The Surf Hippo - One of a kind! 2021 Promaster 2500 Campervan

It’s in its mountain hippo era! Living out of the surf hippo for the last 12 days has been an absolute dream. Agreed with the other reviews that Travis has thought of SO many thoughtful details (blackout curtains, a comfy bed, bug net, a super-practical layout, lighting placement/ options, magnets for quick adjustments, tons of storage…), and it was so easy to use as a base with the reliable power and water. I’m typically a tent camper, so this was a fabulous upgrade! I took the hippo out on a scenic loop to north cascades, over to glacier, back through northern Idaho, and down to Rainier. It handled the mountain and forest roads like a champ, and I even did some of the lower portions of Going to the Sun. Temps ranged from 100 in Spokane (whew) to 38 in Essex, MT. With the fans going or a warm pair of socks, I easily stayed comfy at both ends of the spectrum. If you came to the reviews for helpful planning tips like I did, the things I brought along that I was glad to have were a small chargeable Bluetooth speaker, a lightweight camp chair, and a travel blanket. Trader Joe’s birthday cake optional, but recommended.

The Surf Hippo is a great vehicle to take on a road trip around Washington! A comfy bed, convenient cooking space, cozy dining area, and many small, clearly well-thought out tweaks and features make driving and living in the Hippo a delight. Travis was attentive if we ran into a question or problem, and even helped with recommendations of activities in the area.

Travis was a great host and the Surf Hippo was everything we could have hoped for. It was easy to drive and I really liked not having to worry about running out of power for the fridge/fans/outlets. Hoping to rent the Hippo again in the future.

Surf hippo was the perfect van for our adventure through the North Cascades! Easy to drive, had everything we needed, and the bed was very comfy. Travis is very kind and quick to respond. Would definitely rent again!

Camping in the Surf Hippo was delightful. We got to enjoy nature and get away from it all. The mattress was comfortable. Driving was comfortable. The kitchen was stocked with spices and made meals on the go easy. I hope to rent this van again soon!

We spent two weeks traveling around Washington in Travis' van. We were able to visit the Enchantments Area, North Cascades NP, Orcas in the San Juan Islands, Olympic NP, and Mt. Rainier NP. We were looking for a van that supported off-grid camping and Travis' setup worked great. The solar/battery system and water carrying capacity allowed us to take advantage of "disperse camping" along forest service roads. We experienced daytime high temperatures reaching 110° (Leavenworth) and some evening low temperatures in the lower forties and the van was equipped to remain comfortable due to the ventilation system (and blankets). We learned that in the evening and when sleeping that exhausting air from the rear vent and just having the front vent open (but fan off) worked well and allowed us to easily turn the rear exhaust fan off in the middle of the night if it got too cold. The Route 2 and 20 loop around the Cascades area worked out well allowing us a day of whitewater rafting with Alpine Adventures in Gold Bar, WA (highly recommend). The ferry to Orcas Is. and over to the Olympic Peninsula was no problem for the van. If you get to Forks, WA do stop in at the fascinating John's Beachcombing Museum. The engine/weight ratio was good with no issues driving up to Hurricane Ridge and the Mt. Walker viewpoints in the Olympic NP or to Paradise Visitors Center in Mt. Rainier NP. Gravel roads do shake the house and we quickly learned some tricks to keep the rattling to a minimum. The stovetop and oven came in handy for a few easy meals and the refrigerator/freezer was a good size (hint: you can fit pints of ice cream in the freezer). There is plenty of food storage capacity in the cabinetry and the "kitchen" was equipped with everything we needed (pots, pans, plates, silverware, etc.). Overall a great experience.