SUV-RVing, Part 1

So, what is this SUV RVing anyway? To be honest, I call it intentional freedom!

In the dead of winter in January of 2022, I was doing my usual channel surfing and watching YouTube videos- mostly music or gardening, when this site pops up in the listings about traveling and camping in your SUV! I thought about it for two seconds, and decided to watch to see what this was about- I had an SUV and wanted to know what I was missing out on.

Tristan’s YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/c/suvrving

I think I watched four vids that night till early in the morning, by a young man named Tristan, who was describing adventures he does in beautiful, remote areas of the western United States, and how he would sleep, make food, hike, plan routes….and show these wonderful areas I had never seen or visited. It was like being there, as he talks to the viewers like you are actually there, experiencing the trip with him. I was hooked!

Fast forward, it’s mid autumn of 2022, and I had already planned a trip out west, but decided instead of flying and renting a car for 2 weeks, I would use my SUV as my hotel on wheels, and make a 3+ week get-away, driving to my destinations! I decided to leave a week ahead of time, and take my time going south, and have alternate routes planned for home. Planning various routes to places I wanted to travel, and destinations to stop at along the way, started consuming my time! I would be staying extended time at the two condos I had already reserved- one in Alto, New Mexico and another in Sedona, Arizona.

“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”

Steve Jobs

……and that is when the Big Picture came into focus- I was going to try and see as many National Parks as I could along the way!

Over the next two months, I watched more videos learning tricks and what gear was working well for different situations……..and I located Tristans Facebook page and joined. People from all over the world were there posting pictures and describing their experiences; what works for them/ what doesn’t. You can post a question and at least 30 people are eager to share an answer and will respond back. Link to the Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/564382617485903

Preparing to ‘build out’ my Tahoe- Sleep platform, storage underneath, Tarp awning for shade/ rain protection and window covers

Christmas was now over, and 2023 was approaching. My gears were turning fast! Drawings plans for how I would arrange the back of my Tahoe for sleep, store clothing and camping supplies- a cooler, water, tarps, folding chair- was getting exciting! I started to buy items to “build” my unit and get ready for my mid March departure! I was determining to do my “build” by not removing parts of my truck- like seats, or not creating a wooden platform that would be too heavy to remove and then, have to be stored somewhere…..

The excitement of ordering supplies and going to Big Box Stores, and wandering the isles getting ideas was fun- things were starting to come together when I realized I could build a sleep platform out of plastic shelving units! Temporary- removable, could disassemble for storage, reusable! I was determined to make this solution work, and I bought a shelving unit and put it together in my basement, using each shelf side by side to create a platform- and there it was! Sleeping bag and air mattress fit on it, and clothing, shoes, bike gear could be stored underneath- now to see it fits in the back of the truck…..

Trial build in the basement

…and, it did and didn’t so much.

Uggh… Way too high, putting me with my face inches away from the roof of the truck. Sleep platform too wide- no room to put your legs over the side to dress, or move to get to other items. I was back to the drawing board!! Long story short, I got a narrower set of shelves, aligned them lengthwise creating leg room, and cut the legs off with a circular saw, creating breathing room from the Tahoe roof liner. I was well into my restructuring, then purchased a slimmer thickness sleeping mattress used for hiking, and there it was!! My set up was ready to be tested out- and it was late February and temps were in the mid 20’s! So, one night, I decided to just give it a go, and parked in my garage with my truck decked out for a trial run…. and I lasted 5 freezing hours!

Looking great!

Over the next few weeks, I fine tuned what was needed to stay warm sleeping, borrowed a battery pack as I decided I might need a heated sleeping blanket, plus charging my phone, interior and bike lights, and just making sure equipment was ready. The storage of items was well planned, and I’m thinking it might be about time to hit the road!

Packed and ready to leave. That bike cover was useless.

Happy Travels!!

NEXT BLOG: Part 2- Starting my 7,500 mile trip in my Tahoe, SUV-RVing!

*All photos are mine, unless indicated. kmphillips/ Imagine Images