If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
Photo by Rory SavatgyFrom ski area parking lots to highway pull-offs across the continent, the van lifestyle made popular in the ’60s is experiencing a massive resurgence. Adventure hounds of all ages have found that the lack of rent afforded by a home on wheels allows them to chase powder all winter and live at the base of their favorite crag all summer. Weekend warriors are branching out from the off-white RV to more quirky, stylish or cheaper options for family getaways. Meanwhile, droves of people are downsizing to tiny homes to eschew big mortgages and enjoy a life that is simpler and less driven by consumption.
Several of these enlightened nomads circled their rigs for a gypsy-style gathering at the 5Point Film Festival’s “Van Life Rally” in Bellingham in October. Here’s a look at a few of the rigs that were there, along with some thoughts from people who have left mortgages, rents or hotel rooms in the dust of their rolling home.
Vehicle: 2004 Sprinter 140 with five-cylinder diesel engine.
Setup: Mercedes Sprinters are the envy of every van-lifer because they’re so well made.
Pros: Dependability, performance, comfort, aesthetics, safety and low cost of maintenance.
Cons: Steep sticker price. May induce drool from onlookers.
Owners: Chad and Brooke Wurtz and two sons.
Use: Family mountain biking, skiing and climbing trips.
Advice: “For us, modular is better. Being able to push things aside to fit bikes and gear is helpful. Also, save money by doing the work yourself.” – Chad Wurtz
Vehicle: 1971 VW Vanagon converted into a camper.
Setup: Along with the unique style and quirky air-cooled engine comes admission into the friendly VW community.
Pros: Efficient, reliable and modular German design with plenty of comforts and hippy vibes.
Cons: Can be pricey to purchase and fix. Speed and safety are limited by old school technology.
Owners: Dylan and Jen Kilmer and 1-year-old daughter Hazel.
Use: Weekend and vacation adventures.
Ace-in-the-hole: Dylan is a mechanic.
Advice: “Remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination… ‘cause the journey takes a long time!” – Jen Kilmer
Vehicle: 34-foot Blue Bird bus with Chevy 450 four-block engine
Setup: Short or long, buses provide a bigger space than vans to customize for your needs
Pros: Room for activities
Cons: Poor gas mileage, hard to park
Owner: McKai Morgan
Use: Home
Time spent living in bus: Seven months
Cost/benefit analysis: McKai got a great deal up front, paying $3,500 for a good running bus with wood interior paneling already installed. This is offset by the increased cost of road trips at 7 mpg, but without a monthly rent payment, McKai comes out way ahead.
Future plans: A winter trip up the powder highway for skiing, and a summer trip to Haida Gwaii for surfing.
Advice: “Find a bus that has been fleet-maintained by a school district to make sure it’s in good shape mechanically.” – McKai Morgan
Setup: A simple plywood platform in the bed of a pickup truck, with a canopy for a roof, gives you a sheltered bed with storage space underneath.
Pros: Simple, efficient and cheap.
Cons: The space is your bedroom, making the world your living room. Or is that a pro?
Vehicle: Ford F-150
Owner: Kelsey Ball
Vehicle name: Pepper
Use: Home, kitchen, gear shed and ongoing art project.
Time spent living out of the truck: One year.
Word to the wise: “Check for leaks! My topper was a junkyard find and the gaskets were shot (something I found out under heavy rains while camped out in the redwoods last winter). I have had good luck with silicone sealant lining the window gaskets and roof rack bolts. You'll need to replace the sealant after about a year, as it tends to shrink in the summer.”
– Kelsey Ball.
Setup: A rough and rugged truck bed camper built with scrap 2x4s and plywood.
Pros: Quick and cheap to build. Standing room, a wide bed and many homey comforts in a 5'x 6’ space.
Cons: Meticulous construction takes a backseat to getting it built before the rainy season.
Vehicle: 1996 Mazda pickup.
Owner: Stamati Anagnostou.
Use: Home and base for climbing trips.
Time spent living out of the truck: Four months.
Favorite climb sent at Index while living out of truck: “Model Worker [5.11c] for sure. Sonny Trotter saw me on it and said that it looked awesome. Huge compliment.” – Stamati Anagnostou
Setup: Fine woodworking and creative designs maximize space and lightness on a pickup truck bed.
Pros: Light and leak-proof; conversation starter.
Cons: A time-consuming labor of love that is never truly finished.
Vehicle: 1998 Ford F-150.
Owners: Seth and Elise Daily.
Use: Former home.
Time spent living out of truck: 2 years.
Story behind the round door: “One buddy was a big Lord of the Rings fan, and he said to build a round door. Another buddy said it would be a huge headache, and to just build a normal rectangular door. I flipped a coin and the round door won.” – Seth Daily
Setup: Prefabricated camper trucks are as varied as their homemade cousins.
Pros: Built-in plumbing, heating and furniture add convenience and luxury to the go-anywhere 4x4 transporter.
Cons: Can be pricey to purchase and maintain.
Vehicle: 1982 Toyota Chinook 4x4 Diesel Pop-Top.
Owner: Dana Thornton.
Use: Adventure assault vehicle and home base.
Quote: “It gets great gas mileage and it can go anywhere. It needs a little work, but that’s part of the adventure.”
– Dana Thornton
