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Is Chrysler’s Rugged Minivan Concept the Future of Car Camping?

Chrysler has given its Pacifica an adventure-ready makeover that makes converted Sprinters seem like old news.

Light green Chrysler Pacifica minivan with a roof rack carrying a spare off-road tire secured with orange straps and a gray ARB Touring awning, parked outdoors with greenery in the background.Stellantis
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By Gray Van Dyke

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Since 2020, the ever-growing popularity of the van life movement has caused converted Sprinters and other campers to become hot commodities in the overlanding community.

However, there are countless ways to provide for shelter, even when you’re on the go. 

A light blue off-road minivan with black trim and rugged tires is parked on grass. It has a roof rack carrying a spare tire and orange recovery boards, along with mounted LED lights. The front fog lights are yellow, and the windows are tinted. The background features dense green trees.
The Grizzly Peak concept proves that minivans can be ideal camping rigs with just a few simple changes.
Stellantis

Just take Chrysler’s Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept, for instance. As unconventional as a lifted minivan might seem compared to your typical overlanding rig, it’s an idea that could stand to gain some serious traction (no pun intended).

Chrysler’s far-out family hauler

For starters, Chrysler based the Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept around its Pacifica Limited model, so this minivan sports real-deal mechanical all-wheel drive from the factory. 

To take the van’s adventuring potential to the next level, this meant fitting it with a 2.75-inch lift up front and a 2.5-inch lift at the rear. What’s more, it now rides on 31-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch Foreshadow wheels.  

Front view of a white off-road vehicle with bright white roof lights and yellow fog lights turned on, parked on grass with wildflowers and dense trees in the background. The vehicle has a roof rack carrying two spare tires secured with orange straps and an orange container.
With a front and rear lift and an abundance of auxiliary lights, the Pacifica Grizzly Peak plays the part of an off-road rig quite well.
Stellantis

But that’s hardly the extent of the work. Elsewhere, you’ll find a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform roof storage rack, auxiliary TYRI LED lighting, Baja Designs LP4 LED fog lamps and an ARB retractable awning, among other trail-worthy touches.

Shod in a coat of matte Arktos paint with ‘Foreshadow’ accents, the Pacifica certainly looks the part of the rugged overlander. And that’s not even considering the functionality that it brings as a minivan. 

A light gray camper van is parked on a grassy field with its sliding door open. An orange awning extends from the side of the van, providing shade over two small blue camping chairs and a folding table. On the table, there is a red portable stove. Nearby, a gray storage box holds a pair of brown hiking boots, a water bottle, gloves, and a green bag. The background features dense green trees under a clear blue sky.
The roof-mounted awning and sliding door combo is one of the many things that make this minivan an awesome camper.
Stellantis

Minivans make ideal camping rigs

All too often, minivans are dismissed as uncool because of their suburban image and family-friendly functionality.

However, they’re ideal vehicles for those with an interest in staying active. Along with providing the (enclosed) cargo capacity of a truck, they also bring an abundance of seating.

The interior of an SUV with the rear seats folded down, creating a flat space covered by two red sleeping bags. The front seats are upright, and the vehicle has a sunroof allowing natural light inside. The setting outside appears to be a green, wooded area.
The deletion of the third row seating frees up plenty of space for sleeping.
Stellantis

In the case of the Grizzly Peak concept, the deletion of the third row seating makes room for sleeping space. What’s more, the roof-mounted awning opens to provide shelter over the sliding passenger door.

Add to that things like integrated power access, all-weather flooring and stackable storage, and it’s clear that minivans are an overlooked opportunity — especially for weekend warriors and those without the need for a massive RV.

A light blue minivan driving on a dirt road, kicking up dust. The vehicle has black wheels, tinted windows, and a spare tire secured on the roof along with a rolled-up item, possibly a tent or awning. The background features green trees and a partly cloudy sky.
All-wheel drive means that the Pacifica Grizzly Peak can actually venture off the beaten path.
Stellantis

Just a lift kit away

Chrysler debuted its Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept at Overland Expo Mountain West over the weekend. Being a one-off creation, then, it’s not currently slated to hit the market.

However, given that Chrysler only has a few vehicles (the Pacifica, Pacific Plug-in Hybrid and Voyager) in its lineup, such a package could become a production reality with enough interest.

Assuming you don’t want to wait to see if that day eventually comes, there are aftermarket solutions. Journeys Off Road makes a Pacifica-compatible lift kit that can take your minivan to new heights. Slap on a roof-top tent and some other goodies, and away you go.

Silver-gray off-road minivan with black wheels and roof rack carrying a spare tire and orange recovery boards, parked on a sandy terrain with a reddish-brown dirt background.Stellantis

Chrysler Pacifica Grizzly Peak Concept

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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