Well its not a diesel, or mbz...
Well its not a diesel, or mbz...
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
With the third kid on the way my wife and I have come to terms on the minivan vs wagon debate. Looks like we are going to get a VW Eurovan, preferably with a poptop but not the full westy converstion. They are pretty cool I have to say. And its not a Dodge, Chrysler, Honda or Kia. Pics to come when I actually settle on one.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
I've seen some pretty neat diesel sprinter van camper conversions. You can get a used high-mileage one for ~10k, and the roof is high enough to stand in without a pop-top.
I've also seen very nice TDI or 1.6/1.9 Turbo diesel converted Vanagon westy's for sale for under $10k before. I'm not sure what pop-top eurovans cost, but I'd imagine they're not cheap...
If you're not in a hurry at all, the 1.6 N/A Westy is fuel efficient and isn't too expensive, but it's damn slow. I found a nice one for $3000, but couldn't convince my wife so now we're doing a roof tent on top of our Volvo diesel:
![[Image: 164726_744818196398_19704671_40573221_8202049_n.jpg]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs756.ash1/164726_744818196398_19704671_40573221_8202049_n.jpg)
Honestly, the roof tent is more comfortable and roomy than the Westy pop-top anyway... but it's just the two of us (my wife and I) plus a small dog. It's still a complete self contained camper though that gets 30mpg, and performs/handles very well.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
Why not go for something with a diesel?
I've seen some pretty neat diesel sprinter van camper conversions. You can get a used high-mileage one for ~10k, and the roof is high enough to stand in without a pop-top.
I've also seen very nice TDI or 1.6/1.9 Turbo diesel converted Vanagon westy's for sale for under $10k before. I'm not sure what pop-top eurovans cost, but I'd imagine they're not cheap...
If you're not in a hurry at all, the 1.6 N/A Westy is fuel efficient and isn't too expensive, but it's damn slow. I found a nice one for $3000, but couldn't convince my wife so now we're doing a roof tent on top of our Volvo diesel:
Honestly, the roof tent is more comfortable and roomy than the Westy pop-top anyway... but it's just the two of us (my wife and I) plus a small dog. It's still a complete self contained camper though that gets 30mpg, and performs/handles very well.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
(02-03-2011, 09:10 PM)garage Who makes those?
How quick is it to setup/takedown?
It's a campingLab medium tent. Setup and takedown is pretty quick (maybe 5 minutes). If you have a much higher budget, you can get hard-top ones which weigh less, set-up quicker, and last longer like this one.
I found out about them through this guy that's travelled all over Africa, Europe, and Asia in his 300TD:
![[Image: 2431981963_a57e8655e4.jpg]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2431981963_a57e8655e4.jpg)
![[Image: 3051727245_1e45fbd197.jpg]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3051727245_1e45fbd197.jpg)
http://300td.org/
I kind-of want to copy him, only using a Volvo 740 Turbo Diesel wagon, instead of the 300TD- mostly because the Volvo live axle rear suspension is tougher and lower maintenance, and has numerous cheap locking differential options.
The downside of the roof tent/station wagon expedition/camping rig is I don't see it scaling that well for more than 2 people.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
(02-03-2011, 09:10 PM)garage Who makes those?
How quick is it to setup/takedown?
It's a campingLab medium tent. Setup and takedown is pretty quick (maybe 5 minutes). If you have a much higher budget, you can get hard-top ones which weigh less, set-up quicker, and last longer like this one.
I found out about them through this guy that's travelled all over Africa, Europe, and Asia in his 300TD:
http://300td.org/
I kind-of want to copy him, only using a Volvo 740 Turbo Diesel wagon, instead of the 300TD- mostly because the Volvo live axle rear suspension is tougher and lower maintenance, and has numerous cheap locking differential options.
The downside of the roof tent/station wagon expedition/camping rig is I don't see it scaling that well for more than 2 people.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
Im gonna have to look into getting one soon for sure.
How long have you had yours?
And yeah some of that guys pictures are AMAZING, i would love to do somthing like that someday.
1987 300D: EGR Delete, ARV Delete, Cold Air Intake...
Man both of those kick ass!..
Im gonna have to look into getting one soon for sure.
How long have you had yours?
And yeah some of that guys pictures are AMAZING, i would love to do somthing like that someday.
1987 300D: EGR Delete, ARV Delete, Cold Air Intake...
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
Sorry I just cant but laugh at a tent on a car. For us the focus is driving three kids around. The fact that I can now go camping with the family is the only way I am going to suffer myself to a minivan. We found a 02 Eurovan MV weekender w 114k for $11k. One owner, all docs, trans and timing chain replaced at 55k, everything works etc. VR6 engine. I would like a TDI but they dont sell them here and they do sell the TDI in mexico 177hp 300ftlb but all I could find were vans, nothing with a bed. I could flip it on ebay for 8g more if I wanted. Sprinters go for alot more AND they are friggin HUGE. The weekender doesnt have a sink and all that crap. This one does have refrigerated box in it.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(02-04-2011, 11:55 PM)winmutt I would like a TDI but they dont sell them here
I was talking about a TDI swapped 80s Vanagon. They're not terribly uncommon- there's several businesses that do these conversions full time professionally. If you're willing to fly anywhere in the country and drive it back you'd find one in a few months.
(02-04-2011, 11:55 PM)winmutt Sprinters go for alot more AND they are friggin HUGE.
I've seen plenty of higher mileage sprinters for under $10k, but they are crazy huge. Although the fuel economy is still pretty good for their size- around 25mpg apparently.
(02-04-2011, 11:31 PM)garage How long have you had yours?
I've only had the tent 2 months. Before I knew they existed I used to daydream and draw various ways for sleeping on the roof of a sedan/wagon but never built one. When I found out that they exist commercially, I had to buy one... and I think it's great. It makes road trip camping where you sleep somewhere different each night no longer a chore.
(02-04-2011, 11:31 PM)garage And yeah some of that guys pictures are AMAZING, i would love to do somthing like that someday.
Yea, my wife and I are planning to drive to Brazil with the Volvo 760.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
(02-04-2011, 11:55 PM)winmutt I would like a TDI but they dont sell them here
I was talking about a TDI swapped 80s Vanagon. They're not terribly uncommon- there's several businesses that do these conversions full time professionally. If you're willing to fly anywhere in the country and drive it back you'd find one in a few months.
(02-04-2011, 11:55 PM)winmutt Sprinters go for alot more AND they are friggin HUGE.
I've seen plenty of higher mileage sprinters for under $10k, but they are crazy huge. Although the fuel economy is still pretty good for their size- around 25mpg apparently.
(02-04-2011, 11:31 PM)garage How long have you had yours?
I've only had the tent 2 months. Before I knew they existed I used to daydream and draw various ways for sleeping on the roof of a sedan/wagon but never built one. When I found out that they exist commercially, I had to buy one... and I think it's great. It makes road trip camping where you sleep somewhere different each night no longer a chore.
(02-04-2011, 11:31 PM)garage And yeah some of that guys pictures are AMAZING, i would love to do somthing like that someday.
Yea, my wife and I are planning to drive to Brazil with the Volvo 760.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
(02-05-2011, 12:10 AM)casioqv I was talking about a TDI swapped 80s Vanagon. They're not terribly uncommon- there's several businesses that do these conversions full time professionally. If you're willing to fly anywhere in the country and drive it back you'd find one in a few months.
The current plan is to get the vr6 and drive it till its done. The eurovan is conveniently sold in MX with the TDI but no MV Weekender package. I think 177hp and 300 ft lb and better fuel economy (and I believe 5th gear) will do wonder for the eurovan. You can even get it in SYNCRO.
Not really interested in anything old for the missus to be trucking my debt around in.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(02-05-2011, 12:10 AM)casioqv I was talking about a TDI swapped 80s Vanagon. They're not terribly uncommon- there's several businesses that do these conversions full time professionally. If you're willing to fly anywhere in the country and drive it back you'd find one in a few months.
The current plan is to get the vr6 and drive it till its done. The eurovan is conveniently sold in MX with the TDI but no MV Weekender package. I think 177hp and 300 ft lb and better fuel economy (and I believe 5th gear) will do wonder for the eurovan. You can even get it in SYNCRO.
Not really interested in anything old for the missus to be trucking my debt around in.
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
I've seen Sportsmobile sells an AWD converted sprinter van with a custom built camper which is pretty sweet, but I'm guessing one could purchase a good sized single family home for less than they charge for such a rig.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
Wow, that would be the ultimate setup if you could get the parts to build a TDI Syncro weekender Eurovan...
I've seen Sportsmobile sells an AWD converted sprinter van with a custom built camper which is pretty sweet, but I'm guessing one could purchase a good sized single family home for less than they charge for such a rig.
-Tyler
1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46
1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel
No mercedes (for now)
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'84 G-Wagen turbodiesel
'75 240D 4-Speed
I rented a sprinter last summer for a 2 week, 4k mi road trip with my family (two little boys). The size was perfect and the van is really peppy and agile. It felt much easier to drive than a G wagen. If I could, I'd get a used fleet truck and build in a bed and some storage shelving.
-------------
'84 G-Wagen turbodiesel
'75 240D 4-Speed
I wouldn't mind getting an STD..
Spaceraver
03-21-2011, 01:07 AM #11How about the V class? Air suspension in the rear and comfy seats..
I wouldn't mind getting an STD..
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
Picking up the Eurovan in April. Conveniently its located down in FT Walton FL so we are wrapping a week vacation around it. It just the MV version, we could not justify the cost of the Weekender (inlcuding decreased MPG etc).
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
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