Haley is a charismatic storyteller with a passion for bringing words to life. With a diverse educational background in Psychology, Creative Writing, and Theatre, she weaves together her knowledge of human behavior, the power of story, and dramatic flair to create and share captivating blogs that resonate with readers of the Vandoit Collective.
“I researched every van company in North America and kept coming back to you guys.” – Roman A.
New van owner, Roman, was brought into the Vandoit family a few weeks ago after buying a 2023 show van. The van made it out to Oregon for Overland Expo Pacific Northwest and back to the facility in Blue Springs, MO before getting scooped up by its new owner. The van was scheduled to be shown at several more outdoor industry expos during the 2023 season, but Roman couldn’t resist–he saw a van that was just right for him and couldn’t wait!
After researching van companies far and wide to meet his needs, Roman landed on Vandoit. Here, Roman shares the top three reasons he chose Vandoit for the purchase of his campervan.
1. Customer Service
After filling out the Vandoit contact form, a Sales Guru contacted Roman right away to gauge his needs and desires when it came to his van. Immediately, Roman took notice of the team member’s time and attention to him as a customer. Answering every question he had and responding promptly showed him how much the team cared. He came to the Vandoit facility for a tour as well to see in person the wide variety of options available to him. Because he had done so much research of Vandoit online, he thought he knew exactly what he wanted to see and ask for, but was blown away by the product in real life. Which brings us to the next reason Roman chose Vandoit:
2. “A Genius Engineering Team”
Roman got the pleasure of meeting Lead Engineer, Nick Eisenbarth, while working with the team to finalize his van. When we spoke, Roman raved about the Vandoit engineering team going above and beyond and doing things that are revolutionizing the vanlife and RV industry. “There are probably 40 things you all are doing that nobody else is. And all of those things make so much sense!” Roman shared. While the team was getting busy on the van, Roman was thrilled to be heavily involved with the process. He described the process as “designing his dream home,” which made it all the more joyous to experience.
3. Space For Everyone’s “Golf Clubs”
As Roman pointed out in our interview, many other companies in the campervan market utilize permanently affixed cabinetry, which gets points for simplicity, but it does not allow much space open for the customer to fill with equipment or DIY additions. Roman experienced this when checking out other builds and was relieved to find in a Vandoit, he could fit his ‘golf clubs.’ Although Roman is not a golfer, he used golf clubs as an example to cover all hobbies and activities one could partake in. No matter what your ‘golf clubs’ are, the modular, marine-grade components in a Vandoit can easily be shifted, removed, or added for every activity under the sun.
Leaving the Vandoit facility with a High Roof EL DO Model that is equipped with everything he needs, Roman is the happiest camper. He shares that he “couldn’t be happier with [his] choice and excited for the future with this van.”
“Whooooooooa! It’s huge!” Maddie June and Rob exclaim as they approach The Ark Encounter, an exhibit in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Ark, spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, was the special reason for their father-daughter trip. Six days of Rob, Maddie June and the “Midwestern Missile” (their Vandoit van) on a journey to see the Ark and make lifelong memories along the way.
Off To The Ark
The pair left early to prepare for the seven hour drive ahead from Wisconsin to Kentucky. The smooth, traffic-free sunrise drive was the perfect way to start such a magical trip! Upon arriving at The Ark, Rob and Maddie were blown away by the size of Noah’s Ark, but more so by the size of Noah’s faith. “Thinking about how much faith Noah had to have, even though everyone called him the village nut!” Rob shared. “This trip was a great opportunity for me and Maddie to have a one-on-one conversation about faith and trust in God, even when it sounds crazy. Being an adult can muddy the waters and make us lose aspects of that trust, but Maddie reminds me daily to have a childlike faith.” After spending a whole day at The Ark, they went back to the van for dinner and went to sleep.
A Special Breakfast Stop
The next morning, Rob decided it was time for another very special experience for Maddie: Waffle House. This may sound odd, but to Rob and his grandfather, Waffle House is a well-loved place to eat. Maddie’s great grandfather passed away a few years ago, so of course he wanted to share this with her. With her belly full of good food and heart with memories and laughter, they headed out to find their next stop.
Mini Vandoit Reunion
As pro vanlifer’s, Rob and Maddie made minimal plans. An impromptu phone call to friends and fellow Vandoit owners, the Raabe’s, led to their new destination. Rob called on a whim, remembering the couple and their daughter, who is around Maddie’s age lived in Kentucky. After 10 minutes of catching up, he happily invited Maddie and Rob to, in old southern hospitality fashion, “come down and stay for as long as we want!” So they hopped in the van and drove south about 3 more hours. After arriving, the Raabe’s took Rob and Maddie to Mammoth Caves; the longest underground cave system in the world! “God has really provided some incredible lifelong friends in our lives, and Brian and Beth Raabe are two of them. We talked like we had just seen each other last week, even though it had been since the Vandoit Owner’s Experience in June of 2022!”
Catalyst To A Simpler Life
About two months ago, the Nitz family had their two year van-iversary. Within these two years, they have had countless experiences and friendships they would not have otherwise had. They describe the van as “the catalyst to a simpler life.” After purchasing their mid roof DO model, they sold their house and everything in it and moved into an RV. This, combined with their new Vandoit, equipped them with everything they needed.
“Although this trip was a little while ago, it was still the best gift any father could receive. Thank you Maddie June for making me a dad, encouraging me to strengthen my faith, and being a light to the world!” – Rob Nitz
“We laugh so much more when we’re together in the van.” – Rylie Scott.
From the mouths of babes, Liz and Ryan Scott are hearing exactly what they needed to hear after packing up their Vandoit for a 22 hour drive with kids Rylie (12) and Otis (9). With almost every state and 10,000+ miles under their belt, the Scott’s are ready for a road trip on a moment’s notice. Liz, van owner for one year, shares what it is like to be a mother intentionally choosing van life for her young kids.
“When we heard Rylie say that, it was just so affirming. We’re doing something right with our kids” Liz stated. “It’s crazy to hear a 12 year old say something like that because she’s just so right.” Ryan adds.
“The ‘Inconveniences’ Bring Us Closer”
After speaking with Liz, she explains the simplicities of vanlife are overwhelming all because of what you lack. The biggest factor being a small space. Although they were all very close before joining the vanlife community, they have learned removing the conveniences of home such as many rooms, creates the environment of inclusion Liz describes. “It’s not just that mom is in the kitchen making lunch, the whole family is making lunch together.” This is of course because the main living area of the van is used for, well, everything.
“We upgraded to the van from a truck with a rooftop tent, so naturally this feels roomy in comparison.” Liz says. Now in a mid-roof DO model, the family is forced to share a schedule. This is Liz’s favorite thing about extended trips in her van because of the physical closeness. They grow, learn, and bond tighter with every mile they drive.
Vandoit Is A Vehicle– Literally And Figuratively– To Do Anything.
Well-traveled kiddos, Rylie and Otis, are homeschooled. Liz and Ryan made this decision in order to prioritize their exposure to the world and this is exactly what their Vandoit allows them to do. Along with the experiences of climate, wildlife, culture, etc. “Our family can live in a world that is much simpler,” Liz states. “The purpose of us getting a van is to eat, sleep, and see stuff. Simple as that.”
This is vanlife. Pulling into a campground at random and making a hotdog with the kids or changing routes on a whim to see a field of sunflowers along the road, is the epitome of owning a Vandoit.
The [Not So] Simple Moments
Vanlife is not without its challenges. There will be moments where the struggles are heavy and the circumstances seem against you, but “the burdens are so much lighter when we’re all together,” Liz states. “Whether we’re in the van for a day trip or for two weeks, we always come home with a perspective shift and we see clearer.”
Liz and Ryan boast about their kids as great travelers. On top of being well-behaved and well-bonded, the two are in love with the journey–not just the destination. “Once, we were on a trip with about five hours left of driving and it was dark. We were all tired, hungry, and ready to be done. Otis chimes in to say he loves driving in the dark.” Once again, from the mouths of babes, life is simple again.
“In the end, we’re doing this for our kids. The inconveniences will fade once we leave a campground and the memories will last forever.” Liz Scott
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We all know it’s the season of giving and showing love to those around you. And as hectic as this time of year gets, it can be really easy to forgo thinking about the environment simply to survive the holiday season.
As a company that highly values the beauty and opportunity nature provides, we’ve done the work for you in curating a list of 5 simple things you can do to have a more environmentally friendly holiday this year.
1. Get A Real Christmas Tree
Although rounds of vacuuming to pick up dropped pine needles can get old, setting up a real tree for Christmas cuts down on the 6-foot tall chunk of plastic that eventually will be thrown away in a few years. Plastic Christmas trees require carbon emissions to be created and shipped. This makes them less eco friendly than a real one.
Getting a real tree can also be a day’s source of entertainment for the whole family. All the steps from locating a nearby tree farm, walking through the rows of options, and strapping it to your car to bring home will become a core Christmas memory for everyone.
When you purchase from a tree farm, the money spent on it goes back into the farm, resulting in more trees being planted. Getting a real tree also means it can be recycled or in some cases, replanted, making it the ultimate environmentally kind choice.
2. Wrap Gifts With Fabric Or Recycled Paper
When perusing the aisles full of bright, sparkly, single-use wrapping paper, it can be hard to say no to the convenience or the sheer cuteness of the design. This holiday season, consider seeking out recycled craft paper and decorating it yourself with paint, stamps, stickers, etc. This can be a fun activity for children as well, and it makes gifts even more special. You can also wrap up a gift with fabric or other reusable material, creating less waste and making it easier to open.
3. Switch To LED Lights For Your Decorations
Twinkly lights during the holidays are a fan favorite; they make everything feel magical. LED lighting (light emitting diodes) saves a ton of energy in comparison to incandescent lights, and they last longer. Today, it’s not too hard to make this simple switch as LEDs are widely available, but it can make a big impact on your household’s energy consumption.
As well as an environmentally friendly habit, being sure to unplug your lights overnight can be a simple change to keep your family safe. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 770 house fires a year are caused by holiday lights.
4. Gifting An Experience
We all have a few people who are difficult to buy gifts for. They don’t seem to need anything or want anything we can buy from the store. This is the perfect opportunity to give an experience. Annual passes to a theme park, zoo, or art museum can fit in well for almost anyone. This gift gives the one who receives it freedom of scheduling, a chance to budget, and something they can enjoy multiple times that makes them think of you.
5. Buy Reusable Doggy Bags For All The Yummy Leftovers
It’s no shock that we eat a lot over the holidays; it’s one of the best parts! A very simple switch can be using metal or glass containers to store food in rather than plastic ones. It can also help to clear out your freezer before the holiday meal prep begins. This allow for plenty of space to freeze meats and other items that can survive for a much longer time. The parts of the meal that will go back more quickly can be sent home with your guests or eaten within the next few days. It cuts down on overall food waste.
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One year 0% interest
On select units
Applies for 1 year on our in house lease purchase program. Interest will apply at 2 points over New York prime after one year.
May be used in combination with or in lieu of other incentives
Minimum down payment will be required based on credit, price and other factors.
With approved credit.
“Travel On Us” All National Parks, all access free pass (1 year) may apply…ask your representative for details.
