With the constant rising popularity of Social Media, many trends come and go. But one that seems to be slowly cementing its place among travel and freedom enthusiasts is the #vanlife, and it has taken on a life of its own on social media in Northern America. We as millennials come from a newer generation where we would rather splurge money on an experience than (on) staying in expensive hotels; hence the Van Life craze. So, it’s no surprise to see more and more people renting out, if not building their own, house on wheels!
It’s a soulful revolution of sorts, and one cannot argue the freedom you feel when hitting the open road with the same four wheels you’ll be sleeping in. Not all campervans are the same, with some only missing a foundation to be labeled a home, while others opted for a simple approach reminiscent of the forever iconic VW bus. The craze inevitably found its way onto our doorstep and we weren’t going to let it come and go without experiencing it for ourselves!
We recently returned from a trip from the Southwestern United States and are fresh off an awesome experience with a campervan. 5 days of travel, 3 states and 1500 miles never felt so comfortable, and probably wouldn’t have been as enjoyable had we just rented a car. So, without further ado, we present to you “The Biggie by Native Campervans”
Native Campervans “the Biggie” is built out of the High Roof Ram ProMaster, a spacious 3.6 Liter V6 Cargo Van which can seat 3 people but sleeps 2. This campervan is a nomadic travelers dream! Retrofit into this 17-foot long van is a fully functional kitchen, living/dining room and a queen size bed!
You can click here to see a tour of the van on our instagram!
When we said fully functional, we meant it! The kitchen in ‘the Biggie’ was very well thought-out and has everything you could need. The sink is equipped with both a tap and a drain, which are both connected to their respective 7-gallon tanks; one for water and one for waste. Just be sure to monitor how much water you’re using so you don’t overflow the waste gallon… we speak from experience. Where the water gallons are stored (under the sink) you’ll also find a propane tank which is connected to a stainless-steel gas stove-top with 2 burners situated just left of the sink. Above the sink and stove, you’ll find 2 different sized pots, 1 frying pan, 3 plates, 3 bowls and 3 cups safely slot into compartments which prevent them from bouncing around while the vehicle is in movement. All the cutlery is furnished as well in a very smartly designed push drawer, which also prevents it from popping open while you travel. Below the cutlery drawer is the refrigerator/freezer, which surprisingly enough can hold up to 60 cans of your drink of choice and is deep into to place a full carton of eggs.
In the ‘living room’ which is the space between the bed and the front seats you’ll find the 3rd seat which can also be used while traveling as it has a seat belt as well. A table can be safely set up for use while driving in order to facilitate eating or working on your computer. The table lodges itself safely into the side of the 3rd chair and can be maneuvered to your liking. There are 2 storage drawers also located conveniently under the bed which pop out and lock in just like the cutlery drawer to store your clothes, electronics or even food!
The bed was like an oasis in a dry desert; and we never really set foot into it until we were ready for bed. The reason: it was way too comfortable to risk it. Let’s face it, we ventured California, Nevada and Utah to explore the marvelous landscapes, experience that craze of the #vanlife and produce some awesome content to display for our awesome community… and we knew that if we touched the bed too early at night, there was no way we were going to work on some of the content we shot throughout the day.
The bed is incredibly comfortable, and that is in no way, shape, or form an exaggeration. It’s a fixed memory foam mattress and Native Campervans somehow managed to fit in a QUEEN SIZE (Well, queen minus 2 inches!) in the truck along with everything else that’s already in there. They set you up with everything you need; 2 pillows, a set of sheets with pillow covers and a Rumpl blanket. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rumpl blankets, take it from us, they are warm and comfortable.
The van’s height inside the cabin is quite high as well. The height of the van itself is about 8ft4”, I (Anthony) am 5ft11”, and I had some head room to maneuver inside the van. For those of you wondering how you charge your electronics, don’t you worry, they thought of that too. Plugged next to the cutlery drawer on the kitchen cabinet is an inverter which is connected to an independent battery that is in the trunk of the truck beneath the bed and powered by the solar panel on the roof. The power consumption of the battery is great to as a couple hours of driving and some sunlight is enough to keep the battery charged for a few days. The control panel has a couple outlets, a USB port, and it also controls the fan that’s located on the ceiling in the ‘living room’. There are also 2 LED light systems in the cabin, one in the kitchen area, and one near the bed which is used to illuminate the rest of the cabin.
The rear truck doors fully open on the van, and under the bed you’ll find your massive trunk storage. We’re not kidding when we say massive; we both had a luggage each stashed under the bed and there was ample room for a few more. Plus, Native Campervans come equipped with a small compartment that stores foldable chairs and a table for when you finally settle into your campground or pull over on the side of the road for a snack.
Overall, we’re very happy that we took the leap and tried out the #vanlife craze. Albeit the trip was short, it did give us a whole new perspective on the different ways available to travel. So much so that we’ve already started to look into potentially designing one of our own!
We also have Native Campervans to thank for the experience as they were incredibly friendly, insightful and helpful during our journey! If you are thinking of giving the #vanlife a shot and you are travelling to the Southwestern US, we HIGHLY recommend taking a look at Native Campervans as you WILL NOT be disappointed!