02/09/2026
About two months ago McKenzie and I were on what turned out to be our last road trip in the Sprinter. We left Jackson Hole, crossed Idaho, rolled through the Oregon high desert, and eventually traced the entire PNW coastline. At the time it was just another season ending trip. We had no idea it was the closing chapter for that van.
Flash back to April 2025 when Kenzie moved into the van full time. We honestly crushed living in such a small space, but it didn’t take long to feel the limits of the Revel’s layout and size. That van was an incredible adventure rig. It took us almost anywhere, and I pushed it to its absolute limits. For three years it gave us everything it had.
Fast forward to today and I’m sitting inside a Ford Transit extended. The reason was simple. We love this lifestyle and we are not done with it. It gives us purpose, freedom, and a life built around adventure. Financially it made sense for where we live, so instead of stepping away, we doubled down and chose a van that truly fits how we move through the world. The first time I saw this build from Gravity Vans on I knew it was the one. Open layout, hidden shower, a robust electrical and climate control system, and more storage than we’ve ever had for the things we love.
Since Kenzie moved in, I’ve slowed way down in the best way. We spend more time in places instead of rushing through them. The tradeoff is real. We gave up high clearance 4x4, but what we gained matters more to us. The Ford service network is everywhere, AWD feels solid in bad conditions, and the extra length gives us room to actually live and carry the gear that gets us outside. If a road gets too rough, we grab our packs and head out on foot, which we’ve realized is what we love most anyway.
This van already feels like home. Huge shoutout to Brady and the entire .vans team for the quality, care, and experience. Over the next couple months we’ll share more of the build and why we think this layout is dialed for full time van life.
