Rootless Living Issue 11 | Sept / Oct 2021

WE STRIVE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE.

A FAMILY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW

Having a Grand Design is more than just owning an RV. It’s an experience of belonging to a vibrant, active and supportive family.

RAISING THE BAR IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

Every Grand Design RV is backed with a class-leading 3-year limited structural warranty and a customer service team known for doing the right thing.

SCAN QR CODE WITH YOUR CAMERA APP

TO LEARN MORE...

FREE OVERNIGHT CAMPING AT 2000+ UNIQUE

DESTINATIONS

We are a network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite RVers to stay in 1000+ stunning camping sites. The $79 yearly membership gives members unlimited access to stay overnight at any one of our Host‘s locations. We kindly ask our members to support their Hosts by purchasing one of their local products with each stay.

33

Discovering Vanlife

There’s no one-size-fits-all to vanlife and Emily’s journey to solo traveling offered a steep learning curve.

70

Precious Cargo

Jake & Nicoll are living tiny - with a wolf - and a custombuilt cargo trailer to fit their adventurous lifestyle.

73

Gone Scamping

Renovating a travel trailer was much harder than one couple anticipated, but they love their results!

TRAVEL

WORK + EXPLORE

17

Coffee To Go

Autobahn Coffee: bringing you hand crafted coffee from a vintage Volkswagen bus.

22 Year Long Weekend Casting agents from Los Angeles take to the open road.

59 Road Work Ahead

Where do nomads work in their RVs?

Compare different office systems from some or our readers.

26

Sur-Ron Electric Dirt Bike

Why an electric bike - or motorcycle - is a popular option for travelers.

48 Big Bend National Park

Gabe & Rocio share their two-day itinerary for Big Bend National Park.

50 Utah’s Mighty Five

Your Travel Guide to Utah’s Best National Parks.

FROM THE FOUNDERS

IN THIS ISSUE you’ll find some really inspiring renovations, but our favorite renovation is the new look to the Rootless Living Magazine.

Earlier this year we hired our Managing Editor, Jess Stiles. Jess has done an amazing job collaborating with our contributors and finding people with really inspiring or encouraging digital nomad stories and lifestyles. We feel like the magazine's voice gets better and better as we continue to stay focused on our mantra … FOR DIGITAL NOMADS, BY DIGITAL NOMADS.

In June we hired Melinda Gonzalez to come in as our Art Director. As an experienced graphic designer she’s worked with multiple magazines and has already made huge strides in bringing Rootless Living’s visual voice to life.

As we went over the proofs for this issue we couldn’t believe

this is the same Rootless Living. It is everything we wanted it to be, but didn’t have the skill set in house when we started. There is a lesson here folks, sometimes there is only so far you can take something before you have to partner with people who can help you take it to the next level.

Lot’s of amazing changes have happened in the last few months and we have more coming out before the end of the year. Let us introduce you to both Jess and Melinda.

Until the next issue … stay Rootless.

Demian Ross, Publisher @demianross demian@rootlessliving.com

Nikki Kirk, Editor-in-Chief @nikkirk7 nikki@rootlessliving.com

Jess Stiles, Managing Editor

Jess and her husband, Greg, have been living and traveling in their self-converted van for over 3 years. In addition to being passionate about living a minimalist and alternative lifestyle, she enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, fishing and mountain biking. She and Greg share their journey on Instagram and YouTube @drifter.journey and Drifter Journey

Melinda Gonzalez, Art Director

Melinda and her fiancé, Jason, have been full-timing for one year in their class A motorhome. They are joined by their goldendoodle, Charlie, and their two cats, who are loving RV life! Melinda has been a graphic designer for over 10 years. Originally from Louisiana, she and her fiancé love to cook cajun cuisine and share with their RV neighbors! Follow their adventures on Instagram @BayouDrifters

DIGITAL NOMAD DAYmeet-up

WE’VE BEEN WANTING to host meet-ups for a while now, and while the pandemic delayed us last year, we made up for it this year with our first #RootlessLiving Meetup for National Digital Nomad Day!

On August 6-8th, fellow digital nomads made their way to Gardiner, Montana for a weekend filled with laughter, great food, white water rafting, and happy hour games that left us all with lasting memories and new friendships.

While we’ll be celebrating Digital Nomad Month every August and National Digital Nomad Day on August 8th, keep an eye out as we plan to organize meet-ups all around the country in 2022.

THE FEED

“It’s so insanely cool to see all the different people and ways others travel and live!”

@our_rv_days

@roamsweetroamers

@airstreamin.brb

“Summer outdoor movie nights are a family favorite. The kids' pure excitement at this little switch from indoor to outdoor brings me so much joy.”

@minihousebigliving

“According to chemistry, alcohol is a solution. Who else has a “mini bar” in their tiny home?”

@our1chance

“Arches National Park - Going in February was perfect! The crowds were few and the trails were epic.”

“This is a moment we won’t surely forget...the moment we crossed into the shallow waters of the Florida Keys.”

Generously OIL your skillet

Gently flatten amd spread your dough in the pan - it doesn’t have to touch the sides, but it can, and thinner cooks faster.

Put your skillet over the fire for about 5-7 minutes, take an oven mitt (heavy duty if you have it) and a spatula with you. Watch the fire and rotate your pan to try and get an even cook. Carefully lift the crust up and peek at the bottom of your dough once or twice. You are going for a lightly golden color across most of it.

FLIP it.

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

WITH FOOD

By Erin Davy

AS SOMEONE WHO loves food, in all facets, my favorite thing is to use it to bring folks together.

We’ve been living “in community” off and on this past year and it has changed so many things about the way we live and the accoutrements that we carry in our tiny house on wheels. As we designed our van, we only thought about ourselves and how we live and travel. But, what we’ve realized is how much we enjoy being with others and the aspects of living in a community, doing community meals and hanging out with other people, truly living out of doors. So we’ve adjusted over time to make gathering easier and more fun for all.

One of the most obvious changes has been tweaking and adjusting our now very famous and popular pizza night. I have a huge toaster oven and I can easily make pizza in the van for myself and Joe. However, making it for a crowd is a challenge I inadvertently took on when

it became apparent that everyone in our “van village” at Skooliepalooza needed pizza in their lives.

I’m definitely not an expert at camp cooking, but I do use cast Iron on the regular, so when a picture of a skillet pizza showed up in my feed, I was more than a little intrigued. I stocked the van pantry with a variety of goodies and the fridge

SAUCE it. TOP it.

Let your imagination run wild!

Put it back on the fire to cook the bottom surface, as well as the middle of the dough, which is why thinner dough makes this easier & faster. You want your cheese to melt and all of your toppings to heat through. Cover with foil to help accomplish this, or if you have a Dutch oven lid that can go on the fire, then use it! Pro Tip: Have the lid on the grate the whole time and get it as hot as you can. Let cook for about 7-10+ minutes, as there are so many factors: thickness of dough, the amount of toppings, etc., so check it and use your judgement. When it looks like something you want to eat...take it off, plate it, cut it and devour it!

It doesn’t matter if you buy a premixed dough from the store, a mix off the shelf, a sourdough starter or yeast, or gluten free or whole wheat or whatever you want to use. This method is very basic, and should apply to any type of dough. It may take a little tweaking, so go easy & test it along the way. You can do this! Most of all, gather your ‘tribe’ and have fun.

with a variety of cheeses. I whipped up a batch of dough one night for us and some friends. It was SO GOOD. It was the ultimate comfort food, yet elevated by the toppings we chose. Also, eating with new friends while boondocking at a random Texas overlook always makes dinner especially delicious. The following week I decided to try it over the fire, and ended up serving about 26 hungry folks!

If you haven’t been to any gatherings yet, I’m here to tell you that in this

community, people show up. We spread the word that everyone should bring whatever they had on hand for toppings and their cast iron skillets. Someone manned the fire, someone provided their cooking grate, several folks brought cast iron skillets, and many toppings appeared in the buffet assembly line. Everyone went down the line to top their dough when the time was right. I stood by to give instructions, but it was truly a DIY Pizza Party, and everyone loved it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erin Davy is a real food & farmers market enthusiast, who’s work in catering, restaurants and in-home as a personal chef was her means to extracting herself from what became ‘the grind’ after 17 years in the corporate world of tourism and travel. She and her husband, Joe Bacon prefer to explore the world in their own way. Together, with their adorable doxie, Finn, they’ve been full-time since April 2020. You can follow their antics, van/ camp-food other “adVANtures” on Instagram

@thebaconsrebellion

Coffee

TO GO

For Autobahn Coffee, Experience Is Everything

By Isak Kvam

TAKE ONE LOOK at Chad

Ellingson’s Volkswagen, and you’ll determine pretty quickly that he knows a thing or two about coffee. Half the vehicle is packed with coffee supplies, the tailgate is down to operate as a mobile brewing station, and “COFFEE” is scrawled in large, white block letters on the pop-up.

Autobahn Coffee is a mobile outdoor coffee shop Chad runs out of his ‘72 Volkswagen Westfalia. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Chad brings his passion for simple, no-nonsense quality coffee to outdoor events across the region — and provides a meeting space for like-minded, caffeinated community members to gather.

This is the fourth year that Chad has operated Autobahn Coffee in his van,

but his passion for coffee stretches back even further. Chad’s love for coffee first began while he moved from Oregon to Sweden to pursue a master’s degree before “life got in the way.” He discovered the unique Swedish ritual called “fika,” which means that several times a day people pause to take a coffee break with friends and colleagues.

“Coffee becomes an integral aspect of your daily life in Scandinavia, and some of the world's most celebrated coffee roasters are from Nordic countries,” says Chad. Because of their “routines with great tasting coffee, Sweden was an easy place to fall in love with everything coffee.”

Brewing coffee quickly became Chad’s favorite way to start the morning,

We keep things minimal, source quality coffee, and try to LET THE COFFEE itself SHINE.

and since he loves to hike, it also became a non-negotiable item to bring along his hiking trips.

As he came to appreciate the pleasure of brewing and enjoying coffee in the outdoors, he began to scale his coffee-brewing process to provide caffeine in outdoor spaces for others. He even brewed coffee for trekkers at the Fjallraven Classic Sweden, a remote backpacking trip through the wilderness where coffee was air-dropped in 8 kg bags for Chad to brew for participants.

Chad’s passion for travel and craft coffee didn’t stop in Sweden, however, and he soon decided to combine his passions in a new and unique way. When Chad moved back to the PNW, he decided to create a mobile coffee shop that would allow him to provide craft coffee in unique settings, and he settled on joining the Volkswagen community to make it happen.

VW’s have an obvious aesthetic appeal and they’re also immensely functional. The tailgate worked perfectly for installing water lines and adding a Mavam espresso machine, commercial coffee brewers, and even a dual-tap dispenser for serving iced coffee and

and it brings people together to enjoy craft caffeinated beverages.

“My favorite thing about having the coffee bus on the road is providing a spot for fellow travelers to conjugate in the morning, circle around the bus and plan their day over coffee,” Chad explains.

coffee in a unique setting.

kombucha, too. The large bay windows were a must, and the rad factor of the iconic VW bus provides the perfect atmosphere to slow down and enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

“What I didn't anticipate is just how many people in the PNW have owned an old VW in their lifetime,” says Chad. “Loads of customers tell their stories of breaking down with the entire family pushing the bus to an exit. Funny thing is, they always smile while telling these stories, oddly great memories it seems.”

With his VW brewing station dialed, he’s now bringing a cafe quality experience to outdoor spaces wherever he roams. Since the bus doubles as his camper, he’s traveled to places that would never otherwise have craft coffee

While he works at many events and gatherings, he notes that cycling events always amaze him. “They run like clockwork, and the clientele just wants quality espresso and black coffee.” But van gatherings are pretty great, too, thanks to their leisurely pace: “Nobody is in a hurry and will stick around to chat at the coffee bus [sharing] lots of stories from a life on the road.”

While he’s mainly traveled around the PNW as his homebase, he recently spent the winter in Baja, providing espresso in the morning and margaritas in the evening.

For Chad, operating a cafe that’s small on space isn’t a hindrance – it’s an opportunity to focus on the essentials and dial in what’s important to a good coffee experience. “We keep things minimal, source quality coffee, and try to let the coffee itself shine.” The mobile coffeeshop operates with a limited menu, offering espresso, drip coffee, and lattes, and most customers don’t mind fewer choices since they’re excited to have

“Mindset shifts from expecting loads of options to being pleased with whatever is being offered,” says Chad. “If we hold up our end in presenting the coffee correctly, I hope people walk away from Autobahn Coffee recognizing that sometimes stripping things down to basics can offer a richer experience.”

Like living on the road, it’s the experiences — not the things — that matter most.

As for what’s next, Chad has a busy 2021 season planned with Oregon events from April to November before heading south to warmer climates, and where his water pipes don’t freeze, for the winter.

“I’m happy with the balance right now,” Chad laughs. “Selling summer coffee to fill up the coffers for the winter taco & tequila fund.” What could be better than that?

Follow Chad on Instagram

@autobahncoffee

Sometimes stripping things down to basics can offer a RICHER experience.

HAPPY CAMPERS vintage

How A Family’s Camper Renovation Turned into a Passion for RV Restoration

By Marilyn DeBry

IT ALL STARTED with 300 bucks and a wild idea.

In 2016, my husband and I, along with 8 of our 9 children, were planning a 2-week summer vacation in the Midwest. We knew that our budget wouldn’t allow for staying at hotels, so we looked at other options. We considered camping in tents, but after some thought, we decided against it. Two weeks with 10 people exposed to the heat, humidity, rain, and other elements while in a tent would be too difficult, even for our adventurous spirits.

This was the moment my wild idea was born.

I thought to myself, “Why don’t we buy a camp trailer?” At this point, we knew very little about trailers. Neither my husband David or I came from “RV-ing” families. I started looking for trailers on Craigslist and doing some research. After a couple of months, I found a deal on a trailer that I couldn’t pass up, but probably should have. We bought a 1974 single-axle Prowler, sight unseen. Our adult daughter lived near the seller. She borrowed the neighbor’s truck,

grabbed $300 cash, and picked it up for us. It was a worn-out, dirty, water-damaged disaster. But, we had our trailer. And we were excited!

Working on this little trailer as a family was an adventure in itself. Each of our nine children were involved in the renovation, from ages 3 to 20. We spent the next 6 months demoing, cleaning, repairing, building, cursing, sewing, painting, researching, and even getting stitches! But after plenty of ups and downs, lots of elbow grease, and countless hours, we finally had our little vintage trailer ready

Custom vintage fiberglass camper renovation.

for the road. It was more of a challenge than I ever imagined. But it was so much more rewarding than I ever could have hoped. We finished just days before our trip, and our little Prowler performed beautifully. She was just what our family needed, and already so full of memories!

With the completion of our first vintage trailer restoration, I thought the work was done. But time would soon reveal that we had only just begun. This project really opened my eyes to a whole new world of vintage trailers, RV’s and an exciting life full of fun and adventure. After all my hours of research, I became aware of a niche market for restored vintage trailers. I immediately realized that I wanted to fix up another trailer - this time to sell.

So I set my sights on a cute little Road Runner camper with good bones. Within a couple of months, we had her ready to go for her new family. From there, things just continued to develop.

Since beginning 5 years ago, we have bought, renovated, and sold over 50 RVs. It has been a wonderful experience to work on these trailers and to essentially build a small home for our amazing clients. We started our business in Kaysville, Utah, a small town near Salt Lake City. Last year we expanded our team to include Ryan & Chris Inskeep and Aaron & Debbie Barrett, both in East Idaho. We mostly work on smaller vintage trailers, but more recently have grown to include motorhomes, Airstreams, classic trailers, and more. Each RV has a personality that evolves as we work on them. We have sold trailers to clients all over the United States from all walks of life. Families who want to RV full-time, weekend warriors, single moms, recent divorcees, widows wanting to make new memories, even small business owners using them as pop-up shops or Airbnbs. People are using them for home offices or guest rooms, as the increased cost of building materials has made it difficult to add onto their home. It has been

amazing to see all the creative uses for our RVs beyond simply camping.

I noticed a huge market change with the COVID-19 pandemic. With online work and schooling, many people happily joined the rootless living lifestyle. Many people want to live differently, whether that’s due to housing shortages, wanting to chase adventure or other reasons. Ask yourself, what is really important and what can I do without? Of course, this will be different for everyone. But with some deliberate thought and effort, we can each build a life that makes more sense to us. It can be better.

We love this business of renovating RVs. And in between projects, we will be out camping with our families, in the mountains or in our backyards.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marilyn and her family are on Instagram @happycampers.usa and Facebook

@HappyVintageCampers

This travel trailer was one of our first family projects!

YEAR LONG WEEKEND

How Two Casting Managers Took Their Jobs Remote

By Erik Leazure & Giancarlo Damiani

IT DIDN’T TAKE long to learn to connect on Zoom calls and pretend there wasn’t a dog barking or a baby crying in the living rooms of everyone’s homes due to the coronavirus. Flash-forward to present day, and my partner and I have packed up our L.A. apartment, sold our cars for a F-150 truck, and purchased a travel trailer to “ride-out” the pandemic as best we can.

For nearly a decade, both of us have worked in the entertainment business, casting talent for reality television shows. Typically, this is a very in-person career with dozens of faceto-face meetings a day, but with all of Los Angeles practically at a stand still, we were told not to return to the office indefinitely. That was our cue to weigh staying in L.A. v.s. taking a vacation or better yet, traveling full-time on a, “Year Long Weekend.”

Casting for reality television is typically done in a nondescript office building with your whole team within earshot to communicate quickly. Cork boards full of 3x5 index cards with story points plaster nearly every inch of

usable wall space while desks are piled high with printed casting applications to be reviewed, vetted and booked for in-person interviews. Casting producers and associates are constantly making phone calls and talking over one another, the hallways abuzz with voices co-mingling in an unintelligible hum. Over the last few years, casting has started moving to remote interviews, with talent joining Skype video calls instead of driving to a casting call. Not only could more interviews happen in a day, but we were able to cast more of our talent outside of the Los Angeles area. The last step of full remote work was the transition of the employees to work from home also.

We both called our bosses and tried to get an idea of how they might feel about us traveling the U.S., and to our surprise they were 100% on-board with the idea.

Working on the road seemed like an insurmountable problem when we first considered it. How are we supposed to get a signal while 100 miles from any metro area and cell phone signal is all but nil? Do campgrounds have WiFi capable of the speeds required for a quality Zoom

call, let alone an internet connection at all? It turns out, it’s not as difficult as it sounds once you’ve wrapped your head around the equipment and data plans sold by phone carriers. We use a combination of a weBoost RV+ 4G/LTE Booster Antenna, a Verizon 4G Hotspot and two iPhones on Verizon to combat the oftentimes mediocre signal strength we encounter traveling. We’ve noticed that Verizon tends to have the strongest signal everywhere we’ve been, with AT&T coming in second.

For about 3 months prior to our planned departure from Los Angeles, we monitored our average internet usage while at home to determine how much data we consume in a given month; it was surprisingly high. But, most of our usage was streaming Netflix and the like, so removing that from the equation allowed for a reasonable Verizon plan that would be close to our at-home internet costs.

It’s not all roses and butterflies like you might assume if you are scrolling down our Instagram page. There are challenges you can plan for, but the ones that become most frustrating are the ones you can’t. Take our Monday morning drive from one campground to another in Georgia where we planned for about three hours of driving in the early morning to make it to our next spot before our West Coast work hours. We were a mere 30 miles from arriving when our trailer

tire blew out on the highway forcing us off the road to figure out how to change an RV tire. It became immediately apparent that we weren’t going to be able to fix it before we had to start work. So, we shimmied the limping trailer a little farther off the highway for safety, set up our emergency cones and situated ourselves into our little home on wheels with laptops open and

started a Zoom meeting, right on time. We finished changing the tire afterwards and made it to our campground only a few hours later than anticipated.

Thankfully, a huge majority of entertainment companies have adapted well to the transition to digital and remote work. As much as we all want to be back to a “normal” way of life, this is also the one and only opportunity we all might have to re-think the typical 9-5 job and reinvent a better work-life balance.

Today, exactly one year after we left Los Angeles, our co-workers still follow our story as we motor through all the big coastal cities and small rural towns of America. We’ve even inspired a few people to take on their own personal adventures and escape the confines of their big city apartments. What happens next is still up in the air. Though, we do know that even if 2022 brings everyone back to their offices and routine lives of the past, we were able to share an incredible year together.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Erik and Giancarlo both have careers in casting television shows while living & working fulltime in a 2020 Keystone Outback 280URB. They left L.A. to make their way around as much of the lower 48 as they could in a year's time. Their dog, Juno, gets to come along on their adventure too, living her best life going on nearly daily “car rides.” You can follow their journey on Instagram & YouTube @YearLongWeekend

DIRT BIKE ELECTRIC

Off-Grid Emergency Transport and Recreation

By Kayla Hodges

DO YOU WANT the freedom to visit remote, off-grid locations while also mitigating the risks associated with becoming stranded with no cell service? As fairly novice overlanding nomads in a 30-year-old vehicle, we had similar thoughts related to our 4x4 1991 Mitsubishi Delica van. We were worried about breaking down 30 miles down a forest service road with no cell coverage and no one around to help. This led us down a path we’d already explored to some degree: alternate transportation. My partner has extensive experience with dirt bikes, and observing

these as a common solution, that was our first stop during this investigation. Ultimately, we decided against a dirt bike because they weighed 200lbs or more and would be problematic for our small van. Additionally, as I personally have no experience with motorcycles, a larger, more powerful dirt bike was not the ideal situation for a learner.

After some initial research and encouragement from some Sur-Ron enthusiast friends, we decided to purchase a 2020 Sur-Ron Light Bee X electric bike. Sur-Ron is an electric bike company founded in 2014 by three motorcycle

and technology enthusiasts. Seeking to create a versatile, fun, enthusiast level ebike with an emphasis on high performance sport riding, the Sur-Ron X e-dirt bike was born.

There are several attributes that we appreciate. First, it’s great for someone who’s just learning to ride, like me. It’s about as simple as it can get. The right handlebar contains the throttle and front brakes just like a dirt bike. The left handlebar is the rear brake. That’s it! No clutch, no shifting, just simple stop and go. Second, it’s quite compact and light.

Third, this bike can accommodate

both my 6’3”, 190lb boyfriend and my 5’7”, 130lb frame. The weight and size of the rider will affect the bike’s speed and range, but it works for people of many shapes and sizes. At 5’7”, I’m able to sit comfortably on the seat with both feet touching the ground. Fourth, due to the electric motor, it’s quiet. With the Sur-Ron, you can ride nearly silently around a crowded campsite without disturbing other campers on an early morning. Lastly, the Sur-Ron requires very little maintenance. There’s no fuel, no fluids to change, nothing to leak, and no air filters. For a very small van, this has been optimal because we haven’t had to carry these items.

The Sur-Ron is a surprisingly powerful, fun alternative to a dirt bike. You can pop wheelies, run errands, or go explore the backcountry on this bike. They’re an intentional hybrid between a mountain bike and a dirt bike. Many people upgrade and customize theirs with mountain bike parts or other aftermarket modifications.

Being electric, we can use our Lion Energy solar system to charge the bike. You can also charge the battery with a wall plugin or your own solar system and it takes about three and a half hours to charge the 1920 WH (60V, 32Ah) battery to fully charge. We have 300W of solar panels on our van’s roof and 3000W of battery storage. Our power setup strikes an appropriate balance with charging the bike and leaving sufficient power for us to live off-grid.

The bike is street legal, with a max speed of 28 mph, in the same classification as an ebike or moped. This has worked perfectly for us as we’ve discovered trails leading to abandoned mines, beautiful vistas, and places that aren’t accessible with our 4x4 van and would’ve taken all day to explore on foot.

How far it can go is highly variable as well. The bike has two modes. “Eco mode” is more battery friendly as the motor output is limited. In this mode, the advertised range is over 40 miles. In sport mode, and/or by removing the factory speed restriction completely, you unleash the full power of the motor. Consequently, the range is reduced to somewhere near 20 miles. Riding primarily in sport mode through the desert at top speed, my boyfriend gets roughly 18 miles. This is also where the rider’s weight is a significant consideration. At my weight, I’m able to ride considerably farther. To be honest, we haven’t experimented too much with

ELECTRIC BIKE ADVANTAGES FOR TRAVELERS:

Great for someone who’s just learning to ride.

Compact and lightweight.

Can accommodate riders of many sizes.

Requires very little maintenance.

validating the advertised range because neither of us feel like walking the bike back to camp if we run out of battery!

At about 110lbs, this bike is incredibly lightweight. It is lighter than any comparable dirt bike available. Without the battery, the Sur-Ron weighs 80lbs and is practical to haul with just about any type of rig. The battery is 30lbs and easy to handle. We store it in our van, separate from the bike. Besides ease of loading and transporting, the weight is a game changer for someone learning to ride. Trying to navigate a large bike that weighs hundreds of pounds would’ve been intimidating. I’ve even watched my boyfriend flip over backwards while popping a wheelie, and he was able to easily use his arms to push the bike away and prevent it from landing on him.

It’s also easy for our van to haul. Motorcycle carriers are expensive, heavy, or weren’t compatible with our van’s rear hatch door. Bicycle racks couldn’t accommodate the weight or frame or were also very expensive. We ended up with a DIY Frankenstein rack using three inexpensive mountain bike racks combined. While this certainly wasn’t the quickest or easiest solution, it’s been quite functional and has worked out so far.

Although they aren’t cheap, it was the optimal fit for us with respect to weight, practicality, and maintenance. Currently, a new Sur-Ron X Light Bee is $4100 and they can be found used from $3,000 to over $6,000, depending on the upgrades.

There are Sur-Ron Facebook groups where people are buying and selling these bikes. You can also search Craigslist or other buy/sell websites and apps, but Sur-Rons aren’t easy to find. Many of the bikes for sale by owners have different aftermarket upgrades that may be interesting to you. They’ve become quite popular, so your best bet is to do some research so you can jump on an opportunity when you see one!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kayla Hodges is a vanlifer, writer, former soldier, and creator of A Captain’s Log. After finishing her time in the US Army as a company commander, she’s currently living out of her 4x4 Mitsubishi Delica van and traveling the US. Inspired by ideas like self-reliance, off-grid living, and minimalism, she’s incrementally learning to slow down. Kayla’s other focus is providing encouragement to junior military leaders through thought pieces and educational articles in an effort to help others with the complicated and nuanced task of navigating through military organizations. You can follow more of her adventure on Instagram at @kaptain.kayla, acaptainslog.com, or on Facebook - A Captain’s Log

OF CONNECTIVITY

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CALLING WHEN ROOTS COME

Life After Full-Time Travel

By Celeste Orr

IT WAS A rainy Saturday afternoon and I was feeling blue. I decided to hop on Instagram and catch up with a few traveling friends I hadn’t heard from in a while. After a quick scroll, I came up empty. Had they gone dark? Thankfully no. A quick handle search took me right to their profile.

Their RV didn’t appear in the first few photos, so I thought they might be visiting family. But then I saw it – a photo of them standing outside a small bungalow with a key and a SOLD sign – and I knew. Their caption confirmed it – they were off the road, no longer full-timers.

I sent a quick Congrats and called out to my husband, “Hey, do you remember that family traveling in the Jayco with the big white dog? The ones we talked to about the levelers for so long in Moab? You won’t believe this, but they’re off the road. They got a house.”

His reply: “What?! I thought for sure those guys were in it for the long haul.”

And mine: “Well, they traveled for 3 years. Some would say that is the long

haul. I wonder if they’ll miss it.”

I wanted to be happy for them. Scratch that, I was happy for them. But I still couldn’t help thinking we wanderers had lost another good family to the trappings of normal life. I was loving life on the road with my family; I never wanted to leave it. I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever give up the kind of freedom we nomads enjoy.

During our seven years of full-time RV travel, my husband and I played out this scenario over and over again. We’d get to know another traveling couple or family, bond with them over questions about hitches, composting toilets, homeschooling, our love for national parks, or good boondocking spots. We’d stay in touch for a while and then, I wouldn’t see them on Instagram for a few months until, bam, there’s a picture of them selling their RV and holding the key to their new house. Every time, my disappointment came before I could help it, along with a question that kept resurfacing: “Are we still doing the right thing?”

The feeling never lasted long, though. As soon as we were back on an epic hiking trail with our kids, watching a bald eagle fly over our kayaks, or listening to our son talk about how proud he was of his Junior Ranger badges, we were filled with wanderlust all over again.

Even at the six-year mark we knew we needed more living space for our 11 and 14 year old kids than our 30-foot Airstream bunkhouse would allow, we didn’t feel finished with full-time travel. We were rootless for the long haul. Until the roots came calling for us when we least expected it.

After trying boat life and returning to our Airstream, a story I shared in Rootless Living Issue 5, all of a sudden, we started to feel like our season of full-time travel was coming to an end. We found ourselves calling one particular place “home” and wanting to camp there longer and longer. We started talking about what it might feel like to have our own washer and dryer and a few doors that lock. I started dreaming about a

WAYS7

1. Keep taking risks.

2. Get outdoors every day.

3. Stay active.

4. Become a regular at a national or state park.

5. Make friends with other travelers and openminded, adventurous people.

6. Never stop learning.

7. Start traveling in new ways.

photo of my future self holding a house key and a SOLD sign.

We ignored the pull. We didn’t want to turn back into our pre-traveling selves. We’d seen too much, grown too much, experienced too much to ever go back.

Then we asked ourselves an important question: “What if life could still be adventurous even if we weren’t on the road?”

We started opening ourselves up to the possibility of finding a home that would suit the people we had turned into. So when our dream house became available in the place of our dreams, we were ready. We took the plunge, signed our life away, posted a few of our own SOLD sign photos on Instagram, and decided to look for ways to live a rootless and adventurous life while letting a few roots start to grow too.

Despite living in one spot, some say we’re cheating. The property we bought is literally the closest you can get to living in a national park without being a park ranger. There’s a hiking trail from our back door right into the heart of Acadia National Park! We still work at our favorite campground in the country. To top it off, we didn’t get rid of our Airstream. Instead, we’ve turned it into an Airbnb on our property where we host other travelers during the summer and fall camping season in Maine.

We’re enjoying the best of both worlds.

Maybe you’ll want the best of both worlds when your full-time travel days are over, too. Or maybe your full-timer days will never be over. The cool thing about this lifestyle is we all get to make our own choices. And we can change our minds and make new choices again and again.

Rooted or rootless, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. And neither have to be forever.

Today, it’s a rainy Saturday again and I’m watching the sky empty itself from my couch under my fuzzy, yellow blanket with a mug of Earl Grey. I see our friends in the backyard running from our Airstream to their car, headed out to grab s’mores supplies for the campfire later.

And there’s a Scott’s Cheap Flights webpage open on my computer screen. I’m pricing trips to Ireland and Greece, and Tokyo and South Africa too, just for fun. Because that’s where we’re headed next, over the pond to a few spots we’ve never been before. Even if it takes us a while to make our way there.

No matter where we go or where we stay, how long it takes to get there or how long we end up staying when we go, this travel bug we all have in common lives on.

Rooted or rootless, wanderlust never leaves us.

So, travel on, friends. And if you’re ever in our neck of the woods near Acadia, drop us a wave on Instagram or invite us out for a campfire. Whatever you do, stay adventurous.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Celeste Orr is the author of Togetherness Redefined: Finding a Different Kind of Family Life. She lives on the coast of Maine with her husband, two sons, and a rescue kitty named Bacon, spending most of her time hiking in Acadia National Park, reading good books, and working on new stuff for family-loving folks at TogethernessRedefined.com and @togetherness_redefined on Instagram.

Her new project for travelers - The Family Adventure Finder - is looking for travel-lovers to recommend their favorite roadside stops. Add your recommendations at TogethernessRedefined.com/finder today.

Celeste and her family's new home in Maine.

VANLIFE Discovering

One Woman’s Journey from Australia to Canada

By Emily Soon

V ANLIFE WAS NEVER on my radar. I was living in Sydney, Australia by the beach and working full-time as an event planner. Then the global pandemic hit, and my life flipped upside down in 10 short days.

On a Monday in late March, over 300 employees at my company were furloughed. My working visa let me live in Australia, so not working had a lot of implications. My colleagues told me not to worry and that we would be back to work in two weeks. But something in my gut told me it was bigger than that. I had a feeling that if the world shut down, and something happened in Canada to friends or family, I would be unable to get to them.

The following Monday night, I booked a one-way ticket back to Canada, flying out in three weeks. The next morning, I gave my boss my resignation.

I said I would stay until the end of the week. In light of the situation, he was extremely understanding and supportive.

That evening I got an email from the airline saying my flight had been cancelled. The world was shutting down fast. I spent hours on the phone and finally changed my flight, now flying out in eight days.

By Thursday at lunch, I was in a complete panic. I went to my boss and said, “I think I need to finish up today.” I had only given my resignation the day before. By 4:00 p.m. our team sat in our office drinking beers and saying goodbye.

With seven days left until my flight, I hit the ground running. I gave notice to my landlord, a friend took charge of posting my car for sale, and I started packing. Things needed to be shipped back to Canada or sold and donated, and the apartment needed a good clean. Friends rallied around me to help.

When the going gets tough, I go into overdrive. Everything was done a day early, and I spent my last full day in Australia on the beach, getting all the vitamin D and sea I could. I got as salty, sandy and sun kissed as possible, and I stayed out until my final Australian sunset was finished.

There was no goodbye party. There were no hugs. There were only one-on-one awkward goodbyes filled with disbelief with a few of my closest friends.

I rented a short-term apartment in Vancouver to isolate in, but after those 14 days, I had no plan for life. It took a few weeks for the reality to set in, and then I knew I needed a plan. Everyone had been asking what I was going to do, and “I don’t know” wasn’t cutting it anymore.

I decided I would travel across Canada. I had seen more of Australia than I had my own country, and that needed to change. It seemed like a perfect pause in my career to take a year

off and explore my country from north to south and coast to coast.

A few months earlier I had finished my very first, and only, campervan trip in Australia. Not being a fan of camping, I found it comfortable and convenient to have everything I needed with me.

I decided to get a van and travel Canada at my own pace. Not knowing where I was headed gave me a sense of freedom that was thrilling and terrifying

a sub-ceiling instead of beautiful tongue and groove, as well as sub-floors I could finish later. Cabinetry would be made of simple birch, without all the bells and whistles that you see online.

I had the van for four days before it went to the builder in Alberta in June 2020. In those four days, I took every measurement I could possibly think of, taped out possible layouts, and sketched designs. I even taped out the layout onto my kitchen/living room floor in my apartment while I tweaked the design.

During the build, Canada had gone into further lockdown with travel restrictions in place for most of the nation. We were on “essential travel only” restrictions, meaning you could travel outside of your immediate community for work or medical appointments only. My campervan was looking more like my new home and less like my cross-Canada road trip vehicle. I picked up my van mid-October 2020.

I spent my first four nights in the van in Banff National Park. My very first day in the van I arrived in Banff, and the temperature dropped from -10 to -20° C and stayed that way the entire four days I was there. After living in Australia, this was my first experience with negative temperatures in almost a decade. I wasn’t impressed.

I survived the mountains and made it back to Vancouver. I stayed with my parents and turned the “shell” I had made into a home. In near-freezing temperatures, I painted the walls, varnished the ceiling, and got the van into move-in order.

at the same time.

I bought a 2014 EcoDiesel Ram ProMaster 2500 159” WB and got a great deal with low mileage from a dealership. I found a builder who agreed to let me do a custom design and would build out a simple “shell” to reduce costs. That meant sub-walls and

In those first few weeks of having the van, some issues came up that needed multiple visits to multiple mechanics. Those weeks taught me what a friend had been telling me all along: “owning a van is like being in a dysfunctional relationship.”

Once the mechanical issues were

I had seen more of Australia than I had my own country, and that needed to change.

There's no one-sizefits-all to vanlife.

addressed, I left Vancouver and headed to Vancouver Island. I checked into a campsite for the first few days to get my bearings.

After about a week, I started to worry I was spending too much money on campsites when I should be driving down forest roads and boondocking. But to be honest? I was scared. Not of being alone or sleeping in the woods. I had always lived alone and was a seasoned solo female traveller. That didn’t bother me.

I had been playing too many rounds of “what if” in my head. What if I got bogged on a dirt road? Or rolled off a cliff on a logging road? What if I wasn’t allowed to park there? What if I ran out of electricity? What if something happened? My mind was telling me I should be boondocking, and my gut was screaming “NO!”

I had a little breakdown, and my friend told me “nobody expects you to know how to live in a van right away. It’s okay to stay at the campground until you’re

comfortable.” I knew she was right. I had expected to know how to do it all right away. I needed her to say it out loud, and I needed to hear it.

There’s no one-size-fits-all to vanlife. And to be honest? It’s hard. It takes a minute to sort it all out.

I booked another full week at the campground and “learned how to van.” I unplugged to see how my batteries fared. I tracked my water usage. I cleaned the composting toilet. I hung laundry throughout the van to dry. I gave myself a crash course in day-to-day vanlife and got comfortable not knowing how to do everything perfectly right away.

But more mechanical issues came up. And they soon became too big for Vancouver Island. I headed back to Vancouver to sort them out.

My sister had just moved out of a house she planned to rent, so I parked the van in the driveway. It took three months, multiple mechanics, thousands of dollars, and learning the fine art of patience to get everything fixed.

It’s been almost five months since I picked up the van. I have had my solar panel replaced and my DC-to-DC charge converter fixed. I had a battery monitor installed and my propane tank replaced and certified. The fuel injector and car battery have been replaced as well. I have been winterized for the majority of the time which has taught me how much water I use. I know how long I can go before I need to dump my tanks, and it’s starting to feel like my home.

I’ve learned when something feels wrong, it probably is, even if it takes a few mechanics to believe you.

My cross-Canada road trip is still on hold. I have moved my base back to Vancouver Island. I still don’t boondock.

I stay in parking lots and residential areas, and I’m ok with that. I keep in touch with family and friends and always feel safe wherever I am. Community centers and gyms are closed for dropins, so I check into a campsite when I need to dump and fill and have a shower.

Everyone’s vanlife story is unique to them. Yours may not be what you had expected or what you saw online, but who’s to say what it should be? My vanlife story is my own, and it has taken me a minute to realize that and be comfortable with it. I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time. Full-time solo female vanlife isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s pushing me out of my comfort zone and into a new phase of life that I’m excited for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emily is a full-time solo female vanlifer living in BC, Canada. She is the founder of Simple Small Space Living, a compact living lifestyle blog to help those living in small space how to maximize storage and stay organized (simplesmallspaceliving.com) Follow her at @emsvanlife on Instagram for solo female vanlife, and a solid dose of vanlife realities.

MORE THAN A BREATH OF

Our road trip through Pembrokeshire, Wales

By Eva Outram

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eva Outram currently lives part time in her RV whilst working as a public healthcare project manager in the UK. She spent the summer of 2020 converting a Vauxhall Vivaro with her partner Elliott and now aims to tour as much of the UK and Europe as possible. When she’s not creating a range of vanlife products, she can be found climbing a rock face, hiking in the Yorkshire Dales or drinking an IPA in her local pub. You can find out more on Instagram at @eva__exploring

AS SOMEONE WHO is a quarter Welsh thanks to my Grandad's heritage, I knew surprisingly little about the country of Wales before my trip this spring. In fact, all I really knew was there are miles of rugged coastline, the climbing sounds amazing and the wildlife is well… wild! With this knowledge alone I already knew I would fall in love with Wales, and I was absolutely right.

Turquoise ocean as far as the eye can see, white sandy beaches, and gulls swooping through the sky filling the air with their calls. Our first evening in Pembrokeshire felt like a dream. After months of living in a stifling lockdown unable to even sit on a park bench at times, it felt totally surreal to suddenly be hundreds of miles from home, toes in the sea and sand in our hair. Me and my good friend and colleague Laura had been granted eight weeks of volunteering time away from work and we jumped at the chance to get in the van and drive as far away from our hometown of Leeds as possible. We chose to spend our volunteering time with a small conservation charity called West Wales River Trust. The charity aims to protect and preserve rivers and wetlands across the region of South Wales. They do an amazing job advocating for river wildlife and educating people about the consequences of river destruction.

Before I delve into the details of the trip let me tell you a bit about our van. Atlas is a 2006 long wheel-base Vauxhall Vivaro we bought second hand on eBay. Adorned with a compass decal, a very obvious skylight and a solar panel, there’s definitely nothing stealth mode about us! We had a super tight budget for our van and build of just £3K, so much of the interior is made from reclaimed and second-hand materials including our ‘kitchen unit’ which used to be a drab brown TV cabinet!

We have a slide out sofa/bed with internal storage and a single solar panel that allows us to charge our phones and power two ceiling lights and running water. It’s nothing fancy but it's also everything we need and more! One of my favourite things about vanlife has been the realisation of how simple things

can be. I'm never happier than when I’m out in nature with good company, some tasty food and a roof over my head. The stresses of living in the city fade away when you have less possessions and you really appreciate the small comforts when you no longer have access to the luxuries society tells us are vital to living a good life.

Van trips in the UK often focus on the watery expanses of the Lake District, the mountains of Scotland or the sandy beaches of Cornwall and Devon. Whilst these places are all incredible in their own right, I’m here to tell you Wales has it all! We spent a glorious four weeks living in my van and a tiny house in the woods rented through Airbnb. The days were spent doing conservation work with West Wales River Trust. We walked through rivers and miles of green countryside, whilst the evenings were spent with drinks round a campfire under a sky filled with stars, along with hundreds of wild birds and an array of bats. We also spent as much time as possible by the beach, a total novelty for someone who lives over a hundred miles from a beach at home. I find the ocean revitalising, invigorating and relaxing all at the same time. The shock of those first few steps into freezing water never gets any easier though!

Wales is also an adventure hot

spot, from sea cliff climbing to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Walk which follows miles of amazing coastline with cliffs and beaches as far as the eye can see. There really is something for every age and ability. A personal highlight was definitely our sunset boat trip to Skomer Island. We took the sea ferry from the mainland across to the island where we saw hundreds of grey seals and brightly coloured puffins, the sun setting over the water painting it in shades of orange, pink and red. We got back at the van just as darkness arrived, ate hot fish and chips from the local takeaway and spent a cosy evening looking back through our photos and making plans for our next adventure.

We had an amazing trip. Being out in nature, exploring in the van and doing things like hiking and cycling felt like the tonic we needed to clear our minds and find joy again. Our next adventure will hopefully be discovering the beauty of the NC500 road trip in Scotland which we cannot wait for!

Our recommendations for the top things to do in Pembrokeshire are: Sea cliff climbing along the coast, walking the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, kayaking along the coast to explore hidden beaches, and Pembrokeshire National Park.

"Wales is an adventure hot spot!"

THE SOCIAL MEDIA TRAP

By Kevin Arnold & Dani Dukes

VANLIFE IS BOOMING recently and it’s been an incredible ride to watch this movement take off. I’ve never met so many like-minded people in my life until my wife, Dani and I hit the open road over 5 years ago. I love van life. I’m always finding myself wishing that I could share this lifestyle with more people. So, I do, on Instagram, YouTube, other social media platforms through photos and videos of the far away lands we visit. Recently, I have found myself experiencing social media burn out. Which basically means, I’m tired of looking at social media, and tired of participating in it. I had the realization that social media is essentially a war for our attention. We are all out here

fighting for each other’s consciousness. We spend so much time on our phones everyday. For some people, it’s almost an extension of their body. Every morning we wake up, say good morning to our phones before our loved ones. Before we know it, some of us have spent multiple hours out of our morning in a never ending search for dopamine hits that don’t really bring the happiness chemical, serotonin, that our brain needs to be happy. Now, more than ever, we find ourselves looking outside ourselves for happiness or friendships on our feeds. After enough of these small dopamine hits, your mind will actually create a chemical addiction to dopamine. This addiction can further

perpetuate your real problems and lead to depression and anxiety. If you aren’t in the search of dopamine, there are still plenty of pots to stir. Online hate is at an all time high. I see it all time within the van community. We’ve all had points where we find ourselves judging others and wondering why we don’t get as many likes as they do. Social media can play with our emotions, which are defined as complex feelings that result in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.

I’m not going to lie. I’ve wasted countless hours in my early days of vanlife working out my thumb scrolling through my social media while traveling in far away lands.

We are creatures of habit and we need to create new healthy habits to help create a new healthy life. Most likely you got into living on the road to live your best life. I hope you haven’t since found yourself scrolling “the gram”, watching YouTube, and Netflix all day.

I’m not saying that social media is a terrible monster and needs to be destroyed. Instead, I believe we need to use these tools for what they are designed to do, which is connecting people. We’ve met so many friends through social media on the road and we love social media for this. Also, we have learned so much through what we call the “University of YouTube.” We built our first van with not much prior building skills all thanks to DIY van build videos on YouTube. If used with intention, social media is a powerful tool. However, if you don’t learn how to use social media correctly, it will use you.

Here are a few tips I have put together to help you use time, your most precious commodity, to the best of your ability.

SET LIMITS - I’m sure we’ve all tried the 30 minute app limit on our devices. This doesn’t work the best, but it does allow you to be conscious of how fast 30 wasted minutes can fly by. What I have done to get my addiction under control is I’ve deleted time stealing apps off my phone and only

Vanning in Australia

have them on my iPad that only works when connected to WiFi. This really helped me to completely break the habit. Having the app on your Home Screen is also tempting. Hiding the app in the back screens or in a folder can really help cut back on time spent.

BECOME A CREATOR - Document your journey, learn how to tell a story and create something. I really don’t see anything wrong with documenting your travels whether through writing or vlogging. This is a huge creative outlet for us and we are always learning something about cinematography, cameras, and writing every time we set out to start a new one. We have really enjoyed documenting our travels, and looking back at them. If only your family and friends watch your videos, so what! They are your best fans, we still do it for them! It’s always a conversation piece for when we come back home.

FOCUS ON NEW HORIZONS - Time is plentiful and now it’s time for you to learn something you have always wanted to do. Take this time to learn as many hobbies as you can. Your 70 year old self will thank you. While in the van we have learned so many things we thought we’d never do like rock climbing, surfing, slacklining, reading, cooking, yoga, meditation, and juggling just to name a

few. There is so much cool stuff to learn and you can actually develop some real talent in some of these hobbies. We honestly never thought we would be rock climbers or surfers, and I never really read before, but now I love it!

Watch what happens when you set your mind to something. Our minds are a powerful manifesting tool and just like in sports, it’s all in the follow through. Start your best life today. With the abundance

of time, any vanlifer has the time to make their new life happen. Don’t be scared to be a kook, enjoy it! If you think about it, learning is the best part of your new journey. When you are first starting out as a beginner, you progress quickly. But, once you become an expert, progressing to the next level is tough work. Embrace your inner kook, try something new, put your screen down, enjoy the process and send it!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dani and Kevin are the creators of Vankookz, a concept that it’s ok to just go out there and be a kook, doing what you love. You can find more of their kooky adventures on their YouTube and Instagram at @vankookz and on their website vankookz.com

Watch what happens when you set your mind to something.

FROM THE TO

BERLIN METROPOLIS MICROVAN

One Couple’s Journey From Big City Life To Vanlife

By Gabor Kozmon & Laura Petri

AFTER LIVING THE big city life in Berlin for five years, we left everything behind and started traveling without a plan of returning anytime soon. We met in Berlin at a house party four years ago and have been together since.

I moved there to complete my apprenticeship as a media technician. After finishing my training, I have been working freelance on different web gigs and smaller film productions for a year. Then I started my full time job in a small company working for a broadcasting station; producing, shooting, editing and being the guy for basically any client’s needs.

Laura came to Berlin to study environmental engineering. While doing so she was working in different jobs to find her niche. She started working in natural conservation for a big german airport company and then switched to an engineering company. With Covid she lost her job and had to take a smaller job in customer care while sitting at home writing her bachelor exam.

Both of us initially enjoyed the Berlin experience: partying a lot, we made a lot of friends and enjoyed life with all the great opportunities Berlin has to offer. After around two years, friends started to move away and we noticed that it wasn’t that easy to find new friends in such a big city. Even when we met nice people it was hard to keep a new friendship alive because we had to travel using public transportation, where there’s basically no trip under 30 minutes. And that’s the last thing you want to do after a 10 hour work day.

Each district is like it’s own small town, so if you’re lucky and you live

in a young, hip and interesting district with many bars, cafés, amd clubs. it is easier to connect. But in those districts it is near impossible to find an affordable flat, so we had to move to a cheaper flat a bit up north where there wasn’t much going on.

Because of our jobs, we only had free time in the evenings and sometimes on weekends. Most of our friends were very spontaneous, so it was a challenge to connect after work when we also had to take the time to drive to a fun spot. We did hang out with people and had some fun experiences after work, but it wasn’t often and also it was pretty exhausting. Our experience in Berlin went from lots of fun experiences, to starting our full time jobs, to work, eat, sleep, repeat.

When Covid hit, things became even harder. For Laura, on one hand it was a good thing because she had a lot of time to finish her bachelor's degree even faster than planned. On the other hand, she sat at home literally 24/7 doing video calls, studying and working from home, having no reason to leave the flat, other than getting groceries.

Myself, I had to work more than ever, because we also produced news and there were a lot of broadcasts talking about the situation. Many times I had to drive back to the company spontaneously for live productions on the weekends. I couldn’t relax at all, because once my phone rang I had to work. Believe me, it rang a lot. The pay didn’t justify the amount of stress I was experiencing.

We tried to spend every free day or weekend outdoors. We explored the beautiful forests and lakes surrounding the city, which kept us from freaking out about the trouble inside the city. We realized that we only found joy once leaving that urban jungle, hiking and camping.

At first, we thought the solution was to move into a different, smaller city. Laura could do her mastersdegree and I wouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new job. But we quickly understood that it isn’t that particular city which bothered us but rather all the responsibilities we had and the mindset

we were stuck in: You must have a fulltime job, you must do your masters, you must fit in the system, earning money to provide the pension and so on.

That’s when we decided that we needed a break from all of this and planned a long vacation traveling for half a year.

When we were sitting in quarantine we had a lot of time to think about why we weren’t happy in the first place. The big city and our jobs were exhausting but it wasn’t just that. We were stuck in our patterns and our way of thinking. We realized that we don’t actually need a classic full time job or the perfect flat!

We enjoyed being in nature more than a city anyway, that’s when the idea of a long vacation switched to living the nomad life. To leave everything behind that we knew. Once we made the decision, everything went pretty quickly. We quit our jobs and planned our tour a bit.

Now our lives fit in four boxes and a microvan.

After one month of traveling and the first doubts we had, we can definitely say that it was the right decision for us. We still haven’t found the right city to settle down one day but frankly we aren’t searching anymore. Things are falling into place now more than ever without making major plans.

Yes, we still don’t have too many friends but meeting people along our travels is worth so much. We have so many valuable experiences that it doesn’t bother us anymore that we are on the road “alone”.

Sure, we cannot travel forever without making money. That's why we are working on building our own little online business to earn and save some money for the future. Once this is working out, there’s nothing holding us back from living on the road as long as we want. Now we are happier than ever, according to the saying “less is more”.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Laura and Gabor travel full time in their self-converted Renault Kangoo Grande Micro Van. If you are interested in their journey, follow them on Instagram @slowedroads

We realized that we only found joy once leaving that urban jungle, hiking and camping.

A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS

Just like every great road trip, sometimes life takes you in a new direction. At Heartland, we’ve launched a new journey to make our RVs better than ever. We’ve doubled down on seeking out the highest quality materials, creating fresh and inviting interiors and giving every unit the kinds of finishing touches you’d find in a new home.

Every unit goes through a top-to-tails inspection with a quality assurance expert—in fact, we have an 89,000-square-foot facility dedicated to walking each RV through a series of checklists to ensure it works exactly as it should. And with updated floor plans incorporating features our customers love best—spacious bathrooms, designer kitchens, furniture meant for cuddling up together—we’re confident every trip in a Heartland will be a happy one.

After all, that’s what RVing is all about: hitting the road with people you love, having adventures, making memories. So when you buy a Heartland, just focus on taking the journey of a lifetime. We’ll take care of the rest.

Experience the all-new Heartland online and check out 360-degree model tours, detailed floor plans, all-new features, galleries of updated decor and more.

Just visit HeartlandRVs.com.

BIG BEND National Park

A Desert Mirage Come to Life

By Gabe and Rocio Padilla

IF YOU’VE EVER driven through Texas, you know it's big. Having traversed many miles of Texas’ vast landscape in our time RVing the states, we’ve seen some beautiful and memorable landscapes, but we’ve also experienced that mind numbing feeling of, “when will this state end?” From the mega cities to the countless stretches of untouched landscape, the flooding coastlines to the desert planes, or from the finger licking, rib sticking cowboy BBQ to the mouth watering Mexican dishes and more, Texas has been a place for our little family to discover over the years. It never ceases to amaze us, but when you’re bigger than many countries around the world, you’re bound

to have several hidden gems. And that is exactly what our trip to Big Bend National Park was in a nutshell.

My family and I are currently on another of our blessed adventures around this beautiful country. On one of our more recent adventures, we set out west from Houston through Texas’ vast landscape with the goal of visiting one of the lesser-known national parks, Big Bend.

With no research or expectations, we were pleasantly surprised as the miles passed and the cityscape faded to rolling hills and then to the dry flora and desert climate that is west Texas. We realized that this wouldn't be an ordinary adventure, and while I navigated our way along the endless stretch of highway 90 west, Rocio began searching for a place to stay for the night. We settled on a gorgeous state park about 3.5 hours west of San Antonio. The pictures and reviews of Seminole Canyon State Park, which sits on the border of Mexico, seemed spectacular. After arriving at the perfectly accented golden hour canyon, we can attest to its beauty. That said, fate and a lack of clarity on our web search proved to be a slight hiccup. It turns out that due to our favorite pandemic and various revamping efforts to the onsite campgrounds, all overnight stays had been nixed. Regardless, we put off finding another place for the night, and

took in the sights that Seminole Canyon had to offer.

After about 30 minutes of enjoying the park to ourselves, we regrouped in the van and began the task of finding where to stay. Luckily, Rocio found a place that was literally 6 minutes away, and we were off. As chance would have it, our bungled state park stay turned into a gorgeous overlook of the Pecos River High Bridge. The sunset views of Texas’ highest highway bridge towering 273 feet above the picturesque Pecos river provided the perfect backdrop to the surrounding jaw dropping cliffs.

When morning came, we began our final stretch towards the north entrance of Big Bend. To our amazement, as the entrance drew closer, so did the stunning jagged mountains that seemed more likely outside of Denver than the desert of west Texas. Once we entered the park, we found ourselves constantly stopping for pictures at every turn. We likened the park to a desert mirage come to life. The colors pop to a point they don’t seem real, and various places have completely different experiences at different times of the day.

While we went late in the season with temperatures reaching triple digits, we found that navigating those peaks and valleys in our van alone was so worth the trip, that we changed our plans and decided to stay in the area for a couple of extra nights. Our first day found us

driving through the eastern part of the park where you can cross the river and spend some time in a small Mexican town if you have your passport. The eastern road also has a cool mountain tunnel that ends in a small campground in the valley. While the first day was reason enough to extend our stay, our second day included a drive that rivaled most of our favorite big-name national park drives. Winding roads and steep elevation changes via mountain switchbacks skirt along Mexico’s border. Making our way down, the mountainous terrain continued until a previously distant wall of massive movie-like proportions drew nearer. Standing before it, we felt its towering presence and marveled as it stretched endlessly in either direction. We took pictures at the final overlook before getting back in the van and finishing our descent. A quick drive to the end of the road resulted in a breathtaking view of the Rio Grande gracefully dividing both countries’ massive landscapes.

The feeling of serenity and oneness with nature is indescribable. It’s one of those moments you have to experience to truly understand, and that is how we feel about Big Bend. We spent our entire time at the park wide-eyed and mouth agape, and we did so without hiking, off-roading, or experiencing the middle mountainous region of the park due to a wildfire. I can go on and on about how amazing Big Bend National Park is and the impression it left on us but suffice it to say that we’ll be back.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Gabe and Rocio are virtual nomads who have spent the last 3 years enjoying full time RV life. They began their journey in 2018 after a 2017 Caribbean hurricane season that put life in perspective. They are foodies who run on strong coffee and love to experience new people, places, and adventures.

You can find them on Instagram at @OurMixedJourney, or on YouTube at Our Mixed Journey

FIVE THE MIGHTY

Visiting Utah National

WE SPENT TWO months traveling around Southern Utah this past spring, with the major goal of visiting all five of Utah’s National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.

Despite all of the parks being relatively close to one another, each one offers unique and gorgeous views, a mix of easier and challenging hikes, and interesting history. We had the best two months exploring as much of these parks as we possibly could!

In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in each Utah national park, plus important things to know before you go, so you can easily hit the road and experience this jaw dropping scenery for yourself!

Parks // By Kathryn Frazer

Zion

Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Capitol Reef National Park

Utah National Parks Route

The Mighty Five are all located in Southern Utah, making combining all five parks into one road trip very doable! It takes about 7 hours total to drive to all 5 parks and depending on where your starting point is, there are two major route options to visit the Mighty Five in Utah.

Coming from Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon?

We’d suggest visiting Zion first, then Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and then Canyonlands

Coming from Salt Lake City or Denver?

We’d suggest visiting Arches and Canyonlands first, then heading to Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and finishing up in Zion.

Where to Stay

All of the Utah National Parks have at least one official park campground, as well as free camping options outside of the park boundaries. The parks are all located close to small towns (Springdale, Bryce, Torrey, and Moab), which offer other lodging options as well.

Things to Know Before You Go

Before you kick off your Mighty Five road trip, here are a few important things to know to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Get the America the Beautiful Pass

Each national park costs between $20-$35 per car for a 7 day pass. This pass will only get you into that specific park. We suggest buying the America the Beautiful Pass, which

costs $80/year and will give you access to all national parks!

Book Lodging in Advance

The Utah national parks are very popular between spring and fall, so if you plan to book hotels, Airbnbs, and campgrounds, make sure to book early!

Pets are Not Allowed on Trails

Pets are typically not allowed on any Utah national park trails and are only allowed in developed areas, such as parking lots and campgrounds.

Winter is Less Busy

Winter is a nice time to visit the parks because it is off-season, but park access can be limited. There may be closures due to weather, and we found that some restaurants in the surrounding towns close for the winter season.

Zion has a Shuttle

Permit System

Between March and October, Zion does not allow personal vehicles along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which is where the trailheads to the Narrows and Angels Landing are located. Shuttle permits are required to go down this road, but they are very competitive to get. Alternatively, you can ride a bike or eBike, or hire a private shuttle.

Bryce Canyon has Vehicle Length Limits

Between April and October, Bryce Canyon does not allow vehicles over 20 feet long to drive in specific areas of the park. There is a free park shuttle to get around these areas if your vehicle exceeds this length.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park was Utah’s first national park and is the 4th most visited national park in the United States. The park is home to steep sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and the Virgin River, winding along the valley floor.

THINGS TO DO

Suggested time: 2 days

• Watch the sunrise from the Canyon Overlook (1 mile): An easy hike, with incredible views of Zion Canyon.

• Hike to Angels Landing (4.4 miles, shuttle required): One of the most iconic hikes in the park, but can be very challenging for those afraid of heights. Hikers climb up a narrow spine, with only chains to hold on to.

• Looking for a less thrilling option? We recommend hiking to Observation Point via East Mesa (6.7 miles). This trail is relatively flat and takes you through a forest, before reaching Observation Point. This has a very similar view to Angels Landing, but is 700 ft higher up.

• Walk through the Virgin River in the Narrows (shuttle required). This is one of the most fun and unique hiking experiences in the park. You will get wet, so make sure to rent gear from Zion Outfitter beforehand so you can have the best experience and be comfortable in the cold water.

• Hike the Watchman Trail (3 miles): A scenic trail that starts near the visitor center.

• Watch the sunset from the Pa’rus Trail (3.4 miles): A paved path that walks through the canyon and is the only dog friendly trail in the park!

• Visit some of the lesser known areas, such as Kolob Terrace and Kolob Canyons. These areas of the park have smaller crowds, but still amazing scenery. At Kolob Terrace we love the Northgate Peaks Trail (6.0 miles) and at Kolob Canyons we suggest hiking to Middle Fork Taylor Creek (4.9 miles) and Timber Creek Overlook (1.1 mile).

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for having the world’s largest collection of hoodoos. Hoodoos are rock columns that form over millions of years due to erosion from ice and rain. Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon, but rather a collection of natural amphitheaters, which sit along the eastern slope of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

THINGS TO DO

Suggested time: 1 day

• Watch the sunrise! The park’s main overlooks face east, making it perfect for sunrise. Ironically, Sunset Point is said to be the best overlook for sunrise, but we have always just found a spot along the rim, between Sunrise and Sunset Points to enjoy this magical moment.

• Hike the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop Trail (3 miles): Explore 3 miles through the hoodoos. You can also add on the Peekaboo Trail to complete the “Figure Eight,” which is a 6.3 mile hike that lets you see some of the park’s best features.

• Hike the Fairyland Loop Trail (8 miles): takes you up, down, and all around the park’s hoodoos, with great views of the surrounding area.

• Visit the Mossy Cave (1 mile): a short drive outside of the main canyon area and features a waterfall.

• Drive the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive: has a handful of quick overlooks to check out.

• See the sunset at Bryce Point. This overlook has some of the largest concentration of hoodoos in one area that we have seen!

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is named after the white Navajo Sandstone dome formations which resemble domes found on capitol buildings and because of the reef of mountains that proved to be a travel barrier for pioneers.

With a mix of hiking, agriculture, and history, Capitol Reef was such a surprise for us and while you could spend as little as one day, we wish we could’ve spent more time there!

THINGS TO DO

Suggested time: 2-3 days

• Hike to Cassidy Arch (3.1 miles): This arch is named after the outlaw Butch Cassidy who apparently had a hideout in Grand Wash, and unlike the majority of the arches in Utah, you can actually stand on this one.

• Walk through the Grand Wash (5 miles): An easy and mostly flat trail that takes you through a wash, among tall canyon walls. This hike can easily be combined with Cassidy Arch, as they share a trailhead.

• Visit the Gifford Homestead and eat pie. Between March 14 and October 31, you can get locally made fruit pies and homemade ice cream from the Gifford Homestead. Apple and strawberry rhubarb were our favorites!

• Pick fruit in the orchards. Capitol Reef has 1,900 trees that grow apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums. Between June and October you can pick fruit!

• See the old Fruita Schoolhouse, which was built by residents in 1896 and is currently restored to how it looked in the 1930s.

• Hike to the Rim Overlook (4.1 miles): Has great views of the Fruita area, or continue even further to Navajo Knobs (9.1 miles), which requires some scrambling at the end and will give you more panoramic views of the surrounding area.

A few more SHORT HIKES to check out:

• Hickman Bridge (1.8 miles): A 133 feet long and 125 feet high natural bridge.

• Cohab Canyon (3 miles): Taking you through canyon walls and to overlooks of Fruita.

• Capitol Gorge (2.4 miles): Requires driving down a dirt road and features a pioneer register on the canyon walls.

• Sulphur Creek (1.8 miles): Hike through a creek to three waterfalls. You will get wet!

• For a scenic drive: Loop the Fold, a 125 mile drive that takes you along the NotomBullfrog Road and Burr Trail. There are hikes and sights to see along the way, so plan for a full day!

• Another popular area to explore is Cathedral Valley. This route requires a high clearance vehicle to get to, so check conditions before you go. It is famous for two monoliths called Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. This drive takes between 6-8 hours total.

Arches National Park

Located in Moab, Utah, Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural arches, tall red rock walls, rock fins, and other unique geologic formations.

THINGS TO DO

Suggested time: 1-2 days

• Hike to the iconic Delicate Arch (3.2 miles): The largest free-standing arch in the park, at 46 feet high and 32 feet wide. Go for sunrise to beat the crowds!

• See 8 arches along the Devils Garden Trail (7.9 miles). This is the best hiking experience at Arches in our opinion, with rock scrambling and endless views the entire hike.

• Hike the Sand Dune to Broken Arch Loop (2.8 miles) where you’ll get to see 3 different arches and awesome rock formations.

• Go on a short hike to the Windows and Turret Arch (1.2 miles). For the best views and less crowds, hike the primitive trail option, which is well marked with rock cairns.

• Visit Double Arch, which is a short walk from the Windows parking area. This was our favorite arch in the park!

• Walk along Park Avenue (1 mile) which got its name because the tall rock walls resemble skyscrapers in a city.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is known for its breathtaking canyons and buttes, carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. The park is made up of 4 districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the two rivers that divide the park. We suggest spending one day in both the Island in the Sky District and the Needles District, which are located 2 hours apart. But if you’re short on time, the Island in the Sky District is the most accessible from Moab.

THINGS TO DO IN THE ISLAND IN THE SKY DISTRICT

Suggested time: 1 day

• Visit Mesa Arch for sunrise. This is an iconic photo spot, especially as the sun rises behind the arch, lighting up the canyons below. It’s a very short trek from the parking area, making it an easy walk in the dark.

• Hike to Upheaval Dome (1.3 miles) which is a crazy crater that remains a mystery, with two theories about how it formed.

• Climb to the top of Whale Rock (0.8 miles): requires a little bit of scrambling and has panoramic views at the top.

• Stop by the many overlooks! The Island in the Sky District is known for being very accessible, with many overlooks to view some of the area’s scenery. Our favorite stops are:

• Green River Overlook

• Shafer Trail Viewpoint

• Buck Canyon Overlook

• White Rim Overlook (requires a 1.8 mile hike)

• Grand View Point, which has an optional 1.8 mile trail to see more scenery

THINGS TO DO IN THE NEEDLES DISTRICT

Suggested time: 1 day

• The best way to see the Needles District is to go on a long hike! We suggest hiking the Druid Arch to Chesler Park trail (11.2 miles). It starts at the Elephant Hill trailhead. On this hike you’ll walk among the area’s famous sandstone spires, do some rock scrambling, and see a very unique arch.

• You can also hike to the Druid Arch (10.4 miles) and the Chesler Park Viewpoint (5.4 miles) as individual routes.

• To see the park’s history, hike the Cave Spring Trail (0.6 miles), where you’ll see an old cowboy camp, pictographs and hand prints from Native Americans, and climb two ladders!

• Drive through the park and stop at different overlooks and short trails along the way, including the Big Spring Canyon Overlook, Wooden Shoe Overlook, Roadside Ruin (0.3 miles), and Pothole Point (0.6 miles).

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the U.S. and Canada scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.

To see more of our travels and our detailed travel guides, check out our website adventuresofaplusk.com or follow us on Instagram and YouTube @AdventuresofAplusK

HOW TO DOWNSIZE

The best tips for paring down your belongings for a life on the road

By Jessica Oliver

WHEN YOU FIRST think about living in a mobile tiny home, you most likely search the internet for DIYs and how-to articles. You save ideas of how you would like your build to look. But what about downsizing?

One of the biggest changes that you will make by moving into an RV, skoolie, or van is learning how to live in a much smaller space. That means downsizing your belongings is a must.

My boyfriend Nick and I are a Canadian couple who have been living and traveling in our self-converted school bus since November 2019. We are pursuing a life full of memories, not things.

For us, the process of downsizing was both easy and challenging at the same time. We went from a total of 3200 square feet of living space to 200 square feet! The process of downsizing was just as much work as building the bus itself. We spent so much time going through all of our belongings and getting rid of things that we didn’t need or that we no longer valued.

6 tips

1 Start downsizing immediately

Begin with your closet. Whatever you don’t wear, doesn’t fit or no longer makes you happy, sell it or donate it! This will hopefully eliminate half of your closet or more.

Now hang everything back up in your closet and face the hangers backwards; once you have worn something and washed it, rehang it the right way with the hanger forward. At the end of the month, anything you haven’t worn will still have its hanger facing backwards and should go!

As you start downsizing, estimate how much space you will have for your closet and make that your goal. Once you have downsized your closet to the size of your tiny home closet, you’re well on your way to living minimally.

2 Never make a ‘maybe’ pile

Typically when you are downsizing, you will go through your belongings and make ‘yes’ and ‘no’ piles. One tip to remember is avoid making a ‘maybe’ pile. Stick to yes and no piles.

This way, you won’t have to go back through a ‘maybe’ pile later and then decide if it is worth keeping. If it’s a maybe, just get rid of it.

3 Be patient

Downsizing won’t be a one-day or even one-week task. It takes time to go through all your belongings, and it can be extremely overwhelming. You are completely changing your life, so give yourself some grace.

There will be items that will be harder to let go of than others. Pick a room and start small. Start with one drawer, and once that drawer is complete move on to the next. If you get overwhelmed, call it a day and wait until the next to continue. Keep going until you have gone through everything in that room and move onto the next.

to downsize your belongings and thrive in a mobile tiny home:

4 For gifts, stick to experiences

Memories are more important than items. Pretty early on in our relationship, years before ever planning on living in a tiny home, we decided that we wouldn’t give gifts but rather spend our money on experiences. This is an important tip for people thinking of moving into a tiny home, because you most likely won’t have the space to go overboard on gifts.

It is especially important for family members to know that you prioritize experiences over things, too. It can be difficult for your immediate family members who normally buy you gifts to make this change. Make it clear that you won’t have the space for random things anymore, but you appreciate the thought. You can let them know specific things you may need like essential household items, toiletries, gift cards, etc.

5 It’s okay to start fresh

Moving into a new space sometimes means getting new things for that space. For example, we sold and donated pretty much everything in our kitchen and started fresh with new pots, pans, cutting boards, dishware, etc. This helped the vision that we had for our new kitchen and made the downsizing process quick and easy as we knew exactly what we were starting with.

6 Don’t forget the boxes

One thing that really helped us get ready to move into our space was packing everything we were taking into boxes. Since we got all new items for our kitchen, I had previously washed and then packed these items in boxes and left them in our living room.

I did this for everything in our home: books, bedding, board games, bathroom items, etc. When it came time to move in, the process was fairly stress-free as everything was labeled and I knew where it was going.

While there’s not one specific way to downsize, these are some of the best tips that helped us along the way. This process can be easy for some and difficult for others. You’ll find out quickly what works for you and what doesn’t, and the biggest piece of advice I can give is to not give up! After all, the removal of unnecessary items in your life will fill the void that “stuff” could never fill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jess has been living and travelling in a self-converted school bus since 2019 and has been stationary and off-grid in the mountains since October 2020. She enjoys being outside in nature, going on hikes with her pup Trip and boyfriend Nick, as well as spending her nights around a bonfire or playing board games. You can follow Jess and Nick on Instagram at @jessandnick_ or on Facebook at Home Roller Bus

ROAD WORK AHEAD

Six Mobile Office Set-Ups to Inspire You to RV Full-Time

By Alexis Nascimento

WORKING FROM

THE

road isn’t a new concept, but in the last year, it has become a popular option for many people. While technology has made it possible for digital nomads to stay connected, having a mobile office doesn’t need to be complicated! You just need to consider what type of workspace you want in order to be the most productive.

Let’s be honest – it’s about getting the work done, then heading outdoors to explore! I’ve asked several digital nomads how they set up an office space within their home on wheels. Here’s what they had to say!

“I used to travel in an SUV but recently upgraded to a minivan – woohoo! During the winter months I usually stay in Airbnbs, visit family or travel abroad and in the summer I camp. I’ve been a solopreneur since 2010. I do a lot of different things, but I mainly build websites and sell my art! I often work from cafes or libraries when on the road. When I’m uploading my art and photography files, I need a strong internet connection. When I’m writing or creating art, the internet is not as important and I can do it anywhere! I love painting outdoors with an amazing view!

I’m not very fussy about my workspace. If I really need to focus on technical things, I can get in the zone best in a library where it is quiet. In a cafe I get too engrossed in people watching or eavesdropping. Cafes are ideal for boring tasks like uploading files. I strive to be minimal in my setup and keep everything on the cloud.

To me, the biggest challenge about working on the road is the elements. Working with a screen requires a shaded space without glare, phone calls require a quiet space, and of course, you want to be comfy and dry. In a big rig, it is easier to find a corner, but in a small space or with multiple people it can be a challenge indeed. Since I'm solo, I can always find a place to sit even if it is not ideal, often that is the front passenger seat.”

—Shoshannah Hausmann, @THEWEEKENDGUIDE @SHOSHANNAHSCRIBBLES

“We’re a family of four, Jessica, Anthony, Sienna (8), and Bryce (6), plus our golden retriever Oliver, traveling the US in a Grand Design Momentum Toy Hauler. Anthony works in sales for the biotech industry. Having this remote position is what allowed us to even consider RV life! I’m a Director at Beautycounter which allows me to work remotely with a completely flexible schedule that fits into our lifestyle.

Anthony works primarily from our kitchen table. I work from my phone intermittently during the day, laptop at night. One of the first things we did was remove our small kitchen table and double loveseat that occupied the entire slide-out. I replaced it with a full-sized kitchen table and chairs instead. The kitchen table is where we gather. Having a place for family meals is important to us, but we also wanted a big table to spread out for work and homeschool activities without feeling cramped. It's where we spend most of our time when inside the RV.”

—Jessica Klick, @THEKLICKLIFE

“We have two rigs, a Skylark travel trailer and a 1991 31’ Airstream, and we travel between the PNW and Baja, Mexico. I am an interior designer that sources furniture and art for hotels. I have been working remotely for over 11 years. For me, I just need my AirPods, my Microsoft surface pro laptop, Moleskin journals and a bit of quiet time to myself before sinking into the workday. If I have reliable WiFi and a quiet space, there’s no difference to me at all from working in an office. There’s no comparing a square cubicle where people constantly interrupt you vs. a rig that is private and about the same size.

—Hillary Kent, @LOSTGOFIND

“We are a family of five traveling full-time in a 30 ft. Airstream. Two adults, one adult in training, a westie, and a lovebird. I own a technology recruiting and consulting business and had been working remote for many years prior to hitting the road. I've had a passion for photography since high school so part of what drove our decision to travel was a desire to create. It was a huge leap to put a successful business on hold to pursue an entirely different career at my stage in life. It's been a learning process, but I am now doing more photography work than tech and am not looking back.

When I'm not out wandering and photographing our adventures, I work anywhere I can get connected. Right now, I'm sitting on a patio at a brewery drinking a lovely lemon beverage. As good as that sounds, it isn't always the most productive. If we have good cell service, I work at the table in the RV, or outside under the awning. If we are too remote to use a hotspot, then I usually opt for a coffee shop or the local library. The beauty of being a digital nomad is that the office views always change.”

—Karen Blue, @CEDARANDSILVER

“We've owned our own branding & design boutique for seven years and have worked from home since the beginning. Tired of being locked down in our Nashville studio in the pandemic, we shoved a house-worth of stuff into a storage unit, bought a motorhome, and headed out in search of inspiration and fresh air.

We work exclusively in our 33-foot Class A Tiffin. We have a large dinette that suits both of us for light work, and when we need to stretch out, we set up a collapsible table in front of the driver's side couch so we each can have our own space.

I think one of the biggest differences from a traditional office is that our workspace and our main living and eating area occupy the same space. There's a setup and teardown process that bookends each day. It adds time, and sometimes a little frustration to our day, but it keeps us active and helps us keep clutter down. During the day, we'll take breaks or a snack outside, since our dinette is set up for office mode. That's not a bad thing!”

—Clayton

“We’re traveling in our 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 170 WB High Roof that we self-converted from a cargo van into our dream home on wheels. My husband Chris works full-time Monday through Friday as director of supply chain management for a small business that manufactures enamelware, which is stylish, handmade, outdoor-friendly dinnerware, cookware, and serveware. I focus on my own e-commerce business, roveandswig.com, which Chris and I created as a side hustle in 2014. I sell outdoor living products, including the enamelware Chris's employer makes!

We mostly work in our rig. We have two areas that function well for long hours on the laptop. Our passenger seat swivels 180 degrees, and a portion of our countertop can be extended as a desk surface. Chris takes all of his video meetings from there, which keeps his background consistent (a homemade windshield shade to prevent being backlit) and allows me to move around the rest of the van without photobombing his meetings. The other area is a bench at the foot of our bed. It's not quite as ergonomic as the front work area, but it gets the job done. On nice days when I don't have meetings or calls, I often work outside under some shade.”

—Lisa

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexis Nascimento is a wife and mom of two boys and has been traveling full-time with her family in a converted Sprinter van since June 2019. She enjoys hiking, reading and everything about living tiny. You can find her family’s adventures at @NeverSaySomeday on Instagram, as well as her travel guides NeverSaySomedayFamily.com

& Jessica Carter, @CLAYTONANDJESSICA

and Chris Carter, @ROVEANDSWIG

BRINGING THE CLARK CORTEZ BACK TO LIFE

Restoring Our Ultra-Rare Vintage RV

By L. Merredith

FOR BETTER OR worse, my husband Andy and I have found ourselves in a tiny home-onwheels restoration group: The ones who are convinced they should don vehicle production uniforms because they are essentially re-manufacturing vehicles. The do-everything fools group. The gluttons-for-punishment group. The money-pit group. The Do-You-Regret-ItYet group.

At least these are the names we have been given thus far.

In truth, I can understand why people say this. When looking at us, more often than not, we are covered in 56-year-old oil, grease, underseal, dirt and filth. Plus, neither of us are mechanics, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, designers or, well, professionals with useful trades when it comes to the culprit of our grime that is our 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome.

If you haven’t heard of the vehicle manufacturer Clark, you are not alone. In fact, there is no vehicle manufacturer named Clark. There is, however, the forklift company and, strangely enough, it is the one that produced the Cortez motorhome.

In the 1960s, Clark began the

production of the first front-wheel drive RV in America, and they named it the Cortez. The Cortez was touted to be better than RVs of its time because it had a different custom-built chassis, which made it more compact, efficient and advanced. Made with an all-steel body and several large windows, the combination shook-up transportation so much that this vehicle was also used as an ambulance, mobile office, sales room and even NASA astronaut shuttle. Sadly though, the Cortez existed in a blip of time. Clark surrendered the production rights and it went to another company, then to several fans and then to a single owner. During the 16 years of trading ownership, only 3,221 motorhomes were made. Today, if there was an Endangered Vehicles list, the Cortez would be on it because people theorize at best a few hundred are still on the road.

Our Cortez is one of them, or will be one of them. It is the 683rd off the production line and when Andy and I got it, the old lass didn’t run, or brake, or, let’s come back to that lengthy list in a moment.

Andy and I have an illness that can

only be cured by buying an antique vehicle and bringing it back to life. We are fueled by our dreams, our tenacity, and our hope. For us, it isn’t about the destination but the journey. So while we fill our Cortez with memories, it gives us stories. And I’m a sucker for a good story.

Our story begins when Andy and I placed a bid online for this rare RV, and won. From there, our steel beast was towed across America, from California to Virginia, so that in July 2019, the sound of a massive flat-bed tractor trailer announced our ancient lady had arrived.

From there, our restoration began.

From the start, we focused on two goals. Andy would teach me what vehicle knowledge he had from modifying cars, and with those lessons I would work beside him to do all restorations, customizations and modernizations ourselves. We began with mechanical missions, replacing the starter motor, alternator, antiroll bar bushings and fuel pump, restoring the drum brakes and fuel tank, correcting wiring, fabricating the intake system, rebuilding the carburetor, and more. I should pause to admit I take pride in the fact that I, as a female, too, can walk into an auto parts store knowing more than most of

the staff.

Between these mechanical jobs, we did take a break from scrummaging on the ground underneath the RV to set our sights inside. With sagging ceiling panels, we began to investigate. That’s when we found water-logged insulation, along with both dead and alive mice who were responsible for more mouse

condos than we could count, which also meant thick mice poo that came with a pungent smell. Purists still gasp at our decision to gut the Cortez, but it was far from a safe home for us and our two cats.

Plus, with the inside stripped to its skeleton, Andy removed the underseal for a better look at the condition of the metal. A side note: Removing underseal has, by far, been our most grueling and dirty mission yet, and I’ll add perilous, too, because I accidentally dissolved my fingertips in chemicals and Andy found a way to nearly blind himself with an angle grinder’s wire wheel.

Nevertheless, those daunting days were downright

necessary. By removing the underseal, we got our first look at the metal only to find many internal frames had rusted so severely that they were no longer supporting the roof. Further, metal roof panels had rusted through, making it appear we had constellations where the light splayed in. We had to give in and hire a welder. Despite wanting to do all the work ourselves, I realized it was more important to accept help.

Once all of the welding was done, there was no way we could let that metal sit bare. In a flourish of activity, we sealed then painted the roof. Another lesson I’ve learned about old vehicles is that one job leads to three more.

Back to what others say: Are we fools or gluttons for punishment?

Is our Cortez a money pit? Who knows, maybe. We still have a handful of mechanical jobs left, but we aim to be done with our mechanical work this summer. After that, Andy and I plan to repair all bodywork issues before picking up where others begin, the interior build.

For this, our tentative plans include a kitchen area with living space, bedroom area with lifting queen-sized bed and bath area with a shower and compost or cassette toilet. We’re focusing on power and hope to have extensive solar energy to avoid relying on a generator. Regardless of our final layout, this build will set forth our dreams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L. Merredith’s burning desire to travel was matched when she met her British husband, which is why they are overhauling a 1965 Clark Cortez motorhome for their biggest adventure yet. With plans to roam her home country of America, their larger dream is to then set sail for Andy’s homeland of England before exploring new countries together. You can come along, too, by following on YouTube and Instagram @soulofaseeker or their website soulofaseeker.com

THE VAN DESIGN & BUILD PROCESS

From Three Unique Perspectives

By Jess Stiles

DESIGNING A HOME on wheels that is specific to your wants and needs can be a challenge. Working with a space that is less than 100 square feet, but must fit everything a conventional home has, is no small design feat. We’ve gathered advice from three very different van dwellers to give you some perspective on their experiences while designing and building their vans!

Taylor and Kevin Mathers are an adventure-seeking couple whose interest in van life sprouted from the seed of several short international trips they took during their allotted vacation days. Kevin was a corporate IT professional and Tayor was a full-time nurse, making it difficult for them to travel as much as they truly wanted to. Converting a van was the catalyst for quitting their jobs and traveling full time!

Kevin and Taylor were working full-time when they bought their empty cargo van, and it took just over a year to fully complete the build. Prior to the build, Taylor says they had very little construction background. “Sure, we remodeled our kitchen with the help of our fathers, but that was mostly cosmetic! Never had we completely created a home out of nothing!” Taylor laughs.

And although they were both on the same page with how they wanted the van to look overall, getting there was tough!

“While building the van we learned very, and I mean VERY, quickly that our problem solving and building ideas are quite different. I think a project should be done one way, but it would be totally different in Kevin’s head and vice versa. This made for some pretty long days full of 'we should do it this way,' 'no, it makes more sense to do it this way,' or 'why are you doing it like that?' discussions. However, once we were on the same page about how to complete a project it was mostly smooth sailing."

Other than that Taylor says, "the trickiest project for us was probably electrical. Now though, Kevin is a master at electrical and I really think it is his favorite part of the van build!”

Kevin and Taylor’s advice for anyone who is looking to get started on a van build is to “DO IT!” According to them, there’s no perfect time to get started despite how overwhelming the project can seem or how time-consuming it is. The finished product is so worth it!

“It took nearly two whole years of Kevin torturing me to live in a van for me to finally be on board. But we are so happy we’re here now! We have already made so many awesome memories while on the road, met some incredible people, and visited places we would have never seen without the van!"

Taylor and Kevin catalogue their adventures on Instagram and YouTube as MathersontheMap and mathersonthemap.com

ORIGINALLY

FROM STRASBOURG,

France, Anouk Wilhelm is a solo traveler who converted a van while attending college in San Jose, California in order to save money. When she first moved to the United States for school six years ago, she lived with family, then a few roommates, but was always looking for a way to avoid paying the high rent in San Jose.

As a student on a Visa, she is not allowed to work, so she built her van from her savings and had a shoestring budget for her DIY van conversion.

“To be honest, my main factor when building the van was budget because I am a student and I don’t have a lot of money. I also wanted a van that would be easy to work on. But the truth is, when I saw it, it was blue and I had to buy it!”

Anouk’s van, Gladys, is a 1990 Chevy G20, and it has had its share of challenges. Older vans have a lot of character, but you have to be committed to keeping it running. Aside from the mechanical repairs, Anouk faced some big hurdles while building the van as well.

“When I started building the van, I didn’t know how to use power tools at all. It was a big learning curve. The other challenge for me, since I didn’t really know how to build things, is that I struggled to turn my ideas into reality. But I learned a lot along the way. I watched a lot of YouTube, found ideas on Instagram and leaned on my friends for their help as well.”

It wasn’t all bad. Anouk really enjoyed learning so much along the way. She is glad to be an expert on her build and loves knowing how everything works. In addition, having a fully self-built van is something she is really proud of. The icing on the cake is that as an Interior Design student, her favorite part

of building the van was picking out the materials such as the wood and fabrics in her design.

Despite being really proud of her finished build, Anouk has made some improvements along the way. “I’ve made a few little changes. I added a bench with storage, but mostly I’ve just had to fix little things that didn’t really work well from the beginning. For example, I added a door in front of my kitchen cabinet because it was originally a curtain. Everything kept falling out of the cabinet, so the curtains had to go. I also had to redo my ceiling because of a leak and water damage.”

Her advice for someone who is looking to build a van, is to not be afraid of getting started. “Even if you have no skills, you can learn a lot from friends or Youtube. If you’re on a tight budget, there are a lot of resources for finding upcycled building materials so that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on your build.

You can find Anouk wandering around the Pacific Northwest, capturing her adventures on Instagram as @frenchyinavan

ASH AND MARGAUX are a powerhouse couple who are seriously committed to getting their two kids Mar and Luke into the great outdoors. They’ve been adventuring long before having their van, Bruce, but when they bought it 3 years ago and sent it to a master upfitter to build the van of their dreams, it elevated their outdoor experience for the whole family. Despite having other, larger options for a family adventure-mobile, they chose a van because they also wanted to use it as their family vehicle for daily driving. Margaux says, “Anything larger than a 144 wheelbase can be difficult to drive around town, but ours fits in a standard parking space. If we lived full-time in our van, we may have gone larger, but that was not the case for us.”

But designing a van for a family presents different challenges than other van builds. Their first priority, and the biggest design factor, was safety and car seats. They included a factory bench seat from Mercedes and it set the foundation for

their floor plan since the bench is not removable and takes up more space in the front of the vehicle. They purchased the Crew Van because it had the bench seat already built in. It could fit three passengers and had the proper attachment points for car seats.

Second to that, there were considerations to be made in the bedroom and living area of the van behind the bench seat.

“The bed and lounge area needed to be a safe place for the kids, so we went with a lower dinette that would allow them to climb on and off easily, but also allowed us to have some

indoor dining space.”

The biggest challenges they had to overcome while designing the van was finding other families that were doing the same thing. Three years ago, families diving into van life were far and few between. They were able to find a few accounts on Instagram that gave them some good feedback, but Ash & Margaux were largely entering a new territory with kids, since most adventure vans are built for couples or singles. There wasn’t a lot of information on how to safely secure car seats or what types of features would be good for kids.

But it wasn’t all time-consuming research and design challenges. There were fun aspects of the build that they still enjoy on a daily basis.

“Our favorite part of our build is our pull up bar and swing attachment. This was a later addition to the van, but it is our favorite design element because it is cross functional. Our kids have a swing and a hammock chair and we can also use it for pull-ups. We love it!”

For other families who are interested in designing and/or building a van for their family, Ash and Margaux have some helpful advice:

“Our biggest advice is to reach out to other families on Instagram that are doing the same thing and ask for tips. When we were designing ours, we found that the community of people that already had vans were so helpful and wanted to share ideas. We also recommend keeping things modular because children’s needs change as they grow and if you have the ability to change your setup along with them. then your van will meet their needs longer.”

Ash & Margaux share their family adventures on Instagram and YouTube as @sowewent and also have an amazing and informative blog at sowewent.com.

CARGO Precious

Living Tiny with a Wolf in a Converted Cargo Trailer

By Nicoll Davis

WE ARE NOT your average couple and our story is anything but ordinary. From the moment we met for the first time online, it was clear that neither of us wanted to live a typical life. The internet is what brought us together, but it was our shared dream of living off-grid that made this cargo trailer conversion a reality.

Let's go back to 2017 when my husband, who has always been the sensible one, bought an empty cargo trailer, threw a mattress on the floor and called it home.

The idea of converting a cargo trailer

came to mind because Jake not only wanted to have the freedom to travel, but he wanted a home that no one could take away from him. The fact that it was cheap compared to the prices of RVs was appealing. Plus, he could convert it a little bit at time without going into debt while he saved up working as a carpet cleaner by day and taking out trash from apartment complexes by night. It was the perfect solution!

Jake researched for months before he decided on a cargo trailer. He had to find the right dimensions, weight and height, all while fitting in his budget. He found one that was 16 feet long and 7 feet

wide with a 7 ft tall interior height. It cost around $6,000.

To begin the process of converting it into a self-built camper, he ripped out the plywood walls, insulated the inside, and hung shiplap. He installed plumbing and electrical. After installing a shower, he mounted a bed and table to make it more comfortable to live in. The trailer was starting to look like an actual tiny home on wheels.

The only way Jake knew how to make money on the road was to stop town to town and wash windows to make enough for food and gas. Since the cargo trailer was stealthy, he could park

Photo by John Burcham Photography

it in neighborhoods while he washed windows because it looked like a work trailer.

After a while, he realized it was hard to wash windows when it was hot outside because leaving Gunner, his dog, in the cargo trailer was dangerous. So he learned how to build a window cleaning website and figured he could try selling those calls to other window cleaners and make a small commission. To his surprise, it worked! So he kept building websites and selling those leads.

In 2018 I swiped right on Bumble and matched with a handsome young man traveling solo in a cargo trailer. The guy looked like he needed some love in his life and who better to give him some than a girl hobbling around on crutches with a torn ACL from a hiking accident alone in the woods.

Jake picked me up for our first date and gave me a tour of his cargo trailer that served as both his living quarters and bedroom.

We discussed how we wanted to live life. I’ve always been interested in sustainable living, and the idea of living off-grid was appealing to me, but living in a cargo trailer was never something I imagined happening.

That summer we enjoyed traveling around in the cargo trailer together exploring new places.

In 2019, we decided to renovate the cargo trailer and change the floor plan because it was pretty basic. There were still a lot of things that needed to be done, like running water for the sink, a fridge, and additional storage space for food and clothes. You know, the things that would make it feel more like home. And also to accommodate our rapidly growing wolfdog, Cruze.

In June of 2019, I drew up a new floor plan and Jake surprised me with a plane ride over the rocky mountains. When we landed he gave me a beautiful ring and asked me to be his wife! I said yes to his proposal and we had 3 months to renovate the trailer and plan our wedding. We were excited to get to work!

But there were obstacles we faced. Working with a tiny budget meant we had to make compromises and source as much as we could from second hand stores. We were also able to save money

by doing all of the work ourselves with a little help from my dad who had the tools we needed to complete our renovation.

We started by taking everything out of the trailer and repainting the walls. We were able to create a dog kennel by mounting our bed frame 3ft off the ground. By cutting 2 feet off of the end of the dog’s memory foam mattress, we made additional storage underneath the bed. Now our pups could have their own space underneath us and be out of the way.

The next thing we did was renovate the kitchen by adding a butcher block countertop and cabinets that were salvaged from Habitat for Humanity. I sanded them down and painted them all to match. One thing that really makes me happy is how much space I have for cooking now.

We left the original plumbing in place from the shower and added a split valve routed from the instant hot water heater

to the kitchen sink. Then we built a Murphy table to have a place to eat and work. Lastly, we mounted cabinets for clothes, and a small refrigerator.

After that, we added 2 more windows and installed additional solar panels so our cargo trailer can be self-sustaining. We had to be creative with our design, but we were able to make the most out of what we had. I am really happy with how the cargo trailer turned out.

At the end of the summer, not only did we have a home, but a wedding. In September 2019, I walked through the National Forest in a white dress to marry the guy who showed up on my doorstep in a cargo trailer. A week after we tied the knot, we took off and haven’t looked back since! We have been living full-time on the road and loving every minute of it.

We have learned a lot about each

other while renovating and traveling in the cargo trailer. From how to work on projects with the space constraints, to growing stronger as a couple from the challenges we face on the road.

Living with less means you get to make more memories instead of collecting more things. We have gained more experiences in our cargo trailer than we ever could have imagined.

We can’t wait to see what adventures are in store for us next! The cargo trailer is not just a camper, it’s home. What a beautiful gift it is to have a home that goes anywhere!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicoll is the author of her blog called Living Tiny With A Wolfwhere she shares what she has learned about hiking, camping, and traveling full time while living small. When she's not exploring the US with her husband and their three dogs, you can find her somewhere in the mountains.

Follow their journey on Instagram @livingtinywithawolf or livingtinywithawolf.com

Photo by Cherished Moments Photography

GONE SCAMPING

Navigating a Fiberglass Travel Trailer Renovation

By Nicole Dela Cruz

OUR CAMPING JOURNEY did not start with the RV and travel trailer side of things. In fact, John and I had never even been camping before we met each other back in 2016. We decided to get into the world of camping together, mostly to bring our furry companions along for the ride. After many trials and errors of getting the “perfect car camping setup” we finally converted the back of our Toyota 4Runner with a bed platform and drawers for our gear. We always knew that tent camping wouldn’t be our preferred way to spend time in the outdoors, mostly because of our unrealistic fear of wild animals, *cough cough* bears, but also because of the time it takes for all of the setup/ takedown, although we have done it a few times or when backpacking. This is why we thought car camping was the perfect

solution for us. We even decided to make our honeymoon a camping trip driving from Big Sur, California all the way up the coast to Vancouver Island, Canada. Even though we love our setup and the ease of being able to get up and go on a moment’s notice without having to really unpack anything, something was missing. If you guessed a bathroom, you are correct.

Enter the search for our beloved Scamp. Now, if you have ever been on the hunt for a small fiberglass trailer you are probably aware that these are hard to get your hands on. At least that’s the case in southern

California. After scouring every fiberglass trailer forum and Craigslist listings from every county and bordering states, there it was. Posted an hour ago, a 2009 Scamp 16ft travel trailer, with the floor plan we wanted, and in excellent condition. Just one issue: it was in Portland, OR.

I excitedly messaged the owner expressing our interest and she got back to me apologetically a few hours later saying other people had already contacted her before me and were looking at it today. Bummed, I licked my wounds and continued my search. To my surprise the next day, the owner contacted me again saying that the other parties were not serious buyers and I could come take a tour if I was still interested. Now back to that little problem: Portland, OR. Working full

time, I tried to convince myself that I could make the 40-hour trip in one weekend. It was not going to happen. The owner graciously did an hourlong facetime tour of every inch of the Scamp and we were sold. Mind you, at this point we have ZERO travel trailer or RV experience. Meaning, we have no idea what questions to ask or if it would even be a good or bad purchase. It was terrifying. Long story short, we trusted our gut hoping we didn’t get scammed big time, and crossed our fingers. We hired a third party to tow the trailer down to us and within a few days, it arrived. It was better than we expected. For a 2009 trailer, it was in perfect condition. And according to John, it was perfect as is and didn’t need any renovations. When we laid eyes on the trailer in

person I could not contain my excitement and started listing off all the wonderful things I had planned for it. John’s response was “yeah, over the years we can get to all of those things.” Right. Let’s just say, when I get an idea in my head, there is nothing that can stop it. We started the renovations after just two weeks and finished everything over the course of six weekends.

Now let me preface this by saying that John and I have absolutely zero experience with any sort of home improvement or DIY projects. I’d say most of my exposure is watching sped-up reels on Instagram of people transforming spaces in 30 seconds and making it look like a kindergartner could do it. Spoiler alert: projects do not take 30 seconds to complete, and 99% of the time don’t take just a couple of hours, especially with fiberglass trailers. I will say that we got lucky with our Scamp. The previous owners took extremely good care of it, which can be very hard to find. We did not have to completely gut the inside and start from scratch. However, most things in the trailer needed a major facelift.

Our first significant project was removing the carpet. This was our first realization when we took the camper out on its maiden voyage. We naively threw all of our firewood in the camper for the drive and then realized we did not have a broom at the campground to clean up the giant mess it made. 0/10 would recommend. Despite being in good condition with no stains, we knew it had to go. Ripping out the carpet was a huge challenge.

Lesson one with the renovations: never say something along the lines of, “Oh, we should have this carpet out in about 30 minutes and then we can lay the floor down.” Another spoiler alert: It did not take 30 minutes. In fact, it took us 5 HOURS to scrape off the carpet glue and get down to the wood. Despite the tiny amount of square footage in this camper, the curves and lack of straight lines posed its own frustrations with putting in vinyl flooring. Our “couple hour” project of installing flooring took quite literally the entire weekend to complete, but we were excited that our first renovation was DONE! And boy did that feel like an accomplishment. It was so rewarding seeing our hard work and my vision coming to life and knowing that we were more capable than we thought.

Despite our victory with new flooring, the next renovations were equally as daunting for us being newbies. We repainted all the cabinets, added new hardware, repainted the bathroom door, installed a sticky backsplash in the ‘kitchen,’ and sewed some roll-up style curtains. Each of these renovations posed their own challenges, but as we checked each one off of the list, it almost became an addiction to start the next project. It was a true love-hate relationship, but now that they are all done I find myself wanting more. My favorite part of this renovation was the styling. Our custom wood table from Little House on Maui is an absolute dream and my favorite accent piece in the camper.

I know that for people who do renovations all the time this seems like a very minor task to complete. But for those of you reading with absolutely no experience with anything “handy” I want you to know that with a little, or a lot, of patience, and of course YouTube, you can do anything you put your mind to! The most important thing is that if you have a vision, stick with it. We are always more capable than we give ourselves credit for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicole is a physical therapist and her husband, John, is a helicopter crewman and rescue swimmer in the Navy. They live in sunny San Diego with their two mini Aussie pups, Duke and Dakota. They would LOVE to go full-time on the road but their “hands-on” jobs just don’t allow it. For now, they consider themselves “weekend warriors” who try to get out and camp as much as they can. To see all of their renovations in detail, along with their adventures, cute pups, and Scamp styling, follow their Instagram page @Gone.Scamping

Lessons Learned During

RENOVATION

The Highs and Lows of Renovating a Home on Wheels

By Jess Stiles

RENOVATING A HOME is tough work that requires persistence and problem solving. Renovating a small space like a school bus, RV or Airstream is an even bigger challenge. With odd nooks and crannies, unknown prior updates, and any number of unexpected issues, those that have done renovations on their rig will have many stories to tell (good and bad!).

A few brave souls have shared some of the lessons that they learned throughout their renovation process, along with the challenges they experienced and their favorite memories. They also have some sage advice to share with those who are looking to do a renovation of their own.

KAIT & MICHAEL @DRIFTERKAIT

We bought our Airstream off Craigslist in February 2019 – and had our first campground reservation booked for early April. This gave us a very tight (less than 2-month) timeline for our renovation. It was a grueling few weeks, but the short turnaround really helped us to prioritize.

My favorite project in the renovation was definitely our dining area. When we got the Airstream, it actually had no dining room table – just a gross couch with a fold-down “TV dinner” stand. We decided to build our own dinette from scratch! Not only is our dinette amazing for having friends over for dinner, (it comfortably sits 6) but the benches add a ton of extra storage. We have a full bar with wine storage, all my kitchen appliances and our ski gear under there! The table is made of butcherblock and sits on telescoping legs, so it can actually transform into a queen-sized bed. We had the dinette cushions custommade so that they can be rearranged into a mattress. A few of my friends have slept there and say it’s quite comfy!

The biggest challenge BY FAR was the interior walls. Our Airstream is a 2003 model and the walls were lined with beige carpet, commonly referred to as “mouse fur.” At first, we thought stripping the walls would be easy - just a matter of peeling back carpet. But, when the carpet was removed, we realized the walls were lined with a thick layer of adhesive. On top of that, the mouse fur had been used to cover up imperfect panels and rivets, as well as some randomly wallpapered panels. We spent days trying to buff off the adhesive, stripping it with chemicals –it did NOT want to budge! Finally, we got sick of being stuck inside a tin can filled with toxic fumes – and hired professionals to buff out and paint the walls. In hindsight, that was a big learning lesson for us to know our own limits.

LAUREN & ZACH

@HUSKYTAILS_AND_NOMADICTRAILS

Our renovation has been an ongoing process since the day we moved in. We've slowly remodeled everything and tweaked things once we actually lived in it and realized what would work best for us. One of our favorite projects in the renovation was building out our bedroom closet to be more pretty and practical. Now it's more sturdy and we are able to fit all of our clothes.

I'd have to say the biggest challenge we faced was tearing up the carpet. It took us forever to tear it all up; Those staples are relentless. My advice and lesson learned from the entire process would be to do your research! When we first began, we didn't realize how big the tiny living community was or how many people were doing it. There are so many tips, tricks, how-to guides and even video tutorials on how to do anything you'd ever need to know to renovate an RV.

JULIA & CHARLIE @_THEHONEYWAGON

This is our second RV renovation so we were fortunate that we’ve already made a few mistakes and learned from them. Our first RV was a 20 year old travel trailer that required a lot more in-depth renovations. But this newer 5th wheel was only three years old when it came to us, so most of the updates were cosmetic. All of our updates were done working on the weekends over a course of only 4 months. My favorite project is the cane webbing cabinets. By simply removing the outdated glass inserts and replacing it with the webbing, it transformed the entire look of the camper. It was such a fun and easy project that I was able to do in one afternoon.

The biggest challenge was replacing and finding furniture that fit my tastes, fit the space and fit the weight limit. It was a tough task to find a desk comfortable enough to spend 40 hours a week at, but was also compact, stylish

and unique. We learned a lot of lessons over two renovations but the biggest one would have to be to take it one space at a time. If you’re focusing on the camper as a whole and not just the bathroom one weekend and the office space the next week, etc. it can get overwhelming. Breaking it apart into smaller projects makes it easier to digest. If you’re looking into renovating your camper, I’d advise taking it one day and one space at a time.

THE CULLEYS @SKULLEY.BUS

It took us about a year and a half to do the renovation on our bus while also working full time. It was mostly a weekend thing, but we also used our vacation time to work on it. A favorite project of ours would probably be our vintage soda crate wall at the entrance because we were able to bring them from our previous house and repurpose them to be a multi-functional wall. It holds our jackets, keys, masks, electronics, kids’ shoes and even some air plants while also providing some separation between the entrance and the living area.

The biggest challenge we faced during the renovation was not having enough time. We had a set-in-stone move in date and almost everything took much longer than we expected. We ended up moving in before we even had the shower done! But all is well now, 2 months after moving in. The biggest lesson we learned during this process is that you truly can do anything you set your mind to. All the things you tell yourself that you aren’t capable of doing, you ARE capable of doing. Our advice for someone about to renovate a home on wheels would be to give yourself time and lots of grace during the process.

NIKKI AND DEMIAN @HUSTLEHIGHWAY

Our original plan was about 6 weeks while still living in it, knowing we would move out for painting, and also doing the renovation while working, but it actually took almost 3 months to get it to where we could travel again.

Painting was the most challenging project we took on. We painted in February in the Pacific Northwest so we had to use heaters and lights to bring the temperature up inside, and had to paint in stages to keep each area warm enough. The paint looks great now, but it was a simple project that became incredibly complex. You can probably guess that our biggest lesson learned through the process was to think about the weather.

On the flip side, my favorite project is my mobile office. For over three years I worked sitting on a couch with a foldout table. As a result, every time we moved I had to pack up my office and podcast equipment. I designed my new desk in a way that everything stays in the drawers, even things requiring power, and it has a monitor that raises up and down.

Another very important lesson we learned is to invest in the right tools for the job, even if you won’t need them after. Tools are easy to sell and are also a great way of saying thank you to anyone that has helped along the way. Having the right tool makes the job so much easier and manageable. I wasted so much time using old saws or lower power drills before I upgraded!

Our advice to anyone considering a big renovation like ours is to double the time you think it’s going to take. And if you’re living in it while working, triple it. I know not everyone can move out during the renovation, but if you can it’s a lifesaver. Take your time, you can really beat yourself up physically and it can take away so much of the fun or cause you to rush. One last thing, make sure a hardware store is less than 15 minutes away. Trust me, after 100+ trips I wish we would have parked closer to a Home Depot.

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Renovating

ROOTLESS LIVING

From Cookie Cutter RV to a Mobile Publishing HQ

By Demian Ross

WE WAITED WAY too long to renovate our home on wheels. Not only to feel more like a home, but to actually have functional working spaces since we spend most of our time inside the RV working and sleeping.

Most RV’s today are designed with the weekend warrior in mind and if you are only using your RV on the weekend you are probably not really worried about working from it. As full-time RVers, Nikki and I wanted a home that didn’t look like every other Grand Design Solitude 375RES on the road. We also needed something more suited for two people who were working while traveling… aka we didn’t need seating for eight or sleeping for six.

A few years ago, I watched a couple buy a brand-new toy hauler, completely gut it and renovate it, and I thought they were nuts. I mean it was brand new!

Fast forward three years and after seeing everyone have essentially the same floor plan as ours, the same furniture, same carpet, same flooring, same bathrooms. It was like a cookie cutter home on a whole other level.

I went from a stressful 30-minute office set-up to a quick 5 minute set up or take down and everything is exactly where I left it.

I would literally watch videos or see pictures and wonder how these people got in my home and why are there photos of them on my walls?

I take full responsibility for why we waited so long. Nikki had plans to renovate after six months to make our home our own and looking back, that is my only regret. Well, that and doing the remodel during an ice storm. If I am honest, there was also a lot of fear of not having the renovation experience or the tools to take on a project like this which also really slowed me down from taking the renovation leap. What I know now, don’t let that stop you because it’s not as bad as you think.

Besides wanting to brighten up a very dark interior, what we refer to as a brown cave, we also wanted to make things more functional for two adults who are traveling while working and starting businesses from the road. I personally sat on a couch with a foldout table that required me to pack and unpack my office each time we moved. Even then, I didn’t see the need to start the renovation. Hindsight is always 20/20 and having a home and office designed to be more functional and decorated to fit your unique styles is a must.

My office now allows me to have an actual workspace with a desk that has everything powered and equipment secure in drawers. Most of my tech gear is charging while in their drawers as well as a computer monitor which is able to lower during travel days to keep it safe or when not in use. The monitor lift allowed me to not lose my view out my office window when I was not working.

I went from a stressful 30-minute office set-up to a quick 5 minute set up or take down and everything is exactly where I left it. Nikki removed the dining room table, which we never sat at, and installed a desk that faces out the large window, giving her an awesome workspace and some of the best views.

While I created the office space I wanted, I have to give Nikki all the credit with the decorating choices and having a go getter attitude. Neither of us had ever renovated an RV before but she believed we could do it all, and she was right. At first, we did throw around the idea of hiring people and even got some friends and family help with painting and flooring. We learned we could have done the whole project by ourselves from start to finish with ZERO experience.

We did what I will call a “full renovation”. We painted every square inch,

replaced all the flooring, replaced all the furniture, resurfaced all the countertops, replaced all plumbing fixtures, almost all the light fixtures, as well as resurfacing the shower to white from the lovely light brown the RV manufacturers love.

And we did it all, during the 2021 ice storm. We were in the Pacific Northwest when the temperatures dropped to record lows around the country, including there in the PNW. After spending a week prepping and sanding down every surface, we were in the middle of our first coat of primer and woke up to freezing temperatures and the paint slowly dripping off the walls onto the floor. Painting the interior of an RV is not the same as painting the interior of a home in Southern California, my only previous painting experience.

We decided to run out and buy a paint sprayer and waited until things warmed up a little to completely start over, sanding down the entire RV...again. We brought in space heaters and ran the RV furnace to warm the inside enough, but not too much because condensation would have sent the paint dripping once again.

We had to paint one room at a time, heating it up before, spraying it in a

few minutes, then waiting hours for that area to dry. My suggestion to anyone looking to paint their RV is to paint when it’s anywhere between 65-80 degrees outside with very little humidity. Also, when using a sprayer, tape and cover the outside of your RV near the door as paint likes to escape and land on steps and the exterior of your RV.

I had no tools at the start of this project and as the weeks went on instead of hiring someone, I just purchased the tools I would need or borrowed them when possible. I spent hours watching YouTube videos and doing projects twice when I didn’t get it right the first time. I will say you’re a lot more forgiving when you are the one making small mistakes than you might be when hiring someone

else. Plus, your mistakes usually come with a funny story.

For the interior we went with all white walls because we’d spent some time in other renovated RVs with white interiors and it really makes everything so much bigger and brighter. For example, we don’t have to use lights now in the daytime. We picked a farmhouse shade of green and blackboard shade of black for some of the doors and cabinets to give it that color pop and break-up all the white. We removed all the dark brown trim around the slide outs and purchased simple pine 1x7’s to stain and bring in even more of the farmhouse feeling.

We went with a tan couch, chair and ottoman in the living room to continue adding back color. We replaced all our chrome and silver plumbing fixtures with black and painted some black ourselves in the shower. Nikki also resurfaced all the countertops from a light brown to a white marble look that she hand painted. I was probably most worried about this, but Nikki did an awesome job. We

Look at your RV, your home, and really see what would work better for you and your travel needs.

replaced all the light fixtures and had a huge brain fart as we thought they got wired wrong and actually we were using the wrong bulbs Pro tip: they need to be 12-volt bulbs.

Water and RVs scare me and we were lucky when we removed all the flooring to find very little water damage. I did use this time to paint mold resistant primer on all the base flooring before we installed new floors.

For the plumbing and changing out of the fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom sinks, I did bring in the help of a friend and handyman to show me how to do the plumbing. Not only so I could learn, but also because this is something I wanted to make sure was done right and wouldn’t have any problems in the future.

Six months later and I still catch myself saying “I can’t believe I live here”. It is always so much fun to let people tour the rig and see what is actually possible to do with your RV.

If I can leave you with any advice or encouragement, it’s do not wait. No matter how new your rig is, look at your RV, your home, and really see what would work better for you and your travel needs - especially if you spend a lot of time working in your RV. Renovating is not as hard as you think and the RV renovation community is awesome and available to answer questions. Thanks for touring the Rootless Living HQ!

BOONDOCKING

City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

GPS: 32.5918, -107.9758

CITY OF ROCKS STATE PARK is a dry campers’ desert paradise offering up a breathtaking mirage of large sculptured volcanic rock formations in the shape of boulders and pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet. Located in southwest New Mexico, about 4 hours south of Albuquerque and 4 hours east of Tucson, this State Park offers all the perks of boondocking: distance from neighbors, budget-friendly at only $10 a night, and epic expansive views, while offering all the amenities of a campground: picnic tables, fire rings, vaulted toilets and clean showers located at the welcome center.

The ideal time of year to stay here is early spring or fall, with the best spots being the sites without hookups, providing panoramic sunsets, incredible stargazing and quick access to scrambling the rocks and hiking/biking the surrounding trails. There are a total of 41 dry camping sites, many nestled among the rocks, but there are 4 sites available that offer 30 amp electrical hookups, if dry camping isn’t for you.

Seeing as each site is strategically designed to blend with the rocks and accentuate the landscape, each site varies in size, accessibility and cell signal. We highly recommend site 30A, especially if your rig is over 27 feet and you require a cell signal in order to work. At this site, you can get a few bars of AT&T and T-Mobile. Plus being on the west side of the park, you get the best sunset views. Site 19, located in the Pegasus Loop, is also a great option, but in order to find the best site for your rig and cell signal needs, call the ranger in advance of booking

or arriving. Also, be sure to come with your grey and black tanks empty as there is no dump station onsite, but there is a free dump site located at the 5R Travel Center 30 miles away near Deming. There are, however, rig-accessible fresh water spigots located throughout the park.

Lindsey Chambers @wandering.america

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

GPS: 36.5819, -104.5898

THE MAXWELL WILDLIFE REFUGE is located just outside of Maxwell, NM. It is a short distance off of I-25, just south of the Colorado border. This easy access location makes it a great place to stop overnight or for a day or two when you’re passing through northeast New Mexico.

The first time we camped here, our GPS led us down one of the side roads in the refuge and there were some low hanging branches we had to avoid. We found out later that there is a main entrance just a little further down that was much better. It is best to enter where the main sign is off of County Road 505.

Some boondocking locations are definitely only suited for smaller vehicles and trailers, but that is not the case with Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. Any size rig would be easy to park here.

Tucker & Janae @adventures_with_tucknae

Coffeepot Road, Gypsum, Colorado

GPS: 39.6674, -107.1125

THE ROAD GETTING back to this BLM camping spot with breathtaking views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains was over 6 miles long. It is a rocky washboard dirt road with many switchbacks and a steep cliff drop off to one side. There’s a small parking lot with signs showing information about camping and a small outhouse where we were able to drop our trailer off and drive up the road to scope out a spot with just the truck.

While camping here we experienced some outrageous sunsets and shared them with a herd of sheep bleating all around us. You will want to have the appropriate power setup and plenty of water and tank storage at this spot as it’s a timely drive to get back into town once you’re up there, but so worth it! You can see every color and shape of the mountains from here and you’re even high enough to have service from a local cell tower. This was one of our favorite secluded and peaceful boondock camping spots that we stayed at in Colorado and it really had us in touch with nature.

Tawnie & Wayne @lifeoutsideboundaries

GEAR GUIDE

SHOP ALL OF OUR GEAR GUIDES AT ROOTLESSLIVING.COM/GEAR

Here is everything we had to buy, rent or borrow to finish our own RV Renovation. You won't have to run out and buy everything, but there are some tools that make the job so much easier. If you ever run into us and need a tool to help make your renovation easier, we'd be happy to loan it to you!

—Demian & Nikki, @HustleHighway

DEWALT 10-INCH TABLE

SAW

This was the tool I planned to rent to do the long cuts on our slide trim and flooring. We got lucky and were able to borrow one. I highly recommend going out and buying a new saw blade. When I finally did I couldn't believe how it cut wood like butter.

DEWALT 20V MAX CORDLESS BRAD NAILER KIT

It surprised me just how much I would need a brad nailer and how much I have used it since the renovation has been completed for little touch-up here and there.

DEWALT 20V MAX ORBITAL SANDER

If you are wondering why we have so many DeWalt products it's because I wanted everything to use the same batteries. Which leads into my next tip, if you're going to be sanding a lot, having extra batteries is a must.

RYOBI 10 AMP 7 1/4 SLIDING MITRE SAW

Unfortunately, I could not find a Mitre Saw I could rent or borrow and because I needed one that could slide and cut longer width boards I had to buy one. But it all worked out as the person that loaned me the table saw didn't have a Mitre Saw and we were able to gift it to him. Well worth the investment!

12-VOLT WARM WHITE LED FILAMENT LIGHT BULB

Not really a tool tip but just a reminder, you can buy residential light fixutres but you can't use 120v bulbs. We learned this the hard way as we thought we bought the wrong light fixtures or that we messed up the wiring. Grab the 12v bulbs!

PRO GRADE PAINT BRUSH SET

I get it, I just got done saying get a paint sprayer and here I am telling you to also buy brushes. There will be lots of touchups or drips. Plus after you have taken a few road trips you might need to touch up some nicks again, so make sure to save some of the paint in jars for later.

GRACO MAGNUM 257025 PROJECT PAINT SPRAYER

If you plan on painting the majority of the interior of your RV I recommend two things: 1) Use a paint sprayer and 2) Paint when its 70 degrees outside with little humidity. There is a lot more prep that goes into using a sprayer, but the results can make the most amateur painters (like us) look pro.

DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX CIRCULAR SAW

When all else fails and you can't get a table saw or a mitre saw, this small compact circular saw can do the trick. You just need a good straight edge and clamps for long cuts - it can actually handle all your mitre cuts as well.

KISCHERS REUSABLE HALF FACE AND ANTI-FOG SAFETY GOGGLE SET

This is a do as I say, not as I do. I really wish after the fact that I would have purchased a mask like this for painting. Especially when I was painting the shower walls.

BIBURY UPGRADED HEAVY DUTY BOX CUTTER

If you are removing carpet get ready for the utility knife to be your best friend. I recommended making sure you can get a good firm grip and that the blades are easy to replace.

TEKTON 15-INCH UTILITY PRY BAR

Pry bars come in really handy when removing slide trim, stairs, cabinets, nails, and screws. If you're doing a full remodel I suggest getting one, maybe two.

SWPEET 4PCS NAIL REMOVER TOOLS

I saved the worst news for last. You are going to be pulling out staples and brad nail by the thousands. I would invest in gloves, needle nose pliers, and kneepads. This is the job that takes the longest and you won't believe how many staples and brad nails are used. But the good news once you find them all, they are all gone ... maybe.

CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Davy

Marilyn DeBry

Erik Leazure

Giancarlo Damiani

Kayla Hodges

Celeste Orr

Emily Soon

Eva Outram

Kevin Arnold

Dani Dukes

Gabor Kozmon

Laura Petri

Gabe & Rocio Padilla

Adam & Kathryn Frazer

Jessica Oliver

Alexis Nascimento

L. Merredith

Nicoll Davis

Nicole Dela Cruz

ROOTLESS LIVING MAGAZINE

Volume 2 | Issue 11 | September/October 2021

Publisher Demian Ross

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Kirk

Managing Editor Jess Stiles

Art Director Melinda Gonzalez

Copy Editor Isak Kvam

Advertising Information: sales@rootlessliving.com

ROOTLESS LIVING • 3916 N POTSDAM AVE #3194, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57104

Disclaimer: One of the great things about digital publications is the ability to link you directly to the products or services you want to hear more about. Some of the links in this issue are affiliate links where we earn commissions on goods or services you buy. These commissions help us to continue to publish the magazine. Rootless Living is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. com. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@rootlessliving.com

Copyright © 2021 DNI Group LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited submissions.

PODCASTS FOR THE DRIVE

Dr. Death

We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system.

Dave & Chuck the Freak

If you are easily offended – take caution – no one is safe from Dave & Chuck the Freak’s wrath. That includes the President, the Pope, our significant others and ourselves, as well as everything in between.

Let's Talk About Sects

Focusing on a different cult each episode, Sarah takes a deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members and notable incidents during its existence.

History That Doesn't Suck

A bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.

Goal Digger

How do I build my dream job? How do I make money online? Am I ready to leave my 9 to 5? Welcome to the Goal Digger Podcast where we answer ALL of these questions and so much more!

Dark Air with Terry Carnation

Rainn Wilson stars in this fictional darkly comedic podcast that explores the on and off-air life of Terry Carnation – a late-night talk-radio show host.

Business Wars

Giving you the unauthorized, real story of what drives companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin.

Chuckle Sandwich

Three friends Ted Nivison, jschlatt, and Charlie Slimecicle, discuss a multitude of world shattering topics that everyone should care about, with some guests along the way.

Podcasts are listed as a courtesy to our readers and compiled from recommendations in various Facebook groups. If you have a podcast you think we should include, email us at info@rootlessliving.com

Room to live.

You’re ready to live. To see all the places and do all the things on your “maybe someday” list. For that kind of freedom, you need a fifth wheel that’ll keep you safe, comfortable and worry-free — from rocky vistas to quiet lakes, from summer to winter, again and again. At DRV Luxury Suites, we build each fifth wheel the same way we’d build our own home. Then we load it with luxurious amenities and back it with the best customer service on the road. All so you can focus on the things that truly matter, like taking in the view.

DRVSuites.com

Destination freedom.