In the spirit of the VW camper bus, Ursa Minor has converted the Honda Element into a mini camper of sorts, the ECAMPER.
Now on the surface this all sounds pretty cool. Keep in mind, however, that the Element has the worst payload rating of any truck on the market of just 675 pounds. So whatever you add in terms of vehicle curb weight, you must subtract from that payload rating; not good in this case...
ateixeira says:
09:19 AM, 02/ 5/08
That's pretty cool. It's just what the Element needs to stay fresh, too.
Honda should bring this in house and beef up the rear suspension for an extra couple hundred lbs of payload.
daytona_500 says:
09:48 AM, 02/ 5/08
I've always liked the Element, this just makes it cooler.
orangutan says:
10:07 AM, 02/ 5/08
Does anyone actually have a source for that 675 pound payload capacity? Wiki doesn't provide one and I can't find any stated figure on Honda's website.
estreka says:
11:49 AM, 02/ 5/08
I'd imagine the payload is limited by the engine rather than the rear suspension.
rsholland says:
12:05 PM, 02/ 5/08
Does anyone actually have a source for that 675 pound payload capacity?
Yep. Just venture down to your local Honda dealer and look at the sticker on the Element's driver's door side edge. I did yesterday just to double-check before posting this. It says 675 pounds. It's as clear as day.
BTW, all vehicles have to state this by law. If you want to know the payload of any given pickup you may be considering, it's good to check that out. Again, it's ether on the side of the driver's door, or the door jamb. It's right there with the tire pressure info.
orangutan says:
12:25 PM, 02/ 5/08
That doesn't make any sense. That's not even enough to accommodate four 175 pound passengers.
rsholland says:
12:35 PM, 02/ 5/08
Right you are. It doesn't make sense—especially in a vehicle like this which is designed specifically to be loaded with gear and passengers.
I guess you'll have to ask Honda what their thinking was.
flicmod says:
02:04 PM, 02/ 5/08
No payload capacity is accurate. I'm convinced that it's almost always lower than what it is in reality.
The Ele camper needs the DTEC diesel!!!
puristsoul says:
12:49 AM, 02/19/08
Hey, someone out there is reading my mind. The Element is the closest car (in spirit) that I can think of to the original VW westfalia's. So, unfortunately they can carry on the tradition of cool underpowered campmobiles. If they are going to raise the roof, why don't they make it even taller, for more space? I'm pleased that this is out there though. I'd rather spend the money on an Element than an aging, used VW which is what I've been considering for a while now.