San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
A NOTE TO THE CURIOUS.
You’ve seen the pictures on Instagram: yoga in a forest clearing, dogs playing on the beach, beautiful people strumming guitars. Vanlife has an undeniable appeal, but you probably shouldn’t quit your job and buy a VW bus without getting a taste of the lifestyle in smaller doses.
Whether you’re mulling a big life change or just want to get away for the weekend, there are plenty of ways to get your hands on the steering wheel of a van suited to your needs. Unsurprisingly, San Francisco is a hub full of van-curious travelers. These rental services will give you a chance to try out van life without having to leave your real life behind.
Lost Campers
If a psychedelic, hand-painted van sounds gaudy to you, then you’ll probably prefer to rent from Lost Campers, which promises “absolutely no signs, advertising or crazy colors” on their vans. This simple look is in line with Lost’s sales pitch as a “budget” option, and just might help you blend in with the vanlife veterans — at least until you admit you didn’t install the full-size bed yourself. 2955 Third St., San Francisco; 415-386-2693; ww.lostcampersusa.com.
Jucy RV Rentals
Jucy got its start 17 years ago in New Zealand, where its green-and-purple campervans are now ubiquitous. Kiwis and Australians have been a driving force in the rising popularity of vanlife, so it’s only natural that they would have a role in fostering a similar community here in the U.S. Jucy’s vehicles are minivans on steroids. The U.S. fleet comprises several hundred Dodge Caravans, which the company has converted into tiny RVs with beds, storage, a dining table and a small kitchen. Each van is crowned with a rooftop cargo box that expands into a “penthouse” tent that sleeps two. 1620 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro; 800-650-4180; www.jucy usa.com.
Escape Campervans
Another New Zealand export, Escape Campervans, is easily the most eye-catching rental option on the market. Every van is painted by local artists, in bright colors with a vaguely hippie vibe. Escape maintains offices in eight states and one Canadian province,but embraces a Californian identity, reflected in the names of its rental options: Ventura (another Dodge Caravan), Mavericks (a Ford E150), and Big Sur (a Ford T350 that fits three to five travelers). 22990 Clawiter Road, Hayward; 877270-8267; www.escapecam pervans.com.
Mighway
There’s no better way to describe Mighway than to play tech startup MadLibs: This service is ZipCar for RVs. Or maybe it’s the next Airbnb, since mobile homes are just another kind of home. Strictly speaking, none of the vehicles listed on the site are vans. Mighway specializes in old-school RVs, from midsize cabover campers to 37-foot slide-out behemoths. A night in one of these monsters might not technically count as #vanlife, but on the upside you’ll have a lot more room. Pickup locations throughout the Bay Area and beyond; www.migh way.com.