I sure hope they are not doomed. Many of the posts on this forum reflect the unfortunate attitude of many Americans "I'm not going to downsize to a smaller trailer" "I can't stretch out" ETC.
The fact of the matter is that if one wishes to continue camping (unless you have a lot of money, which I do not), you may not have a CHOICE in the matter. Your going to either have to downsize, or give up camping. I'd rather downsize and continue camping, personally.
For my family of four, I love my minivan with the sliding doors, ETC. If I am light on the throttle and drive it conservatively, I can get as high as 23mph AVERAGE. Not too bad for a 4200lb vehicle.
As far as I see it, for the minivan to survive, they need to build them lighter, with smaller displacement engines, small turbo diesels, ETC. I think if they built a minivan that would average 35mpg + they would sell very well. At 5, 6, 7 dollars per gallon, many SUV or crossover drivers are not going to be able to afford the fuel.
The "soccer mom" image does not bother me at all, my van is so comfortable to drive on long trips, I hope to have it for some time to come.
1997 DODGE RAM 4x4, 2500 SERIES, , Reg. cab, 5.9L V8, AT, 4.10 gears. Prodigy Electric Brake Control
1995 BOOMER (Skyline) Model 2223
The "soccer mom" image does not bother me at all, my van is so comfortable to drive on long trips, I hope to have it for some time to come.
Agree Camper. I couldn't care less about the M-Van bashing. We had two Nissan vans but one (the 93) was recently broad sided and written off. The 97 we use for many purposes and it gets very good fuel mileage (better than out V6 sedan that weighs 700lbs less).
I think they will come out of this time frame smelling like a rose as a viable substitute to many larger, heavier, vehicles.
Fast Mopar wrote: I sure hope minivans continue to be doomed, as they have been for several years now. It allows me to buy them cheap.
..My thoughts exactly. Ever since the SUV craze started, minivans have lost popularity, just 'cause so many think they just don't look 'cool' enough in a minivan.
Let them keep thinking that, it just lets those of us that don't have issues with our manhood, own these great vehicles without having to pay a premium for them.
Fuel mileage? LOL, thats a good one. Of all things that may be hurting minivan sales, fuel cost concerns certainly is not one of them. AAMOF, its probably HELPING minivan sales. Fuel prices are helping people to realize (as many of us knew all along) that with only a few exceptions (towing, 4x4, etc), minivans can do everything those gas guzzling SUVs do. And, they do so using considerably less fuel, and costing considerably less to own.
Haha, our Grand Caravan, we got basically brand new a few years ago, for right around $16k. Try finding any new SUV (or any other new vehicle for that matter) for that much, that can comfortably haul 7 people and get 25 mpg.
Still, I don't agree with some comments about using these vehicles for towing. We'll always save towing duties for a vehicle (truck) that was designed for that purpose. But, if you need to comfortably haul several passengers around....You simply cannot beat the 'bang for the buck' the minivan offers. I'll not be without one (at least not as long as we have children).
Will & Angela
2 wonderful children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2003 Ford Excursion V10 4x4
2003 Thor Citation 33M, Hensley Arrow hitch, Brakesmart Brake Control
(wanna see? Here is a picture of it )
As I see it, mini-vans will be here for a long time. You may not see as many of them in the future, but they'll be there. Just like station wagons never died, they just lost popularity. It'll be the same with mini-vans. Its really tough to argue against the ability to carry 6 passengers comfortably, and have decent cargo space when you really need it. Its the same reason wagons are still being sold.
As far as a mass of people in the future towing smaller trailers with smaller vehicles, I can't see it happening all that fast. Those who have large trailers will continue to tow them. Some will sell out, most will keep on going. Where you'll see the paradigm shift is with young families wanting to move up from a tent or PUP, those who don't yet have a ton of money tied up in a large truck and trailer.
Chuck D.
'03 Jayco Kiwi 17a, '03 Chevy Trailblazer EXT, Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS
Photography is my obsession: http://coldwater.smugmug.com/
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
If our family was young...kids are adults now, we would probably have a minivan for one of our vehicles. They're handy to ferry around the kids, get the groceries for a growing family, go on trips with an do some light towing (most have a max. of 3500 lbs. towing.
Hitch up a folder and you've got great family camping.
I do think minivans are the most practical vehicle for families.
Camper G wrote: I sure hope they are not doomed. Many of the posts on this forum reflect the unfortunate attitude of many Americans "I'm not going to downsize to a smaller trailer" "I can't stretch out" ETC.
The fact of the matter is that if one wishes to continue camping (unless you have a lot of money, which I do not), you may not have a CHOICE in the matter. Your going to either have to downsize, or give up camping. I'd rather downsize and continue camping, personally.
For my family of four, I love my minivan with the sliding doors, ETC. If I am light on the throttle and drive it conservatively, I can get as high as 23mph AVERAGE. Not too bad for a 4200lb vehicle.
As far as I see it, for the minivan to survive, they need to build them lighter, with smaller displacement engines, small turbo diesels, ETC. I think if they built a minivan that would average 35mpg + they would sell very well. At 5, 6, 7 dollars per gallon, many SUV or crossover drivers are not going to be able to afford the fuel.
The "soccer mom" image does not bother me at all, my van is so comfortable to drive on long trips, I hope to have it for some time to come.
At 4,800 pounds and 22' long, I don't think my current TT is extravagant. My concern is HEADROOM when I'm inside. If the lightweight TTs steal a few valuable inches, making my head hit the roof, then those mini-euro models will never do.
I've never bashed minivans. My parents bought a Honda Odyssey when they retired and sold their 2500 GMC Suburban. . . I bet I've sold more of those vans by bragging about them than the local dealer's top salesman.
If I had to get rid of the truck and TT, I'd go to a PUP pulled by a minivan or diesel sedan before I ever towed one of those single axle cargo trailers that the euros try to pass off as a TT.
It may sound stubborn, but I'm not going to camp in an RV that I can't stand up in.
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab SB LS 6.0L 4x4 4.10
DW, DD (May, 2007), DS (October, 2008), and me
I've had one for 3 years now and I absolutely love it. We tow our 03 B-19 w/a 03 Mazda MPV... close to max, but tows it easily. I can't imagine buying a thirsty truck just to tow a camper. With proper set-up and preventive maintanence our van has done extremely well. These vehicles don't get the credit they deserve! Trust me I never would've imagined me saying this not too long ago!
fickman wrote: It may sound stubborn, but I'm not going to camp in an RV that I can't stand up in.
No offense intended fickman. Just voicing my prospective and concern with some American's attitudes. It's part of the reason we are in the fuel predicament we are in. If fuel prices were cheaper, SUV's and trucks would still be selling like hotcake's. Some people (not you necessarily, just in general) will not cut back until they are FORCED to do so, which is unfortunate.
I'm not an environmentalist or anything of the sort, my 69 GTO and 97 Ram are fuel guzzlers.....I just don't drive them everyday. We have my minivan and my wife has an 08 Focus to commute in.
I don't blame you at all for not wanting a camper you cannot stand-up in. I'm shorter in stature than you are, so I don't have any issues with smaller TT's.
Saying that you would go to a minivan or smaller TV and a PU speaks volumes to me.
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