The BEST DIRT ROAD In NC? Can Our EKKO Make It Safely? // Old NC 105

[@denimru4637]

Walking that close to the edge gives me the heebie-jeebies! I feel the thrill of the drive in your voice and the angst in Lynn's. Glad your happy with Freedomvango. We are scheduled Sept. 9 for the Van Compass stage 1 Topo 2.0 lift with Sumo Springs on our 2023 Transit 350 HD AWD. Happy travels

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

They are great folks there and you love the lift on your van. Not just for the extra clearance, but it helps a lot with the ride comfort as well. And you wouldn’t believe how much I hate heights. I have many body parts screaming for me to get away from the edge. Thanks for watching.

[@VictorFrenchFamilyStore]

Thanks again for sharing the adventure...

[@Nealeastley]

Love it. Much better than a campground.

[@revjamescollins]

I have had a thing with dirt roads since I was a kid. I learned to drive on dirt roads in PA long before I was 16. When living in northern Quebec, I enjoyed cutting across country on old logging roads. You're right - dirt roads are usually not short cuts. My heart was in my mouth when you went out on that ledge. Great video.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Dirt roads get in your blood for sure. Lynn loves them but not the first road kind like this. Walked out on that cliff to get a shot for the video. But let's just say u had body parts screaming for me to get off that cliff. 😂👍

[@janicebarnett4920]

Absolutely beautiful! Sure do enjoy your channel!! This life-long Floridian can’t get enough of those mountain views!!!!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Glad you're with us. You know we love Florida too. ❤️👍

[@AnnMaynard-fu9qd]

I’m not a dirt road person but I always enjoy your videos.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

And we are very glad you love them are with us.

[@David-jo4gt]

Great video! BUT you and Maggie that close to the edge really makes my fear of heights kick in. I am on team Lynn on this video. Great job editing and the music was perfect. Happy tails and safe travels.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thank you, David. This is Owen and my fear of hikes actually kicked into. But I really wanted to see over the edge of that piece of granite. And it was a long, long, long way down.

[@Minnesota_Girl-m6z]

Awesome video! It is great how you stay so active, walking, riding bike. Kayaking, traveling. And you both look great! 😊

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

It gets harder and harder to stay active as we get older. If you sit for a few weeks it seems even harder. We do try... but many times feel like we are failing at staying as active as we'd like. Someone once said it all depends on who you compare yourself to. 👍😂

[@karlabright1196]

Needmore Rd is a beautiful little stretch that runs along the Little Tennessee River in Macon and Swain counties. Places to stop and fish, picnic and relaxing.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thank you very much for the suggestions.

[@larryvincent2098]

Beautiful area of the trees and the mountains!! The adventure begins on roads that are challenging!! 😮 !! It looks beautiful when you are walking on the path and seeing this amazing views !! As always thank you for sharing this with me !! BS & BK & BC!!!!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Much love to you Larry. You never miss commenting on an episode and if you did we'd miss hearing from you. You are much appreciated... more than you probably know. ❤️👍

[@karenrogers6149]

Wonderful video! Love the background hammered dulcimer music 💗 This is another one of the NC backroads (NC is where we both weere born & raised) we haven’t visited in years & years. Forgot just how beautiful the NC mountains are in that area of Linville Gorge, etc.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

I totally agree. From the OVX area to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's truly special and we are very fortunate to call it home.

[@mikemanjo2458]

What a great choice of music and gorgeous hike! Please be careful! A helicopter rescue would be exciting, but we don't really need the adrenilin rush!😘 Our unit does have the lifts for us to make it down that road....Mike's Jeep could do it. After he sees this, he may get the bug to do it!. Thanks for making such beautiful videos to share with us! This was (mostly) so relaxing. In 20 or 30 years when y'all get old and slow down, you are going to love watching back over these and enjoy these trips all over again. So much love to y'all, sweet friends! (We got our tire inflator today and I'm excited to give it a try tomorrow.) From SC, Jane❤🙏🐾

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

You're being too generous with saying we're going to slide down in 20 to 30 years. Will be lucky to have 20 to 30 more months before we start slowing down if we're not already there. Thanks for being with us. Sorry if this video means you're gonna have to go on that dirt road.

[@mikemanjo2458]

​@VANTREKKINGlifestyle 😂😂😂 Yeah, I'm Team Lynn on the roads that beat you around...2+ hours of that and I'd be ready for a break, too. Mike kinda likes to drive like Ricky Bobby...go fast, go fast!😂😂😂

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

@@mikemanjo2458you go fast on this road and you'll be walking at some point. 😂

[@mikemanjo2458]

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle 🤣

[@SueFletcher-k4r]

Beautiful video! Thank you for introducing us to this area.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Hope you can come some time and let us show you in person. 👍❤️

[@SueFletcher-k4r]

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle I would love that!

[@michaelbecnel63]

Ekko did great. Beautiful part of NC and some good spots to camp....Happy Trails 🐕

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thanks pal! We appreciate you commenting every week. Means a lot.

[@sherriweber7105]

We used to have a lot of dirt roads out here in Vegas now they are paved. And we had them back home in Michigan too but some are paved and some aren’t. But nothing like that road. But I’m glad you all made it with the Ekko. Great job Owen. Nice view at the top of Wiseman’s view. Hope that man made through the dirt road in his truck you saw. Nice spot with a great view for lunch. Can wait yo see the next adventure. See you both soon! Gabe a great weekend and week.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thanks Sherri. Probably if there were not so many paved roads, we wouldn’t enjoy the dirt roads as much. Back in the day that old dirt road was the only way across the mountain. I’m sure they didn’t enjoy it as much as we did.

[@SpenSir]

Another excellent adventure! On my to go list! Getting closer to having my Subaru Forester Camper Car on the road. I'm your NC Neighbor and this would be a great place to shakedown test my vehicle!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Awesome. You should be able to make this work for your Subaru if you choose your line carefully.

[@SpenSir]

@VANTREKKINGlifestyle retired 35 yrs at Duke Power/Energy.. can drive mostly anything anywhere under any condition even Paddle Foot Line Trucks. It's all about lines and angles. 😃

[@grillinandchillinwithdeb]

Very cool? Place added to see. Thanks for sharing and Maggie hugs please ❤

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

You will love it. Thanks for always being with us. 👍❤️

[@christinaputney659]

That is definitely something I would like to try. Not sure our van 🚐 has the clearance. You all made me so nervous when you went over that barrier. My heart was in my throat hoping this wasn’t the last video. 😬

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Go for it! Just don’t go too fast and be prepared to turn around if it gets too dicey.

[@ablokeandablue3125]

Loved the gorge area when I lived in NC. Many a hiking and backpacking trips taken there and also to spice things up had to be rescued by helo when I broke my leg down by the river 🤪

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

We always worry about falling, especially at our age. Getting rescued by helicopter might seem exciting but I bet it was a terrifying adventure. Thanks for watching.

[@misslindalou6479]

You earned massive good wife points today, Lady! ❤ Never know what y’all will be up to next. It’s been fun.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thank you.

[@koalabear6722]

😮crazy road! Glad you made it safe! 😊

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Only one or two places that were worrisome, well at least for me... Lynn is really worried about these kind of roads for sure.

[@onelifelivinit7493]

Great video, but I sympathize with Lynn. I was on the edge of my seat and I was in the living room. lol. I really enjoyed it though.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

We actually thought the most of our viewers are beyond inside when it comes to dirt roads like this. Like I said it's not for everybody. Thanks for watching.

[@JethroXP]

New subscriber, I’ve been watching a lot of your back catalog. Seems like early on you had a lot of issues with the EKKO, your trip to Newfoundland really stands out. How has it been since then?

[@maryjones908]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thank you. One of the reasons we love going there.

[@johnthomson5730]

OMG, I did that drive in my F-250 after dropping the trailer at our campground years ago. It about beat us to death. Can't believe you did it in an Ekko even lifted as it is. But those views, wow, brings back memories. But I am not driving that road in our Ekko, lifted or not, no way, no how!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Ha ha that’s funny. That road seems to go through stages. They do scrape it several times per year and if you catch it right after they have scraped it, it’s not that bad. But if you like us if you catch it right after a major rainstorm and flooding while the ruts get really, really deep like they were this time. Probably smarter than us and skipping it.

[@bettybarnett6994]

I live in the area and have driven that many times in a stock Jeep Wrangler & twice in a Toyota Camry! Fun drive & beautiful area!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

We've now driven it in every RV we've had in the last 8 years and it's been different every time.

[@jholcomb9532]

Ooo, next do the best dirt road in Florida!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Sounds like a plan. 👍❤️

[@clarkustoo]

The yellow gap Road from Mills River, North Carolina to the cradle of forestry is always fun

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Hey another one to add to the list. Thank you!!!

[@clarkustoo]

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle also wash Creek from Mills River Campground to the Blue Ridge Parkway and across is awesome

[@joniboulware1436]

I think a winch might be in order for future dirt roads. Also recovery tracks.

[@jjones5424]

Beautiful scenery. Good thing that you had all those mods done to your chassis!! So, did Winnebago do a special build for you on the coach to beef up welds and so forth for off road use like that?? The "box" was sure 'racking' from side to side, I hope none of the welds cracked where you can't see them in the walls. Well, it's an RV, you're supposed to have fun with it....and you can always buy another.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

I special mods for sure. It has held up well but you just never know. Like you said we didn't buy it to let it sit and look at it. We don't push it this hard often.

[@jerryw62]

Kistler Memorial/old 105 is a great road with lots of fantastic trailheads into the Gorge. I do have to say though, I've made the trip in a stock Ram Promaster and a little Toyota Yaris. You just have to be very careful picking a good line through the washouts. I hope you stopped at Louise's Rock House for pie.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thanks for other road suggestions… No pie this time but it’s on the list.

[@dalehuber6281]

I thought the whole ride was terrific!!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Thanks, Dale.

[@Wilmaonthego]

Hi y’all🤗! Love following your videos! I was inspired by many of your adventures and went out and got our very own Revel. I’m about to embark on another adventure of my own and am seeking for your advice. I’ll be soon visiting your town and will have to find a short term host home to park “Wilma” for two weeks. Any recommendations? I had called ur local hotel ( Hampton Inn on school st) and see if the do a park and stay but they don’t ….😔

[@WTFgus]

Just checking on you after Helene,knowing you live in the area!?

[@davidoutlaw489]

We live near Cherokee, NC. I've seen videos where you guys were eating breakfast at Peter's Pancake House. We went there for breakfast this morning, and the elk were eating kudzu on the bank across the street. There must have been over a dozen of them. I took a pic, but don't see any way to get it to you? Keep doing what you do!!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

That’s crazy that the elk were right across from one of those great breakfast places. Our email address is in each one of our descriptions of the videos. You can email us pics [e-mail]

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Or if you’re on Facebook, you can find us there too.

[@skipmason8747]

Great video. I loved the music. I would love to go up that road but my wife would not. She hates the road going to Cataloochee in the great smoky mountains national park.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

It's all about compromise isn't it. Lynn is good about trying to be OK about rough dirt roads but this one was really rough after late spring floods.

[@ArleneKorth]

I'll watch you two do this but i have a severe fear of heights so i wont be trying it myself!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

The things we do to "get the shots". 👍😂

[@bevbender3587]

Not a fan of standing by the cliffs, but was a beautiful shot. 😉

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

One of us was going to do it. And I didn't want it to be Lynn. ❤️👍

[@Thesaltymedic36]

Well following the grader probably means a better road 😂 I am glad my Rv is lifted and 4wd. I’m actually a tab shorter then the Ekko. I like that road and would definitely camp out there. I don’t remember but how many miles was it and how long did it take? ✌🏼

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

18 mikes without taking in Wiseman's View. With it you looking at about 20 mikes. Took us a little over 3 hours but we were filming, hiking and eating. Could probably do it an hour if you kept the pedal down.

[@hbjtf]

You added the Van Compass 2.0, if I recall correctly. Did that include the rear suspension too? Happy tails!!!!

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Yes we did. Bigger tires too. And needed every inch of it.

[@hbjtf]

What suspension upgrade was added to the rear end? Springs? Shocks? We are leaning towards adding Design’s Trail Hero package to our rug, once we get it of course

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Here’s the line item from the invoice: Van Compass Stage 2 Topo 2.0 Ford Transit AWD 2020+ / Mid/Heavy - Over 8500 LBS

[@southerngirlyall6497]

Beautiful views but my nerves couldn't take that road🤪

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

I don't know if you watched until the end or not. But Lynn felt the same way about her nerves. It's the combination of all the bouncing around, the worrying about having enough clearance, and all the noise that happens when things are moving around inside of the van. I may never get to go do this again.

[@southerngirlyall6497]

@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle 🤣

[@ladikmk]

I'm with Lynn and would have kissed the pavement too, but from the looks of it - that pavement was short lived lol. Was this the same road that one slippery, snow-covered Winter day you had an accident on in the mountains? Owen, did you know that granite can and does break off? I love me some Blue Ridge Mtns. but I sure as heck wouldn't want to fall off of one. Hope you're all well. Hugs for sweet Maggie.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Maggie says thank you for the sweet hugs. And yes, you're very observant. This is the same road that during the winter snowstorm we had the accident with our Revel.

[@bertkelly7650]

I like doing that stuff, the wife however... We went up an open gate last time out up a rough mtn road to a closed gate. We had to back track from the way we came only to come back to a closed gate. The dog and I can't walk to good, so the wife had to get us rescued. She only had to walk a few hundred feet until she found a ranger passing by. I guess we won't be doing those kinds of shenanigans for a while.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Wow! Hope lynn didn't read this. 😂. Glad you were rescued though

[@tonyraby1515]

Not the smartest thing I’ve seen Owen do😳

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Haha... what part?

[@slydogracing]

This video demonstrates exactly why you dont buy used campers. LoL

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Wish you could hear us laughing out loud... literally.

[@davidhoneycutt2767]

Beware all these KZbin videos about this road it gets really crowded on weekends and holidays with lots of traffic.

[@VANTREKKINGlifestyle]

Yes it does for sure.