HEST Quest: GMC Savana

June 17, 2024 4 min read

Introducing HEST Quest! This year, we want to take a deeper dive into what is the ideal set up for sleeping outdoors. Is it a van? A rooftop tent? The back of your truck? A truckbed camper? A tow behind trailer camper? A ground tent?

With so many options out there, HEST has set out to answer the big question: What is the BEST car camping set up?

Whether you are new to camping or a veteran overlander; everyone wants to know what is the BEST setup. What’s the most efficient, cost effective, easy, comfortable set up for sleeping outdoors? HEST Quest will explore all the different setups; sharing the benefits and setbacks of each, plus “how to” tips when it comes to building or shopping for your next mobile basecamp.

HESTQUEST: GMC Savana

What Type of Setup is do you have?

2006 GMC Savana with Fiberine Camper Top, diesel, and 4WD.

How Many Does it Comfortably Sleep?

Two!

Is it Family Friendly?

Kind of.. It really needs a baby seat!

Tell me more about the 4wd/ Off Road Capability of your set up?

Yes, I had Advanced 4x4 of Salt Lake City do the 4WD conversion and lift. It was already capable before the 4WD, but now it's beast mode.

What’s the kitchen/cooking set up like? Is it inside or outside?

I built the kitchen and cabinets inside. I use a camp stove inside to save on space.

How easy is it to set up, move around, leave the vehicle/go to town?

Vans are the best for this. Pull in the awning and throw in the camp chairs and we’re off.

Benefits/Pros: What you LOVE about this set up?

Being diesel means it has a lot of power and fuel efficiency. I barely put it in 4WD as it's heavy and can always find traction. I built the interior in such a way that it's easy to convert back into cargo van mode which keeps it super versatile. The KC lights upfront are awesome late at night, moving quickly through the vast desert stretches. A unique build with all the mods and it looks badass with the bullet liner skirt, hood and roof line.

Challenges/Cons: What has been a hurdle/setback of the set up?

It's an older van thats built like a barrel, so there's no straight lines to work within. Everything feels like a custom build because it is.

What are the budget considerations for investing in your set up?

It was relatively low cost to acquire the van and easy to find parts as the GMC Savana and Chevy Express share the same platform. The model also has not changed much year over year for 10+ years making it cheap to repair or replace items.

What’s the swag level of your set up? While function is definitely the most important consideration when looking for a rig, we can’t deny that some set ups just LOOK GOOD! How does this set up rank in terms of coolness?

I think my van looks badass, it has a tough,,blue collar grit vibe for sure.

Which HEST mattress works best in this setup?

I have two of the HEST Sleep Systems, built for a bench-to-bed format.

What are some tips or hacks that your experience using the set up has taught you?

I think the HEST Dually would be ideal since I changed my sleeping design from a bench to a full bed platform in the rear.

What are some upgrades you’ve made or want to make? Are there some key upgrades that you recommend to make your setup even better?

I made the bed platform like an accordion using a couple piano hinges so that it can fold up along one wall and held in place with fast straps. The cross member are IKEA beams so that they can be easily removed. It's pretty neat trick for the cost. You have to work the parts department at Ikea, but it's worth the effort.

If you had a chance to do it over again would you choose the same set up exactly?

I would, however it's the ideal set up for a bachelor. I now have a wife and a baby, so I think we’d option for something slightly bigger inside and maybe not so homegrown from a safety perspective.

Would you recommend your setup to a friend?

My single friends, all day long.

What were your main considerations in choosing your set up/why did you choose it?

I wanted an easy-to-maintain, low-cost-to-entry van to build. This was my first project and very approachable.

How’s the sleep quality you get in your set up? Do you wake up rested? Are there any pain points in the sleep situation in your adventure set up (e.g. pesky light, temperature issues, etc.)?

Nah, I sleep sound. I’ve worked out all the issues of bright lights and temperature flux. It's dialed after so much use. Thats the trick, you need to use what you create.

Follow along @hestoutdoors as we meet the people behind these different setups and build outs.

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