There are plenty of folks who will look at the places we want to go and think, “You don’t need an RV, just get a tent. We will be the first to admit that many of the adventures we have planned would not be suitable for a large motor home or travel trailer.
I really like it when we head up forest service roads that seem to climb up, up, up to the top of the world. We’re always on the look out for places where I can look across the tops of mountain ranges. But I don’t want to hike there. I want to be able to drive there. On not too rough roads. Taking my bed and my potty with me.
So that’s why we’re starting to look at travel vans. We’re not planning on living in the thing, so don’t need a motor home. I’m not planning on cooking in the thing, hell, I hardly cook at home! I just would like to be able to nuke a frozen lasagna, pop some popcorn, and of course, keep the wine chilled and the salami and cheese fresh. And have my own potty.
Are you seeing a pattern here? Yep, my mom brought four daughters out west of the Mississippi, and never taught us how to “use” the great outdoors. Also, there have been many of our day trips when hubs and I have needed to leave earlier than we wanted in order to make it home. If we’d had a travel van, you know, with the push button bed, we could have just kept on going…
So that’s the plan. To keep on going. Sort of like having a really fancy tent. Only I’m too old and too spoiled to want to camp out on the ground…or to potty in the woods.
An Encore Voyage 
I’m with you. I’ll be glad to go camping if there is a cabin in the woods with running water and electricity!
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I’m even a little fussy about the bedding that’s available. We’ve come across some pretty scruffy cabin accommodations that kinda made me go, “Ewwwww….” ~ Lynn
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I think most of us are too old and too spoiled to tent camp (anymore). I’m sure you will enjoy your van. And, what you’re asking for is relatively easy to find. Since you’re not planning on cooking much, a two-burner stove will do. Easy meals are the way to go. All vans come with fridges these days and you might find one with a small freezer compartment for ice cubes. A toilet or porta-potty should be present as well, it’s the shower or “full bathroom” that’s harder to find in a small van. And, since you won’t be living in it full-time, you might not care about converting the dinette area into the bed, which is very common in vans.
Mind you, though, if you’d like to microwave your dinner and popcorn (popcorn made in a pot is so much tastier and healthier!), you will need to run a generator. So, your van needs to have one built in or you need a portable one. We just hate disturbing nature, unless it’s really necessary (like when our batteries are totally empty for example). Or, you could pay for full hook-ups at an RV park or campground, to use your electric devices. But, those are rarely located in the middle of nature, or on tops of ridges.
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We’re really planning on being out a night or two at a time, because we also want to use the van to travel into different cities. We love art galleries, and exploring all of the aspects of different communities, so part of the attraction is being able to fit in parking lots! We’ll probably spend the night in hotels every so often – I’m also a fan of unlimited hot showers!
We’re looking right now at a couple of different brands of Class Bs. I appreciate your wisdom, Liesbet, because you are sort of an “expert” with this type of living. I’ve been trying to study up about conserving electricity when boondocking – we are very interested in our rig having solar panels, but I don’t know much about it yet. We’ll keep sharing the journey! ~ Lynn
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We are looking into getting solar panels as of now. We have decided to go with the portable versions (that fold into some kind of briefcase), because we attempt to park in the shade usually and this way, we can place the panels where we want, away from the camper, tilted towards the sun. I forgot to mention previously, since you enjoy watching the stars, maybe you can find a camper van with a big roof window, above the bed. We LOVE that about ours! 🙂
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Right? Vacation means good rest (so decent sleeping quarters), hygiene (hot shower, indoor plumbing), decent food not out of a can. The apocalypse hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m not roughing it either. 😉🙃
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Like I told Liesbet, we want to be able to stay out if we want to (I’m really looking forward to sipping wine under the stars), and I’m totally OK with a burger or steak on the grill, but every couple of days, I’m planning on a hotel with unlimited hot water! ~ Lynn
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I did a lot of tent camping with my family when I was young, and some as a young adult. I think I would still be OK with that every-once-in-awhile but, for the most part, I’m with you. Heck, I even miss my bidet toilet when we are traveling and I have to use a “normal” one. I’ll be interested in what you end up with.
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I’m totally with you, Lynn. Roughing it for me is a hotel without a coffee shop in the lobby. 😉 – Marty
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Marty, I’ve always said that my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn with a hard pillow! We think alike! ~ Lynn
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I hear you. In spite of growing up in the middle of nowhere surrounded by wilderness, I was never the outdoorsy type. Ever. Holiday Inn was my idea of camping.
… that is until I started running, then cycling, then hiking.
The first time I ever slept in a tent was Day 1 climbing Kilimanjaro. I didn’t sleep that night. Over laughter at breakfast the next morning, my companions advised me on ‘how’ to sleep in a sleeping bag. Who knew that you don’t try to roll over inside the bag, but take the entire bag with you?!
I’ve since come to terms with the outdoors and am quite fluent in ‘using’ it … but personally I’d prefer the travel van!
Good luck with your shopping 🙂
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Thanks, Joanne! I HATE sleeping bags – I don’t even like it when the dog makes me feel penned in in my own bed! We would both like to do a little hiking, but nothing quite as extreme as Kilimanjaro! Holy cow! What an experience that must have been! I admire you! ~ Lynn
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Kili was the first ‘real’ hike I ever did and I’ve been smitten ever since. My favourite trails tend to be in a forest, deep under a tree canopy along a river. Sigh 🙂
… but I do like to return at the end of the day to a shower and clean bed 😉
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Good luck with your search! When we were looking at fifth wheels it had to have a bathroom, a shower, and a kitchen. No going to the bath house in the middle of the night for me!
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That is my thinking exactly! And I really want a convenient way to brew my morning coffee! Then I’ll be good to go! ~ Lynn
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I don’t believe that knowing what you want, and what works for you is being old or spoiled. I prefer to call it ‘wisdom’. I look forward to reading what travel van you finally decide upon.
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You are AWESOME, Donna! Thanks for the encouragement! ~ Lynn
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Excellent plan. I have an aging motorhome and I do not plan to travel with it away from the southeast U.S. I’ve been looking for awhile at Class Bs, Cs and smaller As; just can’t make the commitment yet. Class B would make good sense as operating costs should be less. For the price I pay for fuel and maintenance on the Class A I could also stay in a hotel, plus have more maneuverability with my Subaru. I do like to have my own bed and accommodations with me though. Such a dilemma. 🤷♂️
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I’m starting to get it narrowed down. I joined a couple of Facebook owners groups – I don’t know if that was a good idea. Now I read about everything that has gone WRONG with people’s rigs! Makes it harder to pull the trigger! ~ Lynn
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I agree. One can expect repairs needed even with the newest rigs. That does present some questions. 🙂
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