Fort Worth Van-boree
When I first started thinking about traveling in an RV I wasn’t sure of what type of RV would work for me, I watched a lot of YouTube and was first inspired by Robin at Creativity RV, that was when I really became interested in RV travel. She started in a Leisure Travel Van (small class C or B+ as it’s sometimes called). Then she went to a class C, then on to a fifth wheel. With her fifth wheel she added a lot of solar and a lithium battery system and got rid of the generator. At the time I was driving a Nissan Leaf, so I was familiar with lithium power and decided that I wanted something with lithium. I figured I would have to add it after market.
I thought about what type of vehicle and couldn’t see myself towing a large trailer or fifth wheel. It seemed overwhelming to even think about. Then I started thinking about a small class C and the Leisure Travel Van seemed like a size I could manage. I hadn’t thought about the class B vans, and a lot of reviewers make a big deal about the wet baths, so I didn’t even give them a chance.
Then a video by 30 and a Wakeup who had just purchased a Winnebago Travato due to Covid and being unable to travel overseas popped up in my feed. He talked about how it had a lithium system instead of a generator, and it caught my attention. Then he had a video he made with Scott Watson of Go Small Live Large, another Travato owner, comparing the two different floor plans. Scott talked about how his floor plan had distinct living spaces, a front dinette area, the galley, a good-sized bathroom, and a sleeping area. But most of all he pointed out how he was able to park anywhere and go almost anywhere a car could go. Suddenly that wet bath didn’t seem like such a big deal!
I started watching all of Scott’s videos and he really motivated me to not just dream about vanlife but actually make it happen. A local dealer happened to have the G floor plan (the one that Scott has) so I went to see it to see if I would even like a van and to see if that floor plan would work. I spent a lot of time in it and was able to determine that a van would was the perfect size for me, it has everything I need, and I really liked the layout. Specifically, the bathroom and galley. I love the larger fridge because it has a very usable freezer. It holds a 5 lb bag of ice and plenty more! I brought my husband to see it and he liked it as well but was concerned that the sleeping area wouldn’t be comfortable for two. It was a 2020 model, so it still had the puzzle bed in the front. Not knowing when we would make the purchase and knowing that Winnebago was changing the floorplan and removing the second sleeping area, we kept our options open.
In January of 2021, Scott posted a video from the Tampa RV show where he did a tour of the Coachmen Beyond 22C and described the quality of the cabinets and overall build. I liked that it had a similar galley with a large fridge like the Travato G, the sofa folded down to make a sleeping area that when fully made up was near king size. And to top it off, Coachmen, like Winnebago, had a lithium option. I showed it to my husband and he said, that’s the one! A little over 6 months later, I was on my way to California to pick up my Beyond.
Scott was a great inspiration for me, and I completely related to his story of not being content with his life and then discovering vanlife and travelling to unfamiliar places and meeting new people. We both have partners who are not as interested in being on the road but are incredibly supportive of us. I had been feeling discontent and like life was just passing me by. Getting the Beyond has been one of the best things I have ever done.
When Scott posted about a meetup on DFW and a camp out “Van-boree” I was so excited to have the chance to meet him and others who shared similar stories.
Boondocking at the Fort Worth Stockyards
It was a great experience, and I met some really nice people! That I stay in touch with. Since then, I’ve attended another camp out with Scott in Florida and met some more great people including a reunion with a co-worker I hadn’t seen in 30 years! (More on that later).
Last stop Dallas and Dealey Plaza. Me, Ginger Walkabout and Scott.
