What to replace my rig with?
Posted: October 2nd, 2018, 12:53 pm
My recent trip to Ireland was the longest I've spent in the camper so far - 1 month covering 2300 miles and it's made me think I'd like to do more long trips, maybe even a year or so at a time.
I love my current setup however I wonder if there's something I could replace it with without compromising on the current advantages.
99% of my trips are "wild camping" all year round - forests, quiet spots along rough tracks and muddy fields along with snow in the winter months, so I consider the 4 wheel drive and probably more importantly - higher ground clearance, a necessary.
There's a few areas I'd like to improve on.
My Suntrekker doesn’t have a wetroom, we’ve managed fine with the porta potti and outdoor shower however having nowhere to dry wet clothes is a problem, especially on longer trips as they stay wet and make the truck or camper seats wet too! I doubt we'd be as inclined to use the outdoor shower on the winter trips too!
The 15L water tank is on the small side for long trips - I usually take a couple of 25L water containers along with me too, but it’d be nice not to have to refill the main tank as often.
The Suntrekker is set up for Campingaz 907 bottles - much more expensive compared to the larger Calor butane bottles, and probably borderline useless on really cold trips (saying that, it worked fine when I was in Wales in minus temperatures). I’d like the option of being able to use Calor propane bottles or perhaps a refillable LPG tank would be more cost effective.
I’m just stuck on what I could get to replace it with. The obvious solution would be a more modern camper unit, but I’m not confident my current truck, a 2003 Ranger would be comfortable with the extra weight. The average MPG is around 20MPG which is probably on the limit of what I can justify if I’m honest - there probably wouldn’t be much difference cost wise in me taking my 3.0 BMW convertible and paying for budget hotels (although I appreciate that’s not what the trips are about but it’s still worth pointing out).
I reckon I’d be looking at say 10k for a more modern, used pickup (then there’s the issue of hunting out a well looked after supercab model - it took months to find my current one), and say 15k for a newer camper. That’s 25k - quite a large amount of money for what is essentially, a small upgrade on my current combo.
The DAF 4x4 army trucks that have been converted to overland campers seem excellent value for money when you consider the amount of kit inside but I'm worried they’d be too big for the small single track roads I often frequent in Scotland and Wales. I’d also have to fork out for my HGV license and then a suitable storage facility. Admittedly MPG would probably be 20% less than what I get now but when you factor in the refillable gas and no need to buy bottled water, overall i'd probably be better off.
There’s the option of a standard panel van but the 4x4 models (mainly Sprinters I’ve seen) seem quite rare and therefore expensive. I’d also have to do the conversion myself and to be honest, I don’t have the time, skills or space to do so. Perhaps a FWD van with a lift kit / AT tyres would be a good compromise but again I’d have to do the camper conversion myself.
I’m currently looking at the American demountables - there’s been a Bigfoot 10.6 on eBay for a few months now at 14k and compared to the smaller European campers, they seem really good value.
I suspect a suitable American pickup would be much worse on fuel than my current 20MPG but perhaps paired up with a diesel 4x4 van flatbed would be a good idea. This would probably set me back around 35k though which again, makes the proper overland trucks seem a worthwhile buy.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-63-MERC ... Sw0rNbOXYG
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bigfoot-10-6 ... Sw9LpZz8IM
One of the smaller purpose built 7.5T overland trucks is another option but these are rare as hens teeth. I think I'd be looking at importing from America / Australia which I'd like to avoid.
Has anyone else thought about upgrading / replacing their setup and come up with any other ideas?
I love my current setup however I wonder if there's something I could replace it with without compromising on the current advantages.
99% of my trips are "wild camping" all year round - forests, quiet spots along rough tracks and muddy fields along with snow in the winter months, so I consider the 4 wheel drive and probably more importantly - higher ground clearance, a necessary.
There's a few areas I'd like to improve on.
My Suntrekker doesn’t have a wetroom, we’ve managed fine with the porta potti and outdoor shower however having nowhere to dry wet clothes is a problem, especially on longer trips as they stay wet and make the truck or camper seats wet too! I doubt we'd be as inclined to use the outdoor shower on the winter trips too!
The 15L water tank is on the small side for long trips - I usually take a couple of 25L water containers along with me too, but it’d be nice not to have to refill the main tank as often.
The Suntrekker is set up for Campingaz 907 bottles - much more expensive compared to the larger Calor butane bottles, and probably borderline useless on really cold trips (saying that, it worked fine when I was in Wales in minus temperatures). I’d like the option of being able to use Calor propane bottles or perhaps a refillable LPG tank would be more cost effective.
I’m just stuck on what I could get to replace it with. The obvious solution would be a more modern camper unit, but I’m not confident my current truck, a 2003 Ranger would be comfortable with the extra weight. The average MPG is around 20MPG which is probably on the limit of what I can justify if I’m honest - there probably wouldn’t be much difference cost wise in me taking my 3.0 BMW convertible and paying for budget hotels (although I appreciate that’s not what the trips are about but it’s still worth pointing out).
I reckon I’d be looking at say 10k for a more modern, used pickup (then there’s the issue of hunting out a well looked after supercab model - it took months to find my current one), and say 15k for a newer camper. That’s 25k - quite a large amount of money for what is essentially, a small upgrade on my current combo.
The DAF 4x4 army trucks that have been converted to overland campers seem excellent value for money when you consider the amount of kit inside but I'm worried they’d be too big for the small single track roads I often frequent in Scotland and Wales. I’d also have to fork out for my HGV license and then a suitable storage facility. Admittedly MPG would probably be 20% less than what I get now but when you factor in the refillable gas and no need to buy bottled water, overall i'd probably be better off.
There’s the option of a standard panel van but the 4x4 models (mainly Sprinters I’ve seen) seem quite rare and therefore expensive. I’d also have to do the conversion myself and to be honest, I don’t have the time, skills or space to do so. Perhaps a FWD van with a lift kit / AT tyres would be a good compromise but again I’d have to do the camper conversion myself.
I’m currently looking at the American demountables - there’s been a Bigfoot 10.6 on eBay for a few months now at 14k and compared to the smaller European campers, they seem really good value.
I suspect a suitable American pickup would be much worse on fuel than my current 20MPG but perhaps paired up with a diesel 4x4 van flatbed would be a good idea. This would probably set me back around 35k though which again, makes the proper overland trucks seem a worthwhile buy.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-63-MERC ... Sw0rNbOXYG
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bigfoot-10-6 ... Sw9LpZz8IM
One of the smaller purpose built 7.5T overland trucks is another option but these are rare as hens teeth. I think I'd be looking at importing from America / Australia which I'd like to avoid.
Has anyone else thought about upgrading / replacing their setup and come up with any other ideas?