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Mar 13, 2024

Review in the Rockies: Storyteller's New Ford Transit ‘MODE LT’ Campervan

The Storyteller Mode LT campervan was a great way to see the Rockies near the vibrant city of ... [+] Denver, Colorado. As the pandemic raged in 2021, many people were finding solace and even

The Storyteller Mode LT campervan was a great way to see the Rockies near the vibrant city of ... [+] Denver, Colorado.

As the pandemic raged in 2021, many people were finding solace and even adventure in the sudden wave of camper vans that seemed to be coming from every RV maker and custom outfitter at once. Social distancing? No problem. Just hit the road.

People quarantined in RVs like never before, safely ensconced in rolling bubbles that ranged from DIYed work vans like those seen in Best Picture winner Nomadland to half-million dollar long-tail Mercedes-Benz Sprinters slathered in bamboo flooring and silk sheets. Legions of people snapping up vans also signaled a new era in RV travel: The growing appeal of a more practical go-most-anywhere mobile residence with almost all the comforts of home tucked behind the front seats of a vehicle with a footprint much closer to a car than a traditional RV. Seeing as how there wasn’t much else to do and whole countries were in lockdown, it’s no surprise in hindsight that interest in the compact escape pods suddenly surged, and their popularity has held steady as the pandemic has thankfully waned.

A slight suspension lift, custom wheels and all-terrain BF Goodrich tires mean the MODE LT can ... [+] wander a bit off the pavement.

While I didn’t take out a second mortgage to get my own van in 2021, I did talk Alabama-based van outfitter Storyteller Overland into letting me and my partner, young teenager and 70-pound Australian Shepherd blast around the West Coast and drop anchor in some desolate spots in their MODE Beast 4x4 diesel-powered Sprinter van, which rang in at just over $210,000 at the time. We had some great times avoiding society in the go-anywhere Beast.

Good as the Beast was, it was also an all-hands-on-deck driving experience. Already tall and made taller with big, aggressive all-terrain tires and a lifted suspension supplemented by a stability system, the Beast was able to take on deep sand, rutted forest roads and miles of pot-holed gravel byways with aplomb, but it also required two hands on the wheel at all times for proper guidance, even on smooth pavement. There wasn’t anything wrong with it; lifted big rigs on big tires don’t dance down the road with one finger on the wheel, you have to actually drive them. And for what it was, it drove quite well.

The MODE LT is Storyteller's first van based on the Ford Transit 350 AWD gas-powered Ecoboost V6 ... [+] platform.

But now, Storyteller has a new model, the MODE LT, their first rig based on the Ford Transit 350 gas-powered work van chassis (MODEL T, get it?). It trades apocalypse-level off-road abilities for a more relaxed on-road demeanor, while still retaining all-wheel-drive capability.

In late spring, my crew (sans dog) flew to Denver to put the $171,000 MODE LT through the wringer in the still-snowy Colorado Rockies, as we celebrated my son’s 16th birthday with a trip to Aspen/Snowmass along with visits to Boulder, Colorado Springs and some other alpine attractions. We picked up the van from Storyteller at DIA and set out for a shakedown drive to Boulder to check in on some friends we hadn’t seen since B.C. (Before Covid).

Boulder's charming central downtown area is closed to vehicles for the most part and features many ... [+] restaurants, shops and buskers.

Once underway, it was immediately apparent that the MODEL LT was a different creature on the road than the Beast, although the interiors were practically identical (which is a good thing). Mashing the pedal to the floor on a freeway onramp resulted in palpable acceleration and a demure howl from the 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6, but once up to speed on I-70, the MODE LT felt more planted, more relaxed, and less like an overlanding-focused truck.

The lower Transit chassis, while still lifted by Storyteller, is easy to drive and more car-like.

The 148-inch wheelbase MODE LT has a more car-like driving feel, and can be safely one-handed down the highway while you sip from a soda while driving (please drive carefully). But the size and mass is still present, so keep those eyes on the road, and keep a lookout for the next gas station, as the MODE LT burned through regular unleaded at a rate of 11.1 miles per gallon on our trip, for a range of about 300 miles per tank. Our route included mostly highway driving at high altitudes, and I kept to the speed limit if a few over.

At the tops of Colorado's passes, roads can be rough. The MODE LT's reworked suspension is plush but ... [+] responsive and ate up road imperfections.

The suspension, which Storyteller has reworked with a 2-inch lift and added in-house wheels and all-terrain tires, is an ideal compromise between ability and agility. It easily soaked up the hits and humps of Colorados’s winter-beaten highways, but feels less tippy or tall when turning than the Beast. And when we hit heavy snow as we headed over some of the towering Rocky Mountain passes, there was never any panic as the tires bit deep and both ABS and traction control systems kept everything going in the intended direction.

The MODE LT came with a full tech and driver assist suite, but just in case, we also had Opus to ... [+] help out.

On-board tech including lane keeping and radar all around plus 360-degree camera coverage makes parking lot maneuvers and tight quarters less hectic, and the adaptive cruise control is about as close to “self-driving” as I want to get these days.

Although the MODE LT uses the standard 148-inch wheelbase, it feels roomy and well-thought out by ... [+] Storytelller.

Six-digit camper vans need to deliver more than a decent driving experience, of course, and fortunately the MODE LT and Beast share many interior details, plus the MODE LT has a few tweaks and refinements to boot. A comfortable bed with thick and comfy foam can sleep two adults if they are about 6-foot-1 or less thanks to some flareouts on the sides with sliding screened windows.

There was plenty of room for a couple of six-foot tall guys to work and relax.

The bed can be raised or lowered to give more “trunk” space (known as “the garage” in #vanlife speak) or more headroom, depending on your cargo and passengers. An L-track system allows for moving around interior bits and then locking them down securely. The spacious overhead cabinets look great and feature simple push-button locking. Theres more storage in the sink pedestal where the fridge also lives. The microwave is fitted inline with the cupboards.

A touch panel and some simple controls manage the HVAC and robust 12kWh onboard battery power ... [+] system.

Rather than have to rely on a generator, Storyteller includes a large Volta-sourced M-Power 12kWh “Energy Storage System” controlled by an 11-inch touchscreen. It powers interior electrical bits including a dual-power fridge and a microwave oven, rooftop A/C, a six-speaker audio system, induction cooktop and LED lighting. There’s even a small Bluetooth speaker mounted in a convenient spot. Rooftop solar panels recharge the pack as does the van’s electrical system while driving.

While camped out, an efficient gasoline-powered heater keeps things cozy and sheeps wool insulation keeps the heat in the van. A two-spot “Groove Lounge” seat with seat belts coupled with a detachable table makes for a comfy work station, and folds out into another bed that we decided could use a bit more padding. Best for kiddos and furry friends for the most part.

Driver and co-driver accommodations are basic but very comfortable and highly functional.

There are a full suite of exterior RV-type utility connectors as well for running on shore power and using city water systems, but we never had the need for them and felt very self-sufficient with just some water refills. The MODE LT carries 21 gallons of freshwater and will hold 24 gallons of grey water. There’s a chemical toilet and a clever drop-down shower as well as a stainless sink and on-demand hot water. Regular 120-Volt wall outlets and USB ports are positioned throughout the interior.

Snow coated the van and roads in Colorado Springs but the van was cozy and easy to drive in slick ... [+] conditions.

While spending one night in a hotel with friends, our teenager braved a brutally cold Colorado Springs night that brought single digits and snowfall as he slept in the van. He was snug as a bug and we were impressed the heater used only a tiny amount of fuel from the 31-gallon gas tank despite the near-zero temperatures. From there, we set out for Aspen, crossing Independence Pass at over 12,000 feet on roads that thankfully were mostly free of snow thanks to the work of Colorado’s road crews. But exiting into small towns for gas or a food stop, the MODE LT had to traverse both fresh and packed snow, and icy conditions in some spots. The All Wheel Drive system and aggressive tires kept the sliding to a minimum, and we never had a situation where the van was stuck or felt out of control.

What luck! For my son's 16th birthday, we had blue bird conditions on our first visit to Aspen.

After enjoying a long day at Aspen as winter began to slip into spring, we headed for a soak in Glenwood Springs, about an hour from the slopes. Steam rose from the hot waters as the night air began to grow cold once again, and more snow was soon falling. From there we headed for Breckenridge for more alpine fun and a cozy overnight before crossing 11,991-foot Loveland Pass and testing the van’s cornering on the twisting mountain roads back to Denver.

Glenwood Hot Springs is a huge facility with many different pools to visit and it stays open late. ... [+] Worth a visit!

Throughout the trip, the Storyteller Overland MODE LT was comfortable and reliable, and we never any issues with any of the systems on board. If I had to choose between the MODEL LT and the more overlanding-focused MODE Beast, I think I’d pick the MODE LT myself. It seemed to possess about 90% of the Beast’s off-road capabilities while being easier to drive and equal in terms of interior comfort and amenities. If anything, Storyteller has simplified things a bit with the MODE LT, with a new (and better) water routing panel, streamlined electrical controls via a touchscreen and a chassis that easier to drive. It doesn’t have quite the grunt the diesel-powered Beast has, but it’s not underpowered either.

The MODE LT is a worthy addition to the Storyteller lineup and costs much less than their ... [+] Sprinter-based diesel models.

If it were my own rig, I’d probably add some of the aux lighting the Beast included and maybe even a bigger battery for longer excursions off the grid. But on balance, the MODE LT was less stressful to drive and of course, it’s a fair bit less expensive while including many of the same features as Storyteller’s diesel-powered models.

It was a great trip in a fun, capable vehicle that had to manage some tough weather, rough roads, and it still came through like a champ. I might have to give this #vanlife thing a longer go again in the future.