ot: 4 years in a camper van

[Kyle h]

My wife and I rented a VW California for our Honeymoon in Spain and spent 2 weeks driving around riding bikes across the country. It was an absolute blast. We’ve talked about buying one here but the market on them is insane right now so we decided to wait for another year or so when they are no longer the hot item and people who shanks 10s of thousands of dollars in them are suddenly looking for a way out.

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by jimmy-moots

You would want to investigate a dual battery setup with a second battery that’s designed to run appliances (not crank a motor)

Yup, that would be a deep discharge battery that an RV would have. Lots of options, mostly dependent on size. For example, my trailer has a small Trojan 24MTX battery that will get me by one night, possibly two nights with very careful power use (i.e. none) so that the battery level doesn't go below 50%.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Kyle h

My wife and I rented a VW California for our Honeymoon in Spain and spent 2 weeks driving around riding bikes across the country. It was an absolute blast. We’ve talked about buying one here but the market on them is insane right now so we decided to wait for another year or so when they are no longer the hot item and people who shanks 10s of thousands of dollars in them are suddenly looking for a way out.

i dont think you can buy a VW California in the US, can you?

Ironic as it's called the California too, ha.

[Exonerv]

Originally Posted by jimmy-moots

You would want to investigate a dual battery setup with a second battery that’s designed to run appliances (not crank a motor)

I ran it off the main battery for almost 2 years as I keep a jump starter in the van for emergencies. I rarely ever had to use it.

However, I stumbled on another solution when my computer UPS died and I ordered a $20 replacement battery. This set-up is completely portable and can be taken out of the van and used on a picnic table. It can run the fan on low for 3 nights before needing to be charged.

I mounted the fan on a piece of firm rubber. The base is super handy.

I'm also using window screens with magnets. My son bought a mesh bug screen for $10 that he drapes over the tailgate when cooking in buggy areas.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[weisan]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing your experience.

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

i dont think you can buy a VW California in the US, can you?

Ironic as it's called the California too, ha.

Nope. Here's an article about the van and its unavailability in the US. Funny, the article is >1 year old and still gets comments.

I saw one (the non-camper) while waiting for a ferry in Croatia a couple of years ago and wanted one. Nice size, great utility.

[paredown]

Originally Posted by merlinmurph

Nope. Here's an article about the van and its unavailability in the US. Funny, the article is >1 year old and still gets comments.

I saw one (the non-camper) while waiting for a ferry in Croatia a couple of years ago and wanted one. Nice size, great utility.

We admired the previous generation at the Frankfurt Auto show (2004?) that was also not imported into the US -- this was the T5 generation, while the article is about the updated T6. (There were also other Euro boutique makers of conversion vans that were even nicer!)

What the article leaves out is the 'chicken tax'--a 25% tariff on light trucks--that acts as a barrier to entry for any light truck in the US--which is why the Sprinters were shipped partially assembled as full passenger vans and then finished/stripped in the US until 2006, and Chrysler Promasters are still doing.

This plus the strength of the Euro has meant that the VWs would be crazy expensive in the US. The other issue though is VW of America has made the wrong calls pretty much continually for the past couple of decades...

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by steveoz

that sounds awesome - but wonder what they did for money - gas and food are not free....

A story heard many times and basically a cliche at this point. Trust funders influencing on Instagram. Look at me! Be like me! But.....

"Halfway through that road trip, Drew was offered the opportunity of a lifetime. A company previously owned by his family was restructured, sold and in need of a new office manager, a position that could be fulfilled anywhere with an internet connection. Drew was the perfect fit for the role and, along with the small sum we make from some fun social media collaborations and our Amazon shop, we were ― and still are ― able to pursue roads that stretch far beyond our home country."

Haha, opportunity of a lifetime. It's called an inheritance, lady.

This article should be balanced by the many I've read about older Boomers who lost their jobs and had enough money to buy a camper to live as migrants as they travel the country in search of temporary work, like Amazon warehouses and, yes, picking fruits and vegetables. But that won't sell very well on Instagram.

[William]

Drove by this place last week, had to stop and get a shot of all those pretty Vanagons all in a row...




W.