Family of 5 means adults up front, 3 kids on a factory bench. Today the factory seats and factory passenger restraints, airbags are the safest way to travel. None of the RV Van conversions have anything near as well designed.
Hundreds of SUV, pickup choices. With a pickup a slide in camper might work, I doubt it will sleep a growing family of 5 for long. A tent for the adults is one option.
If you want to tow there are options for a more compact tow vehicle like a Wrangler or Lexus or???? Me, I swear buy a trailer for flexibilty. You can drop a trailer way faster than a camper. Plus keeping everyone inside a trailer is nice in awful weather.
Trailer plusses.... It parks in the driveway stationary letting you load it at will while the tow vehicle does whatever. Drop the trailer to hold yer campsite when you need a grocery run or the trail head is remote. AND when you get home you can drop the trailer in a minute and take the tow vehicle to work.
Trailer minus..... learning to backup if you have never done it.
Mashurst gives the other tenting option. Definitely get factory seats and passenger restraints for everyone. If compact and capable are top priorities the Gladiator, Tent are awesome. If tents are acceptable any crewcab pickup or SUV will work. The adults could even sleep under a side canopy awning with walls. Our family of 4 did it all out of a Honda Accord wagon and 2 of these.
Sorry but this is the only pic of the tent.... long before digital technology was invented. Back when I had hair. My kids still use those tents.
Me, I'd likely pick a full size AWD van with one 3 passenger bench seat. GMC Savanna/Express AWD van is a fabulous economical versatile choice.
www.wildernessvans.com
