Galactic Adventures

ISSUE 05 | AUGUST 30, 2024

Camper Vans gathered at a campfire at sunset

This issue’s header image was taken by 2022 Stealth MODE owner, George Morton during a campout after the AVE Hood River show. What a view!

STORY MENU

Starlink for Storytellers

Happenings @ HQ

Blueberry Festival

Upcoming Events

Hello, friends! As you know, the heart and inspiration of Storyteller Overland is our community of adventurers that live free, explore endlessly and tell better stories in the adventure vehicles we build.

Recently, we’ve been wondering aloud at the HQ – does our community have a name? A moniker that unites us all? Everyone under one umbrella – the Flarespace DIY’ers, MODE van adventurers, HILT explorers and EPIC expeditioners…before we take to the whiteboard and try to choose something, we thought you would be the best people to ask.

Please submit any ideas you may have to emma.walsmith@storytelleroverland.com! If we get a lot of great submissions, perhaps we’ll put it to a vote? Thanks for your consideration. Y’all really are the best part of our story.

Vanlife with a Baby

Written by Alex Chamas and Keta Shaw, 2023 Classic

For several years, my wife and I dreamed of purchasing an adventure van. We’re outdoor enthusiasts; we ski, whitewater kayak, and mountain bike, and would frequently travel places in pursuit of these activities. Due to our appetite for novel adventures, it seemed a given that a van would fit into our lifestyle. But we hesitated. Knowing we were going to have a baby, we had to really ask ourselves whether or not we would utilize it enough. Would it be worth the cost? Is traveling in a van with a baby really doable or even fun?

Well after finally taking the plunge and getting the van, I can now definitively say that it is worth it. It gave us the gift of priceless memories as we were able to log over 30+ nights over 4,000 miles together with our little family in the first few months of our child's life. In that time, we learned a few things.

So I will share a bit about our experience, and some considerations for logistics and gear, to hopefully help others out there who are considering taking the plunge too.

Don't worry! Van was not being operated at the time of the pic. While cute, this baby cannot drive.

Our Overall Experience

We went on our first vantrip with our baby when she was just shy of 10 weeks old. We did not know what to expect or how far we would make it given how rough sleep had been up to that point and not knowing how she would take to car travel. Yet some of the major selling points of the van was the flexibility it creates to go at your own pace during travel, the spontaneity to change course and find places to stay day by day, and the ability to stop or turn around whenever you want. So, with that in mind, we took off. Much to our surprise, we found more of a rhythm on the road. I credit part of this to the fact that we were away from the usual distractions of home. We were able to focus solely on connecting with her. We could continue to honor her sleep schedule, or what semblance of a schedule she had, AND she even started sleeping up to 7 hour stretches between feedings at night! We called it van magic but it likely had more to do with the amazing blackout curtains the van comes with. We were able to successfully complete a long loop through the Canadian Rockies, stopping through several incredible areas including Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff, and Kimberly. Though there were definitely challenging moments, she didn’t always love being in the car seat, it was overall a wonderful opportunity to navigate van life with her while seeing some beautiful sites!

Logistics

When planning for our trip, we were thoughtful about an itinerary that would work. Without a baby, we’d have no problem crushing out 8 hour stretches on the road if need be. However, it’s not recommended that a baby spend that much consecutive time in a car seat and frankly, would not be enjoyable for you or your little one. After consulting our pediatrician, we built an itinerary that would have us driving a maximum of 3-4 hours a day with breaks in between. Traveling with a little one, we learned to embrace the motto that “half the fun is getting there.” We placed our car seat next to the Groove Lounge’s window, that way the co-pilot can make an easy transition to provide her company if needed.

During the newborn naps times, we used the Uppababy bassinet which fit perfectly above the closed shower pan. Once she outgrew this we used the guava lotus pack and play which required transitioning the groove lounge into bed mode once parked, luckily this is a very easy transition.

Organization and gear

Due to limited space, organization, tidiness, and routine were helpful towards meal prepping and transitioning baby to nap time. Consider having an in-van collaboration about the placement of clothes, food, toys, baby supplies, and equipment. It sucks trying to find something at night, having to open all the storage compartments, and trying not to wake the baby. We dedicated one cabinet per person for clothing and Parker was allotted an extra space for surplus diapers, wipes, and miscellaneous items.

A few van accessories that made the difference: Installing a shelf above the captain chairs was a game changer. You can conveniently store shoes, sweaters, jackets, and hats without having to open a bin or cabinet.

An open diaper caddy, provided immediate access to diapers, wipes, rash creams, nasal remedies, etc. During nap time, a non wifi monitor allows you to hang outside the van without constantly peeking inside. A couple of portable changing kits, you can store one in the van and another in a travel baby bag.

Science of Lighting

Doug Baker, 2022 MODE LT

Near midnight at 20 mph, our van was crawling along on its first road trip. My wife was driving our new beloved MODElt across a dusty barren stretch of dirt “highway” (MT 200, under construction) in pitch-black surroundings. Meanwhile from the passenger seat, I kept watch for deer gangs wandering about, like oblivious hitchhikers, hidden in the shadows at the edge of the road, thick with waist-high grass. Stressful! Later, docking at a rustic campsite, we discovered how challenging backing up blindly in the dark can be. And at our first few van meetups, we wished that we had own fun lighting to contribute! While we loved our MODElt, I knew lighting mods would offer more possibilities. Automotive design studios consider lighting as “the jewelry” on new vehicles, and the jewelry is multipurpose.

So, I decided to light up our van! By evening, amber-colored roof lighting over a campfire is now my favorite recreation “mode.”

By day, my career “mode” has me working as a professional in color and lighting science for vehicle safety.

As a lifelong inventor on over 100 patents, I view van life, with my wife, Karen, as an opportunity to use some of those inventions.

My approach starts here: lighting communicates to the world around you. At night, headlights illuminate the road but also make your vehicle visible to others. In traffic, taillights communicate that you’re moving, while brake lights warn deceleration, stopping, or hazards. And turn signals convey that you’re making a change. Adding a rear spare tire, carrier box, or bike rack to your van can block tail light visibility. But installing additional rear lights can help clearly declare when you’re changing lanes or stopping. If you go off road with other vans in dust, dusk, or fog, lighting indicates vital information like distance or position among the group. Lighting can be complex, so for van mods, I reference the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE which specifies lighting locations, brightness, etc., on vehicles) and the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS, Title 49; Chapter V, Part 571, Subpart B, Standard number 108 “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment”).

Presently, I am working on adding a cool lighting system (with no controller) to our bike rack– with only wiring and plugging into the trailer tow plug. This system has brake, turn, running lights, and even reverse signals as well as ground.

We love our new lighting modes! Here’s a few we’ve implemented…

💡 Steady white rear-only is our Backup mode.

💡 Steady amber (low brightness) is our chill Evening Campfire mode, and green

says Coffee Bar is Open at van meetups.

💡 Flashing green/amber signals our Highway Emergency mode.

💡 Flashing/strobe white on all sides is Security mode, and steady is Scene mode.

When making these van mods, I consider the controller, the power source, and the

lenses type with the problem I’m trying to solve. For the modes listed above, I chose a Trigger Six Shooter controller (accessed by both Bluetooth/phone control and the hard button switch set) that can easily be powered by the rooftop AUX jack under the solar panel for up to 20 Amps of 12V power. This required no drilling into our new van, and the Volta pack supplies the AUX power. For professional-grade multi-color lights, I opted for the newest technology, soft silicone mPower lights by SoundOff Signal, designed and manufactured in Michigan. Installed on all four sides, their narrow profile blends beautifully with the Frontrunner roof-rack mounting. (Note, while driving in storms, fog, etc., only steady amber is recommended in our newly added modes. Some states prohibit green, and Federal standards prohibit rear facing white light, etc., while driving.) Know the current laws, and don’t cover up that little license plate light!

Like many van owners, I’d love to refine forward lighting (like fog lights) and add ground effects (downward lighting). Replacing the lenses in low, fog-light locations can help illuminate road edges and surfaces for wider, further visibility. Installing higher, roof-line lenses has other advantages… remember those deer along MT “highway” 200? When choosing white lights at either grill or roof-line level, I also consider on vs. off road use and the laws…do the lights blind oncoming traffic vs. illuminate tree branches and deer?

While parked, well-placed ground effects can be great nighttime tools, too, from scanning for rodents to aiding a tire change to simply adding fun. Since our first road trip two years ago, Karen and I have intentionally added mods to light our surroundings, be more visible in traffic, and add visual fun: clarity, communication, and cool factor!

A Man and His Van

Kicker Kalzodi, Beast MODE #7.22

Han Solo has the Millennium Falcon. Mrs. Frizzle has the Magic School Bus. The Lone Ranger has his horse, Silver. And Kicker Kalozdi has his Beast.

While this 4x4 camper van is lacking a hyperdrive to hit lightspeed, and does not have any magical properties of transformation nor the ability to trot over to me if I merely whistle, this beautiful Storyteller-built machine and I have developed a truly symbiotic relationship. Every single day I rely on the van for one thing or another to get shit done. It is not only a workhorse that I rely on for my day job, but also the best damn grocery-run rig made. And on weekends, it is our family’s adventure wagon taking all the things needed for our family of 4 to experience the epic and “tell better stories.” But the van needs me, to house it, to care for it, and to keep it ready to roll. It really is a beautiful relationship.

I am a professional events manager. It is a ridiculously exhausting but equally rewarding job. Work has me on the road about a quarter of the year. This van is often my home away from home. It not only provides me lodging but more importantly, it brings me a sense of comfort when I am away from my wife and two little kids. Besides the lodging and comfort the Beast brings, it also has the capability of operating as an efficient HQ when my home office is a thousand miles away. The layout of the van allows for my bed to act as a standing desk for my laptop, which is ideal after hours of driving in the saddle. Being able to hose down in the shower, means I can go for a run at any time and not worry about being stinky at one of my events. And the cargo space on this thing means I always have the ability to carry last minute event swag and merch.

Running errands with the Beast is legitimately a fun activity. The attention when this thing pulls into any big-box-mart parking lot is a nice ego boost but really it is all the features that the Beast brings that make it valuable. The height alone ensures I have the best opportunity to spot coveted shopping mall parking spots, and the way the beds folds up means I never have to worry about buying anything too big during a Costco run. The freezer I keep in the back is always ready to ensure frozen foods stay frozen on the way home. And having an on-board potty has been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.

The primary sales pitch from Storyteller is these vans are the perfect adventure rigs and that is 100% accurate. But with our family having two small children this has become even more the case. Our fridge is stocked with kid-friendly-snacks, the various pouches are packed with toys and stuffed animals, and the overhead bins have backup clothes, towels and blankets. The ability to stand inside the van and get our kids ready to take on the day while INSIDE the van (hats and sunglasses during the summer and jackets and boots in the winter) before heading out has been game-changing. The capabilities of the MB chassis gets us up to the really good camp sites so our family gets to experience the beautiful world in the best way possible and away from the condensed campsites. And when it is time to sit outside and have a family dinner, I swear our Beast’s profile always seems to cast the perfect shadow to keep us in the cool, in its peaceful shade. I can’t help but grin to myself every time I am on the road with the family thanks to how the Beast just takes care of us all.

One of the lessons I tell my 4 year old son before we hit the road for an adventure is, take care of the Beast and it will take care of you. This is sound advice for everyone, not just toddlers. Treat your van with love and respect and it will ensure your trips are going to run smooth. I stick rigidly to the advised MB maintenance schedule and only ever let pros like the awesome people at Warner Vans service the van. The potty is emptied, the fridge is wiped clean, and I pack down all the camping gear after each trip. The van brings my whole family so much joy, so taking care of it in the best possible way is paramount to me. I make sure the Beast is loved and it loves us back every single time tenfold.

The Beast is not just a vehicle but a true member of the family.

Happenings @ HQ: The Guy behind (and now in front of) the Camera!

Harrison Tarabella is the Cinematographer here at Storyteller and is the man behind the camera on the majority of videos and photoshoots you've seen over the past few years. Recently, Harrison has been appearing as the man in front of the camera too! You may have noticed him in our EPIC walkthrough video. As someone who has spent an incredible amount of time in the units while on shoots, he has an incredible knowledge of how these units function and handle on all terrain.

Read more below to get to know Harrison! And when you see him out and about, please remind him to reapply sunscreen. 😎

What got you started in Videography?

The way I got into video is actually a fun story. When I was 15 my mom was adamant that I do everything I could to look good on college applications. What that translated to was me entering every random scholarship contest we could find and the rule was that I had to do one a week before I could hang out with my friends.

I actually ended up winning one of them and it was an essay/photography contest with National Geographic. The prize was a little Nikon DSLR which I thought was the nicest camera in the world at the time and also a trip to the Cayman Islands to be trained by Dan Westergren, a National Geographic staff photographer.

The funny thing about that trip is that I didn’t come home with some masterful skill set or any crazy photography cheat sheet. As a young kid who had never really been outside of the South, the entire trip was honestly a bit overwhelming for me and it was hard to retain any of the practical information I was presented with. What did happen though is when I got back home I just knew that I wanted to do photography for the rest of my life.

For the rest of my high school career, I was obsessed with anything having to do with cameras. I quickly discovered that the little camera I had been given had a movie mode and from there I got into video.

From there I went to Samford University here in Birmingham, AL and graduated with a Broadcast Journalism degree and a minor in film. The entire 4 years I was in Birmingham, I freelanced to help pay for expenses and that 4 years of freelance was just as– if not more– valuable than my actual degree.

In between my junior and senior year of college I met an incredible group of photo/video people from Instagram. We took a trip to the Smoky Mountains together and had such an incredible time that we planned a trip to Canada a couple weeks later. It was on these trips that my love for travel exploded. To this day, that Canada road trip is probably my favorite trip I’ve ever been on. Six people piled into a broken down minivan, driving for 40 hours across the continent. The friends, the community, the shared love for photography and travel… I can’t really remember what my video goals were before that but after those trips I just wanted to be able to travel and see the world. The content I got from that trip helped me launch my current career. After that trip I had such a strong portfolio of work that I was booking jobs left and right.

As a senior in college, I was able to land a documentary gig in the Middle East where I would spend 14 days going between Iraq and Turkey, interviewing 20 people about their life story and it’s from this trip that I came to appreciate storytelling and developed a love for interviewing people. I legally can’t talk much about the details of that job but it was WILD. It includes lots of chai tea and me accidentally walking over the Iraq/Iran border. Also, shout out to Samford and my advisor letting me take 14 days off from school to go do that job. Since that trip, I’ve taken on several documentary jobs for various non-profits that led me to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Uganda and more.

Getting into the camper van world was a natural next step. I connected with a local custom van builder in 2018 and worked out a few trips with him to shoot content for his van company and I was HOOKED. I was used to cramming 6 people into a minivan or 5 people into my jeep and driving across the country. Now I was in a world where our vehicle had a bed and kitchen? Instead of setting up a tent outside the vehicle, we could sleep inside and in comfort. I was enthralled by van life.

Fast forwarding 6 years or so and now I’m here at Storyteller. I skipped past a lot of big important things in those 6 years but it’s cool to see that everything I’ve loved doing over my career has led to Storyteller. My love for travel, driving across the country, telling stories, documentary projects and interviewing people… I get to do this every day here at Storyteller and it’s as if this job was custom built for me.

What is my favorite part about using video as a storytelling medium?

This is a tough one… You always hear people say a photo holds a thousand words. Well video is 24 photos every second so that’s what, 24,000 words a second? While I do consider myself a photographer, there’s a certain way video can create emotions that photos can’t. You have all these elements to play with and direct the viewer to feel a certain way. The same scene or shot set to different music or with different color or edited a different way can convey a completely different feeling or response from someone and that takes time to learn how to do well.

There’s a saying in film that you write the story 3 times. You write it once when you sit down and plan out the shoot. What is the story we are trying to tell? You write it again when you actually shoot it. There are things that might happen or surprise you during production that will completely change what you’ve set out to do. Even the type of lenses you choose to use will represent the story differently. You write it the third time when you’re editing. The way you string the dailys together can drastically change the tone or feel of what you’re communicating. By the time you’re done with a project, you have such a deep understanding of the story that it’s hard not to feel a personal connection.

I think that’s what I love the most, that I can set out to film a video about a truck (HILT part 1) and over the course of a year this group of strangers that I’m filming now feels like my own world that I’m a part of and I’m friends with everyone. Being able to become a “part” of the world you’re shooting is the coolest thing in the world and when you experience that moment where you as a filmmaker switch from a “fly on the wall” to a character in your own story, it’s one of the most magical things.

Any funny insights on recent STO projects?

Man this is a tough one. A cool part about this job is that whenever we launch a new vehicle, I’m the one who drives it out across the country to get all the shots of it. This means that I actually get a lot of experience driving our rigs and I know firsthand what they can/cannot do. There have been times where our support vehicles have gotten stuck in the sand but the Storyteller van will make it. I remember shooting for the MODE XO, we had to race the sun to get this shot in the sand we wanted. The van cruised over the sand perfectly and when I looked behind me our support car (a Toyota Forerunner) was stuck in the sand 100 yards back. We had to run to it and pull the equipment out and race back to the XO to grab the shot we needed before we lost light. Take it from me, if our marketing says the vehicles can do something… it can do the thing.

Another fun recent memory was launching the GXV EPIC. The original plan was for me and Evan Batky to just drive the rig across the country to “soft launch” at the Overland Expo in Arizona. I brought all my equipment and we were just going to shoot content of the truck that we would later use for a distant marketing push. What actually ended up happening is that we got so much footage, we pitched to the team that we could make a video and photo package from the road to announce the truck the day we rolled up to the Expo.

We used the EPIC as a mobile production studio and over the course of 5 days, shot so much content that we not only launched the truck at Expo but we ended up with marketing material to last half a year. The EPIC is incredible and being able to run a full production studio out of the vehicle you’re shooting is an absurd dream that I didn’t think was possible. Having enough solar power to charge all our inspire and red batteries while also running the AC and still banking power back into the truck is an absurd concept.

Thanks for helping us tell better stories, Harrison!

Overland Gothic: Join us!

Grant Wood’s “American Gothic,” painted in 1930, featured the perseverance of the American Dream following the Great Depression and celebrated the ways in which our homes, our work and the passions we pursue are often an extension of ourselves.

Nearly 100 years later, please join us in exploring the world of #OverlandGothic, a New American Gothic that features the myriad of ways your home on wheels allows you to pursue whatever defines your American Dream.

Submit your #OverlandGothic portrait here to be featured on our social media, website and newsletters!

Our team will hand select portraits to be featured on our website, included in our Overland Gothic Gallery!

Portraits featured on our website will be awarded a 2025 National Parks Pass courtesy of Storyteller Overland.

Coming to Moonlanding?!

Join The Journal of Lost Time crew at Moonlanding III - a moonbase cultural festival of nomads, overlanders, and van lifers will be held October 10th - 14th in Ramah, New Mexico. All vehicles, spacecraft, and tent campers are welcome!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT! Use code STO20 for 20% off.

full events lineup