Van Life October 07, 2019, 02:12:21 pm So, we swung by the OC car show yesterday to check out some of the newest models. The star of the show - of course - was the new C8 Corvette. However, there were lots of other exotics as well, with McLaren, Ferrari, Aston, et al all well represented.The show even had a separate display area for commercial vehicles and large (huge) duallies and other trucks. The "normal" monster 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton (eg F350, etc) trucks were at the regular mfg display areas.However, the vehicles that caught my eye were not one, not two, not three, but four + separate Sprinter & Transit van life set-ups sprinkled throughout the showroom floor either by primary dealers or aftermarket outfitters.What was really interesting is to see factory built #vanlife build-outs: really, really basic & functional, as one would see by a custom job. Typical features included the all important HD tires, 2" raised suspension, roof racks, ladder, solar panels & awning. Inside where the newest Li driven 3Hx2W' reefers and oven tops, along with pull down beds and other space maximizers. One even had a nice shower hose hanging over the rear door.From an RV standpoint, it's interesting to see the different trends. IMO, the whole vanlife thing has really exploded, since it capitalizes on a leak free, tight, unibody welded van, while focusing on a bare bones approach aimed towards an active market.Park of me thinks that since the US population & vehicles on road has essentially doubled over the last 60 years, but without concomitant increase in parks and camping spots, the whole semi-stealth approach may also be playing a factor.Seeing major mfgs now starting to bring out "official" or professionally done vanlife mods (not to be confused with high end Road Trek class Bs) indicates this market is emerging as yet another variation of RVing. 1 Likes
Van Life Reply #1 – October 07, 2019, 02:22:26 pm So, we swung by the OC car show yesterday to check out some of the newest models. The star of the show - of course - was the new C8 Corvette. However, there were lots of other exotics as well, with McLaren, Ferrari, Aston, et al all well represented.The show even had a separate display area for commercial vehicles and large (huge) duallies and other trucks. The "normal" monster 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton (eg F350, etc) trucks were at the regular mfg display areas.However, the vehicles that caught my eye were not one, not two, not three, but four + separate Sprinter & Transit van life set-ups sprinkled throughout the showroom floor either by primary dealers or aftermarket outfitters.What was really interesting is to see factory built #vanlife build-outs: really, really basic & functional, as one would see by a custom job. Typical features included the all important HD tires, 2" raised suspension, roof racks, ladder, solar panels & awning. Inside where the newest Li driven 3Hx2W' reefers and oven tops, along with pull down beds and other space maximizers. One even had a nice shower hose hanging over the rear door.From an RV standpoint, it's interesting to see the different trends. IMO, the whole vanlife thing has really exploded, since it capitalizes on a leak free, tight, unibody welded van, while focusing on a bare bones approach aimed towards an active market.Park of me thinks that since the US population & vehicles on road has essentially doubled over the last 60 years, but without concomitant increase in parks and camping spots, the whole semi-stealth approach may also be playing a factor.Seeing major mfgs now starting to bring out "official" or professionally done vanlife mods (not to be confused with high end Road Trek class Bs) indicates this market is emerging as yet another variation of RVing.The picture below really captures the look: raised, HD tires, the oh-so-important awning (to create an outdoor living space), roof rack, solar, etc.
Re: Van Life Reply #2 – October 07, 2019, 04:30:52 pm Yep, this is what its all about for the "new" generation of RVer's. I am a member of two Class B forums (Coachman Beyond & Travato) Some of the pictures of camping sent in are amazing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p_wdiMKxg0
Re: Van Life Reply #3 – October 07, 2019, 06:28:19 pm "Some of the pictures of camping sent in are amazing."The Class B units have always been way more expensive than a C - even a Lazy Daze. In theory, they are the cat's whiskers (or meow, depending). Speaking as an owner of a small B (Sportsmobile) and a larger, more regulation-sized B (Pleasure-Way), and (gulp) a 26.5' Lazy Daze RB, I can tell you that the Lazy Daze can run rings around either of the other two for comfort and ease of use.Here is a URL for a page that shows several different models of Pleasure-Way units. Ours is the Ford Excel TS model. They are all very similar, but with subtle differences and amenities.One of the first things I noticed when we got the Pleasure-Way is that I tend to hit my head on things in there, even though there is plenty of room for me (at not quite five and a half feet tall) to stand up. The air conditioner is up on the ceiling out of reach o' me noggin, but the cabinets over the sofa can be tricky if one stands up in a certain way, which I seem to do with enough regularity for it to be a nuisance.Likewise the cabinet doors are far more lethal. Lazy Daze has that down to a science. I cannot recall in all these years, EVER hitting my head on anything in the Lazy Daze coach proper. The way that the cabinet doors are, it is almost impossible to have them come in contact with a head that reaches only as far as mine. I don't know how it is for taller people. DH is no help, as we are the same height.The six feet of length difference also produces a wealth of "better" in the Lazy Daze. I won't enumerate all of the differences; suffice to say that the Pleasure-Way (although I love it for what it is) is like a cramped studio apartment with a Pullman kitchen and a pull-out sofa bed, while the Lazy Daze is like enjoying normal living quarters.Even the two-foot difference between our former 1985 Lazy Daze TK (22' on the Chevy chassis) and our Pleasure-Way is remarkable. There really just isn't any comparison in the comfort department.I followed the Facebook groups on Roadtrek for several years (and have a good friend with one) until the Pleasure-Way groups got going good. Roadtrek managed to implode, but I've been reading that many of the dealers took over the warranty mantle for many purchasers, and that the brand is making a comeback under new ownership.The newer units for both companies seem to have more problems than the pre-2010 era, although the complaints seem to be slacking off some in the last six months or so.Not to ignore our Sportsmobile, we use that - with it's 10.5" ground clearance - when we are going out for a photo shoot, or on some other kind of day trip. It has all the comforts of "home", but the top must be put up manually for us to stand up, and that just doesn't happen any longer due to aging spinal columns.And, yes, there are too many vehicles in our stable!Virtual hugs,Judie <-- Sierra Vista, ArizonaAdventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the WestToday: Pizza Quick*********************************
Re: Van Life Reply #4 – October 07, 2019, 07:38:39 pm Merged 3 identical duplicate topics - please do not start multiple topics with the same info.
Re: Van Life Reply #5 – October 08, 2019, 01:43:20 am The Class B units have always been way more expensive than a C - even a Lazy Daze. In theory, they are the cat's whiskers (or meow, depending). Speaking as an owner of a small B (Sportsmobile) and a larger, more regulation-sized B (Pleasure-Way), and (gulp) a 26.5' Lazy Daze RB, I can tell you that the Lazy Daze can run rings around either of the other two for comfort and ease of use.Been there done that. Cant disagree with you at all. I personally at 78 could never spend a night in a B. After owning several a C & A in the 60's/70's (and 2 conversion vans) switched to a different mode. I have been throwing those dollars into a hole in the water now. Its just a change in priority's I think with the younger folks and these these B's. There flying off the shelves.....hopefully good for a sagging industry this year.
Re: Van Life Reply #6 – October 08, 2019, 10:09:40 am Snerf, there are vans galore at the California RV show in Fontana which is going on through this weekend. A good way to compare many manufacturer’s products.
Re: Van Life Reply #7 – October 08, 2019, 01:23:12 pm Holy Moly! Check these prices out. You can buy a lot of LD for the price of a van. Winnebago Class B RV | Touring Coach MotorhomesChris
Re: Van Life Reply #8 – October 08, 2019, 01:37:59 pm Quote from: hutch42 - October 08, 2019, 01:43:20 am Its just a change in priority's I think with the younger folks and these these B's. There flying off the shelves.....hopefully good for a sagging industry this year.Thinking about it, what has changed are higher tech vans but vans themselves are not something the young people of today discovered on their own.A good percentage of this forum members started with WV and domestic camper vans a few or several decades ago.Everyone who owned a camper van in their youth, raise your hands......yup, just what I thought. That's a lot of hands.We owned and drove a 1977 Chevy camper van for ten years, putting over 200,000 miles it. In those days we almost exclusively boondocked in the desert and mountains, except at the beach. Before the van we did the same with a 1959 4X4 Ford pickup with a camper shell. In our early twenties, we boondocked in the back country, either with backpacks or camping out of a WV Baja bug.I bet many of you have similar experiences.Larry 3 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #9 – October 08, 2019, 07:36:28 pm My hand is raise. I travelled a VW Camper Van during my mountaineering days until a leaky fuel hose caused the whole thing to go up in a bright Orange fire ball. That ended my Van Life days - in no small part because of the known disadvantages of Van Life. Next came Coastal Cruising (boating) before retuning to truck campers and eventually, thankfully, discovery of the Lazy Daze life.Warren 2 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #10 – October 09, 2019, 07:14:45 am I had a eurovan camper when I lived in Flagstaff. I was slimmer then and appreciated the extra room that created.
Re: Van Life Reply #11 – October 09, 2019, 10:43:16 am I was that stereotypical hippy with (wait for it) a VW Camper Van. Love, loved that beast. Yup I was that guy - could get out and push it up the hills faster then it could power up them. The odometer broke so we had no idea what speed or miles were on it. Went thru two engines. We loved it to much to trade her in. Sadly somebody had to steal and wreck it. In those day I was a long distance runner. Lizbeth was my support wagon. I'd run the miles and she would meet me here and there with food and water. <smile> Still miss that van ......glen 3 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #12 – October 09, 2019, 12:34:46 pm No VW here but we started out in a 1962 Suburban and we didn't know how good we had it. That old suburban went every where.Jon 1 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #13 – October 09, 2019, 01:19:17 pm "I bet many of you have similar experiences."First up was that 1977 GMC 4WD Jimmy, in which we tent camped a couple of times. Tried to assault Mt. Whitney from a pup tent. Gave it up when the snow on the trail was up to my thighs. That's why I was so desperate to get the Chalet-type "topper/camper" for it. Pup tents = phooey!Next we used our 1978 Volkswagen Campmobile - took that all over California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and into Canada - Athabasca glacier sticks in my mind, as does the inconvenience of no bathroom or heat. Next we upgraded in 1987, to a brand spankin' new 1987 Westfalia. A big improvement, but the 1991 transition to the Lazy Daze TK (Gertie) was the turning point.The rest of the story is motorhome all the way, so no horror stories there! ;-> Am plotting, at this very moment, for "Around Tucson" locations where we can go to the VA Hospital for the requisite infusion, and then skitter around the area for a week until it is time to go there again for the next infusion. At that point, we can decide if we can manage another twirl around the area, landing again in Tucson before heading home to rest up for the next jaunt.DH's next cataract surgery is scheduled for early November (platelets permitting), so that will put a bit of a crimp in our style for a couple of weeks. But hopefully, this ability to come/go to Tucson without the trek from our home (way south of there) will prove useful.I came across this informative site telling about things to goseedo in the Tucson area. Anybody have other suggestions. Of course Kitt-Peak is on our list, too.Wish me luck! ;-> Virtual hugs,Judie
Re: Van Life Reply #14 – October 09, 2019, 04:40:19 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - October 07, 2019, 06:28:19 pm Speaking as an owner of a small B (Sportsmobile) and a larger, more regulation-sized B (Pleasure-Way), and (gulp) a 26.5' Lazy Daze RB,Yipes, I have enough problems with just our one! Yeah, from a comfort and ergonomic perspective, there is simply nothing that compares to an LD. The thinking that took place behind every design element is unsurpassed. Someone - a long time ago - sweated the details on what makes a great little boat - oops, RV.However, and this is a very big however, there are many different market segments that demand/expect various features and capabilities. By way of example, for anyone sporting a 40' class A diesel pusher - from their perspective - a little class C (or heaven forbid, a class B) is going to elicit a negative reaction as just too spartan. And if not, then they are typical downsizing candidates who eventually make the move.The real point of posting the comment was not to point out the comfort/design options between classes, but rather to remark on the growth in one particular segment: #vanlife. For a host of reasons, whether it's boondocking or simply stealth camping within city limits, this market is truly taking off.From a business perspective, it's interesting that custom builders (Thor, et al) appear to be getting cut out of the picture. If all it takes is a stripped, functional work van, then it's somewhat trivial to mix/match components to deliver a few basic benefits, such as light, heat, refrigeration, cooking and (smart device) re-charging.Also, for anyone curious about the different mechanical aspects, it provides an interesting take on the eternal quest for the perfect compromise of features, comfort and capabilities. For example, the ability to house Li internally without venting creates a tremendous cost savings since an exterior compartment doesn't have to be hacked out of the unibody.Secondly, with a small, efficient reefer, newer/cheaper inverter, and around 300w of solar, these rigs are proving sufficient to get someplace, chill, have a cold beer, and play/work with smart devices.The proof is in the pudding: while there are many old(er) RVs hanging out at the (day use) beach - with some LDs - there are also a handful of brand-new Transit/Sprinter #vanlifes every day. So, do the math: there are never any new class A, C or B, but always a few brand new #vanlifes, usually passing through.From a marketing/business POV, this tells me much of what I want to know.
Re: Van Life Reply #15 – October 09, 2019, 11:42:52 pm Quote from: WhiteElk - October 08, 2019, 07:36:28 pmMy hand is raise. I travelled a VW Camper Van during my mountaineering days until a leaky fuel hose caused the whole thing to go up in a bright Orange fire ball. That ended my Van Life days - in no small part because of the known disadvantages of Van Life. Next came Coastal Cruising (boating) before retuning to truck campers and eventually, thankfully, discovery of the Lazy Daze life.WarrenHey, me too! My 91 Westfalia had the same problem, with the same result. We managed to keep the fire contained to the engine compartment but when the estimate to fix it came back at two pages long and almost $8k I had to let her go. I figure as far as having RV fires go I've already had one so statistically I'm good, right? 1 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #16 – October 11, 2019, 03:11:56 pm Okay here goes my first camper/campsite! The back seat of a 1950 Ford 4 door custom sedan (my fathers) on Columbus Day weekend 1952 at the Dolly Copp national park campground in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I was ten years old. We borrowed Army surplus pup tents and down sleeping bags that belonged to a friend of my fathers. It was so cold I slept in the back seat. We spent every summer at that camping area for the next 7 years. In those days there was no two week limit in National Parks. Pics of the Ford and the first campsite...over looking a well known mountain face called the "Imp". 3 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #17 – October 12, 2019, 01:15:31 pm Don't forget the iconic paneled station wagon: Fond memories camping along the Kern river in So Cal. Could cram 4 sleeping kids in the back. 2 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #18 – October 12, 2019, 02:02:19 pm Quote from: rprice - October 12, 2019, 01:15:31 pmDon't forget the iconic paneled station wagon: Fond memories camping along the Kern river in So Cal. Could cram 4 sleeping kids in the back.Everything you need for camping is right here (except for all those darned kids!):https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JUGdzWV2z0g
Re: Van Life Reply #19 – October 13, 2019, 08:22:44 am Wow, Class Bs are expensive. I wonder if one gets the 30% discount on Bs that is sometimes available on Class A MHs? 1 Likes
Re: Van Life Reply #20 – October 13, 2019, 09:30:39 am Price wise, I’ve always thought of class B’s as similar to smaller homes in the real estate market. They tend to be pricier “per square foot.”
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