🔥 No Build Grand Caravan Minivan Stealth Camper
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2019
- Must see hacks for converting minivan into minimalist camper for family of 2, 3, or 4 roadtrips. This is the best and cheapest way to enjoy nature on a budget. No need to commit to vanlife, or tiny home to enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors while family camping. Our vehicle is the Dodge Grand Caravan with bench seating (non Stow ‘n Go); however, you can use our tips and tricks for any minivan.
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Yay, I finally found a family van conversion that fits with what I wanted to do, I simple mattress on the floor. I wanted to lay down a mat or rug then have a three fold mattress that would fit under the third row of seats where my kids will sit. Thanks for sharing, it's good to see that it really does fit and its much simpler than all the build ins, love it 💗👌☺️
So glad it worked out for you. It's definitely a much lower hurdle conversion that still gets the job done for the occasional camping trips.
Beautiful family!...Peace & many blessings
Your kids will have amazing memories for ever
We have a Grand Caravan with stow-and-go seats. Last fall we set up a mattress in the back, took along a butane burner, a cooler, etc., and did a little trip around southern Ontario. We hopped from one provincial park to the next. It was so easy and comfortable, and we had so much fun. We are hoping we can do another trip this fall. Certainly, if we ever do a longer road trip that's how we will travel. As long as the weather is good, camping is much nicer than staying in hotels. And this is so economical, we can justify staying in a hotel once in a while!
Great minds think alike. I thought we were the only ones sleeping in our Grand Caravan for stealth camping. It seems a lot of people do the same with minivan. I still think the Grand Caravan/Town & Country/Pacifica has the best factory configuration to enable that kind of travel lifestyle.
The Town & Country which preceeded the Pacifica is also a great option for van camping. The biggest benefit is a lower purchase price and easily accessible parts.
I just bought a 2005 grand caravan today to do this just me and my dog I’m excited!
Sweet, you have plenty of room for your gear. It's one of our best purchases, hope it's the case for you. If you record your adventures, be sure to share.
Full Nesters absolutely!!
Thank you for sharing! And your kiddies are adorable!
Your little angels are going to have the best childhood
Great info! Great memories that your children will treasure forever. 🥰🥰🥰
You and your family are sooooo awesome!!!
Minimulism is the best way to go!
The only 2 things I can add, is (1) get black fabric about 2 feet longer than the side windows, and use a fork to push the corners and center fabric into the plastic ceiling support, and you can do this to add privacy at night with black (stealth) fabric curtains all the way around, and (2) get a few black towels to cover up your items you've moved into the front seats at night.
These 2 things will give you (1) privacy (plus block out annoying outside street lights), and (2) help you be stealth.
Yep...the floor is the BEST PLACE TO HAVE YOUR BED, FOR SURE!!! NICE!!!
Your family is awesome and beautiful!
🎶🧕🎶
Love it this is the way I do it minimalist travel
You all are Rockin it!!!
Nicely done. Good family time & memories on the cheap while they are young. That cute little bundle of kids are bonding strongly like a little wolf pack in the back of that caravan. Let no one judge you. Happy travels 2u.
This is so wholesome and fun! Enjoy life!
Love this. So cool that you’re spending this kind of time with the kids. Have fun, be safe, God bless.
Can’t wait to get a dodge caravan and try it out camping! Thanks for the video!…what a beautiful family!!!
Utilize a roof rack or cargo hitch carrier. Have the driver seat open and ready to go makes things so much safer in my opinion. Any sign of trouble and jump in the driver seat and go. Just something to think about. Be safe
I have an 09 Grand Caravan with stow and go seating. I unbolted the rear seats and placed a piece of plywood over that area. Makes a nice trunk for storing things. I kept mine minimalist because I have some of those gig apps on my phone so I can use the van as a courier van also. Since I am solo with a small dog I have a lightweight twin mattress I just stand up on its side when I am not sleeping. It's all fun sleeping in the van till it's super hot or cold at night. Been doing this for a long time and nice to see more folks doing it.
Lol, your kids are so cute and I really needed some joy today- thanks for sharing
Very well planned and done. 👍🤓
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Where is the bathroom ?
Chrysler Town & Country. Travel with my cat.
Ya'll are a super cute family
Beautiful family. Have fun!
Love this! You guys are awesome. I just bought my van yesterday. Can't wait to get on the road!
Hope you enjoy the adventures ahead.
Positive vibes lololol✌️✌️✌️🤟🤟will be out traveling soon I'm camper van
I liked the idea, just put a comfy mattress in and put the back seats down when camping and middle row for extra storage! 😊❤️👍🏽💯
Your kids are so adorable!
Well thought out and done!!! Did the mini van camping when we had kids. Great stuff. Stretching our the legs in a larger van now that we are old. 😊😉😊
Great Family Adventures!
Great ideas! Happy Travels to your family!
Well done!
Beautiful family unity.
You have a beautiful family. It looks like you really value your gifts. Just wanna recognize and send good vibes.
🦋🌺🌹🌸🌷🦋
Thank you for the support. We are loving minivanlife.
Love your post
Love your set-up.
Lovely family !
Just FYI, bears, especially grizzlies, are easily able to break into any vehicle not actually used by an armored division. The rules about keeping food and other attractive odors (soaps, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste, any scented lotions, sunscreens, etc) away from the sleeping area still apply.
Bear vaults and bear-resistant coolers (there are agencies which rate them) are the way to go. They protect people and bears.
You’ve got lots of good information in your video. Hope you have great adventures going forward.
And be aware that when your wife is on her cycle, it can be dangerous in bear territory.
Great video guys! Thank you
Thanks MUCH! Re-watched and wish I had the bench seat model as you have shown, better for storage and removal. Just got my 3rd Grand Caravan, and hope to use it to escape / getaway soon. All the BEST to you nad family from PNWest! Cheers:)
You're family is lovely!
Awesome. Wishing you many safe travels!
Watching this video again, cause it's so good!!!
Thanks for the support.
Great demo just me best I seen so far doing research step by step thanks & enjoy your travels 👍👏🖊😀
Awesome guys beautiful family!
What a lovely family!! Thank you! This helped us see this from another viewpoint. Builds are a bit overwhelming for me, at this point, but this looks so comfy and spacious! Happy holidays and many blessings to your family! ::)
Remember, simple, is the best!
@@KN-pn2lt Thanks, you are so right! :)
I loved your video! Your family is adorable!
Good video, i have a older model Caravan mini van, and a little smaller van body and i convert it to something like yours, and looks good.
Looks like fun. Make sure you post more videos of your future travels and camping in the minivan.
Once the weather gets warmer, we'll definitely take full advantage. Our first family one is in the Texas Safari video. Are there specific aspects of family van camping that would interest y'all?
@@fullnesters I am researching minivan camping so I enjoy info on how you use your minivan as a camping rig. Plus, the things you use at the campsite to keep it simple. Thanks.
Minivan camping is so much easier than actual camping. You don't get rained on and it it takes almost no time to set up once you've made it to the camp site. That time is better spent exploring the area.
@@johnberger3338 minivan camping is really fun! It's more cost effective and more convenient than finding and checking into a hotel after a long drive.
Love my minivan! May set up for camping when this virus mess is over!
Although pandemic is putting a damper on our international travel, we've took full advantage of our minivan for disperse and stealth camping at state & national park. just got back from Colorado & Great Sand Dunes, AMAZING! Thankful we figured out the minivan camping trick. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to get a camping spot.
Great idea! Have fun!
If you are tall and like to sleep on your back. I put a big pillow under my knees which is good for the lower back.
Great tip, I'll have to try that next time.
New Sub, we are converting our Grand Caravan into a weekend escape
camper too! Love watching and getting ideas Thank You for sharing! -
Bill :)
OH MY GOODNESS i love the futon idea im getting a van soon (like 5 days) and this idea had helped me so much i was thinking lawn chair (the ones that stretch out) and im doing it with a fur baby so thank you.
Enjoy your van travels with your fur baby. I've also seen people use camping cots if they are only sleeping 1 person. It'll provide room for other "furniture", so you don't have to rearrange things as much. Almost like a traveling hotel/mini-RV.
Looks like fun. Gluck
I love it!
Great ideas
Sweet family!
I love this.
Cute kids! I approve of your choice to be frugal.
Nice video...great idea!!
Good luck on your travels.
感谢您的支持。
I love this so so so much!! You guys are awesome
Thank you for the kind words and support. We'll have our new RV virtual learning adventure out soon.
Beautiful Precious Family Happy and Safe Travel!
Thanks, we are having tons of fun van camping, especially during Covid. Feel like poorman's RV :)
Full Nesters that’s ok, the memories are priceless!
I love it 👍🏽👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏽
Awesome video. All the no build minimalist van videos have builds, 😅 how wide is the mattress?
Great vlog best of luck
thanks for the detailed review of the van...it does look like the hole family fits in there...perhaps you can articulate more on your setup outside the van when camping...
ps cute pic of the family on the swing...
Is there something specific you are looking for? We have a bunch of travel video of us van camping on our channel, of inspiration in the mean time.
thanks for the inspiration
Thanks, great way to travel during COVID time.
Very cute girls you have. Those minivans have so much space inside. I've rented one for a few trips that was converted in to a camper. The company Lost Campers is out of Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Good tip about those Dodge Caravans and all the space for storage upfront.
Wow, didn't know that there's a whole business on stealth camper vans. Good to know.
Great video! What year is your van and how many miles on it. Has it been reliable. Thanks
I liked your video
Loved it
Awesome!!!👠🚌👠
Wanted sooo badly to hear what you were saying but that ultra loud music made l it impossible. What a shame... Looked like a great informative video... Stay safe
I have an '18 Grand Caravan..And I keep looking in it imagining how to convert it to some type of camper. Maby baby steps like this would do the trick. Just have to figure out bathing and bathrooms!
You can try a pop up tent for bathing, and portable potty. Check out our Great Sand Dunes video to see use dry camping and showering while van camping. th-cam.com/video/cpdChwiBWCw/w-d-xo.html
V nice video
Well done video...
Yes.
Can you tell me what the size is in inches from the back of the front seat to the inside of the rear tailgate is ? I’d like to be able to fit tables and ladders back there
Do you have a video of the thumbnail for this video? I like the shelving setup etc...
No because that’s a different van. Stole the thumbnail for more views. A 4 minute video showing you how to throw a mattress in your van 👍
A hitch rack could be cool
Thankhz for sharing. Wholeness n Essence of Love ((-;
The whole time I was like, but you have THREE kids 🤨. Didn’t realize that was your wife at the beginning 🤣
Thanks for that compliment.
@@fullnesters NP 🙂
Nice video guys ! Thank you for sharing ! I got a question ...what size matress can you fit in this Caravan ?...a full size ? Or a queen size ? Thank you.
Laurie, thanks for your comment, glad you find the video helpful. We would recommend you use a soft mattress pad it memory foam, so it can contour to the vans shape. The van's width varies. A full size one would be better for the job. It will be slightly wider than the rear of the van, and slightly narrower than the middle of the van.
We started experimenting with digital nomad life now school and work can be done remotely. Be sure to check out our newer videos for other ideas to live your best life.
0:05 I have that blue/green plaid blanket
what kind of mattress do you guys use? or better yet where can i find one for this van? i have a chrysler version of it.
We reused our futon mattress. Unfortunately, I don't know where the futon mattress originally came from. However, it's probably some standard futon size. We have used both of our futon mattress on our trips.
Just found you and this video. I have questions like the ones Ive seen here. I need a vehicle I can live in long term. It seems like the Dodge Caravan is the least costly and most available. So if I get one with the second row being a bench seat it will be a flat surface once removed. But could the rear seats be removed and still fold flat with storage under the back row? Also, do i need a particular year to do that? I am thinking on going new. I am 62 and want to be sure I dont break down too often. Thoughts?
Responded in my other video. If you are buying new Grand Caravan, I doubt reliability will be issue. FCA has been making this same van for 11 years. It's a bit dated, which is why it's cheap, but most of the bugs have been worked out buy now. Just don't expect newest safety technology. For what you need, it will serve you well. Since you just going to live in it, get the cheapest entry level model without the bells and whistle. Sounds like you'd be ripping some of the stuff out anyways.
@@fullnesters Thank you. Great advice about the bench seats and about the Grand Caravan.
👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing. Love the idea.
Hope more people do this. If you do something similar please let us know. Would love to see how other people set up their minivan camper.
NO tent?
Where did you put the second row when you took it out?
The 2nd row is removable. So we keep it at home on roadtrips.
In the very back when you put the 3rd row of seats down, how wide is it? I've been thinking about a Grand Caravan but some people say they aren't reliable. What is your take on that statement?
That is all I have used for 30 + years. They are reliable. My back up van just turned 240k miles and runs flawlessly. Just keep up on the maintenance. I just did an 800 mile trip in a 06 Grand Caravan and my main van is an 09, Next time you are on the highway you will see more older Chrysler vans than any other brand out there. That should tell you something. between the wheel wells is 4 ft.
@@mrj-charles6383 thanks for the information! I just bought a 2016 and am looking forward to weekend camping in it!
Your welcome.
How do you go to bathroom
晚上睡觉的时候，要开窗吗？有很多蚊子，怎么办☺️
去没有蚊子的地方😉。
I’m buying me a minivan now
You will love it for traveling. Did you find this video first or my Great Sand Dunes NP video first?
Full Nesters this one first!
Was is difficult to take the stow and go seats out? I’m considering buying a grand caravan. I understand the space where the seats are stored and be pretty valuable but I don’t wanna tear apart the van
Good observation. We recommend not to get the stow and go version, so you can have the extra storage space like we showed in the video. We show you how to remove the 2nd row as well.
If you get a stow and go model the seats come out fairly easy and you will have a lot more storage. I just cover the hole where the rear seats are with a piece of plywood. The front seats removed you will still have the cover for that area.
@@mrj-charles6383 I just realized how bad I typed that out... my main concern is being able to use the van day to day. I don’t want to convert the van into a camper full time. I want a van that I can convert into a camper part time without doing anything too crazy
@@maxh4195 If you think you will carry passengers leave one row of seats in. I never carry passengers so easier for me to take the seats out. Then basically just a cargo van. I also do not want my van completely converted and have lived out of a van for a long time the way I have it set up. The only not so nice about van life is extreme temperatures. Trying to survive in freezing cold or extreme heat is a bit ruff to deal with.
It worries me that you do not strap that large pad down. What would happen if you were in an accident and the van rolled? The mattress and everything that is loose would be flying and hitting your kids. If the car seats were forward and the stored things were behind them, you would have the back of the seat and car seats to protect the kids from some of it. I would feel much better if you put a sturdy cloth over everything and somehow tied it down so there wouldn't be as much flying around in a roll-over accident.
Is it a full size mattress
About a queen size. We use a futon mattrrss because its easily foldable. If you are looking to do something similar. There's 48 in of space at the narrowest point, and over 68 in at the widest point.
What year is your Caravan please?
2016
Your kids are so cute. =^-^=
Why not make a foldable platform or those plastic storage shelves to form a bed for the babies to sleep on, that way you can stretch out by putting your feet under their sleeping area? Also don't keep food in your vehicle while in bear land.