Road Trip CRAZINESS. PLEASE HELP?

My friends and I are planning a road trip through California next summer. We're having an issue however of where we will be staying each night. My one friend is super cheap and wants to camp every night and constantly gets agitated by the fact that we would be staying in hotels (I planned a 7 night trip in which 4 nights would be camping and 3 nights in motels). She insists that we use her huge van (Ford '77) that she says runs better than any new car --in other words, we shouldnt rent a car because its too expensive (her van has no air conditioning and no stereo--were traveling in June). She says shes never booked a motel in advance (didnt realize that you sort of have to do this) and thinks Im lying when I say you can't have more than 4 people in a motel room (as in the extra fees apply). In terms of camping as well, she wants the cheapest of the cheap (buying only rice and beans and cereal in bulk--really roughing it) and calls us pathetic when we say we aren't accustomed to camping so rigorously.

Is there any way we can reach a middle ground? I like to camp, and I dont mind tenting for 2 or 3 nights, but if Im going to be touring san Francisco, I'd really like to have a shower before hand

Heres where we will be each night

1. Sacramento (found a place she actually might be okay with since its a BandB and itll take all 6 of us for 100$)

2. Tahoe (I found a nice middle ground campsite, but she didnt like that it was 36 a night)

3. Tahoe again same place

4. A hotel in the san fran area (san rafael, novato, etc--im having issues finding it cheap)

5. Camping in Big Sur OR Hotel (everyone wants a hotel but I said if we cant do the hotel we should camp)

6. Another night camping in Big Sur

7. Hotel in Solvang

Is there anyway to get good discounts on hotels (ive been to hotels.com) or to get deals on stuff? I want this road trip to be fun for everyone, while also maybe taking some people out of their comfort zones (make people rough it a bit, or make my other friend loosen up and pay another $20 for a nice bed!)

Any suggestions with my dilemma?