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+--- Thread: How do you pick? (/thread-598.html)
How do you pick? - OutdoorFT - 11-19-2017
How in the heck do you pick? Ive made a few posts on what Ive been reseaching but I keep coming back to vans.
However...I am a truck guy. Love my 1 ton and would love a nice F450 for a nice truck camper.
What Ive come to realize is that I want a single unit, no extra unit (with wheels).
How do you guys get so decisive? Ive been working alot and I dont mind it so I can save up. But...on what?
I envy you.
RE: How do you pick? - Snikwahjm - 11-19-2017
We hashed that question around a long time. There is no way to know in advance what your needs will trulybe. We decided on a 1991 Chevy conversion van that was well kept. We will trick it out to do what we perceive our needs might be. If that isn’t it we will have to find something slightly bigger and likely a whole lot more money. We chose it because we don’t want to manouver some big thing in tiny parking lots and through small places.... been there. We aren’t on the road yet so time can only tell.
RE: How do you pick? - wagoneer - 11-19-2017
It was simple for me I bought the truck I wanted and the guy basically gave me the camper.
RE: How do you pick? - AbuelaLoca - 11-19-2017
I had my list of must haves and when I drove by the van, a ray of sunshine was beaming down right on her. I had no idea what vehicle would hold the list!!!
RE: How do you pick? - waldenbound - 11-19-2017
I knew I settled on a cargo van, because I wanted an "empty canvas." I thought, "There's no way I can be driving to a bunch of different states looking for a van." So, I found a place that sells fleet vans and found mine. Only took a 20 mile or so drive from my house.
RE: How do you pick? - Ballenxj - 11-19-2017
I'm wishy washy on which vehicle I will use. I've predominately had vans. I got a box truck once for the room. That never panned out due to finances and life situations.
One of my main requirements is to be able to move from sleeping to drivers seat without exiting the vehicle. My box truck had a door from box to cab.
I'm kind of settling back towards van for the smaller foot print, but think a stepvan would work well too. Yup, I'm indecisive.
RE: How do you pick? - Putts - 11-19-2017
I know me. If I'm stuck inside because or rain or weather, I need to be able to pace...at least three or four steps. Therefore, I also need to be able to stand up comfortably. I need to be able to go from the driver's seat to the cabin without exiting. I need to be able to go down a forest service road many, many, many miles---over the life of my travel I would hope to log as many miles on dirt roads as pavement. I'm old and my hips hurt, I need a vehicle that's as easy as possible to get in and out of without giving up too much ground clearance. I need to own it free and clear by the time I pull out of my driveway a year (or less) from now.
Class A is too long to turn around on a forest service road. (And I can't afford one.)
Class B is too confining.
Class C might work, but I'd beat the shit out of anything factory made. (Read cheap, shoddy workmanship and materials.)
A box truck has advantages (high ground clearance) but has disadvantages with no easy access to the drivers seat from the cabin (can be done but not with ease of ingress and egress) and is tall making overhead branches a potential issue.
So, it's a step van for me!
![[Image: 20160507_122506-XL.jpg]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Putt/i-N2hjQKz/0/0e218e0c/XL/20160507_122506-XL.jpg)
RE: How do you pick? - Blacktank - 11-19-2017
i'm 6 feet tall and cant lay across the back of a standard van
there is no perfect rig,your going to have to make concessions in a few ways
RE: How do you pick? - TrainChaser - 11-19-2017
If you're a truck guy, you're a truck guy, so why fight it? Have you ever considered building your own camper? There are quite a few advantages to doing so:
* It will probably be cheaper and built better than anything you can buy. (I think I've seen books.)
* You’ll know how it’s put together, and if it’s damaged or a part breaks down, you can fix it yourself.
* You can have wood or steel framing; wood, fiberglass or metal exterior*; your choice of insulation, your choice of wall covering, etc.* You can make the kitchen and bath as simple or as modern as you want; you can have a stationary 2x2 frame bed, or a motorized Murphy bed.
* You can customize every facet to suit yourself; if you change your mind about something, you re-do part of it.
For instance:
* https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6002/5965866530_4c63c93615_b.jpg
* https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e5/98/7b/e5987b33f6131592e2430b759e5aa209.jpg
* https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e7/b0/e6/e7b0e61d18c9e1c0744f62e92d17ede8.jpg
Here’s a visual how-to: http://www.doityourselfrv.com/homemade-truck-camper-work-art-wait-see-inside/
Finished one for sale: http://rebloggy.com/post/tiny-house-tiny-home-truck-camper/80297743687
Inside: http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Michael-Ra-Inside-Camper-6.jpg
Or https://i.pinimg.com/736x/85/71/8a/85718af284a10b872ca454ae5c3d68cd--custom-van-interior-camper-van-conversions.jpg
Check out Lloyd Kahn’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Lloyd-Kahn/e/B001JS1BQY
Each book has about a thousand photos (really), not a how-to, but great ideas.
* You usually see sheet metal crimped or corrugated, but you can buy it flat (cut to your length), just contact a Roofing Supply Co, not a Roofing Contractor. If I build mine, it will have a ‘Copper Penny’ metal roof, a beautiful baked-on metallic copper color (you’ll have to see it in person to realize how gorgeous it is). https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c5/88/36/c58836f9e9b29e454c16f8c696e4b33f--copper-penny-metal-roof.jpg And it’s no more expensive than the usual gray, white or terra cotta; here in W. WA, about 48” wide, $2.67 per linear foot. But you have to specify that you don’t want it crimped. Colors are baked on -- I use some 18"x 10' castoff pieces for raised garden bed, and when I move a bed that has gone through several years of wet mud, it still looks great. (I use stainless screws.)
RE: How do you pick? - Motrukdriver - 11-19-2017
Love home built stuff.