Weekend Explorer Camper Van

Weekend Explorer Camper Van

If you’re looking for a van you can drive everyday and get out of town with on the weekends, this is it. It was designed with a family in mind as it will seat 5 and can sleep 4-5 depending on the size of the kids. It’s a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It’s a 144” wheelbase model with the high roof option. This allows people over 6 feet to stand with ease. It comes standard with many sought after options like the multifunction display, Xenon headlights, and a backup camera. It has a roof AC unit that keeps things cool for all passengers when driving. The factory 3 person bench seat can be easily removed when you need more room. It started out as a passenger van instead of a cargo van, so you have windows all around. It’s nice to be able to play games or eat in the back and see your beautiful surroundings.

As far as the camper part of the van goes everything is brand new and no one has slept in it yet. It has a dinette in the back that can seat 4-6 and a table that swivels. The two benches of the dinette open from the top for tons of storage. When it comes time for bed, the table drops down and turns the dinette into a bed that measures 52”x75”. Out the back of the van you have a 4 foot drawer that pulls out to store all of your gear and a special pocket built in for a folding table.

In the kitchen area you have a sink that is fed by 2-5 gallon water containers and a 5 gallon grey water tank. There is a 12v pump that is connected to a pressure switch that puts out good water flow. The van also has a 65 liter Dometic fridge that has a built in freezer. The freezer compartment can be removed for times when a fridge is all that is necessary. Above and below the fridge there are drawers for utensils and food. Next to the fridge is a cabinet that has 3 adjustable shelves.

Everything is made from 12 ply high quality Baltic birch plywood and is covered on the outside with Formica laminate. Formica is easy to clean and will stand up to years of bumps and scrapes. The interior of the cabinets have been stained to bring out the beauty of the birch.

To fully utilize all the space that the van offers, there is a bed that fits on the front seats and folds up against the side wall when not in use. The mattress is stored on the overhead shelf above the driver.

For the frosty nights there is an Espar diesel heater installed that runs off of the factory fuel tank. This makes even the coldest nights comfortable and uses minimal fuel. For hotter nights and general air movement, there is a Maxxair fan installed over the dinette. Under the hood there are 2 6-volt batteries wired to provide 12v power for the van. This powers the heater, fridge, fan, water pump, LED lights, and USB charging ports that have been added.

Having a van like this changes everything when it comes to traveling/camping. It’s easy to keep it fully packed all the time and just pick up food and fuel on your way out of town when the weekend comes. Weather becomes less of factor knowing that you can cook and eat inside should a storm roll in. Put the tent away and step into #vanlife, you deserve it.

DETAILS OF VAN BUILD:

  • 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144” High Roof
  • 48,000 Miles
  • 3.0 Turbo Diesel -5 Speed Automatic
  • Xenon Headlights -Fog Lights
  • LED Light Bar
  • Sony Apple CarPlay Stereo
  • Seats 5
  • Camper Van Features:
  • Sleeps 4-5
  • Rear Dinette with Storage Under Each Bench
  • Dinette seats 4-6
  • Dinette Coverts into 52”x75” Bed
  • Cushions upholstered with Sunbrella brand Fabric
  • Table with Lagun 360 Degree Swivel Mount
  • 48” Rear Pullout Gear Drawer with Table Pocket
  • Galley with 33” Countertop
  • 2 Drawers
  • Cabinet with 3 Adjustable Shelves
  • Dometic 65 Liter Fridge with Freezer
  • Sink Cabinet with Stainless Steel Sink and Faucet
  • 12v Water Pump with 10 Gallon Fresh Water Capacity
  • 5 Gallon Grey Water Tank (Never Used)
  • Cassette Toilet (Never Used)
  • LED Lighting in 3 Zones with a Dimmer Switch for Dinette/Bed
  • Led Light in Rear Door for use with Rear Drawer At Night
  • Espar Diesel Heater connected to factory fuel tank with Easy Start Pro Controller.
  • Everything is made with high quality Baltic Birch Plywood and Formica Laminate
  • Front Bed platform with Cushion
  • Shelf over front seats for storage
  • Adventure Wagon dual battery tray with 2 6-volt batteries under hood
  • Blue Sea Electrical components used throughout van

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We love talking about vans.

VAN BUILD PRICING

Weekend Explorer Van with SOLAR

Weekend Explorer Van with SOLAR

When adding Solar this set up will allow you to easily run your fridge and everything indefinitely when there is ample sun. The battery powers the fridge, fan, water pump, LED lights, and USB charging ports that have been added. Having a van like this changes everything when it comes to traveling and camping. It’s easy to keep it fully packed all the time and just pick up food and fuel on your way out of town when the weekend comes.

If you’re looking for a van you can drive everyday and get out of town with on the weekends, this is it. It was designed with a family in mind as it will seat 5 and can sleep 4-5 depending on the size of the kids. It’s a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It’s a 144” wheelbase model with the high roof option. This allows people over 6 feet to stand with ease. It has a roof AC unit that keeps things cool for all passengers when driving. The factory 3 person bench seat can be easily removed when you need more room.The 2.0 turbo gasoline engine and 9 speed automatic transmission return good fuel efficiency and it’s pretty peppy around town and cruises the freeway with ease. This van only 18,000 miles, so it’s ready for years of adventures ahead. It started out as a passenger van instead of a cargo van, so you have windows all around. It’s nice to be able to play games or eat in the back and see your beautiful surroundings.

As far as the camper part of the van goes everything is new and no one has slept in it yet. It has a dinette in the back that can seat 4-6 and a table that swivels. The two benches of the dinette open from the top for tons of storage. When it comes time for bed, the table drops down and turns the dinette into a bed that measures 50”x74.5”. Out the back of the van you have a 4 foot drawer that pulls out to store all of your gear and a special pocket built in for a folding table. 

In the kitchen area you have a sink that is fed by 2-5 gallon water containers and a 5 gallon grey water tank. There is a 12v pump that is connected to a pressure switch that puts out good water flow. The van also has a 65 Liter Dometic fridge that has a built in freezer. This is a good sized fridge that will easily hold drinks and food for a weekend. Above and below the fridge are drawers. Next to the fridge is a cabinet that has an 3 adjustable shelves.

Everything is made from 12 ply high quality Baltic birch plywood and is covered on the outside with Formica laminate. Formica is easy to clean and will stand up to years of bumps and scrapes. The interior of the cabinets have been stained to bring out the beauty of the birch. 

To fully utilize all the space that the van offers, there is a bed that fits on the front seats and folds up against the side wall when not in use. The mattress is stored on the overhead shelf above the driver. This bed measures 37” x 60” and is great for kids.

To help ventilate when cooking and general air movement, there is a Maxxair fan installed over the dinette that can be controlled by a remote. It also has two vent inserts for the front windows. These allow the fan to pull or push a nice breeze through the van. Under one of the dinette benches there is a 200 amp hour Renogy Lithium battery. This is charged through a 175 watt Renogy solar panel when parked. When driving a Redarc 25 amp DC-DC charger helps to keep the battery topped off. This setup will allow you to easily run your fridge and everything indefinitely when there is ample sun. The battery powers the fridge, fan, water pump, LED lights, and USB charging ports that have been added. 

Having a van like this changes everything when it comes to traveling/camping. It’s easy to keep it fully packed all the time and just pick up food and fuel on your way out of town when the weekend comes. Weather becomes less of factor knowing that you can cook and eat inside should a storm roll in. Put the tent away and step into vanlife, you deserve it.

2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 144” High Roof

  • -18,300 Miles
  • -2.0 Turbo Gasoline Engine
  • -9 Speed Automatic
  • -Seats 5
  • Camper Van Features:
  • -Sleeps 4-5
  • -Rear Dinette with Storage Under Each Bench
  • -Dinette seats 4-6
  • -Dinette Coverts into 50”x74” Bed
  • -Cushions upholstered with Sunbrella brand Fabric
  • -Table with Lagun 360 Degree Swivel Mount
  • -48” Rear Pullout Gear Drawer with Table Pocket
  • -Galley with 33” Countertop
  • -2 Drawers
  • -Cabinet with 3 Adjustable Shelves
  • -Dometic 65 Liter Fridge with Freezer
  • -Sink Cabinet with Stainless Steel Sink and Faucet
  • -12v Water Pump with 10 Gallon Fresh Water Capacity
  • -5 Gallon Grey Water Tank (Never Used)
  • -Cassette Toilet (Never Used)
  • -LED Lighting in 3 Zones with a Dimmer Switch for Dinette/Bed 
  • -Led Lights in Rear Doors for use with Rear Drawer At Night
  • -Everything is made with high quality Baltic Birch Plywood and Formica Laminate
  • -Stainless Steel drawer latches with locks.
  • -Front Bed platform with Cushion
  • -Shelf over front seats for storage
  • -Renogy 200 Amp Hour Lithium Battery
  • -Renogy 175 Watt Solar Panel
  • -Redarc 25 Amp DC-DC Charger and MPPT Solar Controller
  • -Blue Sea Electrical components used throughout van
  • -Maxxair Fan with powered opening and remote control
  • -2 USB outlets in dinette area and 2 in driver’s seat base for rear seat.

Please don’t hesitate to call or text with any questions. We love talking about vans.

VIDEO TOUR OF WEEKEND EXPLORER BUILD:

VAN BUILD PRICING

Weekend Explorer Upgraded Flooring

Weekend Explorer Upgraded Flooring

If you are wanting to have us build your camper van, but do not want carpet you can upgrade to the coin mat rubber flooring.

  • 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van144” High Roof
  • 26,300 Miles
  • 3.0 Turbo Diesel -5 Speed Automatic
  • Amp Research retractable step on passenger side
  • Kenwood Apple CarPlay Stereo
  • 17” Mandrus Wheels and Michelin LTX Tires
  • Kids Bed Platform & Cushion (37×60”)
  • Sleeps 4-5
  • Rear Dinette with Storage Under Each Bench
  • Dinette Coverts into 50”x74.5” Bed
  • Table with Lagun 360 Degree Swivel Mount
  • 48” Rear Pullout Gear Drawer with Table Pocket
  • Galley with 33” Countertop, drawers, cabinets
  • Vitrifrigo 90 Liter Stainless Steel Marine Fridge with Freezer
  • 12v Water Pump with 10 Gallon Fresh Water Capacity
  • 5 Gallon Grey Water Tank (Never Used)
  • Cassette Toilet (Never Used)
  • LED Lighting in 3 Zones
  • Led Lights in Rear Doors for use with Rear Drawer At Night
  • Espar Diesel Heater
  • Adventure Wagon dual battery tray with 2 6-volt AGM batteries under hood
  • 220 Amp Hours

VIDEO TOUR OF WEEKEND EXPLORER BUILD:

VAN BUILD PRICING

Drop Down Kids Bed Camper Van

Drop Down Kids Bed Camper Van

The Kominsky family loves the river. They didn’t want a fridge, but custom measurements where they could load up their huge coolers to take down the river. They also wanted the kids bed to drop down from the ceiling. This was tricky with having to build in the lighting within the kids bed that lowers and raises to give light to the dinette in all positions.

VIDEO TOUR OF WEEKEND EXPLORER BUILD:

VAN BUILD PRICING

VAN BUILDS

VAN BUILDS

A collection of our past van builds.

FAMILY WEEKEND EXPLORER PACKAGE

Designed for a family of 4-5. Daily driver during the week while exploring on the weekends. It takes us about 4- 6 weeks to complete this build.

  • Galley – Fridge, Freezer, Sink, Toilet, Cabinets
  • Dinette / Full Size Bed
  • Kids Bed
  • Diesel Heater
  • Maxx Air Fan
  • Electrical – Battery, USB’s, 12v
  • Storage / Gear Drawer/ Overhead shelf
  • Insulation
  • Carpeted Flooring & Powder Coated Trim
  • 3 Seater Bench Seat included with Passenger Van
  • Customizations: Choose your laminate colors & cushions

— If you would like to know more about our VAN BUILD PACKAGES click here.

WEEKEND EXPLORER PACKAGE + SOLAR

WEEKEND EXPLORER PACKAGE

WEEKEND EXPLORER PACKAGE – UPGRADED FLOORING

CUSTOM BUILD – KIDS DROP DOWN BED

CLOTHES SHOP WITH DRESSING ROOM

FAMILY OVERLANDER VAN WITH BUNK BEDS

RUSTY: 2008 Dodge / Mercedes Sprinter Van- 144 low roof, 2500 diesel

BEFORE & AFTER


EL GATO GORDO: 2008 Dodge / Mercedes Sprinter Van- 170 high roof, 2500 diesel

BEFORE & AFTER

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GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING

GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING

Description

It’s one thing to walk up close and personal to this beauty to feel the wave of steam on your face, but getting up above the steam is a sight to behold.

LENGTH:

1.6 MILES – 200ft Elevation gain

TRAIL DETAILS:

The trail begins from the Fairy Falls Trailhead. Hikers cross a bridge over the Firehole River and walk along a wide crushed-gravel trail. At the first junction, the trail swings left and gently climbs up through new lodgepole growth. Arrive at a large viewing platform. The platform is surrounded by a rail, making this a great hike for the young ones.

Take in the clear view over Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser. The temperature of Grand Prismatic ranges from 145 degrees to 188 degrees, with the highest temperature at the center in the clear blue waters. Just off-center, at a temperature of 165 degrees, the Synechococcus bacterium becomes predominant as noted by the greenish color. Calothrix and Phormidium are cyanobacteria that form the respective dark brown and orange bacterial mats around the outer rim of the spring.

WEATHER

COST

The entrance fee at the gate is $25.00 per vehicle. The pass is good for seven days and will get you in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. You can buy a one-year pass for $50.00, and you can buy a National Parks pass for $80.00, which gets you into all national parks in the country

Check the official website for updated fee information.

LOCATION

You can view the spring from the boardwalk in the Midway Geyser Basin, or you can look down on the spring from the top of a small hill accessible from the Fairy Falls Trail. The traditional way to view the Grand Prismatic Spring is to walk next to it on the boardwalk. The spring is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.

DIRECTIONS

.

GPS COORDINATES

Trailhead: (44.5151736,-110.8325500)
Overlook: (44.5233163,-110.8398964)

GEAR CLOTHING WE NEEDED

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GRAND PRISMATIC SPRINGS GALLERY

BACK TO:

ADVENTURES IN WYOMING

RECENT POSTS:

Our favorite thing about this park is that its free range – no trails. You can go and explore and play all day. It’s huge so even though the parking lot might seem busy, once everything gets spread out and you head out past the main area then you have the whole place to yourself. It’s really neat to

Coming soon…ish – We’re gathering our thoughts, notes, and videos so we can create a guide that gives you information on things we did or wished we would have done.

THE GUIDE WILL INCLUDE:

  • ADVENTURES
    • HIKES
    • EXCURSIONS
    • SCENIC DRIVES
    • VIEW POINTS
    • NATURE WALKS
    • ETC.
  • CAMPING
    • CAMPGROUNDS
    • WILD (Free BLM Land)
  • WEATHER
  • GEAR WE USED/ NEEDED
  • ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE
  • AND MORE

However, no matter how much we wish we could do everything, it’s just not possible. Amazing places always leave you with wanting more. We will provide you with links to the destination’s main site. There you can add your own interest into your itinerary as well.

NEED HELP NOW:

If you can’t find what you are looking for or if you are are planning your adventure and need help NOW. Reach out to us. We would love to seed you some quick information off the top of our head to get you started.

Ways to reach out:

You can also check out our resource pages on planning an adventure. Especially How to Find Campgrounds Around your Destination.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In the meanwhile,  you can view any of our recent posts. Check out our learning posts that gives you tips and tricks as well as free printable packing list and meal plans. Double check your gear and view what we use on our gear and vehicle mods pages, or even just get to know us.

Thanks for being patient as we continue to build these guides of where we have been over the past 15 years and where we are now.

WHERE WE ARE NOW:

AH-SHI-SLE-PAH

AH-SHI-SLE-PAH

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pa is a hidden gem located off a long dirt road in the deserts of New Mexico a little south of Farmington. Its the kind of hike my kids never complain about. It’s an adventure playground with no marked trails, just free roam wherever your heart or kids desire. It’s fun to let them take the lead and see where they lead you! Climbing, running, jumping, hide and go seek, you name it and we did it.

LENGTH:

2+hours

The Valley of Goblins, the most well-known attraction, spans nearly 3 square miles that can be explored at your leisure. Beyond that area, the park also offers 6 miles of hiking trails as well! We haven’t explored those yet but would love to one day.

TRAIL DETAILS:

You can hike anywhere along the road to the badlands area and just drop in and start exploring the hoodoos. It’s also covered in petrified wood! The landscape is truly out of this world. It reminds us of Goblin Valley in Utah.

THING TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

  • Do not rely on Garman, Google Maps or Map Quest to get you to the parking area
  • There are no facilities, come prepared
  • This is a true wilderness area, there are no marked trails
  • Bring lots of water
  • Good hiking shoes are a must
  • Cell phone reception is spotty
  • There is little to no shade, be careful when hiking in high temperatures
  • Check the weather before visiting, roads and terrain may become impassible in wet weather
  • Watch for snakes
  • Watch for flash floods in the wash

WEATHER

COST

FREE! No cost to enter the area or hike.

LOCATION

About 63 miles south of Farmington New Mexico or 50 Miles south of Bloomfield. The Best way is to put the GPS Coordinates into your google maps. It will take you right there.

DIRECTIONS

There are three main routes used to reach Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah WSA. One is from NM 371 in the west – along county road 7650 for 7.7 miles, south on 7870 for 9.5 miles then northeast on 57 for 2.8 miles. The BLM trailhead used to be at the end of an unsign posted half-mile track that forks off northwards, the junction being a short distance west of a lone house to the south, but the track has recently been closed to vehicles, which now have to be left along road 57. Like many of the dirt roads in this area, these three routes are used by trucks from the nearby oil fields so are kept in a good state of repair. The other two approaches are from the east, both starting from US 550; most direct is via road 57, which forks off the highway at Blanco Trading Post and reaches the trailhead track 18.3 miles later, after quite a few junctions (all clearly signposted with the road number). The first few miles used to be paved but now the surface is heavily eroded and quite bumpy – driving is easier on the hard-pressed dirt after this, though the road seems rather less used by oil trucks and more by the Navajo, so is not quite as good as others around. The third route is 451/7800 from Nageezi – fully paved for a few miles but wide and well used for all the 12 miles to the junction with road 57, 3 miles from the trailhead.

GPS COORDINATES

TRAILHEAD: 36.141, -107.927

GEAR CLOTHING WE NEEDED

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AH-SHE-SLE-PA GALLERY

BACK TO:

ADVENTURES IN NEW MEXICO

RECENT POSTS:

Our favorite thing about this park is that its free range – no trails. You can go and explore and play all day. It’s huge so even though the parking lot might seem busy, once everything gets spread out and you head out past the main area then you have the whole place to yourself. It’s really neat to

Coming soon…ish – We’re gathering our thoughts, notes, and videos so we can create a guide that gives you information on things we did or wished we would have done.

THE GUIDE WILL INCLUDE:

  • ADVENTURES
    • HIKES
    • EXCURSIONS
    • SCENIC DRIVES
    • VIEW POINTS
    • NATURE WALKS
    • ETC.
  • CAMPING
    • CAMPGROUNDS
    • WILD (Free BLM Land)
  • WEATHER
  • GEAR WE USED/ NEEDED
  • ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE
  • AND MORE

However, no matter how much we wish we could do everything, it’s just not possible. Amazing places always leave you with wanting more. We will provide you with links to the destination’s main site. There you can add your own interest into your itinerary as well.

NEED HELP NOW:

If you can’t find what you are looking for or if you are are planning your adventure and need help NOW. Reach out to us. We would love to seed you some quick information off the top of our head to get you started.

Ways to reach out:

You can also check out our resource pages on planning an adventure. Especially How to Find Campgrounds Around your Destination.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In the meanwhile,  you can view any of our recent posts. Check out our learning posts that gives you tips and tricks as well as free printable packing list and meal plans. Double check your gear and view what we use on our gear and vehicle mods pages, or even just get to know us.

Thanks for being patient as we continue to build these guides of where we have been over the past 15 years and where we are now.

WHERE WE ARE NOW:

HIGHLINE TRAIL

HIGHLINE TRAIL

Description

This was our number one hike we wanted to do. the first time we tried it was closed due to no visibility, snow and ice. We waited 8 days and blue skies showed up just in time.

LENGTH:

Choose your distance if out and back. We went in 2 miles and turned around, so we went a total of 4 miles, and felt like it was an amazing hike! Going this way, the hike was easy and not strenuous, however, if you do the full loop of 11.8 miles it is very strenuous with an elevation gain of 1950 feet.

TRAIL DETAILS:

The Highline Trail shoots north along a cliff on the western side of the Continental Divide. The trail is carved into a sheer rock face known as the Garden Wall. Below the trail is a vertical drop to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The trail is wide enough for hikers to pass in both directions, and there is a chain to hold on to through a precarious stretch near the start of the hike. Keep an eye out for wildlife! We saw bighorn sheep, marmot, and cute ground squirrels.

You’ll also cross seasonal waterfalls fueled by snowpack runoff, and enjoy constant westward views toward impressive summits like Mount Oberlin. The level rocky trail allows steady progress for the first three miles leading to the base of a rise protruding from the Garden Wall named the Haystack. We stopped here but this trail continues on for another 10.5 miles that takes you to the Many Glacier Region.

One day we’ll tackle this… It’s always fun to have something to look forward too.

WEATHER

COST

Effective June 1, the park entrance fee will be $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle. An annual park pass will cost $70.

The Trail doesn’t require any permits if you are not backpacking and just day hiking.

Check the official website for updated fee information.

LOCATION

You can find the trailhead at Logan Pass, just across Going-to-the-Sun Road from the park visitor center.

DIRECTIONS

To get to the trailhead: Highline Trail starts at Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Continental Divide. The Loop is located 7.75 miles down the same road west side of the divide. The free park shuttle stops at both locations.

GPS COORDINATES

Trailhead coordinates: 48.696343, -113.7176

GEAR CLOTHING WE NEEDED

.

GLACIER’S HIGHLINE TRAIL GALLERY

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ADVENTURES IN MONTANA

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