RV and vandwellers wiki

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Words of Wisdom:  "The best van is the one that is //best for you//."

====== Brief overview of different RVs ======

One of the first decisions a potential 'dweller thinks about is "what kind of van?"  Sometimes the answer isn't a van at all, but some other platform that meets one's needs better, or is what one already has at hand. 

The chart below attempts to give a rough overview of the pro/con of the main types of camper. 

===== overviews =====

  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6LhQNSZrHE|Bob Wells' overview]]
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8d3OKl0k4E|Robert Witham's overview]] (and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huO9nelVmTs|conclusion]])
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZbTvI5fr9o|Carolyn's RV Life groundwork]]

===== types of RV =====


^ **RV**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ^ **Pro**                                                                                                     ^ **Con**                                                                                                                                              ^ Youtube discussion                                                                                                                                                                                                           ^
| [[rv:cargo_van|cargo van]]\\ The most common vehicle for "vandwelling".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | ease of modification, \\ stealth, \\ mounting solar, \\ passthrough                                         | aesthetics, living space, used work vans can be beat up                                                                                              | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wUsjwAxue0|Robert Witham #6]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FG4Sg_IavM|Carolyn's RV Life #3]]                                                                                      |
| conversion van\\ A passenger van upfitted with A/V equipment, decor, and a raised roof ([[rv:high_roof|"tv top"]]).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | stealth, \\ raised roof, \\ already own?, \\ [[rv:passthrough|passthrough]]                                 | ease of modification, living space, mounting solar, disposing of seats                                                                               | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wUsjwAxue0|Robert Witham #6]]                                                                                                                                                             |
| minivan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | stealth \\ insurance, \\ already own?, \\ passthrough                                                       | living space                                                                                                                                         | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxMi7fFVoAk|Robert Witham #5]]                                                                                                                                                             |
| [[rv:travel trailer|travel trailer]]\\ The most common kind of RV in the US.  Examples include bumper hitch trailers, [[https://duckduckgo.com/?q=5th+wheel+travel+trailers&iax=1&ia=images|5th wheel trailers]], [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=teardrop%20trailer&tbs=imgo:1|teardrops]], [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=canned%20ham%20trailer&tbs=imgo:1|canned hams]], [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=fiberglass%20egg%20trailer&tbs=imgo:1|fiberglass eggs]].  | space, \\ built-in amenities                                                                                | build quality, \\ passthrough, \\ mounting solar                                                                                                     | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvyXQHb-j5o|Robert Witham #7]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9x7LkXs2kc|Carolyn's RV Life #2]]                                                                                      |
| cargo trailer\\ boxy trailer that can be converted to a living space.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | space, \\ ease of modification, \\ mounting solar                                                           | passthrough                                                                                                                                          | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNuek8BIR6E|Robert Witham #8]] \\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UhkIBUhM-k|Bob Wells]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9x7LkXs2kc|Carolyn's RV Life #2]]                         |
| truck w/slide-in camper                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4wd can go anywhere \\ ground clearance                                                                     | handling, \\ low overhangs, \\ passthrough, \\ mounting solar, \\ expensive                                                                          | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td7wreFggWU|Robert Witham #4]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9x7LkXs2kc|Carolyn's RV Life #2]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H2lziLON4U|Mortons on the Move w/Gary Conley]]  |
| truck w/camper shell                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | inexpensive, \\ mounting solar                                                                              | living space, \\ passthrough                                                                                                                         | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td7wreFggWU|Robert Witham #4]]                                                                                                                                                             |
| [[rv:car|car]]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | stealth, \\ MPG, \\ insurance, \\ already own?                                                              | living space, \\ mounting solar                                                                                                                      | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_o0snhETC0|Robert Witham #2]] \\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjCJ6ZDcgXY|Living in a car by choice or necessity]] - rwitham                                                         |
| SUV                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | stealth, \\ light towing, \\ already own?\\ insurance                                                       | living space                                                                                                                                         | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJrPBnpQto|Robert Witham #3]]                                                                                                                                                             |
| box truck                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | living space,\\ square shape easy to modify, \\ mounting solar, \\ passthrough, can hang things underneath  | MPG, insurance, \\ parts, serviceability, gwvr may require stopping at weigh stations, very tall for interior height as floor is above rear wheels.  | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv0Wi_kLWLI|Robert Witham #9]]                                                                                                                                                             |
| school bus                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | living space, easy to find                                                                                  | MPG, \\ parking, \\ parts,\\ insurance,  serviceability, disposing of seats                                                                          | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30nbdPLxZAg|Robert Witham #10]]                                                                                                                                                            |
| ambulance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | coolness, built-in cabinetry                                                                                | biohazards, excessive idling hours, leaks around specialty lighting\\ insurance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ||
| [[rv:step_van|step van]]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | space, standing height, straight walls, easy engine access                                                  | often recycled for aluminum bodies, MPG, geared for local deliveries,\\ insurance, road noise                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ||
| shuttle bus                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | standing height, living space                                                                               | MPG, geared for local driving, excessive idling hours,\\ insurance, disposing of seats                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ||
| [[rv:class_a|Class A motorhome]]\\ large, expensive RVs that [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=class%20a%20rv&tbs=imgo:1|look like tour buses]].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | living space, \\ built-in amenities, \\ passthrough                                                         | parking, \\ expensive, \\ build quality, \\ low overhangs, \\ very low MPG                                                                           | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EJy7CkfF2E|Robert Witham #13]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZbTvI5fr9o&t=689s|Carolyn's RV Life #1]]                                                                              |
| [[rv:class_b|Class B motorhome]]\\ mini RVs [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=class%20a%20rv&tbs=imgo:1|built into a passenger van chassis]].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | build quality, \\ built-in amenities, \\ passthrough, , \\ relatively good MPG                              | parking, \\ expensive                                                                                                                                | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGFJl6mSCIs|Robert Witham #11]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FG4Sg_IavM|Carolyn's RV Life #3]]                                                                                     |
| [[rv:class_c|Class C motorhome]]\\ - [[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=class%20a%20rv&tbs=imgo:1#tbs=imgo:1&tbm=isch&q=class+c+rv|Cutaway vans with large living spaces and overcab sleeping areas]]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | living space, \\ built-in amenities, \\ relatively inexpensive\\ passthrough                                | parking, \\ low overhangs, \\ build quality, \\ very low MPG                                                                                         | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWEPdRb68Sc|Robert Witham #12]]\\ [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZbTvI5fr9o&t=689s|Carolyn's RV Life #1]]                                                                              |
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