The very first overnight trip I took in my van was to New Haven, Connecticut. The few hours I spent in New Haven were good, but not nearly as worthwhile as the lessons I learned getting there.

When I left the house, it was a beautiful, mid-November day. The sun was shining, and it was unseasonably warm. I had a futon set up in my van for sleeping for the night, as well as a small pot and a Coleman butane stove for cooking my dinner. It was otherwise, just a regular van.

I stopped for the night outside of Shelton, at an overnight lot about a half mile down the road from the Wiffle Ball factory. I could already tell it was going to be an uncomfortable night, as the temperature had dropped significantly since the beginning of my journey. Another half a mile in the opposite direction, I found a Walmart, where I could pick up some essentials for the night. My dinner was a couple Cup Noodles, and I decided to make the purchase of a Mr. Buddy Portable Heater.

The temperature dipped to 28 degrees that night. Without any added insulation in my van, it provided little protection against the cold. While the heater was able to assist me, the heat was quickly lost. In the lower temperatures my phone's battery was quickly depleted, with little assistance from my portable battery bank. I vowed that the next time I did this, I would have better insulation.

The town of Shelton was a nice little town to explore, and New Haven was a great time too. It was truly a memorable trip that I would happily make again. I learned the importance of insulation in a campervan, and how important it is to make sure you are warm enough.

Until next time!

-Jason