Note: Added some interior dimensional information per questions. See the notes at the end of this post.
Original Post:
In December we took a second trek in a camper van. This was in a slightly larger van, about 21 ft. long on a 155 inch wheelbase. The first trip was a personal "proof of concept." Of course, the concept of camping is well proven, with 16.7 million Americans RV camping in 2011 according to The Outdoor Foundation. Within those millions there is a lot of diversity with towables, 5th wheels, truck campers, camper vans, Class A mobile homes, etc.
So finding the right balance for one's use is a very personal one. We had done our homework and had designed the expected use for the camper van. Yet, it remained to see if the reality met the concept. In another post I'll provide more on our intended use, and how it influences our decisions and the insights we've gained from our adventures.
How long have I been planning this? I first suggested that we rent a camper van in 2007.
For trek 2 we took what we learned in the Sprinter (Trek 1 in October) and we wanted to see what improvement a slightly larger unit would make for a trek of the same duration, roughly a week. The additional or changed amenities for this trek included:
- Adding propane instead of an all-electric camper van
- Propane two burner range, rather than electric
- A propane heater in addition to electric
- A microwave and/or convection oven
- Third seat upfront, 5 seatbelts total
- Swivelling captain's chairs
- Motorized couch to bed conversion to speed changeover in the evening and morning
- A heat pump as an alternative "heat" source for cool weather
- A generator and coach batteries with inverter in place of solar panels
- Larger kitchen area for preparation
- More storage
- Improved gray and black water systems with macerator pump.
We decided our evaluation would be in a Roadtrek 210 from the 2013 model year. It is built on the Chevy 3500 Express Van chassis and this would provide a different, but equally interesting and comfortable experience.
The Trek - Bad Weather to Florida
We decided to head south to Florida, which was about the only part of the US east of Arizona which was predicted to have decent weather (high of 80F). A major arctic front was headed south and with it frigid temperatures and snow. To the south near what I call the "freeze line" there would be a "winter mix" and further south heavy rain! This would be a real test of the entire vehicle. During trek 1 we experienced warm to cool temperatures and perfectly clear weather.
Before leaving, I purchased three gallons of special anti-freeze for treating the fresh water system and P-drains prior to the return. It was to be in the teens by the time we got back to the north, and I was very concerned about damaging the piping systems with an extended freeze. The vehicle manufacturer does not recommend purging the lines with compressed air and so anti-freeze would be our approach.
We left later than planned because packing, etc. took a bit longer than expected. We loaded pots, pans, utensils, staples, consumables, clothes, and manuals for the RV to assist in de-winterizing and re-winterizing. By the time we headed down the road it was mid-afternoon. We drove east and then south towards Indianapolis and it began snowing. The snow increased in intensity, but nothing like the "Lake effect" snow I've encountered many times in the past. The decreasing temperatures created icing conditions and soon we were in a convoy of trucks travelling at 25 MPH. We drove to the vicinity of Columbus IN and decided to spend the remainder of the night at a rest stop.
Normally, I prefer to drive beyond a city so as to avoid morning traffic; most people drive into the city to get to work in the morning. Driving beyond the city provides the opportunity to avoid that morning "rush hour" or two or three. Unfortunately for us, to do so under the conditions we experienced would have required driving to Louisville, KY and beyond, finally resting to the south. However, at our current rate of travel, that 75 miles would have required another 3 hours which was unrealistic. So we stopped. That's what a a turtle can do. Stop, and pull in it's legs. In our case it was snowing, but we had travelled beyond what seemed to be the worst of it and we were tired. We had no idea what was ahead, but it probably included a "wintery mix" of snow and sleet.
We pulled into a rest stop and parked. I fired up the generator and we heated some coffee and tea in the microwave, and I turned on the thermostatically controlled propane heater; this was initially set at 68F. As I recall, this camper van has R4.5 insulation but the windows are single pane and covered with thick fabric during the night. I shut down the generator, but left the heater on and we setup for sleeping and tucked in. We used the inverter and batteries to power up the electricals. The refrigerator was on "automatic" and so it was running on propane. Everything was set and it should be a good night, and it was.
I believe we finally settled on a thermostat setting of 70F. The rear of the vehicle and bed were very comfortable. We had two pillows, sheets and used a polar-tec fleece blanket and a good wool blanket. We adjusted the height of the rear bed using the electrical selectors and "hit the hay."
The next morning we awoke about 5:30am to a wintery scene. My partner had already gone to the rest area facilities (our tanks were empty and winterized).
I fired up the generator so we could heat coffee and tea, and we dressed and prepared to leave in the gray dawn.
Travel southbound was much better than it had been the previous night. However, there were patches of ice. I drove warily, but there was no "slipping and sliding." The vehicle performed very well. As is my usual preference, I travelled in the middle lane, and with traffic. Traffic heading into Louisville was heavy because of the reduced speeds, but we kept a steady pace and continued southward.
As we travelled the snow gave way to a wintry mix and finally to rain. We did not encounter the dreaded "black ice," Travel continued steadily and was significantly improved as compared to the previous day. We decided that at an average of about 50 MPH it would take 10 hours to get to Atlanta. I include pit stops when I calculate my average speeds. We knew this would mean encountering rush hour traffic in Atlanta. So be it! We travelled with traffic, stopped for a lunch and relaxed. This was supposed to be enjoyable!
We did arrive in Atlanta during rush hour with heavy rain. We negotiated our way through the myriad lane changes and so on. The camper van was quite the vehicle in traffic. The transit through Atlanta was uneventful.
We had some assistance. We used two GPS's for the trip. One was an offline unit with onboard database. The second was a Verizon dumb phone which provided real time traffic updates.
Segue into GPS's
GPS's can be problematic. They are known for occasionally providing misdirection or unclear information. As a consequence we use two units and attempt to avoid making time consuming mistakes. This approach worked very well on trek 2 with "real time traffic and condition" updates provided by the Verizon dumb phone App. My third tool is Microsoft "Streets and Trips" with a GPS dongle. We also have a smart phone which we use for online searches and verification. (Not Apple!).
My personal perspective is simply that good information is essential for making good decisions. However, for trek 2, which I considered to be in travel terms "a milk run" did not require the third approach. Here's a couple of photos from a previous adventure, using the MS software. That trek was about 1500 miles and extraordinary. I have witnesses!
The Second Night - In the Navigator's Seat
We left Atlanta traffic behind us and began thinking about a stop for the night. We wanted to end earlier so we would get a good rest. Whoever sat in the right seat, which we always refer to as the "navigator" does research using several guides we had brought with us; for this part of the trek it was G's duty. She's really great at this. We were interested in stop options and with a second "smart" phone did online verifications and additional searches. We found an inexpensive campground in GA and decided to see what they had. We called ahead, made a reservation and it was dark by the time we arrived, and raining.
Setup was easy and we plugged into shore power and started the heat pump. We had not yet flushed the system of anti-freeze and so we were dependent upon the amenities of the campground. However, we could always use the toilet in the camper van, but we had limited fresh water for flushing. I did have two separate gallons with me for coffee, tea and so on and it could certainly be used to flush if we decided to do so. However, part of this trek was to further discover the amenities provided by camp grounds which had hookups for RVs. We were newbies at this and discovery is a part of the process.
Soon we were eating soup and sipping hot liquids. We were both very tired and ready for bed. The rest stop the night before had been adequate, but last night we were both concerned about the weather ahead. So neither of us had sufficient REM sleep. Tonight we were beyond the "freeze line" and so we prepared for a good night's rest.
The Final Stage and Into Florida
The next morning after a good rest we awoke to very light rain and mild temperatures in the low 50s. We prepared to pull the plug and continue south. But before we travelled very far, there was the call of good pecan waffles for breakfast. It is important to maintain perspective and priorities!
After breakfast we switched seats and I became the navigator and we continued our trek to Florida. By mid-afternoon we had arrived at our destination near Gainesville. It was warm, sunny and pleasant. On arrival at the RV resort and after check-in we took a leisurely stroll and stretched, and then began set up. We flushed the anti-freeze from the fresh water systems. This took longer than expected because of the cryptic nature of portions of the camper van manual, but we did successfully flush the system, bleached and flushed the fresh water tanks, refilled and flushed once more. Then we took a second stroll for the day and got to know the neighbors.
Bleaching (sanitizing) of the fresh water system is not a frequent occurrence. However, this was a new vehicle and so we took no precautions.
After long walks we concluded we were certainly one of the smaller, if not the smallest rig on the grounds. However, we wanted to get to know the flavor of camping in RV resorts, discover the amenities and talk to all kinds of folks. Our immediate neighbors were from Nova Scotia and were in the warmer climate for three months; they said they do this each year. In the other direction was a couple from Ithaca, NY. Both families drove Class A motor homes. The couple from New York were preparing to return home for the holidays.
Sarasota and North Bradenton
We had arranged to visit family near Sarasota and so the next day we continued south. We arrived about noon as expected and parked the camper van. After initial conversation, everyone agreed we were hungry. Nancy drove and we headed to the Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota. Both G and I were familiar with Ybor City in Tampa which has the original Columbia. Yet, we had never had the opportunity to dine there. So it was agreed that "off to the Columbia" we will go.
After a wonderful lunch we walked "new" Sarasota. I was able to find a handy mat to place outside the entrance of our portable abode. It's made of recycled plastic and drains water continuously and can be readily shaken out and rolled up for travel.
We took a walk in "new" Sarasota, then to the beach and a drive through the older, established portion of Sarasota.
We stopped and purchased some wine and continued to Gerald and Nancy's. We had a relaxed dinner together and watched Golf TV and football. We retreated to bed at about 9:00 which is "Bradenton Midnight."
The next morning, after a lovely breakfast, we thanked our wonderful hosts and headed north toward Tallahassee.
Tallahassee and a Portion of the Panhandle of Florida
We drove north toward Tallahassee and decided to explore a small portion of the panhandle. The cold front had progressed to the full extents south and so we had overcast weather.
I wanted my partner to see some of the things I've experienced. So taking G to the west along the panhandle was a wonderful way to do that. She and I will return in the future to explore Port St. Joe and hunt for blue crabs.
We had a wonderful lunch in a golfing community near Eastpoint on US 319. Then we continued to Tallahassee to continue our final night in Florida.
I am very actively involved as a board member of a large condominium and I had a timetable to meet, so I could attend the next association meeting. If it weren't for that, we would have spent several more days in Florida.
Our Final Nights Prior to the Return
We checked in at the RV resort and set up camp. Setup was quick, but the black and grey water hose barely reached. So I moved the vehicle to the extreme rear of the parking area. I guess I'll buy an extension hose for situations such as this.
G and I took a leisurely walk, met some of the neighbors and explored the community area. It included a lovely kitchen with oven, microwave and so on. On Thanksgiving we understand there were three turkeys in that oven in a coordinated, sequential way.
G played a piano tune to the attentive bison, who had no choice, as he was pinned to the wall.
We missed the weekly pancake breakfast. Perhaps next time?
As evening set in, we both relaxed and savored our final evening prior to the drive home. Dinner was uneventful.
The Return Trek
On our final morning we followed the manufacturer's winterizing recommendations "straight out of the manual." We drained the tanks completely and the water heater. We then removed the anode. Then the bypass valves were turned to isolate the tank. One gallon of "pink" anti-freeze was put into each fresh water tank using the external fill points. We used the long necked funnel I had brought to do this. This procedure went more smoothly than our initial purge and sanitization. We ran all of the taps to assure that the pump, valves, lines and spigots were pushing anti-freeze. I pressed the toilet flush valve to assure that we had anti-freeze in the toilet system. I then poured anti-freeze into the toilet and each of the drains, filling the P-traps. I ran the macerator and drained both of the gray and black tanks again.
Before leaving warmer climate I drained the external fresh water tank using the direct drain valve provided near this tank. I popped the internal covers and it appeared that the interior tank was also drained.
We spent a portion of the day with additional touring and then reluctantly turned northward. The return was smooth driving. The cold front had blown out and the storms had passed. As we progressed north, we encountered clear, cold air.
We spent one additional night on the road, and planned to approach Nashville TN in the early morning. However, there was some icing and with it several accidents, which were aggravated by the heavy traffic. Here is the backup we encountered at dawn:
Trek 2 was a success and we learned more about this lifestyle.
Notes:
1. Bench and bed dimensions: In the rear of the 2013 210P I have an electric convertible sofa bed. Roadtrek describes it as "king" size although it can be set up as two "twin" beds.
Roadtrek's specification for my 210P are as follows:
- Rear King Bed Sleeping Length: 1980 mm/78"
- Rear King Bed Width: 2030 mm/80" (maximum)
- Rear Twin Bed Sleeping Length: 1980 mm/78"
- Rear Twin Bed Width: 760 mm/30"
- Actual measurements: From the inside rear door to the frontmost edge of the side seats/bed is about 6 ft. 6 inches. When in the "sofa" position the rear sofa is 6 ft. 4 inches wide and the benches are 36 inches wide. The rear armoire reduced the seating width of the bench on the passenger side.
