5
Outdoorsy memberHost since August 2022
Communication
5100% response rateTypically responds within an hour
About Chelsie and Ken Chlupsa
Hi! We are Chelsie and Ken, owners of Desert Ryder, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Camper Van Conversion. Originally Midwesterners who moved to the southwest seeking adventure and new experiences! Our rig is named after our first rescue pup Ryder, who is a Husky/Shepherd mix and all around a great girl! We wanted this van so we could experience new scenery, explore, and spend more time together with our pups!
5
Outdoorsy memberHost since August 2022
Communication
5100% response rateTypically responds within an hour
Memories made on trips with Chelsie and Ken Chlupsa's RVs
John F.
5April 2024
This was the holiday of a lifetime. Ken and Chelsie were exceptional hosts – friendly, helpful, quick to respond and always willing to go the extra mile. The RV is superbly fitted out with everything you could possibly need, plus incredibly well-considered extras like cooking oil, herbs and condiments, soap, garbage bags and coffee pods which saved us having to buy stuff we could not use up. The bed is large and comfortable and the hob, fridge/freezer, toaster/oven, shower and loo all work well. The diesel heater and extractor fan kept us comfortable through Colorado snow to Texas heat. The van itself is a pleasure to drive on everything from gravel tracks to the interstate, with a surprisingly fuel-efficient yet powerful Mercedes engine; and is small enough to fit into standard spaces – which proved hugely helpful, for instance, along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we avoided the queues of huge RVs and used the general parking areas. We cannot recommend Desert Ryder and our hosts highly enough.
5 Photos submitted by John F.
Quentin S.
5January 2024
Danielle S.
5December 2023
The desert Ryder was the absolute perfect companion for my trip to Arizona. Everything worked perfectly and it had everything I could have possibly needed and more. The van was surprisingly easy to drive and got me to all the places I wanted to go. Chelsie and Ken were great with communication and quick to respond with any questions. I will without a doubt book again when I return for more adventures.
4 Photos submitted by Danielle S.
Carah G.
5November 2023
Our experience in Desert Ryder was one a lifetime. We took a trip from Phoenix to Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon to go back to Phoenix. This van had every single thing we needed to make that possible including home cooked meals 3x a day. Everything was well taken care of, clean, and easy to use. Chelsie and Ken explained everything we needed to know before we ventured out and left us feeling confident about our experience. If we’re ever back in Phoenix, we will absolutely rent from them again.
5 Photos submitted by Carah G.
Nathan M.
5October 2023
The Desert Rider was a perfect rig for a weekend camp in the AZ desert. Chelsie and Ken are great hosts, very communicative and professional. I own my own converted Sprinter and can attest to the functionality and reliability of this build. All the photos accurately depict the many amenities and the bed is very comfortable. I really liked the lighting for the various cooking and preparation tasks inside. Highly recommended!!!
2 Photos submitted by Nathan M.
Amanda S.
5October 2023
Absolutely beautiful camper van, every single thing you could possibly need is included. The hosts are wonderful, always so quick to respond and making sure that I had everything I needed every day. There are many other campers in camper vans out there, but I don’t think that anyone has a build as beautiful as this one with all of the accessories. He will need for cooking, cleaning, sleeping, hanging out and having an amazing trip.
2 Photos submitted by Amanda S.
Karolis P.
5September 2023
Andrea C.
5August 2023
Ryan E.
5June 2023
Very easy to work with. Responds very fast with good solutions to any issue. Have nothing but good things to say. We cooled very often and were pleasantly surprised at how well stocked the kitchen was with cooking utensils. Gas milage was great it actually surprised me. Very comfortable van even at 6’2” (bed is snug but i fit). The camping chairs are fantastic. Again nothing bad to say.
Allan J.
5May 2023
This van was amazing! We had such a great experience renting the Desert Rider. It looked exactly like the photos and had everything we needed and more already included. I was so grateful that Chelsie and Ken were so thorough and thought of absolutely EVERYTHING! This gave me so much peace of mind and allowed us to pack light since we were flying across the country and couldn’t bring our own camping gear. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and having the mosquito nets and roof awning definitely contributed to our positive experience. This van will exceed your needs and your expectations for the ultimate mobile adventure.
Hali T.
5May 2023
Rachel K.
5March 2023
We had an absolutely wonderful experience renting the desert Ryder campervan! It was affordable with a super cute interior makeover! The unlimited milage was huge, as we made the trip to 3 national parks in the area.
3 Photos submitted by Rachel K.
Kaitlyn M.
5March 2023
Ken and Chelsie were great to work with! This was our first time renting a van like this and they communicated well and made everything super easy. We were as comfortable as one could be in a van for 10 days with two people and a dog. I would highly recommend Desert Ryder no matter your destination!
5 Photos submitted by Kaitlyn M.
David S.
5February 2023
Chelsie and Ken were more than helpful. They gave us hiking and dining suggestions and offered a great rental. Every detail you can imagine has been covered.
1 Photo submitted by David S.
Andrew S.
5January 2023
Absolutely great setup. They’ve thought of everything to make the trip as easy and hassle free as possible.
They were great to communicate with and flexible on extending my the trip to accommodate my needs.
They were great to communicate with and flexible on extending my the trip to accommodate my needs.
1 Photo submitted by Andrew S.
Wayne R.
5November 2022
I took Chelsie and Ken’s van on a tour of Sedona, and Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capital Reef National Parks, and it was an awesome trip! With solar panels and lithium ion batteries, the van is great for off-grid camping, and the diesel heater kept me warm on the chilly November nights. The van is like new, having been professionally converted in August. Chelsie and Ken are the perfect hosts, very responsive and friendly.
