The Hiatus camper looks to me like it would be a sauna in warm weather due to very limited ventilation. Compare it to the FWC and All Terrain with four huge screened windows and a screen door. Even with that, my Fleet gets warm inside if outside temp is over 85. Spent some time in July and August in the East and the combination of heat and humidity made it miserable even with both fans running. I actually had to get in the truck and run the AC once an hour until about midnight.
Depends on how high the temp and humidity is, as I indicated, been there done that. In the Eastern USA there will be days in July and August where that camper will be a cooker.I’ve contacted Hiatus and they can put screened openable windows on the sides up top. Those, plus a decent 12v roof vent fan, should pretty much cure the “sauna“ problem.
Most people avoid those areas when the conditions are like that. LolDepends on how high the temp and humidity is, as I indicated, been there done that. In the Eastern USA there will be days in July and August where that camper will be a cooker.
Yup have family about 5 min from the Mall. Only visited once in late July never again. August and September in Michigan too no thanks. Which is why everyone goes north or south during that time.You would not do much camping then. Have you lived back there? I grew up in New England and it is even worse farther south. It as sticky hot about 25% of the days in summer. People camp when they have the time, not when the weather is nice. It is a big reason I moved out west.
You all are reminding me why I very seldom venture more than a hundred miles east of the Rockies. The west is the best...My neighbor's from Maine and tells me about the summers there with the humidity, mosquitoes and black flies. I'll bet Indian Summer though is beautiful.
Maine is beautiful, especially when the leaves change color!My neighbor's from Maine and tells me about the summers there with the humidity, mosquitoes and black flies. I'll bet Indian Summer though is beautiful.
A few more reasons for you!You all are reminding me why I very seldom venture more than a hundred miles east of the Rockies. The west is the best...
Yes! The night sky through clear dry mountain air is something to behold. That's why I usually camp colder in summer than winter.I have seen many beautiful places in the west, especially in the places with mountains, trees, and water...
I will admit that sleeping bug-free, under the stars, on my roof rack, at 10,500', in the Rockies, was great!
... What would you call the best?
Same hereYou all are reminding me why I very seldom venture more than a hundred miles east of the Rockies. The west is the best...
The modern vans especially the Ford with 360 system have surprisingly tight turning radius and are pretty easy to drive.So many good notes in here — thanks all for participating. Some additional thoughts...
- My ideal van would be a short wheelbase (eg promaster 136), standing height, 4x4, with a MOAB bed or monk bunk. cab to camper access, easier stealth mode, still good as a utility vehicle. The MOAB is where this fails — not available for shorties — and alternative kits like Wayfarer seem less appealing.
- I don’t need real off-road capabilities out here, but good winter driving, decent mpg, and would be nice-to-have modern safety features (once I got adaptive CC, lane keep, etc. I pretty much said I wouldn’t go back... huge for driving with ADHD). 3rd 4th passenger seating also a nice bonus for bringing a nephew or large dog or both. Ms Spicy is also pretty convinced that she would hate driving a van around town, and we’ve talked about getting a cheaper, small e-car on the side if I settled on van.
- I would love to tackle winter and condensation with a Dickinson heater — had my eye on these forever. If anyone has run these with a popup, I’d love to see. I think someone mentioned this for a vagabond build? but I havent seen it done.
- Think I’d want a 6’ bed and build a bench/bunk under the camper bed for stealth mode or guest. Also allows for skis in the truck vs roof rack.
- The recent hard sided popup creations like Hiatus look like a perfect match... if they actually existed in the next year. Get a truck and wait?
- FWC doesn’t really seem like my jam. Too pricey, too heavy, too much on/off to utilize the truck, still battling condensation.
- I’ve thought a lot about a small, standing height cargo trailer; ultimately I still need a truck to tow it and would take decent time to build out. Can be a plan B or interim solution if I go truck and can’t quickly acquire the right camper
- Swinging hitch racks for the bikes are easy alternative to the van storage if I land in a truck
- Truck seems to win the platform debate here, but it’s definitely close. Everyone in a popup: is off-roading your primary consideration? Am I silly for leaning that direction without off-roading in my priority list? other major downsides to the van or benefits of the truck that I’m not considering?