SylvanSport Updates Their Vast Camper To Give America the Turnkey Solution We Need

Folks, the habitat before us today is nothing more than SylvanSport's updated Vast travel trailer. Yes, you've surely heard us mention this machine before, back in 2021, to be precise, but since then, a few upgrades have been added to ensure that this habitat is the mobile living solution you need no matter where or when you decide to travel.

To kick things off for the Vast, it helps to take a look at the minds and hands behind the machine, and that's SylvanSport, an outdoor gear manufacturer born in North Carolina that's been around since 2004 and, since then, has gathered quite a solid following. Their current lineup includes everything from campsite mattresses, portable cooking stations, sleeping bags, kayak and bike racks, cargo trailers, and full-blown mobile homes like the Vast.

But, it's not necessarily SylvanSport that's the focus of our attention, but the Vast, so take a nice long look at the images in the gallery, but really pay attention to that composite shell. Why is this such a big deal? Well, let's think about that for a second.

As you most likely know by now, wood and metal are the sort of materials that the elements just love to eat away at, yet composites, well, we all know how much abuse a plastic bottle can take. This ensures that the elements are held at bay no matter the climate you're in. Sure, it's going to cost a bit more than your average unit of this size and similar capability - prices start at an MSRP of $70K (€64K at current exchange rates) - but the tradeoff is huge.

Now, a shell is a shell, and what really attracted me to the Vast is the unit as a whole, in particular, how it's heavily aimed at outdoor living. From an awning to solar panels, outdoor and indoor galley blocks, outdoor shower kits, kayak racks, bike racks, large storage bays, and countless others, this thing looks like it has it all for the outdoor lover.

One feature that requires a closer look is the galley I mentioned. To show their love for the outdoors and the beauty of whipping up a meal under god's gaze, SylvanSport decided to set the Vast apart from other campers on the market with a mobile galley block.

Set up on a slide-out, the Vast's galley can be positioned for cooking outdoors, the same galley that will later serve your needs if rain hits and you need to escape to the interior, sealing the shell from the elements in the process. How many travel trailers have you seen with such a feature? I can tell you that there aren't many on the market, and definitely not designed the same.

Let's say a rouge storm pops up while you're out there enjoying the outdoors. Unless it's a summer storm, you'll probably want to head inside and to do that, you can use the door to the left of the galley. Or, if life caught you with everything unfurled around your unit, just toss everything into the Vast via the rear lifting tailgate, yourself included, and close it off.

At this point, you'll find yourself in the bike and toy garage SylvanSport has integrated into the Vast, which is achieved through the use of a track system. This lets owners move the L-shaped lounge toward the front when carrying toys such as e-bikes and anything else they may have brought with them, but come nighttime, the couch slides back and takes the shape of a two-person bed.

But the Vast is suitable for up to four people, so where's the second bed? It's found above the first. That's right! SylvanSport added a second bed that drops down and hovers above the lounge, and what's neat about all this is the following: let's say you're traveling as a couple. If that's the case, you and your spouse can utilize the upper bed for sleeping and leave the lounge as is or fill the garage with all your adventurous soul needs.

At the front of the Vast, however, you'll be able to find the last and all-important feature: the bathroom. Now, this space, too, is a bit different than what you may be used to in the sense that it's split into two sections: the toilet and vanity in one place and the shower right next to it.

But, the catch here is that the indoor shower seems accessible only once you've pulled or pushed the galley outside. While using the shower seems to be limited only to sunny or rainless days, the toilet and vanity are not. Still, the Thule awning should be enough to ensure your galley doesn't get soaked if you really need to wash while it's drizzling outside.

Finally, let me point out a few features that you need to be aware of if you find the Vast is your kind of camper trailer. Overall, you'll be limited to a GVWR of 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) while carrying around just 30 gals (114 l) of fresh water, so a few days of off-grid living is possible, depending on how you ration your water. But my favorite is the 800 W of solar panel power and "smart charging" system, ensuring you can break away from the trailer park.

What does all this mean for you and me? It simply means a travel trailer that's ready to cater to the lifestyle of the modern weekend warrior, not the drinking kind, but the outdoor living and exploration kind.

Oh, you have one or two kids? The Vast is built for that, too. Into kayaking and riding bikes through the woods? Check that one off the list, too. Looking just to get away from the city life? Vast for the win again. Honestly, I think we could do this all day and find scenarios in which the Vast is sure to perform, and that's something to think about.