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.

Sprinter versus Chevy - Criteria

This post will look at some of the criteria we used for our camper van rental and comparison.

Deciding on Dimensions and Intended Use
Prior to renting we looked very closely at several camper vans over a period of months. I began my latest round of research earlier, in 2007. The vans in the current round of comparisons were approximately 17 feet, 19 feet, 21 feet, 23 feet and 25 feet in length. These were by several manufacturers and on several different van chassis. We went farther afield and looked at other alternatives. After looking and re-looking at various dealerships we decided that any camper less than 19 feet in length was too small for our intended use, and "21 feet" was the maximum acceptable length.We understood that in the range of 19 to 21 feet there would be compromises.

One of the primary requirements for the vehicle was the ability for both myself and my spouse to be comfortable in the drivers seat. Another was the ability to drive on normal roads just about anywhere, including crowded National Parks.  Cost was a factor. We were undecided if we would rent each year, or own. One of the questions we asked of each van we looked at was "Would I want to own this, and could it satisfy our requirements?" Renting was intended to provide a "hands on" experience.

One of the issues we discovered while doing research was finding suitable camper vans for rent. We wanted a camper van which could accommodate two adults for 5 days or more of continuous use during three seasons. 3-1/2 seasons would be better, with minimum useable temperature of 20F. Normal temperature range would be 25 to 95 F and below that we accepted the fact that we would have to give up some of the plumbing amenities. However, the majority of use would be above 32F.

It was my perspective that a camper van would be comfortable under a specific set of circumstances.  I also realized that different vehicles could "stretch" those circumstances and provide comfort at the extremes. For example, a smaller vehicle could be very comfortable for 2-3 days and a larger one for 3-5 days. An uninsulated vehicle could be comfortable in the temperature range 40-90F while a better insulated one could be comfortable over 30-90F. We considered heat to be more important than air conditioning.

Impact of Camper Van Features and Trade-offs
Van coach features would have an impact. We wanted the ability to stand upright without a pop-top. We also wanted as wide an aisle as possible, and appliances which didn't require one to get on their knees to access. An all electric vehicle with solar would be a different experience from one with propane heat and a generator, particularly if "off the grid." Of course, solar is "free" and available in limited quantities based on battery capacity while propane is a fuel that must be replenished with a cost. In other words, there would be trade-offs.  Increasing aisle width resulted in a wider vehicle. Adding larger appliances, or more appliances and a generator increased the weight. And so on.

Compromise would be necessary. One of the compromises could be limiting the usefulness or duration or treks. One can always check into a motel, or stay at an RV resort and plug-in and use the showers. These are reasonable options when the weather turns against one, or camping is no longer fun. I've done ground camping at extremes of -25F and 110F. This was achieved while backpacking in the wild, and canoeing and portaging 90 miles in Quetico. That was not the experience we were striving for with the camper van. Nor were we going to take a camper van into the wild and in places where a 4x4 is the only safe means of travel. If that was the goal, we should have been evaluating extreme vehicles, such as a GXV. One of the trade-offs was that we would be limited to where we could go, and if "off the grid" we would have a finite and limited amount of fresh water, energy and food with us.

Idealistically we wanted a vehicle that would be fun and useable in sunshine, rain and intermittent snow with the greatest temperature range. We were looking for a vehicle or vehicles which could be used for a range of treks covering the U.S. and Canada, with round trip journeys of 1000 to 2000 miles, or more. Typical duration would be 5 to 15 days with stops at RV resorts or parks, motels and so on. A larger, better equipped vehicle would provide the opportunity for the longer treks of greater duration. A larger vehicle should reduce the need for supplemental motels, etc.

We wanted the ability to sleep in reasonable comfort with heat when necessary and assisted ventilation. If on "shore power" air conditioning should be available. We wanted the ability to carry refrigerated, fresh food as opposed to freeze dried meals, granola bars and PBJ sandwiches. We wanted fresh running water daily and we also required a bath area in which the door could be closed for privacy when in use. We wanted the bath to include marine toilet and shower; ideally it would also include a sink.

Sprinter
We were interested in the Sprinter based vans, which are currently in vogue but expensive. I was curious about the bluetec (tm) diesel and we both realized the straight sides and high roof provided an optimized interior as compared to exterior dimensions. However, we also wanted to try competitive camper vans. We decided to use and evaluate two camper vans on two different treks about 60 days apart. We found this approach to be fun and enlightening. It also provided a true 3-1/2 season experience in camper vans.

We decided to include Roadtrek in our comparison because we were impressed by the "fit and finish" and the many good things we had heard about them. We also decided to use a vehicle converted by a smaller company.

All-Electric versus Propane and Generator
We decided to compare a vehicle with all-electric coach to one which included propane and a generator. This would be somewhat reminiscent of my days as a sailor. My 25 foot sailboat used wind power as it's primary motive force and was inexpensive to operate. A solar-powered camper van appeared similar. However, my sailboat used a very small gasoline powered outboard to maneuver in harbor or under zero wind conditions. The solar electric van used a diesel engine as it's primary motive force. The solar was primarily for charging batteries and there were definite trade-offs and power rationing if "off the grid" as electricity was required for the stovetop, hot water heater, space heater, vent fan and air conditioner. The batteries could be recharged by running the diesel automotive engine, but that was spoiling the fun. In our experience this type of vehicle performed best when on "shore power."

Real World Comparison
We used and compared two very different vehicles. One was "19 feet" in length and the other "21 feet" in length. These approximate dimensions were within what we considered a useful range. We considered the 19 footer to be the smallest usable footprint; it could be driven every day and parked anywhere, but was too tall for a normal garage. The 21 footer was a larger footprint and could be driven everywhere we wanted to go, but was at the limit of parking dimensions and we considered it to be too large for daily use. However, after driving the 21 footer, I have decided if the "continental" tire kit is removed and the spare stored inside that this van could be used more extensively.

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