I often pass on last-minute trips. There’s too much hassle to plan a place to stay on a whim that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
With my Vandoit, I no longer have to stress over these details and can travel freely.
October 26th rolled around, and a trip appeared on my calendar. Although this was a last-minute decision, I had my Vandoit to lean on. A good friend of mine from the Charlotte, NC, area had planned a mountain biking weekend with a group from his CrossFit gym.
He rented a house in Pisgah National Forest, and we were set to have many fun-filled days of scenic riding. When all planning was said and done, we had a headcount of seven guys and only six beds. This gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my van. Also known as my bedroom on wheels.
The Journey
Having visited the Charlotte area many times before, I have learned to split the 12-hour drive staying in or around Summersville, WV.
My drive was a lot more enjoyable and relaxing because my VDI has lane centering and adaptive cruise control. Also having the strut/shock suspension upgrade with QLift makes for a more stable ride through the sometimes windy conditions of the Appalachian Mountains.
Near Beckley, WV is a place called Tamarack. I have passed through many times over the years of driving south. It offers campers a place to park overnight free and has been highlighted in the Vandoit newsletter a few times.
My plan was to stay there overnight both going south and on the way home. This would give me a chance to use my Vandoit with no shore power and test the use of the roof fans and Espar heater.
Staying in the camper lot at Tamarack proved the battery system could handle both of my roof fans running all night as well as the Espar heater. With the fans and heater running the temperature was perfect for a great night’s sleep.
Staying overnight in this lot meant bringing my Laveo Dry-Flush toilet, as there are no bathroom facilities available.
Waking refreshed, I brewed some coffee and hit the road to finish my drive down south to some of the best mountain biking in Western North Carolina.
Arrival
Pulling into the house for the weekend, I found the perfect spot to park my mobile bedroom. I hooked up my shoreline power and needed to level the van. It was time to test the low pressure air bag levelers.
What’s nice about these is they can be micro-adjusted by adding or letting out air. These leveling bags are way easier than the typical drive-on stackable blocks.
Returning Home
It was a great weekend of riding the beautiful trails of Western North Carolina. Dupont State Forest offers some of the best mountain biking trails. Now it was time to head home, again stopping halfway at Tamarack for a good night’s sleep.
Having my VDI now makes these quick trips south so much easier.
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Traveling with family can be stressful at best. And it can cause division at worst.
We get it; A family of four spending the entire summer together in a standard-length, mid-roof DO model sounds ambitious. Add in a 40lb dog and the need to maintain a full-time work schedule, and we get a lot of “How do you do it?”
Well, we stay flexible.
With our Vandoit pick-up date scheduled for May 31st, we planned to spend our summer exploring with it. Outside of the must-do-event-of-the-year VOX 5 in Bentonville the next day, we had no reservations, destinations or commitments in mind. We just wanted to experience as much as possible before school and sports season called us home again.
For years, this unplanned trip approach has been called “a ramble.” We hit the road with limited plans and let the adventure come to us. While this summer trip was the longest to date, the rules remained the same. We stayed flexible and remembered that the bumps would be smoothed out.
A Van Built To Match Our Mindset
The standard length and lower roof height camper van we chose means bringing a little less, but we are willing to squeeze ourselves in if it means squeezing more out of the trip. We were upgrading from a truck with a rooftop tent, so it already felt bigger. And didn’t want to compromise on the campsites we could fit in, the roads we could get down, or those vital drive-thru coffee breaks. Plus, that smaller size helps on those not-so-wide-open streets around our southern California home.
We chose AWD, Q-lift, and suspension upgrades to keep almost any road open. The lithium batteries and solar panels maximize camp options and keep the work computers, and kids’ tablets juiced up. A DC air conditioner provides pleasant nights and a comfy pooch. A fridge, water box, and emergency toilet completed the build.
After that, the seemingly endless modularity of the DO model meant we could switch from mobile office to hotel to living room to adventure hauler at a moment’s notice.
It’s all we need, with nothing we don’t. Which works out well when you never really know what the plan is.
Flexibility Is Not Without Its Hiccups
After years of traveling this way, we’ve learned to expect the challenges, and they are many.
Busy work days can mean angrily chasing cell signals or hours spent in a random parking lot. (Next upgrade: Satellite WiFi) A rainy night might mean Charcuterie for dinner and games instead of campfires and hikes.
Four of us, plus a dog, are a lot messier than that photogenic van life on social media. And sure, getting into our bunks calls for a whole other kind of flexibility. Maybe it’s time for more yoga.
But limiting our plans, minimizing our load and keeping more options open have allowed us to maximize the places we go and the hours we spend doing it. This summer, that added up to 32 states and over 10,000 miles without plans or reservations. We spent most nights in unique places and at least one rest stop for good flexibility.
So yeah. Flexibility. Less is more. All that. It’s why we chose our van, and it’s the approach that made our most memorable trip yet possible.
Maybe we’ll see you out there. Don’t worry about where or when. We’re pretty flexible.
To make sure your Espar continues to work the way is it supposed to, it may require some periodic general Espar maintenance.
Recommended Periodic Maintenance
Remove the glow pin and inspect for carbon build up. Clean or replace.
Remove the glow pin screen and inspect for carbon build up. Replace.
Make sure the vent hole is not clogged.
Inspect the ducting, the air intake screen, and air outlet for restriction or blockage.
Inspect the combustion air intake and exhaust for blockage.
Operate your heater for a minimum of 20 minutes each month.
Maintain your batteries and all electrical connections in good condition. With insufficient power the heater will not start. Low and high voltage cutouts will shut the heater down automatically.
Use fuel suitable for the climate (see fuel supplier recommendations). Blending used engine oil with diesel fuel is not permitted.
Be sure the van’s battery system is receiving sufficient voltage; check the incoming voltage on your van’s inverter monitor screen. If the battery system has low voltage, the Espar will not be able to start.
Know whether your Espar runs on gasoline or diesel and use the appropriate fuel when refueling your van.
Periodically do a visual check of all electrical lines and connections for damage or corrosion.
Periodically do a visual check of the fuel line for leaks.
Make sure the exhaust pipe (photo below) is not touching the electrical or fuel lines, as it may cause these lines to melt.
Periodically check and replace the fuel filter inserts.
Periodically check the glow pin (photo below) and replace as necessary.
Once a year, replace the screen, filters, and gaskets.
Periodically inspect the blower motor for visual signs of damage.
Periodically inspect the duct system, and make sure there is no contamination, dust, or blockages.
