Micro Van Life

Free Parking (“Squatting”)

One big advantage of driving a micro camper van is the ease of obtaining free parking. As I mentioned in my #1 Tip for Out-of-state camping vehicles video…a washed, clean van will blend in better than a dirty one with out-of-state plates. Due to employee shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic, a cost savings advantage took place; a reduction in manufacturing state license plates. American bureaus & departments of motor vehicles saved money by issuing only the rear plate for new registrations in 2020 & beyond. Use this to your traveling advantage! I had fun choosing a front plate that conveys a personal message. If you back into parking spaces, only your front “message plate” will be displayed. This gives you more stealth protection. Locals can’t easily identify you as a traveler from a far away location. Too many van lifers have been targets of vandalism & theft. Thieves know it’s easier to target travelers passing through than locals. Many travelers don’t have the luxury of sticking around to check out local pawn shops. Any damage done to a broken-in vehicle will receive the victim’s (registered owner) top priority getting the van repaired and back on the road again.

**2010 Chrysler Town & Country minivan**

Funny thing is many people think my “Bubba” plate is one I officially purchased from Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). I found it online and designed it using the optional Ohio state template. I don’t have to pay extra money to BMV each year for a vanity plate; another advantage for van campers. Bubba is my daily driver when I stay in Ohio. Bubba is a Chrysler Town & Country minivan with 125K miles that I use for local trips & camping. I’m currently converting it to a DIY camper that can be quickly changed back to a passenger or cargo van.

SQUATTING

I discovered a new Van life term called squatting. This is when you don’t ask permission and squat at a location to achieve free parking or access to a fantastic view. When staying more than 24 hours, the more known term is Dispersed Camping with no hookups available. All trash, and waste products are the responsibility of the camper who is usually limited to 14 days only. You bring it in, you take it out. Unfortunately, some people are abusing the camper/squatter etiquette rules. Dispersed camping is becoming more limited this year. RVers are now complaining online about their favorite boon-docking spots being permanently closed.

Class A & B recreational vehicles don’t have the flexibility of parking on city streets in most residential communities. Some are squatting for 24 hours or less in store parking lots. More wealthier RV owners buy rural land for their private campsites. They are tired of waiting six months or longer for State & National Park camping spots with full hookups. https://rvlifestyle.com/own-rv-property/

Walmart & other stores are restricting free overnight parking across America

**13 ft. barrier at Super Walmart in Arkansas**

At a Super Walmart in Arkansas, they installed a metal barrier that restricts vehicle heights to 13 feet and shorter. This eliminates big rig cabs from parking inside their lot. There is a gas station across the street. So it must have been an ongoing problem before the barrier was installed.

**Bob’s Class A rig parked at Super**
**Walmart in Arkansas**

A clever RV owner named Video Bob aired down his Class A suspension and cleared the Walmart barrier in Arkansas. Bob & I both like to park at Super Walmart’s when traveling because they sell almost everything to include camping supplies & groceries. Most Super Walmart’s are open 12 hours per day. Some even keep their doors open 24 hours. And they have free-to-use restrooms inside the stores.

After moving to a North Carolina coastal town in 2021, I was surprised to see they’re now charging to park year round ($5 hour, $25 day) by installing electronic meters everywhere! Even the local McDonalds at Kure Beach has a 30 minute limit parking sign!

**Carolina Beach on the Atlantic coastline**

If you want easy walking distance to North Carolina beaches on the Atlantic coastline, expect to pay for parking in 2022 & beyond. Local residents & businesses are very upset their beachfront cities have no free parking during the off-season (November 1st thru end of February). https://www.wect.com/2021/12/07/carolina-beach-parking-decision-comes-under-fire-residents/

Paid parking trends are generating new revenue for towns & cities. “Pay where you park” by the hour or day is going to increase across America, especially in popular, tourist areas. As for my own squatting experiences, I hope to find off-the-beaten roads, free parking opportunities as long as they last!

**Dahon Vitesse i7 foldable bicycle on Kuat bike carrier**

This summer, I installed a single carrier Kuat Sherpa bike rack on my camper van. It weighs 29 pounds & holds one bicycle. And my lightweight, foldable Dahon bicycle creates little wind drag behind the van. I use green furniture wrap to keep the foldable handlebars & seat protected against the wind & rain. I’m still averaging 28 miles per gallon driving my Ram Promaster City camper van with bike & carrier attached. Now I can cycle several blocks to local beaches, marinas, & parks if I cannot find free, available parking nearby.

Travelers beware of ride share reservations (Lyft, Uber)

I am writing this post to warn other van lifers and travelers about ride share reservations. Let’s say you need to get to the airport or somewhere that is time sensitive like a scheduled appointment? Perhaps your van needs repaired or you want to fly home for the holidays?

Waiting on my porch at 4:00 a.m.

Here is my nightmare, ride-share experience. I scheduled a Lyft driver two days in advance to pick me up at 4:00 a.m. this morning. I live in a North Carolina coastal town of 200K people. The local airport is 8 miles away. My flight was scheduled for 6:00 a.m. on American Airlines. At 2:54 a.m. I receive this text message from Lyft: “Reminder: Lyft pickup scheduled for 3:55AM-4:05AM”. Everything seems routine and informative. I turn down my house thermostat to 60 degrees Fahrenheit since I’ll be gone for the holidays.

I’m waiting on my front porch in 50 degree temperatures. I’m completely mesmerized that my violet geraniums are still blooming! We had 70 degree weather on Saturday evening when I participated in the annual kayak flotilla on our community’s manmade lake – 12/18/21.

**Decorated 12.5’ Hurricane Santee Kayak**

Happy holiday thoughts are dancing in my head until 4:05 a.m. arrives! I’m freezing cold waiting on the front porch. Lyft sends me another text message: “Almost there! Thanks for your patience. You’re up next and we’ll send driver details soon”. Twelve minutes pass by. No driver details were sent to me. So I texted Lyft’s phone number this message:

Lyft would not allow me to directly communicate (text) with them. So at 4:30 a.m. I cancelled my ride request. I tried using my Uber app and no drivers were available. I called two city taxi services and they were already booked with no immediate availability. So I resigned myself to accepting a missed flight. I returned inside to a cold house and major disappointment. I wouldn’t be seeing my Ohio relatives on 12/20/21.

This afternoon , I texted Lyft’s website message help service. The following exchange took place:

Needless to say, Lyft will not reimburse its customers for missed flights, late fees, or ticket replacements. Thinking inside the box of future solutions, I came up with a few recommendations: Try avoid scheduling a ride before 6:00 a.m. Night times & early mornings have less driver availability. If that’s not possible…give yourself a much longer reservation window. No doubt, in my small city, I should have scheduled a ride four hours in advance. Even if it meant sitting at the airport for two hours. People who drive for Lyft & Uber are independent contractors. They can cancel or delay you without notice. Many drivers consider this line of work their “side hustle” jobs for extra cash. Many drivers are temporary ones with minimal customer loyalty. Because of the ongoing Pandemic & nighttime driving risks, the odds of cancellation increase during dark time hours. This is especially true for female and older drivers. Lyft texted me today that a male driver had accepted my ride request two days in advance, but was a “no show” early this morning. And how sorry they are for the “inconvenience”.

Dangers of parking outside at Airports

I am patiently waiting for American Airlines to call me back with a possible one way flight leaving tomorrow. Hopefully, my return flight in January 2022 is still reserved. If you’re thinking…why didn’t I drive my camper van to the airport this morning…here are the reasons: Our tiny, international airport has outdoor parking only. My camper van is worth almost $38K and I can’t afford to lose it to theft, bad weather, or vandalism. There is also a current back order of vehicle chips. Cascade Camper friend William Shaker recently paid $2500 over invoice for his new Ram Promaster City cargo van. The price of Cascade Camper Conversion also increased by $800 this month, not including California sales tax. We also get high winds & unexpected storms in our port city, near the Atlantic Ocean. And I have no friends or relatives to inconvenience with a 4:00 a.m. emergency ride to the airport request. At $8-$10 per day for uncovered parking, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Expect delays using Lyft & Uber

After finding several articles online, I comforted myself knowing I’m not alone in suffering delays or last minute cancellations with ride share companies! This is my first bad experience with Lyft. Had I given myself a 4-hour travel window, perhaps Lyft or Uber could have found me another driver. Their quoted price of $17 for an 8 mile journey to my local airport seemed very reasonable this morning. It’s driver shortages that are most alarming!

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/07/1025534409/lyft-and-uber-prices-are-high-wait-times-are-long-and-drivers-are-scarce

Cascade Campers Founder gives in-depth video tour

Cascade Campers founder Zach Yeager published a 22 minute video to help van owners remember important details inside our converted vans. Kudos to Cascade for creating a useful, instructional video for their clientele. Even though I had my Ram Promaster City van converted a year ago (build #167), I learned some new tips from Zach’s video.

Dometic DC Refrigerator CF-25 model, 12 volt

**Dometic CF-25 inside Cascade Camper van**

Dometic refrigerators are electrically powered by DC adapters or cigarette lighter inside a vehicle. You can buy a hardwiring kit directly from Dometic if needed.

In June 2021, I ordered a thermal fridge cover from Amazon. Since the Dometic CF-25 weighs 28 lbs, I carefully lifted it out of its dedicated cabinet space. And wrestled the cover over the electric refrigerator after removing the wire basket. This was no easy task! The compressor end is much heavier. And you feel all the weight on one side when you lift the fridge by yourself. Highly suggest you find someone to help you install the optional cover. Your back & vertebrae will appreciate it.

**Dometic CF-25 fridge with thermal cover**

**Thermal cover has side pockets**, **tie down rings**

It never dawned on me it’s possible to reverse the direction of the refrigerator by 180 degrees until I watched Zach’s video. If I cook outside, I can reverse the fridge so the lid opens back towards the inside of the van; making it easier to access food items while standing outside by the rear bumper.

Cascade recommends using a fridge thermal cover if living in the van full-time, or traveling in hot climates. The cover helps to insulate the fridge making it more energy efficient when keeping items cold or frozen.

CF-25 refrigerator is one of the lightest in weight (28 pounds) for the Dometic product line. It can hold up to 24 quarts of food or 27 beverage cans.

Red LED Lights are invisible to most flying insects & bugs

Inside the Cascade camper van, there are two red LED lights that are dimmable by turning a silver knob. There is one bar of red lights on each side of the van’s interior. The van also comes equipped with two bright white LED lights with high & low settings. What most people have discovered while camping is white light(s) from headlamps & flashlights attract a massive amounts of bugs. Whereas red lights appear outside their visual spectrum.

If you’re camping in a bug infested area, get yourself some red lights for your vehicle, camper, or tent.

For very low power consumption (4.5 watts) Amazon sells a 3.3 foot, 30 light USB, 20 changing colors LED strip that can also be cut to desired length.

There are several advantages having a professionally installed, camper conversion package. It makes troubleshooting & maintenance easier, especially if instruction manuals & videos are provided by the company. Cascade Campers are built inside Ram Promaster City cargo vans only. This allows Cascade to streamline costs by purchasing items in bulk. Resale value is retained at higher levels because name recognition is important along with builder reputation.

What I’ve gained from the Cascade ownership experience involves a sharing of ideas, interior modifications, & quick resolution of any quirks found. It’s reassuring to know other Cascade owners have experienced similar issues. And we help each other resolve them.

Has full-time #vanlife begun to dwindle in North America?

Photo taken by Gary Goldsmith. Rear view of his Cascade camper van, build #77, named “Chitty Bang Bang”.

A year ago in 2020, Americans hit the road in record breaking numbers. #Vanlife, #rvlife quickly became popular Twitter & Instagram hashtags. Customized vans were leaving conversion companies in a flurry of unprecedented sales. With the COVID-19 shutdown of businesses, it soon resulted in a shortage of available parts, and shrinking new inventory. Used RV’s, travel trailers & camper vans became prized possessions. Many older units sold for thousands of dollars over their Kelley Blue Book values. People were tired of being held hostage in buildings; staring all day at computer screens & holding Zoom meetings inside stationary walls. Thus began the mass exodus of Covid-19 pandemic prisoners for their open road freedom.

Some travelers used their tax returns & stimulus checks to fund new adventures. More closures soon followed, especially in California, Utah, Colorado & other desirable locations with state & national parks. Those lucky enough to remain open had long wait times for reservations. Upon arrival, visitors had their Ansel Adam dreams of majestic rock formations, giant redwoods, waterfalls, & beautiful nature hikes turned into long lines for parking, shuttle buses, and trail head access. For the majority of these visitors, it became an overcrowded, dystopian nightmare.

**Reality – long lines at state & federal parks (1)**

When parks & private campsites were overcrowded or full, van lifers traveled to free public lands offered by the U.S. Forestry Department and the Bureau of Land Management otherwise known as BLM. However, these “no pay” locations typically have no creature comforts nor available hookups! A vehicle, camper, or RV will need to be equipped with a gas generator, holding tanks, heating, cooking & refrigeration capabilities unless one is willing to rough it with dry goods & bottled water. Even “boon-dockers” living off grid need to find a nearby town to buy groceries, refill their propane tanks, replenish their water supplies, take showers, and empty their black water sewage tanks. Only a few survivalists could stay out there indefinitely with no supplies or services.

So now it’s been a full year of pandemic adventures criss-crossing the roads of America. Canada has been on a tighter lockdown and South America can be a risky place to travel with expensive vans & rigs. Out-of-state license plates have made a few RVers & Van Lifers the unfair, visible targets of pent-up anger & fear! Some locals resent(ed) outsiders bringing COVID-19 risk factors to their communities with limited medical staff, beds, and ventilators. Vandalism and unwelcome incidents caused some travelers to return home to their previous dwellings or park vans & campers near their friends & relatives; especially those with free parking spaces & land use.

That brings us to the present month – November 2021. The evening before darkness becomes our “old friend” again with clocks falling back one hour. Will #vanlife, #rvlife continue their historical growth? Or will shorter days and the soon appearance of Old Man Winter cause many to put their vans, campers, and rigs up for sale; flooding the resale market as recently predicted?

7 Reasons Why There Will Be a Glut of Used RVs for Sale

Four months ago, RV owner & author Mike Wendland published an article giving 7 reasons for a “soon-to-be” gluttony of used recreational vehicles. The article can be accessed using this hyperlink: https://rvlifestyle.com/used-rvs-for-sale/amp/ (1) park picture obtained from here.

Since my blog is primarily focused on Micro Van usage & ownership, I predict an inverse correlation will occur. As RV owners sell or trade-in their large rigs, fifth wheels, and pull behind trailers, many will downsize to Sprinter & Micro Vans because of rising fuel costs! Mercedes diesel Class B vans are typically more expensive than Class C RV’s. You will be hard-pressed to find a low mileage, Sprinter diesel van for under $70K if it’s already converted! That’s why the Ram Promaster City’s “bigger brother” and the Ford Transit mid size vans are so popular today- because they are still financially affordable. And they use non-diesel gasoline which is more abundant.

I haven’t visited the http://www.rvtrader.com website this month to see if Americans are flooding the market with their used recreational vehicles. What I do know is…our Facebook Cascade Camper Van membership is growing with new members being added each week! We are a private, online group. You must be a Ram Promaster City Cascade Camper Van owner to join our Facebook forum. We have become a real community of like minded people, who love our nimble, “go anywhere” micro vans that sleep 1-2 adults comfortably.

Skimpflation is here. Longer wait times, fewer options, and barebones customer support & services.

I read this headline today in the “Daily Mail” and nodded my head in agreement! As Van Lifers travel across America in 2021, they too are experiencing “skimpflation”. Gone are the days of buffet meals you can load up on while traveling! In fact, my last road trip across 10 states supported this reality! I found only one, decent salad bar at the Sizzler steakhouse in Sacramento. Several “all you can eat” establishments have permanently closed or no longer offering breakfast, lunch, or dinner buffets.

California’s outrageous gasoline prices

I stopped by the Cascade Camper installation facility in Nevada City, California on September 23, 2021. Builder Zach Yeager finished making a small, additional side table I recently purchased for my camper van. As I passed the iconic, Chevron gas station (before making a right turn on Railroad Avenue), I saw this marquee:

Gasoline prices have risen to over $3.00 per gallon all across America; $4.69 in California with its state transportation tax added to each gallon! Food prices have also increased this year. I predict that micro & mid size vans will continue to be hot commodities for both long distance trips & local getaways! If fossil fuel prices continue to climb, unit downsizing, retrofitting, and micro van ownership will drastically increase! Americans are once again interested in converting their gas guzzling engines to ones that use bio waste like restaurant frying oils. Many people with tents & campers already have stationary or portable solar panels to power their equipment. Fact is the majority of our vehicles use gasoline. As fuel prices increase, so does the cost of road trips; thus reducing the amount of travelers who can afford to pay more at the gas pumps. This may significantly decrease the number of people who can afford to go on long distance trips 🥺

If you finished reading this post and/or learned something useful, please leave a like below. I don’t get paid writing this blog. Comments help motivate me to continue writing posts.

Source: Skimpflation is here: Longer waits, fewer options and shoddy service: https://mol.im/a/10172477

Cross-country road trips could be detrimental to your mental, physical, & financial well-being!

Dedicated to all newbie van lifers & nomads

In memory of Gabby Petito experiencing full-time van life for two months, I found this informative YouTube video to help others avoid pitfalls on the road: https://youtu.be/OsL9Q-37TPE

Vlogger Leslie Kalk & her husband spent months traveling together in their converted, Honda Odyssey camper van. Leslie’s YouTube video with 5 common mistakes is for new van life couples. I listed the first two mistakes below. From my own experiences, I have also included three recommendations that pertain directly to solo van dwellers & cross-country travelers.

1. Don’t try to emulate online appearances & edited images.

Too many wannabes see people on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media living a carefree, fun-filled van life! However, video clips & photos are usually edited to show desirable locations, and smiling couples who have never been happier – being together outdoors & on the road! Cleverly edited media can make viewers envious and want to emulate the fast growing “Van Life” or “RV Lifestyle”.

Numerous clicks, likes, and viewing times are vlogger end goals. YouTube channels cannot be monetized with low subscription rates & dismal tracking statistics. Notice how many channels use captivating headlines and exotic, visual scenes to promote their videos? You seldom see the grimy, dusty reality, unmade beds, piles of laundry, insect bites, or messy interiors. Many video clips are painstakingly produced & edited so “influencers” look their best for subscribers/followers!

2. Don’t be Desperate for Money 💰

It goes without saying that most full-time Van Lifers & RV’ers want to travel while being self-employed! It’s especially important for people who have not reached retirement age or don’t have trust funds, IRA’s & monthly pensions to rely on. Driving miles away from friends & family comes with inherent risks; especially those who own older vehicles with no extended warranties! Living in a moving vehicle, RV, or camper will incur maintenance and repair costs! It’s just a matter of time & mechanical breakage.

Gabby Petito & her boyfriend Brian Laundrie were experiencing money issues by their second month on the road full-time in August 2021. Her parents stated they had paid for pizza & Door Dash food when the couple needed assistance. Although Gabby had started a YouTube channel & online blog, it can take several months to establish a large media following with thousands of subscribers for monetary compensation. Being hungry & thirsty on a daily basis will add lots of stress to one’s travel life.

Highly recommend that road travelers have several thousand dollars in savings before embarking on a van life excursion, especially in older & high mileage vehicles! Stay in a nearby vicinity or a limited, geographic area if money becomes tight or dwindling! Better yet, find a full-time van life community (i.e. Bob Walsh TERRA Nomads) and join their tribes. There is safety in numbers instead of being isolated or stranded in a new location. Many Van Lifers/RVers find jobs as camp hosts so they can have free campsites and earn weekly incomes for one or more seasons. Here is a helpful resource for new Van Lifers: https://projectvanlife.com/

3. Be careful when traveling alone; especially if you’re young, beautiful, and/or a vulnerable person!

Female Van Lifers who travel solo have reported incidents of creepy guys following them or parking nearby. Do a search on YouTube to see how many van dwellers complain about sketchy people they’ve encountered on the road. It can be very dangerous in unfamiliar & desolate areas!

When in doubt, trust your gut instincts and drive away whenever possible! Park in well-lit areas! Venturing off into remote Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas by yourself is never a wise decision! One lady thought she was safe having a dog as her travel partner. She was murdered in her sleep! Staying inside a locked van is safer than being outside in a tent or sleeping in a hammock.

Most van dwellers use their vehicle alarms and ensure all doors are locked while inside & outside unless cooking with doors & windows open.

4. Consider buying a tracking device for your van or vehicle

Several people reported their campers, RVs & teardrop trailers were stolen while parked in urban & remote areas. The average camper van (professionally converted) costs approximately $38K & higher. Stolen van owners revealed they were probably followed from a nearby town because thieves spotted their expensive camper vans and discreetly followed them. Professional thieves can quickly hotwire a vehicle or tow it to a dismantling location. Track-i is an inexpensive device you can place inside a glove box or hide somewhere inside the interior of your van.

Track-i charges a nominal, monthly fee to track your vehicle in real time. Other tracking devices exist today. Do some online research for one that best fits your traveling needs. It’s helpful for relatives, police & FBI to know where you or your van disappeared to should that ever happen. WhereSafe Tracking GPS in 5G real-time offers monthly, yearly, and seasonal membership plans.

5. Don’t be afraid to end your full-time van life or cross-country excursion if things go wrong or become too difficult!

Many were hoping & praying for Gabby Petito to have a positive outcome! A female Park Ranger tried to encourage Gabby to consider her options and perhaps end a toxic relationship. But Gabby was goal oriented and wanted to finish her cross-country, van life adventure. Perhaps Gabby under-estimated Brian’s explosive temper or that she was in a confined space with a partner that was unpredictable & volatile when stressed or provoked! Gabby had a night alone to think about her available options after a policeman took Brian to a nearby hotel in Utah to emotionally decompress from a 911 call made by a passerby who saw Brian slap Gabby inside their 2012 Ford Transit Connect camper van. Five days later, Brian flew by himself to see his parents and take care of a few things in storage. Once again, Gabby was left alone in the van a few days before Brian rejoined her.

Most people (especially women) have limited opportunities to leave abusive relationships involving domestic violence. Conversely, a travel partner who constantly yells, gaslights others and/or engages in physical altercations is not physically nor emotionally safe for anyone. If the vehicle is registered in your name, drive off and leave the abuser(s) behind for your own safety & well-being! Otherwise, get yourself to the nearest airport, bus station or Western Union building and ask friends & family members to help you get back home safely!

Toyota Sienna – only Hybrid AWD Minivan currently offered in the United States for 2021 & 2022…

**2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland AWD 2.5 liter engine**

With rapidly increasing gasoline prices, Toyota built & sold the first hybrid, all-wheel-drive (AWD) mini van in 2021.

Toyota Sienna Hybrid front wheel drive gets 36 miles per gallon while the Hybrid AWD is close behind at 35 miles per gallon. These averages are not as good as the 85 mpg Chrysler Pacifica plug-in, hybrid van which is offered in front wheel drive only, with no towing capacity!

It’s incredible how the Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2.5 liter, four cylinder, 245 horsepower combined engines can tow a whopping 3500 pounds because of a dedicated, rear electric motor.

Note: There is no differential type transmission on the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid van. And the U.S. Transportation Budget, (which determines government spending during fiscal year 2022-23) will once again set registration fees at $200 for all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, and $100 for gasoline-only hybrids.

2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Design flaws

It doesn’t take a camping/hauling guru to figure out that American Toyota designers made several design flaw changes for the 2021 Sienna Hybrid trimlines. Top of the list is elimination of the quick release, middle seats. They are now bolted down and require disconnecting a rear panel battery and possibly violating the manufacturer’s warranty by doing so. Toyota has completely focused on the family minivan market while ignoring or accidentally leaving out full-time, van dwellers and weekend campers who prefer sleeping inside their vans for safety & convenience.

2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland with higher ground clearance & 1500 watt power supply!

**2022 Sienna Woodland – in the great outdoors**

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on the newly designed, 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland model to be sold in the U.S. It has a higher ground clearance and features a 1500 watt, AC power supply for camping enthusiasts. I could power my Keurig coffeemaker in the back of a Woodland! Or possible a microwave & hair dryer.

I was excited to read a Toyota press release about the new Sienna Woodland model until I stumbled on similar design flaws. Namely no mention of removable middle seats, the same awkward center console, and three exterior colors of black, white, & cement only! What are the Toyota Sienna designers thinking? Urban industrial in the great outdoors? Black & Cement are not nature friendly, van colors! These are very limited, stealth hues! No one with camping experience wants exterior colors that conduct heat and show grime from mud puddles, dirt roads, and other elements of nature like bird droppings! Here is Nicky’s article link about the 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Hybrid van: https://pressroom.toyota.com/embrace-your-adventurous-side-with-the-all-new-sienna-woodland-special-edition/

For what it’s worth, I felt compelled to email Nicky and let him/her/X know that Toyota designers missed the mark in leaving out full-time van dwellers and inside-the-van campers in their 2022 Woodland design that THEY ARE CURRENTLY MARKETING as off-road, overland friendly! I don’t expect to hear back from press release writer Nicky nor official Toyota representatives. But hope they design a future Woodland model for 2023 & beyond that allows easy, middle seat removal and other cool features that appeal to the van life & camping market segments. For the love of nature, Toyota is missing out on a market segment currently in existence. Some owners have already converted their 2021 Sienna hybrid vans into camper vans despite the interior design flaws! Even if it means voiding their manufacture’s warranty because they disconnected the middle seat airbag sensors!

My Letter to Toyota media writer (Nicky)

Nicky,

Thanks for reviewing the soon-to-be released, 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland van. I enjoyed reading your recent article about all the cool new features in the Woodland like higher ground clearance, 1500 watt rear power station, better surround sound system, etc.
I created a microvanlife.blog in June after I purchased a 2020 Ram Promaster City van and had Cascade convert it to a 2 person camper in November. I lived in it full-time for several weeks while waiting for a home closing.

Toyota American designers have missed targeting a huge market segment of full-time, Van Lifers and weekend campers. Toyota designers first mistake is bolting down the middle seats, instead of maintaining the 2020 Sienna “push a lever to remove” middle seats option! Van dwellers & families need the option of quickly removing the middle seats for camping, cargo hauling, and sleeping purposes. Many new Sienna hybrid owners are complaining online about the lack of middle seat removal! Is Toyota even listening to them?
Secondly, why are black & cement the only exterior colors being offered for the 2022 Woodland model? Why not stick to hunter green, pearl white, glacier white, Sahara tan, sky blue, and other outdoor nature colors? Black & cement are urban, industrial colors! Plus black absorbs the most heat and shows dirt easily! White is the preferred color in hot climates. Especially if people are using the Sienna hybrid features of leaving the vehicle’s A/C on day & night. I’ve met several Prius hybrid owners who live full-time in their vehicles because of its continuous A/C ability. Van Nomad guru Bob Walsh featured a full-time Prius owner on his popular YouTube channel. She has a Prius hatchback with tent attached living full-time in her vehicle. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/-zXNWf2vtz0

Thirdly, why can’t Toyota partner with a camper conversion company like GTRV and offer a Woodland camper van with poptop and foreward facing bed with seatbelts, utilizing the same track system for the middle seats?
Sienna Weekender – GTRV Camper Van ConversionsPhotos Sienna Weekender

Sprinter vans and the Mercedes Metris already utilize similar track floor features for removable seats & beds.
Lastly, ditch the center console and allow the front seat passengers easy pass through to the middle and back of the Sienna van while inside the vehicle. Having a swivel, passenger front seat is also a desirable feature for campers and van dwellers. Many of us Van dwellers love the new Sienna hybrid but feel left out by the family hauler focus! Not everyone needs to haul kids and passengers in a van. Toyota is missing out on a customer base, market segment already in existence. Check out YouTube videos where new 2021 Sienna Hybrid owners (like Tellvia & Kevin) have removed the bolted middle & rear seats at their own risks to make their Siennas into camper vans!

Toyota Sienna 2021 – Camping Conversion Design Tips and TutorialBy Tellvia

2021 Toyota Sienna Van Life Second and Third Row Seats Removed

I am reaching out to you Nicky as a way to get the Toyota Woodland designers attention! Please feel free to forward this email message to them.

Sincerely,

– Jody

Author & creator of Micro van life

Tiny Homes for local homeless recipients

With more evictions looming, cities like Wilmington, North Carolina & Springfield, Missouri have leaned forward in helping their homeless populations find affordable housing. Two doctors went before local hospital & city council members to raise money for a tiny home community called Eden Village. In 2020, the marvelous city of Wilmington followed in Springfield’s footsteps. They raised over $500K for 32 tiny homes, 400 square feet in size. You can read more about this wonderful community on their website: https://edenvillageusa.org/wilmington-nc/

Wilmington, North Carolina has a current population of 126K residents. There is a waiting list for homeless people hoping to get selected for one of the 32 tiny homes. It won’t happen overnight. A person must submit an application after being homeless on the streets of Wilmington one year or longer. This prevents outside applicants from overloading the selection process.

Teardrop Trailer solution

In the interim, Springfield Missouri has come up with a clever way to safely shelter homeless people on waiting lists. They purchased 7 teardrop trailers for $6K each and have established a safe campsite with toilets, sinks, and laundry facilities. Route66 Teardrop campsite charges $10 per night and their trailers are sanitized after each use. Motorcycle riders & interstate travelers can also rent a teardrop trailer on a nightly basis, when available.

Source: https://amp.news-leader.com/amp/3932785001

The Route66 campsite has become so popular & successful, they received $60K in funding from the city of Springfield for 10 more teardrop trailers!

Source: https://www.route66news.com/2021/01/28/revive-66-campground-is-getting-10-more-teardrop-trailers/amp/

Campsite location is: 3839 W. Chesnut Expressway (aka Route 66) in Springfield Missouri 65802.

Teardrop Trailer solution is ingenious because it immediately fulfills a housing need while fundraising, city permits, building codes, construction, etc. can be completed for the more permanent, Eden Villages.

It breaks my heart that wealthier, large cities like Oceanside, California and my former city residence – Sacramento have not followed in the footsteps of other tiny home communities! Many of our metropolitan cities continue to let human beings live rough on the streets like wild animals inside collapsible tents! Find a vacant lot, add some portable toilets, and hand-washing stations, and a few teardrop trailers. Tap into local volunteers and homeless advocates to help manage these encampments. And ensure rules are followed, which is the most difficult challenge.

Van Life Advocacy

If you’re wondering how a micro van life blog is related to tiny living, I suggest you listen to Carol (full-time Van Lifer) in Oceanside California advocating for a vacant lot where her nomad friends can park at night – sleeping inside their own vans. https://youtu.be/utz76UP_GLo

Carol is simply asking for a vacant lot that’s safe to park overnight. She didn’t request porta-potties or hand-washing stations because van nomads are typically self-sufficient! How difficult can it be for city council members to find an empty parking lot for overnight van & vehicle parking? Perhaps local churches could allow use of their empty lots during the week?

Debbie S. lives in her tiny van full-time and is one of my favorite van dwellers! She equipped her van on a small budget: https://youtu.be/vkXNl-33rG8

Gotta love the Canadian 🍁 camper van builders!

I mentioned in my first blog post that I’m approaching six decades of earthly living & over 50 years of accumulative, camping experiences. My parents bought our first Banner travel trailer in 1970 when my baby sister was two years old. I remember her soft skin getting attacked by mosquitoes. Her yelling: “Daddy…skitters bite me!”. Poor kid swelled up like a red balloon. Years later, I discovered female mosquitoes (the biters) love O positive blood🩸My entire birth family (all 6 of us) have this blood type. Research has found that people with Type O blood are almost twice as attractive to mosquitoes than those with Type A blood; Type B people were in the middle. Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/reason-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-others-4858811

Growing up in Ohio, my parents often traveled to pristine, well-stocked, Canadian lakes to camp & fish. Canadians also maintained a great reputation for RV, travel trailer, & van conversions. The states of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio love selling campers with interiors manufactured or built in Canada 🇨🇦. Customer satisfaction is important to them.

Let me introduce you to a Canadian company (in Quebec) called Freeway Camper Kit. They sell pre-made, camper conversion kits for many types of vehicles. The one I particularly like is a Weekender kit called Nanaimo, especially designed for Dodge Caravans & Chrysler Town & Country vans.

**Table included but not a 2 burner stove**

https://www.freewaycamperkit.com/en/nanaimo/

Call it karma or bad luck, but I have spent the past 5 days suffering from relentless mosquito bites. They seem particularly bad this year from all the rain. Ohio corn crops were head tall…beyond the “Knee high by Fourth of July” seasonal expectations. Central Ohio resembles wet Hawaii, with cooler temperatures. It rains so often here, most people don’t need lawn sprinklers. But I digress. I keep an older 2010 Chrysler Town & Country passenger van inside my Ohio condo garage. It pulls a family boat with its 3.8 liter, V6 engine. Used vehicles with over 100K miles, (especially passenger & cargo vans) have skyrocketed in price due to current vehicle part shortages & higher demands for used vehicles. Source: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/16/success/prices-for-used-cars-with-over-100000-miles-feseries/index.html

Family members have nicknamed my Chrysler van with 125K miles “Bubba”. They like to borrow “Bubba” to haul items, move furniture, go to nearby lakes & garage sales. No one wants me to sell “Bubba” in 2021.

**Camping in Bubba at the 2021 OhioLina Bluegrass festival**

I almost purchased a Freeway raw wood conversion kit for $1200 USD, not including the $150 shipping fee to Ohio. Of course, it’s currently on back order and not available until September 2021. The Nanaimo kit looks the easiest to install as a Weekender package: https://youtu.be/Bfd4uNVAYtE

Initially, I thought I’d love to drive the 1200 mile round-trip in my Ram Promaster City camper van from North Carolina to Ohio when visiting family 3-4 times per year. However, the 1200 mile round trip is already getting old & tiresome. So I’ve decided to keep “Bubba” and covert it to a part-time camper van to use at Ohio state parks, local campsites, on ski trips, and Amish shopping adventures.

If you have an older Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Element, Toyota Sienna, Ford Transit Connect, etc. you might want to consider the Canadian Freeway kits which look better than most DIY builds on a budget! Freeway uses raw or stained birch wood for their kits. They are reasonable priced, modular, and can be easily installed & disassembled when not camping or living in your vehicle.

https://m.youtube.com/c/FreewayCamperKitYourRoadtripexpert/videos

Electric Nissan NV200 Camper Van

In “My Two Cents” blog post, I salivated over the American designed, Recon Envy NV200 popup camper van which has now risen to $60K dollars in U.S. currency. It’s being converted in Southern California and at a new, second facility in Michigan. Thinking further down the road, what is the most fuel efficient, micro camper van available for purchase today?

**Electric van otherwise known as the e-NV200**

Meet the e-NV200 Sussex Campervan currently available for sale in Europe, but not in the United States! I could fly to the U.K. and buy one for almost $60K pounds which amounts to approximately $82K in U.S. dollars. Of course, this does not include VAT or freight charges to bring it back to America. Buying one in Germany would ensure the steering wheel is on the left side like here in the States. However, it’s simply a pipe dream. I would need to win a super mega lottery to afford another van. I’m still paying off a 2020 Ram Promaster City bank loan I incurred 8 months ago. But it’s fun to dream bigger & better! And discover new features and technological advances.

Source: https://www.sussexcampervans.com/our-vans/e-nv200-campercar

Look how efficiently the interior & electric components are arranged inside the e-NV200 micro camper van! It has enough lithium battery power to operate a blow dryer, electric cooktop, refrigerator, & coffee maker. And both front seats swivel 360 degrees! You seldom find rotating front seats on micro vans sold in America.

What is the equivalent gas mileage per gallon for the all electric Nissan e-NV200? According to the nextgreencar.com website, it gets 153 equivalent mpg! However, the additional weight of a camper van conversion and any high speed acceleration will negatively impact this rating. In their video, Sussex claims their e-NV200 camper van gets at least 130 miles on a full charge and can achieve more distance when driving at low speeds, around town.

It’s true that Europe is further along in having available, electric charging stations than most of the United States except for maybe California, Oregon, and Washington. Several Costco stores now have charging stations. Why isn’t the United States going to import the e-NV200 here in 2021 or next year? Perhaps it’s because American big oil is somehow blocking or lobbying it from happening? And Europe, especially the U.K. is 10 years ahead of America in micro van conversions because of economic necessity! For example, a liter of gasoline currently costs $1.85 USD equivalent in Great Britain which equates to $6.99 or almost $7 per gallon! When I was in Venice Italy three years ago, a liter of gasoline was not much cheaper. We’ve been spoiled for a long time here in America with lower gasoline prices…which are quickly rising everywhere!

Because of web sharing sites, information has increased exponentially in the past decade. American Nomads who camp or reside in hot climates have discovered that hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Sienna & Prius can run air conditioning all night, for a dollar or two. About every hour or so, the gasoline engine will turn on by itself to recharge the vehicle’s battery pack. Hybrids & electric vehicles are literally “generators on wheels”.

Bob Wells, (creator of CheapRVLiving), gives a tour of Sue Ann’s hybrid Toyota Prius camping vehicle with rear tent. The Prius gets approximately 45 to 50 miles per gallon. It uses lithium batteries kept charged by the alternator and a regenerative braking system. Prius & Sienna hybrids do not require plug-in, electric charging times like the e-NV200 camper & Pacifica hybrid vans.

Mini-T Camper Van

**Mini-T** **on a Ford Transit Connect Chassis**

When I started my online search for the perfect, affordable, micro camper, I randomly stumbled onto Mini-T advertised on Craigslist.com in several metropolitan cities throughout the United States. I saw a used Mini-T with low mileage that almost tempted me into purchasing it three years ago.

https://www.dlm-distribution.com/

490 Scott St, Lake Crystal, MN 56055

Dave and Candy Mellon established their camper van conversion business in Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 2006. Dave is a military veteran who offers a small discount to other veterans who order new Mini-T camper vans from him. I’m not sure if I would’ve received a military discount on a used Mini-T. By the time I decided to look at it in person, used Mini-T had sold quickly online. Since the Pandemic of 2020, I’ve only seen new Mini-T’s with low miles advertised on the DLM Distribution website.

Increasing prices

Prices of new & used vehicles have drastically increased to include bike racks & camping equipment! In fact, RV sales & rentals have jumped over 170% since the Pandemic began in 2020. The majority are first time buyers & renters. Source: https://www.wafb.com/2020/05/25/rv-sales-jump-during-coronavirus-pandemic-says-association/

Why I decided not to buy a Mini-T camper van in 2020

I needed a newer micro van, daily driver that could fit inside a standard 7’ garage. The van also needed to get fantastic gas mileage in town & during interstate driving (i.e. road trips). Yet the thought of hauling around a microwave and television inside a camper van seemed too Yuppie, economically privileged to me, unless I was downsizing to “tiny living” and it served as my only home on wheels! Since full-time van life was not my main objective, I hesitated on the Mini-T conversion. And decided to buy a new Promaster City cargo van in Portland Oregon. And let Cascade Campers convert it to a micro RV in California. I’m happy with my choice and so is my savings account.

I hope Baby Boomers & others living the Nomad van life out of financial necessity can one day sell their older camper vans and upgrade to something like a Ford Transit Connect Mini-T, equipped with a Dometic refrigerator, sink with electric pump, solar panels, microwave, large screen TV, DVD player, roof vent fan, 2000 watt inverter, trailer hitch, LED lighting, and other fabulous amenities. If “tiny van living” is your dream, take a close look 👀 at the Mini-T.

At an entry cost of $55K with available financing, Mini-T may be the current lap of luxury in a micro RV conversion package. Imagine watching “Outlander” or “The Chosen” off-grid with a low profile, RV antenna barely noticeable on the van’s roof top. Load up your favorite snacks and beverages by accessing a rear door or reaching for them inside the van. The bed is six feet long and 43” wide, almost identical to Cascade’s bed dimensions.

**Inside Mini-T Ford Transit camper van**

It has so many goodies I should list them below from the DLM-Distribution web page:

Ford Transit Connect Mini T’s are offered in many vibrant colors: https://youtu.be/87xPJsxc6-s

I like how the Mini-T has screened material with magnets to hold side window panels, (outside the van). Magnets will leave a grayish mark on white paint if there’s no protective material over the magnets. It happened to me with my 12 states & counting, magnet collection leaving marks on my van’s metallic interior.

This is the Titanium, top of the line Mini-T with heated leather seats, navigation, FOB, and remote starting: https://youtu.be/hMxkgTOGAvA

Note: Prices listed in this blog are date sensitive. I cannot predict future price increases after my posts are published.