Skip to main content

The Ultimate Camping Machine?


Do you think I'm just looking at this sexy little beast through a romantic haze? At long last, a cargo van built on a car platform, rather than a heavy truck platform, so that it gets good mileage. Perhaps a version of the Ford TransitConnect is available without those useless windows. A cargo van should possess a rugged and manly minimalism. There are sliding doors on both sides. A six-footer can walk through, if he bends over a little. If only the tires or wheel wells were bigger, for higher clearance!

These vans have only been available in the US for a year or two, so it'll be awhile before many exist on the used marketplace. (Ford makes them in Turkey, primarily for non-US customers.)

Neglecting the wimpy ground clearance, these guys have a lot of potential as the ultimate camping machines for the short term boondocker.

Comments

Sondra said…
I was once a paramedic. I always thought a used ambulance would make a perfect camper! There is ample headroom, it has an extra battery and inverter built in, and some are deisels. There is a passway between the back and the driving compartment, with a little bit of interior makeover, it would make a great camper for one--the exterior has storage closets where backboards, and onboard oxygen tanks are stashed. There are Box styles and Van Styles. These get good gas mileage for the size and there are side and back entry doors!
I had always thought I would Close off the back doors and that would give more wall space--
Anonymous said…
Maybe you should go for it! Life is too damn short! -s
Anonymous S, I will wait for some of these vans to appear in the used marketplace before buying.

Dixxe, A used ambulance does have advantages, doesn't it? Terrible fuel economy of course, but I think you are thinking of full time travel, where such considerations have to be thrown out the window.

The cute little van in the post would be for short term camping trips from a home base. It could also be used for travel around town because the fuel economy would be decent.