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4x4 Camper Van
I get out of the Army in a year and my wife and I plan to do nothing
more than travel around the country visiting friends and blowing some savings. I've been kinda caged up in a uniform for 8 years, and it's time to decompress and get a little perspective. I envision the camper we travel in as representing the key that unlocks that cage. So this is important! See? That being said, I'm looking for something that can handle snow really well as we will ultimately end up landing in Alaska. I started this search because I was so enamored with the old VW Westphalia Syncro (an AWD VW camper van). But it occured to me that a 1992 (the last year they made them) model anything is too old. So my quest has led me to find the 4x4 Sportsmobile (www.sportsmobile.com) conversion vans and the GTRV folks in British Columbia (www.gtrv.com). They both seem to build some fantastic products, although they are a little pricey compared to the old Westies. Any opinions on these? My real concern that I can't kick is gas milage. I'm trying desperately to have my cake and eat it too. I want an AWD or 4x4 full camper (meaning at a minimum stove, water, fridge, sleeps 4) that will do at least 20 mpg. If all the stars aligned, someone out there knows how to make this happen. And yes, I realize this may spark the diesel debate - but I'd go diesel if it was designed for fuel efficiency as a first consideration instead of tourque (european style). What would you look at buying if you were me? |
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whats wrong with a trailer camper?
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On 14 Dec 2004 14:37:58 -0800, "Tyler Durden"
> wrote: >I get out of the Army in a year and my wife and I plan to do nothing >more than travel around the country visiting friends and blowing some >savings. I've been kinda caged up in a uniform for 8 years, and it's >time to decompress and get a little perspective. I envision the camper >we travel in as representing the key that unlocks that cage. So this is >important! See? > >That being said, I'm looking for something that can handle snow really >well as we will ultimately end up landing in Alaska. I started this >search because I was so enamored with the old VW Westphalia Syncro (an >AWD VW camper van). But it occured to me that a 1992 (the last year >they made them) model anything is too old. So my quest has led me to >find the 4x4 Sportsmobile (www.sportsmobile.com) conversion vans and >the GTRV folks in British Columbia (www.gtrv.com). They both seem to >build some fantastic products, although they are a little pricey >compared to the old Westies. Any opinions on these? > >My real concern that I can't kick is gas milage. I'm trying desperately >to have my cake and eat it too. I want an AWD or 4x4 full camper >(meaning at a minimum stove, water, fridge, sleeps 4) that will do at >least 20 mpg. If all the stars aligned, someone out there knows how to >make this happen. And yes, I realize this may spark the diesel debate - >but I'd go diesel if it was designed for fuel efficiency as a first >consideration instead of tourque (european style). >What would you look at buying if you were me? I own and swear by the GM Astro/Safari vans for their AWD. Awesome on snowy/icy roads and do OK off-road, as long as you realize just how limited the ground clearance is. Gas mileage is respectable at just over 20 mpg on the highway. If you wanted to build your own camper van, you can find AWD Astro/Safari vans from $1,500 for well used up to $30,000+ for brand new. Over the years there have been several companies building small motorhomes based on these vans. Some full blown class C's as well as smaller versions with pop tops. Currently, this company makes what appears to be a nice van motorhome: http://www.tigermotorhomes.com/tiger-xl/index.htm If you wanted more off-roadability from these vans, check out: www.overlandvans.com They offer lift kits that will allow 31" tires to be installed. The drivetrain on these vans are common pieces and you can also do some mixing and matching from other GM offerings to add true 2-speed transfer cases and/or a front axle with a disconnect. Just another option for your consideration. (For more info on Astro/Safari vans, check out the message forums at www.astrosafari.com.) Matt 99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab 4x4 96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion |
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"Tyler Durden" > writes:
> What would you look at buying if you were me? Soap. |
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Tyler Durden wrote: I started this > search because I was so enamored with the old VW Westphalia Syncro (an > AWD VW camper van). But it occured to me that a 1992 (the last year > they made them) model anything is too old. As far as I know (in Europe) they were built till 1998. But anyway with a 1992 built VW you will get anywhere. They are very reliable. a '92 is as good as new. Good luck, Erik-Jan. -- http://www.fotograaf.com/trooper |
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There's something nice about being able to roam from cockpit to cabin
on the go. Also, we plan on travelling with up to four folks. This would be a "King Cab" 4x4 at least, and I don't think I'm going to do better than 20 mpg after I put a camper on it. Does that sound right? Thanks for the response! |
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Matt,
Great tip on the Safari. That's a neat little package! 21 mpg AWD full camper - exactly what I asked for! Do you know anywhere to find a lot of used listings? Thanks again. |
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Matt,
Great tip on the Safari. That's a neat little package! 21 mpg AWD full camper - exactly what I asked for! Do you know anywhere to find a lot of used listings? Thanks again. |
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On 14 Dec 2004 18:35:38 -0800, "Tyler Durden"
> wrote: >Matt, > >Great tip on the Safari. That's a neat little package! 21 mpg AWD full >camper - exactly what I asked for! Do you know anywhere to find a lot >of used listings? Thanks again. Check around your area for an "RV Trader" magazine or similar. We have one here that covers WA,OR, ID and AK and I've seen some older model Astro/Safari RVs in it. Some were AWD versions. These publicatins are weekly, so there is always something new showing up. (Note, the only difference between a 2wd and AWD Astro/Safari is the front subframe and a T-case. What this means is that a person can easily swap in an AWD subframe if they found the perfect 2wd Astro/Safari RV. As I mentioned, old AWD Astro/Safari vans are plentiful and cheap.) Matt 99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab 4x4 96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion |
#10
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"Tyler Durden" > wrote in message oups.com... >I get out of the Army in a year and my wife and I plan to do nothing > more than travel around the country visiting friends and blowing some > savings. I've been kinda caged up in a uniform for 8 years, and it's > time to decompress and get a little perspective. I envision the camper > we travel in as representing the key that unlocks that cage. So this is > important! See? > > That being said, I'm looking for something that can handle snow really > well as we will ultimately end up landing in Alaska. I started this > search because I was so enamored with the old VW Westphalia Syncro (an > AWD VW camper van). But it occured to me that a 1992 (the last year > they made them) model anything is too old. So my quest has led me to > find the 4x4 Sportsmobile (www.sportsmobile.com) conversion vans and > the GTRV folks in British Columbia (www.gtrv.com). They both seem to > build some fantastic products, although they are a little pricey > compared to the old Westies. Any opinions on these? > > My real concern that I can't kick is gas milage. I'm trying desperately > to have my cake and eat it too. I want an AWD or 4x4 full camper > (meaning at a minimum stove, water, fridge, sleeps 4) that will do at > least 20 mpg. If all the stars aligned, someone out there knows how to > make this happen. And yes, I realize this may spark the diesel debate - > but I'd go diesel if it was designed for fuel efficiency as a first > consideration instead of tourque (european style). > What would you look at buying if you were me? I have a 92 E250 pop top Sportsmobile extended body style. It is great. But wish it was 4 wheel as we like the "back country" Sportsmobile people (Texas) built it for us. Wonderful people to deal with. Built to our custom wants. They do have a 4 wheel model now but don't know if diesel is available. Give them a call. We picked Ford over Dodge due to the Ford having a frame set up, not unibody. Unibody had much more road noise. W W > |
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