John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged van life · everything

gearjunkie.com

Sprinter vs. Transit vs. ProMaster: There Is Only One Right Choice for My DIY Campervan Build

A veteran van-lifer with four builds and over 100,000 miles argues the Sprinter-vs-Transit-vs-ProMaster debate isn't really about specs or interior refinement—it's about parts and service availability in remote areas, where Ford's shared DNA with the F-150 wins decisively over Mercedes's niche dealer network and Ram's rebadged-Fiat parts problem. He also makes the case for boring, practical choices within the Ford lineup itself: cargo over passenger trim, naturally aspirated over turbo EcoBoost, and RWD over AWD, all in service of minimizing failure points when you're hours from cell service. Worth keeping for the concrete anecdotes (dealer phone calls, roadside breakdowns) that back up the "fixability beats prestige" thesis for anyone actually planning a build.

Permalink gearmaintenancervvan life

www.zdnet.com

The 5 best RVs of 2022: Top motorhomes and campers

This ZDNET buyer's guide reviews five RVs across different categories and price points—from the budget-friendly Jay Feather Micro travel trailer at $20,663 to the luxury Newmar Ventana Class A motorhome at $431,709—each selected to suit specific needs like family camping, full-time living, or weekend getaways. The article explains the three motorized RV classes (A, B, and C) plus towable options, then breaks down each vehicle's key features, pros, and cons to help readers match their priorities to the right model. It also addresses common questions about RV lifespan, cost of living, depreciation, and maintenance concerns like water damage.

Permalink campingtravelrvvan life

kk.org

RVs – Cool Tools

This roundup pairs two vintage guides to living untethered from fixed housing: a boondocking manual covering off-grid RV logistics (batteries, solar, water, mail-forwarding via Escapees) for full-timers who camp in Walmart lots and casinos rather than paid RV parks, and a Cheap RV Living website documenting shoestring van-dwelling, from stealth-parking a beat-up van behind your workplace to gear hacks like a dedicated "pee bottle" and DIY kitchens. Together they're a practical field manual for nomadic, low-cost living outside conventional housing, worth keeping for anyone curious about the mechanics of that lifestyle rather than the romance of it.

Permalink campingsolaroff-gridrv

gearjunkie.com

Building a Lightweight Modular Campervan: Less Is More

A GearJunkie writer explains why his new Ford Transit campervan build rejects the industry-standard approach of packing in every amenity, after realizing his bone-stock rental drove better than his heavily modded, feature-laden previous vans. His philosophy: build only for the 90% use case (fixed platform bed, front seats only, robust battery/solar system) while leaving occasional-use items like hot showers and hydraulic beds at home as portable add-ons, since excess weight—not suspension—was actually killing handling, fuel economy, and reliability. It's a practical framework for anyone designing a van build around weight discipline and modularity rather than showroom appeal.

Permalink modulardiysolarlightweight