Tag: Sprinter DIY

What exactly is stored under the kids seats?

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY, Traveling as a family

We removed the second row in our Sprinter but left the third. The kids sit there.

So, what did we keep under their seats when we traveled last summer?

These are just the right size for under the back seat.

Under Grace’s seat we kept two collapsible canvas bins. The first one pushed back so that the second one would fit as well.

The first one had six swimsuits and two pair of goggles.

This may seem like an odd choice but we have been to splash pads in nearly every State and Province that we have driven through. I even had an idea to make a splash pad locator app for parents traveling with kids. I didn’t follow through when I realized that other parents may not be as excited about having wet kids in the car on and off day after day. In any case, it didn’t take long for us to see the benefits of accessible kids swimwear.

The Sprinter acts as a mobile changing room. When they are motivated by a splash pad, the kids can get their suits on in under two minutes flat. After the fun, they can just slip their clothes back on and hang the wet suits on our make shift Sprinter clothes line.

One of the earlier ones. A good example of why we pack readily accessible swimwear. This was more of a fountain that a splash pad and not too many people in Aspen were into playing there. We liked it! Sprinter DIY
Passing through Salt Lake City on a super hot day. Sprinter DIY

The second bin contained sunscreen and towels.

The middle row held the trash can. CD made it out of re-purposed heavy duty cardboard. It was just the right size and height.

There were also two bins under HB’s seat. The bin farthest back contained playing cards, dice, and travel board games. I added Racko to the mix last year but the kids lost interest once they found out that it was my favorite.

The second bin had a mix of drawing pads, notebooks, pencils, and pens. These got a fair amount of use both on the road and when we were stopped. HB made a fairly elaborate picture journal on our way out of Yellowstone last year.

In true CD style, all of the bins and the garbage can were held in place by a bungee cord and 3 mm accessory cord. They never slid forward when we braked so I guess this technique worked.

We will definitely continue to use the bins and garbage can but I imagine that the contents will evolve over time. I hope we stick with swimsuits and towels. Prioritizing such non-practical items just seems like a sign of a family that is out for a spontaneous and carefree good time!

Since my splash pad app never took off, here is non-comprehensive list of great splash pads we have found.

  • North Carolina (Ashville)
  • Florida (Marco Island)
  • Minnesota (Sauk Centre)
  • Ontario (Wiarton, Grand Bend, Bayfield, Port Elgin)
  • Michigan (Millennium Park; Sparta)
  • Colorado (Aspen)
  • Oregon (Corvallis)
  • British Columbia (Kelowna)
  • Alberta
  • Utah (Salt Lake City)

Sprinter under seat storage.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

What is under the kids’ seats?

We removed the second row in our Sprinter but left the third. The kids sit there and we keep our day use items in the under seat storage.

So, what do we keep there?

These are just the right size for under the back seat.

Under Grace’s seat we kept two collapsible canvas bins. The first one pushed back so that the second one would fit as well.

First Bin:

The first one had six swimsuits and two pair of goggles.

This may seem like an odd choice but we have been to splash pads in nearly every State and Province that we have driven through. I even had an idea to make a splash pad locator app for parents traveling with kids. I didn’t follow through when I realized that other parents may not be as excited about having wet kids in the car on and off day after day. In any case, it didn’t take long for us to see the benefits of accessible kids swimwear.

The Sprinter acts as a mobile changing room. When they are motivated by a splash pad, the kids can get their suits on in under two minutes flat. After the fun, they can just slip their clothes back on and hang the wet suits on our make shift Sprinter clothes line.

One of the earlier ones. A good example of why we pack readily accessible swimwear. This was more of a fountain that a splash pad and not too many people in Aspen were into playing there. We liked it! Sprinter DIY
Passing through Salt Lake City on a super hot day. Sprinter DIY. Sprinter under seat storage.

Second Bin:

The second bin contained sunscreen and towels.

Middle Bin:

The middle row held the trash can. CD made it out of re-purposed heavy duty cardboard. It was just the right size and height.

2 Extra Bins of Sprinter Under Seat Storage:

There were also two bins under HB’s seat. The bin farthest back contained playing cards, dice, and travel board games. I added Racko to the mix last year but the kids lost interest once they found out that it was my favorite.

The second bin had a mix of drawing pads, notebooks, pencils, and pens. These got a fair amount of use both on the road and when we were stopped. HB made a fairly elaborate picture journal on our way out of Yellowstone last year.

In true CD style, all of the bins and the garbage can were held in place by a bungee cord and 3 mm accessory cord. They never slid forward when we braked so I guess this technique worked.

We will definitely continue to use the bins and garbage can but I imagine that the contents will evolve over time. I hope we stick with swimsuits and towels. Prioritizing such non-practical items just seems like a sign of a family that is out for a spontaneous and carefree good time!

Since my splash pad app never took off, here is non-comprehensive list of great splash pads we have found.

  • North Carolina (Ashville)
  • Florida (Marco Island)
  • Minnesota (Sauk Centre)
  • Ontario (Wiarton, Grand Bend, Bayfield, Port Elgin)
  • Michigan (Millennium Park; Sparta)
  • Colorado (Aspen)
  • Oregon (Corvallis)
  • British Columbia (Kelowna)
  • Alberta
  • Utah (Salt Lake City)

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What should we do with our spare Sprinter seats?

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

We store the seats from our Sprinters in our garage.

Three months into owning the first one, we dismantled the bed, put the seats back in, and sold it in its original passenger van form. It was easy to sell.

It was nice to re-claim our garage. Sprinter seats aren’t small.

We chose the passenger van for the windows and we don’t regret it! The kids can see out. We can see out. We can lay on the bed and look at the view. We can also chose to put up the blinds and act as if we don’t have windows at all.

I sometimes wonder if I would be claustrophobic without the windows. When the blinds are up, I sometimes lift a corner just to look out at the world.

This was our van when we bought it.

The seats do not move easily. The back seat is especially hostile. It is bolted to the wall of the van and the other seats needs to be removed to get it out.

Just imagine the possibilities of easily changing a van from a camper to a passenger van. You could sleep in it one day and take all of our friends to the beach the next.

We haven’t invented the camper conversion that would make this dream a reality but will let you know if that changes!

In the meantime, I am voting for selling our seats and re-claiming our garage for the second time.

Would you like to buy two rows of 2015 Sprinter seats? We are offering a great deal to the first person that stops by to pick them up! Just think of all of the kids you can take to soccer if you had two more rows of seats!

Here we are in Utah. Deep in the heart of gridlock

For us, a bed in a van is so much better than seats! The soccer car pool will have to go on without us but if any one needs to lay down and rest, we have just the vehicle for that!

Are you looking for gift ideas for friends in Oregon? Here is an idea.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Miscellaneous, Recreational equipment reviews

It rains in the Willamette Valley. It rains most days in the winter. It is not the same as rain in the mid-west. The weather is benign and devoid of sharp edges. The rain comes in slowly and continues. Eventually, it leaves slowly.

In four years, I have yet to see a storm roll in and out of the Willamette. Sometimes it rains harder and then lighter. I hear people talk about storm clouds but when I look at the sky, I don’t see them.

The number one piece of equipment that I love during winter in Western Oregon is not really a piece of equipment at all. It is more of an accessory.

It was packed away in our things for the first year we were here. When CD found it and brought it out, it was as if everything was going to be okay again. At least everything would be less wet again.

It is a luxury but I use it nearly every day between November and June.

The DryGuy Boot Dryer.

Seriously, this was a game changer! I received this as a gift when we lived in the Colorado high country. I never expected it to change my life! Try it. You won’t regret it!

I haven’t used it in the Sprinter but am putting this on our to-do list for sure!

Christmas Break Finale.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Miscellaneous, Traveling as a family

The past three days have been a blur. The neighborhood kids descended on the street and yards. They played outside together through lunch and well past sunset. Some of us finally got in on the action with dinner and Euchre last night.

In a last ditch effort to have a productive Christmas break, I tore apart our master bathroom. The wall paper is mostly down and our tooth brushes are on my night stand.

Despite this, we hopped in the Sprinter for “Sunday Fun-Day”. We headed to the only hike we could think of that was on the way to Home Depot but far enough to justify driving the Sprinter and close enough that we usually don’t go there.

Jackson Frazier Wetlands. Sprinter DIY

I hadn’t been there in three years. It had changed. Much of it looked more like a farmer’s field than a wetland. There were signs explaining that a “emergency restoration” was in progress. Apparently this includes removing invasive species and modifying water drainage.

It was a nice day in Oregon for a hike on a boardwalk. We found two geo-caches, got plenty of mud on our boots, and had snacks in our van.

While I am on the topic of invasive species, I will pause to mention my current least favorite invasive species.

Have you heard of Phragmites? Have you seen the videos on our media page? Of all the invasive species that I have battled, these are by far the most impressive. Here is a quick video from Lake Huron. This was part of the lake but now it is a field of Phragmite.

Christmas Break Finale: Willamette Valley, Oregon

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

The past three days have been a blur. The neighborhood kids descended on the street and yards. They played outside together through lunch and well past sunset. Some of us finally got in on the action with dinner and Euchre last night.

In a last ditch effort to have a productive Christmas break, I tore apart our master bathroom. The wall paper is mostly down and our tooth brushes are on my night stand.

Despite this, we hopped in the Sprinter for “Sunday Fun-Day”. We headed to the only hike we could think of that was on the way to Home Depot but far enough to justify driving the Sprinter and close enough that we usually don’t go there.

Jackson Frazier Wetlands. Sprinter DIY

I hadn’t been there in three years. It had changed. Much of it looked more like a farmer’s field than a wetland. There were signs explaining that a “emergency restoration” was in progress. Apparently this includes removing invasive species and modifying water drainage.

It was a nice day in Oregon for a hike on a boardwalk. We found two geo-caches, got plenty of mud on our boots, and had snacks in our van.

While I am on the topic of invasive species, I will pause to mention my current least favorite invasive species.

Have you heard of Phragmites? Have you seen the videos on our media page? Of all the invasive species that I have battled, these are by far the most impressive. Here is a quick video from Lake Huron. This was part of the lake but now it is a field of Phragmite.

Please follow our blog for other adventures.

Our favorite camping toilet.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

Well, this isn’t really the most revolutionary topic but I decided to just tackle it head on!

The Luggable Loo, biodegradable bags, and Poo Powder are our current go-to-s!

Continue reading to learn a bit more about how we ended up loving the Loo. Don’t worry, I pretty much left out all of the dirty details!

By the way, you can click on the pictures to link for more information on the Loo and our favorite accessories!

Seriously, this isn’t a joke. We love these products!

Warning: If you are not used to driving through remote wilderness with two young kids that need to go potty, then you may find some of this information uncomfortable.

The right portable toilet and toilet accessories is a topic of great interest for any budget friendly DIY Sprinter conversions. CD and I agreed not to add plumbing to our Sprinter. This meant no toilet and no indoor kitchen.

In terms of toilet solutions, it seems like we have tried it all. Our kids outgrew their training potty somewhere between the midwest and a highway off-ramp in rural Oregon. We felt both lost and excited. It was time for an upgrade.

The first stop on our next road trip was Cabela’s camping section. Portable camping toilets are not only surprisingly pricey but also in high demand. 

It was mid-June and the selection was limited. We bought the Reliance Fold-to-Go. The whole thing folded flat and slid under the kids seat. I admit that this product and I got off on the wrong foot. I pinched my finger on its initial opening. It had three legs that needed to be unfolded and extended for use. If we were parked on a hill or using it on gravel, the toilet was tippy and unbalanced.

Picture a three year old on a three legged potty chair and you can imagine my feelings towards the Fold-to-Go. 

After much discussion and extensive consultation with strangers, we set our sights on the Luggable Loo. Once armed with our new Loo, we started the search for the perfect accessories. By accessories, I don’t mean toilet seat cushions or fancy toilet paper holders, I am referring to bags and powder. 

CD and I have half joked that future generations will be left with little plastic bags of dog poo time capsules. I wasn’t about to contribute to that situation. We jumped right into the world of biodegradable bags. 

These products aren’t terribly cheap and it is certainly in everyone’s best interest to use these products sparingly. With that being said, we also didn’t want to get stuck without a plan when the situation called for a plan! 

Some tips regarding biodegradable bags:

  • They breakdown if they are left in the sun, are wet, or are old. 
  • They work just as well as non-biodegradable bags
  • We use them because they work and we can tolerate ourselves better when using these than when using other bags 

Just to finish off the uncomfortable topic of camping toilets. Don’t forget the Poo Powder! Enjoy!

What is our favorite kid’s carrier for hiking?

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Recreational equipment reviews, Traveling as a family

Thankfully, we no longer need a full inventory of kids carriers. Due to having generous and adventurous friends, we have tried nearly every backpack kid carrier on the market.

It was too long ago for me to confidently compare and contrast each. I will say, however, that I never found one to love. I could take or leave any of them.

Three or four years ago we were out for a hike with the kids and came across a family with a standing child carrier. The parents looked so happy.

CD was inspired to build one. A few weeks later I got impatient and bought one. The kids are a bit big for it now and we have barely used it during the past year. For whatever reason, Grace asked to use it yesterday. So we did. It was great!

Check it out!

The Piggyback Rider Scout Carrier. The kids can see. My neck and back felt great! As long as the kiddo is awake, this is by far my favorite! Click on the pic above to find out more about the product.

Sprinter DIY
Sprinter DIY

Bring on a new year of Sprinter adventures. Sprinter DIY: Alsea Falls.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

Today was a good day. We jumped in our Sprinter and headed out for a hike. A few minutes into the drive, HB said: “It feels good to be in the Sprinter.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Alsea Falls was our destination. It is on BLM land in the southern part of the Willamette Valley. The scenery is classic for this part of Oregon. The trees are covered with lichen and moss. The ground is covered in mud.

The falls are a short walk from the parking lot. We ended our hike there.
The picture is fuzzy but so was the woods. Sprinter DIY
We don’t go anywhere without our Inter-agency pass. No camping at the day use area but there were plenty of campsites all around.

It was raining and not all that warm. Twenty minutes into the drive, I realized that I had forgotten our jackets. CD packed rain jackets and pants for the kids and himself but couldn’t find mine.

When we parked and headed out for our hike, he offered me a beach towel to keep me dry. I typically would have laughed and declined but recently the kids have made a point to let me know that I embarrass them. Wrapping myself in a beach towel while hiking seemed like a perfect opportunity to really be ridiculous. They laughed at first but soon forgot about it. I was stuck carrying a beach towel for the next hour or so.

Classic Willamette Valley sign. The weather is tough on signs and bridges and benches and houses.

We headed towards Green Peak Falls. The trail was nice and easy to follow. There were plenty of other hikers ringing in 2020. We got side tracked to the river and through the woods a few times and this ended up being our turn around point.

Another classic sign for this part of Oregon.
An amazing long table, obviously made from a single tree.

It seemed like McBee Park may have seen better days. There were outhouses but all seemed to be in a state of dis-repair. I expect that by the time the rainy season is over, things will be looking better again. There were tons of BLM campsites along the river here.

Despite the nearly constant winter rain of the Willamette, I really prefer dry campsites. I may come back and camp here in the spring when the rains slows but wasn’t tempted to camp there today. These campsites are likely popular in the summer as they are on the river, huge, and easily accessible from the road.

Back at the Sprinter, we took off our boots and settled in to some snacks. The kids didn’t waste any time getting comfortable on the bed. CD was happy to use his new gadget. The Camp Chef Mountain Series Striker was tasked with the job of whipping up hot cocoa. I was so proud of CD for moving beyond his back packing mind- set and getting excited about such a luxury. It really was much faster and easier than boiling a pan of water on our camp stove! It was so fast that the kids even had two cups each.

It worked! The kids and CD were happy. I have a feeling there will be a lot more Ramen, Cup of Soup, and Hot Cocoa in my future!

The mom in me asked CD to stop refilling propane bottles. He picked these up and we are all happy for now. He is just humoring me until we decide to start carrying a much larger propane tank and cut out these less earth friendly items.

Just as we were about the fire up the Little Buddy Heater, another family stopped by to chat. They had a Sprinter 170 passenger van camping conversion. They were well beyond us regarding the extent of their conversion.

They admired our idea of putting the kids in the third row instead of the second and were going to do that themselves in the future. That was about all we had to offer them. They gave us tons of tips regarding exchanging windows to improve air flow, adding insulation, and even removing the rear AC to make space for a large solar panel. They personally knew many of the people that CD had already spoken with on the phone regarding modifications and supplies. They gave us their number and invited to stop by and see their Sprinter.

They validated our path with our Sprinter so far. They were able to share our vision and bring back the “fun” in the Sprinter DIY dream.

In talking to them we felt hopeful, inspired, and energized! With that, we head into 2020! Cheers!

Sleeping 4 in a Sprinter 144. Sprinter DIY camping conversion.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

It didn’t take long for us to agree that we need at least two full size beds.

CD came up with a plan. He described it in detail. Despite his best efforts, I just couldn’t see his vision.

He disappeared into the driveway. Neighbors stopped by on and off. A few days later, we had storage boxes and two beds.

I started a YouTube channel to document our camping conversion. It turns out that my video production skills are seriously lacking. This blog was born.

I will do my best to describe in words and pictures our current two bed conversion. I will even show a video below; it has already been established that my video skills are sub-par at best.

Initial camping conversation priorities:

  1. Two comfortable, readily accessible beds: Each large enough for two adults or one average size adult and one sideways sleeping child
  2. Storage for food, cooking supplies, miscellaneous daily – use items

CD combined our storage and our sleeping conversion needs. I honestly could not be more impressed. This is truly a budget-friendly conversion that works!

The inaugural trip in our high roof Sprinter was 8528 miles and 190 hours and 55 minutes. We slept in the Sprinter each night that we were on the road. The kids fell asleep during a crazy rain storm after fourth of July fireworks and we converted the beds without opening the door, moving them from their seats, or waking them. This may have been one of the most successful moments of our marriage.

How is our seating arranged?

We removed the second row of seats and put the kids in the third row. During the day, we use the space where the second row was for having lunch, changing clothes, doing stretches, or using the Luggage Loo. At night it becomes our second bed.

In our first Sprinter, I slept on a camping pad in this space. The challenge was moving the cooler, food, stove, Loo, shoes, and clutter from the floor in order to make the bed. This did not work.

What about clutter?

Decreasing and controlling clutter was also high on our to-do list. Storage was the obvious starting place. CD built and secured two wooden storage boxes. This was life changing!

How did we build two beds for four people?

  • The first bed was built with a wooden frame behind the kids seats. Not only is it great for sleeping but it is needed to build the second bed. It holds two mattresses. The second mattress is stored on top of the first and pulled down to build the second bed.
  • The second bed is assembled using wooden storage boxes that CD built and secured to the van. The bed is constructed like a puzzle using pieces that are stored to either side of the kids seats. There are three pieces. The 1st piece goes under the cooler just to bring it up to the right height. Someday we will likely upgrade our cooler and this won’t be necessary but for now it works great. A 2nd piece goes between the front end of the storage boxes. A 3rd piece of wood has a hinge and is supported by the storage boxes and a 2 x 4 extending from behind the third seat and anchoring at the passenger side storage box.
  • The mattress for this second bed is then moved off of the first mattress and placed on the second bed platform. The first bed’s mattress measures 54 x 72 and the second is 48 x 68.

After 1 or 2 days of getting used to the second bed conversion, it was a breeze. I traveled well rested and contented. The total price tag of this two bed conversion was less than $500. This included two mattresses, one of which was custom cut to size.

As far as I am concerned, CD is a genius!

For more details about the bed conversion build, feel free to ask! Again, I am sorry for the video quality but will add better quality video once we have some to share!

Sprinter DIY. Sleeping 4 in a 144. Sprinter van conversion. #vanlife