Campervanning October 2013

"Sometimes the best way to determine if something is doable is to simply do it!" This post is about the experience of renting a 19 ft. long Sprinter camper van.

I don't know if "campervanning" is a bona-fide word in the English language. However, a campervan (or camper van) is a recognized type of motor home. When I was much younger if someone used the expression "camper van" we thought of the Volkswagon  "Vanagon."   It was based on the VW "bus."

Today, camper vans come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some have a pop-up roof, others have fixed roofs including low and high. Some have modified hard roofs and with the Mercedes Sprinter and similar vehicles no modifications may be required to permit free standing interior use.

This post will provide some information about our first campervanning experience. I should add that I had never previously been in an RV or camper van except on a lot or in a showroom!

Why a campervan?

With a view to the future, the question was what would be suitable for a week or two or three? After much deliberation, I concluded we weren't about to learn how to drive a bus. What was interesting was the possibility of travelling in a higher degree of comfort and doing so for short, but frequent periods and with a minimum of restrictions due to vehicle dimensions. There are different ways to do so. However, the concept of taking one's home everywhere seemed attractive. In this way, there would be no need to drop off the camper, explore for a day and then return in the evening for rest. There would be no need to back track to a campground to get the towable or the 5th wheel. As a former ground camper and backpacker, the concept of packing each morning, putting one's belongings on one's back and heading down the trail had been natural. Now it appeared that a motorized alpaca could do this for me.

Baby Steps

By summer 2013 we had decided to rent a camper van. I had my goal set on southwest Utah, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Canyonlands National Parks. My spouse and I have visited Zion together, but she had never seen the other national parks on this list.

Fall is a great time to visit the area. Temperatures are moderate and it's great to hike in the cool, crisp air of the higher elevations. However, one must be wary of freezing rain. particularly at Bryce Canyon. Several years ago I was caught in just such conditions.

We scheduled the trip to begin mid-October, 2013 and after research we selected an appropriate van rental company.

The selection process was interesting. One burning question we had was "how small a van is too small for comfort?" It seemed a 25 ft. vehicle would satisfy all of our requirements, but with a huge drawback in driveability. Dropping to a vehicle length of 19 to 22 feet seemed a severe compromise. Below 25 feet, out went the small but permanent couch and the larger bath. The kitchen area would be severely reduced and with it preparation area and the size of the refrigerator. There might not be space for a microwave or convection oven. Storage could be very minimal. Nevertheless, to see what was achievable in a small unit we decided on a 19 ft. Sprinter. This compromised interior space and amenities for driveability and fuel economy. Such a selection would certainly press the small size limit and we would be able to evaluate the Bluetec engine, the consequences of such limited interior space and the ride characteristics and handling. A vehicle of these dimensions seemed to be at the minimum on our personal scale. Would storage and amenities be adequate? What about location of appliances as dictated by the vehicle dimensions? We decided that living in such a space for a week would be a good way to find out!

The Vehicle

How much interior space did we have? There was sufficient room for a convertible sitting/sleeping/dinette area, storage at eye level, a kitchenette with refrigerator, two-burner stove and a sink. There was additional storage under the sofa/sleeping area and in the kitchenette area. The van included a small bath with marine toilet and shower.

The following is a photo taken during setup, with the rear doors swung wide to provide a clear view of the interior. This provides a good idea of the arrangement and of the height available. You can see doors for access to interior storage. Most storage was available for our use. However, these areas also contained the fresh water tank, inverter, and stored the "shore power" electrical cable and fresh water hose when not in use.  Some under sink storage was occupied by the hot water heater. The blue cooler in the photo was used for additional dry goods. During transit we placed it on the floor at the rear of the interior of the vehicle and tied it securely in place. With the bed made up for sleeping the cooler fit easily beneath it.

We used the overhead bins for bedding, clothing and toiletries, etc. Storage cabinets in the center of the vehicle adjacent to the kitchenette contained additional drinking water, boots, backpacks, canned goods, a set of stacking cookware, handi-wipes, paper towels, etc. There were drawers for bowls, plates, cups, flatware, utensils, tape, etc. There was also an overhead space above the driver and passenger seats. We used this for daytime storage of the pillows after stuffing them into large trash bags.

We did not use sleeping bags. That's one of the drawbacks of flying; there is only so much one can pack.

Here's another view of the interior, this one taken from near the front and looking toward the rear. The convertible couch/sleeper is set up for travel and relaxation. We were sorting hardware and taking a final inventory in prep for our first day on the road. Shortly after this photo was taken we drove the van to a nearby supermarket and stocked for the trip.

The Sprinter has a very large sliding side door. This photo was taken at Arches after a very long, early morning hike. It was time for a cup of coffee followed by a hot lunch! The photo provides a good idea of the dimensions of the van.

One final view of the exterior of the camper van. This was taken during sunset at Canyonlands:

What Was Provided

The campervan came with a dinette/lounge area with convertible sleeping space for two, a kitchenette with two-burner electric range, sink and refrigerator, a bath with marine toilet and shower, a roof mounted air conditioner, a ventilation fan, electric hot water heater and an electric "space" heater. It also included two pillows, sheets and a comforter, a set of dishes, cookware, flatware, knives, cups, toilet paper, chemicals for the blackwater tank, a coffee maker, duct tape, paper supplies, can opener, micro-fiber towels, etc. It included a water hose for city water hookup, 30 amp electrical cable and an adapter for 15 amp shore power, black water hose and grey water hose. Chris our outfitter made sure we had the basics to have a good trek

The orientation was thorough and I took brief notes for such things as proper water valve positions for specific fill activities, electrical systems, etc. Some things were well marked on bulkheads, etc. The camper van was an "all electric" coach with solar panels, coach batteries and inverter, and an electric range top and refrigerator. I'd requested this type of vehicle and we were fortunate one was available. That's not always the case.

We had brought a Leatherman tool, compass, GPS, maps, emergency medical kit, range of layerable clothing, sneakers and hiking boots, sunscreen, etc. We made a stop at a market to pick up groceries and additional supplies for our approximately week long venture.

How the Vehicle Performed

It was a lot of fun. Driving was not a problem for either of us. The Sprinter was easy to maneuver and parked in standard spaces with ease. Of course, for parallel parking one always wants adequate space. We parked in the standard spaces at Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon. We also parked on the street in Moab and Springdale.

One thing to keep in mind is the height of the vehicle. We used "12 feet" as a measurement, but it was less than that and we easily avoided any possibility of collisions with low overhangs at gas stations, etc. The dimensions made maneuvering in the National Parks easy. There were larger vehicles queued up at Zion waiting for an escort through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. That tunnel has height and width restrictions and, according to the National Park Service "If your vehicle is 11”4 (3.4m) tall or taller or 7’10” (2.4 m) wide or wider, including mirrors, awnings, and jacks, you will need a tunnel permit."

Driving on the highways was pleasant. The vehicle we had was quiet and comfortable. We usually stayed in the right lane on highways. No one wants to follow a billboard! However, on the interstates we would travel in the middle lane. At all times we simply kept our speed at that of traffic in our lane and the Sprinter obliged. There are sections of highway that are posted as 80 MPH and we travelled with traffic and sometimes hit that speed. However, our personal preference was to travel below the speed limit. We got nearly 20 MPG from the diesel.. Bear in mind that this was accomplished while driving a range of speeds at elevations varying from 2100 feet to about 9100 feet and for a distance greater than 1,000 miles.

The coach had LED lighting and was comfortable. The inverter permitted the use of electronics, etc. even if we weren't connected to shore power. However, because of the low 25-29F nighttime temperatures we decided we would use the electric heat and so we did connect to shore power each night. The coach electrical systems had one "glich" and we tripped the inverter several times while on shore power. A call to the outfitter gave us a work around and clarified the reset procedure. With this assistance by Sarah we were on our way.

We didn't need the air conditioner. Opening the doors while stationary allowed ample fresh air into the vehicle. Daytime temperatures in the Las Vegas area were about 75F, which was the peak we experienced. In the national parks, at higher elevations the temperatures ranged from the 30s to 60s. At the higher elevations temperatures in the evening and at night were cool to cold.  Snow had recently fallen in Bryce Canyon. Because of the variety of conditions at differing altitudes layering of clothing was essential.

Here's a photo of the solar controller, the controls for the inverter and the power distribution panel with the cover off. This was conveniently located at eye level in the kitchenette area:

Additional controls, including switches for lighting and the water pump, a voltmeter and CO detector were on the side of the cabinet:

The Itinerary

We flew into Las Vegas and picked up the camper van. We stayed overnight at a nearby RV park as a shakedown opportunity and to get a good night's sleep before heading north.. This provided the means to try out all of the equipment, shore power, water and waste water hookups. If anything went awry, we wanted to be near the outfitter's headquarters.  As mentioned, a "glitch" in the electrical system inverter did require a concerned cellphone call. However, that was quickly resolved over the phone and we were ready to proceed.

The stop over also provided an opportunity to purchase groceries, etc. before heading north.

The next day we drove to Zion National Park and spent the night nearby. Temperatures were in the 50s to 60s during the day. However, during our trek nightfall temperatures dipped into the 20s. We definitely needed that space heater at night!

We continued to Bryce Canyon and then to Arches and finally to Canyonlands. We slept in four different locations.

I should add that this trek was planned several months in advance. Unfortunately, the US government shut down at nearly the identical time of our trek. However, we had previously decided that "no matter what" we were going to do this. Our schedules don't permit rapid time shifts. So, we decided we'd spend time at various State Parks. Fortunately, we had reserved several overnight sites and all were outside the National Park system. However, the Governor of Utah intervened and paid the Federal Government about $17 million to open the National Parks. So, by the time we arrived all of the parks in our itinerary were open for business.

Hiking at Bryce Canyon:

Arches:

Canyonlands:

Black Dragon Canyon:

Our Outfitter

Our outfitter was Camper Van North America LLC. They have a number of locations and a lot of information can be found at their website. We had researched several outfitters and we decided to use them and a "Two4theroad" camper van. It was a very good decision. Their website provides additional information as well as phone numbers, vehicle data, etc.

Clicking will open a  New Window> Campervan North America LLC

Planning Our Escape

"I want to sip a good cup of coffee early in the morning in all kinds of out of the way, off the beaten path stops and have a good chat, after a long early morning hike in a place like Arches."

On reading the title of the post, you may be inclined to think that I'm attempting to escape from something. In fact, my goal is to escape to something.

We live in one of the more remarkable countries on earth. I can say that because I've worked and travelled from east coast to west and from the Columbia River Gorge to the Louisiana Bayous and the Florida Keys. We have an incredible national park system, thousands of state parks, a diverse geography and a diverse culture. To discover this one has to leave the big metropolises.

So, about 15 years ago I began planning my escape. I did not intend to "retire early" because work is the source of both satisfaction and income. In fact, if it weren't for the 50+ years I've spent in the work force, I wouldn't be writing this today.

Am I retired? Not yet! However, I am in what we could call a "phased retirement" wherein I no longer work 50-60 hours per week keeping all of my agreements. Sometimes this has been with greedy and disagreeable people. But that's another story!

The Three Phases of the Big Plan 
We each have three trimesters in our lives, if we live to reach normal retirement age. As I see it, each of these trimesters is a natural transition and each has specific requirements. With those requirements come goals and different decisions. They also include planning and preparation.

The first trimester is spent gaining skills, trying things, figuring out how we actually function and what our useful skills are. I honed these and put them to use in various work experiments. I decided my first trimester would occupy my first 30 years of life. Some of that was spent learning and some working. By the time I was in my 20's I considered myself to be in "work-study" even though I was employed full time. One large question to grapple with is "What's my purpose in life?" Another is "How can I make a difference?"

The second trimester of my life was the "accomplishment" phase. That's the span in which I viewed myself to be most productive, and roughly covered the age of 30 to 60. That's a time of building a family, continuous improvement and putting all of the skill and knowledge gained to good use. Some of that use is to begin seriously planning and putting into action a suitable retirement plan. Such a plan needs a financial component, but it also requires serious consideration of "What am I going to do with my life now?" "Now" as in today; but then again, the future will one day become "now." Ergo the need for balancing these realities. Of course. planning is nothing more than dreaming, determining how to put those dreams into reality and finally how to adapt and adjust when the universe intervenes. After all, the future is not fixed and our plans are merely projections of a desired possibility. Nor are we the center of any universe other than the one in our head.

Somewhere between the second and third phase is what I call my "phased retirement." This is a period roghly between the ages of 60 and 70 in which I am currently transitioning from fully employed, continuous improvement and continuing education to what I will call the "exploitation phase." It is somewhat difficult to balance the different requirements. The internal conversation "What is my purpose in life" gradually morphs into "My purpose has been largely fulfilled. Now what to do with my final spark of energy?"

The third and final trimester of my life is the "exploitation" phase. It is also a time of completion. It begins near the end of the "phased retirement" and it will be whatever I have planned and successfully accomplished to achieve that plan. As a part of completion I will be saying my goodbye's.

Different Possibilities
Of course. we each have different goals and aspirations. As a consequence the time line I am following may not agree with yours. For example, a young woman I know who recently graduated from college and is now, for the first time in the work force was dismayed by the work. She stated "I sometimes have to work 16 hours a day in my job!" I suspect she isn't planning on a life of gainful employment until 65 or 70.

So, you may very well have a dream to "retire early" at 45 or so. Good for you. I hope you are in the midst of a real world plan that will accomplish that.

To be honest, I once had a plan to retire no later than 65; I probably dreamed of retiring at 55 back when I was a youngster of 18. Those plans were dashed by harsh realities and I failed to put in place the necessary steps. Dreams are only so useful.

Specific Steps to Achievement
Planning can be an arduous process. There are no short cuts, but there are methods to reduce the uncertainty and experimentation. As with all things, the "fuel" for such experimentation includes time and money.

I've spent countless hours reading about the outdoors, learning various skills, gaining sufficient proficiency to put those skills into lots of action and finally to teach some of those skills to others. I'm putting the same approach to use in evaluating the means to travel the US in a leisurely "Wander America" style.

Where? 
Everywhere and anywhere in the US. The spouse would like to visit relatives who are scattered all over the country. We have spent a disproportionate amount of time in the very crowed east coast near New York City. It's time to expand our horizons.

When? 
We can and have done some of this via traditional methods, including driving, air travel combined with rental vehicles, motels and so on. I've spent many a night sleeping in my car at "rest stops" along the way. The family never shared in this adventurous means of overnight rest which was a part of my business required travel. There is nothing like waking up in a cold automobile at 4am, with a stiff, cramped body and a real need to pee, but then it was 15F outside and the rest stop washroom was 40 yards away. Ahh, the joys of travel! I was once told I was "so lucky" to be able to travel!

Fortunately, most of my travel was better than this. However, cheap airlines and the TSA have ruined air travel for me. So I now prefer to drive anywhere rather than to fly. As I have frequently remarked "If I wanted to take a bus, I'd save money and go Greyhound." BTW, I have travelled by bus and by train. The only thing I haven't had the joy to use is a private jet. These are apparently reserved primarily for the political and entertainment class.

I have taken the position that there is no need to plan in our heads. We can plan while doing.

How?
The experiment began with driving vacations, then fly and drive vacations and finally with the rental of a class B RV for a week.

For example, a trip I orchestrated a few years ago is indicative of what's possible. It was a meticulously planned trek to several national parks on the west coast, ended in the Columbia River Gorge and returned via the Pacific Coast Highway and numerous lighthouse stops along the way. We rented a Ford Expedition for an extended family of four, and we spent each night in motels along the way. This was laid out with Microsoft Streets and Trips planning software augmented by a lot of online research. Reservations were made months in advance. With a GPS dongle and a laptop we travelled the highways and byways and avoided fire zones. Yes, it was a successful adventure!

Why?
I like this remarkable country. I like the outdoors, the wildlife and I like meeting people. Work prevented me from taking advantage of what my travels offered. Now I'd like to see the things I missed. Or revisit and renew my memories of the things once done in my past.

I want to wake and smell the pine scent rising with the morning dew in Florida. I want to again see the "changing of the guard" as day birds give way to night birds. I want to sip a good cup of coffee early in the morning in all kinds of out of the way, off the beaten path stops and have a good chat, after a long early morning hike in a place like Arches.

I want to have long conversations with my spouse while we breath the fresh air, admire the views and simply enjoy the miracle of being alive.

I want the opportunity to say goodbye to those who matter to me. There are more than a few and this will provide an opportunity to share a meal, a good story, or an adventure.

LIfe is short.

The Prequel

I've been exploring the possibilities of  roadtrekking for about 5 years. I looked at the possibilities of a truck camper, a class C, class B and even larger vehicles. I have extensive ground camping experience, but no roadtrekking experience. My prior trips were via automobile and we decided we wanted to travel in comfort and enjoy the US.

I was not looking for a permanent shelter. I was looking for a way to explore the US while maintaining a permanent abode somewhere else. In other words, a 3 season or 3-1/2 season camper. As a part of this long term plan, we purchased a condominium in 2001/2002 which permits us to trek for months on end, should we decide to do so. Our association also permits rentals, so if we should decide to "move on" we can rent our unit. Or, of course, we can sell it.  For now, our preference is to use this as a "base" for our travels.

For the past 10 years. we have limited our travel to one or two weeks per year. This is because of practical limitations. Cost and time are fininte if one is to live within their means. So we work most of the time and I have other duties and responsibilities. However, it won't always be this way.

Dipping Our Toes in the Water
In 2013 we decided to try a class B. We rented a Sprinter based unit from Campervan North America.  I'll provide more info on that trek in a coming post. For now, let's simply say that our experience was extremely positive. The campervan we rented was a Mercedes with bluetec diesel, all electric coach setup including solar panels. We spent a week in Utah touring Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands national parks. This trek was a "proof of concept" venture. We were extremely impressed with the Mercedes Sprinter vehicle that the people at Campervan North America provided us. It exceeded all expectations. We also gained valuable insights into what would work, what our minimum requirements were, and so on.

We were able to travel on the highways at the legal speeds including 80MPH. We achieved about 19.5 MPH for the entire trip, which exceeded 1000 miles.  The spouse and I drove the vehicle.

We drove easily into the various national parks, parked where we wanted to and did everything with no restrictions because of vehicle dimensions.

We wanted to avoid limitations. Limitations imposed by vehicle dimensions or amenities. We achieved that.

My Travel Background
Most of my extended travel has been business related. I took my first business trip, a week long trek to Westinghouse in Newark, NJ in 1967.  A few years later I changed employment and joined a design and build firm here in Chicago. That firm designed industrial plants, and had a construction division. As a young engineer I was interested in field work. The firm needed electrical and automation engineers who were willing to oversee final construction and actively participate in these complex facilities. In a short time I was tapped to wear two hats. One as an electrical engineer and the second as a "field electrical engineer." As such, I soon traveled to Festus, MO and then to Hagerstown MD, Miami FL, Oglesby IL, Mitchell IN,  Louisville NE, Mason City IA and so on.

The trips were all business. I usually lived in a motel for a few weeks, or as long as 11 months. There was usually no time for sight seeing. Besides, weather was frequently inclement. Construction continued even if the low was 25F with 65F below zero wind chills. Commissioning and startup occurred as soon as the production facility was ready. Hours were long, typically 10 to 16 hours per day, and we worked 7 days a week. In one bi-monthly period I recall working 162 hours.

So I traveled near some wonderful sights, but generally didn't partake of them. As soon as the project was completed I was eager to return "home" and re-establish my other life. I was single at the time and so I had no spouse who was waiting for me.

In 1978 I started my first firm, an automation systems house. The goal was to service heavy industrials. By that time I was married and soon had two children. So I found myself taking normal vacations but continued to travel to these industrial facilities scattered throughout the US. Work included cement, lime, gypsum, steel, petrochemical, power generation and similar facilities. Travel was intermittent and as dictated by client needs. The microprocessor had recently been invented and with it a complete change in how process control was accomplished. Travel continued to be mostly business.

Outdoor Camping
With two children came the responsibility and opportunity  to actively participate in their growth and development. Their mother thought that cub scouts would be a fine opportunity for them and so she participated as a den mother and I became involved on the committee level.

However, this changed when a scout professional approached the group and suggested we take advantage of a three or four day camping experience at the nearby Hoover Center. I though it would be a great idea. The problem was lack of adult participation. The BSA had requirements for adult participation, too. This so we could manage the boys. I had never camped, except some overnights in the back yard as a child with a blanket tossed over a rope to make a tent!

So, I said "why not?" It was an interesting experience. I liked the outdoors; most of the industrial facilities I had spent time at were beyond large metro areas. One was in the Florida Everglades. I had become familiar with wildlife and insects didn't really bother me. We worked no matter what the weather; rain, sleet, snow and oppressive heat. So, this mild camping experience in tents and sleeping on a cot was a straightforward experience.

The children went on the become boy scouts and I followed them for a time, driving, accompanying them on campouts and helping the troop. In a short time I became more involved and became an assistant scoutmaster. Eventually I became scoutmaster. We had monthly weekend campouts which included camping, hiking and canoeing. The troop attended a week long summer camp each year. We also had a "high adventure" outing each year. Philmont and Quetico were on the agenda. I attended roundtables, various trainings and succeeded at the Woodbadge training and continued to learn. I eventually  became a roundtable leader. Yes, I had the camping bug!

My Spouse Prefers an Abode With a Door
In recent years I  have had the opportunity to do more scenic travel. The spouse and I have taken some of the relatives on very long driving tours of national parks, Door County WI, etc.

She is not averse to camping, but we like to joke that she prefers the sign "Holiday Inn" over the door. So using an RV or campervan was a natural evolution and a straightforward solution.

For the past 5-10 years I've done more than a little research on all sorts of vehicles for camping or touring. These ranged from large Class A and "Offroad" adventure trucks to truck campers, Class B &C and even smaller campers. There have been lengthy discussions between the spouse and I about what might work, our capabilities, and what we would do with such a vehicle if we had ready access to one.

Finally, in 2013 we rented one to see what the experience would be. So the adventure continues.

Comment:
Roadtrek is the manufacturer of a series of Class B campers. The name of this blog is a nod to their vehicles, but it will take a few posts to explain. There is no attempt to infringe on their company, and "roadtrekking" is a popular expression for doing what my spouse and I are doing.