Road Tripping Yaris... or should I just buy a van?

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Cross country trips in a van will cost a fortune. That said, I wouldn't sleep in a Yaris. I guess a van makes sense if you really don't want to stop at cheap motels.

There's the other problem; that of local law enforcement not allowing overnight camping/sleeping in a vehicle.

It's a serious problem in most urban/suburban parts of the country. The police see a strange vehicle, or one with out-of-area tags on it...they'll be investigating. Routing you out; and they'll tell you to move on. And they won't be friendly about it.

Arguing with them will get an invitation for arrest for vagrancy. Even if you can prove assets, the trip to Central Booking will take hours - and your van will be towed, if only for spite.

Even stopping in rural areas invites problems. Farmers have theft issues these days; cattle or equipment. A strange van could be casing or doing a lookout. And most farmers know how to use a gun.

Motel or marked campsite. Which means most of what a finished-out van offers, isn't really very useful.