CHAINS! No idea why you do not have them. I am a pickup with old time 4H, 4L, and differential control, but also have chains. They make a world of difference!
I am a 68 year old woman and I happened to come across this channel and now I’m hooked. This young man is so humble and charming and talented that he is a joy to watch. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do. Anyway I just wanted to let him know that he’s sure doing something right and I hope he’s always safe and blessed in everything he sets out to do 🙏
Im 70yrs old. I think this guy is amazing. Im hooked also. We are blessed that he shares his adventures with us. I dont think he even knows how he touchs our lives
My husband and I lived on a narrowboat in the UK and continuously cruised 2000 miles of canals and rivers for twelve years. A narrowboat is 8 feet wide by any where from 35-72 feet long. Ours was 57 feet long. These boats are a floating home and similar to your van, allowing an untethered life. We used a multifuel stove as wood stoves are called in Britain, and while ours was larger than your Cubic Mini, it was still a smaller model. We gathered wood as we cruised, like you do Forest. We could stasck a considerable amount in a box on our roof, but we could also quickly burn through it, mking it necessary to burn recently cut wood which was still wet. Like we stacked some near the stove to begin drying. Yes we did have a lot of creosote build up in our chimney pipe, but again, we just climbed up on the roof, removed the pipe cleaned it out, and cleaned out the stove. Job done! I wanted to share what we learned in case it helps you: poplar is a poor choice of wood. It burns quickly , producing very little heat. Alder smells sweet, and is good to burn on the shoulders of the year (spring and fall) when a really hot fir isn't crucial. Pine and Spruce are both pitchy, soft woods that make a lot of creosote but they are plentiful nearby so they are used. I am from Alaska originally and was raised out in the sticks off grid as they call it now. Anyway, Maple is hard and burns well but it smokes a lot. Birch is a hard wood and good to burn as are Oak, and Ash. Walnut produces a medium amount of heat, burns clean, smells pleasant, and is easy to split. Locust, Beech, Sycamore, black Cherry, Mulberry, Elm, and souther yellow pine are hardwoods and will give you a long, hot fire. Softwoods: Cedar actually burns easily, is easy to split and has a nice scent. Larch is the hardest of the softwoods. It needs to be well seasoned as it creates loads of smoke. Engineered wood: Bio blocks offer the best burn, hot and they last a long time. We burned wood on cool days and nights. For really cold nights we burned smokeless coal bought from one of the fuel boats that travel the canals delivering bags of coal, small bundles of firewood, 13 k bottles of propane (we had two which we used to cook with), and diesel to fill the tank for the engine. A coal fire will last a long, long time and smokeless coal is good. We didn't want to rely on it too often but on bitter col nights it really made a significant difference. We also had an Ebispacher diesel heater which heated water for our washing, bathing and radiaters. There were 4 throughout the boat. I've just found your channel. I enjoy watching your videos. You seem like a nice young man, and I applaud the way you've gone out and followed your own life path. I enjoy reading books about the death defying mountain climbers, mainly because it is something I will never do and they strike me as crazy for their need to satisfy some macho drive to raise their adrenaline and take huge risks. I prefer watching your videos because you have a solid knowledge of climbing, you know your limits, you seldom take death defying risks, and you do it because you love to wilderness, the raw beauty, the sounds and sites of nature. It is a real joy to travel along with you. Thanks Forest!
I respect FF a lot. But that was not a good idea. Forget the watch FF van drive by over and over. Just get some place safe. Live to record another day.
I can't imagine getting stuck in the snow and having to deal with both getting yourself out of the mess and figuring out how to film it at the same time. Kudos to you for getting out of the mess.
@Calling your bs How long is the long run? You can probably buy like 10 chinese diesel heaters for the price of the authentic one. I'm all for paying a bit more for a more quality product, but the authentic one is wayyy more expensive.
Things me, a guy who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, learned from Foresty Forest: 1. It snows a lot in Canada 2. 4x4 doesn't mean your vehicle will handle all terrain as if it's a highway. 3. Canadians really do say "eh" in casual conversation. 4. I really can eat better. I just have to do the research.
Being a full-tim RVer in the Sierra in my converted cargo trailer, I would love if you took your Point Number 2 and made a billboard of it. The Flatlanders below us do not get it.
@@LaurieFloodTeacher I am a flatlander myself, I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. My family's first experience with a 4X4 vehicle was a Suzuki sidekick back in circa 1990. We used 4x4 whenever it snowed. I never really had an off roading experience. It wasn't until I was about 25 (21 years ago), I moved to Socorro, New Mexico and my girlfriend introduced me to 4-wheeling. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia since then. I grew up with people who saw ATV's as a fashion symbol instead of a necessity and spent six years in New Mexico around people who repeated to me "of course it's going to have scratches on it, look at where we're driving." I am _NOT_ familiar with truly harsh driving conditions.
Lol. Very perceptive! Most of us would agree with you on the eating thing… he eats better and cooks more complex recipes than most of us do with a full kitchen and a supermarket around the corner. :-) I guess it’s also the miracle of modern food distribution, even in small towns in BC and Alberta.
@@hdjksa52 In one snow storm a few year ago, someone from the Sacramento area was driving too quickly through the chain-up area, hitting a local child from our neighboring town. The little girl was drug under the vehicle and died. We rightfully feel resentment when people don' t slow down and endanger our lives and vehicles. They drive too fast around here robotically.
Winching tip from a tow truck driver...me. When you have to winch back on to the road as in the video @11:30 the best way to save yourself would be to: 1. connect front winch as you did. 2. GOTO THE REAR OF YOUR RIG AND CONNECT A STRONG LINE TO YOUR REAR BUMPER AND TO A STRONG HOLD POINT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM YOUR RIG. Now when you pull with your winch your rig will say put and pivet at the rear hold point, and "pull" your rig back onto the road. Best of luck to you. Stay safe.
@@KuuntZilla That may be true in this case, however, I happen to know, and you should too, there are some "logging roads" in Canada that are several hundred miles from any town....
@@oldschooldiy3240 I guess it depends on your definition of isolated, to me isolated means you have to take a plane or boat to get to it. I have been far north past mackenzie in omineca park, that was fairly isolated but there are still logging camps and human presence. You cant really be isolated if you are driving a regular 4x4 there. The modern world is small.
You probably don't want to burn pallet wood. Lots of pallets were treated with Methyl Bromide, which is extremely hazardous when burned. Even heat treated pallets may have been sprayed with pesticides for a variety of reasons.
IF it was an open fire like a camp fire it might be a valid concern but in a stove it's not going to be an issue as the heat tends to be higher and cleaner burning and none of the smoke from even partial ignition of the wood that might release some chemicals isn't going to get into the van due to the natural draft of stove. ..... That and that pallet has been out in the weather for a while, almost anything it was treated with would have decomposed and leeched away.
Hey Foresty Forest, I can’t quite put my finger on it, when it comes down to it I really have no interest in van life type videos, but there’s something about you as a person and how you make these videos that just makes every video a must click. There are days where I find myself in sub-optimal mood and I watch your videos and for some reason I feel better afterwards. Keep doing what you’re doing!
@@forestyforest would you please get the cash app. It’s super easy for old grandmas like me to use. I would love to send you some extra so you can spoil yourself for Xmas. Stay warm Forest.
I am always amazed that you can fix just about anything! High props for doing filming even while trying to get out of the snow banks. Your dedication to content is second to none! LOL!
I watch your videos from Pakistan, and I am in awe of the amount of natural wilderness Canada has. I have also seen your van develop from time to time. I still remember watching your video when you got this van new. I hope you stay safe during your outdoor adventures, and keep bringing us this captivating content. Lots of love.
@@pamelaraney4654 There are deserts in the mid south region (Punjab and Sindh provinces), in the middle region (Punjab) there are plenty of agriculture grounds, in the north (Gilgit, Baltistan and NWFP provinces) there are mountains (Himalayas). In south east (Balochistan) it is rocky. tried my best to explain in a summary, but having all four seasons, its pretty diverse
Your videos just keep getting better and better. An amazing talented funny man under a quiet exterior. I bet a lot of people in your previous life did not realize this. TH-cam certainly allows the world to see the truly amazing Foresty Forest. I, for one, am really glad.
Can you imagine if you brought your issues to a mechanic/professional all the time? Over a year it would be the same cost as renting a house. Good on you Forest solving problems your self and saving lots of $$$$ at the same time!
I know, right? The guy is a fucking mechanical FIGURE-it-all-out DIY'er+, w/ the APTITUDE...intelligence, to pull it all off. And don't get me even talkin' about his kitchen skills. He whips up MORE in there than I do in a full scale kitchen- you know- one you can stand up in.
I don't know how he keeps such a calm demeanor. I'd be swearing up and down, screaming at the van and the fact that he sets up the camera recording him trying to get out amazes me. Cool as a cucumber, good on ya
@@mortuus4601 More someone use to actually dealing with snow. If you act like the OP and start swearing and screaming it means you are panicking on some level and it's just going to make shit worse. I can ride a bike in that type of snow without much thought. Kinda slow going but better than walking and I have an electric assist bike now so it's hilarious to see cars gawking at me from the ditch or stuck in places as I go past.
I keep a spare diesel heater and all the parts to go with it in my van at all times! Everything is easy to swap - if the main unit quits..swap in the backup and repair the broken unit asap
Looks like you had yourself one heck of an evening adventure on that road. Glad to see all the equipment you've invested in has come in handy for you, namely the winch. I know the feeling of being stuck in an isolated area and commend you on staying calm and level headed enough to get yourself out without damage to your van or yourself.
I smell 300K coming up! Brother don't risk it anymore with the extra TH-cam content.. We're blessed enough with the amazing videos you post.. Happy Holidays everyone!
I’ve been a sub for a while now…but man oh man, who the heck taught you everything, EVERYTHING. I’m totally amazed as to what you know what to do…hell I can’t use a sewing machine, and all the other stuff you do..amazing! Love your channel!
I learned a sweet trick years ago for self recovery with a winch...leave your truck in neutral and let the winch do the work, it’ll pull you out straight, when you use the throttle on the truck it’ll always pull you sideways/down hill.
That was an exciting adventure through the snow and ice roads. I really thought the winch would get you out of those ruts easily, but then the whole van started sliding sideways. That's scary. Good thinking to head back to safety.
When stuck, I use the acronym SCATR: Straighten out the wheel, Clear anything in the way, Air down, Traction boards (or makeshift traction assistance), Recovery equipment (recovery rope to 2nd vehicle or winch)
So much respect to you for continuing to stop and set up camera to film in these tricky situations. I would have wanted to just keep my momentum going. I would have been afraid to get stuck even more if I stopped. You are a true film maker.
I absolutely amazed about how you appeal to so many genres on TH-cam: nature scenery, drone footage, hiking, biking, cooking, construction, sewing, driving, DIY projects, vlogging,... The list just goes on! The only thing you still need to do is play a guitar or other musical instrument in your van! You are a modern day Renaissance Man!
Yep I felt for you all the way. Like you said, its real important to keep up your momentum if you can but when snow builds up underneath, the weight comes off your wheels and you are hooped. Like a guy said once: "The best time to turn around is when you first think of it."
if you do go with a brand name heater, get a webasto, the espars are finicky and require special tools to do any maintenance, the webasto can be completely disassembled with just a screw driver. and i recommend doing that every spring.
Blooming heck Foresty, I was genuinely worried for you towards the end of that video. I thought you were going to end up going off the edge. Looked awful. Please stay safe out there. It's sometimes so easy for us to forget how risky your life is from comfort of our homes.
Forestry is a very strong minded person and I applaud him for it. I can't even imagine myself being in a situation like that. Just watching the video made me a little anxious. I really enjoy watching him cook inside his van for some reason, it really relaxes me. Stay safe out there dude
I can admire your backup wood stove. Fuel seems to be every where in your environment. The electric saw shows good judgement. Instant on and off and almost no noise. Few years back I got a DeWalt because the battery's fit all my other electric tools. Oh, and they make a 12 hour amp battery. You really do things right
That’s amazing. Thats *commitment* to the video process while in such bad conditions. 😳 I would have been freaked out thinking okay I “have to” film this so when they find me frozen next year they will know what happened. I’m glad you made it out of there!! Please be safe! 😊
Simon, where ruts are concerned, when trying to get out of them, or in your circumstance, through the snow between them, dig a pathway for the wheels to go through. Ruts are easy to ignore, but they can be very troublesome. I've seen folk trying to climb out of a rut with their wheels turned, giving it more and more gas, and if it does grip all of a sudden you go carting off to the left or right at some speed, out of control. I suggest some decent recovery points fitted to the rear of of your van, and extra cables or ropes utilising ratchet straps or a hi lift jack as a ratchet. That way you could have secured the rear of the van and stopped it from sliding any further. Another idea would be a small winch which you could fit to a rear tow bar for these situations, thus pulling the rear of the vehicle around.
@@tarstarkusz "Luck is the residue of design". - Branch Rickey Foresty got experience and equipment for these situations, as we saw. He didnt go for that curve, he knew when to turn back, and used what he had to get out of those situations. A messy situation indeed which he will hopefully learn from and be even more prepared next time if it comes to it.
@@drott150 Simon is just about the most organised and prepared chap doing this sort of thing. My advice is from 13 years of using Defenders and I've learnt much, but not "all". My advice was posted in the interest of offering useful information, not for the sake of having a pop at him, after all, why go to all the trouble which Simon has with his van and not go anywhere when the weather gets iffy? My advice would, at the very least, help stop the vehicle sliding off the road all together. Know it all I'm certainly not. Know some, well yes, don't we all. And there's no need to go on insulting folk with your pathetic attitude.
Definitely great footage! Crazy Foresty Forest tramping through the piles of snow. I definitely had a few laughs at your expense but I'm so thankful you have that winch! I believe it saved your butt a few times here. Lol happy trails!
if you're going to drive thru those conditions , i'd recommend 1or2 come-alongs ( Harbor Fgt.) & Several lengthes of ropes & cables , etc. ; sometimes you need to "adjust" BOTH ends , and a dead battery ( let's not forget those visits from Mr.Murphy ) doesn't affect a manual winch.
I've been watching you since basically day 1 of the minivan and have never seen you get stuck that bad. Hellava save and way to keep your composure Simon!
Great video, you could probably buy a cheap diesel heater once a year for 10 years and it would still be less expensive than a high-end model. You are a braver man than me. In the backcountry with all that snow.
Foresty, you know we care about your safety and it kills me seeing you slipping and sliding on those KO2 tires. They're great in the drier seasons but you need a set of dedicated studded winter tires and chains out there! I work at a specialty tire shop in Calgary (Innovative Autoworx) and we do wheels, tires, suspension and much more. If you ever need winter tires or help with the van, give me a shout! I know tire storage is an issue but there are solutions for that as well. Thanks for the awesome content and take care!
The small parts you found in the diesel heater are used on the bottom front corners to hold the hot fins up to stop direct contact with the plastic casing , maybe slight melting without them ?
I've felt that same heart sinking feeling of being stuck out in the middle of nowhere and then you're on top of the world when you finally get out of it. Good to see you safe and sound FF.
First an foremost, great job keeping your cool, thinking on your feet, and utilizing your equipment to keep ya' moving up and back down that trail. I also love the constant upgrades. Always optimizing your "Tin can" on wheels. Might have to start calling you Major Tom.
@@bigmaninavan7799 Well. you make a valid point, Big Man! I think he drifted off beyond recovery, now that you mention it. We know Forest would never let himself Bungle that big. He is always well prepared, and far too keen.
U might want to consider getting some silica beads. They suck the moisture out from the air and you can remove the moisture from the beads by throwing them in a metal box and baking them over the fire.
While I love Foresty's minimalist style, you absolutely SHOULD spring for an official diesel heater. You work very hard and have earned a great TH-cam following and I would assume a substantial revenue flow from Patreon. This should be a drop in the bucket for you. Do it!!
Foresty, it's your TH-cam Grandma here. You are so courageous. I hope you had a good hearty hot meal after getting stuck like that. I'm so glad your home on wheels is drier now and warm. 🍪🍪🍪☕☕ Good job young man. I'm proud of you.❤
I'm just now installing a not cheap and definitely not Chinese deisel heater so I'll let you know how it goes. Espar seems to be one of the most expensive. We'll see how that relates to reliability. Thanks for all of your posts.
Looks like you might need to consider a winch for the rear also, then you could have pulled the rear of the van back up onto the road rather than have it slide.
re: leaky doors. Car doors usually leak around the door handles. That's intended and there are drain holes at the bottom of the doors. So when you install insulation, make sure you don't plug those holes. Adding some silicone around the plastic should help somewhat... but you'll still have water in there through the moving parts of the handle. That's also why there was that nasty sludge in your rear doors. It's all the dust/dirt gets pushed to your rear doors/window on that type of vehicle. Could also see if you need some barrier so that water doesn't seep into your insulation. Don't know how easy that would be on those doors.
@@jamesortiz5388 While he is working hard to create content, so he deserves whatever he gets. Nothing is free, he spends hours and hours filming and editing.
Hey FF, I'm sure you get a lot of advice from viewers already but here is some more. When it comes to wood stoves I know a bit as I heat my house with one in the north east US. I see you using those store bought logs and have a suggestion for you. There are several different companies making compressed sawdust bricks that use no additives. Apparently when you compress sawdust tight enough it creates it's own glue to form the bricks. After years of trying every brand I could, I have found "Enviro Brick" to be quite a bit better than all and way better than many. While cutting dead fall is awesome, if you want about 1/10 th of the ash (probably less) and triple or quadruple the burn time and heat output, give them a try. Just thinking that some nights you may want to load that stove and not have to tend it for 8 hours. enviro brick will do that ! They come in six-packs just like beer. Now thanks for doing what you do and keep on doing it.
What an adventure, was fun hanging out at the shop with you, enjoy your travels!
💚 Use Twitter and hashtags #, you might get more business that way as well.
CHAINS! No idea why you do not have them. I am a pickup with old time 4H, 4L, and differential control, but also have chains. They make a world of difference!
Don't go farther than you can walk out in a couple hours buddy!
97 subscribers right now. 🙂
@@dannyboy8474 he can walk pretty far! Plus the fat bike will go through that powder snow easily if he's in a serious pickle
I am a 68 year old woman and I happened to come across this channel and now I’m hooked. This young man is so humble and charming and talented that he is a joy to watch. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do. Anyway I just wanted to let him know that he’s sure doing something right and I hope he’s always safe and blessed in everything he sets out to do 🙏
Good words.
Im 70yrs old. I think this guy is amazing. Im hooked also. We are blessed that he shares his adventures with us. I dont think he even knows how he touchs our lives
My husband and I lived on a narrowboat in the UK and continuously cruised 2000 miles of canals and rivers for twelve years. A narrowboat is 8 feet wide by any where from 35-72 feet long. Ours was 57 feet long. These boats are a floating home and similar to your van, allowing an untethered life. We used a multifuel stove as wood stoves are called in Britain, and while ours was larger than your Cubic Mini, it was still a smaller model. We gathered wood as we cruised, like you do Forest. We could stasck a considerable amount in a box on our roof, but we could also quickly burn through it, mking it necessary to burn recently cut wood which was still wet. Like we stacked some near the stove to begin drying. Yes we did have a lot of creosote build up in our chimney pipe, but again, we just climbed up on the roof, removed the pipe cleaned it out, and cleaned out the stove. Job done! I wanted to share what we learned in case it helps you: poplar is a poor choice of wood. It burns quickly , producing very little heat. Alder smells sweet, and is good to burn on the shoulders of the year (spring and fall) when a really hot fir isn't crucial. Pine and Spruce are both pitchy, soft woods that make a lot of creosote but they are plentiful nearby so they are used. I am from Alaska originally and was raised out in the sticks off grid as they call it now. Anyway, Maple is hard and burns well but it smokes a lot. Birch is a hard wood and good to burn as are Oak, and Ash. Walnut produces a medium amount of heat, burns clean, smells pleasant, and is easy to split. Locust, Beech, Sycamore, black Cherry, Mulberry, Elm, and souther yellow pine are hardwoods and will give you a long, hot fire. Softwoods: Cedar actually burns easily, is easy to split and has a nice scent. Larch is the hardest of the softwoods. It needs to be well seasoned as it creates loads of smoke. Engineered wood: Bio blocks offer the best burn, hot and they last a long time. We burned wood on cool days and nights. For really cold nights we burned smokeless coal bought from one of the fuel boats that travel the canals delivering bags of coal, small bundles of firewood, 13 k bottles of propane (we had two which we used to cook with), and diesel to fill the tank for the engine. A coal fire will last a long, long time and smokeless coal is good. We didn't want to rely on it too often but on bitter col nights it really made a significant difference. We also had an Ebispacher diesel heater which heated water for our washing, bathing and radiaters. There were 4 throughout the boat.
I've just found your channel. I enjoy watching your videos. You seem like a nice young man, and I applaud the way you've gone out and followed your own life path. I enjoy reading books about the death defying mountain climbers, mainly because it is something I will never do and they strike me as crazy for their need to satisfy some macho drive to raise their adrenaline and take huge risks. I prefer watching your videos because you have a solid knowledge of climbing, you know your limits, you seldom take death defying risks, and you do it because you love to wilderness, the raw beauty, the sounds and sites of nature. It is a real joy to travel along with you. Thanks Forest!
Can we just take a moment to respect Foresty for still getting exterior shots of him driving through snow that he was getting stuck in.
I respect FF a lot. But that was not a good idea. Forget the watch FF van drive by over and over. Just get some place safe. Live to record another day.
@@drott150 Alrighty. I hope you find happiness someday.
Yes! I kept thinking that as I was watching.
I can't imagine getting stuck in the snow and having to deal with both getting yourself out of the mess and figuring out how to film it at the same time. Kudos to you for getting out of the mess.
Seriously, I'd be in semi panic mode and wanting to get out asap without wasting time to set up shots.
I prefer to think there's a second person doing the camera shots .
It helps me keeping some kind o sanity
@Calling your bs
How long is the long run? You can probably buy like 10 chinese diesel heaters for the price of the authentic one. I'm all for paying a bit more for a more quality product, but the authentic one is wayyy more expensive.
@Calling your bs unless it’s take out. (Giggle)
@@rebecca521 I’m, im celibate cause I’m a pastor. Thanks though. Lol
Things me, a guy who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, learned from Foresty Forest:
1. It snows a lot in Canada
2. 4x4 doesn't mean your vehicle will handle all terrain as if it's a highway.
3. Canadians really do say "eh" in casual conversation.
4. I really can eat better. I just have to do the research.
Being a full-tim RVer in the Sierra in my converted cargo trailer, I would love if you took your Point Number 2 and made a billboard of it. The Flatlanders below us do not get it.
@@LaurieFloodTeacher I am a flatlander myself, I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. My family's first experience with a 4X4 vehicle was a Suzuki sidekick back in circa 1990. We used 4x4 whenever it snowed. I never really had an off roading experience. It wasn't until I was about 25 (21 years ago), I moved to Socorro, New Mexico and my girlfriend introduced me to 4-wheeling. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia since then.
I grew up with people who saw ATV's as a fashion symbol instead of a necessity and spent six years in New Mexico around people who repeated to me "of course it's going to have scratches on it, look at where we're driving." I am _NOT_ familiar with truly harsh driving conditions.
Lol. Very perceptive! Most of us would agree with you on the eating thing… he eats better and cooks more complex recipes than most of us do with a full kitchen and a supermarket around the corner. :-) I guess it’s also the miracle of modern food distribution, even in small towns in BC and Alberta.
@@hdjksa52 In one snow storm a few year ago, someone from the Sacramento area was driving too quickly through the chain-up area, hitting a local child from our neighboring town. The little girl was drug under the vehicle and died. We rightfully feel resentment when people don' t slow down and endanger our lives and vehicles. They drive too fast around here robotically.
So many people think 4X4 is magic, you see them in the ditches every time it snows.
Winching tip from a tow truck driver...me. When you have to winch back on to the road as in the video @11:30 the best way to save yourself would be to: 1. connect front winch as you did. 2. GOTO THE REAR OF YOUR RIG AND CONNECT A STRONG LINE TO YOUR REAR BUMPER AND TO A STRONG HOLD POINT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM YOUR RIG. Now when you pull with your winch your rig will say put and pivet at the rear hold point, and "pull" your rig back onto the road. Best of luck to you. Stay safe.
Good skills man, I hope he sees this.
Top tip! I too hope Foresty sees this.
👍
This was one of the more exciting episodes. People don’t realize how truly alone he is in some of these desolate locations.
Not really, If you can drive there on logging roads you are not really that far from some town.
@@KuuntZilla Still more isolated than most roads out there. Should know if you ever driven em tbh
@@chuckn4851 I should know, since I am a van dweller and bush worker in northern BC. He's probably less than 2 hours from vernon
@@KuuntZilla That may be true in this case, however, I happen to know, and you should too, there are some "logging roads" in Canada that are several hundred miles from any town....
@@oldschooldiy3240 I guess it depends on your definition of isolated, to me isolated means you have to take a plane or boat to get to it. I have been far north past mackenzie in omineca park, that was fairly isolated but there are still logging camps and human presence. You cant really be isolated if you are driving a regular 4x4 there. The modern world is small.
You probably don't want to burn pallet wood. Lots of pallets were treated with Methyl Bromide, which is extremely hazardous when burned. Even heat treated pallets may have been sprayed with pesticides for a variety of reasons.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing !
Was gonna comment the same
+100 don't burn pallet wood
IF it was an open fire like a camp fire it might be a valid concern but in a stove it's not going to be an issue as the heat tends to be higher and cleaner burning and none of the smoke from even partial ignition of the wood that might release some chemicals isn't going to get into the van due to the natural draft of stove.
..... That and that pallet has been out in the weather for a while, almost anything it was treated with would have decomposed and leeched away.
Yeah it definitely doesn't seem worth the risk, unless in a emergency where its your own source of fuel.
Dude you were definitely had to be the kid who took apart his toys!! Love watching you do these projects
Hey Foresty Forest, I can’t quite put my finger on it, when it comes down to it I really have no interest in van life type videos, but there’s something about you as a person and how you make these videos that just makes every video a must click. There are days where I find myself in sub-optimal mood and I watch your videos and for some reason I feel better afterwards. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Thank you 😊
I could not have said it any better!!
I'm convinced just like Putin and Mark Twain that Forresty is a human immortal.
I completely agree, I actually avoid & dislike most other "van life" channels. FF hits different
I agree!
Foresty, your efforts to make content are ridiculously underrated! Literally no one ever do the thing you do and that is why you're like a hero to us.
Well said. He is a total loner and happy that way. He inspires me to be happy by myself.
Thank you!
@@forestyforest it's true
💯!!!
@@forestyforest would you please get the cash app. It’s super easy for old grandmas like me to use. I would love to send you some extra so you can spoil yourself for Xmas. Stay warm Forest.
Every Canadian watching feels that snow slide in their bones 😉 Glad you’re safe dude.
Dude the back end sliding is the worst feeling. He needs tire chains like the ol’ mini-van !!
Not just Canadians! This American has had plenty of sporty snowy slides in the mountains. Can make things interesting.
Sometimes the best part about watching your videos is knowing that you made it out safe in order to upload them 😄
I am always amazed that you can fix just about anything! High props for doing filming even while trying to get out of the snow banks. Your dedication to content is second to none! LOL!
Hes cute too Maggie
I watch your videos from Pakistan, and I am in awe of the amount of natural wilderness Canada has. I have also seen your van develop from time to time. I still remember watching your video when you got this van new. I hope you stay safe during your outdoor adventures, and keep bringing us this captivating content. Lots of love.
My perception of Pakistan is desert and rocks? Is this true?
@@pamelaraney4654 There are deserts in the mid south region (Punjab and Sindh provinces), in the middle region (Punjab) there are plenty of agriculture grounds, in the north (Gilgit, Baltistan and NWFP provinces) there are mountains (Himalayas). In south east (Balochistan) it is rocky. tried my best to explain in a summary, but having all four seasons, its pretty diverse
It almost makes me want to move to Canada
@@pamelaraney4654 Nah, bro. I recommend you watch some vlogs on it.
@@fuckdems5534 Me too, but that probably won't be possible for the next 15 years at least.
Ah, the old 58-point turn in the snow :oD
Your videos just keep getting better and better. An amazing talented funny man under a quiet exterior. I bet a lot of people in your previous life did not realize this. TH-cam certainly allows the world to see the truly amazing Foresty Forest. I, for one, am really glad.
"just pick one...it's a lottery"
The sound of an avid Amazon buyer.
Glad to see you get out there safely.
Getting out of snow like this and still filming it is borderline crazy :D Huge respect!
Can you imagine if you brought your issues to a mechanic/professional all the time? Over a year it would be the same cost as renting a house. Good on you Forest solving problems your self and saving lots of $$$$ at the same time!
I know, right? The guy is a fucking mechanical FIGURE-it-all-out DIY'er+, w/ the APTITUDE...intelligence, to pull it all off. And don't get me even talkin' about his kitchen skills. He whips up MORE in there than I do in a full scale kitchen- you know- one you can stand up in.
More than worth it to go to a pro
@@tommynikon2283 great comment. He makes me feel less alone.
Renting a house?
@Calling your bs You mean like your ipad and iphone?
And your Harley Davidson?
And your Nikes?
Even today the US military buys parts made in China.
Smashing through the snow in a wood burning foresty forest sleigh ....🤗🙂👍🏻
A fire side van chat
Forest got all fancy all he needs is a pipe a chess board and a copy of the great ideas of the western world
These night scenes of the snowy forest are surreal..
I don't know how he keeps such a calm demeanor. I'd be swearing up and down, screaming at the van and the fact that he sets up the camera recording him trying to get out amazes me. Cool as a cucumber, good on ya
Canadian calmness ?
@@mortuus4601 More someone use to actually dealing with snow. If you act like the OP and start swearing and screaming it means you are panicking on some level and it's just going to make shit worse. I can ride a bike in that type of snow without much thought. Kinda slow going but better than walking and I have an electric assist bike now so it's hilarious to see cars gawking at me from the ditch or stuck in places as I go past.
I don’t think I would have been swearing and screaming but I definitely would have had to take a timeout to take a BM.
@@SilvaDreams I'm definitely used to dealing with snow. Getting stuck is just frustrating as hell.
Canadians are so resourceful. I'm a Californian and I'd be crying stuck in the snow.
I keep a spare diesel heater and all the parts to go with it in my van at all times! Everything is easy to swap - if the main unit quits..swap in the backup and repair the broken unit asap
Yup
He could attach 3 to the outside and fly away home 🛫
Looks like you had yourself one heck of an evening adventure on that road. Glad to see all the equipment you've invested in has come in handy for you, namely the winch. I know the feeling of being stuck in an isolated area and commend you on staying calm and level headed enough to get yourself out without damage to your van or yourself.
Need tire chains
I smell 300K coming up! Brother don't risk it anymore with the extra TH-cam content.. We're blessed enough with the amazing videos you post.. Happy Holidays everyone!
I’ve been a sub for a while now…but man oh man, who the heck taught you everything, EVERYTHING. I’m totally amazed as to what you know what to do…hell I can’t use a sewing machine, and all the other stuff you do..amazing! Love your channel!
Having the woodstove is like Having a Foresty Fortress of Solitude when you're out in the sticks. Nice job!
OMG this needs to be the official name of the van, Foresty Fortress
As much as I love being American, Canadians really seem like awesome people.
It's the blower motor. Common problem on these heaters. You need to change the whole blower motor unit. (bearing won't solve it unfortunately)
I learned a sweet trick years ago for self recovery with a winch...leave your truck in neutral and let the winch do the work, it’ll pull you out straight, when you use the throttle on the truck it’ll always pull you sideways/down hill.
That was an exciting adventure through the snow and ice roads. I really thought the winch would get you out of those ruts easily, but then the whole van started sliding sideways. That's scary. Good thinking to head back to safety.
When stuck, I use the acronym SCATR: Straighten out the wheel, Clear anything in the way, Air down, Traction boards (or makeshift traction assistance), Recovery equipment (recovery rope to 2nd vehicle or winch)
@Calling your bs do we have to bring politics into this?
Also, my apologies in the event that you weren't talking about Joe Biden
@@MarcillaSmith That's no BS about China crap. Nothing political there.
The champ! Thanks for running back and forth even when stuck.
The only 14k peaks I've scaled are Pikes and Mt Evans in CO because they are fully paved all the way to the top! It's a fun drive!
LOL! I'm from CO, too - that was funny. So you're one of those cool people in the 14er club? Lol
@@starshuskies4040 heck yeah! I did Mt Evans half a dozen times! No sweat! That little walk from the parking lot to the actual peak sure is tough tho!
What about K2?
@@abdulrehmananwar5615 K2 is a bit big to qualify as a 14k peak...
So much respect to you for continuing to stop and set up camera to film in these tricky situations. I would have wanted to just keep my momentum going. I would have been afraid to get stuck even more if I stopped. You are a true film maker.
Glad your staying warm Forest. Looks like you installed that stove just in time.
I absolutely amazed about how you appeal to so many genres on TH-cam: nature scenery, drone footage, hiking, biking, cooking, construction, sewing, driving, DIY projects, vlogging,...
The list just goes on! The only thing you still need to do is play a guitar or other musical instrument in your van! You are a modern day Renaissance Man!
Mandolin!
That crunch at 13:24 made me think the camera was destroyed.😯
Me, too. Major cringe for a second
Yep I felt for you all the way. Like you said, its real important to keep up your momentum if you can but when snow builds up underneath, the weight comes off your wheels and you are hooped.
Like a guy said once: "The best time to turn around is when you first think of it."
Man, I love your videos, I'm even too far away from you, but I don't miss any videos. Greetings from Bosnia (Europe): D
if you do go with a brand name heater, get a webasto, the espars are finicky and require special tools to do any maintenance, the webasto can be completely disassembled with just a screw driver. and i recommend doing that every spring.
Blooming heck Foresty, I was genuinely worried for you towards the end of that video. I thought you were going to end up going off the edge. Looked awful. Please stay safe out there. It's sometimes so easy for us to forget how risky your life is from comfort of our homes.
Agreed. I was worried about him
@Calling your bs too late I bought the grandkids a two seater bike from Walmart. It’s here and MADE IN CHINA impossible to assemble
Foresty Forest .The king of Van life content. You sir are #1.
The drama in this episode was exceptional. Very impressive that you managed to film it all.
You look happy are you thanks
Forestry is a very strong minded person and I applaud him for it. I can't even imagine myself being in a situation like that. Just watching the video made me a little anxious. I really enjoy watching him cook inside his van for some reason, it really relaxes me. Stay safe out there dude
I’ve never held my breath in a foresty video but this one had me on edge. Glad you made it out of there.
I can admire your backup wood stove. Fuel seems to be every where in your environment. The electric saw shows good judgement. Instant on and off and almost no noise. Few years back I got a DeWalt because the battery's fit all my other electric tools. Oh, and they make a 12 hour amp battery. You really do things right
Insulation in the doors !! 👍👍
Stuck in the icy snow ....lol...oh bro you have MY luck now ❄❄ ....oh no ....that freaked me out watching 👀
That’s amazing. Thats *commitment* to the video process while in such bad conditions. 😳 I would have been freaked out thinking okay I “have to” film this so when they find me frozen next year they will know what happened.
I’m glad you made it out of there!! Please be safe! 😊
Have I told you lately how amazing you are? Sending you good vibes from North Idaho. I am so inspired by all you do.
Simon, where ruts are concerned, when trying to get out of them, or in your circumstance, through the snow between them, dig a pathway for the wheels to go through. Ruts are easy to ignore, but they can be very troublesome. I've seen folk trying to climb out of a rut with their wheels turned, giving it more and more gas, and if it does grip all of a sudden you go carting off to the left or right at some speed, out of control. I suggest some decent recovery points fitted to the rear of of your van, and extra cables or ropes utilising ratchet straps or a hi lift jack as a ratchet. That way you could have secured the rear of the van and stopped it from sliding any further. Another idea would be a small winch which you could fit to a rear tow bar for these situations, thus pulling the rear of the vehicle around.
@ PLAYING AROUND! Sounds like you know how to get out of a rut. 🇨🇦😀
@@tarstarkusz "Luck is the residue of design". - Branch Rickey
Foresty got experience and equipment for these situations, as we saw. He didnt go for that curve, he knew when to turn back, and used what he had to get out of those situations. A messy situation indeed which he will hopefully learn from and be even more prepared next time if it comes to it.
Dude, he's by himself in the middle of the night while also trying to document with his camera. He did a superb job without your knowitall advice.
@@tarstarkusz It wasn't luck. He's an extremely skilled and resourceful young man who dares to take well measured risks. I say bravo!
@@drott150 Simon is just about the most organised and prepared chap doing this sort of thing. My advice is from 13 years of using Defenders and I've learnt much, but not "all". My advice was posted in the interest of offering useful information, not for the sake of having a pop at him, after all, why go to all the trouble which Simon has with his van and not go anywhere when the weather gets iffy? My advice would, at the very least, help stop the vehicle sliding off the road all together. Know it all I'm certainly not. Know some, well yes, don't we all. And there's no need to go on insulting folk with your pathetic attitude.
Definitely great footage! Crazy Foresty Forest tramping through the piles of snow. I definitely had a few laughs at your expense but I'm so thankful you have that winch! I believe it saved your butt a few times here. Lol happy trails!
Lol! When you left the guy’s garage and drove back to the woods, seeing that much snow, I thought that’s a bad idea. Good to know you’re fine!
Had this SW Florida grandma holding my breath. So happy you were able to get back to safety. 🙏✌️🌎💞
if you're going to drive thru those conditions , i'd recommend 1or2 come-alongs ( Harbor Fgt.) & Several lengthes of ropes & cables , etc. ; sometimes you need to "adjust" BOTH ends , and a dead battery ( let's not forget those visits from Mr.Murphy ) doesn't affect a manual winch.
Thanks for your content. Love ur videos.
Next on the shop list: 2 pair chains.
Greetings from the smaller Canada: Switzerland
I've been watching you since basically day 1 of the minivan and have never seen you get stuck that bad. Hellava save and way to keep your composure Simon!
Great job getting out of the snow!
👍👊😎
Great video, you could probably buy a cheap diesel heater once a year for 10 years and it would still be less expensive than a high-end model. You are a braver man than me. In the backcountry with all that snow.
Watching your show with Mr. Lahey. Love it.
Ok I take back what I said about the wood stove. I initially thought it was overkill but in your climate it’s best to have some redundancy.
And that's why he is the only YTer I support on Patreon. Most underrated Channel on YT. Kudos to you!
Love when adventurers are prepared. 👍
Foresty, you know we care about your safety and it kills me seeing you slipping and sliding on those KO2 tires. They're great in the drier seasons but you need a set of dedicated studded winter tires and chains out there! I work at a specialty tire shop in Calgary (Innovative Autoworx) and we do wheels, tires, suspension and much more. If you ever need winter tires or help with the van, give me a shout! I know tire storage is an issue but there are solutions for that as well. Thanks for the awesome content and take care!
The small parts you found in the diesel heater are used on the bottom front corners to hold the hot fins up to stop direct contact with the plastic casing , maybe slight melting without them ?
Thanks for keeping it real Foresty!
I've felt that same heart sinking feeling of being stuck out in the middle of nowhere and then you're on top of the world when you finally get out of it. Good to see you safe and sound FF.
This car is 4WD not FF
@@Capecodham Sorry about that b2. My bad.
@@calirific3503 rwd.
Love how you just get on with it and don’t stress out . Best move is to keep calm cos panic only makes bad situations worse
your videos always hold my interest from beginning to end... you are a talented storyteller in a magnificent setting... good job neighbor❤️🇺🇸
You are tenacious even a 4x4 is only as good as the available traction glad you made it out.
Ground 🤝 Tires
Wood stove literally paying for its self twice over already.
Good one Forest.
That opening shot is soooo flippin cool with the stove pipe.
I love it!
Edit: You should give us in/out temperature updates more often!
Outside bit cool,,inside warm enough Lol
I love all the snow. It looks so beautiful even though it's a pain in the butt to drive in
Good to see ya! The weather sucked for you but looked pretty to me sitting at home…😜
Great vid, dude. Really good shots of the van at nite. Fun to watch.
You never fail to amaze me! You're fearless..Filming while you're going thru all that is just mind blowing!!
Lord have mercy, why was I on the edge of my seat with this video? Nerves of steel, that’s what you have, in my opinion.
Looked like a long night, man. Appreciate the effort to film in such a position, sideways in the middle of the road. Love the show.
Forest is living out our greatest fantasies on video.
Man I’m glad you got out! Stay safe out there.
Nutcase Canadian still getting footage in a Nightmare situation! Loved it mate!
OMG, please be careful out there. I can't believe how deep the snow was. So looking forward to your next video.
Only a brave few go out in the wild during the winter while it's snowing.
Great episode. Subbed.
First an foremost, great job keeping your cool, thinking on your feet, and utilizing your equipment to keep ya' moving up and back down that trail. I also love the constant upgrades. Always optimizing your "Tin can" on wheels. Might have to start calling you Major Tom.
Didn’t major Tom die in the end of that song? Great song though!
@@bigmaninavan7799 Well. you make a valid point, Big Man! I think he drifted off beyond recovery, now that you mention it. We know Forest would never let himself Bungle that big. He is always well prepared, and far too keen.
U might want to consider getting some silica beads. They suck the moisture out from the air and you can remove the moisture from the beads by throwing them in a metal box and baking them over the fire.
While I love Foresty's minimalist style, you absolutely SHOULD spring for an official diesel heater. You work very hard and have earned a great TH-cam following and I would assume a substantial revenue flow from Patreon. This should be a drop in the bucket for you. Do it!!
Gotta agree with Barky here, get the real deal diesel heater. You need to stay safe and warm out there!!!
What makes you assume he makes a substantial revenue on Patreon??
@@Topgear2006 probably because foresty is a badass
AGREED> There's just some things that you can't skimp on. UTILITY, SAFETY, VALUE are some of them.
I’ve had the same Chinese diesel heater in my van for two years now and haven’t had an issue. Like he said, they are hit and miss.
Foresty, it's your TH-cam Grandma here. You are so courageous. I hope you had a good hearty hot meal after getting stuck like that. I'm so glad your home on wheels is drier now and warm. 🍪🍪🍪☕☕ Good job young man. I'm proud of you.❤
You’re definitely dedicated to your TH-cam channel and content ❤️💪🏻🙌🏻
Self made man through that weather!!!!!
I'm just now installing a not cheap and definitely not Chinese deisel heater so I'll let you know how it goes. Espar seems to be one of the most expensive. We'll see how that relates to reliability. Thanks for all of your posts.
I like the van vibes in your video introduction of you chilling with the beverage even though it is not as cozy as the former van.
Looks like you might need to consider a winch for the rear also, then you could have pulled the rear of the van back up onto the road rather than have it slide.
I'm so envious! I wish I was brave enough to just go anywhere alone. What beautiful experiences you can have when you do that. Good on you!
re: leaky doors. Car doors usually leak around the door handles. That's intended and there are drain holes at the bottom of the doors. So when you install insulation, make sure you don't plug those holes. Adding some silicone around the plastic should help somewhat... but you'll still have water in there through the moving parts of the handle. That's also why there was that nasty sludge in your rear doors. It's all the dust/dirt gets pushed to your rear doors/window on that type of vehicle.
Could also see if you need some barrier so that water doesn't seep into your insulation. Don't know how easy that would be on those doors.
It will be a rust bucket by the time he sells it. No worries the patreon will buy him another one.
@@jamesortiz5388 While he is working hard to create content, so he deserves whatever he gets. Nothing is free, he spends hours and hours filming and editing.
Vapour barrier I see as a necessity. Surprised there are no more comments regarding that.
Hey FF, I'm sure you get a lot of advice from viewers already but here is some more. When it comes to wood stoves I know a bit as I heat my house with one in the north east US. I see you using those store bought logs and have a suggestion for you. There are several different companies making compressed sawdust bricks that use no additives. Apparently when you compress sawdust tight enough it creates it's own glue to form the bricks. After years of trying every brand I could, I have found "Enviro Brick" to be quite a bit better than all and way better than many. While cutting dead fall is awesome, if you want about 1/10 th of the ash (probably less) and triple or quadruple the burn time and heat output, give them a try. Just thinking that some nights you may want to load that stove and not have to tend it for 8 hours. enviro brick will do that ! They come in six-packs just like beer.
Now thanks for doing what you do and keep on doing it.