Video - Interior of Sprinter

First Published December 2013
I'm re-posting this blog post. The Sprinter trek was the one that convinced us that Yep, we want to own a camper van and do this again, and again, and again.  I've also added the label "video" to posts which contain an embedded video segment.  Doing this allows the viewer to arrange all posts that contain videos.

December 24, 2013
How large or how small is the interior of a "19 foot" Sprinter camper van? This video provides a brief view. It was taken by my spouse during our October trek (Trek 1).

As you can see, it is essential to use every square inch of the space provided. For example, during the daytime we put the pillows for sleeping into large plastic trash bags and then placed them in an overhead storage bin, above the driver's and navigator's positions. Our coats were usually draped over these seats when we were "camping" and at that time we placed the backpacks on these seats. In this van the front seats did not swivel and so it seemed practical to use them for storage.  Hiking boots when removed could be placed in the area adjacent to these seats, or in the slot that was created when the side door was closed. The large bench seats in the rear provided ample seating space for two.

When stationary we would use a portion of the rear area of the bench seats as an area to place things. The dining table was only put into position when it was needed. The cooler was our overflow pantry. It was more convenient than some of the other storage as it was easier to spot things quickly. One thing about living in a new space is that it is helpful to be consistent when putting things away for temporary storage.

Tying the cooler to the rear door handles with a sliding strap was clever, but in Zion National Park this created a problem. Parking in Zion is at a premium and people don't always stay within the lines. On return from a walk, we found a car pulled against our right side and ditto for the left. It was very, very difficult to get into the vehicle. The driver's door was impossible to open and so I used the slide door on the passenger side. Of course, I could have simply used the rear door, but I had tied the cooler to it! Thereafter when parking in potential crowded situations I released the cooler prior to leaving the vehicle. At Arches we parked at the welcome center and a truck camper pulled next to us. That too was a bit tight, however Zion was the most crowded situation.

Our experience was a very positive one. The Sprinter was a lot of fun and we adapted very quickly to the interior space.