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We work with you to understand your vision for how you want to travel and develop a design that reflects that vision.

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We craft your motorhome to the highest standards of quality, performance and artistry. 

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Seldom while traveling does everything go perfectly smoothly, and speed bumps and obstacles along the way are unavoidable. While some are more catastrophic than others, very few are funny in the moment. They can certainly make for great stories and lots of laughter after. This issue is all about laughing at the mishaps of travel and sharing that particular kind of joy. Check it out here: <https://advanced-rv.com/ethnosphere>

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Ethnosphere Issue 6

With all life comes loss, and with loss, its companion: longing. Whether it's the loss of a brother, youth and an able body, someone you never had the chance to meet, or the longing to revisit childhood or see your country restored to prosperity, these phenomena are an inescapable part of life. In this issue, we explore this aspect of humanity in hopes that, by sharing the unique ache in each of our hearts, we may find the beauty that exists within the pain, and comfort in the universality of the feeling. Click the link to read the stories <https://advanced-rv.com/ethnosphere>

Ethnosphere Issue 5

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Pre-owned unit, Cub, and its new owners have officially hit the road. Hakuna Matata!

The clients behind the MT Nest build brought some unique objectives to the table. A double articulating bed, rear bathroom, and... dog crate?  
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Join Janice, the ARV Designer who helped the clients work with their vision, as she tours the finished build and talks through the decisions made along the way. This one was a lot of fun.


MT NEST WALKTHROUGH

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Tuesday was delivery day for Tondo, a 170" wheelbase, extended length Sprinter with twin beds, an expandable, stone place table, and a deployable, flip up countertop. Thomas and Flora focused on a clean aesthetic and reliability when designing their build. We wish them good luck and safe travels on their new adventure. 

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Tondo Delivery

We've been sharing looks at Moksha, a client's recent B Box inspired by the freedom of travel. Enjoy this short edit of Moksha's features in motion - the clients' approaches to sleeping, dining, bike storage, and more.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_mtCbJhQtE>


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Moksha in Motion

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Enjoy photos from this year's ARV Fest which took place the first weekend of May! Thank you to the guests and staff from around the country who helped make it a success. We look forward to doing it all again next year!

ARV FEST 2023

Advanced RV was one of thirty-two companies to join a six-month international trial of the four-day work week last April. Over a year later, our four-day week is still going strong. Joe Toohey of Cleveland's Fox 8 News stopped by ARV to ask Mike and some of the staff how it's been going and what their takeaways are thus far. Click to watch the news report. <https://fox8.com/news/local-company-finds-success-with-shorter-workweek/>

Fox 8 News Report

Sleeping arrangements often drive our clients' custom builds. Today, join Rob as he tours Kinder, a custom Sprinter by ARV that employs bunk beds to tackle this important aspect of travel.  
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Kinder is an Available ARV, repurchased from its original client and upgraded by the team for a new owner.

Kinder Walkthrough

Click the link to watch the full walkthrough of custom B Box, Moksha, designed by Canadian clients traveling in all seasons. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m6Zw_JyIHM>


Moksha Walkthrough

What sets your soul ablaze so fiercely it cannot be ignored? In this issue, we explore stories of people who pour their hearts into what they love, from a chef embarking on a new professional journey, to a photographer sharing his photos and insight, a twenty-eight year old pursuing his dream of becoming a professional football player, a gentleman from Indiana traveling the country tasting every pork tenderloin sandwich he can get his hands on, and a short story of the daughter if Icarus on her quest to reach the pegasi. We hope these stories remind you to chase your dreams, and never give up on your passions.
Click the link to read the stories <https://advanced-rv.com/ethnosphere>

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Ethnosphere Issue 4

We wish Emily Wist the best of luck as she leaves ARV to join the Cleveland Metroparks. Emily started at ARV two and a half years ago, first in B Box, then in Cabinets. She enriched each project with her attention to detail and work ethic.
With a master’s degree in sculpture from Boston University, she has found an exciting new path for her passions. Watch a video with her here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZb_ighMqqA>


Farewell to Emily

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The team is excited to see Maverick return to ARV, ready for new owners, as part of the Available ARV Program. Maverick, conceived in 2019 alongside its wingman, "Goose," is a 144" wheelbase, 4x4 build with a platform bed, garage, and a projection screen for entertainment. We're happy to share info with anyone interested in this nimble and versatile design. 

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Lucky 2 is a vessel of freedom for two physicians with a longing for nature who spend countless hours in the hospital. David and Gale plan to take this all-wheel drive, 144" to trailheads across our country's national parks. With seatbelts in the rear sofa bed, they'll be able to bring others along for the ride!
<https://advanced-rv.com/gallery/lucky-two>

Lucky 2

Lucky 2 Delivery

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For Ray and Elinda, two geologists who plan to travel between continents, the name “Pangea” paid homage to the massive supercontinent of Earth's early geological times. Using the knowledge they gained from their previous ARV, “Bam Bam,” they came prepared with a list of necessary features, including the expandable bed/dinette and spacious under-bed garage storage. A laminate color called “Ocean,” curtains with a topographic design, and numerous other decisions made this build meaningful and fun. Happy travels to our friends Ray and Elinda.

<https://advanced-rv.com/gallery/pangea>


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Pangea Delivery

Tir na nÓg is the land of eternal youth, joy, and abundance in Irish mythology, and it is also the title of the third issue of ARV's magazine, *Ethnosphere*.  
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In this issue, we find magic in a couple, just a decade shy of a century, who decides to start a new adventure, in a woman returning to a special place from her grandmother’s past, in three men connected by road trips decades apart, and in a beautiful garden kept alive by the love and hardwork of volunteers, along with two short stories inspired by Irish fairy tales. We invite you to make yourself a cup of tea, sink into a comfortable couch, and settle into the magic.  
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Click the link to read the stories: https://advanced-rv.com/ethnosphere

Tir Na Nog

Ethnosphere Issue 3

A military-spec exterior + bike garage are a couple features making Moksha a pleasure to build. What would you like us to cover in a video tour?

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Moksha B Box Preview

“Would you like to fly to Oklahoma City and drive a van back to Cleveland for us?” This is what Frank asked me at my desk one Monday morning in October.  A longtime client of ARV was moving from the world of Class B to Class A motorhomes and wanted to return his Oklahoma Crimson 170” Extended Sprinter van, named Mayflower II.  I responded with an immediate,  “I’ll do it,” but Frank insisted that I take a few days to think about it. Wednesday I still said, “Yes,” and shopped for a plane ticket. Friday morning I was on my way.  
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Mayflower II would be added to the ARV pre-owned units we take in to update and make available to a new owner. Mayflower I, this client’s first ARV, had a layout so spectacular, he didn't change a thing when upgrading to Mayflower II on a newer 4x4 chassis.  
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Something that I’ll never take for granted about ARV is how helpful employees are to each other.  Although I mentioned the trip to only a few coworkers,  many stopped by my desk to help me get ready.  Within 10 minutes of my initial “yes,” three different people checked that I was bringing a license plate. Another sent me along with not one, but two different screwdrivers to attach it. From there I was handed microphones, a tripod, an insurance card, contact information, and excited well wishes, which all made me feel very taken care of.  
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At the airport, I wish I had snapped a photo of the TSA worker who took an extra moment to look at my luggage containing an Ohio license plate, a vacuum-suctioned bag of bedding, and an induction saucepan.  Once I picked up the van, I skipped the photos suggested by one coworker: a “before” shot of the empty refrigerator and then an “after” shot once I had filled it up. Although the idea was funny,  I decided that the contrast between an empty refrigerator and my new supplies of minute rice, a can of beans, and a pack of La Croix would not be interesting.  
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Once I had the van, I passed up seeing the attractions of downtown Oklahoma City and headed southwest to see mountains. Why am I heading southwest, when I have a 17 hour drive ahead of me to the northeast? Traveling, to me, means figuring things out as I go. There are many people, my friends included, who prefer to plan vacations months in advance, book hotel rooms, and plan which restaurants to go to, but I prefer to leave most of that up to serendipity. I wanted to see mountains.  
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The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was only about an hour away and fulfilled my quest for mountains and lakes, and added herds of bison and longhorn. When I arrived at the park, I decided to drive up the first mountain that appeared, Mount Scott. The road was winding and both on my ascent and descent I had two motorcyclists trailing behind me to add excitement.
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The top of Mount Scott was frigid and windy, so in an effort to warm up I put on my running shoes and jogged around just soaking it all in. Even in this weather, I wasn’t the only one up there, nor was Mayflower II the only red camper van in the lot. If I had known this was going to be such a highlight of the trip, I would have stayed for sunset and cooked dinner up there. However, I had plans to spend the night at a Harvest Hosts farm and I hit the road again, now in the direction of home to Cleveland.  
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On my first ARV trip about a month ago, I entered the world of iOverlander, the camping app, and this time, I tested out Harvest Host. I booked a stay at a sustainable farm north of Oklahoma City. I arrived around 6pm, right when the daylight was running out, so the host kindly messaged me a map of a few parking spots around the property that I could choose from. Assuming the farm would be more active in the morning, I was looking forward to being surrounded by donkeys, chickens, cows, goats and fresh bread as advertised on the profile. Though, after waking up covered in snow, the animals and I were on the same page about not wanting to step outside, so the farm stand offering seasonal produce and bread would have to do.
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I couldn’t help but think about how ideal this camp spot would be in the summertime or on a more relaxed and leisure trip. Van life in the later months of the year is tricky - still doable and pretty outstanding when you have heat - but the limited daylight means you have to really prioritize where you want to be and when. With Harvest Host you’re expected to arrive at the farm or winery during working hours and interact with the owners in some way whether that’s sitting down for a drink, purchasing produce or leaving a donation. I was itching for the ability to quickly stop for the night and get up first thing in the morning, so I opted into spending the next two nights at rest stops. Luckily I felt very safe and had some of the best sleep so far. I’m learning how iOverland and Harvest Host apps are unique and the value in utilizing each for different situations.  
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Back on the road for my second day of driving, I was drawn to Natural Falls State Park,  just off the highway. I brought my lunch with me and ate it at the foot of a waterfall. Although this morning I woke up to snow, now the sun was shining. The sunshine, mixed with the mist from the falls, created a rainbow and illuminated layers and layers of moss. To the right of the falls, water trickled over carpets of moss. Even though this “exit,” was just a stop sign perpendicular to the highway, this stop was a dream. 
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This 17 hour trip broken up into 3 days was pretty manageable, and went by fast as I listened to a blend of music, podcasts, and audiobooks. My next stop was Cincinnati, where I spent time with some old friends from college. Around lunch time, I parked at Alms Park and invited a few friends to hangout and cook inside the van. For dinner, I met another group of friends downtown, many whom I haven't seen for almost a year, so we caught up on each other’s new jobs and new places to live. They all wanted to see the RV and, so on the way out of town, I ended up dropping each one off at their new apartments, like a bus driver.  
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After one more sleep at a rest stop, I was home and tucking Mayflower II into its cozy spot at ARV with heat and shore power, as my coworkers were leaving at the end of the work day. As I waited for a friend to pick me up, I lounged inside the van on the comfy couch a little longer. I was glad I said yes to this adventure.  

Elise in Oklahoma

My Mayflower Voyage

Vernon Blanc at Newcoast Financial Services has been working with Advanced RV clients on their financing needs for years.  The financial climate is changing, so we asked Vernon to provide advice to our clients on how to get the best interest rate on their custom ARV motorhome.  Here are his tips: 
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• __Credit Score__ – While credit scores are important, they are not everything, and everyone seems to be very sensitive of their FICO rating. This can be somewhat misleading, since there are several different rating agencies, as well as rating models. Each lender has specific criteria that they will request from the credit reporting agencies, based on the type of financing requested. Interest rate discounts are sometimes offered if your credit score exceeds 800. 
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• __Derogatory Credit Marks__ – Things happen. And sometimes you won’t know it until you apply for a loan. It’s not the end of the world, and a good finance partner will help you navigate the terms and minimize the impact. Lenders look at your credit history as far back as 10‐15 years, so even old hiccups can still have an impact. It's best to keep an eye on your credit at least twice per year. Free credit reports can be obtained at [annualcreditreport.com](https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action). 
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• __Down Payment__ – RV Lenders likely require a minimum down payment that can range from 10‐20%, but a down payment of 30% can sometimes get you a rate discount. Down payments can come from cash OR Trade. This can have a big impact on your approval, or denial. 
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• __Loan Terms__ – Luxury RV financing terms are generally 10‐20 years in amortization. Your lender may offer terms for your loan as long as 20 years, but you may prefer the term to be shorter. Some lenders offer rate discounts for terms less than the maximum. 
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• __Be Prepared__ – Know your credit rating, and provide your loan officer with all the documentation they request. Limited Doc loans are coming back, but still at the discretion of the lender. Some lending institutions offer lower rates with a complete financial package as opposed to the quick application only loans. 
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• __Call Newcoast__ – Advice is free at Newcoast – Call us and we’ll answer all of your questions. Newcoast Financial Services has years of experience and dozens of funding options. Plus, they can guide you to the best rate and term to suit your needs. At Newcoast, there will always be someone to answer the phone and give you the best advice to make your RV dreams come true. 
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For More Information contact: 
Vernon Blanc 
Director of Dealer Financial Services 
vernon@newcoast.com or 727‐324‐1362 


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How To Get The Best Interest Rate When Financing Your Custom Advanced RV Motorhome  

Every motor home built by Advanced-RV is unique. A recent build, named “Nelson”, is a 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter motorhome designed by its owner to create her vision for a comfortable, mobile cedar cabin. 
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Nelson’s owner and her dog will live and travel in Nelson for months at a time. The Eastern Red Cedar interior resembles the client’s home she built for herself by herself. In Nelson, all of the solid cedar wood was sourced from local Amish communities. All of the cabinet design and fabrication, even the tongue and groove paneling, milling and finishing, was done by ARV furniture makers in our facility.
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We hope you enjoy our walkthrough video.
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Nelson Cedar Motorhome Tour

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The day has come for Mark and Anne to take delivery of Indigo, their new 4x4 ARV build. Join us for a tour of this van and interviews with the craftspeople that brought it to life.

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Indigo 4x4 Van Tour

Last week we launched the first issue of Ethnosphere, ARV's new magazine, created to share, wihtout advertisements, the stories and talents of staff, clients, and members of the larger community as they travel, dream, and hope.  
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In this first issue, entitled Novaturient, we explore new beginnings and drastic life changes in the stories of two people who united through their grief and set out on a sprawling adventure, a former homeless man/cocaine addict who turned his life around with some help, and a new employee as she starts her journey at ARV.  
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[Access the Ethnosphere Magazine here!](https://advanced-rv.com/ethnosphere)


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ETHNOSPHERE MAGAZINE

We spent two years working with Whitefeather 4x4 Conversions to upgrade two Mercedes Sprinter 3500 cutaway chassis into heavy-duty off-road machines, and today we put one to the test. Watch the video on our YouTube channel [here.](https://youtu.be/VSJWx9b4Y2I)
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You can find more info about these upgraded Sprinters at our [Available ARV page](https://advanced-rv.com/available/lifted-sprinter-chassis-with-heavy-duty-transfer-case-axle-upgrades). These chassis can be 1) claimed by a prospective client for their custom ARV build, or 2) sold as-is to a Do-it-Yourself buyer. Please share any questions and we'd be happy to answer.  
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Please call at 440-283-0405

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Heavy Duty Sprinter Put to the Test

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[In a new video on our YouTube channel](https://youtu.be/hE43PAMTz7k "Roadrunner Tour Video"), join Mitchell as he tours the 2020 ARV Roadrunner. This extended-length 4x4 with articulating beds and extra ground-clearance returned to our facility this month as part of [ARV's Pre-Owned program](https://www.advanced-rv.com/available "ARV's Available Motorhomes"). 
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Please [contact us](https://www.advanced-rv.com/contact "Contact ARV") with any questions about this build. 
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Roadrunner 4x4 Walkthrough | Pre-Owned ARV Tour

Mike has been asking us lately “How’s your life?” instead of “How are you?”. It throws you off just enough to not give a habitual response of “Good, you?”. When I responded “Really good” he seemed surprised, but then remembered that it was my turn this weekend to borrow a van.  
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I took Cub, a 2015 preowned unit we had available, built on a 170’ Extended Sprinter chassis, with 72,928 miles, and twin beds.  I invited a friend of mine from college to come along and pick the destination, which wound up being the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She’s the kind of friend who always says yes to my strange idea of adventures, even when that means car camping in something like a rental Honda Fit. I thought it’s time we balance that out with something a little more classy. Cub was perfect.  
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Along the drive, there was a moment when I felt even more appreciative for our friendship. I realized we forgot to bring a sponge for dishes. Luckily, she was in the middle of a crocheting project (making a chalk bag for rock climbing) and whipped up a scrubber before I barely finished the thought.
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It was our first time using the app iOverlander and we had luck everywhere we went. The first night was spent at a trail head near Traverse City. We were the only ones there from the moment we parked to the very moment we drove away the next morning. We made coffee in the french press, oatmeal in the microwave, hiked right after waking up, and felt complete bliss. Any time we'd walk past the van and peek inside at the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe we'd be recentered, in awe, and reminded of the beautiful piney landscape where we parked. The shoe storage that is accessible both inside and outside the van gave us the luxury of being the guilt-free kind of dirty when we took off our sandy hiking boots, while keeping the home clean.  
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We then made our way to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, having stopped for lunch on the way. Our view outside the van looked out at Mackinac Bridge (the hotdog restaurant, Wienerlicious, also within view). Cub’s two adjustable tables had two mounting options on both sides which let us park however was easiest. Then we were able to aim the tables at whichever window had the best view. We hiked all around Miner’s castle, visited its waterfalls, beaches, and basked in the surrounding pine trees. We wanted this to be a classy trip all around. As for groceries, we bought things like pumpkin bisque, herby salads, lemon/lavender/goat cheese pasta, and even everything for fondue. After a bit of wine one night, our attempt at fondue took a sharp turn for butter noodles.  
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The wild camping spot we had been eyeing for that night was only around 10 minutes south of Pictured Rocks. On top of any skepticism a newby glamper would have parking somewhere unfamiliar for the night, I couldn't get over how we didn't need a reservation or permit to camp. The Hiawatha National Forest dispersed camping simply limits your stay to 16 days and asks you to leave no trace. The next day we drove up to Sable Falls, saw the sand dunes, and ordered a snack from the Fired U.P. food truck.  We then made a straight shot to the Whitefish Bay campgrounds which I was told was the place to be.
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At ARV, I contribute to the Quick Start Guide we provide as a resource when training on any new ARV, so everyone at work, myself included, expected that I would have no problem operating the van. I was surprised to find that there are more layers to how things work when actually operating the most advanced RV on the market. For example, draining the water tanks happens instantaneously and you don't want to leave those switched on for very long. On the other hand, heating the water or the interior space takes around 5 minutes.  Working from memory of the quick start instructions, and not having actually operated the heater before, it felt like it was not working. Add to that my feeling that hot water and heat were too good to be true (I mean, who gets to take a hot shower in the middle of the woods), I braved a cold shower while the water was still heating.  
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Luckily the third night we camped at the same campground as Fred & Michelle Ahlgren (owners of Gustav) who not only knew the ins and outs of ARV’s, but took part in designing some of the systems. They taught us things like how to use the burner, levelers, settings that help conserve power, and a deeper meaning of high idle. As you could guess, our batteries died from running too many settings too high overnight and not enabling the autogen.  Dead batteries  then prevented us from retracting our levelers so we were stuck. Fred, thankfully, helped us recharge the batteries. I view it as a successful learning experience. I have a newfound appreciation for these Quick Start Guides and all the other documented training videos ARV has produced.  
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Even with these hiccups, we were able to hit the road early the next morning for our long journey home. I had work in the morning, and my friend had grad school classes, but I couldn’t leave without stopping in Sault Ste Marie first. It is where a recent favorite book of mine,  Firekeeper’s Daughter, took place. We ate at a little coffee shop that doubled as an outdoor gear store, walked along the Soo Locks, and admired the murals that were painted on the buildings and even crosswalks. It was a dreamy small town, just as I’d imagined. 
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We used our time on the road wisely by listening to meditation podcasts, discussing goals for the rest of the year, and laughing about things that happened on the trip. Once home, we moved our belongings out the same way we moved in, straight from a closet in the van to a closet in the house. While laughing about our ability to plug in a normal home vacuum, we cleaned away, emptied tanks, and scrubbed all our dishes. Dropping off Cub back at ARV made us feel really sentimental and appreciative for an opportunity like this. Thanks for a trip of a lifetime!  
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Elise

Elise Road Trip

Weekend Traveling in Cub

*The following is a reflection on ARV's 4 Day Work Week experiment from Mike Neundorfer.* 
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Work 32 hours over 4 days, yet get paid for 40 hours over 5 days and get the same or more work done! This sounds impossible but we are trying it at Advanced-RV (ARV). In addition, we are also committed to providing the same or better client attention and improved quality in 32 hour weeks as we did during 40 hour weeks.  
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About a year ago, I started reading and thinking about the possibility of organizing our work so that our staff could benefit from three day weekends every weekend. I was skeptical that a manufacturing company like ours could be successful. The more I read and learned about how we all work, I became optimistic. I quickly realized that if we can do this, the benefits to our staff will be huge!
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We found an international organization that was planning a six month trial of the 4 day week. Thirty one other companies signed up. The trial started the first of April this year. The University of Dublin and Boston University are doing staff surveys to monitor results. 
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In the months leading up to the start of the program, we paid  more attention to our business metrics. We refined our measures of productivity and production velocity so we would be able to monitor our progress as objectively as possible. 
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We improved the accuracy of our time reporting. We improved our productivity measures and further formalized our quality improvement processes. We created a quality scoring system. Our staff has organized their schedules to maintain client attention and service. We do not have a formal way to score client attention but do frequent face to face surveys with clients. 
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![Chris news story](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/3qKCaSQwbIINW6evaHM31m/ee533cf2c365da51d1db468b568fdd58/Chris.jpg)
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We are currently in the fourth month of the trial. We have not met our productivity targets yet but trends are in the right direction. Much of our improvement requires new tools for better documentation of our custom designs and subsequent communication to our craft blocks.  
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We are working to improve every aspect of our productivity, quality and client attention. This is exactly what most good companies do. The difference with ARV is that we will use our progress to  improve quality of life for our staff by giving them an extra paid day off per week. This may seem upside down, but we feel it is the right thing to do.  
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4 Day Work Week Experiment at ARV

“Wouldn’t it be great if someone could come up with a way to get from Cleveland to Boston in an hour and a half?” This was our son’s sarcastic jibe when Marcia told him that to visit them in Boston it would take us a day and a half each way.  
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We did want to maximize our time with him, his wife, and our two grandchildren but Marcia responded that we enjoy driving our Sprinter motorhome, are looking forward to seeing the fall leaves, and plan to hike and/or bike on our way there and back.  
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This conversation caused us to reflect on why we value our small motorhome travel together. We concluded that our motorhome travel provides us quality time together, allows us to explore the country, and lets us eat healthily from our own refrigerator.  We enjoy listening to books and music and going with the flow, not the plan.  
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![soup](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5IJK6Tsv1wP8d5TpcyQ65Q/0b983c81314e1d439075321ea12f7430/soup.jpg)
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We left for Boston at noon on Wednesday and stopped along the interstate at a text rest area. I put our small gas grill on the picnic table and grilled steaks and potatoes. Marcia fixed a salad from the last of our garden tomatoes and peppers. We opened a bottle of red wine and relaxed, surrounded by trees in their peak colors. After dinner, we drove for another hour or so and at a rest area, slept comfortably for almost nine hours.  
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![steak](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/33Ftclj9B7rzrzLQgjqtPo/b73ab0f2b1d527b09bbff8b8028f1850/steak.jpg)
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We woke up early and drove to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, our favorite New England town.  We usually park downtown in front of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and stay the night, then in the morning sit in the rocking chairs on the porch of The Red Lion while we drink our coffee.  This morning we got wonderful croissants and cappuccinos at the French pastry shop across from The Red Lion Inn and took a hike, starting behind the church and crossing the Housatonic River. On Laura’s Tower Trail, a moderately steep one hour hike, we climbed to a fire tower where we could see the Berkshire hills in full color. We left for Boston, ate lunch in the van and had to hurry through a maze of interstates to meet the grandkids when they got out of school.  
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![church](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6MxVjE3xPf0uPY1WQNr9E6/e33fb8a599da53a1bb58bae2b38cff0e/church.jpg)
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We had a wonderful visit with our family and stayed for four days. On the way back, we stopped for the night at the Sherwood Inn (established 1807) in Skaneateles, New York, another favorite town.  We had dinner at a table in the bar and watched the Cleveland Guardians lose to the Yankees in the playoffs. After dinner, we retired to our motorhome parked in the back corner of the lot. In the morning, we left for home and made it back by mid day. Definitely a longer, slower trip, but much better than flying.  
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![dinner](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5NK9D0PKTSOeySiS4Ufakz/b9f9bb6eadad4f57655cced9476d4f2c/dinner.jpg)
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Boston

Fall 2022 Trip to Boston in Freebird

Last month our good friends James and Stef at [The Fit RV](https://www.thefitrv.com) stopped by our home in Cleveland to catch up and see the latest at the facility. We appreciate their curiosity and desire to talk about everything from battery technology to travel philosophy.
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They just published a video of their tour; check it out here!

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Fit RV Visits ARV for a Tour

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We have two Sprinter chassis, upgraded by Whitefeather 4x4 Conversions in California. They are upgraded with Ford F350 and other custom parts to offer substantial off-road capabilities, including lifted ground clearance, 4x4 capacity, low range capability, locking differential, anti-slip, and more. 
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One is a 144" wheelbase single rear wheel chassis, and the other is 170" wheelbase dual rear wheel. These chassis can be 1) claimed by a prospective client for their custom ARV build, or 2) sold as-is to a Do-it-Yourself buyer. Please share any questions and we'd be happy to answer.  
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[More info here.](https://advanced-rv.com/available/lifted-sprinter-chassis-with-heavy-duty-transfer-case-axle-upgrades)

Whitefeather 4x4 Sprinter Chassis

Lifted 4x4 Sprinter Chassis, Upgraded for Off-Road

At Advanced-RV (ARV), you are always  welcome to tour our facility, meet our team and see our motorhomes being built. We always learn from our guests. We hope that when you meet our staff and see our builds in process, you will  find answers to your travel questions. 
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At any given time at ARV, there are up to a dozen builds in progress for you to see. You might even catch a scene like I saw this morning:  a spontaneous duet played on our piano by Ben in finishing and Claudia, a client who travels full time in her ARV motorhome.
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Visitors arrive in their cars, motorhomes,  commercial planes into the Cleveland airport, or in private planes landing at one of two  private airports closeby. We are open for visits Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM. 
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Local hotels, or a wonderful bed and breakfast near us will welcome you. There are many restaurants, shops and unique places for you  to visit in Willoughby and the Cleveland area. While here, many guests  visit  the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Football Hall of Fame in Canton. The Cleveland Museum of Art  is world class, as is the Cleveland Orchestra. 
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We don’t need much notice for a visit. There are no hoops to jump through or agreements to sign  to tour our facility. We always have coffee and homemade cookies in the cookie jar. 
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We look forward to seeing you.


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Visit us in Cleveland, Ohio

__*The following is an excerpt from a post by Bernie Nagle, a partner who has worked with us on many of our process improvements. This summer, Bernie organized the donation of ARV's unused fabrics toward a good cause.*__
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Backpacks for Cleveland homeless sewn by the men at Grafton Correctional Institution ODRC facility, with materials donated by local custom RV builder, Advanced RV LLC. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to do some Continuous Improvement consulting work with Willoughby, OH custom RV builder, Advanced RV LLC. In the process of building these amazing, totally-customized RVs, ARV crafts-people sew and fabricate all the curtains, pillows, beds, shades, and even upholstery for seats. Unused fabric is saved for the RV buyer but when the buyer does not want the material it used to end up in the trash. But not anymore.
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In my Prison Ministry work with the men at Grafton I became familiar with the Sewing Training programs at Grafton Correctional and Grafton Reintegration Center. So I asked ARV owner, Mike Neundorfer, if they could save the unused material for use at the Grafton Correctional Tackers shop. Mike graciously agreed. On a visit to the Grafton Tackers shop on August 25, I dropped off the materials, and these pictures display some of the the men's handiwork.
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![Upholstery 1](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/31tsifnplykalHU3RUNSvc/4955b9128f3a056240112eece3da3c48/upholstery_1.jpeg)
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Not only do they make beautiful backpacks and blankets, but during the height of the Covid experience, they also made over 50,000 masks for the Cleveland Public School children. These men make great effort to give back and do what they can to leave the world a little warmer and brighter for having been here.
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![upholstery 3](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2kAeKtp88sLjK2rwZ09fla/4b482e575ce18601331e08f95ea968c9/upholstery_3.jpeg)
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I have spent many hours inside the walls at Grafton and the Women's Reintegration Center in Cleveland (NERC), facilitating a program called, "Living on Purpose". With these men and women I have experienced the best of humanity, intermingled with the sorrow, the remorse and the pain. I have learned so much from the sincerity and authentic truth these men and women share in our sessions, and I am a better man for knowing them. If there is one message I would like to share with everyone, it is this:
"No one should ever be judged by the the worst thing they have ever done. You don't get to throw the rock unless you've never sinned".
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![Team and Fabric](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/1kDvOeYRWQESW2msNyrqBw/badce1ab5a57aea968d8a77a2baf5772/Team_and_Fabric.jpg)
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Leftover Fabrics Become New Backpacks for the Homeless

__The following is a summer update on the Advanced RV organization and team, from President Mike Neundorfer.__
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After ten years in business, I am pleased with what we have created at Advanced-RV, especially around our key communities of clients and staff, plus the larger community we live in.  Our clients are all curious, engaged, and successful. I love hearing their stories. Our staff is skilled, motivated and productively OCD. It is a pleasure to be part of their creativity. We are contributing to our larger community with improvements in our infrastructure, like a large passive solar energy system we installed on the roof last year. 
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![matt-solar-768x432](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/1HePBwxvKqeTWXn14eRIpl/832e61b73ea4791706f07ab1d4cb49d6/matt-solar-768x432.jpg) 
Matt and others coordinated the construction of a sustainable rooftop solar array. These panels offset our energy consumption and return any unused power back to the grid.
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![brandon-1](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2PWpVkMH78QriW8Ebj88vy/d0ca3c2b03db1263e5aa6fadb67dfaf4/brandon-1.jpg)
Brandon’s degree in computer information systems and software development has allowed us to evolve our Configurator tool, ARV’s method of capturing the thousands of design choices involved in a custom build.
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We are moving rapidly toward all digital Solid Works drawings with design input at the appropriate time by craft and engineering experts. Myron, a former Solid Works trainer; Rob, a skilled cabinet craftsperson and designer; and Jonathan, a long time designer/engineer, are driving our digital design efforts.
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![Jonathan Flick photo](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/617uMOyTTX539Oumsa1Gt5/e54709f2356937a6a4b9fe7945b60847/jonathan-flick-1.jpeg)![Myron Hare Photo](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/3B7uVCnZCFOQOMwfYTW1OV/403633c963a8f9170605d1a3aaafe301/myron-hare.jpeg)
Myron (left) and Jon (right) are driving ARV’s engineering and drawing improvements.
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Chris P has designed and improved quality systems. Every chassis now goes through seven formal quality checks before the final inspection and the last driving checks, which include “rattle runs” and many other functional tests. Chris has also developed an objective quality scoring system that helps us track continuous quality improvement.
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![Chris-P-edit-768x432](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2eiMFX88KnHTtpalR6ZOIE/d9a7f2cfbffdf194ab777fe4ab558719/Chris-P-edit-768x432.jpg)
Chris P, mechanical engineer and head of quality control at ARV.
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A month ago, when I asked Mike G what role he wanted in the future, he said that he wanted my job. I couldn’t be happier to hear this and already we are expanding his responsibilities.  Mike is the most knowledgeable craftsperson we have. He is a problem solver. He has empathy for staff, is curious and humble. I am excited to help Mike move into a general management role.
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![Mike-G-edit-768x432](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6UFNLyC99i81sCkk0XpgGc/9ba0238ddcae4fb9c18bc80f2bf2e4d3/Mike-G-edit-768x432.jpg)
Mike G is familiar with every step of the custom build process, from ordering the chassis to performing the finishing touches.
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We are working well with vendors/partners to avoid serious supply chain issues. Amy, who has joined us in the purchasing role, is skilled at understanding the objectives for parts and assemblies and then finding what we need. 
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![amy-export-768x626](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/1CZUaveLfSCkboVXGt3yJU/64d1b83a331b627f55315273f3aa725d/amy-export-768x626.jpg)
Amy and others are navigating supply chain demands to ensure our clients’ builds are completed on time.
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Although Mercedes Benz continues to experience supply chain delays, our understanding of their processes and proactive ordering has prevented chassis delays for our clients. Most of our new orders will be built on the 2023 MB chassis.
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![chassis-pics-768x432](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/4MupfMtPmqJbrBPsoXsZbI/f45bff9621affdaf776be5a9c58958af/chassis-pics-768x432.jpg)
Our contacts at Mercedes keep us up to date on what’s to come. We’re excited for the 2023 Sprinter’s new engine and AWD improvements.
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In almost every one of our craft blocks, we have expanded our capabilities, through a combination of cross training, staff additions, and equipment purchases. Our metal fabrication craft block is a good example. We have recently purchased a heavy duty hydraulic brake press, shear, and welder. Koan, a recently hired design fabricator, is an experienced metal worker, who in his spare time does blacksmithing in his garage.  
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![koan-donato-metal-fab-768x302](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5RUhudDHnjKjW0YfdchH4n/a13995f56c75c7944ec196d8a64bae84/koan-donato-metal-fab-768x302.jpg)
Donato, Koan, and ARV’s new hydraulic shear.
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I am happy to provide this ARV update, sharing progress that will improve client experience.

Summertime Update

Summer 2022 ARV Update From Mike

Why do ARV clients spec large, lithium battery systems? Our good friends and clients, Dave and Carol, owners of BB2, recently found a new reason:  to power their home in Fort Myers during Hurricane Ian.
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After days of no response to our emails asking how they were, we finally received the following email from Dave (quoted with his permission): 
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*We sheltered in place in our mobile home, it is 5 years old, a FL Hurricane Zone 5 home (rated for 175MPH winds, raised higher than neighbors, extra tie downs, impact doors &amp; windows), we were in the severe part of the hurricane for about 34 hours, without electricity (we ran power from BB2 our ARV motorhome to the house, had coffee pots, crock pot, electric fry pan, microwave, TV, radio, the ability to charge handheld electronics, refrigerator/freezer, lights, whatever else we need to use on an
individual basis). *
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*THANK YOU ARV, for a fantastic motor home, you made our hurricane experience very livable.*
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Generally, the reason clients spec large capacity lithium batteries in their ARV motor homea is to be able to travel and “camp” anywhere basically untethered. For example, Frank and Sandy recently attended a Class B rally in Massachusetts.  When other campers asked Frank why he wasn’t plugged into camp power or hooked up to water and sewer, he explained that he and Sandy like to drive in and out to explore, bicycle and do other activities without even thinking about connections. They can go for days without charging their ARV batteries and when they take excursions, their coach and chassis batteries automatically charge.
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We appreciate that there are many approaches to RV battery systems and for occasional use, mostly in campgrounds where plug-ins are available, more expensive  lithium battery systems  may not be justified.  But for those wanting or needing more travel flexibility - or for powering their homes in a hurricane - Advanced-RV continues to supply and improve high capacity, reliable battery systems.


BB2 Exterior

BB2 Powers Through Hurricane Ian

__The Advanced RV Configuration Experience__
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Custom building a motorhome from scratch is an amazing experience. We recently completed the Configuration with Advanced RV and we want to share all the details with you.
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We are Damon and Mitzi Janis. Widowed in our forties after long and successful marriages, we found the courage to love again and married. We are rebuilding a life we love.
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We love to travel and explore. We are inquisitive and love to learn. We love the open road and open spaces. We love freedom. We love beauty, peace, and quiet. We live slowly.
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We are building a motorhome with Advanced RV to intentionally share in this experience together. Assuming we both continue to live — some subtle widow humor for you 🙂 — we will experience the joys and freedoms of traveling together and exploring this beautiful land.
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For three days we worked with multiple team members at Advanced RV to define, to the smallest details, exactly how we want our motorhome to be configured and built.
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The Configuration experience was exhilarating, satisfying, and a load of fun. On day three we visited a design center to pick out fabrics — Mitzi sews and quilts and knows and loves quality fabrics. As we left the design center, she sat in the back seat and said enthusiastically, “I absolutely love these fabrics!” Like a kid in a candy shop she had to see and touch them again without delay. So she pulled the samples out of the bag, spread them on her lap, took pictures of them, and ogled over them in happiness as we drove back to the Advanced RV factory.
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![image10-768x706 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/4gUOFymY8Ozs5CBI4Ox3wS/d7e65aea27fec71e6a56aa402601b50f/image10-768x706__1_.jpg)
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__Preparing for Configuration__
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Before the Configuration process starts, there are a couple of preliminary steps. First, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis was ordered. Second, we created our wishlist. And third, we got to name our motorhome.
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__The Chassis__
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There are [several decisions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2IhsgcT_nc&t=14s) to make on the chassis: size, color, and type. These decisions, like all the Configuration decisions, are driven by how you plan to use your motorhome.
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We plan to live in our motorhome for extended periods of time. We plan on boondocking (being off the grid) frequently and living in it through the four seasons in all weather conditions and climates.
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With that in mind, we decided on the 170 extended length Tenorite Grey 2×4. We told Mike Griffiths what we wanted and he placed the order with Mercedes, sending us the confirmation. Simple!
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__The Wishlist__
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After ordering the chassis, we fully enjoyed creating our wishlist. Advanced RV can do anything, and they encouraged us to include everything we could think of on our wishlist. We used this list as a starting point for the Configuration.
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For a couple weeks as we prepared for our trip to the factory in Ohio, we would have new ideas and we added to our list. We ended up with 34 items, including these:
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-farmhouse sink  
-quilt racks for hanging Mitzi’s beautiful quilts  
-curved overhead cabinets  
-heated floors  
-hooks for bathrobes in the bathroom  
-workspace accommodation for an iMac computer and a Bernina sewing machine  
-articulating bed and love seat combo  
-central vacuum  
-auto leveling  
-all weather capability  
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Creating the wishlist got us excited about our upcoming Configuration. It helped us visualize what we wanted, how we would use the motorhome, and gave us hours of pleasure visualizing our perfect motorhome. We felt thrilled anticipating the moment when what we envisioned in our minds will become a physical reality.
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__The Name__
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All Advanced RVs are given a name. They are called by their name through the entire Configuration and Build process. We loved naming our motorhome.
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We have eight children between us. We have experience naming a child. We might say that naming our motorhome was maybe just a little more enjoyable and less stressful… than naming our children 🙂
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We discussed lots of naming options and finally settled on the Hawaiian word Malanah.  Damon came across this word as a teenager. He always remembered the sound and feel of it.  We looked it up and discovered it meant ‘buoyant’, ’to float’ and ‘to move together, as people’. For us it represents resurfacing after the loss of our spouses. Rebuilding a life we love, together. Letting in the happiness again.
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And so with that we headed off to Willoughby Ohio to prepare for the birth of Malanah 🙂
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Stay tuned for Part 2!

ARV Configuration Experience

The Advanced RV Configuration Experience : Part 1

We sometimes have stock Mercedes Sprinter chassis, ready to be claimed by someone who desires to initiate a build with us. These brand new chassis already have a spot in our build queue, so their time-to-delivery is shorter than the normal process. The process begins with a deposit that claims the chassis and a spot in the production queue. Below is what is currently available:  
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-One two-wheel drive, 170″ standard-length Sprinter in the color __Pebble Grey__ (6 cylinder engine).  
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-One two-wheel drive, 170″ extended-length Sprinter in the color __Selenite Gray Metallic__ (4 cylinder)  
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-One two-wheel drive, 170″ standard-length Sprinter in the color __Steel Blue__ (4 cylinder) 

![4 Cylinder stock chassis](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/31ckbS6WByr1pXe6NQp139/6573738ece6e920258e041102988a72c/4_Cylinder_chassis.jpg)

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Chassis and Production Slots Open

Notice anything different around here? A special thanks to Chad and Mikey at the [Cleveland Mural Company](https://www.wepaintcleveland.com/) for their incredible work painting two murals for our new office space. [Check out this video to see how these two bigger-than-life Sprinters came to be.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrEY4f48KfU&ab_channel=AdvancedRV)

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Cleveland Murals

Where to start? My five years of living full time in Beans has been exciting, fun, and rewarding. I’ve met amazing people, made good friends and reconnected with people I’ve worked with in the past. More than the great places I’ve visited, it’s the people who make my travels all worthwhile. For those of you who have let me “driveway camp” I can’t thank you enough. Your generosity and kindness is beyond words; I have no way to reciprocate, I wish I did. Most of you have treated me to meals, some have shown me your special place (a museum, a camping spot, a hiking trail, etc). It all just proves people are incredibly diverse and kind. I have met so many good people in my travels and feel incredibly lucky to have met and know you all.
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![Adrienne-3-1024x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/qKGaPyDiN4rhWN6uUHbqs/8f6f0143de42f5ab97789106bcad42dd/Adrienne-3-1024x576.jpg)  
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A special thanks to Advanced RV (ARV) for their creation and support of Beans. The quality and integrity of both the van and the people who work there is above the norm. Phone calls with crazy questions have always been answered with clarity and promptly. When you own an Advanced RV, you aren’t just a customer, you are part of an extended family. The support system is well thought out. No matter if you’re on the road or at the “mother ship”, repairs are addressed quickly. The technology is well thought out and tested.  
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I’ll never forget my first contact with ARV. I sent an email to the company with a basic drawing asking if they could do the layout I wanted. Two hours later I had a response from Mike Neundorfer, the president of the company stating yes they could and connected me to Brittany Immormino who stepped me through the whole process of bringing my concept to production. Brittany, you are priceless, thank you so much for all your help, advice, and support. Mike, thank you for Advanced RV.   
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The great thing about an ARV is you can go just about anywhere. Spending weeks in the Arizona desert boondocking? No worries. The van is built for it. With the cold weather package, spending late fall in Vermont, no problem! While I have camped a lot in my life, from backpacking the Appalachian Trail to renting pop-ups and class Cs; nothing has compared to traveling in an ARV. I think the most impressive thing is the durability. Despite traveling with dogs (three dogs for two years), the floor shows no signs of wear and tear. I fully expected to need a new floor, but the recycled rubber floor looks like it did the day it was laid.   
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My plan is to continue my travels for as long as I am capable of driving. There is still so much to see and experience in this huge country of ours. I’m planning Beans and ARV will be part of that journey for the foreseeable future.  
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![Beans-Collage-1024x341 (2)](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2dFqTQhPRqop9aSGpLthcm/2cbaacb149ce1f3f4753f0b40e6d02c3/Beans-Collage-1024x341__2_.jpg)   
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Adrienne


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Five Years on the Road – Reflecting on My Time in “Beans”

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A Winter Escape: Florida, February-March, 2022

Temperature 42/23
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My wife and I arrived at Advanced RV’s new headquarters Friday morning at 9:30am for our introduction to Baltas Vilkas, White Wolf in Lithuanian, for training as first-time owners of an RV and picking up of our just completed EcoRanger. We were greeted by Tricia and Viki as to be expected and the next person to greet us was Mike Neundorfer with his infectious smile. Brittany would have been present but she is in the last days of her own configuration process with her own mini me due any day now. Janice would greet us later in the day as she was gathering our dropped shipped items together such as the RV Superbag ready for our maiden voyage that night.
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Walking around the corner partition in the new headquarters we laid eyes for the first time on our new Artic White EcoRanger sitting cleaner then it will ever be again. Frank was going to spend the day with us explaining systems and demonstrating hands on operations, but first Jody made us the official owners with title transfers and making sure the paperwork was official with DMV.
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After the paperwork was completed, we looked to Frank and asked where do we begin? His first step was a quick tour inside to see what Baltas Vilkas looked like in person. The dropbox photos throughout the build process only made the entire wait harder to bear but the photos at least kept us informed on the progress. Stepping inside our RV was magical for the first time. Yes, the wild colored curtains, dark walls, light wood cabinets, recessed lights and padded floors all did come together. It is hard to describe the wonderment when one finally sees the finished product in person when one has had so much input in the selection process. Unlike any other buying experience I have ever had; it was truly breath taking to see something that we made detailed selections on. This is custom work and if I had any qualms about something, I knew it was our choice and not some mass assembly line where we could have whatever we wanted as long as it was from column A or column B and only came in one color. That is not what you experience at Advanced RV. Advanced RV is truly the Burger King of motorhomes, you get it your way and you are treated as a King.
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![Baltas-Vilkas-2-768x512](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6d0BnDmHMosykr8il2FZqT/bf599dad7bd79529630bb35de6cb469b/Baltas-Vilkas-2-768x512.jpg)
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Frank’s official training started with a tour going all the way around the outside from front bumper and ending back at the starting point stopping along the way and explaining how each item on the underpart worked and giving us the hands-on experience on actually doing and not just observing.
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Breaking for lunch gave us an opportunity to meet the owner of Radio Days a full time RVer who was having some work done at Advanced RV and another couple who had just added 8,000 miles on their RV as they travelled out west for Balloon Fest in Albuquerque and scheduled a new air condition installation and adding levelers to their unit. Meeting and speaking over lunch to these owners reaffirmed what so many people have told me that the RV community is friendly and helpful.
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After lunch was the inside tour on reviewing systems, panels and manuals. It may seem overwhelming, but the most important part was the magical phone number written in red that was the 24-hour help line. Frank gave us some time to unpack our luggage and put things away and Janice delivered our drop shipped items, so we had a good foundation to start our overnight trip. As I put away personal items, I kept thinking that I never needed to repack any of these again if I did not want to. No more checking into a hotel and dragging luggage through the lobby only to repack in the morning and back track the luggage through the lobby. There were a lot of questions and by the end of the day I was asking my wife only one question… did we really do this?
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At 4:00pm we felt confident enough to call it a day and embark on our maiden voyage, so we could develop a punch list and be able to come back on Monday with more informed questions. This is the recommended pick up process. Arrive on a Friday to get introduced to the beast and have a weekend maiden voyage to test out and experience the RV finishing with a list of questions and come back on Monday to do more training. Frank topped off our water tanks at the end of the day handed us the keys and pushed us out of the nest to learn to fly on our own.
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Our heads were full of knowledge, manuals were accessible, tanks full, except black tank, so we were ready to hit the road. Driving out of the bay doors and onto the street we realized it was snowing and getting dark fast. The original plan was to travel a few hours to a nearby State park and start our new adventure of being RVer campers. Our first stop was for groceries around the corner at the Giant Eagle followed by a quiet dinner at some hanging plant restaurant where we could decide which park to go to or which Wal Mat to boon dock for the first night. After Nov. 1 most Ohio parks stop taking reservations and although many are open it is first come first take. This was Friday of Veterans Day weekend but with the cold and snow we figured our chance of scoring a spot was pretty good. We would arrive in the dark but the parks we were considering were open.
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Deciding where to camp on our first night was not taken lightly. This was the start of a new adventure and we wanted it to be positive. A little background on state of mind and body. We were tired from learning so much new information on the systems and actual operations of Baltas Vilkas. We had been training all day and now it was dark and snowing. The night before our airplane had some mechanical problem and instead of arriving in Ohio at midnight on Thursday after my wife finished work, we arrived at 4:00am Friday morning. I knew it was either a very late-night flight arrival or a very early morning arrival when I noticed the Cinnabun concession stand on the concourse preparing parchment paper to bake their first round of breakfast buns. We were scheduled to meet at Advanced RV at 9:00am in the morning to start on Friday but I called ahead and asked if we could be 30 minutes late.
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Now after all day training and dinner it was decision time.
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![Baltas-Blog-529x705](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/14rq6ncQaNkL3DZIJJir1C/ec3e320c4df750ae590f825933efe992/Baltas-Blog-529x705.jpg)
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Wisely we drove back to my Brother in Laws house in the country 45 minutes outside of Cleveland and told him we would be staying in his driveway which over looked his pasture. Attached is the first sight the first morning, a snow-covered field. We called my Brother in Law and informed him we were 15 steps away from his kitchen entrance but with our 800-volt lithium battery pack and 4X4 traction we would be roughing it in the snow conditions and would have breakfast with his family in the morning.
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Determining the temperature setting inside the cab for a night dropping to 19 degrees was a guessing game. We finally settled on 68 degrees cabin temperature for the night and with the RV Superbag we were very comfortable. It took some getting used to moving together in close quarters with setting up the bed for the first time, hanging the windshield privacy curtain, determining which light switch operated which lights and making sure not to unintentionally programing anything but being tired yet safe we managed to get to bed in short order.
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![Baltas-Blog-3-705x529](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/7qvK6UYjNWGFrIMhQH2h4X/e8eac9ceffa869654d9495374e33de2a/Baltas-Blog-3-705x529.jpg)
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The next morning it was a thrill to wake up still warm inside our unit and having our own privacy in our own little cocoon. The first cup of coffee never tasted so good on a cold morning looking out the windows with about 2 inches of new snow and no schedule to keep. As I checked our status of systems on the Silverleaf all seemed in order until my wife pointed out that the gray tank was reading 100% full. This seemed strange since we had not used the shower or kitchen sink. Waiting until 9:00 I decided to call the help line and within a minute I received a call from none other than Frank. Asking me to push a couple of buttons and give him some reading he determined that one of our sensors was most likely experiencing some frozen water on it and giving a false reading. Given the cold and being a new system without any gray water in it froze but it was still safe to drive. Going on a short errand the readings dropped so it most likely was just a frozen sensor. Frank also explained some of the other issues I had but it was all operator error such as finding the proper control installed by Advanced RV and not Mercedes Benz seat warmer since our seats were custom. My take away is that the Help Desk number is responsive and I have confidence in it throwing me a life line.
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We return to Advance RV on Monday and I am sure there will be more details to absorb but this is a mission I look forward to.
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-Owner of Baltas Vilkas

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Baltas Vilkas – First Night Maiden Voyage

(Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series.)

__Arriving at Advanced RV__
This was our first time visiting the Advanced RV factory. It’s nestled on a clean and green industrial street near Cleveland and is easily accessible.  
We drove up, parked, and with great anticipation, rang the doorbell.
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![image4-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/7eBylEayk49XWddNVaJfTj/3a16633d61ff7b195a8f8df26fa5ce60/image4-768x576.jpg)
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We were immediately greeted and welcomed by Tricia Eller. She cheerfully invited us to come in and let us know they were expecting us and were looking forward to our visit. She made us feel special and welcomed.
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![image27-768x459](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/63na5zL2aWJrL8k03HG4JK/e53e41a8260bfb3caf2d7f04fe818ebd/image27-768x459.png)
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Touring The Factory
Tricia introduced us to Brittany Immormino-Paley and Rob Wick who would be our primary contacts during the Configuration. When Rob learned we hadn’t seen the factory before, he offered to give us a tour.
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[It’s an amazing facility](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEAkIwmHh1w&t=200s). Clean and organized. You can tell the people who work here take pride in their craft, their work spaces, and the motorhomes they are custom building.
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__Our Unique Bed/Sofa Request__
An Advanced RV customer in 2015 got the idea of putting articulating beds into his motorhome for more comfort. It’s an innovation unique to Advanced RV, as they figured out how to do it!  Since then, many customers have opted for these types of beds.
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![image25-768x459](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/7nozAGQOKcYYoVHXYUCOEh/c55219ea6e14948b15fe708dba61b2ef/image25-768x459.png)
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We loved the articulating beds. However, we also needed a workspace large enough for our desktop computer and Mitzi’s sewing machine. The beds take up the entire back space so it seemed like we would have to give them up to have the space we needed.
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Weeks earlier while we were creating our wishlist, Mitzi came up with the idea of combining an articulating bed with a love-seat sofa in the back. The love-seat sofa would fold down flat like a regular full-length sofa-bed for a complete sleeping area combined with the articulating bed, but when it was in the retracted sofa position, there would be room for a workspace!
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We had no idea if this would be possible. As we walked around the factory, we explained our desired layout to Rob. He listened carefully and totally understood what we were asking for. After we finished the tour he met with several more engineers to see if they could put a design together that would work.
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Later in the day he came back and reported with a big smile on his face that they could do it! We were so pleased.
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__The Configuration Process__
Most of our time over the three days was spent with Brittany. She walked us through the entire Configuration process, documented all of our designs, and provided valuable perspectives along the way.
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The best way to understand the Configuration is to see it. Here are pictures from the wonderful time we spent with Brittany and others.
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![image3-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/3vdj5JH32fLmNmUbnqXUfX/95939551d5affaba043dcebbe868733f/image3-768x576.jpg)
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Mitzi looking for a thread color to go with the UltraLeather we picked out for the furniture. Brittany is recording our choices.
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![image1-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/31k8ewBIXVzEvaHFGTYJjx/3c95196e993a51a11bb2ed54bed407a0/image1-768x576.jpg)
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The Malanah Vehicle Workbook where everything about the Configuration is recorded in detail.
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![image2-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/36zi5QATlrTJNQaXZ0Ooir/28dcbfa4db2124c03ea4df9ed1a7bd72/image2-768x576.jpg)
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Rob’s been with Advanced RV from the start and knows the build process inside and out. He works with customers during configuration to handle all the technical and engineering aspects of the design. Sometimes he likes to draft on paper, so we visited him at his drafting board to see what coolness he was cooking up.
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![image7-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/4FPP3yjnMVVByJhB4TOWa/92423b674f0d0a3048dd6a94d76770eb/image7-768x576.jpg)
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Frank Kolasinski is an expert with the technology that goes in the motorhomes. Here he’s showing Damon where the battery pack is located, and how it’s protected.
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![image5-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2HLAq0HqozgafQ0yyqPGqM/70cb4db1e2ca7748ebf59e3578a02cfc/image5-768x576.jpg)
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Frank and Damon discuss the technical details of the entertainment and battery system.
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![unnamed-1](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/41sa6O68PjnLhFRRM6o740/e18abe92f1da48375c436516b511efcb/unnamed-1.jpg)
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Mike Griffiths visited the Configuration room to review some details of our build. He’s an expert in everything mechanical. He is also the person who placed the chassis order with Mercedes.
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![unnamed-2](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/2mywTDEfXSCIepUmmBp0Qn/9ca39712cd8854656f6f4a7ce159c08a/unnamed-2.jpg)
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Brittany points out where we can put the Advanced RV branding. While some owners decide to not include it, we want the Advanced RV brand on Malanah. It represents a wonderful company built on high standards and virtues and we are proud to be part of it!
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![image14-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/3fEOEcnJh9P0ZEXMzZ7ouJ/2d4d34fe480f92ef47c50dd2c3e48195/image14-768x576.jpg)
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Brittany illustrates with old-fashioned pen and paper a design idea to help us visualize it better.
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![image8-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/7tElyzyFCosoQOFTlNt0oI/7da15ac74f68fefe600dbdbdc0a5bcb9/image8-768x576.jpg)
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Mitchell Dunbar made a visit to help us make Malanah logo design decisions. He does marketing and social media for Advanced RV. Here he’s showing us examples of logos other Advanced RV owners have created to give us ideas on what we can do for Malanah.
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The design center has thousands of fabrics and patterns to choose from. We went through every board on this wall, and some around the corner! We were about 30% through this wall when we found the perfect curtain fabric. Mitzi said to Damon, “We’ve got it, do you want to stop searching?” He replied, “I’m just a little curious to keep going.” Mitzi and Brittany had a good laugh.  His idea worked well, as we found additional fabrics for the accent pillows 🙂
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![unnamed-3](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5GKGL8OjzOXrq949NTVccH/d34368751dbdbdabd562f7f23ee4aed9/unnamed-3.jpg)
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Here’s the woven fabric we found at the design center for the curtains. It was the perfect blend of the colors we had selected earlier in the Configuration room. Brittany and Mitzi were so excited when we saw it on the rack.
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![image15-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5ixcrnOSRq1CG5zxezCtq9/e6664a5d6deb2dfbadc9b1426d760eb8/image15-768x576.jpg)
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Mitzi is holding up the furniture sample with a fabric she is considering for an accent pillow. Brittany is recording every little detail. She didn’t miss a thing!
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![image13-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/511d0GunfTtaHgvNeXlpn/c850d27e6ded29d6b006394400495216/image13-768x576.jpg)
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The design center has a room with a skylight to let in natural light. Brittany brought all the samples we had selected in the configuration room, added the samples from the design center, and laid them all out so we could see how they worked together in the natural light. It was so satisfying to see how a beautiful web of colors and textures and materials came together.
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![image16-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/1Vm0GDidkQaHhqp00N8ZAR/cb4625dfd5dfaea5233887810b27a1c8/image16-768x576.jpg)
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Frequently during the configuration, we would step outside of the room and walk a short distance to where the finished motorhomes are kept. Here Brittany is showing us how the splash guard behind the galley counter works to protect the curtains and wall behind it.
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![image9-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6FjdqPlyLVhixjzjcXnfZG/43305db09372743f491e36707bbfdf5f/image9-768x576.jpg)
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Mary Kapeluch works on the sewing and upholstery team. She visited the configuration room to talk with Mitzi about the curtains, accent pillows, and the fabrics she chose. Everything is hand-crafted and custom made. The furniture builders and upholstery teams are amazingly talented to craft exactly to what we want!
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__Having Fun In And Near Willoughby__
We had a day after Configuration to see the area surrounding Willoughby. We’d never been before, and looked forward to exploring and experiencing the area. It was a great day.
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![image23-768x1024](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5virKESkrCCShkEqSH4mTT/d1386c4548dca140a9dd4edb21bfdda1/image23-768x1024.jpg)
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Rob took the time to print this map and write down recommended places to visit near Willoughby. It was super helpful and resulted in a great day.
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![image20-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6er8BpmkXAEPLUMU42eBP7/736369774f06df6a907701e9181e8102/image20-768x576.jpg)
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The top of Brandywine Falls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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![image17-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/REQgrMvCkq5ubfXJPoORS/9c9c90cd9b821612ac9335c183acf49d/image17-768x576.jpg)
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Before heading over to the Ledges, we stopped at Zuki Sushi House. It is 5 star rated with hundreds of reviews, and ….looks like a hole in the wall place. The reviews were right on — the food and service was amazing.
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![image26-768x1024](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6t0SrkRnrJlDD7b6A4mDAb/9ba351500a6a3727784ca74e3eebf612/image26-768x1024.jpg)
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The path towards the Ledges, also in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is absolutely beautiful. When you get to the end of the path, you walk down some stone steps into…
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![image24-768x1024](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/5XQyd55wQJCXw6l6xJSUlB/802f4189b77591807ead88fb895b6040/image24-768x1024.jpg)
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the Ledges! It feels mystical. We were transported into a different time by the seclusion, quiet, and vibrant green moss under a canopy of trees. It’s like being in another world. These are striking geological conglomerate rock formations that extend for 1.8 miles.
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__The Store of Mitzi’s 3x Grandfather__
Mitzi has a great-great-great grandfather named Newel K. Whitney who lived in Kirtland, Ohio, about 10 minutes from Willoughby, in the 1830’s. His store has been preserved and restored because it is significant in the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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![image18-768x576](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/7C06PHmL6e5v2LippSRXXe/000c19e6ce6c395ecd27b703e8e1f058/image18-768x576.jpg)
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Mitzi had never visited this place before, and was grateful to be there and make a connection to her ancestry.
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What Happens Next?
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When the Chassis arrives at the factory, Advanced RV will start the build. They will send us weekly updates with pictures and progress. Then the exciting day will arrive when we travel back to Willoughby and take delivery. We look forward to sharing it with you!
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So until next time…
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Malanah

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The Advanced RV Configuration Experience: Part 2

Sometimes things just don’t work out.

At the Caravan Salon RV show in Düsseldorf a few years ago, Marcia and I saw several multi-use campers that were popular in Europe. These campers could fit in a standard garage and be a family van during the week. But on the weekend, they could convert to a camper for six people by deploying a popup tent top and a camping module that included a water tank, sink, and propane cooktop. We thought this vehicle could meet the needs of Americans, too, whether for family camping or rugged outback trips for hikers, climbers, and bikers.
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For the platform chassis, we selected the Mercedes-Benz Metris. We installed [VB Air Suspension](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTUYCeIFR1Y) to improve the Metris suspension and applied our [lithium battery capabilities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUrmRy4Tyq0) to assure off-the-grid power. For the  popup tent top, we contracted with C.F. Maier, out of Germany. For the camping module, we selected [Egoe Nest](https://www.egoe-nest.eu/en/nestbox/), a Czech company known for their innovative and high quality camping equipment. After meeting the Egoe Nest people at the Caravan Salon, we visited their facility in the Czech Republic and were further convinced that these were the folks we wanted to work with.
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We started a new company called MetriVan LLC, bought six Metrises, and built a few test MetriVans with the popup tops and camping modules. These prototypes we loaned to several camping bloggers to receive their feedback and get the word out. All seemed like a go…
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![Metrivan-1-1024x683](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/4GURGCtZBttrfgrgDgv9WL/5b9fb2551c02f3d72c5becf2a0681283/Metrivan-1-1024x683.jpg)
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But our efforts were a failure. The MetriVan didn’t sell. Although we understand that vehicles like the MetriVan are selling in the northwest U.S., there wasn’t much interest east of the Mississippi. We sold our Metrises at cost and never got into full production. We just shipped our remaining camper popup tops to a company in the northwest. There’s one MetriVan left, a red “tailgate model” equipped with a rear pullout entertainment center.
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![Red-Metrivan-2-1024x671](//images.ctfassets.net/7x58vhrtlx2l/6ODv0tSQmT57T2YZBvVTD1/f9603b8a69be1575c3c2bce844ce44ab/Red-Metrivan-2-1024x671.jpg)
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We have five RO 710 camping modules for sale at cost. Each of these modules includes a water tank, sink, propane cooktop, and multiple drawers to house a cutting board, cooking/eating utensils, and plates and cups. These Nestboxes will fit in a Metris as well as some other vans and SUVs. Our price is $5,000, plus shipping. Please let us know if you’re interested.
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Even with the best planning, excellent partners and design, the Metrivan didn’t sell. We gave it our best shot but in the end, we failed. We learned a lot from this experience and have applied some of our learning to make our successful Advanced-RV business more successful. We hope that our few Metrivan and Nest owners and Nest purchasers find travel joy from our liquidated products.

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Reflecting on the Metrivan Project

# __March 12, 2021:  Backroads through Amish country and arrival at Hocking Hills State Park__
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Early Friday morning, we depart Cleveland in KISS (Keep It Simple and Serene), an extended 2020 Sprinter van, configured over a year ago, but recently completed as a spec van at Advanced RV in Willoughby, Ohio. Since Mike and I are now two weeks out from our second COVID vaccine jab, we are at last feeling freer to travel.  We stop at Whole Foods for provisions and head south on one of our first sunny, warm days of spring.  We exit Rt. 77 to follow scenic route 39 west into Holmes County, home to many Ohio Amish communities.  At Millersburg, we choose scenic route 83 south, taking us over hills, creeks and fields still brown from winter and through former canal and railroad towns, continuing on backroads around Zanesville to Somerset.  Here, we stop, taking our own lunch to one of the picnic tables at what feels a little European town square.   In the center is a bronze statue of a horse and rider in motion, with the horse rearing and the small rider exuberantly swinging his right arm out.  This is Philip Sheridan (“Little Phil”), a Union General in the Civil War, who grew up here.
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KISS handles great on the winding, hilly backroads.  We take Rt. 664 south and stop to hike at __Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve, North Trailhead,__ where we cross a newly built bridge and start climbing a steep trail into the dense woods.  We meet two women hikers, who tell us this new trail is their favorite hiking spot in the area, little used, but we should get to Hocking Hills now to hike Old Man’s Cave, the most popular trail, before the weekend crowds arrive.
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About 3:30pm, we arrive at Hocking Hills campground, put our levelers down on the sloped camping site and hike about a half mile down the hill to “A Frame Bridge,” where we cross the deep gorge and turn up to the head of Old Man’s Cave trail at the Upper Falls  We are amazed at the variety of stone layers in this gorge, the huge moss covered boulders and the frequent, gushing waterfalls.  This is central Ohio?  We go beyond Old Man’s Cave, past the Lower Falls to Broken Rock Falls, where another hiker takes our picture and Mike does a short rock climb up to a deep cave.  (TWO PICTURES) All in all, we get a “moderate” 5 miles in before sunset.   Camping next to us is a family from Michigan, trying out their new pop up camping trailer.  The older kids ride scooters and play street hockey on the main drive. We have an easy dinner at the picnic table and get to bed early. 
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__March 13, 2021:  Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave__
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Bright sunrise, but only 30 degrees.  Campground covered in frost.  Out of an opening at the top of a small teepee tent near us, smoke from a tiny wood stove spews out. With water and Kind bars in Mike’s backpack, we are on the trail by 8:30am, to hike Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave, a “difficult” 12 mile round trip. The gorges, waterfalls, rocks, and ledges are lush and the rock steps and bridges, built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, are fairly well-maintained.  Our knee high Boggs boots with ice cleats are perfect for the wet trails, ice patches and many stream crossings.  Alone on the trail at first, by mid morning, we are joined by many other hikers, mostly young and all friendly.   
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By 4:00pm, after hiking 15 miles, we are back at our campsite, tired and hungry.   We have beers, some snacks and quickly heat up dinner from home.  Somehow, we find the strength for a short stroll in the pleasant campground, now almost full.  We talk with a couple in a Jeep with a popup tent on top.  After raving about it for a while, this middle aged, large couple, admit that climbing the ladder is hard on their knees.  By 8:30pm, we are ready for bed, glad to “spring” the clocks ahead to a less embarrassing bedtime.
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__March 14, 2021: Conkles Hollow__
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Another frosty, bright morning.  We leave the campground by 8:30am, and drive a few miles to Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve, where we hike the 1 mile loop within the gorge and then the 2.5 miles on the rim.  Here is another lush area with views of waterfalls, gorges, and moss-covered rocks and ledges.   We are the only hikers there until the return trip within the gorge when we meet a young couple from Cleveland, where the guy tends the elephants at the Cleveland Zoo.  At the __Coffee Emporium__ on Rt. 664 near Logan, I wait in line for about a half hour, while Mike circles the parking lot to get a spot.  After lattes and a panini, we head northeast on back roads to scenic route 13 north to Zanesville.  Here, we decide to take interstates to get home by mid afternoon, having discovered the treasure of Hocking Hills State Park. 
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