VAN LIFE: Easy Long-Weekend Camping Trips from New Jersey

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

~

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE ~

---

All camping trips are amazing, but what if you have only a few nights to getaway?

Luckily, we have a ton of first-hand, camping experience and with that question in mind, we’re sharing our favorite Easy Long-Weekend Camping Trips from New Jersey that meet the following criteria:

• approx. 4 hours drive from Central New Jersey (our camper van rental pickup location)

• offer quality campgrounds

• maximized fun in a 4-night rental

• local attractions and entertainment

Catskills

Drive Time: 2-3 hours

Suggested Destination: Woodland Valley and North South Lake

Suggested Campground: North/South Lake Campground

Our first extended, weekend camping trip is to the Catskills region which is located in the southeastern part of New York. The Catskills Mountain area is hugely diverse, so for this trip we’re focusing on Woodland Valley and North/South Lake located on the northern, east side section of the Catskills.

We really enjoyed our staying at North/South Lake Campground which is part of the NY State Park system. Easy drive, good hikes Ledges Trail around the lake from campground. Hike to Katterskills Falls popular destination. Town Tannersville. Woodstock Brewery. Last Chance Antique and Cheese Cafe. Close to Woodstock. Phoenicia, diner.

---

Delaware

Drive Time: 3 hours with ferry ride

Suggested Destination: Delaware Beach

Suggested Campground: Cape Hemlopen State Park right off ferry

There’s something extra fun starting a trip with a ferry ride, and the Cape May Ferry is no exception. Our camper vans easily fit as a regulars sized vehicle. The trip itself is memorable and there is a great bar at the ferry terminal and on the ferry itself.

For overnight, we recommend Cape Hemlopen State Park Campground which is seconds from the Cape May Ferry terminal. The campground is spacious, quiet and partially wooded. There are beautifully groomed bike trails and the park offers rentals, Disk golf. Beaches. Fishing. Closed to Lewes which has adorable downtown with shops and restaurant.

Day trip: Rehoboth Beach touristy, family boardwalk vibe. Dogfish Head. 25 minute drive.

Day trip: Milton - Dogfish Head OG location, cute downtown. 20 minute drive.

---

Green Mountains, Vermont

Drive Time: 4 hours

Suggested Destination: Green Mountains

Suggested Campground: Emerald Lake State Park (open May-October), Townshend State Park

You might assume Vermont is too far to enjoy in 4 nights, but the southwest corner of the state is perfect for travelers coming from New Jersey. It’s a beautiful, scenic drive of farmland, forests and mountain backdrop.

There are lots of state campgrounds, many with lakes catering to watersports, swimming and boating. We stayed at Emerald Lake State Park which surrounds a 20 acre lake perfect for swimming and paddling. The campground has tent and RV spots.

Hiking in wonderful in the state park and surrounding Green Mountain National Forest. One of our favorite experiences was the White Rock Ice Bed Trail. The 3 mile hike features natural occurring ice beds which freeze and slowly melt throughout the warmer months and causes an air conditioning effect to emanate from the rocks. Its the perfect end to a challenging hike!

Townshend State Park was another overnight stay during our trip to Vermont. It was such a cool location. The highlight here was listing to baby owls at dusk.

There is not too much of a central downtown area, but there are plenty of roadside establishments for burgers (Kelly’s Snack Shack), booze and ice cream.

---

Senaca Lake & Cayuga Lake (Finger Lakes Region NY)

Drive Time: 4-5 hours

Suggested Destination: Watkins Glen & Itaca

Suggested Campground: Watkins Glen State Park Campground

Watkins is at base of Senaca. Ithaca is at base of Cayuga. Cornell in town, restaurants/shops.

Both lakes are surrounded with cider, wine, beer. Dockside bar.

Hiking the glen. Speedway.

Taughannock Falls State Park campground. World famous waterfall

---

VAN LIFE: Installation Guide of MaxxAir Ventilation Fan with Photos & Video on 2012 Ford Transit Connect Camper Van

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

〰️

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE 〰️

One of the most nerve wracking projects of our van conversions is the installation of the ceiling ventilation fan. In it’s simplest form, the installation required cutting a giant hole in the roof of your perfectly waterproofed vehicle.

But the benefits of a ceiling fan far outweigh the challenges, so we wanted to share an in depth look at our version of this process.

BENEFITS OF A VENTILATION FAN

Essentially, any vehicle converted into a camper van starts as a tin can (or a shell vehicle stripped of its fabric liner).

In our conversions, the dashboard HVAC systems provide heating and cooling, while driving, but are not functional while in camp.

Unlike a home, vehicles are not primarily constructed with the notion of people living and sleeping under its roof. Through the opening of windows and doors, “natural ventilation” is a common method of allowing the exchange of indoor and outdoor air.

Natural ventilation is unpredictable and uncontrollable, and while camping the elements (pressure, wind, rain, temperature, bugs) pose additional challenges.

The addition of a dual operating ceiling ventilation fan allows for the operator to control the intake and exhaust of air pressure within the van; bringing in fresh air and removing musky air.

VENTILATION FAN

Let’s start with the fan itself. This is our third time purchasing a Maxx Air Ventilation MaxxFan Deluxe. The Maxx Air line of products is one of the industry leaders in RV ventilation.

We continue to install the Deluxe model because of the following features:

• built in rain cover

• 10 speed intake and exhaust

• thermostat control

• 900 CFM

• well built, low profile and sleek design

• very quite while running

When a ventilation fan is used in combination with natural ventilation, you can create circulation and optimize comfort levels while sleeping.

We use the Maxx Air ventilation fan in conjunction with our custom, front-door window screens by Skeeter Beeter.

MATERIALS

Maxx Air Ventilation Fan

Ford Transit Connect Roof Vent Adapter (for first generation 2002-2013)

Butyl Tape

3M Fast Cure Auto Glass Urethane

Flex Seal

TOOLS

Safety glasses

Measuring Tape

Masking Tape

Protective Gloves

Scotch-brit Pad

Isopropyl Alcohol

Jig Saw

Metal Cutting Blades

Drill

Step Drill Bit

Metal File

Disposable paint brush

INSTALLATION

Step 1: Cut the Roof Opening

Start by measuring and determining the final position of the vent fan on the roof, ensuring the clearance of the mounting ring, pop top and final trim kit on the interior of the ceiling.

The after market adapter is needed to ensure a waterproof seal, accommodating the roof grooves of the first generation Ford Transit Connect roof. Note the adapter grooves which are designed to lay into the roof grooves.

In the Ford Transit, ensure the fan will sit plum by positioning the fan away from the ceiling cross bar and interior light fixture (see after image taken from inside the vehicle).

Using the adapter as a template, trace the interior of the opening and further define with masking tape.

*Safety glasses recommended. With the opening marked, pierce the roof with a drill and step bit, just inside the cut line, to create an opening for the metal jig saw blade.

Using the jig saw, cut the 14”x14” opening along marked line. Finish by filing the edges of the cut to remove any extra sharp edges.

Unmodified roof

Measuring for placement

Trace and mark opening using adapter as template

Jigsaw

Jigsaw metal cutting blade

After view from inside

Step 2: Prep & Install Roof Vent Adapter Ring / Waterproof

With the opening cut, prep the surface of the roof with a new perimeter of blue tape (about 1 inch beyond the opening edge and scour the surface with a scotch-brite pad. Finish by cleaning the area with isopropyl alcohol.

Using the 3M fast cure urethan, create 2-3 beads of adhesive along the bottom face of the adapter. Flip the adapter over, and fit into opening. Press firmly along all edges.

** In our build, we used the adapter ring as the entry/exit point of our exterior lights. We used a chisel to cut a channel for these wires to sit in.

Using the masking tape as an edge, further waterproof the adapter edge with a disposable paint brush and apply an even coat of flex seal liquid. Allow to set for 15 minutes and remove tape.

Allow Flex Seal to cure/dry for 24 hours.

Scuff surface and clean with alcohol

Apply 2-3 beads of adhesive

3M auto window adhesive

Adapter prepped with adhesive

Create necessary channels for wiring

Mask and waterproof with Flex Seal

Allow Flex Seal to dry 24 hours

Step 3: Mount Ventilation Fan

Apply butyl tape (removing the backing paper) to all four sides of the adapter, overlapping the corners to create a sealed surface. The butyl tape should be positioned in the center of the adapter, so the fan mounting screws pierce the tape on install.

Position fan mounting ring, secure with provided screws.

Install the ventilation fan, allowing electrical wires to fall into the opening, secure with screws.

Reinstall the vehicle liner, and install the interior trim kit as the final step.

Install butyl tape between adapter & mounting ring

Position mounting ring

Secure mounting ring in place

Reinstall headliner & finish with trim ring

What do you think? Will you be installing a ventilation fan in your camper van conversion? Let us know your thoughts or questions below in the comment section.

Happy Camping!

VAN LIFE: 2012 Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion 2.0

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

〰️

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE 〰️

Back in January, we shared that our fleet of camper vans was growing with the purchase of two, 2012 Ford Transit Connects. With the success of Dolly (our 2010 Ford Transit Connect camper van) during the 2020 spring and summer rental season, we were eager to expand our business and get a couple more units on the road.

We also got a tremendous amount of van life fan feedback that indicated, to us, our process, thinking and design was well received by camper van enthusiasts and conversion DIYers.

We’re in the process of working on FAQ responses about the first conversion and will soon be sharing a digital download of our build out plans.

Are we onto something? We hope so!

We continue to be attracted to the first generation (2010-2013) Ford Transit Connect for a couple reasons:

• cargo area height (the 2nd gen head room reduces)

• their boxier shape (the 2nd gen is more rounded, bullet shaped)

Before we get into the nitty gritty of the camper van conversion, here’s a little background on the vehicles and our plan for the conversions.

PURCHASE CONDITION

Both vans were previously owned by a security company, and in overall excellent condition with relatively low mileage for being nearly 10 years old; 65k and 75k respectively.

For having been commercial vehicles, the exterior condition was great. Minor paint scratched from what looks like a frequent brush with the side of a garage, leaving short imperfections in the paint. We plan to attempt a DIY fix of this, stay tuned.

The interior cockpit/drivers area is in excellent shape. Again, for a contractor/work vehicle, this great of condition is hard to come by when someone is using it daily.

The cargo areas of the vans were equipped with steel shelves and racks, plus the windows had security caging. These existing components have already been removed and sold on Facebook Marketplace, fetching a few hundred dollars we will put back into the conversion.

Both vans had roof racks, which we will keep, as is, and retrofit with exterior storage. The vans also had electrical conduit tubes. We considered using the tubing for a shower system, but in the end decided against it because of the unnecessary water weight and space it would have taken away from storage.

CONVERSION PLAN

The new vans will undergo a similar build-out to Dolly, our original camper van conversion. We will only make minor changes, as we feel the overall design is functional and user friendly for any level camper.

The main conversion components will be broken down into storage, electrical and comfort, but in the 2.0 blog conversion posts we are going to dive deeper into some of the minutia of these decisions and any changes we have on that deviate from the original build.

TIMELINE

The conversion of both vans will take approximately 1 month. We will be setting up shop in a friends barn to aid in the process. The vans are already available to rent on Outdoorsy, so we are working towards a completion date of April 1.

BUDGET

All in, we anticipate the conversions to be roughly $4,000 per van, not including the purchase price of the vehicles. Based on market research, we consider this to be a very frugal conversion. Also, John is not factoring in his time/cost of labor into the budget.

Stay tuned for more posts about the conversions process! Interested to hear more about a particular part of the build? Let us know!

VAN LIFE: Our Favorite Gear For Camper Van Rental Guests

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

〰️

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE 〰️

With any successful rental property, whether it be a house, cabin, or RV, the products and equipment you use to outfit your short-term rental can make all the difference in receiving a 5 star rating from guests.

The key is to outfit your rental with functional, durable equipment that provide positive ROI.

With a full season of 5 star rentals completed in our converted 2010 Ford Transit Connect camper van, named Dolly, here is our go-to list of standard equipment we offer to our Outdoorsy.com renters.

Rhino SunSeeker Awning

This exterior awning is perfect on a smaller vehicle, quick & easy to set up/pack down, and provided RV rental guests shelter from the rain or sun.

$315 from Amazon

Black Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker

All the function of a classic, glass French press in a durable stainless steel design. Perfect for camper van rental guests, this sleek coffee brewer is photo-op ready!

$26 from Amazon

2 Gallon Slimline Water Container

This durable and compact beverage container fit into lots of tight spaces, has a durable dispenser spout, wide mouth fill top, handle for carrying to and from cam and is BPA free.

$14 from Amazon

Coleman Propane Camping Stove

An oldie, but a goodie! This classic 2-burner stove is our go-to for camper van travel. Easy to stow and provides all the cooking power you need for a fraction of a more high-end unit.

And don’t forget to outfit your rig with a couple bottles of back-up propane.

$44 from Amazon

Ausranvik 37 Quart Portable Refrigerator Freezer

This 12/24V DC and 110V AC Compressor unit is the perfect camper van addition. Forget about buying bags of ice! This compact fridge packs all the comparable temperature controls in a cooler size unit perfect for tight storage.

$252 from Amazon

Portable Outdoor Utensil Kitchen Set-9 Piece Cookware Kit

This functional and well made kitchen utensil kit is packed with all the essentials for your camper van rental guests. The kit even comes in a durable cotton tote so all the pieces are easily stowed and makes inventorying between renters a breeze.

$28 from Amazon

Zinus 6 Inch Gel-Infused Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress

Not only is this mattress extremely comfortable, it is efficiently compressed into one box that’s easily shipped and maneuvered into any tight space, like an RV or camper van. Once inside, the mattress can be unrolled and will regain its shape in 72 hours. We also found this mattress easy to custom cut and fit.

$195 from Amazon

Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit

This soft case first aid kit is perfect for overhead stowing. It also comes with a separate mini kit that can be tucked into a backpack for hiking.

$24 from Amazon

Kijaro Dual Lock Portable Camping Chair

By far our favorite portable chair for our camper van rental guests. These chairs fold down for easy storage, but have the best no-sag seat support up-to 300 lbs and locks open for extra stability/ locks shut for easy transport. Offered in every color under the sun!

$50 from Amazon

Winterial Camping Cookware and Pot Set, 10 Piece Set

Pot, frying pan and tea kettle are made of solid and light aluminum oxide, which is high-temperature and friction-resistant. This lightweight set is our go to for our camper van rental. It’s durable, stackable and made of non-stick Teflon making camp clean-up easy.

$40 from Amazon

VAN LIFE: The Camper Van Fleet Is Growing

We are so excited to announce the addition of two more Ford Transit Connect vans to our rental, camper van fleet.

We’re also shifting the rental business under a new Content + Co subsidiary: Content Outdoors LLC.

Over the course of the next 2-months we will be sharing the step by step process of transforming these vans into 2-person, road trip companions!

If you’re interested, you can check out our original series of converting our first girl, Dolly: Electrical, Comfort, Storage and the big reveal.

The twin newbies are 2012 Ford Transit Connects. A couple years newer than Dolly, and with less original mileage. But, our conversion will be nearly identical.

A special thanks you to Mike, Joe and Joe at Michaels Motor Sports in Neptune, NJ for making the car buying process so seamless that we bought two!

Stay tuned for updates!

REVEAL: Meet Dolly - Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

〰️

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE 〰️

John and I are so excited to REVEAL the completion of our 2010 Ford Transit camper van conversion! We’re officially members of the #vanlife movement!

Over the past few months, we’ve shared all about the conversion process including the electrical, storage and comfort amenities added to make the van the perfect travel companion.

✅ Interested in the materials and products we used to complete Dolly’s conversion, check out the full list of here.

✅ Ready to DIY a camper van conversion of your own, just like Dolly’s? Click here to purchase our custom Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion Build & Electrical Plans.

Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion Build & Electrical Plans

Generation 1 2010-2013

PURCHASE HERE

Part of this reveal is also a look into the van’s inaugural trip while we enjoyed leaf peeping in Smokey Mountain National Park.

Now that the hard work is complete, we’re teaming up with Outdoorsy to share the van with campers, like you! Dolly is available for nightly rental with pick up in New Jersey.

Check out Dolly’s full rental listing for all of the included amenities, rates and availability.

Meet Dolly!

Dolly is a cozy, two-person road trip companion; ideal for camping, festivals, romantic getaways or urban adventures.

Besides being adorable, Dolly's best features are her petite dimensions (only 15 feet long) which allow for ease of driving, parking and maneuverability. Any driver would be comfortable navigating Dolly on the highway, back country road, campground or parking garage.

Plus, with exceptional gas mileage (27 mpg), Dolly is ready to make all your travel dreams, near or far, become a reality!

What should you pack? Not much... Dolly has all the basics (plus more) covered! Dolly's standard, rental setup includes sleeping, cooking, camping and leisure accessories.

Just get in & GO!

Want to rent Dolly?

Check out Dolly’s full rental listing for all of the included amenities, rates and availability.

✅ Interested in the materials and products we used to complete Dolly’s conversion, check out the full list of here.

✅ Ready to DIY a camper van conversion of your own, just like Dolly? Click here to purchase our custom Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion Build & Electrical Plans.

---

COMFORT Amenities: Ford Transit Connect Camper Van Conversion

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE

〰️

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE 〰️

---

We’re sharing the third installment of our Ford Transit Connect camper van conversion and this post is all about COMFORT.

If you missed them, you can backtrack a bit and check out our previous posts on the van’s Electrical setup and the Storage components of the conversion.

But, now that we have all the fundamentals covered, we’re sharing the amenities that make the van a pleasure to use.

✅ If you’re short on time, you can jump to the materials and products we used to complete Dolly’s conversion, check out the full list here.

MATTRESS

On the inside of the van, the most obvious form of comfort is the mattress. For the van conversion mattress, we had a few factors that we had to consider before buying.

Mainly, the mattress needed to be long enough for John (who is 6’ tall) to stretch out completely. With that, we decided on a queen sized mattress but would need to cut the width to custom fit in the wood, bed platform.

Another necessary factor: the mattress needed to be thin enough to fold. If you remember back to our Storage post, the bed platform (and mattress) is only fully extended in “sleep” mode.

In “driving” mode, the mattress is stowed via a hinged section of the bed platform and folding over a portion of the mattress.

We decided on a 6 inch, queen sized Zinus gel-infused, green tea memory foam mattress. A great feature of the Zinus mattress is that it comes in a variety of depths, but in our opinion, any mattress that you are going to sleep on for multiple nights should be at least 6 inches.

With the bed platform as our reference, we measured and cut approx 12 inches of the foam mattress completely off the edge.

For the hinged section, we simply scored the mattress (not cutting all the way through) so the mattress itself would hinge as well.

VENTILATION FAN

Another big expense was a ventilation fan, but after sleeping in the van for just one night, we realized how valuable this purchase was to a comfortable night sleep.

We decided on the Maxxair Ventilation Fan. John cut a hole in the van’s ceiling and mounted it on the roof. This particular vent has a manual vent opening, several fan speeds, thermostat and came in a “smoke” color which looked ascetically better with our grey conversion color scheme.

Even on the coldest night of our inaugural trip, when temperatures dipped to below 40 degrees, our body heat filled the van after a few hours of sleep and the fan kept the air circulating. The van never got stuffy as some campers may have experienced in a tent.

AWNING

On the exterior of the camper van conversion, we decided to install a retractable awning which can be used for sun and rain shade. We did a bit of research and quickly discovered that awnings are very expensive. There are tons of options: mechanically retractable, manually retractable, awnings with sides, awnings with mosquito netting, etc.

We decided a manually retractable awning would be a good investment, and even though costly at $300, still more within our budget. We installed the Rhino Rack Sun Seeker which rolls up into an exterior, nylon zippered case, and provides about 38 square feet of coverage. Just enough for two camp chairs and a small table.

EXTRAS

We also keep a few extra comfort items stored in the roof rack such as our favorite Kijaro folding chairs and a Coleman collapsible side table. Even though most camp grounds have a picnic table and benches, its great to have the option

You can check out all of the sources materials we used for Dolly’s conversion here.

Comment with your thoughts and feedback below!