OUR STORY
How We Got into Adventure Vans

For the past several years we have been spending about a month exploring different parts of Europe each fall traveling by planes, trains, automobiles and boats.  On a trip in 2017 through Britany near Mont St. Michel we noticed a lot of people traveling by van rented from various camping van companies.  Upon our return to the states, we did some research and found that camping vans are a popular, inexpensive way to see Europe, with a great infrastructure of different types of places to stay for the night.  On our next trip we booked a van for part of our travels and loved it.  We have been doing a van for a week or two every year since.

Our experience traveling by camping van in Europe got us making our own list of things we would like to have in a van that we would someday build for adventuring in North America.  In 2022 we thought this would still be a couple years away until our Subaru Baja developed an engine problem.  We could not get excited about buying another vehicle, so we chose to begin our van build.  Vans at the time were in short supply.  With diligence we were able to get a prior year’s model someone had ordered and declined delivery.  Although completely naked at first, we started using the van immediately to take short trips while we gradually added windows, systems, interior details, and accessories.

OUR REQUIREMENTS

Fit in our 8-foot-high x 19-foot-deep garage.
Self-contained and capable of multiple days of off-grid use.
Usable as a daily driver.
Panoramic windows with no floor to ceiling obstructions.
Fresh, gray and black water storage.
Hot and cold pressurized water.
Indoor and outdoor showers.
Indoor toilet.
Heated interior.
2 burner gas cooktop for indoor and outdoor use.
Deep sink.
Refrigerator with separate freezer door.
Fully screened.