Last fall I posted a Solis review after a few months of ownership with 14,000 miles of travel. You can access that 2020 post here. This is a followup review after 25,000 miles of travel and, recently, 5 months of living and basing out of the van.

*Under cab electrical schematic supplied by Winnebago for the Solis P*

First I want to address a few things from the prior blog post. I spent months dealing with an authorized service center outside Colorado Springs with an outfit that underwent serious personnel changes and sketchy record keeping. The electrical problem that I described in that post turned out to be inaccurate. They were finally able to obtain a basic schematic (see above) of the undercarriage electrical box and apparently that 5 Amp breaker was correctly placed. The problem was in the wiring, or so they said. The good news is that I haven’t had a breaker or fuse trip since the repair and have experienced no further electrical problems in the van. However, potential purchasers should be aware of serious problems that have cropped up among owners of the Solis: Water leaks in the “pizza oven” area (storage compartment above the cab), usually caused by improper sealing of the running lights when they were reinstalled on the upper front roof area. Another area of concern with leakage is water collecting around the pop top, especially if the van is parked on a nose down slant, then leaking into the van when the vehicle is moved. Also many owners are having problems with the forward floor water hookup either not working or leaking. And the latest involves the fresh water tank bulging when full and splitting the wood framing under the sink area, reportedly caused by a “bad batch” of tanks. As in my first blog post, I strongly encourage owners or wannabes to join the Solis Facebook Group, where these and other issues and concerns are discussed, as well as tips and tricks…lots of good information.

Now as to the leaky shower pan….not the problem. The water collecting in the cassette compartment is from something entirely different, and to this day I know not what it is. Further experimentation determined that water leakage/collection in the cassette bay only happened when hooked up to city water. I have yet to experience any problems when not hooked up to water. Because I left Colorado for the PNW in the middle of May, my solution was simply not to use city water….”Doctor, it hurts when I move like this….(Doctor): well, don’t move like that.”

*My upgrades to the Solis (LED headlamps not shown)*

While hanging in Colorado for the winter I did manage some upgrades of what I considered important for my use. #1 Wet Okole seat covers: I have mentioned previously that the seats aren’t the best in the Solis P. Wet Okole makes high quality (US manufactured) seat covers where one can add lumbar support and heaters. I found that the simplistic but effective bulb squeeze lumbar support gives me just that little extra to make long hours in the seat much more comfortable. Plus I added seat heaters to both seats. Granted, this arrangement is not as elegant as integrated seats, what with cords having to be plugged in to a DC outlet(s) and a squeeze bulb hanging off the side of the drivers seat. But these covers are so nice it’s almost like getting new seats; bonus, I can use a wet wipe to clean them. #2 Landed Gear spare tire carrier: Spare tires aren’t needed, until they are. I used the goo and pump to rescue a stranded Tesla on the rough road to Mowich Lake (MRNP). #3 LED headlamps: Brighter and better. #4 Thule Elite Van XT bike rack: Door mounted because I do a lot of cycling and wanted to keep the length profile short. A hitch mounted rack would extend the length of the van by a few feet. It took me a few months to finally find one in Denver. #5 Gray tank outlet cover: the supplied cover is a bear to get off, a common complaint for a lot of Solis owners. The replacement has a good grip handle and offers a side benefit of a hose sized port. It does stick out a little more though.

*This photo involved a 25 mile hike with 7700’ of vertical while base camping in the Solis, Mt. Rainier NP*

I’m happy to report that I have experienced no further problems with the van with the exception of the cheesy cabinet finish. The laminate, especially on the trim pieces, is beginning to separate. Now that I am in a more permanent place, I will glue the offending pieces back. But if that’s all I have to complain about, especially after the nightmare of the water panel and electrical systems, then I’m good. And yes, eventually the parts came in for replacing the cracked fittings; I have since insulated that space with a combination of Reflectix and 2 inch stuffable insulation, including Reflectix on the floor. And to ensure further protection, I bought a 400W small ceramic heater which I’ve aimed directly into the vent for the water innards under the bed. This of course only works if I am hooked up to 20/30 Amp service. I also made insulated window inserts out of Reflectix and 1” bat insulation, covered by nylon. They are big enough to cover the entire window area but small enough to fit into the zippered window coverings, which hold them in place. During colder temps there will be condensation on the inside of the windows; the waterproof nylon coverings protect the innards of the inserts from getting wet.

*DIY thrifty insulation upgrades to rear area of Solis P/Plugged in items (Only on 20/30 Amp service)*

*Each Solis window has a DIY insulated insert: Reflectix + 1” bat insulation covered by nylon: views of one insert, various stages*

Recently my daughter and I got to use the pop top in cold weather; not necessarily freezing temps but close to it. She had a hefty comforter up there and was quite comfortable, despite the significant difference in temps between the up and down spaces. Consider reports of the pop top closing under even relatively light snow loads and the camper must weigh whether to use that upper space in true freezing/winter conditions. Personally I look at the upper bunk as a summer space. NOTE ON COLD WEATHER USE: I have a seamstress friend who can make an insulating curtain to seal off the cab. I have been hanging the supplied black curtain to help with this function, but want a floor to ceiling covering that splits in the middle between the seats. I also plan on making a cover for the rectangular hole to the pop top. I believe these further improvements will make the Solis very winter capable and allow me to camp for at least one night at Crystal Mountain (there are about 40 spaces in the lower parking lot with electrical hookups) for 2 days of skiing. Worth a try at least. I would leave the van winterized and just use a few water containers for the toilet and teeth brushing.

*Street parking on Camano Island Airbnb*

As I mentioned above, I spent 5 months in the van starting May 11. I spent very few days in an RV park with hookups, but many nights in national parks or monuments off grid. Sprinkled in were stays at friend’s places where I slept in the van but hung out with them in their homes. My son’s driveway was utilized a lot where I got to borrow his dog for walks, runs and frolicking in the van; she is just the right size, being a mini Aussie. My wife was in the PNW June and July renting various places or doing a hotel stay, so I would join her then. I had no problems parking the van when not in use as it can fit into a regular parking space. The rest of the time would find me mostly at Mt. Rainier National Park for 2 to 4 nights at a time, with a few stays at Olympic. This combination of van living and access to long showers, laundry, WiFi and other amenities basically took the pressure off much of the downside trying to live full time in the tiny van space. Even after a full year of use, there’s nothing quite like a long day in the outdoors and coming back to the van tired, gross and hungry but able to take a hot shower, change into clean clothes, pour a glass of wine and cook up a scrumptious meal. Then when the chill sets in crank the heat whilst watching NetFlix downloads and lounging in a comfortable bed, finally turning off the iPad after it whacks me in the face because I dropped it falling asleep. After a whirlwind year of use I am probably more pleased with this purchase now than in the beginning.

*Lonely Solis at Joshua Tree National Park*