Powerchair Billing
Conversion Van Camping Tips
Conversion van camping doesn't give you the luxury of life in an RV, nor the discomfort of sleeping in a tent. It can be tough to safely heat a van at night, but it's cheap compared to an RV, and you can go places they cannot. We spent more than 25 nights sleeping in our conversion van last year.
Life In A Conversion Van
Make your van into something that's useable for you, especially if it's going to be your residence for days or weeks at a time. For my wife and I, this meant having space to move around. We took out the two middle seats which, I convinced Ana, would be good armchairs for the living room. Then we had enough space for dressing or cooking. The bench-seat in back folds out into a comfortable bed, so we were all set for camping.
When traveling, you need a system of organization to keep your space inside the van livable. After our first long trip, we noticed the many things we never used. We got more efficient after that. We're also able to keep the space open, despite carrying many things, by using plastic storage tubs you can buy almost anywhere. They stack well, and if you need more room at night, you can put them on the roof. They're rainproof with the lids snapped on.
Heating A Conversion Van
Camping in a van can be cold at times, as it was for us in the deserts of Arizona last winter. We started the van and cranked up the heater once in a while, but only for brief periods. The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is just too great to leave the car running while you are sleeping.
We also cooked to heat up the van. Our propane camp stove burned very clean. Any time it was cold, it was time to cook dinner, breakfast, or tea. This heated up the van nicely. Again, because of carbon monoxide, I wouldn't recommend ever sleeping with a propane burner going. Still, sometimes a quick warm-up is all you need before you crawl under the blankets for the night.
The secret to heating a conversion van when camping is to give up. Enjoy meal time warm-ups, but unless you have electric power, I don't know of a safe way to heat a van all night. Instead, you can heat yourselves. Wear warm clothing. Bring more blankets than you think you'll need. Prepare a thermos bottle full of hot coffee each night, so it will be waitng for you in the morning. You get to warm the van when you make it, and warm up yourselves drinking it for breakfast.
Advantages Of Conversion Van Camping
Traveling and camping in a conversion van costs less than in an RV. The initial cost is a lot less if you buy used, as we did, and the cost of driving it is substantialy less. We averaged 18 miles per gallon on our last cross-country trip. Most recreational vehicles are lucky to get half of that, and they're very expensive to maintain.
Compared with tent camping, a van is much more comfortable. Even if you backpack, you are probably going to drive some kind of car to wherever you go. With a van, you can come inside if it starts to rain. If you're backpacking a long way from home, you can save on motels on the drive to and from the trailhead.
Camping can be more comfortable in an RV, but not in all ways. It's nice, for example, to park anywhere. We've taken naps in parking lots, and nobody was the wiser, thanks to tinted windows, curtains, and the inconspicuousness of a van. At a free campground in Florida we got the best spot, on a bank overlooking Lake Talquin, because our van was small enough to fit there, unlike most of the RVs.
It's great to be able to drive anywhere. In the conversion van, camping wherever we are when it gets dark is no problem. Finally, some larger RVs drag a car around because the big rig just isn't practical for daily driving. Our coversion van is a second home AND our primary vehicle for shopping or going to work. That's flexibilty.
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
MORE ARTICLES:
Mobility Scooter and Wheelchair Lifts for Your Vehicles
The mobility scooter and the wheelchair are two of the useful medical inventions that are of enormous help to both the handicapped and the elderly. A tandem innovation for these medical equipment is the lift, which can easily bring up electric powered mobility devices (mobility scooter and wheelchairs) on a vehicles floor.
Understand The Sales Pitch When You Buy A Wheelchair Van
Brooke is trying to find a wheelchair van. She need it to carry her paraplegic daughter around. After visiting several van dealers around her neighborhood she ended up with a headache listening to all of those sales pitch filled with jargons she didn't understand. She barely understand half of what they said.
Lake Elsinore Family Caregiver Receives Free Power Wheelchair from the Scooter Store
Left disabled and dependent from arthritis, Sandra Gares, 62, regains her independence.
The Scooter Store Donates Power Wheelchair to Determined Amputee Who Refuses to Give Up
Thanks to the gift of mobility, local woman who lost her legs regains her independence
Happy Vacationing with a Wheelchair Van Rental
Many times, individuals wish to rent vehicles that are better suited to their immediate needs, but are not suited for their everyday needs. Wheelchair van rental is one such situation. While many handicapped individuals own their own vehicles or use city transportation on a regular basis, this is not always practical. With a vacation or large journey looming in the distance, wheelchair van rental may become a necessity. For these individuals, being familiar with the various wheelchair rental van companies, and how to obtain these vans, becomes a serious issue when planning trips.Wheelchair van rental is often used when one or more wheelchair-bound individuals wish to travel beyond the city limits without purchasing a...
Things You Need To Know When Shopping For An Electric Wheelchair
Electric wheelchairs are specially designed for those people who find it difficult to use manual wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs don't need any kind of physical power to be used in order to operate it. The invention of electric wheelchairs has been a blessing for many disabled people, because it considers and addresses the requirements of physically challenged people. With electric wheelchairs the disabled user feels competent to perform daily chores without any outside help. This makes a person feel more confident and helps to lead an independent life.
Power Wheelchair Gives Disabled High School Student Hope and Independence
A graduation gift from The SCOOTER Store is a dream come true for Dinero LaFanier, a student in the Bahamas
How And Where To Buy Wheelchair Parts
For those who have limited mobility, a wheelchair can be indispensable. It will allow them independence both inside and out of their homes, lessening their need to ask assistance of other people.
Finding The Right Sports Wheelchair
If you?re in the market for a sports wheelchair, you know there are a variety of considerations to be made with any wheelchair purchase.
Wheelchair Lifts: Opening New Doors
If you or someone you love is in a wheelchair or has trouble walking, than it can be very hard to negotiate staircases of any kind. Often, your whole house is handicapped accessible with the exception of the most important part: the front steps. Wheelchair lifts are responsible for guaranteeing that millions of Americans maintain their freedom and independence and retain the ability to enter and exit their home. Wheelchair lifts are very similar to elevators and are often referred to as vertical platform lifts. The term vertical platform lift is actually a very fitting and descriptive name. Wheelchair lifts are in essence a platform that is raised vertically to allow people who cannot climb stairs, or those in wheelchairs, to easily go up ...
Comparing Portable Wheelchair Ramps
Portable wheelchair ramps are a convenient way for a wheelchair user to access any area. They can help you get over steps or thresholds, or enter a number of different models of vans, minivans, and SUVs, without having to modify them for wheelchair access. A variety of different portable ramps are available. When choosing a portable ramp, you have to take into account what kind of wheelchair you are using and what angle of incline you can use, the ramp length you will need to achieve this angle in the areas you're likely to use the ramp, and what size and weight of ramp you can transport.
How To Pick The Right Wheelchair For Dogs
Seeing older people in wheelchairs is very usual. It is also common to see injured people and animals in them. But seeing dogs on their wheelchair is uncommon. But it is right, injured dogs can have their own specialized wheelchair.
Electronic Retailing Association Wheelchair Project Raises Awareness for Global Foundation
The Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) has donated over $450,000 in marketing services to the Wheelchair Foundation in order to raise awareness for the global relief organization.
Electrical Wheelchair Lift For The Automobile
When someone is on a wheelchair, special care must be given when the person needs to ride in automobile. This is because the individual is not able to get in or out of the vehicle like normal people.
Renting A Wheelchair Lift
Jerry is a college sophomore. This person was fond of extreme sports and would never back down when where there was a challenge.
