Okay, I've done a lot of tent camping and am very comfortable with my setup.
Honda Accord v6 (24 mpg city/hwy average)
10X10 Canvas tent.
Cot with air mattress.
duffle bags, plastic bins.
food cooler
Portable pitcher with water filter and water jugs
Portable stove under portable screen room shelter
Use camp facilities for bathroom/showers ("pee jugs" at night)
Good room-fan for cooling hot nights (even Florida in August)
Good sleeping bag & occasional Mr Buddy portable heater for warming cold nights
Camp only where there is electrical for fan and electronics charging
I want to do some extended traveling to parks and cities, but don't like the following drawbacks. Some parks (mainly RV parks) won't except tents. Some that do, have more restrictions with how long you can stay or where you can stay. Setup and takedown can be time consuming. Setup and takedown can be a pain in stormy weather. Out of luck if there is no electricity.
So I'm thinking of buying a 2014 low-roof RB Sprinter with it's estimated 24 mpg fuel efficiency and 15,000 mile service intervals. And then having Sportsmobile put in a coach battery, Pentouse top, fantastic fan and solar panel. I'd leave the rest as a cargo van. The van would replace the Honda Accord and Canvas Tent part of my camping setup. I'd be able to park more places. "Setup camp" easier quicker. And occasionally go without electricity. I could occasional stealth camp if needed. The drawbacks will be the expense and hassle of diesel. The higher depreciation and maintenance costs of a Sprinter. Having to "break camp" every time I want to use the van. Having to use D-rings and cargo straps to secure items before driving. The "creep factor" of traveling solo in a cargo van :^)
So has anyone tried the very limited conversion van route? Are there drawbacks I'm not considering?
As long as I don't wait too long. I think that re-selling this vehicle might be easier as people could pay to have Sportsmobile configure as desired. IE. the configuration would work for anyone patient enough to have Sportsmobile add the extras they want. So I'm hoping I could recoup a lot of the cost of the Sportsmobile work on resale. Is this a bad assumption?
Any other reasons why this idea is crazy?