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About Us

We are two computer programmers whose shared love of independence and adventure spurred us to quit our jobs and move into an ’86 Dodge Ram van. Now we road trip across the USA as digital nomads—finding the joys of the small and the monumental and, occasionally, writing about it. Roam Lab documents our search for the magnificent, the odd, the tasty, and the brilliant from sea to shining sea.

Lexi & Cowboy

A Perpetual Road Trip

Arizona

December 2018
Texas

December 2018
Oklahoma

December 2018
Arkansas

December 2018
Tennessee

November 2018
North Carolina

November 2018
Wisconsin

August 2018
Minnesota

August 2018
California

January 2018
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Our Vehicles

It's been a long road to the right rig.

Our beloved vehicles have taken us across the country and back again. They are part of our story, shaping our route and trajectory. Our 1986 Dodge Ram van, Dodgy, and its successor Dodgy II—a 2015 3500 Dodge Ram truck—have each brought specific capabilities and limitations to the table. We’ve dirtied our hands with renovations and augmentations. Other times, we’ve had magnificent plans that have just fallen through. Either way, it all contributes to our story on Roam Lab.

1986 3500 Ram Commuter Van

2015 3500 Ram 4x4 Truck

Truck Camper

Our Gut & Restoration

From The Roam Lab Shop

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From Roam Lab

There's always something new with Roam Lab. Sometimes we are exploring new wildernesses. Other times we are poking around strange bits of Americana. More often than not, we are working and contemplating the next steps to improve our truck living situation.

Top Categories

Check out some of our favorite activities while on the road!

Boondocking

12 destinations

Boondocking or "free camping" is staying over night in informal campsites such as undeveloped campgrounds, parking lots, or driveways.  This can mean drastically different camping styles depending on the individual.  We have had our share of secluded nights in the wilderness and noisy truck stops.  The common thread through all of these? We didn't pay a cent for the site.

Camping

8 destinations

Hiking

22 destinations

Kayaking

1 destinations

Overlanding

12 destinations

Sailing

1 destinations

Destinations

Where Will You Go?

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  • Fairwell to the ocean. This has been a delight, but it is time to turn inland and start heading east. No rush, though. There are still so many adventures to be had before we get back to Tennessee and working on our Avion.⁣
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    Fairwell to the ocean. This has been a delight, but it is time to turn inland and start...
  • Are you trying to pick out solar panels? Have you already taken the plunge?⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ On beautiful, sunny days like this, I kick myself that we haven't installed solar panels yet. Sure, we've been busy extending the cabover, installing a roof hatch, and fundamentally reworking structurally critical portions of a near 50 year old truck camper. Yet, right now, the only power we have is what we tote in standalone battery packs. Don't get me wrong, they will always be useful. But I can't wait for the day where recharging my computer doesn't require running the truck engine and finessing the cigarette lighter inverter that is our current method of charging anything with an AC plug.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Yet, making that decision is so hard. I'm sure a lot of you either have confronted or are confronting the question of how to power their camper, whatever form it is: ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ - Flexible vs. solid panels⁣⠀ - Price vs. efficiency⁣⠀ - Static vs. adjustable mount⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ So many variables to juggle. And so we just sit on the question in a perpetual cycle of analysis paralysis.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Where are you? Do you have solar panels? Do you love them? Are you shopping? Is there some compelling feature that is driving you in a particular direction?⁣
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    Are you trying to pick out solar panels? Have you already taken the plunge?⁣⠀...
  • Oh, you know it's that time: I came across a raft of sea otters and could not stop taking pictures. First, Cowboy leaned up against a railing. Then he started pacing back and forth. Next, he pulled out his phone and started catching up on phone calls. Yeah, he knew that it would be more likely that the sea otters move on than for me to walk away from that floating group of cuteness.⁣
    roamlab
    Oh, you know it's that time: I came across a raft of sea otters and could not stop...
  • roamlab
    Do you have rituals when you travel?⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ We have set up and broken down camp at...
  • Oh, my friends. Pull up a stump and let me share my latest discovery: I've been upping my campfire game with this Blood Orange & Bourbon cocktail. It's the perfect close to an evening!⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ 1 pump @amoretti Blood Orange Craft Puree⁣⠀ 1 teaspoon simple syrup*⁣⠀ 3 tablespoons bourbon⁣ 3 drops of aromatic bitters a splash of sparkling water Optional: mint for garnish ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I like serving my cocktails on the rocks (when I have ice). Granted, access to perishables like ice while away from civilization is limited. That's why the Amoretti Craft Puree is the perfect way to add a dash of fruit even when we are far away from a fruit stand. The bottles are shelf stable. So, we can manage despite our lack of a refrigerator!⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Cheers! ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ * For those that might be curious: I make my own simple syrup with a sugar substitute to cut back on calories.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ #ad #amoretti
    roamlab
    Oh, my friends. Pull up a stump and let me share my latest discovery: I've been upping...
  • See Cowboy in the truck? He is shadowing his eyes to keep an eye on me while a scramble around to take a picture. Poor guy. He spends a lot of time like that. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ You see, the downside of traveling the coast is that there are so many awesome views so we are constantly stopping to take pictures. Granted, the upside of traveling the coast is that there are so many awesome views to take in. So, yeah, I think it all balances out in the positive.⁣
    roamlab
    See Cowboy in the truck? He is shadowing his eyes to keep an eye on me while a scramble...
  • Lunch on the Avion roof? Don't mind if I do.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣Food options are pretty limited in Big Sur. There are only small markets with high markups to reflect the expense of importing food into this surprisingly remote area. But with a view like this, most anything tastes amazing.⁣
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    Lunch on the Avion roof? Don't mind if I do.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣Food options are pretty...
  • Well, we've been radio silent for a while. Anyone that has been to our website (roamlab.com) probably knows why. The site has finally received a much needed facelift. (For my nerdy brethren: I finally migrated the site onto some faster servers, as well. Huzzah!)⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Better yet, we have spun out a little shop with art, apparel, and home goods inspired by our road tripping adventures. While there still is a lot more work to be done. It feels good to pop up for a breath of fresh air and see the progress that has been made.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ What have you been up too this week?⁣
    roamlab
    Well, we've been radio silent for a while. Anyone that has been to our website...
  • roamlab
    I don't think I have seen a greater drama play out than this juvenile elephant seal's...
  • What are features that you like / dislike about your windows?⠀ ⠀ This latest round of travel has us brainstorming a lot about next steps. It looks like we are going to have to do a lot of work on these windows... or just replace them outright.⠀ ⠀ Anyone have experience working on windows or know some good resources? After the joys of adding out new roof hatch, I so appreciate a good window.
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    What are features that you like / dislike about your windows?⠀ ⠀ This latest round...
  • Have pan, will travel.⠀ ⠀ Just because we live on the road, it doesn't mean we have to give up the finer things in life. Whenever we provision, it's time to enjoy those rare perishable delights like fish, fresh produce, and a bottle of chilled white wine.⠀ ⠀ In a few days, we'll be back to canned tuna and pasta. (I'm assuming you are less interested in seeing the amorphous grey blobs of dinner from nights like that.) Right now, however, I'll savor the moment.
    roamlab
    Have pan, will travel.⠀ ⠀ Just because we live on the road, it doesn't mean we have...
  • Are you a planner?⠀ ⠀ I think the last time we reserved a campsite in advance was...2015? And let's be clear: we have visited far more campsites since 2015 than at any point of our lives preceding 2015. (You might have heard that we got rid over everything an became nomads around then).⠀ ⠀ When we land a prime campsite, it is a combination of luck and timing. (I'd equate it to fishing but I am really bad a fishing.) Our time in Big Sur would have been but a day had not we landed a lovely site among the redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. How? We show up early, cross our fingers, and always have a backup plan.
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    Are you a planner?⠀ ⠀ I think the last time we reserved a campsite in advance...