Video summary

I Ranked All 7 Vans I’ve Owned — Worst to Best

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Van ranking (worst → best) + key takeaways (by the creator’s criteria)

How she rated each van (1–5 scale)

Categories:

  • Layout
  • Electricity
  • Climate control
  • Bed comfort
  • Storage space
  • Durability

Scores are subjective—based on her use case, not what’s “best” for everyone.

7th (Worst): 2010 Ford Econoline (homemade build)

Why it ranked last

  • Low roof limited layout and everyday comfort.
  • Simple electrical system:
    • 200W solar
    • Portable charging station under the bed
    • Enough for: fan, portable refrigerator, and phone/small electronics charging
  • Limited climate control:
    • No AC
    • No heating
    • Only a ceiling fan (weather dictated comfort)
  • Small “hospital bed” was fine for weekends, not long stays.

Notable strengths

  • Simple build with fewer complex systems to maintain.
  • Likely one of the cheapest ways to start van life.
  • Best suited to budget weekend trips—she felt she’d “outgrow” it faster now that she travels full-time with her dog and works on the road.

6th: Thor Scope 18T

What improved vs. the Econoline

  • Higher roof
  • More built-in systems for day-to-day usability:
    • Better battery system
    • Built-in inverter
    • Control panel for electronics + lighting
    • Generator

What held it back

  • Sofa bed was very uncomfortable.
  • Roof bed was small—more suited for children.
  • Storage layout was difficult, especially for outdoor gear.
  • No bathroom (no shower or toilet).
  • Lower rental popularity: her rental fleet disliked it due to feature/compromise pile-up.
  • Durability issues:
    • Lockers/glossy finish showed scratches and imperfections easily
    • Glue bleed/visibility through vinyl flooring
    • Problems requiring warranty repairs shortly after purchase

Verdict

Technically scored higher than the Econoline, but she calls it her biggest bad purchase.

5th: Winnebago Solis 59P (sofa bed model)

Pros

  • Rooftop air conditioning
  • Lower profile (sunroof didn’t need to be operated)

Main drawbacks

  • Sofa bed comfort was worse than expected.
  • Awkward/less functional garage storage under the sofa bed.
  • Electrical system undersupplied for her needs:
    • No inverter (important for cooking/working)
  • AC limitations: works only when plugged into 30A external power (inflexible for her off-grid style).
  • Long-term wear concerns:
    • Laminated coating may peel
    • Trim may peel off over time

Overall

Good for week-long trips, but frustrating for her current lifestyle needs.

4th: Wayfarer build (Promaster chassis, 136-inch wheelbase)

What was appealing

  • Modular, flexible layout that could be modified to suit needs.

What reduced the score

  • Missing “integrated” systems:
    • No AC (only a ceiling ventilation hatch)
    • Propane heating felt primitive for the time
  • Electricity approach:
    • Used a portable power station under the bed
    • Limited capacity and fewer charging conveniences while traveling
  • Biggest lifestyle gap:
    • No ability to shower inside in this particular build
    • She now considers an indoor shower a real priority.

Verdict

Simplicity is a plus, but it didn’t fit her current travel style as well as the top three.

3rd: Winnebago Solis Pocket 36A (Promaster chassis, 136-inch wheelbase)

What she liked

  • Creative/innovative compact layout
  • Dining area transforms into a day bed at the entrance—flexible for both living and work.
  • Fixed full-size bed is comfortable.
  • Included air conditioning, but…

Key issues

  • AC depended on 30A external power (not reliable for her off-grid time).
  • Only outdoor shower (she wants an indoor option now).
  • Electrical limitations similar to other Solis models:
    • Low power
    • No inverter

Why it still placed high

Thoughtful use of space in a small platform without constantly transforming everything.

2nd: Winnebago Solis 59P with lift roof

Why it scored so well

  • Better layout than her other two Winnebago Solis vans (in her view).
  • Swap compared to another 59P variant:
    • Instead of AC + sofa bed, it has:
      • Sleeping area under the roof (lift roof)
      • Fold-down bed in main body
      • Four seat belts
  • Features she valued:
    • Two sleeping areas
    • Full bathroom
    • Storage cabinets
    • Spacious luggage compartment under the bed

Shared drawbacks with other Solis

  • Electrical system limits
  • Durability/wear over time (minor wear noted)

Verdict

Sentimental because it was her first motorhome, and she believes it has broad appeal—hence 2nd place.

1st (Best): Geo Trek Sprinter (current van)

Why it won

  • Designed around her current needs, including working from the van, traveling with Sammy, and spending significant time off-grid.
  • EcoFlow power system:
    • Increased battery capacity
    • Built-in inverter
    • Lets her work more without constant energy anxiety.
  • Comfortable “almost king-size” bed with body extenders
  • Strong integrated lifestyle features:
    • Large refrigerator
    • Two shower options:
      • Hidden shower in the bench
      • Outdoor shower
    • Plenty of storage
    • Large water tank + plumbing system

Compromises she accepted

  • EcoFlow charging from the generator is slower than she wants.
  • She likes the stand-alone AC but considers real power draw and expected runtime.
  • Storage improvements she’d still like:
    • Another drawer
    • More functional space under the sink
  • Cost/maintenance trade-off:
    • Might cost more to buy and maintain due to a smaller dealer network for repairs.

Why she’s confident long-term

Geo Trek can improve over time—she can visit service in Boulder to upgrade the electrical system, add storage, and make future improvements.

Bottom line

By her evaluation criteria, it’s her best overall and the van she’d choose again.

Key lifestyle lessons emphasized

  • No “perfect van.” The right van is the one that matches your travel style and compromises.
  • Earlier vans taught her what to look for; her final choice was personal, built around:
    • working on the road
    • traveling with her dog
    • being off-grid most of the time

Notable locations, products, or brands mentioned

Locations

  • Boulder (service/upgrade center she can visit)

Brands/Models

  • Geo Trek Sprinter (current #1)
  • EcoFlow (power/inverter system used in Geo Trek)
  • Thor Scope 18T
  • Winnebago Solis 59P (sofa bed + lift roof variants)
  • Winnebago Solis Pocket 36A
  • Wayfarer build (Promaster chassis)
  • Ford Econoline (2010)
  • Ram ProMaster chassis / Promaster chassis

Gear/systems mentioned

  • Solar panels (200W)
  • Portable power station
  • Inverter
  • Generator
  • Rooftop AC
  • 30A external power
  • Indoor vs outdoor shower

Original video