Affordable camper van coming to Thailand

[CLW]

Just found this on the news section of the upcoming Bangkok International Motor Show end of March 2023.

 

https://www.motorshow.in.th/news/suzuki-carry-x-jumtla/

 

 

 

[phetphet]

With that side opening, it looks more like a burger van than a camper. ????

 

Seriously though, I don't think there is much of a market for camper vans here in Thailand. Accommodation being available pretty much everywhere from downright cheap and up.

 

Quite a few campsites (for tents) though.

[In Full Agreement]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:01 AM, phetphet said:

With that side opening, it looks more like a burger van than a camper. ????

 

Seriously though, I don't think there is much of a market for camper vans here in Thailand. Accommodation being available pretty much everywhere from downright cheap and up.

 

Quite a few campsites (for tents) though.

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With the side window you can consider it dual  purpose.

 

Is it legal and safe to just pull over anywhere and just sleep the night in Thailand?

 

My all time favorite vehicle was a Westfalian VW camper.

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:01 AM, phetphet said:

With that side opening, it looks more like a burger van than a camper. ????

 

Seriously though, I don't think there is much of a market for camper vans here in Thailand. Accommodation being available pretty much everywhere from downright cheap and up.

 

Quite a few campsites (for tents) though.

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Its not this then (pic below).... ???? - but that camper van is pretty much all style over purpose. but, it looks great !I (I think is extortionately priced in the UK (at £60-76,000)

 

I do agree... there’s hardly a viable market here for camper-vans... or camper vans. 

Its just so easy to rock up in any town or even quietest small village and find an ‘adequate’ room for the night which has AC, private bathroom etc... 

 

Yet, at the right time of year in the right area... Camping could be great fun. I’ve never tried it here, but still want to - the problem is, the camp-grounds I’ve seen pack in the tents like a music-festival. 

 

 

 

 

[Elkski]

I read there is a company renting RV's.  I would think you would need Aircon most nights.  Maybe RV parks will become a thing.  

 

 

 

[farmerjo]

Would be great for big events like motogp.

[KhunLA]

I'm all set, viewpoint 'camping' in the car ... in AC comfort:

 

@ 7:15 of the vid

 

[phetphet]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:26 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Its not this then (pic below).... ???? - but that camper van is pretty much all style over purpose. but, it looks great !I (I think is extortionately priced in the UK (at £60-76,000)

 

I do agree... there’s hardly a viable market here for camper-vans... or camper vans. 

Its just so easy to rock up in any town or even quietest small village and find an ‘adequate’ room for the night which has AC, private bathroom etc... 

 

Yet, at the right time of year in the right area... Camping could be great fun. I’ve never tried it here, but still want to - the problem is, the camp-grounds I’ve seen pack in the tents like a music-festival. 

 

 

 

 

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I think that is the new electric VW camper. Looks great, but how to charge it out in the wilds?

[KhunLA]

 

[Henryford]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:34 AM, phetphet said:

I think that is the new electric VW camper. Looks great, but how to charge it out in the wilds?

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That alone makes it useless as a camper, plus the 2.4 million baht price tag (in the UK). When you can stay in a hotel in Thailand for 500 baht.

[CLW]

If I'd be owning a pickup, those removable tents or cabins would be an option. 

Can't see motorhomes or trailers becoming a trend here. 

[richard_smith237]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:37 AM, KhunLA said:

 

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I suspect one would need to be less than 5ft tall to take any enjoyment out of living in that !!

 

I’d also worry about hitting the brakes too hard and it doing a forward roll !!!!..... 

[richard_smith237]

With the amount of pickups that are in this country the ‘Fifth Wheel’ type travel trailers would seem to be the best way to go.

 

It wouldn’t take much to covert the flat bed to ‘take’ the tow hitch for the fifth-wheel trailer and then people would also have mobility when at their destination. 

 

It kind of surprises me that these types have not taken off in Europe more so than the standard RV. 

 

 

 

.... and if you wanted something really fugly !!! 

[Negita43]

I had a old Hymer 565 - had solar charger on the roof for the battery so no need for hook ups for several days. Many happy hours touring Europe

[CLW]

  On 1/31/2023 at 6:20 AM, Negita43 said:

I had a old Hymer 565 - had solar charger on the roof for the battery so no need for hook ups for several days. Many happy hours touring Europe

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Nice. But most times of the year AC is a must, so where to get the electricity?

[1FinickyOne]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:26 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Its not this then (pic below).... ???? - but that camper van is pretty much all style over purpose. but, it looks great !I (I think is extortionately priced in the UK (at £60-76,000)

 

I do agree... there’s hardly a viable market here for camper-vans... or camper vans. 

Its just so easy to rock up in any town or even quietest small village and find an ‘adequate’ room for the night which has AC, private bathroom etc... 

 

Yet, at the right time of year in the right area... Camping could be great fun. I’ve never tried it here, but still want to - the problem is, the camp-grounds I’ve seen pack in the tents like a music-festival. 

 

 

 

 

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I'm getting bugged drivin up and down the same old strip

Gotta find a new place where the kids are hip

[pomchop]

I have a camper van in usa that i use often..

 

BUT as said already by many Thailand is really not a good place for a campervan....you will need a/c as often mosquitoes will eat you alive if camping out in boonies and outside the cool season it will be like sleeping in a sauna.  As far as I know any rv type parks with hookups are basically non existent...

 

you would likely be much better to stay in cheapie hotels which are vey easy to find especially out in the boonies....if u are intent on camping i would buy a regular car or tuck and a tent and maybe camp out some in the cooler months but of course that is when the thai campers will be doing the same and camping areas can get crowded with tent campers...if you camp out up north in cool season you will also find that it gets darn cold many nights and you would need some serious sleeping bags/blankets etc....so too hot half the year and pretty cold a few months...

[Negita43]

  On 1/31/2023 at 6:27 AM, CLW said:

Nice. But most times of the year AC is a must, so where to get the electricity?

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Just reminiscing not proposing to bring to Thailand!

[KhunLA]

  On 1/31/2023 at 6:27 AM, CLW said:

Nice. But most times of the year AC is a must, so where to get the electricity?

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I'd definitely have to add some solar & ESS ...

.. which case, really glad I got the EV, cramped, but paid for, and multi-purpose.

 

Cross my mind more than a few times to buy a Carry & convert, or go 2nd hand.  AC was the stumbling point.  Was one locally on FB Marketplace, all set  up w/solar & cheap. 

 

Advert didn't of ph# or sell contact info.  Good thing, as I probably would have bought it, and having the EV now, would have regretted it.

[Harveyboy]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:55 AM, CLW said:

If I'd be owning a pickup, those removable tents or cabins would be an option. 

Can't see motorhomes or trailers becoming a trend here. 

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I have a huge 6 berth fully equipped motor home ..I thought about shipping it here but ..left it in France ..as many have said accommodation is cheap here ..I've bought a load of camping gear a few decent tents  go camping most weekends ...sorry but the camper idea here isn't viable

[KhunLA]

  On 1/31/2023 at 6:28 AM, 1FinickyOne said:

I'm getting bugged drivin up and down the same old strip

Gotta find a new place where the kids are hip

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My first vehicle purchase was a VW van.  Slept in that many nights.  I was strange teenager.  Most go for 'show' cars to impress, I went for practical.  Next down the line was a station wagon, for same reason, ability to sleep in it.

 

Great for weekends, and camping, and if you happen to have a krappy home life.

 

Handy for those too much alcohol nights.

[phetphet]

One of those Aussie pick ups kitted out with solar and a good tent would be better.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7IKlS8Z2Nc

[1FinickyOne]

  On 1/31/2023 at 7:13 AM, KhunLA said:

My first vehicle purchase was a VW van

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My first purchase was a Fiat Spider w/back seat shelf that I bought in Rome and drove around Europe - - and I slept in that too. For a month I had 2 girls from N. Dakota and they slept in it too... I did ship it back to USA but sold it to get the $$ for a one year RTW backpacking adventure... first time in Thailand was 1974... FREEDOM!!

[pgrahmm]

Really not much more than a rolling bed with small cabinet space....No galley, fridge, bathroom or shower....A/C needs 30-50 amp set up....

No infrastructure to support FHU vehicles here.....

Nothing to see here.... I've seen a couple of TTs/caravans for sale here = no A/C.... Imagine sleeping in that.....

[dingdongrb]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:34 AM, KhunLA said:

I'm all set, viewpoint 'camping' in the car ... in AC comfort:

 

@ 7:15 of the vid

 

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Reminds me of my Subaru 4x4 wagon that I had years ago. It was great on gas, big enough for me to lay down in the back with the back seat down, and with 4x4 it could go nearly anywhere.

 

I used it for many years traveling throughout the beautiful Rocky Mountains and doing some high country camping/fishing.

 

 

 

 

[Hummin]

  On 1/31/2023 at 5:34 AM, KhunLA said:

I'm all set, viewpoint 'camping' in the car ... in AC comfort:

 

@ 7:15 of the vid

 

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Me and my gf travelled like that with climbing gear, snowboards and I also brought my base rig along for a Norway fjord trip.

 

But this is the camper I would had bought today.

 

 

[pgrahmm]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/weirdfantasticbeautifulandoddd/permalink/948726882741341/?sfnsn=mo&ref=share&mibextid=VhDh1V 

 

This is basically all you're getting...Circa 1949....

 

 

[Orinoco]

To hot inside.

To expensive.

To small.

To slow.

Parts a total nightmare.

Hotel and car/pickup, wins hands down every time.\

 

Ps, Good for Hot dogs and burgers.

but will be a total loss business venture, out lay to high never get your money back.

 

 

 

[Thailand J]

  On 2/1/2023 at 3:05 AM, Orinoco said:

Hotel and car/pickup, wins hands down every time.\

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Totally different experience compared to camper.

I would not own one myself, would be nice if a good friend would buy one and invite me for the trips ????

[Orinoco]

  On 2/1/2023 at 3:16 AM, Thailand J said:

Totally different experience compared to camper.

I would not own one myself, would be nice if a good friend would buy one and invite me for the trips ????

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What you just want to free load off others. nice