Life on the road: converted budget eurovan as trip home
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มี.ค. 2015
- At 25 years old, Robin Raindropcatcher had never owned a car and didn’t have a driver’s license, but he dreamed of turning a van into a mobile shelter. When he lost his job and his “dream flat” in Vienna began to weigh on him, he moved in with his mother, passed his driver’s test and began converting a minivan into a new home.
Spending only about 700 euros, Robin used chipboard to create lightweight furniture and foam and reflective foil for insulation. His roughly 50-square-foot shelter now offers: a “living room/bedroom” (a convertible couch becomes a 2-meter long bed), storage cabinets that double as a dining/tea table, a lean kitchen (a propane camping stove), and an even leaner loo (a plastic water bottle for the “small stuff”; trips to cafes for the “big stuff”).
With his new home on his back, Robin headed south from Vienna for Italy, France, and Spain and points beyond (he video blogs about his travels). Boondocking in big cities hasn’t always been easy, but he’s been surprised at how no one seems to notice his converted shelter, even with the doors wide open (particularly during tea time).
Robin's blog: aboutwings.com/what-about-wings/
Original story: faircompanies.com/videos/view/... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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"We are born with nothing and we will die with nothing." I like the way this guy thinks, he values experiences and memories above accumulating material things.
Nailed it! Thank you for your lovely words :)
And this too shall pass....nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky....Kansas
Van Living.
These videos are so interesting and gives me security knowing that if all my finances tank, there are alternatives to living in a house or apartment.
Glad, my interview could give some perspective (together with all the other amazing videos, Kirsten puts out there) :D
TheDenisedrake Yea as long as you have the right gear you can make it work just fine. Even my set up is not perfect but has worked out pretty well.
Where there's a will there's a way
So wonderful to see these young people with their heads on straight! I wish him all the best in his adventures
"Change is the one thing that powers this world,"I agree with Robin. Continue following your path, for it is YOUR sacred journey! Blessings XXX I chose a different life over 10 years ago and it is wonderful to be able to live one's life! Planting a permaculture food forest on 3 acres is my life now.
Bealtaine Cottage
To prevent mild on your mattress drill holes in the platform if the bed so air gets between the mattress and wood
Oh wow, I really like the way this young guy thinks of the world! This lifestyle is so simple, but yet so amazing! Robin, God may bless all those kms behind and ahead of you, every step you take! I wish you to enjoy every moment of your life, and have good luck, and smiley on your face every day! :) Cheers, love, Eszter :)
I agree with Robin. It's always interesting to see people just pass right on by as I am cooking dinner in my van. They get so caught up in there own lives that they don't even notice me sitting in my van cooking dinner or watching videos on my laptop.
I loved what you said..."We are born with nothing and we die with nothing. All we take with us is our memories and experiences." So true. I would love to travel in a camper. But, I know nothing of motor up keep and such. Plus, I'm older with grown children. It couldn't work for me now. But, I sure think about it sometimes and dream. Like you said...the world needs to change. YOU are one of the ones helping to change it. Thank you for that. :D Much love to you along your journey young man.
"We are born with nothing, and we will die with nothing" simply profound statement....when given enough thought, makes you realize no-thing really matters. Robin, I adore you.
Thank you for the lovely words! Oh a lot matters. To me, it's the footprint, that we leave here. As Chuck Palahniuk said it so well: "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."
Stuff usually only distracts from creating meaningfulness ;)
If you enjoyed this video, you might want to sign up for my newsletter on aboutwings.com where I document my entire journey :)
I lived like this for a summer here in California. The freedom was amazing but also a little strange - to not go "home" at the end of the day - that took a psychological toll on me. Finding parking was annoying and I didn't always feel safe in different parts of the city. I saved a ton of money and I don't know if I've ever felt more secure and stable as far as finances are concerned, but I've also come to appreciate a warm shower, heated room and comfortable bed. I could do it again but I would outfit a little more comfort into the living space and try to find a somewhat steady and safe parking location. I've put together a lot of sketches on how to make this kind of life work better for me. It is a way of life. Thanks for posting!
The way he speaks about life gives me hope that the next generation may affect positive change.
I do hope with you. And I'm happy I could give you little hope, Lori!
If you enjoyed this video, you might want to join the adventure on aboutwings.com where I document the trip :)
I wouldn't mind seeing more van dwelling/mobile tiny home videos! Very interesting.
Kudos, young man. You have an outlook that I can hear with more than my ears.
I really like this kid. He has it figured out. :) Makes me happy to know there are free spirits out there doing amazing things with their lives.
the clothes in the pillows is a GENIUS idea! must remember that :)
I so enjoyed listening to this young van lifer...this person's opinion about life so important..'thouroughly enjoyed this video..👍
Reminds me of days in an old 70s extended Dodge cargo van just traveling and seeing what was out there. A very liberating and educational experience.
Well done young man, you are talented and an inspiration
I really enjoy these videos, he seems super sweet and although I find such a life quite enticing, I can imagine it must be very difficult doing it alone. Safe travels and good luck!
Great van setup and way to live his life, very insightful for such a young age.
Keep on traveling!
Tina
Love it. Great guy. I appreciate his point of view. Thanks Kirsten for the great work (again). Bravo.
God bless this guy and his will to survive, its sad to see what man has come to just to live day to day this is a hard working guy who can't even afford the cost of rent... that right there should tell you the system is flawed... especially if I can write this 5 beer deep
Thank you for your kind words!
For a big part I chose this life too. It wasn't only down to rental problems :)
About Wings I suggest you to subscrive the channel LivingTheVanLife. Chad, the vloger has a lot of useful tips in his videos. Look for the videos where he explains about his sleeping bag and the buddy GLP heater. He subscribed a gym to have acess to shower, I hope the tips helps you. Maybe you should use other type of insulation, cause styrofoam is good in hot places, but in think its no so effective at cold places. Please, do apologize any errors in my english, I am not a native speaker.
Marcos Machado Your English is rather good, don't worry :)
I know him already. I must admit I did unsubscribe him at some points cause his videos tend to be quite long and monotone, in my opinion... But I've researched a lot about the Winter problems. We are simply limited, when it comes to that. I'm just trying to get into warmer areas instead now :)
About Wings I couldn't really see the top of the van, since none of the video showed a good angle of it. But have you considered putting a fan/vent at the top to help with the heat and humidity?
***** Thank you! Yeah, I've also talked to a family of four, living on a sail boat and it sounds like an amazing experience! Power to you! :D
Shirokama I was planning on getting a vent, but sadly I ran out of time in my small race with the approaching Winter. So I had to leave Austria before I could get around it. But I have to say, not that I'm in a war area, I don't really have that problem anymore. I just open up the door every now and then. The main problem was really, that warm I was on top of the mattress and the cold air was beneath the wood, the mattress was lying on. That's the condensed water, I was talking about. It builds up between wood and mattress. A vent wouldn't help much either with this. Sadly Kirsten left that part out ;)
Good job Robin. I rode Harley's & lived with them on the open highways for 25 years. Often a 6' x 8' plastic tarp was the only roof that Harley and I had to stay dryish in bad weather. There was always another road to travel, and another hill to climb. I wish you luck, as the gypsy life was great for me also. Now, I am retired and enjoy walking everywhere.
This is great!! Thanks for sharing with us =)
We're doing the same starting in May this year. We'll be living and working full time in our van in Canada. All our working gear will be powered with solar energy!
So great to hear from other van dwellers or those who aspire to become one!
I envy you for your solar power. i hope I can come up with the money for it soon :)
If you are looking for some tips about how to travel on a small budget or how I deal with the van life, feel free to hop over to aboutwings.com :)
Robin
Love your channel, btw!
Thanks Robin =) For sure we're really exited about having solar power. I think it'll greatly improve our van life experience...lets just hope it works! We definitely always need small budget tips so we'll go have a look at your website right now. Thanks!
Exploring Alternatives m mm oke
Robin, you are awesome! Keep living your dream, man.
Another fantastic video. Thanks Kirsten.
May he always be happy wherever he may find himself. Stay safe in your humble abode.
What a adventurous young man! I wish him the best.
so inspiring! It just goes to show how much someone has the power to make their dreams come true :)
Stay strong brother I wish you the best and keep smiling.
Thank you for your kind words! My smiling rate has only increased over the last couple of months :D Best to you!
I went to the blog after watching this video. The freedom must be nice. I'm considering doing this myself.
Glad to hear, you checked out my page! Make sure to sign up too. I'll give out a lot of helpful travel and van life advice very soon. That way you won't miss it. Live the dream :D
I like your response to the "what are you running away from" question.
Good stuff. I have lived out of a van before, but not the full blown way you have. I did it for a few months and I enjoyed it. Def a learning experience.
I love hearing other people's experiences. Did you go on a road trip? :)
lovely guy, great outlook on life ❤
Love this guy and the way he thinks.
He makes a lot of sense .. God bless💖👍 hope you guys stay safe and healthy...😇✨🔥
Clothes in the cushion case is genious!
I had a full-sized GM van and slept inside it on a hammock strung diagonally from one front seatbelt anchor (the one by the ceiling over driver's shoulder) to the opposite side back seat belt anchor. My buttock was only about 4 inches off the floor, but it was super comfortable, could be clipped up with carabiners in one minute, and easily out of the way completely during non-sleep time. 😑. This is a great video. More power to you, young man.
And thank you for more power, of course :D
And yeah, I was considering the Hammock. I just really like harder sleeping surfaces and I tend to get cold from below, lying in them :)
Awesome video and I like your home in your van. I’m buying mine soon and I can’t wait to move out and live and travel.
Always love hearing from people who are planning to start out in a van as well!
If you need some tips: I share my own travels and advice on aboutwings.com :)
I heard, or read, that placing cat litter in sport socks and laying them about the vehicle absorbs some of the moisture. It's cheap and flexible. Most likely you'll have to use at least two socks per, a sock inside of a sock, to keep the litter from spilling out. Positioning them near the windows where the condensation builds up the most was suggested.
Good journey, be safe & cheers.
P.s.
Chris Farley would be proud of you... ;)
Most people feel the need for a job, but as a young person, it is great to travel around. Some people have on-line work.
I'm a 70 yr old granny and find myself struggling in today's economy. I live in an RV because it's what I can afford. Many people who started out with a plan for their "golden years" get waylaid by medical bills, job loss or divorce and have to start over. Not always so simple to buy a house and wait for it to appreciate.
thanks kirsten. you should show us your place.
I love this channel some really interesting subjects, cheers.
I totally agree! I've been following Kirsten for years. You can imagine how overwhelmed I was when she approached me for an interview :)
About Wings I missed this reply because it didn't come up in my google thing but yeah I just found it a month or 2 ago. I hope to do something similar very soon, great to see you enjoying your alternative lifestyle, good stuff man take care :^)
Cool concept, also greetings from Upper Austria!
Haha, wie toll! Ich hab eine komplette Episode über Oberösterreich, falls es dich interessiert. Das ganze Abenteuer gibt's auf aboutwings.com :)
Liebe Grüße aus dem verhältnismäßig warmen Valencia :)
Wow he is really cute and seems like really sweet person! (I honestly never thought i would say that about another guy before) oh well lol I wish him the best that life has to offer!
Thank you for your lovely words! I appreciate it a freakin lot :3
Amazing! I live in a Mazda 626 -98. That´s freedom for real.
Great to hear! Let's connect? :)
You can find me on aboutwings.com
Love 💕 you’re video hope it gets a lot better for you
I am very inspired by this young man
Great interview as always
Kirsten did an amazing job removing my uuuhhhs, I gotta say. You gotta love her work, I agree :D
so loved your video.... !!!! Do what u love and bee free like bird....!
Well done dude!!!
Like Always.... AWESOME Video Interview. He has a GR8 HUMOR and Lots of Truth within Him... So glad to see more and more people recognize at a YOUNG Age and make the Change Sooner than Regretting Life Forever the way (Us old timers) are doing now with Lots of Wasted Years Behind Us because of Work(Not secured) and the Old Mortgage(that weighs 100 Tons over our shoulders). TFS
Aww he's such a lamb :) I Wish you well friend
An orange lamb! :D
Thank you :)
Excellent channel, thank you
loved this... thank you
Great video well done
Thank you Kirsten!
Keep on living the good life...we've all been conned :)
Don't worry. I'm enjoying this far too much to give it up ^^
he is cute and seems like a fun guy
Brilliant vid. Thanks. :-)
i "get" him. ty for the video. this will be my future :)
I agree that change energizes.
Yeah! :D
"we born and die with nothing, and the only things you can take with you are memories and experiences"
what a cool dude. i like him.. :)
What a nice idea. It'd be even better with a fold up bicycle on board. Park up and explore further. And your extremely right that the safety is illusion. If you lose your job how much can you keep. Just like the dido song "if my life is for rent, then nothing i have is truly mine."
Sadly, there is no chance of getting a bike in there. Even if it's foldable.
But I must say, I'm quite happy with my skateboard for now :)
Thank you for the great suggestion, though!
If you wanna see more of my adventures, feel free to hop over to aboutwings.com :D
This guy is a philosopher
Very insightful point of view about the world for someone so young. Cherish the years when you are young and physically able to live life on the move. Having had a military father and a military husband, I am thankful for those years of moving around, but am equally thankful for a more traditional life in my older years. There is something to be said for living in a community and becoming a constant part of it. So enjoy the nomadic adventures now and we will hold the fort down for when you decide that kind of life no longer works for you. We all have our place in this world, whether moving or standing still. By the way, your English is very good.
Thank you for the great comment! Very true! As said in the video: life is all about change. I go with what feels right in the moment. That may be settling at some point in the future. But I don't think that'll happen any time soon :)
And thank's for the compliment. I've lived in London for one and a half years. Good place to learn ^^
And thanks for sharing your story :D
Inspiring !
Traveling the World and seein' some stuff!! ;b
That was good thanks.
Running away from a "cookie cutter" existence is a way to phrase it.
Well said, young Padawan :P
Cool dude!
Cheers! :)
To help a little more with condensation inside the van, he can simply place a small kitty litter box full of kitty litter that is mostly clay, under his bed. It soaks up moisture much better than tea bags. It needs to be part of the routine to just wipe the walls of dew drips several times a day. Even when its cold, he should leave a window cracked. If all else fails, he can buy a small heater that doubles as a dehumidifier, for vans.
It's interesting how he talked on change. I need to be stable in most areas of my life in order to make change in the places that matter. So I need to be stable in my living situation and have a home base so I can focus all of my energy on changing the world bit by bit into a better place.
I have heard that perspective quite often too. Meditating is a great way to get more aware of the change around you too, if you prefer to stay settled :)
I've heard using cat litter in a sock works well to absorb moisture.
cooking with a crocpot its wonderful so many heallthy options and no propane needed.
I've heard that rice is good for absorbing the moisture.
Sweet guy. :)
Have an anchor and travel at the same time! Yes!
Craig S. Roberts book, Ten Consecutive Years Living In Cars, five bucks, Kindle, is amazing! Example: He signs up for multi-location, wide-based 24/7 gym membership to solve overnight parking and showering issues (plus workout). Hundreds of tips about ventilation, insulation, mold, food storage, tire maintenance, window blockage, police avoidance, etc. I have no affiliation, it is an astonishing book with info that only a man who worked surveillance and lived in his car could ever come up with. Kirsten, if you could ever find him & interview him, it'd be amazing; he's a counterculture legend for that book. ✌️
Young free spirited idealism, although I'd be willing to bet he will not last another year living this life style or at least not in this van. Beware of the mold. He talks about people not having choices to live the way they want, but this is not true. He is living proof. He is choosing to live in a 6x9 van with a moisture problem.
Don't get me wrong, when I was young I would have gladly undertaken an adventure like this, but I chose to live in bad neighborhoods and pay rent. Now, I am the guy he talks about with children, and a slave to a mortgage, house, gas, electric, water, garbage, insurance, and cable bills, but I am happy.
Good luck to you youngster.
Mold problem is resolved for the biggest part. And I agree with you, every form of existence comes with compromises. And in the end it's about being happy. I'm just trying to keep my path as free as possible to simply change my mind about my lifestyle, if I feel like it :)
And it's been almost half a year and I'm rather happy. I admit, that at some point I will probably switch for a bigger van, though :)
Awesome
Thanks :)
For those cold nights,you should get a Mr.Heater portable propane heater.They run off of 1lb propane tanks and are really efficient and cheap.You can get them for around $100 and the propane tanks are around $5 and will get you a lot of heat out of one tank since you are only heating a van.
You could also save alot of room by adding a rooftop tent or adding a rooftop loft or even a simple rooftop storage / luggage container.
Thanks for the tips! I have been considering a little gas heater like this, and I came to the conclusion, that it just feels a bit unsave in such a little room. In the future I'll give my best to go South sooner anyway :)
And yeah, I'm actually considering a bigger van as soon as the money's found me. And then it'll most likely be an elevated roof of some sort :)
Can't use the heater indoors without ventilation though. You might be able to heat the van and shut it off before going to bed. That's what Chad does. Can't leave it on in there though.
Yeah, that's another point. Falling asleep while it's on, would be a no go ;)
Tom Stone This one you can... in the US it's approved for indoor use as it is equipped with a low oxygen cut off. I use mine with a vent open slightly and a window cracked just in case but also to cut down on the humidity.
I'll consider it for next Winter, Rob Vann :)
Hello Kirsten.I love your videos.Can you tell me what country this was in.
open bags of charcoal briquettes and place them in a cloth bag,will help with the water build up.
LUV YOU kristen!
You could try finding a sort of country side garage workshop kind of thing and ask them if you can help them out in exchange for some knowhow and being allowed to use tools to improve your van - they could have a lot of interesting ideas how to fix some of your issues like the moisture one - you just have to find a place where they dig your general idea.
IronicallyVague If he improves the way his insulation is done and installs some kind of air circulation then it could be sorted out. Water vapour will escape on it's own if you let it but it's also important not to have thin films near each other, especially where two temperature extremes meet because that leaves a gap for moisture and mold to hide in. It can be improved but it requires a lot of trial and error.
***** Maybe the meaning behind his name is not that his chosen attitude is to be vaguely ironical but that you get to find irony in him being vague.
No fights, guys. I knew about the risks of mold and I still appreciate it a lot when somebody goes the extra mile for my health :)
About Wings yep, and a tsp of apple cider vinegar will clear up molds in your system quick.
have you tried those plastic laser perforated bags of rice? for your moisture problem.
Ahh, to be so young, and free...
thank goodness for those with free spirits. perhaps austria in the summer, and winter in southern parts of europe?
IF you visit Sweden vi have something that's called "Torrbollen"... It's a small device that sucks up moist and they work just fine. No electric, no mechanical thing just a "sucker" for moist...
I think sleeping bags would solve a lot of your bed making hassles, I lived in a class c for a couple of years , I found putting a camping roll under my mattress helped stop the condensation , it's a fun life . But tho it may go against how you perhaps think about this life style , a bit of organisation will go a long way , to making it work better for most people , good luck .
When life gives you lemons...Make a converted budget van as a free camping home.
Love that comment xD
The only way to keep moisture from building up is to ventilate. They do make heat exchanger vents for houses to keep from losing any heat.
Totally agree. Problem has been solved by now :)
Being free is an illusion.Feeling free can be achieved anywhere.
I totally agree! To me, this is one part of my freedom :)
I thought wisdom came with age until I started to meet old fools. These young people are achieving in such an early age what people die trying to grasp.
Is this in Barcelona, Spain? I think I caught a glimpse of the torre agbar while he was driving to the beach.
That's exactly where we shot the interview! Well spotted! :D
Take a little time out to line the metal surfaces inside the van with a suitable vehicle liner that is pliable. It's cheap and simple to apply using a spray glue and a sharp knife. TH-cam it if you need tips on how to do it. Just make sure it's well ventilated when applying. This should eliminate most if not all of the moisture and dripping. I converted a camper myself and never had a problem with damp even though it was single glazed. Damp will affect your health in the long run especially if spores start to appear. Love your life style and outlook. The planet is in a terrible state at the moment. I feel like it's not worth bothering preparing for the future as the shit is already hitting the fan big time. Self sufficiency is going to be the only way to survive. Get used to surviving on very little as it might not be a life choice for many in the future! Good luck, happy minivaning! PB UK.
I've been contemplating doing the same for similar reasons, just haven't yet.
Go for it! It's been totally worth it for me so far! I'm documenting the journey on aboutwings.com
You can also find lots of tips about the van life there :)
cool beans :D
About Wings I really hope more people support your Patreon page Robin! $35 is a good start for only one month in! I am 25, poor, living out of my Airstream camper, and even using Patreon and the internet as my primary source of income just as you! I wish you the best man! It's great to see people actually MY AGE living this lifestyle! Don't let life, capitalism, or the troubles of the road get you down! It's all just about life experiences man! Keep going!
About Wings hey, I have a couple of qualms that have stopped me from jumping into this adventure already. It would be great if you could give me some feedback.
a) I've got debt to pay off so need to be making money, is living in a van, and finding seasonal work easy to do, and consistent?
b) I'm hesitant about selling my car, to buy a van, just in case I don't like it. But I can't have both.
Ps I live in Australia and have subscribed to your channel for more info.
Hey Jay, you might want to check out Aussie TH-camr "jimboandgary" as they are traveling across your country as man and goat pair. ...And I don't mean to intrude on the conversation but I'd also say be sure to save up a bunch of money because work/money isn't usually consistent.
Very True
He needs one of those pads for moisture under his mattress I heard it is costley may be that will work god bless