VAN LIFE

The origin of the ‘van life’ scene is disputed, but it’s been suggested that it harks back to the surfers of 1960s California. Beach bums favoured vehicles such as vans or station wagons (estate cars, to us Brits) that offered a self-contained, mobile living quarters, giving them the ability to pitch up almost anywhere with all the gear they needed. Fast-forward to 2022 and many outdoorsy types have taken the concept to new heights of luxury and versatility. Some of us are lucky enough to have MTB trails we can ride to from our house, but for most, a regular part of our hobby is loading bikes and gear into the car, van, bus or train and making the pilgrimage to a riding spot out of reach of leg power alone. Of course, an automobile of some description is the easiest way to get there with the equipment you need, and if you can stay in it overnight, all the better. But what is the ultimate MTB vehicle? For many of us, a pimped-out camper van is the dream, like freerider Hannes Klausner’s on the previous page. Others may prefer a huge, sleek motorhome, or happily make do with whatever they can get their hands on. Here we look at seven different takes on the ideal MTB-mobile...

BOXING CLEVER

Oscar, Nick and Billy from DadCamTV are always busy riding and filming, but when they need to go on their annual pilgrimage to the Alps (where they are now) there’s one vehicle that fits the