Okay, so, I’ve been getting into this whole camping thing lately, and let me tell you, it’s a whole world of its own. The biggest thing I’ve been messing with is figuring out what kind of ride is best for these trips. I mean, you can’t just roll up in any old car, right? So I started digging into it, and here’s what I’ve been up to.
First off, I tried just crashing in my regular car during a weekend road trip. Yeah, that was a no-go. Super cramped, couldn’t sleep a wink. That’s when I started looking into SUVs. I figured, more space, more comfort, maybe even some room for gear. I started checking out some used car lots and looking for some tips, and it’s like, where do you even start? Some of these things are built like tanks, others, not so much. And then there’s the whole towing thing, which I hadn’t even thought about. I started to make a checklist: the car must have enough space, comfortable seats, and better with towing capacity.
I test-drove a bunch, and let me tell you, it’s a mixed bag. Some are comfy, but only for like, two people. Others can haul a ton, but they’re about as comfortable as sitting on a rock. I even looked into those ones with the tents on the roof – pretty cool, but maybe a bit much for me right now.
- First, I got my eyes on a Toyota 4Runner. This thing looked tough, and it drove pretty well on some rougher roads I found. And the towing? No problem.
- Then there was the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Similar deal – good for towing, and it felt a bit more rugged.
- Tried a Subaru Outback too. Not as heavy-duty, but still capable, you know?
After that I tried to drive bigger ones, like Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma, or Chevrolet Silverado, they are really good for towing and versatile. I tried my friend’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, it was good but I think it’s too big for a SUV. Also I saw some guys driving Volkswagen Transporter T3, it has a camper modification, that was cool!
Finding the Right One
But I found something interesting. I was reading up on it, and apparently, a hybrid SUV is the way to go if you’re planning to sleep in it. I guess it makes sense, you can run the AC or heat without killing your gas mileage. I checked out a Volvo XC90, and man, that thing is like a living room on wheels. Fold the back seats down, and you’ve got more space than you know what to do with. I also looked into those Prius, I guess they are really good for using all night just for a gallon of gas or so.
So, yeah, that’s where I’m at. Still figuring things out, but I’m leaning towards something like that Volvo. I mean, comfort is key, especially if you’re spending a few nights in the thing. But, I’m not crossing off those tougher SUVs just yet. Who knows, maybe I’ll get the urge to go full-on off-road warrior mode one of these days. We’ll see! This camping SUV journey is just getting started, and I’m kind of excited to see where it goes.
