During the 10,357 mile trip I experienced temps ranging from -8 degrees in British Columbia to 97 degrees in Mexico. The Tune performed great. I didn't have a single breakdown the entire trip. The only learning curve was the heater and we will dive into that as well as some of the other things that I learned along the way. All pictures are from how the truck looked when the trip ended. No special cleaning or setup for the photos. Here is an overview of the trip!

1. Start in Sioux Falls
2. Drive to Bozeman. Park. Fly to see my mom for Thanksgiving
3. Stay in Banff for a few weeks. Campground required in the park!
4. Stay in an Airbnb with my mom over Christmas and ski!
5. Ski a lot
6. Stay in a campground in San Francisco
7. Stay in a campground in San Diego
8. Fly home for a day. Leave truck at Reno Airport
9. End in Sioux Falls to grab my bike for the trip home.

The Route

This ended up exposing me to a lot of different situations. Leaving the truck in the cold and warm for a few days. Using it as a normal car while staying in an Airbnb.

The M1 Specs

Here's how my camper was set up from the factory:

Here are the additional items I added to build out the camper for the trip:

Power

Driving was almost always enough to handle my power needs. There were only a couple of times on the trip that I had to find a plug. Hotels in northern climates usually have plugs for block heaters.

EcoFlow Battery Setup

EcoFlow Battery Charger Setup

The issue happened when I flew home for Thanksgiving and accidentally left the lights on. This left the battery dead and cold. If the battery is too cold it won't charge. So I had to pull the battery and put it in the front seat as I drove and plugged it into the cigarette lighter charger. It eventually started taking a charge and I was able to find a plug at a community center to charge it the rest of the way.

There were other times the battery got too cold and would not charge. However, it will output power even if it's cold. So you can turn the heater on and it will warm the battery enough to charge. Also, even in negative temps, just running the heater while I slept every night was enough to keep the battery warm enough to charge.

All ways to charge:

• Driving
• Wall outlets
• EV Chargers (future)
• Solar (future): throw-out panels

Solar would also be pretty cool and I almost bought a panel to put on the top of the camper even though I already have a throw-out panel that I'll be adding to the setup this summer. I decided against it because I only wanted the panel if I was parked at a location for a few days without moving, which has been rare. The throw-out panels will work perfectly in that case while also being protected from the elements and portable. I just feel like a mounted panel will be sitting on the truck too much without being used. I don't have a strong opinion here. Having a panel constantly charging that doesn't require any setup would be pretty nice!

Insulation

I utilized both the insulation kit from Tune and the DIY roof insulation that I built. I found both to be invaluable. Not only did it keep the camper warmer, but it kept out light when I slept under street lights and kept out the noise when I was sleeping by a road. One other benefit is that it blocked some of the heat from the morning sun during slow mornings in the desert. I also had the factory Tacoma rubber bed liner. I never thought of it as insulation but I was glad that I had it!

Insulation

Once you install the insulation pack it is kind of hard to get the little hooks on the bungees hooked onto the canvas loop holes. I saw that someone added little loops on the Facebook group. Easy upgrade, totally worth it!

Insulation

More reading on insulation:

• Tune M1 Insulation Pack Install
• Tune M1 Roof Insulation

Heater

The Truma heater worked great after a learning curve. I used the heater for comfort only. I woke up in Montana and it was -3 in the camper because I ran out of propane. Wool socks, smart wool leggings, and a sweatshirt combined with my bedding was plenty warm. However, getting out of bed is not fun at those temps! If you are looking for hard data on how the Truma performs in the Tune I recommend checking out my other article Tune M1 Cold Weather Performance!

Truma VarioHeat

Initial Issue

When I got the heater it didn't work due to a loose fitting. It was a bit hard to track down because I didn't know what was normal for the heater. I tightened it up and haven't had any further issues. Just something to keep in mind. All of the common issues that I have run across while using the Tune can be found in this article: Tune M1 Common Issues & Solutions.

Propane Consumption

The biggest complaint that I have about the heater is that you can't tell how much fuel you have. I definitely had my fair share of cold mornings. Otherwise, it is great! Here is what I found:

• 2.5-4 nights per tank, highly dependent on how long you have it on, outdoor temp, and altitude
• I didn't track how long my "nights" were but 10 hours is probably a fair guess.

Icing

There was a night in Wyoming that my heater quit. I woke up in the cold and was pretty confused because:

1. I had just filled the propane tank that day
2. It wasn't that cold, ~30 degrees

When I got out of the camper it had snowed about 10" and all the lines and regulators had about an 1/8 inch of ice on them. I assume this is why the propane stopped flowing. It also could have been that the regulator stopped working. This icing has only happened twice this winter. I think it takes a combo of snow, warm enough temps where the snow will melt on the roof, and a slight angle of the roof towards the propane tank. With all the factors in place, snow from the roof melts, drips on the regulator and lines, then refreezes causing an issue. Unfortunately, I was in a mood that morning and did not take any pictures, but the situation did happen again after I had implemented the fix. Here are some pictures to get an idea of the issue.

Iced Regulator

Iced Lines

Iced Regulator

The fix is to use water pipe insulation on the hoses and a faucet cover on the regulator. The second time there was icing on the lines and hoses was in South Dakota and the fix worked! Another benefit is that the faucet protector keeps the regulators from failing. I went through 3 regulators, but after using the faucet cover, I have had no issues. All three regulators that I used had a warning not to expose them to the elements printed on the side.

Faucet Cover

Water Pipe Insulation

Heater Inlet

You really have to keep this thing closed if you are driving, especially in bad weather. I would put the cap on my seat every night so I wouldn't forget the next morning. I would switch the cap out with this one so that you don't have to find a screwdriver every time. I bought part number 5215K12 and it works but there is a ton of extra room. I would probably recommend 5215K11, however I have not tried it!

Hose Clamps

Snow-Covered Vent

With how finicky the heater is, I would not be surprised if it got really mad about eating a ton of water and snow.

Condensation

When I bought the Tune, I knew that condensation was probably going to be an issue. After spending over 100 nights in the Tune I would say that it is and isn't. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• You pretty much have to run the fan while you sleep even in the dry desert. The lowest setting seemed to work fine the entire time, but when it's really cold the heater and fan definitely are fighting a war.
• Aluminum is a great conductor and, if it's really cold, will collect a lot of condensation throughout the night.
• Anything that's wet is going to dry and the water will end up on the camper
  • swimsuits/towels, etc.
  • Try to keep these in the cab where it will just freeze.
• You don't really have to worry about mold, and it's easy to clean because there aren't traditional walls for it to hide in.

Bed Rail Condensation

Icicles on Lights

Bed Rail Freezing

Propane Filling

Finding filling stations ended up being easier than expected. Companies everywhere will do this. It is way harder to do in Canada and they do not like the sleeve that Tune puts on the bottles.

• iOverlander: have local places everywhere
• Tractor Supply: Almost all of them sell propane and are open late and on Sundays.

The Big Dog

Everything Freezes

Something that is obvious but took some adjusting. I ended up making my purchasing decisions based on how easy it would be to get frozen product out of the container.

• shampoo, food, drinks, everything.
• You could run the heater but because of the location of the vent you can't when you are going down the highway.

Frozen Solid

Eating & Food Prep

For cooking I used a cutting board on the bed. Try to only use one bowl to make cleanup fast and easy. "Clean" is definitely close to dry cabin or camping clean. I would wipe down bowls with bread to keep trash to a minimum. The microwave was a lifesaver. Trader Joe's is the best because of all their quick-cook options. The refrigerator did great. It just ran for 3 months straight. Most of the time it would keep food from freezing unless it was super super cold.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

Dish Storage

The Kitchen

Dish Storage

Everything Pink Bag

I used this to hold everything when I took a shower and dry foods that didn't go into the cooler. I am working on a different solution to hold the dry foods. It needs to be big and strong enough to carry all of your water containers into the shower so you can fill them. This ended up being the default storage for all of my water containers. I also used this to get groceries. I think that getting some better storage in place in order to keep this empty when it's not used will be way better! Uses:

• Fruit hanger
• Dry food storage
• Water storage

The Everything Bag

This bag was able to hold all of my water containers. Combined, they held about 4 days' worth of water. Hopefully I was able to get a shower in every 4 days so it was enough water to last!

Showers & Bathrooms

This is where I take the everything bag. The issue that ended up being annoying is that the everything bag needed to be emptied of the dry food, then filled with the shower stuff. It's something that I am going to fix before heading back to Alaska. The most basic Tevas seem to be the best shower shoes because they dry so fast, pack to nothing, and somehow don't get gross. I also just ended up wearing them a lot. I tried Crocs too but they are gross.

Shower Shoes

I tried to take one every 4 days and kept about four days of water with me. The best and most reliable place to fill up water is when you shower. I almost bought a blue water jug but I am so glad that I didn't. It is so much more convenient for a setup like this just to get water as you find it, and fill up inconspicuously. I'm just a dude fillin' a water bottle you know?

Medicine Cabinet

Water Storage

The Bathroom

When you are staying in the middle of nowhere or a campground, bathrooms aren't an issue. The worst situation is when you are "stealth" camping or camping at a grocery store or casino. I would always keep a bottle on hand for this situation. Everyone seems to care if you whip it out in public, but nobody minds if you dump a bottle out of the back of your truck.

Also, totally possible to pee out the back door without getting out of the truck. Must suck to be a girl.

Using only public bathrooms took some time to get used to. 3 months without a private shower wasn't fun. Dropping a deuce in public is gross.

• Planet Fitness: Great option when in a big city
• Hot Springs: you will smell like sulfur but probably won't be able to smell it yourself. Kinda gross.
• Aquatic centers: Usually can also swim or hot tub. The shower-only price is usually ~$3; anything over $10 is highway robbery.
• Hostels: usually have a shower-only price. Don't pay over $10 — that's just nuts!
• Outside: Lots of beaches have showers. Use as little biodegradable soap as possible.
• Rinse Kit: Adding this option for the summer. Would have been impossible to keep unfrozen over the winter.

Trash

Gas stations. Keeping everything small is key. Small trash is no exception. You can dump wherever. Gas station trash cans were my go-to. I tried to stay away from dumpsters. People get pissed if they catch you dumping in them.

Tune M1 Trashcan

Velcro Holder

I used a box with a trash bag. The box was just Velcroed to the top of my fridge.

Cleaning

Inside

Keeping a kitchen mat on the floor makes a big difference. Just wash it when you are washing clothes. I just used surface cleaner and paper towels for the most part. I also got a small blower from my mom and it worked pretty well to get the dust out.

Kitchen Mat

Outside

I was mostly worried about bugs causing issues with the finish so I tried to wash as much as possible. I can't remember the dos and don'ts. To be honest I just foam brushed that thing and never had any issues! Get the bugs off!!

Bugs!

My Bed

I kept it pretty standard here. 2 Pillows and a normal set of sheets. The only thing that I have to add is regarding pillow storage. When I first got the camper this was the first issue I ran into. I would just keep them in the back seat of the truck. No problem. Until I inevitably dropped them on the dirty ground. The bed of the truck is also not the cleanest place and usually liable to be wet. So I made a storage solution. It uses a cargo net from Harbor Freight and some stick up clips. If I were to get another Tune, I would probably add this before the first night out!

Pillow Storage

Parking - Not Sleeping

Really easy most of the time, but hard if you are in the city. I found it really hard to find a place to park around big cities. Parking in a parking garage is almost always out of the question, although I made it happen a few times. I think the clearance must be 7-foot-plus for my setup. I picked my mom up in Calgary to ski up in Banff over Christmas and we stayed downtown at a hotel for a night. They only had a parking garage to park in, and it turned into a nightmare to be honest. Stay out of the city as much as possible!

I was always a little nervous leaving my truck parked in town, and out of sight, for extended periods of time. The camper no doubt makes it a target for thieves. Thankfully I never had any issues.

Places to Sleep

I slowly got more and more adventurous when it came to sleeping arrangements. I was able to sleep in some weird spots, and every place I visited twice, I immediately wanted to visit my old spots, weird, I know. It is hard to find places in the city. It is easy to find places in the desert.

• iOverlander: always the first place that I looked and had great options for the most part.
• Casinos: Great if you are staying in the city. Most require you to check in with security but are free. I ran into a couple of drunks but there is usually a lot of security so shenanigans are kept to a minimum.
• Airport parking garage: I had an early flight! Worked great!
• Campgrounds
  • used in San Francisco and San Diego and Banff
  • nice because you get power
  • also added security when you are gone.
  • when you consider the parking that you would pay in a big city, plus laundry/pool/bathroom/shower/etc. it is actually sometimes worth it.
• Just ask people/workers/managers
  • If you ask most people are cool with it for one night.
• Just sending it
  • People just don't want methy-looking RVs outside
  • come in after dark, leave early In all 3 months I only had one issue. I was woken up in the morning at the Taos ski resort and they said I shouldn't have slept there and to just move. People honestly don't give a shit. Just be very nice when they knock!

Garage Parking

Big Sky Night

Sleeping in BC

Clothes

Storage

I used a 2-stage system. Dirty clothes in the cab to hopefully freeze and not release condensation, clean clothes in the camper for easy access.

The "Closet"

Dirty Clothes

Drying Clothes

This was one of my bigger concerns but really wasn't a big deal. As I mentioned in the condensation section, wet clothes really can cause a problem. I would exhaust all possibilities of getting them as dry as possible before putting them in the warm camper! My setup:

• I had a drying clippy thing that I would use for gloves (I also had multiple sets of gloves)
• I would hang wet clothes, like snow pants, off the carabiner over the top of the "closet bag"
• Other "half used" clothes would get stuffed behind the closet.

Glove Drying

The "Closet"

Hang Drying

Doing Laundry

The first laundromat that I went to was in Spokane, and the homeless dude next to me dumped his pockets and a crack pipe fell out. That was enough of big city laundries for me. Mountain towns have the best/cleanest laundromats. Doing laundry is actually super expensive. All my sheets and clothes could be upwards of $60. At that price it almost makes sense to rent an Airbnb or try to stay at a hostel.

The "Closet"

Dirty Clothes

You can see my system above. My clean clothes are on the left, in the "closet." Dirty clothes are on the right. This keeps everything nice and separated, but the main benefit becomes apparent when you get to the laundromat.

1. You just pull up and grab the bag out of the back seat. You already have the detergent sheets at the bottom of the bag!
2. You throw the clothes in the wash, and return the bag to the truck.
3. When the clothes are done, you just take the "closet" bag in. Fold the clothes, throw them in the back, hook it back on the carabiner and you're heading down the road.

This is the best way to do laundry. Tell me I'm wrong!

Entertainment

I stored everything in a backpack. Chargers, cords, my computer, a book. This was a grab-and-go for the library or coffee shop. I used the Black Hole Mini MLC Pack, which I actually hate because you load the smaller pocket from the side instead of the top. The one I linked to is top-loading — I can't even find the one I have anymore. I hate the one I have, but it happens to work well with the Tune setup because it hangs sideways. I would still get the new version though!

Entertainment Bag

Visiting Cities

When I was beginning the trip I thought that it was going to be great to knock some of the bigger US cities off my bucket list! While this was true, it wasn't as easy or as cheap as I thought it would be. I found that the cheapest way to see a city was by staying at a campground that is as close to public transit as possible. I was able to accomplish this for about 80-100 dollars a night. That sounds crazy expensive, but by the time you factor in paying for parking, the possibility of your car getting broken into, showers, electricity, and laundry, it ends up being a pretty good deal.

I was able to get a better deal by being flexible. Just showing up and asking for an electric-only site frequently cut the cost in half! I only stayed in three campgrounds on my trip!

1. San Diego
2. San Francisco
3. Banff

It would be nice to have a bike! I will have one this summer on my trip back to Alaska :)

Running to the Desert

The desert is warm even in the winter. I frequently tried to spend a few days out there. It makes the camper feel so much bigger. It's nice to cook outside and air out the camper!

High Above Moab

The Salt Flats

Other Insights

Tailgate Gap Cover

I bought this tailgate flap as an impulse buy and thought it was going to be kind of stupid. I couldn't have been more wrong. Here's how it helps:

1. Keeps out snow, dirt, sand, really anything that accumulates on the tailgate.
2. It makes it easier to sweep or blow off the bed with a leaf blower.

Tailgate Flap

Bed Stiffeners

It's hard to know if these are making a difference. I don't see my bed getting out of square so I guess they are working?

Bed Stiffeners

Ski Storage

I kept the skis in ski clamps on the top of the Tune. I think this is almost required in order to keep moisture out of the camper. It is also just so dang easy to throw them up there!

Ski Clamps

Misc Storage

Shoes went in front of the passenger seat. It was easy enough to rearrange to fit a passenger if needed!

Shoe Storage

Nothing too exciting, just a box wrapped in duct tape. This is where I kept spare parts, extra spices (Costco-size garlic salt), sunscreen, Tylenol, just all that good stuff.

Misc Storage

Was the Skiing Good?

2026 wasn't the best season on record but I was able to sneak a few good days in there ;) I think that a ranking of the places that I visited is as follows:

1. Revelstoke
2. Alta
3. Jackson

I definitely had the best powder days of the trip at those resorts so results may be skewed. Even when the snow wasn't falling I was able to visit some hot springs. It really was a win-win situation!

Powder Day

Skiing

Hot Springs

Otherwise it was great to see the country and take it easy for a few months. This is the first time that I have been able to take an extended period of time off work as an adult and it was much needed!

Until Next Time

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