisy and plastic parts easily break.

Chrysler mini vans, Pro's: the stow and go seats are great, decent fuel economy in the newer models highway 27mpg, however city driving 16. combined I avg around 22-23mpg. Front wheel drive is appreciated during snow days. Quiet driving down the road. a more comfortable ride than truck based chassis vehicles. Since the vehicle is better insulated,night time sleeping inside will be quieter than a camper shell on a pickup. Also bikes fit easily inside.

downside, they have a certain image, i.e family hauler, soccer moms and senior citizen vehicle -- because the seats set up higher than a car seat, olde people like them because they don't have to bend down to get in. It's also easier for older people to get out of.

gattm99

Thanks for the advice, I hate to admit it but the Grand Caravan is top on my list right now. A minivan... Oh man.

In a related funny note, my friends with the VW came by last night. It took about 5 minutes for them to get it out of the driveway thanks to about ten attempts to keep it running long enough to get moving. Upside they said was a comfortable night in the driveway if they had to stay. LOL

JGM411

I just noticed where you live. good to see another fellow southern Illinoisian.

Maelochs

I see a lot of others have had success with a Chrysler Corp minivan as well. Add to it a cheap, big, pop-up tent and a cot and a couple folding chairs and you live in luxury.

the sci guy 

if only these weren't an april fools joke a few years ago: This Teeny Camper for a Mini Cooper Started as an April Fools? Joke | WIRED

PaulRivers

This is an REI Kingdom Cot 3 that I looked at at REI that is very, very comfortable (at least it was laying on it for 20 minutes):
https://www.rei.com/product/892837/rei-kingdom-cot-3



I don't know your sleeping arrangements at home, but one big annoyance with sleeping in a minivan with a 2nd person is that you are right next to each other. When I was younger and camping with my dad I'd put my head at the opposite end of the vehicle compared to him or we'd be practically breathing on each other - there's only so much space.

My dad has also rented a camper before. If you're only going once a year, that's something you should probably consider - the cost of renting was still much lower than the reduced fuel economy or buying a larger less fuel efficient vehicle.

bransom

Until some dude t-boned my wife a couple months ago, we were happy Honda Odyssey owners. Drop the seats, put the kayaks on the roof, the bikes on a hitch rack, and fill up the inside. Absolutely great vehicle. It was a 2007 and nothing ever went wrong with it. Nothing.

We bought a place in northern Michigan last year and so now need all wheel drive. Given that, we replaced the Odyssey with a Subaru Outback. Had we not needed the all wheel drive now, I probably would have bought another Odyssey even though we're past the age of hailing kids around.

crashmo

Just went through this very quest. After having owned lots and lots of different vehicles, I've found the used Acura MDX (got a 2006 with reasonably low miles for $10k) to be a great mix of everything you're looking for. Plus, it's comfortable as anything.

Also, wife has a 2010 Odyssey. That thing is legit too.

jimmie65

Get a pickup. A minivan will suck the testosterone right out of you.

Get a smaller pickup if a half-ton is still too big. An older Ranger (or wait 2 years for the new model), Colorado, Frontier, or Tacoma.
Before we got a trailer, we had a truck bed tent. Awesome for staying off the ground.

I've got a 2000 F150, about 250K miles and still running strong. It's our 2nd vehicle, used when the weather's too bad for bike commuting and for camping trips. (Or when my daughter needs to move stuff).

TimothyH

Just food for thought.

The 10 Coolest Adventure Rigs | Outside Online

Not real suggestions. Some are pretty rediculous but nice for getting ideas of what can be done. There are some pop-up trucks in the background on vehicle number 3. The Subaru is about the most realistic.

Miele Man

How about a regular size van that you can customize yourself? You could install fold down beds on the sides and still be able to keep your bikes inside the van when travelling. An extended van might be even better as you'd probably have room for beds lengthwise and the bikes crosswise with the beds folded down for sleeping on.

Cheers

highrpm

I have a full size Ford Econoline passenger van. Man is that thing awesome!

I have three kids. I've taken that van camping all over the country. I haul dirt bikes and bicycles in it. I've slept in it a bunch of times.

My van has the v6 engine. It's not fast, but I get 17mpg regularly. Not much worse than a minivan, really.

Road Fan

What is it? I don't think it's common or even available in the USA.

Road Fan

For travel, yes, my friend in Colorado has one and has been all over the USA in it. But it's very specialized.