Speaking of solar, the Mode 4×4 comes prewired for up to 600 watts. Even with this sort of aggressive power consumption, we only drained the battery to around 50 percent, which recharged quickly, thanks to the high output auxiliary alternator and factory solar. With a 3,600-watt inverter, we were able to run the microwave, induction cooktop, charge laptops, and run the lights all at the same time without an issue. The 12kWh is usable energy, which gives the van just over 200 amp hours for whatever you want before the safety measures kick in. Storyteller lists the Mode as having a 12 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery managed by a Volta power system, but it’s actually 13.6 kilowatt-hours or about 230 amp hours at 58 volts. – 230 Ah lithium battery 58 volts (1000+ Ah equivalent at 12 volts) As someone who has gotten used to the point-and shoot-method of off-roading on 37-inch tires, I couldn’t help but smile. It’s like rewinding the clock to the first time you went out in your 4×4, and having to learn the ropes all over again. Unlike driving a Wrangler, ZR2, Land Cruiser, or Discovery where you have to seek out a select few trails to challenge the vehicle, the Mode can make lighter and more easily accessible trails a fun challenge. To be honest, once you accept that your goal isn’t to be the most capable vehicle on the trail, wheeling the Mode 4×4 becomes an absolute blast. Thanks to these wise decisions, soft sand, deep snow, mud, and yes, even some technical terrain are all within the capabilities of the Mode 4×4. They kept the undercarriage clean and free of low hanging pipes and tanks, the approach and departure angles weren’t ruined with cheesy bolt-on fascias, and they installed proper all-terrain tires instead of thin-walled all-season ones. That’s because Storyteller understands what’s important on an off-road van. Still, on 99 percent of what we would need to drive on as overlanders, a Mode 4×4 will tackle with ease. They are travel vehicles, designed with that purpose in mind, not rock crawling. While companies are managing to stuff 35-inch tires under these vans, it’s important to know that they are not meant to be trail rigs. It seems like everyone wants to know about the off-road capability of the Sprinter, so let’s just get that out of the way now. We used each system and pushed its limits whenever possible. We moved into the van for nearly two weeks and drove it from California to Arizona and back again across every type of terrain that the landscape had to offer. I have found that the best way to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a platform is to utilize them in the field, so to test the Storyteller Mode, we did just that. I wasn’t sure how it would hold up to daily use on and off road, but I certainly intended to find out. I had to double-check that I had walked into the right van because it was so much better than I had expected for an “RV” sold through dealerships nationwide. There is seating for four, an innovative shower/bathroom combo, and a rugged garage for hauling gear that is tall enough for mountain bikes. Unlike the cheap RVs I have come to know, the materials in the Mode are solid, the colors timeless, and the layout open and airy. Yet, it was the interior that solidified my appreciation for the Storyteller. It is clean and capable, an authentic adventure van. There are no side skirts or lower fascias bolted on, no pipes or tanks hanging off the belly, and no ridiculous graphics or badging thrown on its sides to make it “look adventurous.” It doesn’t need to look adventurous, because it is adventurous. The factory tires are all-terrains from BFGoodrich, the roof rack is from Front Runner, and it is only available in four-wheel drive. Walking up to the Mode at Overland Expo West last year, I was immediately struck by the notion that it wasn’t your everyday RV. But more recently, some big manufacturers have stepped up to the plate-the latest of those is Storyteller Overland with the Mode 4×4.įor our conclusions, skip to the bottom. That used to mean pursuing custom solutions from a variety of small van shops. They want higher-quality materials, improved space efficiency, room for their outdoor gear, and a little off-road capability to take them further than other RVs can go. However, a growing number of consumers want something more, something better. The materials they’re built from are often cheap, and their entry prices are as low as their ground clearance, but for the average buyer looking to hit the road for a few weeks a year, they’re just good enough. Each year, hundreds of thousands of RVs are sold throughout the United States.
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