Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[burrito]

With the Tahoe region in CA open again Alpine and Squaw are pretty much my only two options for a little adventure van getaway (Ikon Pass.) It's been years since I went to Squaw, and I'm wondering how easy it is these days to park in a spot that's accessible for dog check-ins throughout the day. From the looks of the maps it would seem the closest you can park to a run/lift is in the southeast corner of the lot near the Red Wolf Lodge. Am I on the right track?

[jackattack]

The snorkel is my favorite part. As if anyone will ever drive it through water deep enough to require a snokel, or that the electronics wouldn't fry if you actually did.

The broverlanders tell me that it's to reduce dust in the intake as well as fording. not that hard to carry a spare air filter or change it after the trip.

There's just NO WAY that RV can deal with a dusty, rutted track and whoops like a trophy truck, sorry just no.

An acquaintance of mine is building these desert rigs that maybe kinda sorta could be loosely compared to driving a trophy truck, certainly closer than anything carrying a 2000lb fiberglass box with a cabover. Sorry, no snorkel. https://www.instagram.com/bionicoffroad/?hl=en

[CascadeLuke]

I have a set of these self tensioning Koenig/Thule for my van. Only have used them a couple times but really easy on/off. Just make sure the size is right. I had to go up one to fit on the snow tires.

https://www.etrailer.com/Tire-Chains...SABEgI-EvD_BwE

Thanks

[myles long]

With the Tahoe region in CA open again Alpine and Squaw are pretty much my only two options for a little adventure van getaway (Ikon Pass.) It's been years since I went to Squaw, and I'm wondering how easy it is these days to park in a spot that's accessible for dog check-ins throughout the day. From the looks of the maps it would seem the closest you can park to a run/lift is in the southeast corner of the lot near the Red Wolf Lodge. Am I on the right track?

You won't be the only van hanging out in that spot

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[burrito]

You won't be the only van hanging out in that spot

Fantastico. Thanks.

[backcountrybummer]

Super easy to get a spot there even with a van, weekdays you can probably show up at 9 and still be up close. weekends 8 is probably the latest for very primo depending on snow conditions

[Shred Baron]

Does Squaw allow overnight parking now? I know they used to be adamantly against it, then somewhat indifferent to it, especially since they allowed employees to do it when one of th employee housing options or changed to be the uniform building. Do they have an official policy about it now?


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[DeathVan]

NYE, 8*, Good times!

[skysos]

Ultimately bit the bullet and upgraded to a one ton. "No regerts" other than letting myself get talked out of a dually.

You are lucky you got talked out of it. I got talked into it and regretted that choice so much I sold it after a couple of years. Yes, they carry a lot of weight, but a dually with a big truck camper is basically a Class C RV without the advantage of a pass-through and the PIA of climbing up about 5' to get into it every time, but with better winter capability.

When you have that much weight capacity you will go for a huge camper, which is what we did. The Arctic Fox camper we had was 4800 lbs dry. It handled like a pig and with the gas engine I would get passed by big rigs on long grades. Oh yeah, and 10mpg loaded, 14.5 empty. When you need new tires you will be buying 6 of them.

If I still wanted that kind of setup and had it to do over I would get a 1-ton SRW diesel and throw a Northern-lite fiberglass truck camper on it.

We went in a different direction and have a fiberglass trailer for RV-ing and a Colorado ZR2 with OVRLND popup camper for off-road.

[mattig]

You are lucky you got talked out of it. I got talked into it and regretted that choice so much I sold it after a couple of years. Yes, they carry a lot of weight, but a dually with a big truck camper is basically a Class C RV without the advantage of a pass-through and the PIA of climbing up about 5' to get into it every time, but with better winter capability.

When you have that much weight capacity you will go for a huge camper, which is what we did. The Arctic Fox camper we had was 4800 lbs dry. It handled like a pig and with the gas engine I would get passed by big rigs on long grades. Oh yeah, and 10mpg loaded, 14.5 empty. When you need new tires you will be buying 6 of them.

If I still wanted that kind of setup and had it to do over I would get a 1-ton SRW diesel and throw a Northern-lite fiberglass truck camper on it.

We went in a different direction and have a fiberglass trailer for RV-ing and a Colorado ZR2 with OVRLND popup camper for off-road.

Different strokes, I guess.

One ton diesel trucks will pass about whatever they want going up the mountain apart from sporty AWDs with turbos, and get a minimum of 12mpg on the up.

Round trips keeping pace with fast lane = 13-14mpg. Slowing down to 62-65mph = 14-15mpg. Without camper = 20mpg+

Have had fantastic trade wear with Nokian LTs. Only have 13k on them but little sign of wear.

End of day, I'll put up with 1mpg less to have more room. SRW + NL should handle about the same as DRW + Host. If anything, guessing the dually will handle slightly better.

I totally agree on the lack of a pass thru. That's the biggest downside IMO. I'm sure I'd like the lower step in height of a van as well, but they wouldn't sell me one all the way back in 2018 (talked to multiple dealers and got run around, so fuck em. Love my truck, even if it's 2 tires short, and loved dropping in the camper and being ready to roll without spending months building it out).

Note: I don't have a place to park a class C, otherwise I would have done that first, probably.

[Snow Dog]

You are lucky you got talked out of it. I got talked into it and regretted that choice so much I sold it after a couple of years. Yes, they carry a lot of weight, but a dually with a big truck camper is basically a Class C RV without the advantage of a pass-through and the PIA of climbing up about 5' to get into it every time, but with better winter capability.

When you have that much weight capacity you will go for a huge camper, which is what we did. The Arctic Fox camper we had was 4800 lbs dry. It handled like a pig and with the gas engine I would get passed by big rigs on long grades. Oh yeah, and 10mpg loaded, 14.5 empty. When you need new tires you will be buying 6 of them.

If I still wanted that kind of setup and had it to do over I would get a 1-ton SRW diesel and throw a Northern-lite fiberglass truck camper on it.

We went in a different direction and have a fiberglass trailer for RV-ing and a Colorado ZR2 with OVRLND popup camper for off-road.

When I switched from trailer to camper I did a lot of research (I'm a numbers guy) and ended up with a Diesel dually longbox. It's the only way to go with a modern camper and most of my friends with campers went the same way. Even with a 1T dually I'm at my GVW fully loaded and pulling a trailer. My payload is only 3,500# because of the heavy Diesel engine and heavier drivetrain. I can't imagine driving around with a camper and single rear wheel setup.

[shirk]

Euro's do a good job of making well though out small campers.





A very detailed documentation of build on Casa Trotter (in French, use google translate). Owner had a very dialed Sprinter for two years and sold it to move to a truck camper.

https://www.casa-trotter.com/phpBB3/...193189#p193189

[simple]

Expensive but pretty dope Astro Tiger Van

https://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/d/...264510120.html

[jackattack]

Euro's do a good job of making well though out small campers.





A very detailed documentation of build on Casa Trotter (in French, use google translate). Owner had a very dialed Sprinter for two years and sold it to move to a truck camper.

https://www.casa-trotter.com/phpBB3/...193189#p193189

Very well thought out. But where is the ski storage?

Here are the money shots: https://www.casa-trotter.com/phpBB3/...193680#p193680

[Rideski]

[Huskier]

Too many windows. Get yourself a full on predator van insulate it & retain more heat... And stealth.

[Micol]

Does Squaw allow overnight parking now? I know they used to be adamantly against it, then somewhat indifferent to it, especially since they allowed employees to do it when one of th employee housing options or changed to be the uniform building. Do they have an official policy about it now?


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complete cocksukers about it in early 2018 , one of my worst on the road experiences in 9 months of that year

try by the trukee train tracks unless that option changed

[Conundrum]

Too many windows. Get yourself a full on predator van insulate it & retain more heat... And stealth.

Yep. This is my situation. It’s workable but not ideal. If starting from scratch, I’d start elsewhere. But a nice down comforter and reflectix gets us through.

[Tryingtostaywarm]

Yep. This is my situation. It’s workable but not ideal. If starting from scratch, I’d start elsewhere. But a nice down comforter and reflectix gets us through.

What is your sleeping platform/situation inside?
I picked me up a 2005' E350 w/ a high top(not as high as yours though)...skimming my brain for the build out after I get done remodeling my house. Spring project stuffs.

[Conundrum]

Gaucho benches that fold flat in the back. Pretty lame. Going to redo in spring to a platform with more room underneath. We never use the benches as seats.

[Speedfreak]

FWIW, snorkels are also good for getting cleaner air to the engine when you're in dusty/sandy areas.

The snorkel is my favorite part. As if anyone will ever drive it through water deep enough to require a snokel, or that the electronics wouldn't fry if you actually did.

[muted]

What the hell is a gaucho bench?

"A gaucho or gaúcho is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The gaucho is a symbol in Argentina, Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. Gauchos became greatly admired and renowned in legends, folklore and literature and became an important part of their regional cultural tradition. Wikipedia"

We also use a nice down comforter and reflectix, and I click on the heater a few times a night too. But I don't have quite as many windows, drivers side has just one in the back. I don't believe less windows are more stealth. Too many vans out there these days, if you park in the wrong spot you are probably the 100th van to do it and not having windows isn't going to trick anyone. Just an opinion though.



Rideski can't you replace some of those windows with metal? Easy or not?

[Skidog]

Expensive but pretty dope Astro Tiger Van

https://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/d/...264510120.html

Yeah I mean maybe a bit pricey, but everything is done......pretty much turn key. its nice...the 4wd conversion is sweet.

[frorider]

FWIW, snorkels are also good for getting cleaner air to the engine when you're in dusty/sandy areas.

Someone said the same thing a few posts above...it has become a cliche in Broverland circles. The typical ram air snorkels don’t significantly help with the dust situation (that extra 2.5 ft is no big deal) but some come with a pre filter that obviously helps. The cone intake snorkels are based on actual dust science but aren’t popular in the US (from what I’ve seen anyway) other than on mining rigs etc

[AdironRider]

I feel like the whole concept of a "stealth" van went out the window a couple years ago. Even my 60+ year old suburban mom knows about vanlifers and pretty much assumes any van without lettering for "Bob's Plumbing" is someone squatting.