Vintage 1974 VW Bus, boards on top, views like this. Pretty epic. Photo: Outdoorsy
Editor’s Note: This feature is brought to you by the good people at Outdoorsy
What’s the ultimate surf dream? How about waking up at your favorite break in the comfort of a radical living space. Something you’re totally comfortable in, where you can cook your own meals, store your gear safely and sleep in your own crumpled sheets. Now, why not try it in a vintage surf mobile? Outdoorsy, the Airbnb for RVs, offers a variety of surf rides for your taste, but the best, in our opinion, and perhaps the cheapest, are the vintage rides. Here are three quick tips for taking the coastal surf trip of your dreams in a vintage RV.
Some surfers like a little more room to stretch out. Photo: Outdoorsy
1. Shop Around to Find the Best Deals to Match Your Surfing
What kind of surfer are you? Love fat longboarding waves or steep beach breaks that require a lightning-fast pop-up? First, know where and what kind of waves you like to surf, then dig into Outdoorsy’s trove of options to find the best deal. Say, for example, you want to cross step? San Onofre and Doheny State Beach in South Orange County both offer excellent longboarding options with a plethora of nearby campsites. Check out this 29-foot, 2006 Coachman, $95 bucks a night located in Tustin, just up the 5 Freeway from Doho or Old Man’s. She’s called “Big Blue” for a reason. And she sleeps six so you and your crew will be set.
2. Make Sure You Have Your Rack Game Covered
Searching for waves doesn’t take much if you have a solid vehicle to use as a base camp. Other than your ride, all you need is a wetsuit and boards. But you’d better have a place to keep those boards. That’s why, when you’re perusing Outdoorsy to look for a suitable home on wheels, pay extra attention to racks. Namely, does the ride have them or a suitable place to store boards? If you’re driving an RV, you can usually stick the boards in the back as you travel. If you’re going the van route, make sure the vehicle has suitable and sturdy racks, like the 1974 Volkswagen bus pictured above. (How classic is that thing?) Don’t forget to pack your surf rack pads to protect your sticks (unless foamies are all you ride). Another option if you’re driving an RV is to rent an attachable trailer from Uhaul that you can tow and keep all your beach gear in – and the sand out of your vehicle.
The kitchen is key to proper calorie intake. Photo: Outdoorsy
3. Make Sure Your Kitchen Matches Your Needs
Nothing’s more important when scoring waves than keeping energy levels high. Eating right is the right way to go. Now, some prefer to keep it simple (burritos, grocery store buffets, cafe breakfasts), while others choose to cook all their own food. When using a vintage ride, be sure and double check the kitchen. Is it working? Is the refrigerator functional? Can you cook on the stove with no problems? Is the gas leaking? A proper, functioning kitchen is the only way to make sure you’re feeding the body correctly. (Saturdays are a great day to hit local farmers markets for fresh fruits, veggies, meats and other goodies like jams and honey). Take this 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia, for example, the sink and stovetop are in great working order and the Dometic fridge has been updated and offers lots of room to store fresh food.
4. And One More Thing: Camping in coastal areas varies from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico. In some areas free camping is abundent. In others it’s non existent. Do your homework. Campsites in California State Parks can be booked, here.
