Hey Nomadic Fam! In this week’s blogpost, we’re stoked to present our first-ever “Nomadic Van Customer Story!” The following is a feature of an L300 owner Doug Gafner and his Nomadic Van “Starla”. We love staying in touch with Nomadic Van owners, and after getting a brief update about his recent trip to The Badlands, we wanted Doug on here to start us off with what he and Starla (Formerly Sneaky Pete) have been up to! Doug is a talented visual artist (IG @douggafner3) and, as you’ll see, a great storyteller too! So grab your popcorn and kombucha, ‘cause we’re going back to Sun Valley 2021, where this fateful Nomadic Van Story begins…
A storm gathers in Sheridan Lake, SD (photo taken on a recent van life trip)
I saw Sneaky Pete on the website after browsing for a while and decided to give the fellas at Nomadic a call to check it out. A few days later, I am driving out of Sun Valley on my way back to Rapid City, SD. The fellas at Nomadic were very accommodating, they gave me everything I needed to know about owning and maintaining an L300. The journey back to Sodak was about 800 miles of conditioning with the Delica, trekking through Jackson Pass, Teton National Park, and the long stretches of Wyoming plains (up to 24 mpg!) By the time I arrived home, I was confident driving on the right side and comfortable with the "acceleration".
About a year later, I began designing and outfitting, Sneaky Pete, starting with the name; now "Starla" from the movie Napoleon Dynamite, for a part-time van build for extended trips in the wilderness. The build was put on hold after I ruptured my achilles tendon in a moshpit at a punk show, (yes there is punk in Rapid City, SD). Thankfully the guys at Nomadic were able to install a block heater for me so it was nice and warm through the winter. After surgery and 10 months of PT, I finally finished the build.
Starla on a Trip to The Badlands, SD
It was awesome to find out that most modern outdoor equipment like the roof rack bars and awning can be equipped to the Delica with no problems. The rails are very similar to modern designs. I also found a ladder that is fabricated by "Xlpormor Offroad" out of NC. Their ladders are specifically made to fit L300s or L400s. They also make rear swinging carriers for both.
I created a 3D model of the Delica in Autodesk Maya using measurements and dimensions of the van, then designed my interior build from there. The design was simple, it can sleep two, has a desk inside and kitchen in the back.
A few months later, now Spring of 2023, I will be traveling this Summer and Fall living out of the van with plans to camp in the Black Hills of SD, Rocky Mountains of CO, visiting friends and family in the Midwest, and eventually heading west to learn how to surf when the winter comes.
I am really happy I got my Delica through the guys at Nomadic. They know everything there is to know about Delicas, and are ultra passionate about what they do!
See you out there!
Cheers!
- Doug
Thanks, Doug! It’s awesome to hear about all the stellar things you and Starla have been up to, quite a journey. Be sure to keep staying in touch!
As many have figured out, Nomadic Vans have a way of taking their occupants to enchanting places almost instantly after driving off the lot, and Doug’s story is no exception! With owners from all walks of life, this is a commonality between all of our vehicles, as they’re fundamentally road trip ready and up to high mechanical standard from the start. This makes for some seriously cool personal journeys, and we look forward to showcasing more tales of those who share a common passion for the vehicle they drive. So if you own a Nomadic Van, or have a Delica that’s passed through our shop before, feel to email us and we’ll add your story to this blog series!
-Nomadic Van
Doug and Starla at the Nomadic shop after purchase!
