My Van Needs Four-Wheel Drive

Ry, my 2022 Thor Rize campervan, (now for sale) is built on a 118-inch wheelbase, high-roof, 2021 Ram Promaster.

The Promaster is a phenomenal choice for a campervan. It is less expensive to purchase and less expensive to maintain than other campervan chassis. The short wheelbase makes it easier to maneuver in the urban areas. And the low floor makes it easy to step into and makes it so that there is more than enough room to stand up inside, even thought it’s not exceptionally tall.

That low floor is possible because the Ram Promaster is front-wheel drive only. Without a driveshaft to transfer engine power to the rear wheel, the cabin floor can be lower to the ground.

This is a good trade-off for almost all uses. But in my van-life dream, my van was a mobile ski lodge. Getting to ski resorts requires driving on mountain roads, in the winter, ideally with snow and lots of it. Four-wheel drive would make me feel a lot more safe and secure on those drives.

Chains

In addition, when there is snow on California mountain roads, chains are often required. The most common chain-requirement is R2, meaning chains are required except for vehicles that have four-wheel drive. If you have ever pulled over to the side of the road in the snow to put on or take off tire chains you know how unpleasant of an experiences it is. Driving with chains on is not fun either. Having four-wheel drive means skipping that process almost every time.

Off road

Finally, the best places to camp inexpensively near a ski resort are often on Forest Service or BLM land. But the Forest Service and BLM don’t pave their roads. In winter the roads can be snowy, muddy, and uneven.

Four-wheel drive greatly reduces the possibility of getting stuck. And getting stuck is something I don’t want to risk when travelling in the wilderness, especially when camping alone.

My campervan needs four-wheel drive.

This is one of the reasons I am selling my campervan. It doesn’t meet all of my needs. For example, I need a parking space.