Over the past decade, the Honda Element has been gaining a cult-following among car-campers, wanderers, and adventure travelers. The relatively tall, boxy shape and removable backseats make it a great sleeper. The clamshell tail gate design and outward-opening rear doors are perfect from climbing in and out, or just hanging around the campsite. The urethane-coated floor and stain resistant fabric are easy to clean. It comes in all-wheel drive. Details such as standard power outlets complete the package. Not to say it will ever rival a Volkswagon bus or Vanagon in status or cachet, but for the indoctrinated, the Element is tough to beat. If only it came with a Westfalia-style pop-top…
Thanks to an after-market conversion by a San Diego-based company called Ursa Minor Vehicles, it actually does. Founded by a mechanical engineer in 2007, Ursa Minor is clear about the inspiration for its conversion kits. “I had a VW van for probably 10 years that I traveled, camped in, and repaired all over the USA,” says founder John Gish. “I liked that mode of simple travel.”
After a spell in Europe, Gish moved back to the U.S. in the early 2000s, right when the Element was gaining popularity. Looking for something a little more reliable for the L.A. traffic than his old bus, Gish ended up buying an Element. “It was unique in a few ways, like the wipe down interior and dash shelves, but the sunroof was at the rear, where Honda figured a surfer could stand up to change,” he says. “That as well as the really open interior and the option for an AWD version led me to think it would make a decent camper.” After using it as-is for a few years, Gish got to tinkering.
He says he sold his first model about a week after hitting the road with his prototype. After a few months of refinement, he was ready for full production. Ursa Minor now operates two facilities, one in Portland, Oregon and one in San Diego, and also has a version for the Jeep Wrangler.
The conversion takes about a business week, and runs from $5,650 to $8,500, depending options and whether or not there is a sunroof and XM radio (the antenna has to be relocated). There are no changes to, or holes drilled into, the interior of the vehicle. “The design is such that we nest our camper on the original body structure, without any cuts,” Gish says. Access is through the original sunroof. If there isn’t one, Ursa Minor will cut that area, and finish it with Honda parts to create the opening.
“The camper is built up from a base, which is a large composite part that creates a flat sleeping surface and ties in the exterior of the camper to the Element body,” Gish says. “This is bolted to the Element roof. We do some work connecting the ECamper to the car battery to power the LED lights, and outlets. We also add a handle to the rear door that is tied to the power lock system so you can climb out of the rear hatch. The final stages of the conversion would include any options such as roof racks or solar charging systems.”
Once popped, the ECamper features 6 feet, 6 inches of standing room, and a 7-foot by 4-foot bed. The walls of the tent are made of Sunbrella marine canvas, while the cap and base consist of a carbon/fiberglass/honeycomb composite material. The entire conversion weighs about 130 pounds and adds six inches of height to the vehicle.
Honda discontinued the Element in 2011, which is when Ursa Minor branched out into Jeeps. “Somehow we’ve outlasted the Element itself,” Gish says. “But with 330,000 of them made I don’t think we will run out.” Ursa Minor will put their 500th ECamper (just the Element version, not including Jeep conversions) on the road around labor day.
Photos courtesy of Ursa Minor Vehicles
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This Honda is amazing; a must have. Love seeing ingenuity of this nature– especially when dealing with adventure and experiencing life at its fullest.
Or just get a roof top tent.
Very cool concept. But let’s be clear here, an Element is in no way an overland capable vehicle. A Landcruiser, Isuzu Trooper, Rover, etc is what you would need for true overland. An Element couldn’t even make it down a class 3 road here in Vermont. Forget USFS roads in the ‘dacks. You need real 4wd, clearance and a tough chassis to make it overland. The Element is like the Westie. Good for car camping in a field off a dirt road.
Beg to differ on the Westy. Suspect you haven’t driven one.
You are not rock crawling or handling deep washouts on unmaintained ancient roads (aka logging tracks) with steep grades in a Westie. Sorry, but that is a fact.
Agreed Steve!
As an E owner – This is 100% correct. It can’t even really handle heavy snowfall. It’s not a good idea to take these off the beaten path.
You forgot Jeep 😉
But I agree. In BC, if you take one of those Elements down an old logging road, you may not get it out in once piece.
In my opinion, backroad overlanding should have 4wd, decent clearance (I get 11″ under my diff) and solid axles. If the idea is to be self-sufficient and exploratory, having the appropriate gear is a must.
I’m not saying that someone in their stock VW couldn’t overland, just that there are many more limitations as such.
Well Jeeps are usually a given. I agree with your assessment on capability, though.
A Syncro Westie is pretty capable, but also rare, underpowered and expensive/difficult to fix. A standard Westie? Also underpowered, and lacking clearance and power to the front wheels!
I’ve taken my Element down many a logging road in Colorado with my skybox up top… gone almost vertical on the side (my son was touching the ground our his window) and never once got hung up, trapped, stranded or rolled. Love this thing to death!!
Honda was nuts to stop Element production. Boomers still rock-sorry if that didn’t fit their target . Be flexible, Honda.
i have 5 VW vanagons with hightops. One is a syncro. The 2WD versions i am putting locking differentials in them for some sand and mud or snow but i would not attempt serious off road travel with any of them – they are too valuable these days to risk damage. The VWs do have high ground clearance and with the engine behind the rear axles they get fantastic traction – especially with the locking diff. And as for power I am using the latest TDI engines and we chip them for 120 HP and 180 ft lbs of torque – no shortage of power there! Plus a huge bonus is the 30 mpg range. i regularly travel 360- 390 miles on 13 gallons US. They have lots of room – a full width queen size bed, dinette, kitchenette, and all our stuff goes up in the hightop – making them roomy. And we can stand up inside the van – what a huge difference in usability and comfort the hightops offer. Yes they will not go deep off road – so if you are into that look elsewhere. But if you are into long distance and affordable fun travel they can’t be beat. Plus there is nothing out there that I have driven that is more fun to drive.
John Gish actually looked at my Honda Element (and didn’t end up buying it from someone in Burbank) before I did! A little cosmetically flawed, which I didn’t mind! Ended up doing my own, much cheaper conversion. I wrote a guide with build videos and everything to this less expensive (though admittedly not as cool) method if anyone’s curious: https://ethanmaurice.com/blog/my-honda-element-camper-conversion
Element’s Rule!
Unfortunately the conversion is too expensive. I ended up buying a roof tent and my kids love it! and I payed less than 1/4 of what the Ursa charges.
So cool I have that car but is that an add on?