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A friend of mine came up with a great idea to resolve possible turn around problems with his trailed camper. He added a trailer hitch to the back of it as well as to the front one that comes on the trailer. That way he can turn around his SUV and reattach the trailer from the back to drive out of places where he has no room to turn around both the SUV with the trailer attached. He has taken this pop up camper to Alaska and back from Texas twice.
Bruce, thanks for the response. I did think about, at one time, towing a teardrop but decided I would not be happy in that space nor would I be happy dragging something like that around and having to unhook and hook it all the time. I went ahead with the Sprinter van conversion, why leave all that money to my one son and his wife to spend...I've decided to spend it instead and Make Life an Adventure. I got the 5-year or 100,000 mile warranty, which, being 71, I think is more than my warranty allowance at this time, and I'm hoping the van holds up completely during my tenure. My conversion build is underway and I'm getting excited about it. It will be a "boondock" type conversion so I can live with the solar powering the battery for several days with no problem and no need to plug in or hook anything up. I'm planning my first trip the first week of December, several days going from wildlife refuge to wildlife refuge in Northern CA. I'll start at Gray Lodge and eventually get down to Consumnes River Preserve and head home from there. This should give me an idea of what I need to change. The builder is great to work with and will change things up for me when needed.
If you read the BLM regs it mentions having to store and carry out your feces if not self-contained. I would not enjoy having bags of feces in the vehicle where we would be eating and sleeping. When we would car and tent camped it was at locations where there were public toilets even if it was only a pit toilet.That’s not accurate, here’s a link to BLM policies regarding human waste for dispersed camping:
When Nature Calls... Properly Dispose of Human Waste | Bureau of Land Management
When Nature Calls... Properly disposing of human waste is important to avoid polluting water sources, minimizing the chances of spreading disease and maximizing the rate of decomposition.www.blm.gov
There is no requirement to have an RV or vehicle with an integrated toilet to camp on BLM land.
I’ve tent camped, truck camped and van camped on BLM land for decades often in the company of a couple of friends who are BLM employees. Responsible waste management is required which varies by terrain and soil type but dispersed camping is not limited to RVs.
I'm on several camping/van sites for women and I am shocked at how many women are living full time in the type of van you are talking about. They buy all kinds of mini vans and build them out theirselves or hire a friend to help. Some of them are just using the van for camping. Check out Facebook van sites for ideas. The Sprinter does seem BIG to me but in reality I think it is mostly tall, really tall! But at 5'8" I'm able to comfortably move about so that works well for me. I'm trying not to get stooped over as I age and a shorter van would not help that goal at all! I like comfort so went for the whole shebang, going out in style and comfort. Good luck with your van and the build-out. Maybe it will improve my photographs!!
I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the photos from your adventures! Have a great time. I'm glad you found a comfortable solution.
Good for you! Be sure to photograph the various stages of the remodel. We would love to follow your journey!
It’s what we do…And isn't that always the case...we digress on these posts....
There are regulations for WAG bags or similar in specific areas with concentrated use areas such as river corridors or where soil is limited. Certainly not the case on all BLM lands and only on a very small percentage of those public lands.
I had thoughts of a Sprinter (type), but I think the versatility of the slide-in is better for my needs.
I am a solo traveler, unless you count my pup! I started out by searching for used vans, including on RV trader, and also searching for pre-built vans to see what was offered. Lots of choices out there to meet all needs. In the end, my choice was to buy a cargo van and have it built to my liking based on how I thought I'd use it. Once I decided that I research online for builders, across the U.S,. and attended a weekend van conversion event. I then choose a builder, who helped me to buy the van at a pretty good discount, and the dealer delivered the van to the builder. I figure if it doesn't work out I'll sell it and start over with a lot more experience than I started out with. I think I'll like it but the next year will tell.
And I still think as a long time RVer that the convenience of a single vehicle and parking at the trailhead will get outweighed by the inconvenience of breaking camp every morning…although with fresh and waste tanks then the only things really needing to be done are power cable and whatever leveling pads were put out but the drawing of attention at a lightly/not at all patrolled trailhead makes the likelihood of break in higher than in an RV park, especially if it's obvious it's a live in van which the A/C on the roof, possible awning, seeing table/bed/closet through the windows. I wonder if a Sprinter van can tow a small car on a trailer…surely you can get a trailer hitch and something like a SmartCar or Cooper mini on a trailer seems reasonable for most towing capacity limits.
I agree, skip the wrap for this reason.
Hi. No trip this year with my van as now it will not be completed until January. In January I will be taking a trip to several California wildlife refuges in a van rental at the same place where my van is being built out, at no charge, since my van will not be done in time. I was chatting with someone on the trip I'm on, Bosque del Apache and Ladd S. Gordon wildlife refuges in New Mexico (staying in motel) who has been traveling in his van, same size and make, for five years and still loving it so I'm hoping it ends up that way for me.
Great news! Thanks for the update! Wishing you happy holidays and a wonderful 2025 full of happy traveling experiences!
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I keep seeing this statement and shaking my head. My partner and I love traveling our 144 Sprinter. Plenty of room to edit together at the table, or if feeling lazy, in the queen sized bed. To imply that a slide in camper is more efficient for two people is silly. Biased yes, but I researched ( and used) both approaches in depth before choosing.A lone photographer needs far less interior space than two people. For two people a van leaves little space to work on gear or on image files. For my wife and I the cab over slide in camper worked well as did a Class C motorhome. These can be rented at places in Alaska and Canada and in the continental USA so one can fly to a nearby airport and get their RV and stock up with food and be on the way the same day one lands.
For us we have gone to a simpler setup with the 4WD pickup and crew cab and the metal double drawers in the bed that I bought a decade ago. We then stay at places that have a mini kitchen so we can fix most of our meals and avoid restaurant food as much as possible. Not perfect but we avoid having to maintain and store a RV 365 days of the year.
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