Introduction
In this blog post, I’ll share our journey of transitioning from the Airstream Basecamp 20X travel trailer to the Class B Entegra Launch 19Y Sprinter Van (motorhome). This is Part One of a two-part series, where I dive into our decision-making process, the purchase experience, and initial impressions of the van.
Whether you’re considering a similar switch or simply curious about the camping in the van, this post will give you valuable insights and a behind-the-scenes look at why we made this change, and van purchase process. Keep reading to explore the first steps of our new adventure.
Why Even Consider the Switch?
After four incredible seasons of traveling in the Airstream Basecamp 20X, we began to explore the idea of transitioning to a van. While the Basecamp provided us with countless adventures and memories, we found ourselves craving greater flexibility, especially as we camped more frequently — 69 days in our last season alone.
The idea of a Class B van on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis started to make more sense for our evolving needs. In addition to the appeal of accessibility and flexibility, a van also would address some challenges we faced with the trailer:
- Generator Dependency: During off-grid camping with the trailer, we had to run the generator every day for several hours to fully charge the batteries. This added noise, fuel usage, and additional maintenance to our trips.
- Starlink Setup: Setting up our Starlink dish at campsites was another part of the routine. Finding the perfect spot for a clear signal and establishing the WiFi connection took time — something we hoped the van’s roof-mounted Starlink could eliminate.
- Limited Access to Remote Spots: Some camping spots were simply inaccessible with a trailer due to size or terrain, limiting the range of places we could explore.
As our travel style shifted toward more spontaneous, versatile trips, a van would offer unique advantages that we couldn’t ignore.
Why a Van Made Sense for Us
As we reflected on our experiences with the trailer, we started putting together a list of improvements we’d like to have — better batteries, a simplified Starlink setup, and improved overall convenience. As we jotted down our ideas, it became clear that many of these improvements could be achieved with a van.
With that realization, we put together a list of what we needed for our ideal camping setup. Here are the key reasons why a van made sense for us:
Everyday Versatility
- Daily Driver: A van can double as our regular vehicle, allowing us to use it for errands or city driving.
- Easier Parking: Unlike trailer, the van fits in standard parking spaces and can stop almost anywhere, including roadside viewpoints and narrow driveways.
- Cargo Capabilities: The van functions as a truck when needed, capable of hauling long or heavy items.
Travel Convenience
- Quick Setup: No need to deal with stabilizers, hitches or extensive campsite setup — just park, deploy the automatic awning, and you’re ready to start your adventure.
- On-the-Go Comfort: With bathroom, bed and kitchen always available, we’re self-sufficient wherever we go.
- Effortless Mobility: Moving between spots is seamless; we no longer have to pack up a lot or reorganize every time we change locations.
Energy Efficiency and Safety
- Battery Power: Some van’s battery systems allow to run all the electrical systems, including the air conditioning, off-grid without the need of a generator. Those batteries can be charged while driving, or even idling the engine at 1,200–1,500 RPM.
- No Propane: With an all-electric setup, the van is safer and more efficient.
Freedom to Explore
- Anywhere Camping: We can stop virtually anywhere overnight, whether it’s a remote trailhead or a grocery store parking lot.
- Day Trips: We can easily take the van to day-use areas in the parks, trailheads, or other scenic spots and still have all our essentials — bathroom, bed, fridge — right with us.
- Pet-Friendly: The van offers plenty of space for our pets during transit. Both the cat and the dog can access their beds, food, and water, while the cat also has access to her litter box. They can even hang out with us on the jumper seats behind the driver and enjoy the ride. The air conditioning ensures they stay comfortable while we shop, sightsee, or visit public places where pets aren’t welcome.
Long-Term Comfort and Flexibility
- Simpler Maintenance: The cassette toilet is smaller and more manageable than traditional RV black tank, allowing it to be emptied at various locations, such as rest areas, public toilets, or other approved facilities, in addition to standard dump stations.
- Always Connected: The Starlink dish mounted on the roof of the van stays deployed and operational, even while driving, providing uninterrupted connectivity — even in remote areas with no cellular signal. Plus, it removes the hassle of setting it up and packing it away at every stop.
Note: Starlink is a monthly subscription service that can be paused during the off-season to save money.
Ultimately, the van offers a level of spontaneity and convenience that aligns perfectly with how we want to travel nowadays. It’s all-in-one simplicity, combined with the ability to go further and stay longer, that made this transition feel like the right move for us.
Why the Entegra Launch 19Y?
When we started looking for a van, one of our top priorities was a length of the vehicle. Our Airstream Basecamp 20X trailer was 20 feet long and fit perfectly in our home garage. Having the trailer at home made it so convenient to pack up and use it whenever we needed, so we wanted the same ease of storage with the van.
We focused on Class B vans with a Mercedes Sprinter chassis. While there are other options, like Dodge Ram or Ford Transit, the Sprinter stood out because we already owned a diesel Mercedes ML320 that we’d used to tow our trailer. We were familiar with diesel engines and liked their performance, so it made sense to stick with what we know.
The Mercedes Sprinter 2500 with the 144-inch wheelbase is about 20 feet long, making it the perfect size for our requirements. We decided against the longer 170-inch wheelbase Sprinters since they wouldn’t fit in our garage.
Narrowing Down the Options
There are plenty of Sprinter 2500-based Class B vans on the market, but we specifically looked at adventure vans. These are built for off-road use and built with flexibility, comfort, and off-grid living in mind. In addition to the key reasons we mentioned earlier, we added a few van-specific features and some existing Basecamp features we wanted to carry over:
- Off-road capability: A van with 4x4 or AWD that could handle unpaved roads and remote locations.
- Ready-to-sleep bed: A setup that required little to no effort to get the bed ready.
- No propane: We preferred an all-electric setup for safety and simplicity.
- Full bath: A proper bathroom with toilet and shower.
- Storage space: A garage area for gear like bikes, skis, camping equipment or supplies for our dog and cat.
We researched and considered several adventure vans available on the market at the time, including:
- Winnebago Revel
- Entegra Launch (or Jayco Terrain, its twin)
- Airstream Interstate 19X
- Grech RV
- Storyteller Overland (STO) Beast Mode XO
- Pleasure-Way Ascent TS
Our Final Decision
After comparing features, availability, and price, our options narrowed down to the Winnebago Revel, the Entegra Launch 19Y, and the Airstream Interstate 19X. The Airstream Interstate 19X made our shortlist because it felt like a reincarnation of our Basecamp 20X but in van form. However, it didn’t make the final cut for a few reasons:
- Limited Storage Space: The Interstate 19X lacks the garage-style storage we needed for clothes, personal belongings, food supplies, and other essentials. Additionally, when the bed is set up, there’s almost no storage space left.
- Battery System: Its 12V battery setup couldn’t compete with the 48V Lithionics battery in the Entegra or Ravel.
- Propane Onboard: The Interstate 19X uses propane for hot water, heating and cooking, which we wanted to avoid in favor of an all-electric setup.
- Price: It came with the highest price tag on our shortlist.
While the Winnebago Revel was a strong contender and the Airstream Interstate 19X was an appealing concept, the combination of features and dealership support ultimately made the Entegra Launch 19Y the best choice for us.
This van stood out for these reasons:
- Off-road Capability: The Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 AWD with a 144" wheelbase, Koni shocks, heavy-duty rear stabilizer bar, and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires offers excellent handling on the road or rough terrain.
- Battery and Power: The Entegra Launch features a 48V Lithionics battery system with 7.9kWh of power, enabling all electrical appliances — including the air conditioner — to run off-grid without a generator.
- Ready-to-Sleep Bed: The Euro Loft drop-down bed is a one-time setup that can be lowered from the ceiling or retracted back with the push of a button in just seconds. Once set up, it’s always ready for use, offering unmatched convenience and saving valuable space.
- No Propane: The van is fully electric, aligning with our preference for simplicity and safety.
- Hot Water and Heater: A 17,000 BTU diesel-powered heating system ensures comfort during colder trips.
- Full Bath: A proper bathroom with toilet and shower as we had in Basecamp.
- Starlink High-Performance Dish: The roof-mounted satellite internet provides connectivity wherever we go.
- Proximity to Dealership: Having a local dealer for servicing makes maintenance much more convenient.
- Availability in Canada: Some vans, like the Storyteller Overland Beast Mode, were hard to find in Canada, making the Entegra Launch 19Y a more practical option.
For a complete list of this van’s features, visit the Entegra Launch 19Y page.
The Purchase Process
Once we decided on the Entegra Launch 19Y, the next step was finding the right dealer. We started by checking the Entegra Coach website to identify all the official dealers in Canada. There were several options in the eastern part of the country, but only one dealer in the west: Traveland RV.
We already had experience with Traveland RV in Airdrie, Alberta, which happens to be local to us, from purchasing our Airstream Basecamp 20X and servicing it there. Overall, we’d been happy with their service and support. That said, we still shopped around to compare prices with other dealers around the country.
Negotiating the Deal
One Ontario dealer offered a very compelling price, and the idea of making the trip to Ontario to pick up the van was tempting. However, we ultimately decided to support a business in Alberta and returned to our local Traveland RV in Airdrie to see if they could match the offer.
After some negotiation, we reached a deal that included trading in our Basecamp 20X. The trade-in value, combined with the discounted price of the van they had in stock, allowed us to stay within our expected budget.
Picking Up the Van
Traveland RV had the 2025 Entegra Launch 19Y ready for us after completing all the necessary preparations. We scheduled a day to drop off our trailer, do a thorough walkthrough of the van, and finalize the paperwork.
The team at Traveland RV was knowledgeable and patient, which we greatly appreciated since we had plenty of questions. We even brought a long checklist of things we wanted to inspect. They walked us through each item, explaining and testing all the van’s systems, from battery setup and heating to air conditioning and water system.
Once the walkthrough was complete, we took the van for a test drive. We were impressed with how smooth and easy it was to drive.
Bringing It Home
After the test drive, we signed the papers and officially became van owners. Driving it home was an exciting moment, and we were thrilled to park it in our garage — a perfect fit, just as we’d planned.
Looking Ahead
Since we got our van at the end of December 2024, we haven’t had the chance to take it to any campgrounds. While we can’t share our first camping impressions just yet, we’re already planning for the adventures ahead.
In previous years, we camped extensively, spending around 50–60 days each season in Alberta and British Columbia campgrounds. For the 2025 season, we’re planning to revisit some of our favorite spots while also exploring new destinations.
One of the things we’re most excited about is taking the van to off-road campsites and crown land spots that were difficult or impossible to access with a trailer. The van’s flexibility and off-road capability open up a whole new world of camping opportunities for us.
We’re also considering a long trip with multiple stops in 2025, likely focusing on Western Canada. Beyond that, we’re already thinking about expanding our travels to include eastern and northern Canada in the 2026 season and beyond.
Whether it’s revisiting well-loved campgrounds or discovering new hidden gems, we can’t wait to experience the freedom and versatility that the Entegra Launch 19Y offers.
Conclusion
Transitioning from the Airstream Basecamp 20X to the Entegra Launch 19Y is an exciting new chapter in our camping journey. While we’ve had amazing experiences with the Basecamp over the years, the van opens up new possibilities for exploration, flexibility, and comfort.
We’re looking forward to discovering how the van fits into our travel style and sharing those experiences in future posts. Stay tuned for Part Two of this series, where we’ll dive into:
- Our impressions of the van after camping during the 2025 season
- A comparison of our camping in the van versus the trailer
- How we adapted to camping in the van
- Some of the upgrades we’re already planning for the van
The journey is just beginning, and we’re excited to share it with you!