Living on the Road - Van or Truck?

Here's my chance and I'm going to take it... getting laid off from the J.O.B. in June and I am fully committed to being a dirt bag climber for 4 months or so...

I have rented my place out with a short term lease to allow me to fully commit to being on the road. I am pretty much set on where I want to travel and climb this summer... but, I am left with one question. Is it better to have a Van or Truck when dirt bagging? I figure half the time will be spent sleeping in the vehicle and half in a tent or bivy.

-For the Van option, I am thinking E-250 Ford or Chevy Express. I will remodel the cargo area with a bed, storage, and a primitive cook/clean station.

-For the Truck option, I am thinking single cab full size truck with a long bed. Add a camper shell and remodel the truck bed area with a bed, storage, and a primitive cook/clean station (tailgate set up).

I'm looking for some input from those that have lived on the road and their thoughts on the +/- of either option. Right now, I am on the fence... with a Truck I could get 4wd (not necessary but nice to have). A Van has much more space... what to do?

If you are heading out to rainy places, get the van. Much easier to hang out and cook in. I'm a truck fan but I camp in drier areas. See my blog post about how to rig the back of your truck for a cheap and easy setup.

Mal

blog.trango.com/2010/03/09/…

I've lived out of a car where the passenger side seats folded down reasonably flat for up to 2 months on the road. I have also lived out of a truck with just a regular camper shell (for 3 months) and a truck with a pop-up camper (3 months). The more room you have the more comfy it is but remember the idea is that you will be out doing something way more than you will be hanging out in your vehicle.

I'd say if it is only for 4 months just use whatever you have

You can get 4wd cargo vans too...

If you build an elevated sleeping platform and get a reasonably windproof shell for the bed, the truck will be pretty comfy. If you don't elevate the platform too much, you might be able to cook on the tailgate without leaving your sleeping bag. (Careful of carbon monoxide!)

Carter 332 wrote:Here's my chance and I'm going to take it... getting laid off from the J.O.B. in June and I am fully committed to being a dirt bag climber for 4 months or so... I have rented my place out with a short term lease to allow me to fully commit to being on the road. I am pretty much set on where I want to travel and climb this summer... but, I am left with one question. Is it better to have a Van or Truck when dirt bagging? I figure half the time will be spent sleeping in the vehicle and half in a tent or bivy. -For the Van option, I am thinking E-250 Ford or Chevy Express. I will remodel the cargo area with a bed, storage, and a primitive cook/clean station. -For the Truck option, I am thinking single cab full size truck with a long bed. Add a camper shell and remodel the truck bed area with a bed, storage, and a primitive cook/clean station (tailgate set up). I'm looking for some input from those that have lived on the road and their thoughts on the +/- of either option. Right now, I am on the fence... with a Truck I could get 4wd (not necessary but nice to have). A Van has much more space... what to do?

thy tuk yer yob...... ><

w/a van, you'll have the creep factor going on that causes parents to pull their children close to them when they pass your van at the trailhead parking lot. go big. you need a van with a wizard airbrushed on the side. anything else would be completely lame.

I lived out of my van for a while when I moved up here to colorado and I loved it. I liked the fact that I could move from the front to the back, cook, sleep, whatever without exiting. It helps when the weather is bad or you have a shitty place to park/sleep for the night.

It was just me and the dog, no climbing partner, no real objective besides living and traveling. It felt more like a home then a place to crash. That was the way I wanted it. For me, it was nice to have a van that felt like a home because well, thats what it was. MY HOME.

This one cop could not understand why I was sleeping in my van instead of the homeless shelter. LADY im not homeless, this is my home.

EDIT: 4wd would be nice, but for me it was not neccessary. I traveled the back roads, dirt and paved, in up and down the hills mountains wheverever. I just didnt give myself an oportunity to get stuck, and I did it in the spring/summer so snow was not an issue. With a vanagon which is notorious for their lack of power while climbing.

Traveling/vacationing/living, whatever you want to call it, it will be your home for that duration.

Van

Outfitting a truck is pretty easy and cheap. I could have gone cheaper, probably, but I got the camper shell on craigslist for $300 and the material to build the "loft" was another $100.

Instant home on the road:

Van is the way to go. I used a Chevy AstroVan (same as GMC Safari). You can get an AWD version if that's important to you. You can also find them with pop-tops and water hookups/etc.

Van....I have had many truck that I have lived in, but none come anywhere close to my van. 4 wheel drive is nice, but 99% of the time you dont need and, and you are soooo much more comfy with all that extra room. The creep factor is nice as well. trucks get broken into all the time, but a creepy white cargo van is usually pretty safe.

Definitely the van. I used a Ford E-250 cargo van for my last stint of living on the road, and it seemed positively luxurious with just a few minor additions. Rest days and rainy days were awesome. Amazing home that cost like $900!

With the cargo van, you can sleep almost anywhere if you have a curtain to separate the driving compartment from the back. Also, as Cota says, you can prevent thievery on overnight climbs by keeping your ride looking extra-sketchy.

Cheers from Osaka,
john

The van is a better home. It has more head room, and its more water tight.

I have a truck with a camper because I use it for other things. The truck is more versatile and more offroad/weather worthy even if you have an AWD van.

Evan

The van was the way to go for me! There was nothing like dashing back to my van during a rain storm, shutting the doors, and chilling on the little couch while I cooked up something warm or poured a nice drink. Sure you'll be out climbing much of the time, but when you're not, it's awful nice to have someplace comfy to crash.

Crag Dweller wrote:w/a van, you'll have the creep factor going on that causes parents to pull their children close to them when they pass your van at the trailhead parking lot. go big. you need a van with a wizard airbrushed on the side. anything else would be completely lame.

Agreed. This will also complement your purple velvet wizard hat for when the ladies come calling.

"bloodninja: Oh yeah, aight. Aight, I put on my robe and wizard hat."

It comes down to this- do you want a quiet-comfortable large living area, or do you want to be cramped, but able to get up and down any road.

I prefer my creepy white cargo van. 2 very comfy seats and a large living room with a full-sized bed. I can sit up and stretch without banging my head.

Looks like I'm going to be in a similar position this summer! So what I did was check on craigslist and found an old 1970's truck camper for 300 bucks (less than you can buy a truck topper for) put about 200 bucks into it and now I have the best of both worlds. The versatility of a 4WD pickup truck and the comfort of a space to hang out in in bad weather, a "roof" over my head, plenty of storage and a full size bed! If you are buying something for the road already this may be a good way to go! It's not the prettiest but it works and actually hasn't killed my gas mileage either!

most everything has been covered, but just one thing to add:

if you get a pickup, I HIGHLY recommend the extended cab. I've got a 2wd Tacoma and really wish I had just waited a bit to find an extended cab. Makes the minute details of storage much easier.

Thanks everyone... I appreciate both the hilarious and useful replies. I sold the car earlier this week and went for the truck w/ shell option.

Those that posted pics of your set up... very helpful as I will be modifying the truck bed next week.

Thanks again!

Carter

I've read a couple of the replies posted. Pros and cons for both. One thing to look at also is fixing problems. From an auto techs standpoint, I was one for about a decade, vans are a pain in the ass. I would rather work on a truck or 4runner or something like that instead of a van. Also, well with a 4runner or something like that, almost van~like, but not quite. There is no wall. But then again, I lived out of a tent and VW bug for about a year plus,(even during winter) so go figure.... lol... Also used a Volvo station wagon, awesome reliability!!!! Love Volvos!!! They both have their validity. I guess it's also what's in your budget, and where you want to go with the vagabond thing. But, in my opinion, if you were to go with a van, VW or Toyota man, beats, hands down anything from the "big" three US automakers. But then again, I've not owned an 'American' vehicle and probably never will... Just not made that great in my opinion. This is coming from many years as an auto tech. Whatever you decide to do, good luck and smile when you miss the home and it's comforts. Remember it's a choice. I did enjoy and miss my 'bug' and tent though.... :)

Juan