{"id":6868,"date":"2018-05-31T18:06:34","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T18:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escapecampusa.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=6868"},"modified":"2024-05-15T13:36:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T13:36:32","slug":"campervan-tips-from-a-past-renter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/blog\/campervan-tips-from-a-past-renter\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 12 Campervan Tips from a Past Renter"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dawn shares her campervan tips, lessons learned, and advice from her adventures both in her own van and in the Escape campervans she had rented.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":6874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9,200],"tags":[],"blog_locations":[],"class_list":["post-6868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-resources","category-renter-guest-posts","category-women-on-the-road"],"acf":{"title":"","background_image":{"ID":18006,"id":18006,"title":"Route 66 Sign Illinois","filename":"route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","filesize":84725,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/route-66-sign-illinois\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"route-66-sign-illinois","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2018-12-07 19:36:43","modified":"2018-12-07 19:36:43","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1032,"height":587,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois-300x171.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois-768x437.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois-1024x582.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","1536x1536-width":1032,"1536x1536-height":587,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","2048x2048-width":1032,"2048x2048-height":587,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1032,"post-thumbnail-height":587,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":171,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":228,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/route-66-sign-illinois.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":341}},"title_color":"dark","add_overlay":[],"content_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

By Dawn S.<\/h4>\n

Some campervan tips, lessons learned, and words of wisdom from our van life adventures in our own van, Big Blue, and the Escape campervans<\/a> that we have traveled in.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":17997,"id":17997,"title":"Ozarks Arkansas HIking Picnic","filename":"ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","filesize":166277,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2018-12-07 19:33:09","modified":"2018-12-07 19:33:09","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1156,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","1536x1536-width":1156,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","2048x2048-width":1156,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic-1200x675.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":675,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":169,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":225,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ozarks-arkansas-hiking-picnic.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":337}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

Travel Tips<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Be friendly, approachable, and talk to people.<\/strong>\u00a0Allow time to take side trips, and explore places you hear about, or that you discover along the way. I like to ask park rangers and locals, \u201cI only have (fill in the blank) one day\/half day\/2 hours, what should I not miss while I\u2019m in the area?<\/li>\n
  2. Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times<\/strong>\u00a0to play games, keep lists of the things you see, the people you meet, the funny things you say, and to write down good directions to that abandoned mining town 15 miles off the highway. On our first Escape Campervan trip out West, we played the license plate game, and spotted all 50 states! On a 4,000-mile road trip through the Northeast, we wrote a van song called \u201cMamma\u2019s Don\u2019t Let Your Babies Travel Around In a Van\u201d (I\u2019m trying hard to have this hilarious parody recorded for a future blog post). We\u2019ve met interesting people and travelers from all over the world. Some were on cross-country motorcycle trips, international bus tours, and global Unimog treks. These details are so easily forgotten, but it\u2019s fun to remember them when I look back through my trip notes.<\/li>\n
  3. Animals are most active at dawn and dusk.<\/strong>\u00a0Travel the wildlife scenic drives slowly at first and last light, to reap the best rewards. Really watch the roadside and scan further afield, if you are not driving. Pull into a turn out near the meadow and wait patiently to see what may show itself. Use your binoculars or zoom lens to scan the tree line. Listen for birds, then try to find where the sound is coming from. When visiting Yellowstone National Park, take the early morning\u00a0photo safari tour<\/a>\u00a0that leaves from the Lake Hotel, even if you don\u2019t have a fancy camera, for a great chance to view wildlife in Hayden Valley. We\u2019ve seen tons of wildlife while traveling by campervan, including hundreds of deer, herds of elk, pronghorn, bison, moose, mountain goats, wolf, coyote, fox, marmot, prairie dogs, pheasants, turkey, swans, geese, hawks, osprey, herons, eagles, muskrats, river otters, seals, sea lions, black bears, and three grizzly bears!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":17994,"id":17994,"title":"Game Crossing Sign Wyoming","filename":"game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","filesize":142871,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"game-crossing-sign-wyoming","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2018-12-07 19:32:53","modified":"2018-12-07 19:32:53","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1157,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-300x168.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":168,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-768x431.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":431,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-1024x575.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":575,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1157,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1157,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-600x353.jpeg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming-1200x674.jpeg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":674,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":169,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":225,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/game-crossing-sign-wyoming.jpeg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":337}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

    Packing Tips<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Grab a few empty boxes<\/strong>\u00a0from a supermarket or liquor store, cut in half, and use as STORAGE bins in the van. They fit perfectly under and between the seats, and in the kitchen area.<\/li>\n
    2. Pack light!<\/strong>\u00a0You don\u2019t need a ton of gear or clothes, just some lightweight, quick dry layers that work well together. No need to spend a ton of money at REI, you probably already have or can borrow all that you need: just think hunting, fishing, skiing, and workout attire. Avoid cotton when it\u2019s cold and rainy. Don\u2019t forget a swimsuit, rain jacket, long underwear, warm sweater or fleece pullover, beanie, gloves, and wool socks. Expect cool mornings and evenings even in summertime.<\/li>\n
    3. When packing for a trip, I lay everything out on my bed that I think I want to take, then\u00a0only take about half of it<\/strong>. Starting with 2 or 3 pants, I find 3 or 4 tops that will go with any bottoms. I then add my acrylic travel sweater and outer layer. Wear your bulkiest clothes if traveling by plane, so you don\u2019t waste space in your carry-on bag. We flew to Vancouver<\/a> to pick up our Escape Campervan for ten days, and all I took was a small backpack and a medium-sized purse. All John took was a large backpack and his camera bag. I wore my hiking boots on the plane and packed a pair of flip flops as shower shoes. My personal rule is no more than two shoes, wear one, pack one.<\/li>\n
    4. Some\u00a0extra gear I like to bring along<\/strong>\u00a0in the Escape campervan includes: reusable shopping bag, eye mask, earplugs, headlamp, refillable water bottle, insulated coffee travel mug, Ove Glove, a few gallon and quart-sized slide top freezer bags, Nite Ize gear line, rubber GearTies for making clothes hooks, a small camp towel for drying hands and face, and an XL McKnett OutGO microfiber bath towel \u2013 it\u2019s huge, soft, dries quickly, and also makes a great blanket.<\/li>\n
    5. Attach a carabineer<\/strong>\u00a0to your water bottle, so you can easily hang it on the airline seatback pocket.<\/li>\n
    6. Bring a scarf.<\/strong>\u00a0Wrap it around your neck when it\u2019s cold out and use it to dress up a casual outfit when you are in town. It can also be used as a shawl, hair wrap, airline blanket, eye mask, or sarong\/swimsuit cover-up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":18003,"id":18003,"title":"Snow in Missouri Campervan Road Trip","filename":"snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","filesize":142596,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/snow-in-missouri-campervan\/","alt":"","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"snow-in-missouri-campervan","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2018-12-07 19:36:19","modified":"2018-12-07 19:36:19","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1156,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","1536x1536-width":1156,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","2048x2048-width":1156,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan-1200x675.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1200,"post-thumbnail-height":675,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":169,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":225,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/snow-in-missouri-campervan.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":337}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

      Vanlife Tips<\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Showering:<\/strong>\u00a0to simplify things in the van, I keep all of my toiletries, towels, shower shoes, quarters, makeup, hair dryer, baby wipes, a few pairs of socks and undies, PJs, and a change of clothes in my bright yellow \u201cbathroom tote\u201d (a reusable shopping bag). It\u2019s easy to grab and go, and I know I will have anything I need with me. Instead of a washcloth, a small, kitchen-sized sponge works great and dries out quickly.<\/li>\n
      2. When days of hiking in the rain, and the toilet paper in public restrooms have rubbed you the wrong way, Balmex is the bomb! A travel sized Gold Bond Powder can\u00a0prevent chafing before it becomes an issue<\/strong>\u00a0and helps to keep feet dry.<\/li>\n
      3. When nature calls and it\u2019s 2 a.m., freezing cold and raining, and you are in brown bear country, a large empty Gatorade bottle works great if you\u2019re a guy. If you\u2019re a lady, you will need a little help, and there are\u00a0some great options out there<\/a>, but practice at home before your trip.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":27764,"id":27764,"title":"Route-66-historic-bridge","filename":"Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","filesize":190996,"url":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/it\/route-66-historic-bridge-2-2\/","alt":"Route 66 Historic Bridge Campervan Road Trip","author":"53","description":"","caption":"","name":"route-66-historic-bridge-2-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":0,"date":"2020-07-31 08:05:14","modified":"2020-07-31 08:05:28","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1185,"height":650,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1-300x165.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":165,"medium_large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1-768x421.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":421,"large":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1-1024x562.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":562,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1185,"1536x1536-height":650,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1185,"2048x2048-height":650,"blog-preview":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1-600x353.jpg","blog-preview-width":600,"blog-preview-height":353,"post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","post-thumbnail-width":1185,"post-thumbnail-height":650,"gform-image-choice-sm":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","gform-image-choice-sm-width":300,"gform-image-choice-sm-height":165,"gform-image-choice-md":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","gform-image-choice-md-width":400,"gform-image-choice-md-height":219,"gform-image-choice-lg":"https:\/\/escapecampervans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Route-66-historic-bridge-1.jpg","gform-image-choice-lg-width":600,"gform-image-choice-lg-height":329}},"image_link":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"

        Other tips:<\/h2>\n