4 ms·

> A miniaturized RV that is basically a stripped-down mobile motel room will also have a decent post-fleet-vehicle secondary market, as people buy them to live

by cr0sh 7y ago

> A miniaturized RV that is basically a stripped-down mobile motel room will also have a decent post-fleet-vehicle secondary market, as people buy them to live in full-time, or use more like a traditional RV, excepting that it can fit into a van-sized parking space. You're basically describing what used to be called (here in the United States - circa 1970s-80s) a "conversion van". Today, you'd probably use something like one of the larger/tall "Ford Transit Connect" vans; which I wouldn't doubt that some company does conversions on, for sale as mini RVs.

zrobotics 7y ago
In fact they are fairly popular with the set of campers who travel to more remote places (I.E. national forest campgrounds instead of large RV parks). For instance, https://sportsmobile.com/sportsmobile-4x4/ https://sportsmobile.com/sportsmobile-4x4/ offers 4x4 conversion vans for these uses, as well as more traditional 4x2 conversion vans for on-road use.
- Fogest 7y ago
  Those look pretty neat! Do you know if there are similar things that are less off-road geared?
  - Baeocystin 7y ago
    Google for Volkswagen Westfalias. They are, sadly, no longer in production, but they are exactly what you have in mind, and their internal layout was about as good as it gets in terms of comfort/utility per square foot. I had one back in the late 90's/early 2000's, and I regret to this day that I sold it. It was awesome.
    - Fogest 7y ago
      Ah yes, I have seen some of those old fellows around here and there! I definitely would love something like this, too bad they look so dated :/.
  - zrobotics 7y ago
    The company I linked makes 2wd on-road versions as well.
twic 7y ago
A friend has one of these, a Nissan Elgrand minivan converted into a camper: http://www.freespiritautos.co.uk/camper-conversions/nissan-elgrand-camper-conversions/ http://www.freespiritautos.co.uk/camper-conversions/nissan-e... Although looking at the numbers, it's a whack bigger than a Transit Connect - 20 cm longer than the long wheelbase version, and weighs half a tonne more. Mind you, the classic VW bus is about the same length and weight as the short wheelbase Transit Connect!

by cr0sh 7y ago

zrobotics 7y ago

In fact they are fairly popular with the set of campers who travel to more remote places (I.E. national forest campgrounds instead of large RV parks). For instance, https://sportsmobile.com/sportsmobile-4x4/ https://sportsmobile.com/sportsmobile-4x4/ offers 4x4 conversion vans for these uses, as well as more traditional 4x2 conversion vans for on-road use.

Fogest 7y ago
Those look pretty neat! Do you know if there are similar things that are less off-road geared?
- Baeocystin 7y ago
  Google for Volkswagen Westfalias. They are, sadly, no longer in production, but they are exactly what you have in mind, and their internal layout was about as good as it gets in terms of comfort/utility per square foot. I had one back in the late 90's/early 2000's, and I regret to this day that I sold it. It was awesome.
  - Fogest 7y ago
    Ah yes, I have seen some of those old fellows around here and there! I definitely would love something like this, too bad they look so dated :/.
- zrobotics 7y ago
  The company I linked makes 2wd on-road versions as well.

twic 7y ago

A friend has one of these, a Nissan Elgrand minivan converted into a camper: http://www.freespiritautos.co.uk/camper-conversions/nissan-elgrand-camper-conversions/ http://www.freespiritautos.co.uk/camper-conversions/nissan-e... Although looking at the numbers, it's a whack bigger than a Transit Connect - 20 cm longer than the long wheelbase version, and weighs half a tonne more. Mind you, the classic VW bus is about the same length and weight as the short wheelbase Transit Connect!