First Cross Country Vanlife Adventure in the USA
It’s clear from my prior blog posts that I have been completely hype to pickup my van in FL and it finally became a reality. Here’s a glimpse into my first adventure, from buying the van to overcoming challenges, connecting with fellow vanlifers, and reflecting on the experience.
Buying the Van
My vanlife adventure began with a bougie first class flight into Orlando, Florida, from Detroit, Michigan. From there, I was picked up from a Campers Inn RV driver and made my way to Leesburg to pick up my new home on wheels.
Note: While the van purchase was done with Campers Inn, the build manufacturer is Remote Vans, and I opted to go with the Friday Series.
Campers Inn Experience
At Campers Inn RV, I was introduced to my van, and the process was both exciting and overwhelming. The team was incredibly helpful, guiding me through the features and ensuring I was comfortable with the basics before setting off. They provided a roughly 45 min tour of the van, all of the features, and accessories that came with it. I was a little bummed to realize that basics like shore power cable and grey water tubing was not included, given the hefty price paid. I purchased these items and a 30/15 adapter so I could shore power from home base. The staff was friendly and helpful. During the tour however, I noticed the check engine light was on. More to come on that..
Me with my first Remote Van that had engine issues from the moment I walked in.
Learning the Van
While we discussed the financials and how we were going to rectify the check-engine light issue, the staff allowed me to stay the night at Lake Griffin State Park where I got to test out the essentials. I had no idea how to drive a vehicle this large so it was intimidating, but the 360 camera system in the Benz quickly calmed all fears.
First Night at the Campground
A small list of key features I dabbled with on night 1…
Shorepower: Plugged into shorepower at campground. This allowing me to use the van’s electrical systems without having to worry about draining the battery.
Water and Shower: I quickly powered through half of the 32 gallon water tank when I took a shower. I failed to realize I did not use the van’s water circulation system which would have saved me many gallons.
AC and Maxxair Deluxe Fan: It was 100 degrees in FL on my first day/night. The fan didn’t do much, but the AC was good enough to get by and sleep comfortably.
Guide Reading and Trial/Error
Understanding how everything worked involved a lot of guide reading and hands-on trial and error. It was a process of learning the ins and outs of my new home on wheels. Remote Vans provided a detailed PDF and I perused through the Mercedes Benz vehicle guide. The guide helped me figure out how to properly use the recirculation system so my future showers barely used 3.5 gallons instead of half the tank. 🤣
Issues with the Van
No adventure is without its hiccups, and my vanlife journey was no exception. Here’s a rundown of the issues I encountered and how they were addressed.
1st Van
Diesel Engine Particulate Cleaning Failure: Unfortunately, the first van had a diesel engine issue that required immediate attention from the start. This was probably the most stressful part of the process at the time. How could I be expected to drive a brand new Mercedes Sprinter off the lot with a giant red check-engine light on? Absolutely not. We had to figure this out, which unfortunately took days to get to an acceptable resolution.
Loaner Van
Interim Offer: Campers Inn RV staff offered me a loaner van they had on-site while we sent off my Remote Van into Mercedes service center in Orlando. This was useful as I needed to get to Daytona Beach to see my friends and my timeline had already been dwindling down with the amount of time spent attempting to troubleshoot the issue with the dealer.
Generator failure: Unfortunately, I did not realize the loaner van’s generator didn’t work, until after I was already in Daytona Beach. This made it challenging as I had wanted to start my “urban camping” adventures, but was now still required to shore power into a home, campground, etc. Disappointing, but we kept moving.
Loaner van and I at Ormond Brewing Company, FL.
2nd Van
Days passed and the Mercedes Orlando team was not even able to start looking at the issue of my van due to backlog of other vehicles there. There were multiple conversations that took place between Campers Inn, Remote Vans, Mercedes, and myself. I was at a point where I needed to start the next leg of my trip and no fix was in sight. After some careful negotiation, I was offered a new van of what I was told was the same build. Unfortunately, this second van too had issues.
AC Insulation: Insulation from the build was slowly being pulled into the AC, causing temps to become less cool, while spitting out insulation which was of course, concerning.
Desk stability issues: The desk in the van was completely unstable. The Lagun table mount was in a different location than my first van. I could not put a Macbook on the desk without fear of it tipping over to the left or right.
Water Leakage via Fan Seal: After I returned to my home base in Michigan, a storm came through while I had happened (thank god) to be organizing my things in the van. Water began pouring in through a hole in the fan seal. My father and I climbed to the top of the van, found the hole, and temporarily patched it while it was still raining. I’m still not sure how much damage this may or may not have caused.
Pretty sure this isn’t supposed to happen. 🤨
Overcoming Challenges and Getting Started Traveling
Despite the setbacks I faced in Florida, I was determined to hit the road and explore. Here’s how I navigated and started traveling.
iOverlander App to Find Places to Stop and Chill
iOverlander was a saving grace and I was excited to utilize “safe” spots that other vanlifers had logged before me. I stayed at a few places below. It’s worth noting I had a backup plan to stay in a driveway at an amazing friend’s house in the event I got a knock in one of the test locations during the night.
Planet Fitness (Savannah, GA): This was my first parking lot stop. There was another van, RV, and a few semi trucks in the lot when I had pulled in and the stay was safe and quiet.
Bass Pro Shop (Raleigh, NC): My second stop was Bass Pro Shop. There was one other sprinter there with me. While we didn’t interact, it was nice to have a “buddy” nearby.
Rest Stop (West Virginia): I thought this would have been easily one of the “safest” feeling spots. Wrong. At 3am I was awoken to a loud argument coming from a couple that had to have been quite close to me. They were off the rails, dropping f-bombs at each other left and right. I moved away from this but still stayed in the lot further down before embarking again.
Filling up somewhere between FL and MI
Starlink
This van was equipped with a Starlink High Performance Dish. Honestly, it is fricken’ awesome. Activation was a breeze and the phone application is simple to use. I was able to play Call of Duty online via my PlayStation Portal. I was also able to setup my personal computer and check work emails, though had to be extra careful with this desk given it’s instability, but we made it.
A look at my temporary office setup.
Meeting My First Vanlife Couple in Daytona Beach
In Daytona Beach, I met a vanlife couple at Ormond Brewing Company. They had noticed the loaner van I had, and I had an opportunity to show them specs and photos of my pending van. They shared stories and their experiences was both inspiring and reassuring, and it made me feel part of a larger vanlife community. Give colesunrise’s Instagram some love! 💙
Returning Home and Reflecting
As my adventure came to an end, I took some time to reflect on the experience.
Journaling
The trip was truly life-changing. My memory is not photographic so I absolutely had to document all of the highs and lows and the emotions I felt throughout this journey. This trip taught me about resilience, adaptability, and the joys of living on the road. It also taught me that I can do anything I want in this world so long as I trust and believe in myself and my dreams.
Socials & Blogging
Writing this blog has been a wonderful way to process and share my journey and I hope it sheds light on both the ups and downs of my trip. I’ve been slowly uploading trip photos and video to Instagram and TikTok as well for further reach.
Friends and Family
Finally, reconnecting with friends and family to share my stories and experiences was the perfect way to close this chapter.
Conslusion
My first vanlife adventure was filled with challenges, learning experiences, and unforgettable moments. It’s a journey I’ll cherish and remember forever as I continue to explore the world from the comfort of my van. If you’re on the fence about starting your own journey… DO IT. Don’t let anyone or self doubt get in your way.
-J
