There is an unwritten rule in the overland world: The first camper van photo trip in a brand-new rig is rarely a vacation; it’s a test of the systems. No matter how pristine a vehicle looks on the dealership lot, you don’t truly know what you have until you hit the mountain passes and get it out on the road.
This weekend, I officially took our new 2026 Jayco Comet 18C out for its very first Colorado adventure.
The goal was simple: get out into the field, enjoy the holiday weekend, and kickstart the location tracking project. The reality? Well, let’s just say the mountains decided to give us a proper introduction to van life.
The Gremlins Move In
The fun started early when we realized the onboard refrigerator decided to take the weekend off. It completely refused to cool, transforming our fresh food storage into an expensive countertop.
No problem, right? We’re flexible. We moved everything over, used our cooler to keep things salvaged, and pushed forward to Garden of the Gods to capture some landscape work.
If you’ve ever been to the Springs over Memorial Day weekend, you already know the vibe. The park was absolutely packed to the gills. Even so, we managed to find a spot and set up as a stunning sunset began to materialize over the rocks. But just as the light started to get interesting, the mountain weather did what it does best—the clouds completely vanished into thin air, leaving us with a bald, empty blue sky.
No fridge, massive crowds, and a sunset that fizzled out. Still, we kept our spirits up and headed to the campsite to log some sleep.
That’s when the rig decided to throw its best counter-punches:
- The Frozen Frontier: We flipped on the hydronic heating system to take the edge off the dropping mountain temperatures. Nothing. The heater was completely dead.
- The Midnight Siphon: Just when we thought we’d crawl into bed and deal with the cold, we discovered that the water tank’s overflow and pressure release valve had malfunctioned. It had quietly siphoned every single drop of our fresh water supply right out onto the dirt.
Knowing When to Pivot
By 1:00 AM, standing in the dark with no food cooling, no heat, and a bone-dry water tank, we had to make a tactical executive decision. There’s a fine line between roughing it for the sake of art and just plain suffering through a broken system.
We turned the key, put the ProMaster in gear, and headed home.
The van is already scheduled to go into the shop this Wednesday for a full inspection and warranty repairs to get these systems dialed in correctly.
The Silver Lining
Here’s the honest truth: despite the cascade of gear failures, it was still incredibly nice just to be out there. Landscape photography teaches you very quickly that you cannot control the elements, the gear, or the weather. All you can control is your attitude.
More than anything, this trip reinforced how incredibly excited I am to dedicate more of my time, focus, and true passion to the craft of photography. When a first camper van photo trip goes sideways, all you can do is stay positive, laugh at the absurdity of 1:00 AM logistics, and keep moving forward.
Eventually, everything will work out, the systems will be locked down, and the real tracking sprints will begin. This was just chapter one.
See you on the trail (hopefully with running water and heat next time),
Justin Waite Editor, Photography Journal
