Thinking of Dakota with Topper instead of C-van

[MN C Van]

I suppose everybody thinks of 'What would be a better vehicle?'
I like that my 2007 Caravan has vast underfloor storage, and will get 24 MPG consistently.
Being a C-van, it really doesn't stand out- You can get really confused in a parking lot!

It already has massive rust holes, so I think spring would be about the time to sell it. I literally cant even jack it up it's so rusty.

I thought a 4cyl, manual Dakota with a topper might be better to insulate (the C-van is all window, of course) and offer a bit more privacy and ground clearance. It's MPG is slightly better than the C-van.



Anyone living in a Mid Size topper pick up? Am I just thinking 'The grass is Greener?' Or is there too little room?

[Ballenxj]

Only you know how small a space you can live in. For me, it would be a bit too small, unless I had an enclosed cargo trailer to expand into. 
 The minivan would be at the limit of how small I could go otherwise. 
 OTOH, with the cargo trailer that could be disconnected, you could do more exploration with the truck.

[OutdoorFT]

Having owned a dakota and now owning an 8ft bed F350...my f350 bed is still kinda small. Dakota beds are about 5.5ft long. I couldnt do a whole lot with that. sleep is literally all Id be able to do. Unless that's your plan..then it may work fine.

Would depend on topper, I suppose.

[MN C Van]

They did have eight foot beds in earlier years- Yes, even so I suppose it'd be like a big coffin.
Perhaps just a temp partition in the C-van would make it easy to heat.

[tx2sturgis]

Often you see truck-topper campers and dwellers saying that they live 'out of' the truck topper more than they live IN it. Which is pretty much what I do with my cargo van anyway.

I'm gonna find out because I am selling my van and going the truck-camper route...with cargo trailer in tow most of the time.

[TWIH]

I tried the (1994) Ranger with topper sleep system, that part worked adequately but not great.
 
Cons were:
Leave the truck by crawling out of the back every time. Same with entry. Pretty weird. (You were exposed to the elements and everyone watching as opposed to a van where you could move from the back to drivers seat to leave)

No real way to secure it from the inside while sleeping.

Absolutely frigid in the cold (I had a job guarding logging equipment up in E Washington one winter).

Tended to sweat inside (condensation) when any humidity increases due to rain or using a propane stove or heater.

Positives:
I had 4x4 so could get most anywhere

I had a light duty alum tubing roof rack that a person could easily install solar on.

The canopy would be easy to vent with a 14x14 roof vent.

With an extra cab you have space for more items.

The truck/canopy doesn’t stand out as much as say an 8’ truck camper or even a straight white cargo van in neighbourhoods.

I had a 6’ bed so that part was ok storage wise.

[MN C Van]

I thought a topper would be easier to insulate, too.
Reluctant to tear the original molding off the c-van permanently.

[TWIH]

If you got a topper taller than cab height (the ones that swoop up another 8” or so towards the back) you’d appreciate the room, just makes solar more difficult. I dont have the data to find you a picture but you’ve seen them.

Yes you could glue 1” polystyrene or whatever its called board to the roof  (inside) and walls. Might help some.

On Pinterest (of all places) theres pics of well done canopy campers.

Of all the negatives its the entry/exit that bothered me the most, otherwise the truck is a good idea.