Research & Decisions
When I was planning to take the plein air journey, I had several preferences for a rig. With limited funds, I could only afford to do this once; which meant a used unit. But, I also wanted one new enough to be in good shape and not need much fixing. Quality and safety were important to me too. Ease of driving and parking would be a plus, as I expected to be moving often.
Tardis in Georgia
It had to be large enough to be comfortable, yet small enough to fit in almost any camp. I wanted to go to remote spots where small would be an advantage. This led me to research boondocking, holding tank size, and the merits of solar panels to charge batteries. I learned about carry capacity early, so was looking for something that would hold my essential stuff, including my art gear.
Tardis in Tennessee
I considered a small travel trailer towed by a pick-up truck, like a Casita or an Arctic Fox. And, a Class B like a Roadtrek or Pleasureway, a B+ Chinook, and even converting a cargo van. But, I eventually settled on getting a short Class C, no longer than 24 feet. Once I decided what I wanted, it took me almost two years to find one that fit all my needs.
I found exactly what I wanted in a 2004 Lazy Daze Twin-King motorhome. Not only did it meet all my requirements, it also had those fantastic panoramic windows around the back. What more could a traveling artist ask?
Tardis gets a nameplate
Tardis Has Landed
Anyone that is a fan of the British sci-fi show Doctor Who, will understand the nickname I chose. Tardis is an acronym for ‘Time And Relative Dimension in Space’; a time travel device. Since my Lazy Daze RV transports me to many interesting places, at different times, the name is a perfect fit. I really like my rig, and so far it has met my needs admirably for the plein air journey.
Tardis in New Mexico
More Details About Tardis
Rather than make this a very long post, I’ve broken it into several with more detail on various aspects of my rig. Below are links with a brief intro to each. If you find something of interest, just select the title to read the post.
The Cab: Shows the driving compartment and how it is organized
The Galley: Describes the kitchen area
The Head: Shows the bathroom features
The Layout: Overview of interior and exterior and floor plan
The Loft: A look at the bedroom-sleeping area
The Lounge: Explains the living area-dinette features
The Office: How I created office space
The Studio: Setups for painting on location or in the rig
Modifications to Tardis
Below are links to posts about modifications I’ve done to improve or personalize my motorhome. I like to customize and generally fiddle around with things.
Antenna: Adding a cellular trucker’s antenna (see Antenna Update on performance)
Blackout Curtains: Replaced vinyl shades with blackout curtains
Bug Out: Things to keep the bugs out of the rig
Camping Gear: Items used while camping
Decorating Tardis: A new look for the interior
Fire Safety: Changed to foam fire extinguishers
GPS Plus: Using an iPad mini for GPS plus other apps
Heating and Cooling the RV: Features and additions for climate control
Leak Prevention: Applying Eternabond tape to the roof
LED Lights: Changing to LEDs for lighting
New Paint for Tardis: Repainting exterior from faded red to new teal color
Organizer: Custom made method to keep items handy in the cab
Solar Install: Solar power system and other electrical upgrades
Three Handy Mods: Adding a pantry, a printer cabinet, and padding ladder rungs