Help Converting Sienna Minivan as Camper

D

dvaidya

Well-Known Member
Anyone willing to help me build my 2005 Sienna as a camper van. I do not have the tools or know how on how to use tools, so looking for help. I am hoping to build based on something like - .

or something like

Forgot to mention that I will pay for the help.
 
Last edited:
Pretty cool! While I have the tools and the skilz (somewhat, not saying all cuts would be perfect!) I sadly do NOT have the time. Would love to get involved in something like this, as it looks like a cool project.
 
I thought there was a woodworker thread in here somewhere maybe one of those guys can offer some ideas and/or help.

Also check the RV thread since it’s related.
 
dvaidya said:
Anyone willing to help me build my 2005 Sienna as a camper van. I do not have the tools or know how on how to use tools, so looking for help. I am hoping to build based on something like - .

or something like

Forgot to mention that I will pay for the help.
Click to expand...

So a few questions:

1. What are you looking to do with the van? Long cross country trips or weekends?
2. How many people, one or two?
3. How much are you looking to spend on this?
4. Are you planning on 4 season camping or just 3 season?
 
GSTim said:
So a few questions:

1. What are you looking to do with the van? Long cross country trips or weekends?
2. How many people, one or two?
3. How much are you looking to spend on this?
4. Are you planning on 4 season camping or just 3 season?
Click to expand...
1) Initially want to do weekend trips and occasional cross country and staying at camp grounds for now.
2) Max two people
3) max 1000 to 1500 to convert the existing van. The van is 2005 Sienna with 245k+ miles on it. Trying to figure out if camper living is something we would be comfortable when we retire.
4) With the minivan conversion 3 season. If we do go down the path of camper van I would definitely be looking for 4 season.

The goal is to get an idea and get comfortable with camper living. If this is something that is doable we might rent an actual classb/b+ and try some of the Bureau of Land Management sites out west for off-grid testing. The other option that we are looking at is something along the line of Nucamp 320 lite but I am a bit hesitant going down that route with the minivan towing capacity. The dealer website towing calculator seems to indicate I would be ok but might be borderline. I think the towing capacity for Sienna is around 3 to 3.5k and depending on the Nucamp model it’s anywhere from 2 to 2.5k.

I am hoping I can kick the tires for camper van living and make a decision once we are close to retirement or the Sienna dies before retirement.
 
dvaidya said:
1) Initially want to do weekend trips and occasional cross country and staying at camp grounds for now.
2) Max two people
3) max 1000 to 1500 to convert the existing van. The van is 2005 Sienna with 245k+ miles on it. Trying to figure out if camper living is something we would be comfortable when we retire.
4) With the minivan conversion 3 season. If we do go down the path of camper van I would definitely be looking for 4 season.

The goal is to get an idea and get comfortable with camper living. If this is something that is doable we might rent an actual classb/b+ and try some of the Bureau of Land Management sites out west for off-grid testing. The other option that we are looking at is something along the line of Nucamp 320 lite but I am a bit hesitant going down that route with the minivan towing capacity. The dealer website towing calculator seems to indicate I would be ok but might be borderline. I think the towing capacity for Sienna is around 3 to 3.5k and depending on the Nucamp model it’s anywhere from 2 to 2.5k.

I am hoping I can kick the tires for camper van living and make a decision once we are close to retirement or the Sienna dies before retirement.
Click to expand...
As an owner of a '21 Nucamp T@B 320S Boondock, the fully loaded GVWR is around 2800lbs. On the Nucamp FB groups I follow, the Sienna comes up occasionally and replies are usually not favorable.

This towing calculator is a great tool. We are planning to sell the Nucamp this year and upgrade to something bigger. Used it and realized our '23 Ford Transit had towing capacity and under GCWR, but Ford does not allow a weight distribution hitch because it's unibody construction. Traded it for a '25 Expedition.

Tow Calculator

Tow Calculator by Abrom Douglas III
towcalculator.app towcalculator.app
 
Thank
JDurk said:
As an owner of a '21 Nucamp T@B 320S Boondock, the fully loaded GVWR is around 2800lbs. On the Nucamp FB groups I follow, the Sienna comes up occasionally and replies are usually not favorable.

This towing calculator is a great tool. We are planning to sell the Nucamp this year and upgrade to something bigger. Used it and realized our '23 Ford Transit had towing capacity and under GCWR, but Ford does not allow a weight distribution hitch because it's unibody construction. Traded it for a '25 Expedition.

Tow Calculator

Tow Calculator by Abrom Douglas III
towcalculator.app towcalculator.app
Click to expand...
Thank you for the tow calculator. I will run it through once I am back home from a trip. Could you share the Facebook group?
 
dvaidya said:
Anyone willing to help me build my 2005 Sienna as a camper van. I do not have the tools or know how on how to use tools, so looking for help. I am hoping to build based on something like - .

or something like

Forgot to mention that I will pay for the help.
Click to expand...

Just get a folding mattress or roll up mattress and toss it in the back.

Do a few weekends, figure out what works, what your actual needs are and then go from there. Everyone who does build outs seem to change their mind on some items and you don't want to get locked in.

With the middle row removed you can fit a full mattress. Yeah you will have to move things around and throw stuff on the front sleeps while sleeping but it's a start.

Whatever you build you should make sure you can move it to a different van. While a Sienna is reliable, that's a lot of miles.

Btw. If you lookup ATV light brackets, they are cheap and allow bolting bike mounts to the middle seat tracks, or cabinets.
 
Santapez said:
Just get a folding mattress or roll up mattress and toss it in the back.

Do a few weekends, figure out what works, what your actual needs are and then go from there. Everyone who does build outs seem to change their mind on some items and you don't want to get locked in.

With the middle row removed you can fit a full mattress. Yeah you will have to move things around and throw stuff on the front sleeps while sleeping but it's a start.

Whatever you build you should make sure you can move it to a different van. While a Sienna is reliable, that's a lot of miles.

Btw. If you lookup ATV light brackets, they are cheap and allow bolting bike mounts to the middle seat tracks, or cabinets.
Click to expand...

100% agree with this. If you are just trying it out, I would get the cheapest setup and go for a weekend to see what you think.

I went through this with my daughter who wanted to go on a cross-country trip in her Subaru Crosstrek and just sleep in the back. I was sure she was going to be too cramped and not have enough space for everything, so I bought her a roof-top tent. She wound up loving the tent and never slept in the car for the whole 3 month trip. I think that while the minivan has more room than the Crosstrek, you might have the same issues with 2 people in a minivan. I would consider a roof-top tent for the minivan also, this frees up all the minivan for storage and equipment and leaves the sleeping for the tent. In the worst case you can always sleep on a mattress inside the van for emergencies. Here is the tent on the Subaru and on my F150. It's only 5" tall when closed and weighs about 120 lbs. Let me know if you want to borrow it, no problem!

Rooftop Tent Crosstrek.jpgRooftop Tent F1501.jpgRooftop Tent F1502.jpg
 
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