I'm always looking to find better ways to be comfortable on my backcountry and woods-centered adventures. It's why I threw a Roofnest onto my Can-Am Maverick X3, and then why I upgraded that rooftop tent with a set of Hest Foamy mattresses. Because if you're comfortable in the backcountry, you're better prepared for the following day's adventures.
It's how I was able to get my first bull elk.
That's why when I went over to read our siblings at InsideEVs the other day and saw this killer little camper van from Coachmen, I knew I had to cover it from an angle for us, the degenerate dirt bikers of the group. Why, because this thing feels like the perfect platform for backcountry adventures, as it's spacious, has solid range for being an EV, is practically a home-away-from-home, and has a conveniently perfect walkway that could possibly fit a dirt bike.
At least if Coachmen would install a handful of tie-downs if asked.
Coachman's RVEX is centered around Chevrolet's new BrightDrop all-electric van, which features a flat floor, loads of space, and basically is the modern Astrovan we all grew up with. But being so basic from the factory, as well as having the luxury of a flat floor thanks to it being an EV, it makes the perfect base for building something like the RVEX, i.e. a camper van with more than enough room for everything. And the drivetrain ain't bad either.
According to our IEVs colleagues, the BrightDrop van is powered by a 172-kilowatt-hour battery pack which pushes power to a dual motor setup, making it all-wheel-drive. That's good for 300 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, as well as a range of about 270 miles after Coachmen is done with all the modifications—base factory specs say a range of around 300 miles. And Chevrolet states that you can add about 160 miles of range through a fast charger in just about an hour, which is pretty damn solid.
But, obviously, it's the interior of this camper van that counts.
Within the van's confines you'll find a kitchen complete with a sink, single-burner induction stovetop, a convection microwave, as well as a mini-refrigerator. Coachmen also added an 18-gallon fresh water tank and a grey water tank, a bathroom and, according to IEVs, "a 1,000-amp-hour 48-volt house battery, 1,000 watts of solar panels and a 50-amp shore power connection." That last one is important, as it helps run all the interior electronics like lights, kitchen appliances, and whatever else you have.
There's also cabinets, and the rear twin sofas can either become one single King-sized bed or two twins if you're camping with friends instead of your significant other. But it's the walkway space that I'm most intrigued about, as it looks perfect to roll a dirt bike into, basically making this a camper/toy hauler with all the comforts of home.
The BrightDrop van's low deck height, combined with the large walkway, and a good dirt bike ramp mean you could, theoretically, just roll your dirt bike into the back without the need to add a hitch rack. Likewise, if you're out hiking and want your dirt bike secure and away from those who might steal it, you can just toss it into the back. And those floors are meant to be easily cleaned, so you don't have to worry about scuffs or dirt or mud getting into your sleeping area, as a quick wipe away and you're done.
Really, it's a perfect dirt biker's camper van.
Now, the only thing I'd ask Coachmen to do would be to install a few tie-downs into the floor so I could secure a dirt bike while driving. I've reached out to the company for comment on whether or not they would, but haven't yet heard back. That said, I'm sure the company would, as that's a pretty easy request. But imagine having all the comforts of home in the woods and being even more comfortable than even my Roofnest allows for. Coachmen, give me one. Please.
