August 2022

In early June, the fifth Van Owners’ Experience (VOX#5) was held in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Vandoit Owner’s Experience (VOX) events are a gathering of Vandoit van owners, organized through the Vandoit Owners and Future Owners group on Facebook. The sole purpose of VOX is for Vandoit owners to share the love of their vans and the adventure lifestyle that comes along with them. Over 40 vans (and a couple of tents) from as far away as Washington state gathered to camp together for 5 days at the Applegate Property, adjacent to the Applegate Trail. Vandoit owners Kurt Schuler and Stephanie Kelly planned VOX#5. Vandoit and Visit Bentonville were privileged to help host this event. Staff from both organizations got to join in on the fun!

Because Bentonville is about a 4-hour drive away from the Vandoit headquarters in Blue Springs, Missouri, this VOX kicked off differently from past owner gatherings: With a factory tour and lunch at Vandoit! On the morning of Wednesday, June 1, a number of owners and their families got to see the van build process from start to finish. They also took a peek at some newly released components and even picked up some Vandoit swag. Owners from around the country chatted over lunch. Shortly after they departed in a caravan from Blue Springs south to Bentonville.

The Vandoit Owners Began Their Caravan To Bentonville

Vans began arriving at the Applegate Property on Wednesday afternoon, followed by the caravan from Vandoit. Upon arrival, owners began setting up awnings, chairs, cooking implements, and other van setups. Following setup, a group set out for a group ride at the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, just a short ride away from the campsite. The following morning, Vandoit provided coffee at the campsite before everyone took off to explore Bentonville for the day. Shortly after, owners ventured out to the hiking and biking trails. Others visited museums and took part in other outdoor activities like kayaking and sightseeing. Later that evening, Local [moh-tiv] pulled their food truck up to the campsite. They served delicious pork tacos and beer braised brats. It was the perfect meal to end a perfect day.

Friday was another full day of exploring the Bentonville area–and beyond! Some Vandoit owners visited historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and the Buffalo National River. In the afternoon, everyone gathered back in town at Bentonville Brewing Company for a van owners’ happy hour. The brewery’s one-of-a-kind beers and cocktails–along with a dog park, kid-friendly outdoor area, and unique local food trucks–made for the perfect social atmosphere.

Saturday morning kicked off with more coffee served by Vandoit. Owners took part in adventures like the Women of Oz Ride and beginner’s mountain biking clinic. In the evening, Whole Hog Cafe Barbecue catered a mouth-watering dinner at the Applegate Property, followed by the Van Owners’ Talent Show. The show featured everything from singer-songwriter Charlotte Morris’ original music, to phenomenal piano pieces performed by some talented Vandoit kids, to hula-hooping, to a little stand-up comedy and a magic show, finished off with a whole lot of karaoke. The talent show had everyone laughing, smiling, and singing along!

At the end of the night, Vandoit gave out awards for various van achievements:

VOX5 was a memorable opportunity for van owners to make new friendships and renew existing ones. There was plenty of sharing of creative ideas on outfitting and decorating vans. Some owners even collaborated with one another to install an awning, set up ground fold-out solar panels, and shared ideas on getting the most out of the Mastervolt lithium battery system.
Make plans to join the next VOX6, Return to Moab, in October 2022!

Must-have Vandoit Components: Campervan Heater

Gear, Vanlife

Must-have Vandoit Components: Campervan Heater Read More »

When You Need It, You NEED It!

Vandoit offers the Espar heater as an option on all their campervans. The Espar heater sips fuel
directly from the gas tank, combusts it outside, and transfers heat energy to the inside air.

“I Don’t Need A Campervan Heater”

When I completed the build sheet for my Vandoit Do, I didn’t specify an Espar Airtronic B4
campervan heater. I live in Texas, and as an outdoor gear tester, winter apparel and sleeping
bags are not in short supply. But my Van Guru relentlessly suggested I needed the heater, so I
added it at the last moment.

After a summer and fall of family, climbing, and mountain biking trips in mild weather, I forgot
the Espar campervan heater was there. But a late fall cold front descended into the Texas Hill
Country while I was on an adventure biking trip, and the temperatures dropped to below
freezing in the middle of the night. I awoke shivering under a camping quilt and remembered
the campervan heater my Van Guru suggested.

I went to the digital control panel and fired up the Espar for the first time. Within five minutes, I
could feel hot air starting to blow into the van, and at ten minutes, I was comfortable and
drifted back to sleep.

One of my regular climbing partners scoffed when he discovered I had a gas-powered
campervan heater on a climbing trip to Hueco Tanks. “I’ll never need a heater,” he claimed as
he defiantly took his bag outside to sleep under the clear sky. Lows hit the teens at night, and
once his sleeping bag lost some loft due to condensation, he knocked on my door and
sheepishly asked to sleep in the warm comfort of my Espar-heated van.

How an Espar Campervan Heater Works

The Espar Airtronic B4 generates heat by combusting gasoline from the van’s main fuel tank,
which means never worrying about sourcing other fuel or filling a different tank. The
campervan heater does draw electrical current to ignite the fuel, run the fan, and power the
controller.

The Espar digital controller acts as a thermostat. The user selects the desired temperature, and
the controller automatically switches the heater on and off and adjusts the relative airflow to
reach and maintain that setting.

The Espar heater is a “vented heater,” while a standalone propane heater, such as a Mr. Buddy,
is a “non-vented heater.” This is a critical distinction. Vented heaters isolate the air used for
combustion (from outside) from the air used to heat the van interior (from inside), producing
dry heat. A non-vented heater uses the same air for combustion and heating the interior.

Why is Dry Heat Better for A Campervan?

One word: humidity. Humidity can create condensation, which can lead to mold. Mold is
harmful to the van and the creatures inside and is the bane of all vehicle dwellers.
The Espar Airtronic B4 reduces the relative humidity in the van as it generates heat, lowering
humidity and the chances of condensation forming inside. Propane heaters raise the relative
humidity during use.

Another bonus of dry heat is that there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning since the
combusted air isn’t pumped inside. A heat exchanger transfers the heat energy from the
combusted air to the cabin air. Campers must vent the van interior when using a non-vented
heater.

Will I Run Out of Fuel?

No! The Espar campervan heater automatically shuts down when the fuel level in the van’s tank
dips below a quarter tank. A maximum run time can also be set to protect against inadvertently
running the vehicle’s fuel too low.

The Espar Airtronic B4 is super fuel efficient, sipping gasoline at a claimed average rate of .14
gallons per hour, on maximum power. In my use in temperatures barely above zero, with a
cabin temperature set to 65 degrees, I have not noticed my gas gauge moving overnight.
Fuel consumption hinges on many factors, including the van’s insulation.

Conclusions on the Espar Airtronic B4 Campervan Heater

The last thing I thought I needed in the van turned out to be the most critical and appreciated
component. My adventure mates and I would have been miserable on countless nights without
the Espar campervan heater and at worst, cold injuries were possible when our remaining
clothes or sleeping bags were wet.

Even if you don’t think you will be in freezing conditions, I honestly believe the Espar heater is
worth serious consideration. You may not need it much of the time, but when you need it, you
need it.

Jeremy McGhee’s Van Is A Tool For Making Trails More Accessible

Van Owners Stories

Jeremy McGhee’s Van Is A Tool For Making Trails More Accessible Read More »

“I am not mountain biker, I don’t consider myself a mountain biker” says Jeremy, “I am a runner.”

The bike allows him to hike the trails to help make trails more accessible. Jeremy’s love of hitting the trails started while living in Mammoth, CA. He wanted to run with his dog, which is what inspired him to get his first adaptive bike.

At the time Jeremy purchased his first bike, there were only two types of adaptive bikes. One that could climb anything but no suspension, and the other that had no drivetrain but had full suspension. As a result of the limitations of both of those bike styles and a harsh winter in 2009-2010, Jeremy decided to move back to San Diego.

It was in San Diego where Jeremy found the bike that he uses now. It was the best of both worlds. The bike had drivetrain and suspension. The bike was $9,400 and after he sold his 4-wheeler bike he had $9,800 in his bank account. He decided to make the leap of faith and bought the bike.

This Bike is Jeremy’s Outlet to Having a Relationship with Nature.

“For me being a wheelchair user, there’s certain pieces of equipment that are life-changing, this was one of those,” says Jeremy in reference to the bike. Although the bike has been life changing, there have still been horrible instances where Jeremy has gotten stuck on the trail. In one instance, he had to be helicoptered out. These experiences led to the formation of the UNPavement.

According to The UNPavement website, “The UNPavement documents trails and presents the information with a simplified rating system, identification of potential dilemmas and uncut video.” The Unpavement helps adaptive riders have up to date and detailed information on trail accessibility, facilities and recommended routes can be found on their Trail Blog.

Jeremy’s Van Allows Him to Travel The Country And Experience The Trails

After extensively researching vans, Vandoit reached out via LinkedIn. From there, Jeremy began exploring Vandoit and chatting with people. These conversations helped him come to the conclusion that a Vandoit was feasible for wheelchair use. Ultimately, Jeremy decided to pull the trigger on his Vandoit van.

Vandoit worked with Jeremy to make his van more accessible to allow him to move more easily throughout the van. One major major modification is utilizing the hydraulic bed-lift to raise his bike into the van. Overall, this and other modifications make hitting the trails a lot simpler.

Jeremy typically rides the trails multiple time to give them an accurate grade. Ultimately, the van has become a valuable tool for Jeremy to access and experience trails for The UNPavement’s trail accessibility rating system.

To learn more about Jeremy and what he does, visit https://www.jeremymcghee.com. There, you will be able to read his blog and listen to his podcast.

Vandoit Sponsors World’s Most Inclusive Bike Race

Events

Vandoit Sponsors World’s Most Inclusive Bike Race Read More »

When you think of gravel cycling, do you think of inclusivity for athletes of all races, genders, and backgrounds?

The creators of the Ned Gravel Race do–and have made it their aim to be the world’s most inclusive bike race. On July 9, 2022, Vandoit was proud to be one of an elite group of sponsors for the second annual Ned Gravel Race in Nederland, Colorado. Nederland is one of the most beautiful venues Vandoit has ever visited. “We believe everyone should feel welcomed to participate, regardless of experience, gender, race or sexual identity/orientation,” race organizers share on the event’s website. To that end, the race offers equal prize money for women and men, women-led and women-only biking clinics, and coaching and gear for select athletes of color.

In an interview with Denver Life Magazine, race creator Gavin Coombs expressed the race’s vision: “Cycling has traditionally not been a welcoming and inclusive space. We believe that gravel riding is for everyone and that the more people on bikes, the better. So, we set out, in our small way, to start to move the needle in terms of creating a space where everyone, and we mean EVERYONE, feels welcome.”

Ned Gravel Race Supports Many Great Charitable Causes

Ned Gravel is put on by Peak to Peak Endurance, a one-stop shop for cycling coaching, retreats, and races. The event benefits three charities close to Ned’s heart. These charities are the Ride for Racial Justice, a nonprofit that ensures BIPOC cyclists have access to resources, education, and community; The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease; and the Nederland Area Trail Organization, an all-volunteer crew of trail builders and advocates.

The Ned Gravel race is set up on 4 courses: The Silver Course (20 miles), the Gold Course (39 miles), the Tungsten Course (60 miles), and the Ultra (107 miles). Due to its popularity, the Ultra course even requires a lottery system to select participants! There are race categories for women, men, and non-binary participants. The majority of the race is above 8,000 feet. Riders had to be acclimated to the altitude and be prepared for the area’s unpredictable weather conditions. These videos from the 2021 race give you a great idea of what this one-of-a-kind race experience is like:

Racers’ friends and families had plenty to do while riders were out on the courses. During the race and expo event featured music, food, and games. The expo also included local artists and creators. Everyone got a taste of the all-are-welcome hippie vibe that Nederland and the Ned Gravel offer.

A Vandoit Is The Ultimate Cycling Van

At the race expo, Vandoit Trade Show Rep Andy Brown showcased a LIV model van equipped for all of a cyclist’s needs. Vandoit featured Bike fork mounts, a bike repair arm, and tool box. These items were all mounted to the van’s gear slide for easy storage and access to all cycling equipment. The gear slide also featured custom storage drawers for additional biking accessories. This makes bike maintenance and repair even easier. Hooks below the hydraulic bed are the perfect spot to hang helmets after a hard day’s riding.

This adventure van is built on the Ford Transit T350 high-roof with ecoboost motor and all-wheel drive. It is also complete with Quigley Motor Company’s new lift kit. The Quigley lift kit is designed for 2020 & newer Ford Transits. The Quigley lift provides a 2-inch specialty lift that maintains factory angles on the Transit’s driveline. Watch Vandoit’s Lead Engineer, Nick Eisenbarth, walk through some of these lift and suspension upgrades in this video:

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Vandoit & Visit Bentonville Host VOX5 Van Owners’ Experience

In early June, the fifth Van Owners’ Experience (VOX#5) was held in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The Vandoit Owners Began Their Caravan To Bentonville

At the end of the night, Vandoit gave out awards for various van achievements: