On a tropical island in the Philippines, I realized I was at my happiest…and it didn’t take much to get there. I had a simple hut on the beach, and found my bliss exploring and taking photos…indefinitely.
However, could I replicate this at home in the U.S.? Long term travel is much too expensive there, but at last, I figured out a simple solution.
“Lucille”, at the Petrified Forest – Arizona
I found a 2nd gen Toyota Sienna, in the exact color I wanted. I had to drive all the way to New Mexico to get it, but the cost was minimal – and it was loaded with fancy options.
It had a sunroof, leather seats, a 10 speaker JBL sound system, and most importantly…everything still worked.
“Sleeper Conversion”
Even though I’m over 6 feet tall, I loved staying in Asia’s tiny “pod hotels”. I used them for inspiration. If I was going to convert this van to a little family camper (I call it a “sleeper”), I’d have to make the bed as comfortable as possible.
The first order of business was taking out the third row seat, which could fold down into the floor.
With that removed completely, a lot of cargo space opened up in the back. I built a bed frame with plenty of room for all our stuff underneath.
Believe it or not, we installed a full-size memory foam mattress and plush comforter. We used our large pillows from home, and even threw in one of those useless decorative cushions. This thing is cozy!
*Note, we were able to add 3 more inches of headroom since this photo was taken.
Our “sleeping pod” on wheels
The middle seats fold in half, and support the foot of the bed. When we pack up to drive, the mattress folds back on itself (totally flexible), and the middle seats pop back up for passengers.
We made custom-fit privacy covers for the windows, so the van is a completely incognito little “camper”.
Outside or In?
There are two schools of thought when it comes to RVs and camper vans. If you want to experience the outdoors on a limited basis (while having ultimate comfort in the process), a large, fancy RV is what you need. You can’t take it everywhere, and of course, you’re going to spend a lot of time behind a desk to pay for it.
However, if you plan on spending most of your time cooking, hiking, and relaxing outdoors (and you want to travel indefinitely), a humble little camper van fits the bill. You just need a comfortable, secure place to sleep. Think of it like a hard-walled tent on wheels. You save so much money, and can go soooo much further.
Yes, I learned valuable on simplicity while backpacking the world – the further you want to go, the less you end up taking with you.
Oh…and also, an adventurous spirit definitely helps.
AWD, Surprisingly Capable Off-Road
The “Alabama Hills” – California
This Toyota model (and even specific year) was carefully chosen because of its legendary reliability. It’s got a roof rack, a hitch, and a removable center console, which is super convenient (we replaced it with a fridge🙂
Ground clearance is as good as it gets for Sienna models, but it’s still a minivan, so having a spotter definitely helps in rugged terrain.
My lil’ spotter in Moab, Utah
Our little van (we named her “Lucille”) is a perfect combination of minamalism and efficiency.
Mileage is fantastic, and she turns on a dime. We can get in and out of tricky locations where even 4X4 Sprinters won’t dare try.
Insurance is quite reasonable, parts are readily available if you happen to need them, and she is a dream to drive.
Monument Valley, AZ
This country has an abundance of beautiful public land you can camp on, and we learned there are also plenty of places you can pull in and sleep for the night. No expense whatsovever.
All of this adds up to saving a TON of money, so that means long-term U.S. travel really is feasible.
My wife, playing around in the desert
So hit the road, we did…and with no plan to come back. As you can see in the photos above, we started by driving to Arches National Park and Moab, Utah.
Our “Sun Powered” Lives
If we wake up and a certain location is warmer than we’d prefer, we simply pack up and head for higher ground. No matter where we go, we’re always “home”.
We have up to 400 watts of portable solar, and a total of 1200Kwh of battery power. This runs our little fridge, and all our devices.
We cook with a small electric induction stove. We also have a grill if we want to cook on a fire, but it’s much more messy and inconvenient.
A shade awning is a must – Ouray Colorado
It’s quite amazing how much we managed to fit in this van – we really are ready for anything.
There’s a 10ft X 10ft screen room, a full set of tables and chairs, and even a portable shower (though taking a dip in a cool, mountain stream is much more refreshing).
No swimming in Yellowstone’s hot springs
Into the Great Wide Open
It’s hard to put into words the feeling one gets from venturing untethered, deep into the American West. There is a romantic quality to it all; a poetry in the freedom to wander these vast, iconic landscapes at will.
We still have our creature comforts, and can even find signal in some of the most remote wildernesses.
The best part is we can avoid summer crowds – by carefully timing our visits to the busiest national parks.
So. Much. Wildlife.
Days turn to weeks, and before you know it, weeks can turn into a month. It’s addictive.
Here are more shots from Yellowstone National Park, and a Montana ranch where we visited friends for the 4th of July.
However, for us, Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming was the peak of scenic beauty.
A hike to remember
There are endless opportunities to teach my daughter about the world around us.
On this trip we spotted coyotes, elk, deer, marmots, bears, and bald eagles. Oh, and bison. Thousands of them.
She is is learning how to respect nature without being afraid – but also how to be prepared for anything.
Here we camped at a cool 8,000 feet elevation…which meant wildflowers were still blooming in the middle of summer.
Nature – It’s Not All Sunshine & Rainbows
If life were perfect all the time, I’d have no perspective to appreciate anything. That’s what I told myself as swarms of mosquitoes descended on me up here.
This was one of the few locations that we set up our screen room. Lifesaver!
There’s a strange satisfaction that comes from relaxing comfortably with a great view…and seeing hundreds of mosquitoes stuck to the netting just inches from your face.
Knowing that none of them are able to feast on you.
Ah, life’s simple pleasures.
Nothing like a campfire with a view like that.
The Sun Gives Energy…& Can Take it Away
A lesson we learned was how challenging it is keeping charged with sunlight each day. Sunny, open areas are best, but then you must be high enough in elevation to stay cool.
Lower elevations are warmer, so you need shade…but then you must keep moving the solar equipment as the shadows creep across your site every day.
Ugh.
Still worth it.
These final pictures were taken up above Mono Lake in California. The eastern Sierra is a great place to escape the peak summer heat.
What we love about being on the road is the constant new horizons. We get plenty of exercise as we hike and explore each day.
I don’t think Native Americans even had a word for exercise…
There is only living.
We fall into healthy, natural sleep cycles that follow the rising and setting of the sun.
It is a deep, restful sleep.
Not to mention how limited our screen time is, and how much we enjoy being in the great outdoors together as a family.
I’ll never forget the peace I felt waking up to a sunrise with my two favorite travel partners.
* I have included a few Amazon links to products I personally use and recommend. Visiting them will help me keep sharing adventures like this. Thanks for reading!
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