Visiting RoamRig?
After you’ve confirmed your appointment to visit RoamRig HQ in Connecticut, here is everything you need to know before your visit.
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Arrival & Pick Up Logistics
RoamRig does not have a waiting area – you cannot be in the shop during installation: We’ll be happy to meet you (and the shop dogs will be, too!) but we must insist on a shop space that is distraction free so we can focus on your van. Visitors, even though you’re awesome, are a distraction.
While you wait: there’s plenty to do in the area!
- Uber and Lyft are good options for short trips. Or, rent a car. Many customers have recommended Turo or Enterprise for rentals in Branford.
- For hotel accommodations, we suggest the Holiday Inn Express in Branford.
- New York City is accessible via a commuter train from New Haven (runs every 30 minutes!).
- If traveling from outside of New England, do not take ANY parkway in NY or CT because they have low bridges with 8ft height limits. This includes the Merritt Parkway/Route 15 in CT and the Hutchinson Parkway in NY.
- From any direction south or west, take I-287 across the Hudson River (Tappan Zee/Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge) to I-95, then take I-95 north to exit 55.
- Avoid I-95 across the Hudson River (the George Washington Bridge) because there are high tolls and usually traffic.
Payments: We will send your invoice installation day to be paid via ACH. Credit card payments will incur an additional fee.
Arrival: Park parallel to the fence across from the garage doors. You may camp overnight in our parking lot (no hookups/dumping). You may drop off your van early (hours or days).
Time Estimates: Installation times vary by upgrade and workload. We’ll provide an estimate in advance.
Pick Up: We’ll notify you when your van is ready; do not return early. You're welcome to leave your van at our shop longer than your upgrades take (super helpful if you want a few days in NYC). Just let us know what to expect! When you pick up your van, plan for an orientation. Depending on your upgrade, it may last for up to an hour.
Swag: Don’t forget to grab some RoamRig gear before you go!
Preparing Your Van for Upgrades
Storing Your Belongings
We’ll need space in your van to do your upgrade(s). You can clear things when you get here and we’re happy to help move items out. There’s plenty of room in our shop to store your belongings.
Some jobs (like power system installations) may require significant areas of the van to be clear of personal belongings. If you have any questions or concerns about where we’ll be working, please reach out beforehand and we’ll be happy to give guidance.
Fridge, Food & Water
Any time power is worked on, your fridge will be off. You can store perishable items in our shop fridge.
For plumbing upgrades in 2nd and 3rd Generation vans, it’s helpful if you arrive with an empty freshwater tank. You’re welcome to drain it in the parking lot.
Hitch Accessories
If you have a 2nd or 3rd Generation van and are getting anything besides a Beatbox Blackbird, we’ll need to remove any bike racks or accessories from your hitch. Please make sure to bring any keys or tools needed to remove hitch accessories.
Permanently Installed Accessories (GLSS, Guzzle H20, others)
If your van has been modified in a way that you think might affect installation, please let us know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly. Examples include 12V AC wired to house batteries when we work on electrical, Guzzle H20 when we replace plumbing, and garage slide out trays when we need to work in the back of the van.
If your upgrade requires the removal of the GLSS or any other large accessories, we can help remove them and store them in the shop. It’s usually very quick to remove after-market accessories (if they’ll be in the way at all). In some cases, after-market accessories may require extra time or extra materials for us to reinstall and integrate with our modification.
Is anything currently broken?
It’s important for us to know if your van has any current issues related to the upgrade we’re installing. For example, if your shower valve leaks or your water pump doesn’t work, please tell us ahead of time so we can be prepared with any parts that might be needed.
Questions & Support
After you’ve spent a few days or weeks with your upgrade(s), you may have some additional questions. Most answers can be found right on our Knowledge Base.
If you are unable to find answers to your questions there, please get in touch. We’re a very small team and do not have the capacity for phone calls. Starting a support ticket is the fastest way to get a reply.