[bradoemba]

November 2021 I took possession of my 2020 AWD 250 Long-High. Converted by Adventure Wagon with their Moab bed, Mule bags, Espar heater, Smartfloor with 2 extra seats. So 2022 was my first year with a done adventure van at the ready. I used it a bunch, even while still working full time, but wish I had used it a lot more. Traveled to MOAB, Telluride, Jackson Hole plus all over the PNW. Being a spreadsheet geek, I logged my trips and wanted to share with the group and see how their year went! Early fall I was at 26 nights and a friend told me "Just 10 more nights and you'll be at 10% of the year in the van." I didn't make it as life got in the way this fall, but it's my goal for 2023. Here it is...

28 nights - Mostly just me, a few nights with spouse/friend

• 14 Boondock - no facilities of any kind
• 8 Residence - driveway, hotel parking lot - access to some facilities
• 6 Campground - access to pit toilets, water. Occassionally shower and flush toilets. No RV parks.

4 nights on loan (kids and friends)

• 2 Residence
• 2 Campground

I didn't track the dozens of day trips skiing and mountain biking that were greatly enhanced by having the big, tall van with all the amenities to haul gear, people, get changed, make coffee, lunch, etc. Just a game changer of decadent comfort every time I use it. (One feels quite superior in the ski hill parking lot, sitting inside making coffee while the guy next to you who just pulled up in his SUV is getting his gear on in 20 mph winds and snow blowing sideways.) The AdWag kit has allowed me to move every thing around a handful of times, and even take everything out to make runs to the dump, move furniture, bring the kid to college, etc.

As we know, the van is never finished. I've added the front VC lift, AT tires for summer and dedicated snows for winter (on painted OEM wheels), Viair compressor, low-tech water jug and manual pump, fold down wall shelf w/storage, sliding tray with bike and ski rack, Flatline roof rack, back door ladder with Lolo bike hooks, Backwoods bumper with crazy bright lights. Best mod - Custom quilted window shades made by my 80 year old mom! Continued refinement to continue...

Hope you all had a great 2022 in your Transit and may 2023 be even better!

 

[dustboy]

Interesting exercise given my current angst over whether to keep or sell the van.

I counted 23 nights, which isn't too bad I guess. It would have been 16, but two of us got mild cases of covid at the beginning of a vacation with friends, so we slept in the van and stayed out of the house. Without the van we would have just gone home.

4 nights were curb-camping in front of various friends' houses. Really nice if they don't have space for you to stay, and often it's just more comfortable.

CA did have an unusual amount of rain in spring/summer 2022, and on 2 camping trips we were very glad to not be in a tent.

We didn't get to do our typical summer multi-state road trip, instead we flew to Denver (F- that). Since we got a new dog, it seems more likely we'll drive this summer.

 

[Michael Ophus]

I just got home from a month of winter camping in far northwest Minnesota where at one point the the temperature was 22 bellow zero with a 53 degree's bellow zero windchill factor. Something I do every year, Christmas on our family farm that has been in the family since 1883. < Driveway camping.
About a month of campground camping closer to home in Mississippi.
The van sat parked all of 2020/21 due to covid concerns, I am in that over 65 age group.
2016 Thru 2019 family Christmas and I traveled more through out the southeast, Probably about two months each year.
I bought my transit in June of 2016.
There was no need to see the country in my old age, I have lived in 16 different States through out my life. Each for at least a year. I have been everywhere, I have saw everything. Except the northeast.

 

[Brandon green]

Nice photos ! you really got everything you need there

snaptube vidmate​

 

[cycle61]

Bought the van empty June 30th, went metal tent camping 4th of July weekend. 3 nights.

Added a bed platform in July and took it on a couple work trips, staying at RV parks instead of hotels. 8 nights.

Put in the windows, MaxxFan, and a bugwall and the wife headed out on a 6 week August/September road trip to see family. Call it 50 nights.

Basecamp for an early season Hood climb in November. 1 night.

Camping weekend in December just before they closed Cascade Lake Hwy for the season. 1 night.

New Year's road trip to Idaho and Montana. Eight nights.

And as above, lots of day trips made much more comfortable by having the van to return to at the end of a day of skiing, etc. 15k miles since purchase. I have absolutely no regrets.

 

[surly Bill]

About 22k miles

75+ materials or trash hauling trips
200+ stops at the store
12 airport pickup/dropoff trips
300ish trips to go running. 12+ of which involved lounging and picnicking at trailhead at Mt Tam or China Camp
20ish round trips hauling theater set materials and props
6 camping/road trips of 500-1500 miles roundtrip

 

[RickT]

About 25k miles...
Lived in 365 days, mostly campgrounds/driveways... All good

 

[gregoryx]

Huh. I track a lot of stuff - running, climbing, biking, sleep, sex, reading books, meetings, naps, stretching, family meals, movies, weight, injuries, illness, more... but not this.

Roughly 15K miles - even with the rig in the shop for two months that WOULD have been lots of trips. We share the van with our two boys and their gals, so... lots of use. We schedule who has it when. Looks like roughly two dozen "trips" - typically into the mountains for snowboarding / running / hiking / mountain-biking / camping (yes, outside of the van) and more. Just a few photo highlights (not so much of the van... it's just the vehicle - the people and the places are the highlights).

Started the year in the snow. First time on XC skis. Not my forte.

Hung out with my sister and her son at the MX track:

More snow time - with pizza in the propane oven (photos removed)

Running a race with my Masters team-mates in Sac:

then getting more mountain-bike time near Folsom lake:

Disassembling the van to get the power slider repaired. Then more snowboarding.

Getting whacked by an idiot driver:

but still getting some awesome climbing, hiking, canyoneering and running after the repair:

Believe it or not... then the deer we hit... on the way to another race

Then more running and hiking and biking

Bunch more biking and running and hiking trips.

Then the snow returned in November and December. More trips to the snow.

Plus my boys and their girls did trips as well. Saunter gets lots of play time!

 

[RustBeltRefugee]

After over 40 nights in the van in 2020-2021 (isolation vacations!), 2022 was more about day trips and local use. Still, 14 nights of camping, including visits to Mendocino, Shelter Cove, Eureka, Crescent City, Mt. Shasta, Almanor, Tahoe camping, Pinecrest/Dodge Ridge, and family campgrounds in the Bay Area hills. 20 days of skiing, mostly day/resort trips, but had two nights sleeping in the van before hitting the slopes. Still, nothing makes a day trip more comfortable than a fridge, toilet, bed, and storage space--even in a parking lot. Especially when traffic or weather threatens to ruin the day.

 

[syncrocrick]

I have had my 2020 AWD for just over 2 years now. 25000 miles so far. I love it more and more with every adventure. Strangely I have camped in it many more nights in the winter than in the summer.
Only complaint is the poor fuel economy (Ecoboost) at around 13 mpg.

 

[memck]

Picked up our 2021 250 148" HR Ecoboost AWD in early December 21. Drove it home from Kansas City to Virginia and did the metal tent thing for our overnight stop. Below freezing and no heater!

Spent the next few weeks getting a basic build out in place then left for our first big trip in early Jan - 3 weeks in Florida.

Lots more time building during the spring with a few trips thrown in, then a 2 1/2 week trip up to Maine.

Spent quite a few fall weekends in the van for various events, mostly big MTB rides.

Left for this year's winter trip across the Gulf the day after Christmas.

By the time we got home from that trip the first week of January we were at 14k miles, 22 states visited, and just over 40 nights slept.

For those interested our year one average MPG was right at 14, best tank was 16 in Maine, worst was around 12 in Texas.

Roxvan's still not done, but that hasn't stopped us from loving our adventures with her!

More pics and stories (when I find time) on Instagram @roxvan_va

 

[Thrush50]

About 10k miles on our '21 AWD HR AdventureWagon self-install. No, it isn't done yet, some plumbing, Espar heater (the one you can't get) and some cabinetry waiting on warmer weather. Wallowa mountains (OR), Chiricahuas (AZ) birding, Southern UT, Anza Borrego Desert and Death Valley, CA. No issues. Happy with boondocking, State parks, RV parks, all good.

Chiricahuas, Portal AZ, Cave Creek 2022

Boondocking near Halls Crossing UT 2022

Anza Borrego Desert SP, CA 2022

 

[Millennial Mountaineer]

2022 was a big year for us:

Sleeps: 300 nights in the van
Boat: Halifax, Canada to Hamburg, Germany
Driving: 13,000km through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Andorra, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria.
Hiking: wife hiked 2,200km across Croatia


Maintenance:

• oil and filters 3x
• spark plugs (preventative) @55k km
• licence plate light

 

[Farley]

November 2021 I took possession of my 2020 AWD 250 Long-High. Converted by Adventure Wagon with their Moab bed, Mule bags, Espar heater, Smartfloor with 2 extra seats. So 2022 was my first year with a done adventure van at the ready. I used it a bunch, even while still working full time, but wish I had used it a lot more. Traveled to MOAB, Telluride, Jackson Hole plus all over the PNW. Being a spreadsheet geek, I logged my trips and wanted to share with the group and see how their year went! Early fall I was at 26 nights and a friend told me "Just 10 more nights and you'll be at 10% of the year in the van." I didn't make it as life got in the way this fall, but it's my goal for 2023. Here it is...

28 nights - Mostly just me, a few nights with spouse/friend

• 14 Boondock - no facilities of any kind
• 8 Residence - driveway, hotel parking lot - access to some facilities
• 6 Campground - access to pit toilets, water. Occassionally shower and flush toilets. No RV parks.

4 nights on loan (kids and friends)

• 2 Residence
• 2 Campground

I didn't track the dozens of day trips skiing and mountain biking that were greatly enhanced by having the big, tall van with all the amenities to haul gear, people, get changed, make coffee, lunch, etc. Just a game changer of decadent comfort every time I use it. (One feels quite superior in the ski hill parking lot, sitting inside making coffee while the guy next to you who just pulled up in his SUV is getting his gear on in 20 mph winds and snow blowing sideways.) The AdWag kit has allowed me to move every thing around a handful of times, and even take everything out to make runs to the dump, move furniture, bring the kid to college, etc.

As we know, the van is never finished. I've added the front VC lift, AT tires for summer and dedicated snows for winter (on painted OEM wheels), Viair compressor, low-tech water jug and manual pump, fold down wall shelf w/storage, sliding tray with bike and ski rack, Flatline roof rack, back door ladder with Lolo bike hooks, Backwoods bumper with crazy bright lights. Best mod - Custom quilted window shades made by my 80 year old mom! Continued refinement to continue...

Hope you all had a great 2022 in your Transit and may 2023 be even better!

How do you like the Lolo rack? I installed one recently and have not used it yet except to test fit the bikes.

 

[richards]

In addition to daily driver,
Flagstaff, Lee Vining, Yosemite, Gaviota State Beach, L.A., Flagstaff. Lee Vining, Burney Falls, Eugene, Or, Port Angeles, WA. Victoria B.C. Sun River, Or, Susanville Ca, Nevada Desert, Prescott Valley. Disbursed camping, state parks, driveways and roadside rest areas.

 

[takedown]

Nearly every weekend during the summer for at least 1 night camping at the beach with my son. Several more trips in spring and fall when the weather / waves were good. Two long multi week trips to Southern CA via Santa Cruz / Santa Barbara. Gearing up for even more this coming year. I plan to have everything dialed in so I can take both kids for 4-5 days at a time to the coast, work during the way and surf in the morning / evening this summer. We'll also head back to SoCal in August again. It's just what I had hoped for when I started to entertain the idea of building one out. This year though we'll try to explore new spots in Oregon and Washington instead of just going to Newport.

 

[bradoemba]

View attachment 184886
How do you like the Lolo rack? I installed one recently and have not used it yet except to test fit the bikes.

Lolo is great! Once you get the hang of it (and train your friends) its super easy and fast to use. Rock solid and simple.

 

[T town]

Not as much as I could have and maybe not as much as I should have but definitely more than I might have.

 

[MsNomer]

I think I rode in another vehicle twice—felt like a bug on the sidewalk and lost without my stuff. Add all the home days together and they might add up to a couple months.

Actually, home is the van. This S&B is a storage area and staging area for the next van adventure. In 2022, mostly California, Oregon, Idaho, but also Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Connecticut, New Hampshire.

IIRC, we plugged in twice out west, a couple times at gatherings in Texas and Louisiana.

 

[mikesee]

I have had my 2020 AWD for just over 2 years now. 25000 miles so far. I love it more and more with every adventure. Strangely I have camped in it many more nights in the winter than in the summer.
Only complaint is the poor fuel economy (Ecoboost) at around 13 mpg.

I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong here, but between the high top, the roof rack, the wall of snow, and the trailer dragging behind, honestly -- you expected different?

I have the same Ecoboost but mid-roof, no roof rack, when possible I sweep the snow off before it gets very high, no trailer, and over 37k miles my running average MPG is just a tick under 18.

I'd like to get better, but we have to keep our expectations reasonable. It is a big van full of manifested happiness (aka outdoor sports gear) that displaces a lot of air as it moves.

As to the OP, I used mine ~38 nights of boondocking in UT, AZ, CO, ID, CA, OR, and WA. With that little use I think about spritzing her up and selling her almost every time I take her out.

And then we use her to go do things like these (below), and as I'm refilling the tanks and plugging in the battery tender I think, "Well, maybe one more trip...".