I travel solo a few months a year in my minivan camper too. Truck stops are great for overnights. Because I work full-time and need internet, I stay in/near cities. My toilet is extremely helpful for not wasting time searching, spending a ton of money on coffee shops, etc. And I LOVE the socializing! I do walking tours, stay at parks, and always make friends.
We have a van so more space, but a number of the things you said not to pack we use a lot and wouldn't go without. We had a tiny van in Alaska and still took most of them, just a smaller scale version. 1) A toilet. We had one spill in the middle of the night on a slope and were both instantly awake and having to clean up. This was before we had good lighting so it was a pain to clean up. I learned that I am very clumsy when half asleep and not to be trusted. I need to sit down! In cold buggy bear country the last thing I want to do at 2 am is go outside by myself half asleep. 2) We take an impact driver. We use hex pegs that our driver drives into the ground. They hold so so so much better than regular pegs, don't bend and go in and come out very easily, even in rocky ground. After loosing three tires to screws or nails in the middle of national forest the first year we also knew we needed tire changing gear and the impact driver doubled for that after our wrench broke the first time we used it 3)recovery boards. We live in So California and got stuck in the sand in the desert on a road a ranger said was fine. Our boards got us out. We also used them when we got stuck in the parking lot at White Sands NP. We also use them for leveling our van so they double as that. We were quoted $500 to pull the van out so we persevered with the boards until we got out. I had problems with filling a medication out of state with CVS. when I came home they continued to try and fill it in the other state for months after despite telling them I was on vacation and not to fill it again. Our local pharmacy wouldn't fill it until the out of state one cancelled. Trying to cancel it was a major pain and took days. I'm glad I had the option of getting my prescription out of state, but honestly it would have been quicker and less of a pain to use a teledoc to prescribe. It only goes to show that we are all different and have different needs.
Hi OMS, I just had the conversation with my insurance about CVS... They wouldn't cover my scrip at every location but they said Walgreens would. Live and learn, right?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I have a Jackery E1500, Bluetti AC50, and a Pecron 2000 watt Lifepo4 battery. The Pecron is my favorite. Definitely check them out if you're looking for a battery.
Ya our first time out was a hot mess. My bff hearin aid broke before we left..she wasnt even ready. And the trailer for my wheelchair is too high for our age.
Greetings from Canada! Thank you for this video. I agree 100% with your list. My DH is an over-packer. I swear he packs things just in case there is a zombie apocalypse! For my job, I travel for at least 6 months of the year so I know that you really only need about half of the things you think you need. And you're right - there are stores everywhere! Anyway, wonderful video! Oh yeah, I love your hair!
Great video! I have the traction boards. If someone plans to be in the desert or on the beach, I definitely recommend having them and a tow strap. Same with a collapsible toilet. If someone is only doing campgrounds, they might not need one. But if someone plans to stay in cities, I highly recommend they get a collapsible toilet.
yeah we're glad we carry a tow strap. Someone nearly lost their van over the edge of a cliff in Telluride but luckily we had a tow strap and were able to pull them out. If we hadn't had had it she would have been out of luck as no-one else had one.
I agree that rest areas are beneficial for a couple of hours. I like rest area naps during the day best. I check everything out as I drive in!!! If I don't feel good about it, maybe keep going! Sometimes the "shady characters" at rest areas are good cause for me to go a little further
Great info! About the jump starter: It's like your spare tire, you only need it in emergencies and then boy do you need it! But it is flex and you can do more with it. Camp lighting? Power a fridge overnight? Maybe run a radio, tv or laptop? Yes charge phones. I don't leave home without it because I may have to self rescue me down some long lonesome road, or I can also help others. Hope we meet on the road some day!
Hi Mike! Yeah, we always want to be ready to self-rescue. (I like that term.) Have you used the jump cables and/or the air compressor to rescue yourself?
Helped a disabled lady with a soft tire. Knock on wood not me yet. Same reason I carry a first aide kit. You only need it when you need (bleed) it. Will add a power bank soon so I can use small kitchen appliances (like rice maker, coffee maker, fry pan, crock pot) and corded hand tools (charge cordless ones too). See th-cam.com/video/kXGSzUVsTpg/w-d-xo.html. 2013 Dodge Caravan plenty of room I'm solo.
Hi Leslie .... Thanks for your great videos about minivan conversion and great tips about vanlife. I applied some of your advice with success this past summer when I took my first (4) four days away from home in a National Park in New Brunswick. Building on this success I want to escape Canada and spend the month of March in South Florida. My question to you is what is your opinion of the Thule Box? I expect to spend some (not all) of my time stealth parking and wonder if the Thule Box attracts unwanted attention. My alternative to the Thule Box is storing my excess stuff like fishing equipment in a storage facility and using it only when required. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Thule Box. Thanks in advance Leslie!
Hi Frank, Your question prompted a debate between Hubby and myself over breakfast. I think I should do a video about it, since it's such a good subject. It kind of boiled down to... neither one of thinks a box makes you un-stealthy.
Leslie ….. I really appreciate the quick response. Your opinions (and your husband’s) carry a lot of weight. Look forward to your next videos. Thanks! Frank
I have a 2012 honda odyssey I will be moving into full time and looking for a way to screen my windows. Was going to use travel grandma's clip idea but Odyssey isn't built same. Any ideas?
Hi Gov, I haven't seen that idea but I did do my own screens for the 2nd row windows. It's not the simplest solution but it's semi-permanent and works for us. You can find the video rummaging through my channel, if it helps.
@@TheVanThatGotAway thanks, found it shortly after asking. Thing is I'm not very clever with building, always looking for quick fix. thinking make door curtains and call it a day. Even screwed up window covers with my haste. Find your site helpful thanks
I am definitely not an overpacker, but id need some sort of toilet option for sure lol. But that is just me. Id be boondocking, so there would be no facilities where ever id be staying. Plus, i need to go pee 1-2 per night😆
**WATCH NEXT **>>> Full Tour of my Minivan Camper: th-cam.com/video/FsCz8USgvJg/w-d-xo.html
I travel solo a few months a year in my minivan camper too. Truck stops are great for overnights. Because I work full-time and need internet, I stay in/near cities. My toilet is extremely helpful for not wasting time searching, spending a ton of money on coffee shops, etc. And I LOVE the socializing! I do walking tours, stay at parks, and always make friends.
April, you're a rock star! 😄
We have a van so more space, but a number of the things you said not to pack we use a lot and wouldn't go without. We had a tiny van in Alaska and still took most of them, just a smaller scale version.
1) A toilet. We had one spill in the middle of the night on a slope and were both instantly awake and having to clean up. This was before we had good lighting so it was a pain to clean up. I learned that I am very clumsy when half asleep and not to be trusted. I need to sit down! In cold buggy bear country the last thing I want to do at 2 am is go outside by myself half asleep.
2) We take an impact driver. We use hex pegs that our driver drives into the ground. They hold so so so much better than regular pegs, don't bend and go in and come out very easily, even in rocky ground. After loosing three tires to screws or nails in the middle of national forest the first year we also knew we needed tire changing gear and the impact driver doubled for that after our wrench broke the first time we used it
3)recovery boards. We live in So California and got stuck in the sand in the desert on a road a ranger said was fine. Our boards got us out. We also used them when we got stuck in the parking lot at White Sands NP. We also use them for leveling our van so they double as that. We were quoted $500 to pull the van out so we persevered with the boards until we got out.
I had problems with filling a medication out of state with CVS. when I came home they continued to try and fill it in the other state for months after despite telling them I was on vacation and not to fill it again. Our local pharmacy wouldn't fill it until the out of state one cancelled. Trying to cancel it was a major pain and took days. I'm glad I had the option of getting my prescription out of state, but honestly it would have been quicker and less of a pain to use a teledoc to prescribe.
It only goes to show that we are all different and have different needs.
Hi OMS, I just had the conversation with my insurance about CVS... They wouldn't cover my scrip at every location but they said Walgreens would. Live and learn, right?
I enjoy going to churchs in different towns! A lot of fun🙌
I have 4 different kinds of power station and I have to say Jackery was the 1st one I got and it's still my favorite . It definitely works the best.
Hi Leese, I might have to try me one of those... Thanks for the input.
@@TheVanThatGotAway I have a Jackery E1500, Bluetti AC50, and a Pecron 2000 watt Lifepo4 battery. The Pecron is my favorite. Definitely check them out if you're looking for a battery.
Out of my 3 Jackery, only 1 still works well. Never again!
@@HoboJoOnTheGo Jackery has a 3 year warranty. Are yours old?
Ya our first time out was a hot mess. My bff hearin aid broke before we left..she wasnt even ready. And the trailer for my wheelchair is too high for our age.
Even an expert starts as a beginner. 😀
I'm happy I found your channel I enjoyed everything so far😊
Greetings from Canada! Thank you for this video. I agree 100% with your list. My DH is an over-packer. I swear he packs things just in case there is a zombie apocalypse! For my job, I travel for at least 6 months of the year so I know that you really only need about half of the things you think you need. And you're right - there are stores everywhere! Anyway, wonderful video! Oh yeah, I love your hair!
Hi Barbara! You got me with zombie apocalypse, haha!! 😄
Great video! I have the traction boards. If someone plans to be in the desert or on the beach, I definitely recommend having them and a tow strap. Same with a collapsible toilet. If someone is only doing campgrounds, they might not need one. But if someone plans to stay in cities, I highly recommend they get a collapsible toilet.
Hi SJ! Yep, so true. You have to figure out your must-haves, which you might not even know at first, right?
yeah we're glad we carry a tow strap. Someone nearly lost their van over the edge of a cliff in Telluride but luckily we had a tow strap and were able to pull them out. If we hadn't had had it she would have been out of luck as no-one else had one.
Thanks for the info. I have missed your videos. They are some of the most practical.
Oh thanks Rebekah! "Practical" is my middle name. 😄
Good tips! And beautiful gray hair! I also like the pretty ring you're wearing. Hope to see many more new videos from you.
Aw, thanks Nancy! You're too kind 🙂
I always enjoy your practical videos!
They were good tips and thank for sharing.
I agree that rest areas are beneficial for a couple of hours. I like rest area naps during the day best.
I check everything out as I drive in!!! If I don't feel good about it, maybe keep going! Sometimes the "shady characters" at rest areas are good cause for me to go a little further
That's right, trust your gut!
Great info! About the jump starter: It's like your spare tire, you only need it in emergencies and then boy do you need it! But it is flex and you can do more with it. Camp lighting? Power a fridge overnight? Maybe run a radio, tv or laptop? Yes charge phones. I don't leave home without it because I may have to self rescue me down some long lonesome road, or I can also help others. Hope we meet on the road some day!
Hi Mike! Yeah, we always want to be ready to self-rescue. (I like that term.) Have you used the jump cables and/or the air compressor to rescue yourself?
Helped a disabled lady with a soft tire. Knock on wood not me yet. Same reason I carry a first aide kit. You only need it when you need (bleed) it. Will add a power bank soon so I can use small kitchen appliances (like rice maker, coffee maker, fry pan, crock pot) and corded hand tools (charge cordless ones too). See th-cam.com/video/kXGSzUVsTpg/w-d-xo.html. 2013 Dodge Caravan plenty of room I'm solo.
Thanks girl 🌹🙏🤗
You betcha, Sunshine!
Hi Leslie .... Thanks for your great videos about minivan conversion and great tips about vanlife. I applied some of your advice with success this past summer when I took my first (4) four days away from home in a National Park in New Brunswick. Building on this success I want to escape Canada and spend the month of March in South Florida. My question to you is what is your opinion of the Thule Box? I expect to spend some (not all) of my time stealth parking and wonder if the Thule Box attracts unwanted attention. My alternative to the Thule Box is storing my excess stuff like fishing equipment in a storage facility and using it only when required. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Thule Box. Thanks in advance Leslie!
Hi Frank, Your question prompted a debate between Hubby and myself over breakfast. I think I should do a video about it, since it's such a good subject. It kind of boiled down to... neither one of thinks a box makes you un-stealthy.
Leslie ….. I really appreciate the quick response. Your opinions (and your husband’s) carry a lot of weight. Look forward to your next videos. Thanks! Frank
Like many others, I have a Thule roof box on my Sienna daily driver. You'd be in good company.
You crack me up 😂 thanks for sharing!
I have a 2012 honda odyssey I will be moving into full time and looking for a way to screen my windows. Was going to use travel grandma's clip idea but Odyssey isn't built same. Any ideas?
Hi Gov, I haven't seen that idea but I did do my own screens for the 2nd row windows. It's not the simplest solution but it's semi-permanent and works for us. You can find the video rummaging through my channel, if it helps.
@@TheVanThatGotAway thanks, found it shortly after asking. Thing is I'm not very clever with building, always looking for quick fix. thinking make door curtains and call it a day. Even screwed up window covers with my haste. Find your site helpful thanks
The thing I regret most about your minivan camper is that now I have a pink shaggy steering wheel cover in my pickup.
Okay, that had nothing to do with the minivan. I would have gifted you the steering wheel cover anyway. 😀💕
@@TheVanThatGotAway Seems like there should be a connection here somewhere.
For me it's clothes. I'm not a fancy person but I did bring some just in case fancy clothes. Never wore them.
Steven Wright reference: just went up 5 stars
I do know maine all rest areas and truck stops you can sleep over . They wouldnrather you rest hen have an accident
Yes ahmein
I am definitely not an overpacker, but id need some sort of toilet option for sure lol. But that is just me.
Id be boondocking, so there would be no facilities where ever id be staying.
Plus, i need to go pee 1-2 per night😆
Ya gotta know yourself! 😄 Can you just use the great outdoors?
you shared outstanding traveling,wanna more views?~
Do something with that crazy hairdo lol…Everything you’re telling everybody is common sense if you haven’t got that hand in your drivers license