Biggest Mistakes as New Van Dweller Traveler
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- www.AboutVanlife.com
I talk abou the things i wish i had differently when i started van dwelling.
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Please watch: "TOP 10: DON'T BUILD YOUR VAN DWELLING BEFORE YOU SEE THIS! "
• TOP 10 TIPS FOR VAN DW...
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I recently quit my job and started a channel about living on the road! These types of videos are motivation!
Awesome!
Chelsea Vicari q
Chelsea Vicari o
What do you do for money?
Wow and I’ve watched your videos for motivation. WOW
Dig your vids and you passing along this info. Yea there's a lot of beautiful places to see and culture to experience. Two things I would agree with you on for sure. Is when driving from place to place like you said make 5 hours your max driving time that fatigue factor can make you miserable and you'll end up missing a lot that you wouldn't have otherwise. Also, the fridge is a great idea! My other suggestion to people is don't go down south in the summer or north in the winter, if your going for extended periods of time flip-flop. I say this living in a van is your small mobile home but it's still a vehicle and it has to be completely reliable and everything has to work all the time, with all your tags up to date. To me your a brave guy you look in your 20's, so go with your gut and don't second guess a situation if it looks sketchy or weird pass it by. One last thing eat well don't go the fast food route your strength and energy and alertness is paramount, oh and also get in your sleep that will keep you healthy. Happy trails, bro!
I liked watching him talk from his van. Felt like I was in there too - all compact and cosy. Van dwelling FTW!
yeah probably reeks of sweaty scrotum in there
No doubt. So are you out looking for the guy to take a sniff?
About the stickers, its the minor destinations that are the ones you want. They are like the battle scars. Everyone get the Tampa or Miami Beach or South of the Boarder, but how many people have a Tupelo, MS sticker? A Lansing MI sticker? South Bend? That's what makes a real collection, not the tourist traps.
+Nash1a great point!
fat cat neat!! ♡
Lots of places have the nail on emblems, or key rings which I applied to my walking stick...
I thought it was just me loosing my mind trying to be a rebel canceling any credit debit cards any membership and just focus on doing me living in a conversion van rent free, but there's a whole community of ppl doing this thing lol
+Omar Pedraza its growing rapidly too
That's what i thought lol. Now it's mainstream and there's tones of people doing it
Add 'i should learn how to insulate my van's interior so it doesn't get as hot in summer or very cold in winter"... insulation works both ways.
Thanks for sharing your life style. Idea, camping pros & cons. I'm thinking the same thing about doing videos as I prepare for the RV, Van, truck camping, life style. Lol trying to making up my mind.i'm glad tho to see all the TH-cam shows on the subject. Yours is another I admire. Keep up the good work.
I definitely emphasize with the too much stuff problem!
Van life definitely makes you realize what you actually need and what you don't.
True, but I have come to really enjoy a nice bathroom.Truck stops and public swimming pools are less than optimal. The rest, I don't much care.
Thank you for this vid! I am doing my research to do my own conversion. I am super excited to go to a more minimal nomadi- in touch with nature lifestyle. Little by little I have minimalized my life over the years, and believe is soo so much more fulfilling traveling, experiencing, and creating. Thanks again for being inspirational...
Nice vid, thanks for the tips, have fun out there, be safe, drive carefully so we can see more vids from you, select the right times to be on the road (quieter, dry, full light etc.). Good luck man.
Love your attitude. Great video on your personal experience...yeah, and the ceiling rocks.
Good job man, thanks. And you're cracking me up with your enthusiastic reporting, keep up the good work, Lol.
I buy postcards instead of stickers and tape them on the inside of the windows to be viewed! I smile when I am walking by my Van remembering those great adventures! So much cheaper & prettier! This video was very enjoyable!
+Christine Lowery (BEACHCRICKET) That is a fantatic idea!
your learning curve is our start floor.. thanks for posting this... very interesting :)
Great advice! Thanks for your time and wisdom.
Guitar, Phone, Paper and Pen. All i need, other than the essentials.
Really appreciate this video. Thanks for the tips!
Converting my RV & updating it into a tiny house. I liked some of your ideas like documenting your trip. Also, I like your centerline lighting system above on your ceiling.
Great video Thanks for taking the time.
about to do the same thing... so these are great tips! thanks for sharing :)
Like your video;s keep them coming.fixing up my truck cap, i liked your build video;s it gave me some good idea;s .I mostly will be doing weekend stuff fishing and traveling thru Michigan Thanks
I love the tapestry on your ceiling.
This reminds me of the diary/journaling thing. I started one in 1974 . It was brand new I found it in a parking lot! I think I have 24 years of them now. Stopped for several years in-between. I really wish I had kept them for all those years. The things are priceless now.. hundreds of things you would have never ever remembered. Even the most boring of days can be of interest years later. It's kind of like "reliving" a day again.
Thank you for your insight, I am building my van now, should be done in may. :) safe travels
+Julee Mccarty awesome! Best of luck to you!
You make some really great points buddy, thanks :)
Good tips. I like the take it slow tip the best. The beauty of your journey is that you are on no time schedule. Relax and take it all in.
For sure man!
Thanks so much for this! I cannot wait for my vanlife journey!
I hope you went on your journey. I will never forget mine. Good idea to buy a van, I crashed in my car. I had what I needed, but it was in the trunk. Nothing ruins stealth like pulling clothes and towels out of a trunk.
Thanks man for answer my question I really appreciate that
Good video, good personality, good info, gets to the point.
I just found this kid researching light bars for my truck. It is with almost morbid curiosity that I want to find out what makes his detractors tick. Not just for him, but all upbeat people with a sense of adventure. Certainly envy and cowardice, but some of them are seething with anger. Maybe it is just Internet anonymity, but it seems more common nowadays than in the not too distant past.
I made the same mistake of rushing across Canada the first few times. The last time I crossed, I made sure I was lazy about it because it's the best experience ever to hit the road. I only get to do it for two months every few years but it's something I love. I love your ceiling material. :)
You are so well spoken. I guess you have your parents to thank for that!
Good video; will be checking out more of your channel.
BTW, if you dont already have one, look into getting a Roadpro stove. 12v cooking on the go for vandwellers and truckers, and you can even bake cookies and whatnot while moving sites.
Thanks for this! There's this push now to not take pictures and not take selfies because they take away from the moment, and I can see that, but it's not either or. When you get somewhere take a few pictures and then enjoy the moment. If something exciting happens, take another picture and then enjoy the moment. Don't not take pictures because when that moment is gone you won't have anything to remember it by and you will need something to remember it by. You're not going to remember all the special moments, the little moments that touch your heart, it in 10 years.
thanx for the tips! very helpful..
I wanted to share something I found at Walmart it is led bed lights for pickups. They are perfect for a van and being led they use hardly any juice. I have two power sockets inside in the back one for my lap top and for a fridge if and when. I am planning one outside.
I love collecting stickers... and I agree about the refrigerator, wish I had invested in one. great video thanks for sharing.
Thanks Panda
5/5 would watch again. Great video brother, thanks for sharing
Thanks!
@@Into_The_Mystery_13 Thanks for the info on light bars. I'm going to buy a curved one now. I hope you're still adventuring.
Today being Christmas day, I remember what I did not like living in a van. On Christmas and Thanksgiving, and New Years Day you do not get a shower because the gym is closed.
There are gyms that you can use 24/7 , you enter the gym by using your fingerprint at main door and then the system automatically charges you each time you visit that gym,at least we have those in east europe , so should be in usa for sure
Truck stops are open 24/7/365. Ask drivers for a free shower. We get them for fueling.
A little dumpster diving would sort the food situation at a stroke in most places.
Great tips ! . Show a outside shot of the rig please and keep us updated on any Mods, , an tricks . Thanx for takin us , much luk
Thanks for the info, that as great!
Pack light.
Pick up what you need WHEN/IF you need it.
Less is more.
Being able to fully utilize a duffelbag of clothes is ideal.
Creativity is the best,
*Found an Ikea table in an alley in Santa Monica.
Cut the legs down, hinged the two pieces together...LOW, SECURE QUEEN BED PLATFORM
$20 low profile queen mattress on CL and life was gooood!
Used two coolers (cold/wet & dry) to support the far ends of the platform.
Storage under for duffel bag & folding kick scooter (Razor A5 Lux!!)
Having a fun swiss girl with you for 7 weeks...not a bad option
This is amazing :) Nice content, I've recently been kicked out and just starting to realize this new kinda life but one day it'll be cool for me to do what you're doing.
+Caleb's Adventures I wish you the best! Thanks for the support!
thank you for this video, i will be vanning in the next year or so...and this helps me to think about what not to do :) 👍
Woooo
I like you man! Very useful info! :)
Good lessons you have here. The thing i love most.. is Rv'ers and van dwellers who get rid of everything and then spend another 6 months buying everything and then getting rid of all of it again. Seems like a continuous cycle with some Rv'ers etc Thanks for sharing your mistakes hopefully we can learn from them.
Great content- thank you
Have fun out there!
Will do!
Cool rug on the ceiling
this is the second video of yours that I've watched. your have a new subscriber. thank you for sharing.
Me too. If for no other reason than the fact he is a happy traveler. I follow a few of them. He is the most chipper though lol. I bummed around out West when I was a kid. No one asked, but I highly encourage it.
I liked your video - you have a good spirit. Good tips, thanks!
thanks!
Bought a LDV CONVOY 3 weeks ago... Just started to get it mechanically sound before the build... to get on my way
Like your roof covering nice
Love the ceiling, I"m getting my van in January
VOOODOOO did u get your van?
yup, no major trips yet. I failed at full time living, it was kind of scary slipping into essential homelessness, even though I have a good job., started saving everything, which is weird, and spent more time looking for stuff lost in the van. Boondocking trips will be in the future though.
wohoo!
Great vid and good advice. I am about to give up paying someone else's mortgage and embrace the full time van life adventure in about 3 weeks.I am in Perth Australia. By the way what's on your ceiling it looks totally cool.
great list.
I can't wait for the day when I build my van; And just finally start the ignition- setting off on my own journey.
If you could get a bigger van, Would you? To either have a bathroom or something.
great tips
Dude! What is that you're using for your ceiling material fabric? It looks absolutely awesome! Very useful information. Thanks so much. Subscribed after watching this video.
Not sure how I came across your channel, but the inside of your van looks beast. I subbed.
+dablocishot77 right on! Thank you!
bro..this inspires me to the fullest
+Scott Daniels awesome! That's why I make these videos!
always learning wel said
Great video
Great tips!
+Jen Shea :D
is that a new van? Haven't watched all the vids yet but have really liked what I seen so far. Some day I plan on doing this.
Funny you mentioned Nebraska which most people just drive thru. I drove across country twice a year for 30 years. Nebraska at sunset farmland is shockingly beautiful. As a photographer, you will need to load up on SD cards or film! But the real trick is to catch the corn and fields as a storm approaches. The sky will turn royal purple over bright golden fields with the light turning the grass an almost neon - no photoshop needed I've seen and captured this a few times, always on that stretch of 76 between the Colorado line and North Platte.
Good point about solar panels and the need for shade in the summer! Two things you might consider: 1. Somebody used to make panels (not solar) that could be put on the roof of a vehicle, that would shade the roof, and leave a few inches for air between the panel and the roof. They would effectively shade the roof. You could do that with some thin plywood, and put the panels on top of it. Only trouble is the sunlight hitting the sides... 2. If you're in the boonies, park in the shade, and use an extension cord, and move the panels from the roof to the sunlight.
Also, it's MUCH more effective to put a windshield shad on the outside rather the inside. Glass stops ultraviolet, which causes you to tan, but does not stop infrared, which makes heat. When you put a shade on the inside, the heat still comes through.
You seen any van designs that use these strategies on youtube? any you can share?
Nice job
Awesome man!
FRIDGE! I cannot agree more. I spent a year without one on the road. I had a $20 walmart coleman cooler that I injected with foam and put 3/4 inch insulation in, and it kept ice almost as long as a yeti! Still though, not stopping to drain the cooler and buy ice (which wildly varies state to state) in itself has been a huge positive change.
If anyone is thinking about cooler vs fridge for extended trips (say more than a few months) Do some math calculations, you may be surprised on how quickly ice adds up! And those smaller Dometic fridges sip power and are semi "portable" 35LUS is about 38 pounds empty.
One benefit to going the YETI route is they are "bear resistant" and I've found alot of people in national parks locking them to the outside of bear boxes which keeps them secure and saves room in the box if you're staying awhile.
Just some thoughts.
Keep it up ITM13!
agreed with going too fast! We make the same mistake lol. We gotta remember to slow down! ;)
i have a good idea for you. figure out a way to attatch buckles on the sides of the van up high towards the roof, get some canvas and stitch reflectix over the top ( or maybe just spray ahesive, or velcro) cut a square hole where the panels are on ur roof, and make it so you can buckle it and tighten it, as a reflective barrier over ur roof you can remove before driving. i bet you could do it in a way thats stealthy too
Refltix exposed to direct sunlight (like the ones u put in a windhsield) have a huge r value, much higher than when put inside the van.
ofc in winter it would do nothing but in summer when the sun is hitting the roof this would be a huge help
Cool, great memories some day. You confirmed my feelings of how important a Refrigerator is, I won't leave home without it, ha. I don't give a damn about microwaves like some swear by them but they change the molecular structure of water and food, but a fridge is super important. Good for you. I recall your early videos you had a guitar, did you get rid of them. Sometimes when you're alone a bit longer than you wish, figuring out a couple new tunes is a great creative use of time. ciao.
+trumpsahead im with you on that!
great personality
Oh, when it comes to rushing, I did exactly the same. Not only because it was getting cold any further North but Spain... In Season TWO I definitely want to embrace the times I'm getting lost. I don't wanna know how much I've missed out on, just because I was only focussing on point A and B...
totally!
One thing I've noticed about van dwellers is the lack of stress from dealing with CONSTANT breakdowns of a regular RV. Even those with newer class A and C Rv's have constant issues. (Chris & G) I see a lot less stress with Will Burson and Brian (AdventureVanman)....and it seems like yours is holding up okay.
+Sean Spring not with an old school toyota. I want to get a more modern van for stealth reason but now i dont really care. I think people are kinda surprised when they see me a young guy come out of my spaceship lol
+Sean Spring a van is a workmans tool, the auto industry dare not make a troublesome van, it will never sell as word soon spreads, workmen seem to see a troublesome van as as a ''cheap POS wished i had bought a xyz van instead'', this is heard by other workmen, an rv owner, they say had bad luck or they didnt care for it right...
also vans are usually different engines and transmissions, often ''lower grade'' ones but are built with thicker parts for longer life.
lez briddon
I know, I was a carpet installer for 10 years, my van was my most important tool.The Ford F-250 extended van was my workhorse.
+lez briddon good point!
yeah man its just such a simple system there isnt much to go wrong.
nice video man. thanks for the tips. been figuring out how to make my van work out. no heat. so for now tons of blankets. my van actually has no heat either so i cant even turn it on to get it warmed up. is that like a little space heat connected to that book shelf?
I use the term "van dweller" as well.
I'm about to pickup my 19 foot Camper Van today :) I will be moving into it this Weekend. I already have 1 x 100 WATT Solar Panel, controller, hookup cable, 400 watt inverter (Which isn't enough) , but I don't have any decent 12 volt batteries yet. I want to go for flooded lead acid deep cycle Trojan RV batteries with 200 amp hours hooked in parallel to multiply my capacitance times the number of batteries I put in my bank. (At least two, preferably three or four). My Camper Van is much older (1981) but in good mechanical condition. I still expect to do many repairs and mods in order to get it to where I need to be electrically, which is very heavy duty for me. I need to run multiple computers, battery chargers, audio amplifier, etc. I dig what you say about the fridge. Mine has a Dometic, but small - Probably too small to be economical with food. I may just purchase a secondary electric fridge (12 Volt DC) in order to store enough food to effectively shop much less and avoid eating out.
Marine deep cycle battery... On the comment about heating the van. Electrical heaters do have a temperature setter n sensor to shut off.. Just some suggestions. I could run my laptop on outlet for about 2 days. U can ditch the laptop battery if ur on outlet..
I miss this van bro
I do the sticker thing... I've actually been doing it since before I started traveling the first campervan built myself was not for full timing just for short weekend trips while I was living in a permanent location and doing the regular 9-5 thing........ it was a 1969 Ford Econoline supervan... the Superman part just meant they added an extra foot and a half on to the end to make it a little longer.. it had an inline 6 cylinder and got pretty good gas mileage I covered the entire walls of that thing with stickers mostly from the skate shop....
..................................
....................... but ever since I've been doing the RV thing I've tried collecting stickers and/or postcards from the places I go... the nice thing about postcards is they can be moved if/when you change vehicles... stickers not so much : ( I probably had $500 worth of stickers in that van,,, and I've lost good stickers that were on my last three motorhomes......... this motorhome has the biggest sticker collection yet. but after I started putting it together I saw a really good idea on someone elses TH-cam channel I wish I could remember who but I can't........... anyhow they're putting the stickers on a board they can put the board in the window and they can hang it on their door and if they switch RVs later they can just take it with them
at least your place looks lived in and comfortable :) you could have a fridge but also try camping food. it's stuff like pasta, rice, noodles...cus cus stuff and soup seems to be very nice
Nice!
Well done No Regret
Got the same elephant printed tapestry in my house, oh Wish you amazing app you.
gr8 info.
I've been doing the sticker thing for years, have them all over my camp trunk. Ask different places you go to, you'd be surprised how many establishments have stickers that aren't for sale, but if you ask they actually have them.
+Matthew R Wow cool, thanks for the tip!
This was a great video. 😀🤘😎
+Vandering About thanks mang
If I didn't have kids, this would so be my life.
Give 'em to the wife, and blow that popsicle joint, brah!
+Pumpkin sure tell him to run off on his wife and kids lol
you can get van/trucks/rv's of all sizes, home school the kids, explore your country, live your life the way you want too, don't make excuses. all the best :)
Remember - the best advice I ever got from my parents is that your kids adapt to YOUR life, you don't adapt to theirs. Go to places and have fun on trips - they'll get used to it. I'm so glad my parents forced us on trips (even though sometimes I felt like it was a chore)
Yep, bring your family along with you and do homeschooling on the road! :)
good video, entertaining, how many damn stickers you got now dude?
What you said in the beginning is EXACTLY what someone living in a van would say. not hating on you I just found it to be funny. BTW this is awesome. It would be cool to do some day to drive across the country and back in a van.
Hey, even though you didn't make a build video originally, any tips you have, or if you could show us the process and ball park cost figures, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm am starting to van shop now, and really interested in pursuing this lifestyle. Really like the vids I saw of yours so far.
+Jenny Stardust watch my newest build series I'm working on now. I have a playlist of this build im doing now as well as the last one. Ill try to include more prices
not sure if those are led strips but in my humble opinion getting the warm white ones make it feel more home styled then the cool white, thanks for sharing
+Sol H definitely! This video is very old, I have warmer ones now. I’ve rebuilt this van several times since this video and have a new van now
actually i think a battery Isolator is a great idea specially that it is an electrical part of motor homes and camper vans
and rare Chevy blazer chalet truck campers like my dream camper so yah : )
Air vents....loved your video! Take care~
+Nora Steel Thanks!
+Nora Steel Thanks!
The sad part about all these videos is the fact that the baby boomers (our parents) had such an easier time just getting a real job fresh out of college (or really, just high school) with financial security that living like this wasn't even remotely necessary. Cool video though.
+Austin true story! They didn't have the same amount of debt, and their dollar went a lot farther too
Into The Mystery 13 you need to do some research on inflation
Not really. I joined the Marines after high school and then got a job at the post office. When I was young things cost less but you got paid a lot less. Also, we didn't have the internet.
Stickers show cops that you are a traveller.
Greg Zeng what's wrong with that
Also adds a reason for them to search your transport. Lately it has gotten worst too. I stick plain and always will. Mine wont be a van when I get it, im going for something with 4-wheel drive. Cant go wrong with a Jimmy or Blazer. Might be smaller, but will get you where you need.
That's why you stick the stickers INSIDE the van if you're smart.
the second you leave your state/province so do your plates....
@@fixt100 not if you don't have any
I.m.h.o. (lol). I like smaller solar panels as i believe the smaller the "span" or open vulernable glass area is stronger. A single 100 watt panel has a large unsuported center area. As i believe, 2 50's are more sturdy. Now, i have 4- 35's clustered in a "square". each tips, one way, as to be "following" the sun. but works well just flat. (Florida). and i use 2 trojan 6v. model105. 3 years old now. works well....text explanation leaves alot to be desired......Mark.
Woohoo Portland Oregon! 👍
''point of view size'' = Field of view.