Avoid these Mistakes
Before you buy…
There are some things you need to consider before you go out and spend the “Big Bucks” on a new camper van! No matter which manufacturer you decide to go with, what make, what model, and what size, there are a couple of things you should find out and / or ask yourself before you sign on the dotted line……………….
These are five topics Amy and I came up with after we made our purchase and only after we took possession of our 2022 Thor Scope 18M Camper Van. We considered some of them prior to our purchase, however, we should’ve done a much better job!
WE absolutely love our Van! We love the floorpan! It is perfect for us! WE just feel that after all the time and effort we put into finding the right van for us and the amount of money we paid for it the entire process should have gone a lot smoother. WE hope our experiences help you to make a better decision when finding your own “Dream Van.”
We started talking seriously about upgrading our Coachman 27 foot pull behind camper in the Fall of 2021. We wanted an RV that we could drive and still have still have all the benefits of camper life. Amy was leaning towards getting a Class C and I was starting to get hooked into the idea of a Camper Van. I remained open still and wanted to weigh in the pros and cons of both.
We began doing tons of research online sifting through pages of different manufacturer’s websites, watching YouTube videos and consulting with our friends that also owned different types of campers. We looked at all kinds of different styles, models, and floorpans and found that the most exciting ones were made by Thor. We started reading as many reviews as we could find online and joined different Facebook forums where people were discussing all the hot topics. We learned a lot.
Later on we discovered that it would have been extremely beneficial to have spent more time not just researching the makes, the models, and floorplans but also doing the same type of research on the different specifications the Van or Class C RV offered. We should’ve dove deeper into things like finding out more about battery life, solar power, diesel vs regular gasoline, lithium vs generator, propane, hot water tanks, tires, storage space, tow capacity, spare tire, cassette toilets and bathroom set ups, and much more. These are just a few examples.
There are many annual camper shows at various locations throughout the United States you can attend. We would highly recommend you go to one or many of these before you make your final decision. You can bring your list of questions from your time researching and ask away! You may not get all your questions answered but it its a great place to start. At these types of shows you can not only view different manufacturers’ brands but they have representatives from the manufactures on site. These representatives are very knowledgeable since they are the ones involved in making the vans and we have gotten a lot of useful information by taking the time to speak with them. Vans have become very popular nationwide and there is a lot of learning being done by the manufacturer, the dealerships, and the buyers all around.
Make sure you do your RESEARCH! Ask questions until you have a better understanding of the topic! Go out and test drive the van, complete walk throughs, and compare, compare, compare!
Only you can answer this question. There are several factors to take into consideration though.
How many people do you plan to take camping with you? In our opinion, vans are meant for two! We have taken our grandson, Charlie O’ with us when we camped closer to home base at two of our favorite Florida campgrounds, North Beach in St Augustine and Hannah Park in Jacksonville and it worked out just fine. We didn’t feel too cramped and had a wonderful experience! We took Keanu, our French Bulldog with us along a camping trip to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia and amazingly it went well. They do make certain kinds of cots you set up across the two front captain’s chairs for a third person (probably more suited for a child). Some vans have “Pop Tops” where the roof literally pops upward and would allow additional sleeping quarters. The beds up in this loft portion tend to be smaller in size.
We chose the Thor Scope Model 18M which is 18 feet long, about 9 1/2 feet tall, and is 6.75 feet wide. We liked this model especially because of its width. When we walked through Sprinter style vans we felt there was not enough room to comfortably move around each other while inside the vans. The Scope gave us that room we needed, it doesn’t feel as cramped. Other determining factors why we chose a smaller sized van (other than a more $$$ expensive price tag that comes along with it) are:
1) The Scope can go to places within National Parks where larger vans may be outlawed, such as Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park and Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, etc.
2) We are a couple that is always on “The Go” and busy cramming in as much as possible when we are exploring new destinations. The smaller sized van allows us to pack up and go mobile within literally a matter of minutes and we are on the way! A big bonus of the size would be that we can fit down almost any roadway and easily into any parking space a regular sized vehicle can fit into!
Even with the smaller size van we still have ample storage space for us and a full wet bath to boot! Understand that with any size camper van you will no doubt run into issues with not having tons of storage space. It is all about adapting and maximizing the space you are given. There are many ways to condense and minimize your load you just need to plan ahead and explore your creative sides! Look at Facebook forums, Pinterest, and on YouTube and you’ll be amazed at all the different ideas people come up with! When you come up with a great idea of your own make sure to share it with your fellow Van Lifers! There are also swing hitches you can add on that will allow you to attach cargo carriers to pack in even more Junk! (Ha!)
For Amy and I this question was easy. We plan to visit all 50 States and all the National Parks within the states. We wanted to go faster and farther than we have ever gone! It is no secret we love camping, hiking, and exploring God’s beautiful world! We wanted to simply the process and the time it takes hooking up a camper behind our vehicle. We wanted to spare our vehicle (Jeep Gladiator) the unnecessary wear and tear and mileage which it would of had to endure pulling a camper trailer behind us. Don’t get us wrong, we loved our RPOD and Coachman Freedom Express and miss them dearly and our friends still have wonderful BiG SpaCious campers with all the great bells and whistles like fireplaces, large kitchens with fireplaces, refrigerators big as the ones back home in our house, etc.
So take the time to weigh out your pros and cons about what might fit your travel needs. Do you plan on staying the entire trip at the campground? Or are you more like us always on the go and out and about? Do you really need all the bells and whistles or do you enjoy a more simple easier set up like us? If you have motorcycles and 4-wheelers and all the toys they obviously won’t all fit in the van. You can trailer things behind the van however something like a “Toy Hauler” might fit your needs better.
A benefit with our van is that we can schedule regular maintenance at a Dodge Service Center when needed. The maintenance required is also simplified. The gas mileage is not bad, about 18 miles to the gallon on road trips vs having to pull a travel trailer behind our vehicle we were averaging only 12 miles to the gallon.
If your considering purchasing a van and / or are interested in Van Life you could weigh the pros and cons of buying a camper van already set up by a manufacturer versus converting your own van into something that specifically fits your lifestyle and needs. Consider the time you spend away from home. Are you selling your house and going full-time vanlife? Are you a part-timer like us? We are still considering full-time van life in the future, we haven’t decided quite yet! If you are going to go full time you might like the idea of building and designing your very own van!
After writing this article we feel like #4 maybe should have been our #1! Here is why…
Without going into many details (for a later article perhaps) we ordered a van from a dealership. We had done research and had looked at the floorpans and felt like it was the best choice for us. However, the van was not present on the lot. It was driven down to Florida to our dealership from Michigan. We had already placed a deposit down on the van. The van was delivered a short time later. We were thrilled and so excited and took her out, “The Aloha.”
Our first camping experience was North Beach in St Augustine, FL. This would be a test run of the van prior to our departure on our two year in the making planned trip to Acadia National Park in Maine.
We found many things that needed to be addressed (let’s not fool ourselves here, with any camper, vehicle, house there are most likely things that are going to need to be addressed). We made a list. Thankfully, all were under warranty and Thor is helping us to get the van we paid for. We have discovered that some of the items on our list are similar items other Thor Scope van owners have experienced as well. WE love the Scope! WE love the floorpan! Don’t misunderstand us we are still happy with the van we chose and its still by far our most favorite camper we have owned. This doesn’t mean you will experience the same issues we did. However, please make sure you inspect the van inside and out when you get it!
You can pay a certified inspector to do it for you if you wish. If you take the time to do the research, take the time to check out the vans at the shows and take note of what they look like by comparing them you should have an easier process than we did. Know your van inside and out before you buy it! Learn about the specifications on your make and model your chosing beforehand so you will have the knowledge locked inside your brain (or if your like me, Markis, written down somewhere so you don’t forget it) before you sign on the dotted line…………….
They will have someone at the dealership that completes a thorough walk thru before you drive off in your new van. Ask questions and then ask more until you have a well rounded explanation or idea of how something works. Take pictures inside and out and really take the time to look over every single inch of the van to ensure you are going to get what you paid them for! This is probably the best advice we can think of to offer you before you purchase your new van!
# 5 goes hand in hand with # 1-4. All we can say is make sure to take the time to research in every single way possible before you go out and purchase your new van. We plan to learn everything we can about ours, our 2022 Thor Scope 18M camper van so that we are prepared for anything in the future.
We are still in the learning phase and trying to share as many war stories as we can with you all and at the same time learn from you all. There are many positives to Van Life as well! We still feel the pros outweigh any of the cons we have run up against.
In 2021 we went boon docking for the very first time along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We camped at Crab Tree Falls. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences ever!
However, we went in blind with no idea of how to add water to our fresh water tank, how much water we would actually need or where we would get the water supply from. We went in not knowing how to properly heat our camper and water (sink, shower). We had limited internet and spent the first night without heat and showers in the middle of the pitch black darkness! We couldn’t figure out how to power the electrical outlets so we had no way to charge our phones or use our iPad. We made it through the night and when we found ourselves back in range of wifi I was able to start doing the research I needed (should of have read already) to overcome the obstacles we faced the night before.
I thought I had learned everything and was prepared for boon docking but quickly realized I was no where near as savvy as I should of or could have been. So, our advice to you is make sure to take the time to study and learn every aspect of your van’s mechanisms and specifications prior to purchase and prior to going on an adventure!
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