[johnbryanpeters]

I have had an irrational urge to get a camper for a long time now. On the way back from NEMBAfest yesterday, I stopped and looked at R.pods, an RP-178 and an RP-180. The 178, at probably $18K delivered, would just about fit what I'm looking for to comfortably accommodate two people who aren't a couple.

I had previously looked at Airstreams, but wasn't thrilled with layout and I'm not interested in dumping $70K. Looked at R.pods simply because we saw them on the road and always thought they looked nice.

If I bought one, it wouldn't be a rational decision, but...

 

[eric strt6]

Craigslist. buy used. My camper cost 38k new I got it with two years of use for $20k You can probably find one in great condition for about the same markdown %

 

[Adventurous]

The wife and I have been looking at them recently as well; ones in the same size as what you are checking out. I'm still not 100% sold on the idea but if it helps my case for getting away from civilization more it may be a small price to pay.

 

[RoboDonkey713]

Any thought of a used Sprinter with a camper set up? Or do you just want a tow behind?

 

[Pesqueeb]

Craigslist. buy used. My camper cost 38k new I got it with two years of use for $20k You can probably find one in great condition for about the same markdown %

This. I'm not really too interested in this sort of thing myself, but a coworker has what I would label a "fetish" for trailers/rv's/campers so I get to hear about it a lot. New purchase depreciation on these sorts of things is unbelievable. Look for something 2-4 years old and you'll save a ton of cash on what's already a pretty irrational purchase. Also, be sure to scour the interwebz for known issues, especially if you settle on a pop-up sort of deal. Leaks can be very problematic. Were it me, I'd look for the exact sort of setup @eric strt6 has, unless you absolutely need more room.

Any thought of a used Sprinter with a camper set up? Or do you just want a tow behind?

I saw a sprinter setup as a camper a couple years back while on a motorcycle trip. Super slick looking. For one or two people, would be totally ideal. I could imagine myself getting into one of these when we are child free.

 

[6thElement]

A little smaller than the R.Pod, but I love the look of these:
https://www.socalteardrops.com/page.php?p=44

 

[eric strt6]

Any thought of a used Sprinter with a camper set up? Or do you just want a tow behind?

Sprinters with the RV conversion go for 100k new so figure on paying alot even for a used one

 

[jonKranked]

Sprinters with the RV conversion go for 100k new so figure on paying alot even for a used one

Teh Ford Transit vans are comparable except for the bling factor, and have a better price tag.

Although the sprinters are now sold in the US in diesel 4x4 as a factory option.

I've seen DIY camper conversions on vans, saves a good chunk of $$$, but be prepared to invest the time.

 

[stevew]

Teh Ford Transit vans are comparable except for the bling factor, and have a better price tag.

i asked two different outfitters when i was in yosemite if they liked their ford vans...they said yes...but they would have preferred the sprinter...

 

[Kevin]

Am i the only one who thought this was gonna be about Call of Duty?

 

[jonKranked]

Am i the only one who thought this was gonna be about Call of Duty?

we're not 14

 

[jonKranked]

i asked two different outfitters when i was in yosemite if they liked their ford vans...they said yes...but they would have preferred the sprinter...

i've heard there can be some reliability issues with sprinters, but if you're gonna be spending that kind of money may as well get what you want.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Want a tow-behind, not a van. The van's all set up with my bikes and gear.

I would not want a Sprinter - all the campers based on them that I have seen are very cramped inside and they seem to rust out about a year and a day after people buy them. I think they're built with tin plated cheese.

Also, I have a female riding friend who I travel with but don't sleep with; that wouldn't work very well in a van...

 

[Kevin]

Then stop behaving like it!

 

[jonKranked]

I would not want a Sprinter - all the campers based on them that I have seen are very cramped inside and they seem to rust out about a year and a day after people buy them. I think they're built with tin plated cheese.

interior or exterior? i've heard of issues with improper insulation causing interior rust.

 

[kickstand]

interior or exterior? i've heard of issues with improper insulation causing interior rust.

granted we salt our roads like we salt our margarita's around here, but sprinters rust out in about 3 weeks in michigan, regardless of interior set up.

To be fair, foreign cars usually make it 6 months before they rust out, and domestics typically make it about 6 months and 1 week.

I have always been intrigued with the idea of a camper, the problem is that I just can't justify the added cost of gas to tow it everywhere. It's cheaper to tent camp or grab a hotel by the time I factor in all costs over the long run. Yes, a camper would be super convenient, but i just can't justify it.

 

[Toshi]

I want to give a camper (travel trailer) a try via a local rental service. No way can I justify owning one–there's no conceivable universe where we'd be out in it enough weekends per year to make that worthwhile. For a retiree the math may well be different…

 

[stevew]

i've heard there can be some reliability issues with sprinters, but if you're gonna be spending that kind of money may as well get what you want.

main issue being no diesel at the time...

 

[junkyard]

I got a camping trailer and love it. My wife (were not really married) wont tent camp. scared of lions, tigers and bears. The little one loves it and camping. I live in socal so we can camp almost year round. We also took a month long camping trip in it and only spent the last night in a hotel. It was awesome, from san diego to seattle then to montana, idaho, wyoming. I cant wait to go again. I love having my own shitter and shower. The heater and fridge are pimp too. I even got the retro looking one so i like the way it looks. The down sides are the price and maintenance, these wouldn't be so bad if they held their value or lasted a life time. I store it under a roof as well to save it from the sun (socal). When i get another one im getting a nice airstream or a scamp. the fiberglass two piece ones hold their value better and dont have wood to rot out.

I used to use a school bus i fixed up. That used some gas, cost about a dollar a mile. I had some fun with that thing. It was a 1966 chevy 40 footer, with a full roof top deck. Has a 454, 4l80e tranny, 6.23 rear gears, 22.5 wheels, could cruise at 80 mph with a tailwind. Had it over a 100 once. Banged a bunch of chicks in it in college. Partied a bunch of places, went on road trips. I took it to burning man one year. Good times. Well brakes, gas, tires and insurance just cost to much on that thing. Now its being used as storage for kids shit. But will probably become a spare bedroom. Trailers are so much better than motorhomes.

I want to build a teardrop with a bike rack for my solo trips with my vintage car.

 

[jstuhlman]

pop it up nao?

 

[eric strt6]

 

[rideit]

We bought an 18' Keystone Summerland Mini a few months ago and absolutely love it. Would do it again, but then again it is brand new...

 

[Jozz]

I'm partial to Sprinters. Good for camping, good for hauling stuff.

2012, still no rust. Conversion will be around $12k cdn. Could sleep 2 adults + one tiny Brooklyn chick

 

[johnbryanpeters]

I'm partial to Sprinters. Good for camping, good for hauling stuff.

2012, still no rust. Conversion will be around $12k cdn. Could sleep 2 adults + one tiny Brooklyn chick

View attachment 122657

Bronx, not Brooklyn... I'm still sticking with my Express van, but if you swing by sometime I'd like to see the Sprinter.

 

[Westy]

I've had several small lightweight pop up campers. Never spent more than a few hundred bucks and they have been light enough for me to tow behind my back. Did have to pony up for one of them shoulder strap type hitches.

 

[Jm_]

Craigslist. buy used. My camper cost 38k new I got it with two years of use for $20k You can probably find one in great condition for about the same markdown %

Yep. My parents bought some crazy nice trailer a few years back. Then when it came time, they couldn't unload it. It was way nice, still in "like new" condition when they sold it, but you're going to lose a ton of money buying new. There's some good stuff out there and this is a huge capital investment. Edit: Investment isn't the right description, place to throw money into is better.

 

[eric strt6]

Yep. My parents bought some crazy nice trailer a few years back. Then when it came time, they couldn't unload it. It was way nice, still in "like new" condition when they sold it, but you're going to lose a ton of money buying new. There's some good stuff out there and this is a huge capital investment. Edit: Investment isn't the right description, place to throw money into is better.

I would slightly disagree. We use ours some 70-80 nights a year for my work, Ruths competitions and vacation travel. Hotels would have run 125-150 per night. We have had the camper 6 years. That works out to a lot of cash ( wife isn't going to tent camp or motel 6 it). The camper has easily covered the purchsase price and then some.

 

[Toshi]

Your situation is unique since you're using it all the time. Most people use theirs a few times per year, and at that rate it's a huge waste of money.

 

[jonKranked]

Your situation is unique since you're using it all the time. Most people use theirs a few times per year, and at that rate it's a huge waste of money.

yea, if it's going to get frequent use, it can definitely be worth the investment.

 

[OGRipper]

I agree with trying to find one used. The trick is to find a good deal on one that is not completely trashed.

I went the van route and bought a used, fully converted Sprinter in January. I was going to get one of the new Ford Transits and build it out but 1, it would have been way more money new and 2, all of the good outfitters I talked to were fully booked. (Like a year and a half to two years out for a full conversion.) I lucked out and found one pretty close to how I would have done it for a great price and with low miles.

My girlfriend and I do a lot of 1 and 2 night riding trips, often with late night arrivals and early departures. It's awesome to have basically zero set-up and break down time. Instead of screwing with your gear after a long drive, just turn the engine off and pour the whiskey...

I have a few friends who have done the van thing on a tight budget. Assuming you've already got camp gear, all you really need is a van with a bed platform to get a lot of the advantages.

 

[TreeSaw]

RPods were nice, but overpriced IMHO. We ended up with at 18' Jayco Flight SLS (rear bunk beds and front dinette that can seat 6 adults or be a queen-sized bed. It's been AWESOME! Our local RV shop is good too...I can take a look at their inventory if you're interested in checking it out. New was $20k and we got it "used" (plastic still on the stove burner and bunk beds were still wrapped) for $8500. Didn't want slides (more maintenance) and wanted something small and lightweight. Most campgrounds will let our camper camp on a "tent" site because it's so small. Weights less than 3k lbs. loaded and tows like a dream.

 

[IH8Rice]

my wife and i are also interested in a camper as well. we were looking at buying a tow behind to use while we convert a school bus. we originally liked the idea of a camper in the bed of a 3/4 ton pickup but none of the trucks are really large enough inside for three dogs to sit comfortably.

 

[junkyard]

my wife and i are also interested in a camper as well. we were looking at buying a tow behind to use while we convert a school bus. we originally liked the idea of a camper in the bed of a 3/4 ton pickup but none of the trucks are really large enough inside for three dogs to sit comfortably.

You wanna buy my bus?

 

[IH8Rice]

You wanna buy my bus?

is it a bangbus? we kinda wanted to tackle the project from the start and see how long our relationship lasts from there. lol

 

[jonKranked]

steve, i've poked around philly craisglist, you can get a bus for under 10k

 

[eric strt6]

the inside of my Camper. it will be me and the 3 dogs at a horse show this weekend. Wifey is on a buisness trip, meeting with the new CFO in the Michigan office

 

[jstuhlman]

the inside of my Camper. it will be me and the 3 dogs at a horse show this weekend. Wifey is on a buisness trip, meeting with the new CFO in the Michigan office

inclusion of shitter pic ftw.

however, i see not a single wok. minus 5 points.

 

[eric strt6]

It has, Fridge, Freezer, Directv, AC, Furnace, queen bed, Dinette converts to a full bed, Hot water heater, Shower, toilet. 35 gallon fresh water tank. 40 pounds of propane, 2000 watt generator, 200 watts of solar panels 240 AH of deep cycle batteries, 3 burner range, oven, microwave. roof rack that holds two kayaks Bike rack for 4 bikes. The truck has a loaded range of 450 miles on 35 gallons of diesel at 70mph much more if we cruse at less than 65.

 

[junkyard]

is it a bangbus? we kinda wanted to tackle the project from the start and see how long our relationship lasts from there. lol

This is the perfect bus to ruin your relationship!!!!

 

[BadDNA]

Definitely going to agree with the "buy used" crowd. Our 'new' camper is a 2011 model that we picked up for under $10k and has all of the features of home. Probably more than you'd ever need, but the deals are out there.