A small car as a substitute for a TTT

[artfd]

I did consider the Element. Its mileage is much worse than the Elantra's, and the driver's seat gave me pain when I sat in it for over 20 minutes (something I have found with all the Hondas I have looked at.) I already have a 2001 F150 with a good camping shell on it - no tent needed, and it is very comfortable to ride in. The best mileage my F150 ever got on a long trip was 20 mpg (on 100% gasoline) while the Elantra far exceeds that, even on E10. A month ago I spent an entire day walking around the Dayton Hamvention, several miles of walking - a physically tasking effort for me. I was very fatigued, but then drove 220+ miles back home. The Elantra was so comfortable I actually felt rested by the time I got home 3+ hours later -- very few vehicles have been like that for me.

[JohnnyG]

I'm used to traveling 'heavy' with all manner of gear from computer scanners to hiking boots (my hiking boots are so large I almost need a special trailer just to haul them). I wonder how you got 3 people into a Honda. Have any pics of your rig fully occupied?

Well, the van is pretty good size- no problem. Folded the rear seat under the floor and left one of the middle seats home.

[VijayGupta]

Funny this topic should come up. I've been visiting here for a while for long term planning. I see information on Vardos, teardrops, and cargo trailer conversions. I'm wondering about a van conversion - looking at possibly a Sprinter. Then I remembered the first "camper" my parents had was in the late 70's and was a full sized van with a cot, a cooler, a cooker, and a cabinet. Just one in a succession of campers they had over the next 30 years.

Then I was unloading something out of my Odyssey and the light bulb went off -- Hey, the back of this opens just like a teardrop! With an 8' bed length behind the driver's seat, I could easily build out the interior like a teardrop -- galley in back, sleeping amidships, and cabinets at the bulkhead.

I'm getting mid 20's mpg on around town mixed driving and 28-33 mpg on long interstate trips.

[kirkman]

Speaking of the Honda Element! here is the cats A$& for a camping mod.

[rowerwet]

to bad VW was the only one to sell these type over here, found this on a UK TD site
http://www.fiatdoblocampers.co.uk/

[artfd]

Attached image is my Elantra with all the luggage removed & put on a campground picnic table. Only things remaining inside are backpack, laptop & case, camera bag, mattress & sleeping bag. A rather large tarp will cover the gear on table in case of rain. A folding outdoor reclining chair & bike are mounted on the trunk lid. I found this quite comfortable for sleeping if it is not too hot.

[markhusbands]

I'm using a Honda Element with a roof tent to sleep four - two up, two down. We use a Coleman foam mattress in the car and it is pretty comfortable. The roof tent is perfectly flat and also comfy. I'm planning a simple teardrop to mount the roof tent on, so we can do two up two down and still be able to use the car without breaking camp.

roof tent.jpg (205.75 KiB) Viewed 131 times