We bought a 2008 Dodge Caravan. We took out the second row of seats, which used to fold into the floor. Without the seats in the van it leaves two large storage wells that have folding covers so that the floor is solid. The wells hold almost all of our camping gear and a spare battery for the van.

     We acquired a nice Persian Carpet to cover the floor between the front and rear seating. We also bought an ottoman that converts into a table and has storage inside. The table is perfect for the stove and the storage works well to stow the stove, teapot, sauce pan, cups and drip coffee maker.

     By unbolting the front passenger seat and turning it around you are now facing the back of the van. It makes for nice positioning between you and the person sitting in the third row seats. We also added a small steamer trunk to the area in the middle of the van for storage of basic food, utensils, coffee and tea. It also doubles as a table or foot stool.

     For sleeping inside the van you lower half of the rear seat, lay down a special mattress that is about 30 inches wide and 6ft long. The mattress is stored behind the rear seat when it is up.

We also carry an ice chest, outdoor camping box, dog kennel (that collapses), shovel, axe, basic hand tools, bag of dog stuff, heater for the van and a mini 9 inch DVD player. We seem to have all the comforts of camping. Not too shabby for a mini van that gets 25 mpg.

     The latest addition to the Gypsy Caravan (The name of the van) is a very cool rooftop tent that sleeps two. It is a fiberglass shell that pivots up from hinges on the forward end with waterproof tent material between the top and bottom fiberglass halves. It has a mattress and pillows with a storage net in the top. When it is up you enter it with a ladder that stores inside the unit. It is very cool...very.