hey guys,
I have been researching vans and in particular “campervans” recently and after seeing pics of Paul J’s van set-up (below)
I thought it would be of interest to see other’s surf wagon/campervan set-up’s.
I am pretty set on getting a van to travel in, ie; bed, sink, fridge, stove etc! and room for boards and fishing gear of course!!!
ok well thanks for all the replies and info guys!
I went ahead and put a deposit on the van below, just hanging to get it now, should be ready for pick-up late March, then in June my girlfriend and I will load it up with boards and stuff and head up the east coast of Aus for 4ish months, should be fun!
‘07’ Toyota HiAce, 2.7L petrol auto. wind out awning and pop-top roof. fridge, sink, stove, bed etc.
the interior will be this sort of layout
Could have got one of these cheaper Robbo
Alas, no airconditioning…or butterflies…
I’d say you did alright without the peanut gallery Robbo
Crikey! Good on ya! Cheers! Grill a Barbie!
Once upon a time I had a real ride. Wish I still had it! Back seat taken out with a twin matress in back. Happy feet on the hood and back, with murph painted on the side. Boy what a way to live. Wish I still had them wheels! Those were the good old days and these are the good new days! Aloha Wood_Ogre
LOL!
Stock Standard Alfa 145 but mine is with roof racks…
cuore sportivo
Doesn’t get me very far but it’s more reliable than my 1990 Volkswagen Van.
Just noticed… the board in the photo is one of DrewTang’s perimeter stringer quads.
Edited to add that you are welcome to the photo of my slammin surf rod for our book Hicksy. LOL
Nice wheels. No Hi-Ace or equivalent in the US and I’m pretty sure no 4-cyl is offered in the vans that we can buy. I’m guessing that 2.7l is a linear descendant of the old “can’t kill it” 2TC engine.
-Samiam
Well I can’t seem to get a pic up right now. I ride a Honda Element. I have to say that it is one of the best surf vehicles around. I can store boards on one side, up to a 10’ front to back, then fold the seats down on the other side and have a twin bed. I have done it and it isn’t bad for sleeping in a car!
I am currently looking for something more amenable to surf trips. I have thought of the Element as well.
How much space is in the back with the seats folded down, (can you take them out?) I ask because I am just about 6’5" tall and so need more space than some. 
I wish we could get the Toyota HiAce that Robbo is getting here in Canada. Toyota diesel engines go forever. Plus it looks like a nice setup.
Johan1,
I too am 6’6" so I know what you mean. I was looking for the same thing in a vehicle. There is plenty of space behind the front seats. The rear seats can be put in and taken out very easily, infact, I haven’t had mine in since I bought the car a little over a year ago. The rear space is huge. Enough room to put just about anything you would want with few exceptions. If you just wanted the rear seat out of the way, they fold up and hang against the side as well. I would recommend going to a dealer if you have one near by and checking one out, great gas mileage, all around sports enthusiast(SURFER) made vehicle. I love the thing. Hope this helps.
Peace,
Anthony
Thanks for the info Anthony. I’ll be looking into it.
Happy Camping! 
Hey, I drive an Element also! Great car for tall surfers! The headroom is amazing and space in back is plentiful. I can fit my 9’8" and my wife’s 9’6" along with a 6’10" fish, body board, beach chairs, towels etc…all inside if we decide to stop for luch and have to lock it up. Not only can you fold up the rear seats but they’re also completely removable. I love this car. Also recommend the Yakima rack system. we have various attachments so we can switch between surf racks and ski/snowboard racks when heading up to the mountains.
A White 2006 Chevy Silverado Xtended cab 1/2 ton truck.4.8 V8 w/ a factory 100lbs Supercharger(you were expecting a turbo from me,HA !)
Coming back from Mex. thru the Az/Ca Desert I hit a 400lbs deer…rather she hit me…The truck sustained 3 dings down the passenger side,one large enough to crawl thru if it was a hole.All and all…
…I’m a lucky dog !
The truck behind me ran over the beast and he received several broken parts including a hole in his pan.
My wife wants to get it fixed right away,but heck ! It’s a great conversation piece. …PLUS…
IT’S A TRUCK!!!
mine is a 1996 toyota camry and bikes. i need to get some roof racks
for it but don’t have the money. yea i like sleeping in a small den
like area so i will fold down one of the back seat and curl up for a
nap. just need a blanket and pillow. very luxurious.
Nice bus Hicksy. Just bought my new surf wagon, a 98 VW T4 2.5 TDi. It’s in the process of becoming somewhere to change, sleep, chill, change back and start over. I’m more interested in the insides at the minute but eventually it’s getting bigger alloys, lowered and colour coded non-red bits (as soon as the missus forgets how much I’ve already spent on it).
As soon as I’ve sorted my stupid new computer out I’ll post a shot of the coolest splitty ever, at a show last weekend rusty as with peeling brown and red paint and bible quotes painted on the sides. On the passenger side dash was a sticker reading “Jesus is my airbag”. Well good!
Well I can’t seem to get a pic up right now. I ride a Honda Element. I have to say that it is one of the best surf vehicles around. I can store boards on one side, up to a 10’ front to back, then fold the seats down on the other side and have a twin bed. I have done it and it isn’t bad for sleeping in a car!
With the ten foot board does it have to be one end up on the dashboard or can you angle it and fit it in, or fit it between the seats?
i don’t work for Honda or anything but, i’d like to echo the praise for the Honda as well.
good gas mileage incredibly USEFUL, more room than you would think front and back,
more options and useful features than should be allowed. i’ve spent several overnights
in ours with our stuff and 2 dogs and it was fine. i believe Chateaux(sp?) has one also. the leg and
headroom in the back is awsome. i’m only 6’0" but most (read all) cars and suv’s are
cramped in the back. the Element is the only exception that i’ve found. the front seat
can be all the way back and it’s still comfortable… definitely should check one out just
based on sheer usefulness… oh yah, no need for chains when going to Tahoe too
Robbo,
I reckon that Hi-ACE is the ticket. I took one with a fixed hightop from the Great Ocean Road to Kirra and all spots in between a few years back on a round-the-world trip. Stop off anywhere to surf, eat and sleep. Although some little punks put a big rock through the windshield when we were camped out in the parking lot at Angourie. Those fixed high tops are great for board storage.
Bummer you can’t get those over here in the states.