Looking for an low-cost camper conversion that’s equal components simplicity and splendid? A Honda Challenge camper conversion may be right up your alley.
This cult SUV camper has conquered the hearts of many campers and van lifers prior to now decade on account of it’s an excellent, roomy sleeper and simply reworked.
Some fashions embody four-wheel drive, so that you simply presumably can take the Challenge on some gratifying off-grid adventures.
On this submit, we’ll try some DIY campers, custom-made pop tops, and even conversion kits so you may get your Challenge camper moving into a short while.
Why the Obsession with Honda Challenge Campers?
The Honda Challenge is a well-liked alternative for altering correct proper right into a campervan on account of it offers quite a few distinctive decisions that make it well-suited for such a conversion. Despite the fact that the Challenge was discontinued in 2011, it’s nonetheless a terribly fascinating car for tenting excursions and completely completely different hobbies with outdoors lovers.
Just some of these decisions embody:
- Spacious inside: The Honda Challenge has a boxy form that maximizes inside house, creating a snug residing house all via the auto.
- Simple customization: The Challenge’s inside is simple to customise, ensuing from its detachable rear seats, flat flooring, and large cargo home. This makes inserting in fairly a couple of campervan decisions, resembling a mattress, kitchenette, and storage cupboards simpler.
- Dependable and low-cost: The Honda Challenge is assumed for its reliability and affordability, making it a preferred alternative amongst van life lovers on a great funds. Because you’ll can buy one used, make certain that to ask for repairs information.
- Good fuel mileage: The Challenge will get good fuel mileage, which is necessary for lots of who plan to journey extended distances of their campervan.
- Cuteness downside: Let’s face it – the Honda Challenge is cute! Boxy nonetheless aesthetically pleasing, it has merely sufficient character to make it stand out whereas nonetheless with the flexibleness to stealth camp when wished.
Widespread, the Honda Challenge offers distinctive decisions that make it an excellent platform for a DIY campervan conversion. This, coupled with the rising recognition of vanlife, has contributed to the present obsession with altering the Honda Challenge correct proper right into a campervan.
One of many easiest methods to Flip a Honda Challenge correct proper right into a Camper
Now that you simply simply perceive why people are so obsessive about Honda Challenge camper conversions, how, precisely, do you convert one correct proper right into a camper?
There are a collection of choices to choose from, and likewise you may be shocked by how straightforward it’s to begin your Honda Challenge camper conversion course of.
- Primary setup: The right and most inexpensive option to convert a Honda Challenge correct proper right into a campervan is to take away the as soon as extra seats and throw a mattress all through the as soon as extra. This creates a most important sleeping home and leaves a substantial amount of room for storing gear. Whereas this alternative may be very most important, it may be an exquisite place to begin for lots of who need to try vanlife ahead of investing additional time and money correct proper into an additional elaborate conversion.
- DIY conversion: Many individuals select a DIY camper conversion of their Honda Challenge, which entails along with decisions resembling a mattress platform, storage cupboards, a kitchenette, and completely completely different facilities. Relying in your expertise and funds, a DIY conversion may be as easy or superior as you want.
- Pop extreme conversion: One completely different costlier threat for altering a Honda Challenge correct proper right into a campervan is along with a pop extreme, primarily a raised roof offering further headroom and sleeping house. A pop extreme is often a pleasing threat for lots of who wish to maximise inside house and create an additional cozy residing home.
- Conversion kits: There are furthermore conversion kits considerably designed for the Honda Challenge, together with all the points from a mattress platform and kitchenette to insulation and electrical elements. Conversion kits is often an excellent threat for lots of who desire a additional professional-looking conversion with out doing the whole work themselves.
In the long term, the variety of which conversion threat to resolve on will rely in your particular specific individual wants, funds, and DIY expertise.
A most important setup could also be ample for non permanent journeys, whereas an additional elaborate DIY conversion or a pop extreme could also be additional related for these planning longer journeys or residing all through the SUV full-time. Conversion kits can present an exquisite stability of affordability and a professional-looking end however could require some DIY expertise to put in appropriately.
Take a look at the DIY builds and camper conversion kits beneath to get some inspiration!
The Execs and Cons of a Honda Challenge Camper Conversion
Undecided on whether or not or not or to not go for a Honda Challenge camper conversion or not? Let’s try the professionals and cons – there are some good and unhealthy elements to be thought-about.
Execs:
- Dependable engine. The Challenge has certainly one of many important dependable engines obtainable in the marketplace. That is necessary when looking for used.
- Symmetrical inside. The box-like form makes establishing residing house inside simpler.
- Roof rack-ready. The Honda Challenge’s roof is designed to simply add a roof rack, so that you simply presumably can rapidly add further storage by inserting in a single and searching for a rooftop self-discipline.
- Tall cab. The cab is tall sufficient which you would possibly get modified in it with out having to sit down down down.
- Bi-parting aspect doorways. They supply incredible entry to the cargo home.
- All Wheel drive. Some fashions embody all-wheel drive, which is sweet for venturing off-grid.
- Low price. When you go for a easy set-up and an older mannequin, you presumably can get a achieved camper for little or no – spherical $4,000, relying on the way in which wherein you go concerning the conversion.
- Good for stealth tenting. No individual will uncover you’re sleeping contained inside the Challenge on account of it appears to be like identical to a automotive.
Cons:
- Headroom. You may’t stand upright inside until you go for a pop-top conversion.
- Outside kitchen. You’ll have to rearrange dinner open air regardless of the native climate.
- No sink. Inserting in a sink isn’t very good, as you want numerous the cab house to create a double mattress.
- Not wonderful for a variety of traveler. On account of small house, if in case you should have a mattress sufficiently enormous to accommodate two of us, you could most positively ought to hand over on completely completely different facilities that will in each different case match all through the mattress house.
Our Favourite DIY Honda Challenge Campers
Would you moderately become involved in a DIY Honda Challenge camper conversion enterprise? Doing all of your entire very non-public Honda Challenge camper van conversion has an unlimited revenue: you presumably can customise it precisely the way in which you want.
And we would degree out the satisfaction of inserting the ending touches on, in any case that highly effective work?
Plus, it may be as low worth or as costly as you need!
Listed beneath are some concepts to get you impressed:
Katy’s DIY Honda Challenge camper conversion that sleeps two
Katy lives full-time in her self-converted Honda Challenge and dogsits to make her earnings. She doesn’t concepts the smaller house of the SUV on account of she goes to get to reap the benefits of the facilities of houses wherever she has a gig. Often these embody luxurious houses with swimming swimming swimming pools and scorching tubs!
Her assemble is nice ambiance nice and cozy, with a mattress that converts to a bench seat and an “workplace house” for her to sit down down comfortably whereas she does the backend work for her gigs. She has ample storage beneath her mattress platform and a loyal vainness with a mirror and house for toiletries.
Katy loves inviting buddies on her adventures, so she up to date her assemble to accommodate room for a second particular specific individual to go properly with on the sleeping platform. Now she and her buddies can conveniently camp with out the trouble of organising a tent for a second particular specific individual.
She acquired her assemble building inspiration from @dayswespend.
You may analysis additional about Katy and her DIY Honda Challenge camper conversion on Instagram.
Greg’s ’05 DIY Honda Challenge camper conversion variations
Greg has been touring alongside alongside along with his canine, Sassy, in his DIY camper for years. After trying utterly completely completely different layouts and discovering what labored finest for his life-style, he’s rebuilt his conversion fairly a couple of occasions.
He began out with nothing bigger than some plastic storage packing containers and has since tried out a couple of utterly completely completely different mattress layouts. At one diploma, he had a bed-to-bench conversion setup. He merely not too long ago transitioned to a tricky and fast smaller mattress with a pull-out kitchenette accessible from the rear doorways.
Greg furthermore has ample storage all by way of the SUV, together with built-in cupboards and fisherman’s netting on the ceiling. He likes to get off the crushed path, so he’s added a wide range of exterior upgrades, resembling a entrance bumper, an awning, a storage container on extreme of the SUV, and mounted restoration boards “merely in case”.
Take a look at Greg’s Honda Challenge camper conversion on his Instagram account.
Mindy’s DIY design for full-time van life
Mindy designed her Honda Challenge camper conversion herself and had a buddy who’s a custom-made cupboard builder assist make all of it come collectively for her.
With tons of cupboard home, she has house for meals, clothes, hobbies, and even a bathroom! She has an costly mattress, and her driver’s seat is on a swivel, offering a recliner so she goes to be succesful to work comfortably in her Honda Challenge, even on a moist day.
Mindy has {a photograph} voltaic panel on extreme of her micro camper linked to a battery inside so she goes to be succesful to worth her electronics and run a fridge.
Put together for true overlanding, Mindy added a elevate bundle, new suspension, and rhino lining to the floor of her Challenge so she goes to be succesful to get to possibly primarily essentially the most epic camp spots potential.
Observe Miny’s adventures on YouTube to see the place she’s been and the place she’s going.
Phil and Vanessa’s DIY Honda Challenge conversion
Phil and Vanessa opted for a campervan bed-storage platform with some aspect cupboards and a folding kitchen home on the rear. That is accessible via the tailgate. When the kitchen floor is folded out, you may get to the storage beneath the mattress to achieve for kitchen home gear and a water tank.
This Honda Challenge camper van conversion is nice on account of it means that you could be get modified instantly in mattress – you merely sit up, open the cabinets and costume—no ought to undo your mattress or get out of the van.
The mattress is completely in place, nonetheless it folds as lots as present entry to the storage beneath it or to behave as a settee. Actually certainly one of many closets can be utilized as a desk when open, which may be very intelligent.
Phil and Vanessa have lived full-time on this DIY conversion since 2016, so this conversion must be cosy sufficient for weekends and holidays.
For additional concepts, do this submit: Campervan Inside Concepts for a DIY assemble
Sage Roddys’ DIY Challenge conversion
Sage went via two Honda Challenge conversions, so he is aware of what he’s speaking about. As a solo camper, he realized {{{that a}}} platform double mattress was additional inconvenient than a consolation. At any time when he wished one issue out of storage, he’d ought to get out of the van and begin unpacking the cupboard home.
He went for a pull-out bench and aspect wall house for storing with utterly completely completely different cabinets and cabinets for his new Honda Challenge conversion. The bench turns proper right into a protracted mattress ensuing from an additional self-discipline behind the passenger’s seat.
Every issue you retailer all through the cabinet or beneath the bench is correctly accessible. Some closets are accessible from behind when the rear doorways are open, so that you just don’t ought to climb inside to get your gear.
For the galley, Sage saved factors easy – he makes use of the tailgate as a floor and areas his transportable cooker and plates on extreme of it when he cooks. Then all the points packs neatly into the storage beneath the bench.
Sage’s Challenge camper van furthermore has a 100W image voltaic system with a versatile panel mounted on the roof in order that he can reside off-grid for some time. We love this setup for a solo van lifer.
Elaine and Vincent Neal’s 2006 Honda Challenge Camper
Elaine and Vincent needed a easy camper for his or her outdoors adventures, in order that they settled on a 2006 Honda Challenge camper.
They constructed a sequence of custom-made picket packing containers that will carry out house for storing and a platform for a cozy mattress.
On their web site on-line, TravelsandCuriosities, the couple particulars precisely how they constructed out their Challenge camper with barely any enchancment or woodworking expertise.
Elaine and Vincent discovered plans all via the boards on ElementOwnersClub.
They’re saying you don’t have to be educated to assemble a working, low-cost campervan conversion.
John’s Overlanding Honda Challenge Camper
John didn’t merely sit spherical in the course of the pandemic – he slowly constructed his dream overlanding car by altering a Honda Challenge correct proper right into a camper.
He chosen to mount a rooftop tent above the van and to put in an unlimited awning to the aspect. This fashion, he has an inflatable mattress inside, a foam mattress on the roof, and a shady home open air. The awning extends from the right-hand aspect and the rear of the auto.
On the left-hand aspect of the auto, John can create far more room by along with a “room” to the rooftop tent on the underside diploma. This home permits him to get modified in privateness whereas standing.
The kitchenette is in the back of the Challenge. It’s linked to the underside of the auto and swivels out, along with the spare tire. This permits him to make the most of the as soon as extra of the van as storage solely.
The van lifer picked all his favourite bits of medicine from fairly a couple of producers to create the ultimate phrase overlanding Honda Challenge camper.
You may see additional footage of John’s assemble on his Instagram profile.
Ellie’s nice easy conversion
Ellie is adventuring all through the US in her Honda Challenge part-time. She determined to not organize one factor totally merely nonetheless, so she goes to be succesful to experiment with utterly completely completely different set-ups.
She merely took the as soon as extra seats off and hung a hammock to sleep in. This further minimalist reply permits her to retailer her bike contained inside the van, so it doesn’t get stolen in the course of the night time time time.
When Ellie wants additional comforts, she merely slides in some picket platforms, so she has a spot to sleep and a few organized house for storing.
Uncover out additional about Ellie’s camper on her Instagram profile.
Honda Challenge Camper Conversion Kits
Need a easy option to do a Honda Challenge camper conversion? Buying for an Challenge camper conversion bundle is the quickest and best option to do it.
These are good for busy individuals who don’t have the time to place correct proper right into a DIY conversion or those that aren’t very assured spherical energy gadgets.
Is that you simply simply? Then don’t give it some thought – merely order a bundle and organize it. It’s simpler than establishing an Ikea cupboard.
Check out these nice cool conversion kits.
Freeway Honda Challenge Camper Package deal deal
The Freeway Honda Challenge Camper Package deal deal will flip your Challenge correct proper right into a camper in a short while. It’s a easy however intelligent picket platform that serves as a mattress and house for storing. You don’t must put in it totally, so that you simply presumably can nonetheless use the Challenge as a automotive.
The platform’s panels every lengthen for sleeping on or fold away to make room in your gear. Fully prolonged, the mattress measures 48 by 78 inches.
The large house for storing can take a water tank, cool self-discipline, and a transportable bathroom. You may entry the storage from the tailgate, the sides of the van, or by lifting the mattress panels.
This Honda Challenge camper conversion bundle is manufactured from Russian cherry and comes every as naked picket or stained and varnished. You may add a three-piece mattress to finish the set.
The only bit? You don’t want any gadgets to assemble it – it’s like an unlimited 3D picket puzzle. All components slide in collectively merely. When you’re executed tenting, merely disassemble the platform and retailer it away at dwelling.
When you’re on a funds and you intend to make the most of your Honda Challenge camper for stealth tenting tons, this conversion bundle is sweet for you. Costs go from $999.99 for the naked picket platform to $1,399.99 for the stained and varnished platform, mattress, and canopy.
Uncover out additional concerning the Freeway Challenge Camper Package deal deal.
Ursa Minor ECamper Conversion
Must have the flexibleness to face up in your Challenge? Then the Ursa Minor Honda Challenge conversion bundle is what you’re looking for.
This bundle incorporates a pop-top sleeper for 2 adults. The sunshine-weight roof is manufactured from carbon fiber and incorporates a streamlined design, which gives solely six inches to the peak of the auto and 130 kilos to its weight. This reduces windage and retains gasoline consumption down.
When open, the pop-top on this Honda Challenge camper offers 6ft 6in standing headroom and a snug 7ft by 4ft mattress. The sleeper is accessible from each inside and outdoors the auto. The pop-top partitions are manufactured from waterproof and breathable Sunbrella supplies.
The pop-top organize doesn’t entail any reducing or drilling in case your Challenge has a sunroof. If it doesn’t, Ursa Minor will cut back out that home solely.
The world contained inside the cab shall be untouched, so that you simply presumably can every add a galley and transportable bathroom to finish your conversion, go away the seats in or use the cargo house for carrying your gear. It’s utterly as lots as you, which is why this bundle is so versatile.
Among the many many many choices are LED lightning, 12V retailers, a 60watt image voltaic charging system, an exterior ladder, rack mounts and mounting elements.
Ursa Minor’s conversion services are primarily based in Portland and San Diego, so that you just’ll ought to journey there to get it executed. On the plus aspect, you gained’t wish to enhance a finger!
Examine additional concerning the ECamper by Ursa Minor.
Fifth Challenge Tenting
Looking for a modular bundle, which lets you choose and select the gear you wish to organize in your Challenge? There’s a mannequin new conversion bundle all through the block. It’s by Fifth Challenge Tenting.
Every little little bit of furnishings is manufactured from sunshine plywood and appears fashionable, wise, and minimalistic. You should purchase single elements, or select between two packages. Going for these saves you fairly a bit of cash, so it’s worth it within the occasion you wish to go for a full-on conversion.
There are 4 principal elements to the bundle: a mattress/bench system, a cupboard with a pull-out desk, a kitchenette with a aspect desk, and a console with trays for the driving energy’s seat. When you don’t organize the cupboard, you presumably can match a passenger seat behind the van. You may nonetheless use the mattress when the seat is fitted.
Among the many many many choices are a motorcycle mount and customised cushions that match the sofa/mattress totally. The complete bundle weighs 150lbs. When you take out the rear seats, which weigh 85lbs, you’re solely along with 65lbs to the van.
All of them work independently and with one another and are plug and play. The organize takes 10 minutes and doesn’t require any everlasting modification.
The corporate headquarters are in Asheville, NC, however they do ship, so that you just gained’t should make the drive.
When you’re on a funds however you proceed to want in order so as to add a gradual constructing to your assemble, look no additional than the Camp N Automotive Residence On Wheels Furnishings Package deal deal. This consists of a single or rising mattress platform, surrounded on two sides by shelving fashions.
The furnishings is manufactured from plywood and may be eradicated and reinstalled. If the underside of your Challenge is uneven, buy the leveler legs. These have as lots as two inches of adjustability on all elements of contact.
This bundle was designed in collaboration with Bob Wells from Low worth RV Dwelling and his nonprofit the Properties On Wheels Alliance.
The bundle may be fairly easy to assemble and comes with the whole elements you would possibly assemble it. All you would possibly assemble it and organize it’s a screwdriver. Whereas you choose, the Camp N Automotive workforce can assemble it for you of their retailer in Port Townsend Washington for an additional $500.
CampNCar delivers to the decrease 48 with out spending a dime. The kits are made to order; the lead time on the time of writing is 5 to eight days.
Do you merely need a double mattress by way of which to sleep on weekends away? Take a look at this low worth widespread platform made out of aluminum by Compass Camper. The mattress is lined with rugged waterproof indoor-outdoor carpet upholstery, so that you just gained’t want so as in order so as to add a really thick mattress on extreme.
There’s no furnishings or drawers; nonetheless, you presumably can put together the cupboard home beneath the mattress by packing containers. When you like, you presumably can ask for a break up mattress extension, which divides the platform in two and implies that you’ll have a as soon as extra seat raised if you solely want one aspect of the mattress.
The aluminum framing comes partially assembled with a 5/32” Allen key for meeting. To connect the camper to the auto’s trunk house, use the 4 turnbuckles.
The lead time for this rig is usually spherical 12 weeks – it’s terribly widespread on account of it’s low worth and minimalistic.
Honda Challenge Platform Mattress Physique on Etsy
A product engineer in Denver, CO seen the demand for Honda Challenge camper conversion kits and designed a platform mattress which can be assembled in solely 5 minutes with no gadgets!
He’s promoting them on Etsy, and is transport them out in batches because of the excessive demand for the product.
Constructed from Baltic Birch plywood, he’s designed it with a slot-and-hook design to make meeting straightforward for anybody, no matter your carpentry expertise.
Designed with effectivity in concepts, it has an extendible mattress physique, hinged storage hatches you presumably can entry from contained inside the car, and house allotted for regular producers of tenting fridges/freezers.
Take a look at James’ Etsy retailer correct proper right here!
Why Select a Honda Challenge Camper?
The Honda Challenge is a peculiar crossover SUV constructed by Honda utilizing a modified CRV platform. This cute mannequin combines the alternatives of a pickup truck and an SUV and it’s obtainable each with front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
The Honda Challenge is simple to acknowledge, ensuing from its “boxy” styling and the bi-parting aspect doorways, which open up the cab completely. The Challenge’s design was impressed by a lifeguard station – the curved roof remembers the kind of a surfboard.
Over the sooner decade, right after Honda stopped manufacturing the Challenge, the auto has professional a surge in recognition and gained a bit bit little little bit of a cult following, with increasingly more of us altering it correct proper right into a camper.
Whereas the Challenge is out of manufacturing, there are many used ones inside the market all over the place inside the US. This implies it’s low worth to purchase: you may get a 2003 mannequin for as little as $3,499. Not unhealthy!
Because of its boxy, open design, all-weather rubber flooring and detachable seats, you’ll have a wide range of gratifying utilizing it as a Honda Challenge camper. The cab is kind of large and may be expanded to provide standing headroom by along with a pop-top.
A Honda Challenge camper can take an entire lot of weight, so that you simply presumably can take your favourite journey gear with you. It’s furthermore economical to run.
The clamshell tailgate and outward opening aspect doorways could assist you to merely load and unload your gear and make the Challenge a implausible camper. You may open the aspect doorways and put together an awning with a desk and chairs and also you wish to use the tailgate as an outside kitchen.
Able to transform your Honda Challenge correct proper right into a camper?
When you’re looking for a camper conversion that will could assist you to enterprise into the wilderness on the weekend or on holidays, a Honda Challenge camper gained’t disappoint you.
You may even go for a brief conversion that slides out, leaving the automotive free to make the most of in the course of the week.
Nonetheless, in case you’re planning on being on the street full-time or for months at a time, we’d counsel one issue significantly bigger, like a Sprinter van or a Ford Transit.
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