As we get closer to retirement age, I'm wanting a minivan to haul grandkids when needed, and then pull the seats and throw in the camping gear for mountain getaways. Hubby has never been fond of minivans, but I think he's changing his mind little by little, esp when I show him the beautiful free camping spots we could go to.
I have a 2010 toyota sienna awd with a lift kit with larger tires, its a beast. It can get me most places a regular awd 4x4 goes, and the interior offers more than enough room for myself and my wife when out camping.
My wife and I have been minivan traveling/camping for 30 years. Started with a Dodge Caravan and am now on our 2nd Toyota Sienna AWD. We removed the middle seats, stow the rear seats, and threw in a double size mattress. We've been to Vancouver/Victoria down to San Diego and all points in between, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming. We've bathed in campgrounds, lakes, rivers, and creeks. We've had one bear encounter in Markleeville, Ca. She and her two cubs just looked in the window and moved on. Get a good cooler that is air tight, so odors don't escape and keep it covered. Bears know what's in the coolers.
@@usaman7358 The bed's not elevated. We put our 55qt. Lifetime cooler with two 1gal. frozen water jugs behind the driver's seat (put a blanket over it to keep the sun off) and a large plastic bin for non-perishables ( 2 burner butane stove, spices, tongs, plastics, boy scout cook ware, foil, durable plastic bags, food, etc.). The bin can sit on top of the cooler or behind it. At night they're moved up front. In the rear side bin I store duct and electric tape, flares, travel kit (tooth paste/brush, soap, shaving, deo.), 200ft. 2,500lb mule tape, gloves. The very rear behind the bed, I keep 2- 3/4"x8"x30" wood slats for leveling. Under the bed towards the front, I keep a small assortment of tools plus saw, machete, ax, hatchet (doubles as a hammer) large tarp, a folding entrenching tool, 12-12d nails. Sometimes I bring a 10", battery chain saw that I keep on the wood slats. I also had a trailer hitch installed for a bike rack or cargo carrier. The best thing about the Sienna is mpg and reliability. BTW: the awd has no room for a spare tire, so a slime emergency kit is necessary if you're way back nowhere. We usually bring along pre-made breakfast burritos and sometimes warm them in park grills. Also, I don't recommend an air mattress. Altitude differences can split the seams. There's a lot more I could detail, but you'll figure it out. Happy trails!
I love the idea of having a minivan as a camper since it's a very easy vehicle to drive around while still giving you that extra room and stealth look.
I've had 2 Honda Odysseys and a Pilot, and camped in all of them. My Pilot was an AWD, but I don't go off-road. My Odysseys have considerably more room and they are much more versatile since the seats are easily configurable. My vote, hands down: van!
I have a Ford Explorer which seats 7 and I’ve been living out of it the past four months. LOL!!! 😂 I love it…I’ll be heading home soon…good first trial run.
I’ll never forget the great time camping my wife and I had on our 11th anniversary back in 2001. We took her 1997 Caravan to the local state park with the second and third row seats out, put in a full size air mattress, and enjoyed a beautiful, peaceful weekend together. Bacon and eggs cooked over an open fire, some pancakes and maple syrup…amazingly delicious! I built a teardrop camper not long after that, but now my wife drives a Town & Country with stow and go seating, quite a bit more room than the ’97 had. It’s got me thinking.
Those sound like some great memories and good food. I believe the Town & County is one of the largest with interior volume so if you get the itch, it’ll be an excellent option. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
@@AdventureGearTV Thank you for your work. I can tell that you obviously enjoy everything about it. My advice to you: do as much camping as you can as often as you can for as long as you can. Life has an unpleasant way of getting in the way much of the time. Here’s a sub for you.👍
Biggest issue for me would be the inability to stand up inside (in bad or cold weather for example). Toyota needs to come up with a Sienna camping model with all seats other than front removed, passenger seat a swivel, flat floor, rooftop fan and a pop-up roof with a sleeping space. Perfect one-person camper.
Totally agree. I love my Sienna camper. Took out the second row seats, threw in a cot and sleeping bag. Bought a Jackery and a dc fridge for convenience. I don’t go on rough roads, but I am comfortable camping almost anywhere. Usually get around 25 mpg.
I'm planning to take out the second row of seats. The problem I'm having is I have a Cockatiel and I'm not sure how to keep the van warm during the night. Any ideas would be appreciated.
@@leahbrum9971 The best way to stay warm is to camp in warm places. I don’t like the cold, but there are a few ways to help stay warm. If you stay in a campground with electricity, bring a small electric heater. If no electricity, I use a 3-candle lantern to help take the chill off. They will burn all night. Happy camping!
@@charlied4850 Hi Charlie! I'm headed to Quartszite Arizona because I heard it's warmer there during the winter. I heard it doe's get cold during the night and I'm not so worried about myself. But concerned about my cockatiel. We had the Dixie fire where I live and 80% of my town burned CA. I've been sick ever since I came back. Bought a minivan to live in but need heat for the bird. I've heard of the three candle heater. Oh and they don't have electricity there on the BLM land. I'll have to watch the video again. Thank you!
I used to own a Honda Odyssey. I always liked the versatility of a mini van. I could camp or haul full sheets of plywood by just removing the middle row of seats. So when Toyota announced that they were coming out with an hybrid version of their AWD Sienna, I thought I'd found my perfect vehicle. I planned installing the lift kit especially made for the Sienna. I was shocked to discover that the middle row seats were no longer designed to be removed. I checked with the Service Department at my Toyota dealer and found out that if I removed the seats I'd have major trouble because the air bags were so integrated to the computer system. That was a deal breaker for me. What was Toyota thinking?
Hi Ricardo, I would love to have a new hybrid Sienna as well. There is a guy here on TH-cam that makes adapters to fix the airbag system when the middle row is removed making it more possible, but I’m not ready to pass on my Sienna yet. Toyota could make it more user friendly in future models.
I have a 2003 Dodge caravan with front-wheel drive. I'm so impressed with its performance on the steep unpaved roads I live on, makes me want to get another minivan, something newer. I have a sport model which is shorter and that makes my car fridge almost too big for the space. I would prefer an all-wheel drive but front wheel drive is superior in all cases with a rear wheel drive vehicle. Nice video, thanks for the review
I bought a Honda CRV years ago only to find out (after I bought it) that the seats don't fold down flat (talk about useless). Sold it and bought a Subaru Outback that I drove all over the desert southwest. Although I used it primarily for tent camping, I did sleep in it a few times (the seats fold down flat). Even though I'm a short guy, it was cramped inside with my gear to say the least. The trade off was that the Outback got me more places than any two wheeled car/van and, when there's no help around and no cell signal, it's a good feeling to know that you can get out of wherever you got into. Now I'm a little older and comfort speaks to me a little more than adventure so my next car will be a used Odyssey van. After all, I have a wonderful woman that I want to take along with me now.
I agree, minivans are the best, especially if they have AWD. I've stealth camped and boondocked in AWD SUVs and FWD minivans. I'll take a minivan any day. Cheaper to buy (especially used), more space, sometimes better fuel economy and quite stealthy. Of course if you want to do some serious off-roading, a true 4x4 SUV is better, but I think for most people a minivan is best.
I’ve been camping in a Honda Pilot a few times over the last month and I miss the headroom, but used the AWD to get out of a tight spot. AWD Minivan would be the best of both worlds.
@@AdventureGearTV For a while, I was using a Hyundai Santa Fe. with AWD. It was nice to have the extra traction for light off-roading, but overall I prefer minivans. A Toyota Sienna with AWD would be perfect for me.
I have been travelling and camping for the past few years in a Pontiac Vibe. I find it quite roomy, because for the previous few years I was camping out of a Saturn Ion sedan! (It was simply the vehicle I already had) In the Vibe I can put the passenger seat all the way forward and have 6 feet for a bed. Since I am only 5'2" this works fine. I leave the drivers side back seat in place so I always have an actual seat with headroom to relax in. Lots of room for me and my small dog and all the camping equipment we need. I usually stealth camp with only the occasional campground thrown in. Gas mileage is great. Have camped for 2 months at a time. Only complaint would be not enough ground clearance at times. Next vehicle will be a little larger and higher SUV I think.
Vibes and Matrixes are bullet proof. I'm 6' and I'm totally comfortable in all weather. My vibe is 11 years old/ 240000km. Total expenses $1500.00 Can. Longest anual trip was Vancover _ Nova Scotia -DC- LA - home. Soon I'll return to Utah and Arizona. I would love to take it to Patagonia. At 78 I'm too old to get a girlie car.
My husband and I rented a car to visit family last year. As luck would have it, we were given a minivan! It was my first experience riding in and driving one. We chuckled when we first saw it, but it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with it! I’m retiring in 5 years, and I’m saving up to buy a minivan as my retirement vehicle. People think I’m crazy - as we have no kids. I’ll be able to do overnight trips, carry friends around, and be able to haul pretty much anything I want.... all while being very comfortable and having a vehicle that’s easy to drive and park. Off roading isn’t a consideration for me. The new hybrids even get decent gas mileage. Mini for the win!
It’s great that you got to rent one and see how versatile they really are. I have occasionally loaded up the minivan with friends for roadtrips and they can’t believe how roomy it is inside.
That’s what my 82-y.o. mom just did. She went with a Honda Odyssey. She wanted it so it’s easier to load her buggie in, a three-wheeled rollaider, and to go road trippin. Now I have my eyes set on it for car camping!!!
My sister and I are section hiking the AT and we each use a van. I have a Toyota Sienna and take out one of the middle seats and in that space is where I lay out my bed. I keep the other middle seat in to give me a seat to sit on when putting on/off my shoes or change. The rest of the space behind the middle seat is where I keep my supplies and hiking gear. Sometimes we just day hike between trailheads or do 2-4-day hikes and then resupply when we get to the cars. I have a 4-wheel drive Highlander which I would like to take but just worried that it's too small for everything I take. We have stayed at parking lots at trailheads or at private campgrounds and just slept in the vans. We carry folding chairs for more comfort when at trailheads. Since the van is my wife's, I think if she knew some of the dirt roads I took her van on she would kill me:). We've gotten from GA to NH so far and some in Maine so it can be done.
Hi, I have used the setup you mention here in the Sienna and camped in a Honda Pilot. The Pilot is much smaller, but I have storage boxes. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable leaving the suv for extended periods because of the boxes.
SUV is just too small for extended trips, especially for two persons. I have driven two Odyssey in the past and they are great for road trips. I ditched the Odyssey when I decided to make a camper. I picked the 2019 AWD Sienna instead since it has higher ground clearance (6 1/2" vs 4"). I got an average of 22.5 MPG over 52K miles so far. Indoor cooking is another benefit of Minivan.
I felt this during my latest trip. We camped in the Pilot a few nights, and even with a lot of outside storage, it was cramped. Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/wNiBrDCnsUQ/w-d-xo.html
I had a 2018 toyota highlander that I sold 4 months ago. It was surprisingly better off road than you would think. It was fine for hauling gear if I planned on tent camping but was uncomfortable and small for sleeping in with gear. I don't have experience camping with a mini van but I can imagine it would be a better choice for room and comfort but lacking the capacity to get you to more remote area's. I say use whatever you have and just get out there but if you plan on buying a vehicle specifically to get you out there than buy a 4x4. Skip the van & suv altogether. Just my opinion of course.
Highlander is one of my favorite 4wd SUVs, but I don’t usually go that far off the beaten path and like the extra space. Did you mention what you upgraded to?
@@AdventureGearTV I bought an 2008 fj cruiser. Always wanted one and finally pulled the trigger. I absolutely love it so far. I've been spending the past few months upgrading tires, suspension & a few other modifications. I didn't gain any interor space but it's a more capable vehicle. Just got a rooftop tent and thinking about getting a small offroad teardrop style trailer for when I bring the kids. Not sure it's a justifiable purchase until I get them out camping more. They are still young...3 & 5 years old.
I think that the average person sees themselves going off road to exotic viewing locations, but the reality is that they will be in the wilds of a Walmart parking lot or in RV parks or parked beside a nice gravel road somewhere. A minivan is just a better shape to work with. AWD is still optimal though.
Exactly right, especially if you live on the east coast. There is nowhere I have been that even my low to the ground hyundai kona could not EASILY get to.
I have a 2015 T&C. I’ve folded down the front stow-and-go seats and removed the back ones. I installed an REI Kingdom Cot for sleeping with my head facing forward. I use either an Orca 35 or a Dometic for perishable food, and a small soft sided cooler for drinks. Most of my hiking gear and med-kit fits under the cot. I have a folding Sondors e-bike, that I load in the back and wedges in perfectly next to the cot. My kitchen gear and food supplies are in the ubiquitous yellow/black bins. Because they are stackable things stay well organized and I can use them as a table or cooking surface. I can easily set up or break camp in 5 minutes. The trick is to keep it simple. I manage to fit other equipment in such as an inflatable SUP, BBQ or firewood depending on the adventure. Mostly I camp in CA or other western states. The best improvement was getting really good all terrain tires. By driving slowly and picking my way, I’ve never had a problem on dirt roads. One just has to realize the limitations of it not being a proper overlander. It looks very discreet, by not having farkles attached, I just keep things on the DL. When there isn’t a campground to be found. I’ve often slept out overnight on the streets of better neighborhoods or in the parking lot of a hotel and never had an issue.
Thank you for sharing your build and experience. It’s sounds like you have had quite a time in the minivan and put a lot of thought and planning into what you carry. I haven’t heard the word Sondors in a long time. Glad to see they made, I first heard of them when they were a crowd sourced project.
I have a 2020 Santa Fe. I took the back seats out, which wasn't hard, and put in a floor. I travel solo so I have a ton of storage above and below the floor and at 5'9", I can sit up in the back. While I would LOVE the extra space of a minivan, my AWD SUV has a higher clearance is a better option for how I travel. Plus it's even more stealth than a minivan in the city. Once Toyota dealers stop price gouging on the AWD Siennas, I'll look into getting one.
Minivans are a nice sweet spot in purchase price, MPG, stealth, and room. Downsides are ground clearance (I live minimum 7in, 8in better) depending on if you're a majority city stealth camper or you like to get out there. The other downside is it is tough to hide a solar panel on top. It's easier with a cargo van to hide solar panels (to an extent) as well as SUVs if you can hide the panel inside a roof rack like I've done with my RAV4 Hybrid. But I will say minivans have great room inside as compared to my RAV4. So many options!
As far as I know, no one has ever noticed my 100w Renogy panel. I am thinking about bumping up to a 200w setup, but think it would be more obvious. When the weather gets nicer, I’ll give it a try.
@@AdventureGearTV maybe we're splitting hairs, but no one bats and I at a roof rack on an suv, but seeing a solar panel and a minivan may stick out more, especially to "those in the know." Hehe. I have 200w now on top. Seems to cover my bases along with a 100ah lithium battery (overkill).✌️
If you are reviewing Honda and Toyota many of us can more afford a Matrix or a Fit which are great economy cars to sleep in especially if you are by yourself. What are some of the more common older economy cars that are nice for fuel efficient camping/road trips vehicles, which cars secretly have seats that fold flat give 6 foot of length going into the trunk with enough room to roll over.
My 97 awd Astro van that I camped in just crapped out. I loved it but now I want to get a Sienna awd with that journeys lift. Way more dependable and better long term. .
Sorry to hear that. I love the Astro platform. My first intro to van camping was in an Astro when I was young. The Astro has a lot more room, and some had real 4wd. I would love to get a lift on my Sienna even though it is FWD. Some MT tires would add a little more off road capability.
Well after much thinking, watching, measuring etc etc. I find myself gravitating towards a truck with a shell. I presently live in the mountains and absolutely love off roading and getting to remote places. I’m not a party person and some videos I’ve seen in BLM land of all that partying just totally turned me off. I go to find peace and quiet, enjoy nature and having lots of people, loud music, loose dogs, loud generators etc have never been my thing, of course everyone is different, but for me, peace and quiet is my thing even if I have to sacrifice some head room to get to remote places away from all this. Thanks for the video, as usual very informative.
With the right truck and setup, you can certainly get away from the crowds. I recently saw a truck build on a channel called “Mav” and he had plenty of headroom inside and built his bed on a drawer system.
I had to sell my fiberglass trailer because storage cost too much, humidity, heat and insects were very hard to deal with here in southern Florida. So I decided to get a mini-van and made a camper out of it. But...it was difficult to say the least. The interior had three levels, the sides were curved and slanted. Even the windows were different shapes. Every thing had. To be moved, shifted, even the anti-theft system on the vehicle caused me so much strife. I drove from south Florida to Lewisville Texas to camp with friends for a month, and was very rudely turned away from the first place I’d had reservations...no MINI-VANS ALLOWED!!! For two weeks I camped in a friends back ally driveway. The other campgrounds accepted me no problem, but I found it difficult to unpack and. Repack, because of a storm or switching sites. I got an Aliner...what a difference!
I’m glad to hear that you found something that works for you. I have heard a lot of RV parks don’t accept minivans, but you can always find a spot on a side street. Cheers!
Very helpful! I currently car camp in my Toyota Matrix, which has room for everything I need, including my dog and cat, but more elbow room would be nice, as well as the height to sit up and not be slightly stooped. It works for now, but I can see myself getting something bigger in the future. You've convinced me on the minivan front.
I love my Chevy city express cargo van. It is just a little blockier Than a minivan. You would not believe what I am able to carry in it and on it! It is my full-time vehicle but it is also full-time no build camper
I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this van until now. Looks very practical. I’ve thought about getting one that size and putting a ladder rack on it for a stealthy setup.
Minivan campers are great! Consider buying a rear or even side tent for extra room. I have a TailVeil tent I have used many yrs, but there are other tents available.
Although a Toyota 4Runner may not be your typical SUV, I't 'camped' in it. It works, expecially if you also have a rooftop cargo pod. I found it has little, if any more room than a Subaru station wagon. And once you fold down or remove the back seats, there is no comfortable place to hang out. However, my Honda Fit is even smaller. Removed its back seats too, built a platform that allows storage underneath, and by adding removable sections, serves as sleeping platform if front seats are in full forward position. Traveled several times from and to Alaska like that. And yes, it does get old. My most favorite 'automobile' though is the Toyota Previa minivan. Too bad they don't make those anymore. For one, I like its medium sized 4 cylinder engine. The disadvantage: it is mounted under the front seats and not easy to access, should anything serious need attention. Still, I do every oil change myself. There is no U.S. van with the same front legroom as the Previa offers. There are other benefits: The middle seat bench/row removes, leaving a flat space. The rear seat arrangement is bench-like, but involves 2 separate seats., each easily movable (as opposed to "re"-movable. each seat folks up against the rear side-windows and hooks to stay put out of the way. Although the Previa's shape looks small, with seats out of the way, it can accommodate a stack of 4x8 foot plywood with the rear door closed, something my Chevy Astro van can't even do. Previas used to come in AWD versions and 2WD versions, they are very economical, averaging about 23mpg and feel nimble. In my view it's easily the most versatile allround utility vehicle I ever owned. I paid 2800 bucks for my initial one and finally sold it, as I had a 2nd one, which was given to me. In all vans I used the same set-up: Middle seat row out, then build a plywood sleep bench for single use (while one rear seat is folded out of the way, but have an extra sheet of ply to be folded out, should company require more sleeping space. With just one person on board, only one rear seat in place and the great Toyota window tint, no one outside can tell how comfortable a person can while, work on a laptop, read a book all while hanging out in a Starbuck's coffee parking lot. One last item, the middle moonroof slides out of the way, so at night you can look at the stars or stand up to get a look around. There are still a few rare beauties like this around. Highly recommended. Check other reports on TH-cam too. Good luck.
Thank you for sharing. 23mpg was great in the era of the Previa. My first minivan was a 1987 Toyota Van. It was perfect. I sold it with 325k miles, and saw it running around for a few years afterward. Back then, I never imagined sleeping in it.
@@AdventureGearTV That too sounds great. I believe you are talking about the Previa's predecessor, which and also had the engine 'under' rather than in front. Those are indeed a bit smaller than Previas, but I always found them intriguing. A whitewater kayaking friend (Rob Lesser, by some nick-named 'Rapid Rob', drove his to Alaska, but also carried a cargo pod for extra gear. In his day Rob was one of the premier whitewater kayakers with numerous major first descents to his credit). Keep having fun. Cheers to you.
Japanese do make some great outdoor friendly awd minivans but they are not sold in North America unless you buy used one imported from Japan. I wish they make Carnival or Sienna version outdoor camping, something like Outback Wilderness
I always think to keep it simple, older GM astro and safari 2wd and low mileage can easily be picked up for under $4k. Stay away from all wheel drive unless its a Honda element. My choice would be a 2whldr Element. Get good robust tires. Also I think people build up their beds to high giving you a claustrophobic feel.
Those GMs have a lot more internal space than the Sienna and are built on the S10 platform which is solid. My bedframe has 14 inches of clearance, which is high, but gives a lot of room for gear. But, I cannot sit up, which does feel tight.
I have a suv bigger than the one shown, so it's pretty comfy. I'm also only 5'3 so I can sit up on my bed and have plenty of head room. I might get a minivan eventually for the better gas mileage, but for now I will make what I have work.
What I would like would be a van with a second-row seat facing the rear. This way a third-row seat would be facing it. It would have a seating arrangement similar to a stage coach or a passenger train compartment. Also, baby seats in the second row would be facing backwards with a standard baby seat. A van with this seating arrangement would be great for day visits to parks of all types. It would be great for conversations and lunching.
@@AdventureGearTV also looks can be deceiving. I’m told old Siennas actually have the most interior space. I haven’t verified that. I would have thought Grand Caravans. I’ve tried siennas, grand caravans and montanas several of each in fact and I’ve now settled on siennas. I have a 2002 and a 2001 one is for backup only.
Also tried an Odessey but it had a faulty transmission and I then found out that was a problem with the older Odesseys so I gave up on them. I imagine the newer ones have solved that problem
But can the minivan handle a snowy mountain pass or a rough dirt road? What about gas milage? I want to a car I can sleep in but it also needs to be able to be able to get up alot of dirt roads and travel through snow. Also with gas prices as high as they are 20-25 mpg is just not good enough for a long road trip. I have a RAV 4 Hybrid and it does excelently in the snow/dirt and gets about 30-35 MPG but I wish its interior was alittle bigger.
What about a “light build” camper? Removing the rear seats in a full size SUV. It takes time and effort, but opens up the cabin a lot. But the floor plan is not as convenient as a minivan.
Honda Odyssey: we have ours set up a no build camper van and it is very comfy for me, hubby and dog, best van for converting to camper, has heat/ac in the back with seperate controls, lots of storage when you take all the seats out, great gas mileage and comfy traveling. We love it and sleep very comfy, big step up from our past tent camping. AND you can get spots in hard to get reservations-camp grounds because it is classified as a < 15ft vehicle when all other spots are for RV's a BIG +
I have a minivan that is a no-build camper, an Odyssey, and it's for a Plan B in case I lose where I live. I care nothing for travelling the country & having adventures. Also, everybody seems to want to make the back of their van into a mini room. Instead, I've used PVC pipes bent into hoops to make a tent. The back of my van is more of a sleeping & relaxing space, not a living space. Also, many who think they are stealth camping in their vans are deluding themselves.
That’s an interesting idea for the back space. I stayed in the Sienna for a few months and needed to have some dedicated storage under the bed. It worked out great.
@@AdventureGearTV I took out the 3rd row seat in my '04 Odyssey and one of those black heavy duty totes with the diamond yellow to fits exactly in it and another nestles on top & there's still room to see out the rear window. The hoops have blackout curtains threaded through them that completely black out the back & front. I have long, thin rods that run along the sides with blackout curtains that I can clip to them. In other words, the area is completely blacked out with no light escaping. In the cold Wisconsin winter I can pull a large emergency tarp/blanket over the hoops that reflects the heat as well as covering the side windows & the front & back as well. In the summer warm weather I can put a mesh tarp over the side open rear doors which allows for a lot of ventilation. It's tentlike, with a roof that doesn't ever leak.
You can take out the middle row in the new sienna. You need to unplug the seat airbags. Theres like 2 videos of someone doing it. It's some thing your not going to want to keep taking out.
Hi Barbara, the Vibe is what you have and it was designed for camping. If you fit in it comfortably, then keep it as long as you can. Thanks for sharing.
Barbara. Get in the vibe and go. A ten hour drive with a hike in the middle is a perfect day . I feel safe sleeping at rest stops. All those truckers about make me feel secure. The Vibe is good for 300000 miles. In one journey I went around Canada and the USA. Soon I'll return to Arizona. In the summer I'm sailing. Poor me.
@@AdventureGearTV Yep, thats the reason I got it, it's the 1.8 L bullet proof one! And great gas mileage, just need enough to be able to travel without an income...
This is now on my bucket list. I'm a cancer patient,. I have ependymoma anand the survival rate is 5 years. Its been 2, so times a wastin! Im just now able to walk unaided and im starting to feel a round of gypsy behavior coming on. Thank you for this comparison. I'm kinda thinking of doing something like this myself. I saw in the sales paper today a cot with a 4 inch memory foam mattress and thought it would be nice in a minivan. Do you think it would do well?
So which minivans are the ones to get? I don't need to keep the seats, other than the driver's seat and maybe the front passenger seat. I wouldn't mine taking the non-used seats out and store them. I like the most internal space I can get. Having a good MPG is a big plus.
It ticks me off you can't get an actual BIG SUV anymore... They are making them so TINY now, and also not "raised" enough. Also ticks me off the "bigger" so-called SUV's they ALL are with 3-Rows instead of having versions with 2-Rows, so they are taking up too much useless space with that 3rd Row that most people don't actually need, not having "that big" of a family.
So a 2022 BMW X1 SUV would not be as comfortable as a mini van because of lack of headroom and interior cubic feet space? I would want to have a fridge/cooler and storage...plus slide out for outdoor cooking surface.
Hi Lilian, if that’s what you have and you are comfortable, then go with it. It sounds like you have put some thought into your camping experience and you will enjoy whatever you do.
@@AdventureGearTV yes, I would love to give it a try, but I think I would need more space. It just might be too tight in my x1. I watch tons of van life videos and all the vans are bigger than mine. Especially if I want to cook and have a fridge.
@@Lilliancooks so, I checked it out. The X1 is a small SUV. Can you lay down flat and straight in it? If not, then it might be too small. Maybe lean the passenger seat as far forward as possible for more room. In this vehicle a small frigde and bed will max out your space. But, if you’re planning to car camp, I would at least try it a few times in the X1 before making any big changes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@@AdventureGearTV thank you so much for checking that...I think I can fit...I am only 5’4”. Yes, good idea...I should just try a weekend camp out and stay close to home incase it’s too uncomfortable.
SUVs better because it comes in AWD/4WD. Which minivan has AWD/4WD ? Name one lol. Minivans are for vanlifers that want stealth camping in people's neighborhoods. Going on adventures especially off road, SUVs all the way.
suv hybrids get better gas mileage than hybrid minivans. there is no way around that because it is just physics, so stop your bs about minivans competing with SUVs in gas mileage. Minivans are bigger and heavier than SUVs. You cant bs that away.
Hi, there are a few videos with the new Sienna. I’d like to put my bed in to see how it fits. One possible concern is that the middle row is not removable in the newest model.
So, bottles are a great option. If it’s anything more than that there are a few creative things you can do. But, there is no feasible way to keep a toilet for my setup.
Hi, I’m not familiar with the area, but I recently watched Foresty Forest have an issue in the area even with his full size 4x4 van. I also had some close calls in WV last week trying to get out of a campsite in an AWD SUV. You can see it here if you want. th-cam.com/video/JjTfPoKxoyA/w-d-xo.html
Sorry,... I own a Sienna, & the middle row seats are REMOVABLE. Already, I can expect more misinformation from this individual. Clicked on dislke & signed-off.
As we get closer to retirement age, I'm wanting a minivan to haul grandkids when needed, and then pull the seats and throw in the camping gear for mountain getaways. Hubby has never been fond of minivans, but I think he's changing his mind little by little, esp when I show him the beautiful free camping spots we could go to.
Nice! My wife hated the minivan, and we have only done a few trips together in it. I would definitely recommend a bigger bed for couples.
I have a 2010 toyota sienna awd with a lift kit with larger tires, its a beast. It can get me most places a regular awd 4x4 goes, and the interior offers more than enough room for myself and my wife when out camping.
My wife and I have been minivan traveling/camping for 30 years. Started with a Dodge Caravan and am now on our 2nd Toyota Sienna AWD. We removed the middle seats, stow the rear seats, and threw in a double size mattress. We've been to Vancouver/Victoria down to San Diego and all points in between, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming. We've bathed in campgrounds, lakes, rivers, and creeks. We've had one bear encounter in Markleeville, Ca. She and her two cubs just looked in the window and moved on. Get a good cooler that is air tight, so odors don't escape and keep it covered. Bears know what's in the coolers.
Sienna would be the best with the AWD
@@usaman7358 The bed's not elevated. We put our 55qt. Lifetime cooler with two 1gal. frozen water jugs behind the driver's seat (put a blanket over it to keep the sun off) and a large plastic bin for non-perishables ( 2 burner butane stove, spices, tongs, plastics, boy scout cook ware, foil, durable plastic bags, food, etc.). The bin can sit on top of the cooler or behind it. At night they're moved up front. In the rear side bin I store duct and electric tape, flares, travel kit (tooth paste/brush, soap, shaving, deo.), 200ft. 2,500lb mule tape, gloves. The very rear behind the bed, I keep 2- 3/4"x8"x30" wood slats for leveling. Under the bed towards the front, I keep a small assortment of tools plus saw, machete, ax, hatchet (doubles as a hammer) large tarp, a folding entrenching tool, 12-12d nails. Sometimes I bring a 10", battery chain saw that I keep on the wood slats. I also had a trailer hitch installed for a bike rack or cargo carrier. The best thing about the Sienna is mpg and reliability. BTW: the awd has no room for a spare tire, so a slime emergency kit is necessary if you're way back nowhere. We usually bring along pre-made breakfast burritos and sometimes warm them in park grills. Also, I don't recommend an air mattress. Altitude differences can split the seams. There's a lot more I could detail, but you'll figure it out. Happy trails!
I love the idea of having a minivan as a camper since it's a very easy vehicle to drive around while still giving you that extra room and stealth look.
Totally agree!
I've had 2 Honda Odysseys and a Pilot, and camped in all of them. My Pilot was an AWD, but I don't go off-road. My Odysseys have considerably more room and they are much more versatile since the seats are easily configurable. My vote, hands down: van!
Nice!
I have a Ford Explorer which seats 7 and I’ve been living out of it the past four months. LOL!!! 😂 I love it…I’ll be heading home soon…good first trial run.
I’ll never forget the great time camping my wife and I had on our 11th anniversary back in 2001. We took her 1997 Caravan to the local state park with the second and third row seats out, put in a full size air mattress, and enjoyed a beautiful, peaceful weekend together. Bacon and eggs cooked over an open fire, some pancakes and maple syrup…amazingly delicious!
I built a teardrop camper not long after that, but now my wife drives a Town & Country with stow and go seating, quite a bit more room than the ’97 had. It’s got me thinking.
Those sound like some great memories and good food. I believe the Town & County is one of the largest with interior volume so if you get the itch, it’ll be an excellent option. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
@@AdventureGearTV Thank you for your work. I can tell that you obviously enjoy everything about it. My advice to you: do as much camping as you can as often as you can for as long as you can. Life has an unpleasant way of getting in the way much of the time. Here’s a sub for you.👍
Biggest issue for me would be the inability to stand up inside (in bad or cold weather for example). Toyota needs to come up with a Sienna camping model with all seats other than front removed, passenger seat a swivel, flat floor, rooftop fan and a pop-up roof with a sleeping space. Perfect one-person camper.
It can be tight, at one point I was looking into a roof extension. They are expensive, only add about one foot of head room.
lmao, toyota is not going to waste resources for vanlifers
What u need to stand up inside for? Stand up outside
If only…
Apparently that’s not in their business model, but I have thought the same exact thing .
Totally agree. I love my Sienna camper. Took out the second row seats, threw in a cot and sleeping bag. Bought a Jackery and a dc fridge for convenience. I don’t go on rough roads, but I am comfortable camping almost anywhere. Usually get around 25 mpg.
It’s so easy to set it up that way. Enjoy!
I'm planning to take out the second row of seats. The problem I'm having is I have a
Cockatiel and I'm not sure how to keep the van warm during the night. Any ideas would be appreciated.
@@leahbrum9971 The best way to stay warm is to camp in warm places. I don’t like the cold, but there are a few ways to help stay warm. If you stay in a campground with electricity, bring a small electric heater. If no electricity, I use a 3-candle lantern to help take the chill off. They will burn all night. Happy camping!
@@charlied4850 Hi Charlie! I'm headed to Quartszite Arizona because I heard it's warmer there during the winter. I heard it doe's get cold during the night and I'm not so worried about myself. But concerned about my cockatiel. We had the Dixie fire where I live and 80% of my town burned CA. I've been sick ever since I came back. Bought a minivan to live in but need heat for the bird. I've heard of the three candle heater. Oh and they don't have electricity there on the BLM land. I'll have to watch the video again. Thank you!
Charlie, what year is your Sienna? Can the second row seats come out of any year sienna? Mine is a 2008.
I’m 56.5 years old and thinking about SUV camping around the country. I have a Honda pilot and thinking about getting the trail sport
I used to own a Honda Odyssey. I always liked the versatility of a mini van. I could camp or haul full sheets of plywood by just removing the middle row of seats. So when Toyota announced that they were coming out with an hybrid version of their AWD Sienna, I thought I'd found my perfect vehicle. I planned installing the lift kit especially made for the Sienna. I was shocked to discover that the middle row seats were no longer designed to be removed. I checked with the Service Department at my Toyota dealer and found out that if I removed the seats I'd have major trouble because the air bags were so integrated to the computer system. That was a deal breaker for me. What was Toyota thinking?
Exactly why I still have my 18AWD Sienna and didn’t trade for hybrid. That was a fail by Toyo.
Hi Ricardo, I would love to have a new hybrid Sienna as well. There is a guy here on TH-cam that makes adapters to fix the airbag system when the middle row is removed making it more possible, but I’m not ready to pass on my Sienna yet. Toyota could make it more user friendly in future models.
A fail for sure.
They were thinking they needed a place to store the hybrid battery. ;)
Minivan all the way! Great comparison and research, loved the sunset shot.
Also, size does matter people 😄
Thank you so much for stopping in. I couldn’t pull off a box truck like you yet, and I can’t wait to see your next video!
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Chevy Astro van AWD 6 years ago and I have no regrets,
Cheers 🍻from Montreal Quebec Canada 🇨🇦
I have a 2003 Dodge caravan with front-wheel drive. I'm so impressed with its performance on the steep unpaved roads I live on, makes me want to get another minivan, something newer. I have a sport model which is shorter and that makes my car fridge almost too big for the space. I would prefer an all-wheel drive but front wheel drive is superior in all cases with a rear wheel drive vehicle. Nice video, thanks for the review
I bought a Honda CRV years ago only to find out (after I bought it) that the seats don't fold down flat (talk about useless). Sold it and bought a Subaru Outback that I drove all over the desert southwest. Although I used it primarily for tent camping, I did sleep in it a few times (the seats fold down flat). Even though I'm a short guy, it was cramped inside with my gear to say the least. The trade off was that the Outback got me more places than any two wheeled car/van and, when there's no help around and no cell signal, it's a good feeling to know that you can get out of wherever you got into. Now I'm a little older and comfort speaks to me a little more than adventure so my next car will be a used Odyssey van. After all, I have a wonderful woman that I want to take along with me now.
It’s funny that you say that. I was talking to a guy about camping in his CRV, and that was his exact complaint. The sun is a tank otherwise.
A wonderful woman is worth her weight in GOLD!! I am still looking for mine.
I agree, minivans are the best, especially if they have AWD. I've stealth camped and boondocked in AWD SUVs and FWD minivans. I'll take a minivan any day. Cheaper to buy (especially used), more space, sometimes better fuel economy and quite stealthy. Of course if you want to do some serious off-roading, a true 4x4 SUV is better, but I think for most people a minivan is best.
I’ve been camping in a Honda Pilot a few times over the last month and I miss the headroom, but used the AWD to get out of a tight spot. AWD Minivan would be the best of both worlds.
@@AdventureGearTV For a while, I was using a Hyundai Santa Fe. with AWD. It was nice to have the extra traction for light off-roading, but overall I prefer minivans. A Toyota Sienna with AWD would be perfect for me.
Or potentially a limited slip differential upgrade. A friend of mine has a lsd fwd car and says he has no problem in snow.
Thanks, Iwas look for this exact comparison. demistified the 30% more space in sienna. When looked at from outside, you cant tell
Camping in a minivan is a crazy idea. Could be a lot of fun too.
Definitely a lot of fun. Especially when the weather is nice.
I have been travelling and camping for the past few years in a Pontiac Vibe. I find it quite roomy, because for the previous few years I was camping out of a Saturn Ion sedan! (It was simply the vehicle I already had) In the Vibe I can put the passenger seat all the way forward and have 6 feet for a bed. Since I am only 5'2" this works fine. I leave the drivers side back seat in place so I always have an actual seat with headroom to relax in. Lots of room for me and my small dog and all the camping equipment we need. I usually stealth camp with only the occasional campground thrown in. Gas mileage is great. Have camped for 2 months at a time. Only complaint would be not enough ground clearance at times. Next vehicle will be a little larger and higher SUV I think.
It sounds like the Vibe is just the right size for you. Enjoy your travels!
Vibes and Matrixes are bullet proof. I'm 6' and I'm totally comfortable in all weather. My vibe is 11 years old/ 240000km. Total expenses $1500.00 Can. Longest anual trip was Vancover _ Nova Scotia -DC- LA - home. Soon I'll return to Utah and Arizona. I would love to take it to Patagonia. At 78 I'm too old to get a girlie car.
My husband and I rented a car to visit family last year. As luck would have it, we were given a minivan! It was my first experience riding in and driving one. We chuckled when we first saw it, but it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with it! I’m retiring in 5 years, and I’m saving up to buy a minivan as my retirement vehicle. People think I’m crazy - as we have no kids. I’ll be able to do overnight trips, carry friends around, and be able to haul pretty much anything I want.... all while being very comfortable and having a vehicle that’s easy to drive and park. Off roading isn’t a consideration for me. The new hybrids even get decent gas mileage. Mini for the win!
It’s great that you got to rent one and see how versatile they really are. I have occasionally loaded up the minivan with friends for roadtrips and they can’t believe how roomy it is inside.
That’s what my 82-y.o. mom just did. She went with a Honda Odyssey. She wanted it so it’s easier to load her buggie in, a three-wheeled rollaider, and to go road trippin. Now I have my eyes set on it for car camping!!!
@@k-mac5511 Nice!
My sister and I are section hiking the AT and we each use a van. I have a Toyota Sienna and take out one of the middle seats and in that space is where I lay out my bed. I keep the other middle seat in to give me a seat to sit on when putting on/off my shoes or change. The rest of the space behind the middle seat is where I keep my supplies and hiking gear. Sometimes we just day hike between trailheads or do 2-4-day hikes and then resupply when we get to the cars. I have a 4-wheel drive Highlander which I would like to take but just worried that it's too small for everything I take. We have stayed at parking lots at trailheads or at private campgrounds and just slept in the vans. We carry folding chairs for more comfort when at trailheads. Since the van is my wife's, I think if she knew some of the dirt roads I took her van on she would kill me:). We've gotten from GA to NH so far and some in Maine so it can be done.
Hi, I have used the setup you mention here in the Sienna and camped in a Honda Pilot. The Pilot is much smaller, but I have storage boxes. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable leaving the suv for extended periods because of the boxes.
I've had both, the mini van is so much better for comfort, if it rains all day I can stay inside and still cook dinner and whatever else I need
Totally agree, minivan for the win. I was looking at the Pilot and Odyssey, and decided the Odyssey was the better choice.
Nice! Enjoy.
SUV is just too small for extended trips, especially for two persons. I have driven two Odyssey in the past and they are great for road trips. I ditched the Odyssey when I decided to make a camper. I picked the 2019 AWD Sienna instead since it has higher ground clearance (6 1/2" vs 4"). I got an average of 22.5 MPG over 52K miles so far. Indoor cooking is another benefit of Minivan.
I felt this during my latest trip. We camped in the Pilot a few nights, and even with a lot of outside storage, it was cramped. Check it out here:
th-cam.com/video/wNiBrDCnsUQ/w-d-xo.html
The Sienna is such better vehicle
I had a 2018 toyota highlander that I sold 4 months ago. It was surprisingly better off road than you would think. It was fine for hauling gear if I planned on tent camping but was uncomfortable and small for sleeping in with gear. I don't have experience camping with a mini van but I can imagine it would be a better choice for room and comfort but lacking the capacity to get you to more remote area's. I say use whatever you have and just get out there but if you plan on buying a vehicle specifically to get you out there than buy a 4x4. Skip the van & suv altogether. Just my opinion of course.
Highlander is one of my favorite 4wd SUVs, but I don’t usually go that far off the beaten path and like the extra space. Did you mention what you upgraded to?
@@AdventureGearTV I bought an 2008 fj cruiser. Always wanted one and finally pulled the trigger. I absolutely love it so far. I've been spending the past few months upgrading tires, suspension & a few other modifications. I didn't gain any interor space but it's a more capable vehicle. Just got a rooftop tent and thinking about getting a small offroad teardrop style trailer for when I bring the kids. Not sure it's a justifiable purchase until I get them out camping more. They are still young...3 & 5 years old.
I built my Dodge Caravan up for camping!. It’s most comfortable to drive long distance and the 6 cylinder does better on fuel mileage!
I like them. If you take out the middle row, then there is a ton of storage under the panels.
I think that the average person sees themselves going off road to exotic viewing locations, but the reality is that they will be in the wilds of a Walmart parking lot or in RV parks or parked beside a nice gravel road somewhere. A minivan is just a better shape to work with. AWD is still optimal though.
Exactly right, especially if you live on the east coast. There is nowhere I have been that even my low to the ground hyundai kona could not EASILY get to.
😂 exactly! I have those dreams but know my reality. State park here I come!
I have a 2015 T&C. I’ve folded down the front stow-and-go seats and removed the back ones. I installed an REI Kingdom Cot for sleeping with my head facing forward. I use either an Orca 35 or a Dometic for perishable food, and a small soft sided cooler for drinks. Most of my hiking gear and med-kit fits under the cot. I have a folding Sondors e-bike, that I load in the back and wedges in perfectly next to the cot. My kitchen gear and food supplies are in the ubiquitous yellow/black bins. Because they are stackable things stay well organized and I can use them as a table or cooking surface. I can easily set up or break camp in 5 minutes. The trick is to keep it simple. I manage to fit other equipment in such as an inflatable SUP, BBQ or firewood depending on the adventure. Mostly I camp in CA or other western states.
The best improvement was getting really good all terrain tires. By driving slowly and picking my way, I’ve never had a problem on dirt roads. One just has to realize the limitations of it not being a proper overlander.
It looks very discreet, by not having farkles attached, I just keep things on the DL. When there isn’t a campground to be found. I’ve often slept out overnight on the streets of better neighborhoods or in the parking lot of a hotel and never had an issue.
Thank you for sharing your build and experience. It’s sounds like you have had quite a time in the minivan and put a lot of thought and planning into what you carry. I haven’t heard the word Sondors in a long time. Glad to see they made, I first heard of them when they were a crowd sourced project.
I have a 2020 Santa Fe. I took the back seats out, which wasn't hard, and put in a floor. I travel solo so I have a ton of storage above and below the floor and at 5'9", I can sit up in the back. While I would LOVE the extra space of a minivan, my AWD SUV has a higher clearance is a better option for how I travel. Plus it's even more stealth than a minivan in the city.
Once Toyota dealers stop price gouging on the AWD Siennas, I'll look into getting one.
Minivans are a nice sweet spot in purchase price, MPG, stealth, and room. Downsides are ground clearance (I live minimum 7in, 8in better) depending on if you're a majority city stealth camper or you like to get out there. The other downside is it is tough to hide a solar panel on top. It's easier with a cargo van to hide solar panels (to an extent) as well as SUVs if you can hide the panel inside a roof rack like I've done with my RAV4 Hybrid. But I will say minivans have great room inside as compared to my RAV4. So many options!
As far as I know, no one has ever noticed my 100w Renogy panel. I am thinking about bumping up to a 200w setup, but think it would be more obvious. When the weather gets nicer, I’ll give it a try.
@@AdventureGearTV maybe we're splitting hairs, but no one bats and I at a roof rack on an suv, but seeing a solar panel and a minivan may stick out more, especially to "those in the know." Hehe. I have 200w now on top. Seems to cover my bases along with a 100ah lithium battery (overkill).✌️
If you are reviewing Honda and Toyota many of us can more afford a Matrix or a Fit which are great economy cars to sleep in especially if you are by yourself. What are some of the more common older economy cars that are nice for fuel efficient camping/road trips vehicles, which cars secretly have seats that fold flat give 6 foot of length going into the trunk with enough room to roll over.
My 97 awd Astro van that I camped in just crapped out. I loved it but now I want to get a Sienna awd with that journeys lift. Way more dependable and better long term. .
Sorry to hear that. I love the Astro platform. My first intro to van camping was in an Astro when I was young. The Astro has a lot more room, and some had real 4wd. I would love to get a lift on my Sienna even though it is FWD. Some MT tires would add a little more off road capability.
In 2018 I bought an 04 Sienna with 107k miles , I've put 60 k on it , the only mechanic problem has been a starter.
Well after much thinking, watching, measuring etc etc. I find myself gravitating towards a truck with a shell. I presently live in the mountains and absolutely love off roading and getting to remote places. I’m not a party person and some videos I’ve seen in BLM land of all that partying just totally turned me off. I go to find peace and quiet, enjoy nature and having lots of people, loud music, loose dogs, loud generators etc have never been my thing, of course everyone is different, but for me, peace and quiet is my thing even if I have to sacrifice some head room to get to remote places away from all this. Thanks for the video, as usual very informative.
With the right truck and setup, you can certainly get away from the crowds. I recently saw a truck build on a channel called “Mav” and he had plenty of headroom inside and built his bed on a drawer system.
@@AdventureGearTV thanks! I’ll check it out.
Love our Grand Caravan Mini Camper, just want to get out there more in 2022.
Hi guys, thanks for stopping in.
I had to sell my fiberglass trailer because storage cost too much, humidity, heat and insects were very hard to deal with here in southern Florida. So I decided to get a mini-van and made a camper out of it. But...it was difficult to say the least. The interior had three levels, the sides were curved and slanted. Even the windows were different shapes. Every thing had. To be moved, shifted, even the anti-theft system on the vehicle caused me so much strife. I drove from south Florida to Lewisville Texas to camp with friends for a month, and was very rudely turned away from the first place I’d had reservations...no MINI-VANS ALLOWED!!! For two weeks I camped in a friends back ally driveway. The other campgrounds accepted me no problem, but I found it difficult to unpack and. Repack, because of a storm or switching sites. I got an Aliner...what a difference!
I’m glad to hear that you found something that works for you. I have heard a lot of RV parks don’t accept minivans, but you can always find a spot on a side street. Cheers!
Very helpful! I currently car camp in my Toyota Matrix, which has room for everything I need, including my dog and cat, but more elbow room would be nice, as well as the height to sit up and not be slightly stooped. It works for now, but I can see myself getting something bigger in the future. You've convinced me on the minivan front.
If you go with a minivan be sure to use All Terrain Tires!
I love my Chevy city express cargo van. It is just a little blockier Than a minivan. You would not believe what I am able to carry in it and on it! It is my full-time vehicle but it is also full-time no build camper
I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this van until now. Looks very practical. I’ve thought about getting one that size and putting a ladder rack on it for a stealthy setup.
Off Grid Adventure- It's a re-badged Nissan NV 200 cargo van.
@@watertankhikes I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info.
Minivan campers are great! Consider buying a rear or even side tent for extra room. I have a TailVeil tent I have used many yrs, but there are other tents available.
Hi Denis, I have thought about a tailgate tent. I might be coming up soon for the Sienna.
Although a Toyota 4Runner may not be your typical SUV, I't 'camped' in it. It works, expecially if you also have a rooftop cargo pod. I found it has little, if any more room than a Subaru station wagon. And once you fold down or remove the back seats, there is no comfortable place to hang out.
However, my Honda Fit is even smaller. Removed its back seats too, built a platform that allows storage underneath, and by adding removable sections, serves as sleeping platform if front seats are in full forward position. Traveled several times from and to Alaska like that. And yes, it does get old.
My most favorite 'automobile' though is the Toyota Previa minivan. Too bad they don't make those anymore. For one, I like its medium sized 4 cylinder engine. The disadvantage: it is mounted under the front seats and not easy to access, should anything serious need attention. Still, I do every oil change myself. There is no U.S. van with the same front legroom as the Previa offers.
There are other benefits: The middle seat bench/row removes, leaving a flat space. The rear seat arrangement is bench-like, but involves 2 separate seats., each easily movable (as opposed to "re"-movable. each seat folks up against the rear side-windows and hooks to stay put out of the way. Although the Previa's shape looks small, with seats out of the way, it can accommodate a stack of 4x8 foot plywood with the rear door closed, something my Chevy Astro van can't even do.
Previas used to come in AWD versions and 2WD versions, they are very economical, averaging about 23mpg and feel nimble. In my view it's easily the most versatile allround utility vehicle I ever owned. I paid 2800 bucks for my initial one and finally sold it, as I had a 2nd one, which was given to me. In all vans I used the same set-up: Middle seat row out, then build a plywood sleep bench for single use (while one rear seat is folded out of the way, but have an extra sheet of ply to be folded out, should company require more sleeping space. With just one person on board, only one rear seat in place and the great Toyota window tint, no one outside can tell how comfortable a person can while, work on a laptop, read a book all while hanging out in a Starbuck's coffee parking lot.
One last item, the middle moonroof slides out of the way, so at night you can look at the stars or stand up to get a look around. There are still a few rare beauties like this around. Highly recommended. Check other reports on TH-cam too. Good luck.
Thank you for sharing. 23mpg was great in the era of the Previa. My first minivan was a 1987 Toyota Van. It was perfect. I sold it with 325k miles, and saw it running around for a few years afterward. Back then, I never imagined sleeping in it.
@@AdventureGearTV That too sounds great. I believe you are talking about the Previa's predecessor, which and also had the engine 'under' rather than in front. Those are indeed a bit smaller than Previas, but I always found them intriguing.
A whitewater kayaking friend (Rob Lesser, by some nick-named 'Rapid Rob', drove his to Alaska, but also carried a cargo pod for extra gear. In his day Rob was one of the premier whitewater kayakers with numerous major first descents to his credit).
Keep having fun. Cheers to you.
Japanese do make some great outdoor friendly awd minivans but they are not sold in North America unless you buy used one imported from Japan.
I wish they make Carnival or Sienna version outdoor camping, something like Outback Wilderness
I absolutely wish they imported the HiAce. They are perfect, but if I wanted one, it would be over 25 years old for import.
Just like the Germans. All the good stuff we can't get here and instead have to make big compromises with DIY hacks.
I always think to keep it simple, older GM astro and safari 2wd and low mileage can easily be picked up for under $4k. Stay away from all wheel drive unless its a Honda element. My choice would be a 2whldr Element. Get good robust tires. Also I think people build up their beds to high giving you a claustrophobic feel.
Those GMs have a lot more internal space than the Sienna and are built on the S10 platform which is solid. My bedframe has 14 inches of clearance, which is high, but gives a lot of room for gear. But, I cannot sit up, which does feel tight.
I do not know that. How neat! 😊🌎🌟
I love my Sienna ❤️
It's so dependable.
That’s awesome!
I have a suv bigger than the one shown, so it's pretty comfy. I'm also only 5'3 so I can sit up on my bed and have plenty of head room. I might get a minivan eventually for the better gas mileage, but for now I will make what I have work.
Thanks for sharing! SUVs aren't bad at all. Sometimes it is best to rock what you have. Glad yours is comfy.
When you sit on the 6inch foam trifold mattress does your head touch the ceiling in either vehicle?
The Odyssey is a fantastic vehicle. I'll have one for the rest of my life.....
Armed Youselves With The Best Tool, Avoid Being Too Complacent & Dont Leave Your Vans Unattended. Light Vehicles Can Easily Be Towed.
Thanks for sharing.
Please release the whole version 11 out of 10 will purchase! 👍🏼
Toyota Sienna is my number one choice
What I would like would be a van with a second-row seat facing the rear. This way a third-row seat would be facing it. It would have a seating arrangement similar to a stage coach or a passenger train compartment. Also, baby seats in the second row would be facing backwards with a standard baby seat. A van with this seating arrangement would be great for day visits to parks of all types. It would be great for conversations and lunching.
I made video with an old Vanagon last year and it had a setup like this. Almost like a dining room.
This gives me ideas for my Traverse. It has AWD and is big enough inside for me.
Glad to hear it!
The best are the old minivans especially Sienna that Have totally removable seats.
So true. I have considered taking out the third row for even more space.
@@AdventureGearTV also looks can be deceiving. I’m told old Siennas actually have the most interior space. I haven’t verified that. I would have thought Grand Caravans. I’ve tried siennas, grand caravans and montanas several of each in fact and I’ve now settled on siennas. I have a 2002 and a 2001 one is for backup only.
Also tried an Odessey but it had a faulty transmission and I then found out that was a problem with the older Odesseys so I gave up on them. I imagine the newer ones have solved that problem
Some of the newest generation still have transmission issues.
I think the middle row takes up space in the Caravan that could otherwise be open. If though it is stowed, it is still there. The Sienna is huge.
This is helpful thanks!
Is with a ratchet wrench 🔧 and sockets🎉 all seats are removable.
But can the minivan handle a snowy mountain pass or a rough dirt road? What about gas milage? I want to a car I can sleep in but it also needs to be able to be able to get up alot of dirt roads and travel through snow. Also with gas prices as high as they are 20-25 mpg is just not good enough for a long road trip. I have a RAV 4 Hybrid and it does excelently in the snow/dirt and gets about 30-35 MPG but I wish its interior was alittle bigger.
Stealth camping in the city like that is a lot of fun.
It sure is!
Cargo doors are a big plus also
What about a “light build” camper?
Removing the rear seats in a full size SUV. It takes time and effort, but opens up the cabin a lot. But the floor plan is not as convenient as a minivan.
Honda Odyssey: we have ours set up a no build camper van and it is very comfy for me, hubby and dog, best van for converting to camper, has heat/ac in the back with seperate controls, lots of storage when you take all the seats out, great gas mileage and comfy traveling. We love it and sleep very comfy, big step up from our past tent camping. AND you can get spots in hard to get reservations-camp grounds because it is classified as a < 15ft vehicle when all other spots are for RV's a BIG +
Nice. What size bed do you have for the two of you? Is it beg enough for two in the Ody?
Yes, plenty of room. We use a roll up memory foam mattress topper. Works just fine.
Totally agree
@@8188jlpc how do you deal with rails or other attachments for middle row seats.
@@MechayaAlta removed most of em, there were no rails
Mini Van for me just Got a 2015 Grand Caravan stow n go
Hi Coach Rob, enjoy it!
@@AdventureGearTV Hi thanks so much I will.
Great video thank you! Just bought a 2008 Toyota Sienna to live in. Hopefully I can remove the middle seats. I'm going to research it.
The middle seats should easily come out of your Sienna. Enjoy your minivan!
@@AdventureGearTV Great! Thank you!
I have a minivan that is a no-build camper, an Odyssey, and it's for a Plan B in case I lose where I live. I care nothing for travelling the country & having adventures. Also, everybody seems to want to make the back of their van into a mini room. Instead, I've used PVC pipes bent into hoops to make a tent. The back of my van is more of a sleeping & relaxing space, not a living space. Also, many who think they are stealth camping in their vans are deluding themselves.
That’s an interesting idea for the back space. I stayed in the Sienna for a few months and needed to have some dedicated storage under the bed. It worked out great.
@@AdventureGearTV I took out the 3rd row seat in my '04 Odyssey and one of those black heavy duty totes with the diamond yellow to fits exactly in it and another nestles on top & there's still room to see out the rear window. The hoops have blackout curtains threaded through them that completely black out the back & front. I have long, thin rods that run along the sides with blackout curtains that I can clip to them. In other words, the area is completely blacked out with no light escaping.
In the cold Wisconsin winter I can pull a large emergency tarp/blanket over the hoops that reflects the heat as well as covering the side windows & the front & back as well. In the summer warm weather I can put a mesh tarp over the side open rear doors which allows for a lot of ventilation. It's tentlike, with a roof that doesn't ever leak.
This is a great comparison. Although, I’m an SUV fan!
Hah! Awesome!
I agree with your summation 👍😊 🌟
Thank you!
You can take out the middle row in the new sienna. You need to unplug the seat airbags.
Theres like 2 videos of someone doing it. It's some thing your not going to want to keep taking out.
Someone recently sent me the link to a guy that makes legitimate plugs for the airbag sensors. Opens up a lot of options.
Prius or Honda civic hatch 10th gen
My dodge caravan is the best space and comfort.
They are nice minivans. I think they are a little bigger than the Sienna as well.
@@AdventureGearTV no rails where sienna middle row seats go is another Chrysler advantage.
I like my minivan for space but except for Toyota there is no AWD and all minivans have no clearance.
Exactly. I recently ran into issues with an AWD SUV with road tires. So, the farther off the beaten path you go, the more capability you’ll need v
I camp using a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 4x4 and I have a whole lot of room and seating for 3
The Tahoe has a massive interior and true off road capabilities. I bet it’s a fun ride.
I have a 2007 Pontiac Vibe and am seriously thinking of using it, as I won't need to add any more payment to my already tight budget.
Hi Barbara, the Vibe is what you have and it was designed for camping. If you fit in it comfortably, then keep it as long as you can. Thanks for sharing.
Barbara. Get in the vibe and go. A ten hour drive with a hike in the middle is a perfect day . I feel safe sleeping at rest stops. All those truckers about make me feel secure. The Vibe is good for 300000 miles. In one journey I went around Canada and the USA. Soon I'll return to Arizona. In the summer I'm sailing. Poor me.
@@georgepaget5748 sounds pretty cool, gotta make that gas money though for now...
Depending on your Vibe, it might have a rebranded Toyota engine. So, hopefully you’re not spending too much money on gas.
@@AdventureGearTV Yep, thats the reason I got it, it's the 1.8 L bullet proof one! And great gas mileage, just need enough to be able to travel without an income...
nice video but VW buses are even better :) - new friends here, stay connected
Wow, I’ve never seen your channel before. Great content!
This is now on my bucket list. I'm a cancer patient,. I have ependymoma anand the survival rate is 5 years. Its been 2, so times a wastin! Im just now able to walk unaided and im starting to feel a round of gypsy behavior coming on. Thank you for this comparison. I'm kinda thinking of doing something like this myself. I saw in the sales paper today a cot with a 4 inch memory foam mattress and thought it would be nice in a minivan. Do you think it would do well?
4 inch memory foam is perfect. You have to enjoy your life. Best wishes for your continued recovery.
@@AdventureGearTV thank you. I was afraid the cot and 4 inch mattress might be too tall and not be too stealth. Thank you again
@@stephaniedillard9706 my setup is tall, but it leaves a lot of storage space underneath.
To get an idea, you can see me getting in it in my latest video if you are interested: th-cam.com/video/rpDzpXHM-tg/w-d-xo.html
@@AdventureGearTV thank you!!!!
Totally agree.
Yes I have
Awesome!
🙋🏻☕🚐🏞️✝️🇺🇲 .. Minivan ✨
So which minivans are the ones to get? I don't need to keep the seats, other than the driver's seat and maybe the front passenger seat. I wouldn't mine taking the non-used seats out and store them. I like the most internal space I can get. Having a good MPG is a big plus.
I prefer the Sienna.
Prius, tiny generator on wheels. Look at utube videos before you buy. 300,000 miles very little maintenance
@@AdventureGearTV New Sienna has non removable second row seats now. :(
@@donnajordan3241 why not a hybrid RAV4 or highlander? Just a bigger generator on wheels.
Thanks 🙏👍
you can remove the middle row just do a quick search
For sure. I have it out currently.
AWD hybrid minivan
U didnt do the honda minivan or suv
They are very similar. But, I have heard the Toyotas are more reliable. I use a Pilot sometimes, and you can see it in some of my other videos.
It ticks me off you can't get an actual BIG SUV anymore... They are making them so TINY now, and also not "raised" enough.
Also ticks me off the "bigger" so-called SUV's they ALL are with 3-Rows instead of having versions with 2-Rows, so they are taking up too much useless space with that 3rd Row that most people don't actually need, not having "that big" of a family.
So a 2022 BMW X1 SUV would not be as comfortable as a mini van because of lack of headroom and interior cubic feet space? I would want to have a fridge/cooler and storage...plus slide out for outdoor cooking surface.
Hi Lilian, if that’s what you have and you are comfortable, then go with it. It sounds like you have put some thought into your camping experience and you will enjoy whatever you do.
@@AdventureGearTV yes, I would love to give it a try, but I think I would need more space. It just might be too tight in my x1. I watch tons of van life videos and all the vans are bigger than mine. Especially if I want to cook and have a fridge.
@@Lilliancooks so, I checked it out. The X1 is a small SUV. Can you lay down flat and straight in it? If not, then it might be too small. Maybe lean the passenger seat as far forward as possible for more room. In this vehicle a small frigde and bed will max out your space. But, if you’re planning to car camp, I would at least try it a few times in the X1 before making any big changes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@@AdventureGearTV thank you so much for checking that...I think I can fit...I am only 5’4”. Yes, good idea...I should just try a weekend camp out and stay close to home incase it’s too uncomfortable.
SUVs better because it comes in AWD/4WD. Which minivan has AWD/4WD ? Name one lol. Minivans are for vanlifers that want stealth camping in people's neighborhoods. Going on adventures especially off road, SUVs all the way.
suv hybrids get better gas mileage than hybrid minivans. there is no way around that because it is just physics, so stop your bs about minivans competing with SUVs in gas mileage. Minivans are bigger and heavier than SUVs. You cant bs that away.
Any camping options to turn a sienna hybrid into a comfy place to sleep?
Hi, there are a few videos with the new Sienna. I’d like to put my bed in to see how it fits. One possible concern is that the middle row is not removable in the newest model.
If minivan must be a Toyota Sienna . They are super reliable 😎
My Toyota Siena has 160 c.f. of cargo room, way more than any SUV, plus is all-wheel drive.
Right on Nicky! Plenty of space.
Where do you go, if there is no restrooms nearby?
So, bottles are a great option. If it’s anything more than that there are a few creative things you can do. But, there is no feasible way to keep a toilet for my setup.
Can I drive to BLM land in Colorado mountains in a Mini Van ? And the N.M. state park Morphy Lake which is about 9,000 feet elevation ?
Hi, I’m not familiar with the area, but I recently watched Foresty Forest have an issue in the area even with his full size 4x4 van. I also had some close calls in WV last week trying to get out of a campsite in an AWD SUV. You can see it here if you want.
th-cam.com/video/JjTfPoKxoyA/w-d-xo.html
I got 2017 xle Sienna, excellent.
Hi Ahmad, nice!
Tesla needs to make a van
Use the vehicle you already have! Try no build, it will be cheaper and much lighter.
Absolutely. No need to change vehicles.
me.................minivan.
Minivan
Yep
That wasn’t a camper conversion. It was a mattress and table in a car
“No Build”
@@AdventureGearTV yes. It wasn’t anything bit a mattress and totes. Just sayin
Minivans seem to be the better option but they lose on style points lol
Ha! That’s what makes them invisible to most people.
SUV lot more gas then minivan
Sorry,... I own a Sienna, & the middle row seats are REMOVABLE.
Already, I can expect more misinformation from this individual.
Clicked on dislke & signed-off.
Not on the 2021.
Mini Vans Not A Safe Choice, Dangers Lurks Everywhere Pick A Vehicle That Offers Safety & Comfort.
I don’t understand what you mean, but thanks for sharing your thoughts.
So danger lurks around vans but not SUVs . I see.
@@johnf6267
Height Very Important
Ok, I'll buy a tank
could you be any more vague?