Camper vans are great. So are Recreational Vehicles or RVs. They are basically the same, just in the USA.
You can sleep in them, get to remote national parks in them, put your bikes, skis, and surfboards in them, and drink beer in them. And of course, when you’ve stopped drinking beer, just jump into bed. No need to drink drive to get home.
The best camper vans are cheap reliable ones you don’t own. And the best way to get one of these is to do a camper van relocation.
Van companies need to shift campers to follow the seasons. They offer great discounts if you are driving them away from deep freeze areas, cyclones, and baking hot deserts. Often you can get them for free, but they do limit the rental period.
A typical camper relocation ad will be something like this: “Pick up Cairns anytime in November and drop off in Sydney. 5 Day rental $5 per day.”
If you want to take more time on your journey, the daily rental rate goes up after 5 days, but it’s still heavily discounted.
Here’s a quick summary of where caravan companies want and don’t want cars, but you can still find plenty of other routes anytime of the year.
Australia in Oct and November: Vans head south. After Easter they head north out of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.
New Zealand: Vans need to be in the North Island over Winter and the South Island in summer. You can also get your ferry tickets paid for.
Canada: Clear ’em out in winter, get them back in Spring.
USA: Get them to the Rockies in Spring and Summer. Get them to the NE in Autumn, and Get them out of the snow in Winter.
Europe: Same deal. Vans are like ducks and head south in winter and north in the summer. Forget trying to get a van in July (watch the Tour de France to see where they all are). You can get good deals if you drop them off in Paris in late June (just before the race starts)
Here’s a few links to relocation rental sites. (many of these companies want drivers 25+ in age.)