Greg – Our 2001 Dodge Ram Conversion Van
Greg comes from a long line of adventures and lovers of the outdoors. He inherited this title from his first owner and namesake, Greg. Greg was an older man who traveled many miles, 35,000 to be exact, using this incredible set of wheels as a family wagon. Yet when Greg’s family got older, went to college, and moved out, the family outings began to dwindle. Hence, Greg’s wheels were curbed and untouched for months. This changed the day BMX rider Marc Meeuwissen decided he wanted to begin a journey with life on the road. Marc traveled constantly, often voyaging to BMX competitions and festivals located around the country. After 45,000 miles of riding and dancing’s in and around Greg, it was time for a Cragslist post that perfectly fell into my lap. I actually didn’t stumble upon this post, my dad did. He sent it my way and insisted I go take a closer look. So, my brother and I drove an hour to see what Marc had in store. I believe I cried at the sight of this green machine as we turned the corner. The post was real, no beating around the bushes – little to no rust, no accidents, just a window that didn’t fully go up. Other visits seemed to frustrate me due to the fact that the details written on the ads didn’t fully match what I was seeing in person. That next week my dad and I met Marc at a dealership down south. Now Marc, if you are reading this, I want you to know that Greg is in good hands. That day gave me a heavy heart seeing how badly you didn’t want to give Greg up, even though the time had come. Thank you for passing along this amazing home.
This blog is about Greg himself and how Derek and I turned him into our tiny mobile home allowing us to travel, climb, and work throughout North America in an efficient cost friendly manner.
The Exterior
Greg is a Dodge Ram 1500 conversion van that packs a punch on the highway with his V8 engine. His remote start offers a convenient option for those colder winter mornings. Another mega feature that fits the adventurous lifestyle are the All Terrain BF Goodrich tires – taking on sand, water, dirt, pavement, and beyond makes this lifestyle of ours easily accessible. Greg’s lighting is also extremely important. Marc had installed Halogen lights to illuminate those windy country roads. We were even lucky enough to bring our bikes thanks to Marc leaving us a Thule bike rack. Lastly, Greg is equipped with a back up camera allowing us to keep tabs on that big green rear end.
Solar
– 2 batteries
– 2 100W panels
– DC/AC Converter
– 12 outlets
– Spot lights
– Sink
– LED lights on inside
Living
Our living entities are what make Greg suitable for the both of us. We have a cozy bed that fits 1 ½ people. The bed also turns into a table making cooking and eating pretty comfortable.
Greg has just enough headspace to think you can stand, though don’t try it for too long or your back will start screaming. The kitchen in the van is my favorite part. A few months ago my friend Seamus and I built a red oak counter top. It contains a sink, knife holder, two burner Classic Coleman, Good To-Go shelf, spice rack, and our Nutribullet for those killer breakfast smoothies.
“The simpler we make things, the richer the experinces become.”
Still Greg has more space to give, introducing our dual walk in closets. To access, open both side doors to the van and step inside, the closets are located above and to your left. Above the passenger and drivers seats you will see my cubby loaded with clothes and toiletries. To your lower left sits Derek’s closet. The top drawer contains Derek’s 4 pairs of pants, while the larger bottom holds drawer his 5 ½ shirts, some boxers, and maybe some socks.
Next leaves us with the extras that Greg has to offer. I installed a hard wood floor so cleaning and dancing could be apart of our daily habits, especially while cooking.
But with rowdy times comes moments of much needed silences. Our library is located in the back of the van near the rear exits directly above our bed/table. Yet this duel business-casual setup is more than just a place to sleep, it is also our gear closet. Underneath the bed hides two massive storage compartments. Our climbing and Flowfold gear fits perfect in our daily access bin, while the other holds our camping gear and other items that are less frequently used. Finally, our guests need not fret, Greg’s hallway easily doubles as a spare bedroom with the inflation of a Therm-a-Rest on our hardwood floor.
