Forest Camping in my Box Van - Arizona VanLife
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video I go exploring on my mountain bike, do some clean up around camp, and cook up a meal in my box van camper.
Thank you for being here.
*My name is Brian. I started living full time in a self built camper van in 2014 in my hometown of San Diego, CA. I hit the road full-time in 2015 to pursue seasonal work and travel around the U.S. I find free camping on public land and enjoy photography, hiking, biking, and kayaking in nature. Join me on my adventures.
Thanks for watching!
**Follow Your Dreams*
#arizona #vanlife #boondocking
Your videos are not only therapeutic but it gives people like me who are bound to our current life's obligation to be unable to travel, a chance to just in the moment of watching this to imagine we are there ...
"choices". not "obligations".
we wasted our best years taking care of wifes 100 year old mother,now were both invalids
@@oylinpic but you did the right thing, so many people in this culture have more compassion for their dogs than their elder parents which is shameful.
@@oylinpic and someone will take care of you. None of us live forever.
Omg
As an avid camper and backpacker, I truly RESPECT your camping ethics, AdventureVanMan!!!
You’ve inspired me even more diligently to pick up trash whether traveling in my Van or just backpacking. Love that magnet bar idea. 👍😎✌️🚐
It’s a team effort! ✌🏼
@@AdventureVanMan Yes, good on you (and the folks who picked up the old campsite). Unfortunately a couple of slobs mess up an area that most people respect and keep clean.
I always look for shit before I leave... always thought other pepole did the same since the saying goes "Take only memories and only leave foot prints."
Me too! I am gonna buy one!!
The magnet is so smart ! Good Man, Thank you !
Thanks Brian, for leading by example, on taking care of campsites. That bike ride looked great, and yes, hunger is the best appetizer😁
.😀 🤪 😲 😯 😮 W O W 🙏🏻 👍🏻 💪 🤷🏻♂️ They must've been burning pallets 🤷🏻♂️
That magnet bar is a good idea ❗💪💪👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Brian the camping taco maker 🌮🌮🌮
It is disgusting that people would leave all that trash behind but awesome that those folks you saw would help clean the site. We should all endeavor to leave a site cleaner than we found it, just as you do. Thanks.
Brian my darling, your adventures are always enjoyable. Your cooking is good. Thank you for the cleaning of the campsite. See ya next time. Take care and stay safe and beware of false prophets 🍺👍🇺🇸🕊🌹❤️🌞💋😇😎
I heard once that to be a great cook, you only prepare food for people who are extremely hungry. I think your cooking, Brian, would be delicious to folks with all degrees hunger.
It is indeed heartbreaking to see all the trash and nails you find. Thank you for being an active guardian of public lands.
Although in hindsight it seems obvious, but I was shocked by the number of nails you picked up from that old fire pit. Great camping tip! Thanks!
Love of nature is like a seed. It must be planted in ones heart, not thrown to the wind in the form of words. Your seeds are well rooted .
Hi Brian what's going on man Love the bike ride you went on and the taco's were a great thing I had to tell you I'm just like you bud we clean up the public lands our thing is this YOU PACK IN YOU PACK OUT don't Destroy our public or private lands or they will not allow us to use them Their is a slogan That is still with me I learned as a child called PITCH IN CLEAN IT LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT
Thanks so much for cleaning up. The trash I pickup goes into a 5 gallon bucket and I have a second one for my own trash.
Yea,we have a bar magnet with tiny wheels and a handle,push it like a broom.rolls over the ground and picks stuff up.
People like those you passed on the way back are the reason we still have some areas left to camp in. Kudos to those people. Clean up after the irresponsible A$$#@!s that trash the place just because they can. Will be one of my goals once Iam finally on the road.
So good to hear your comments about the downside of getting an E bike. Great idea about the magnet bar.
Thank you. That is just my personal situation with the e-bike. For many with health/weight conditions an e-bike is perfect, just not for me right now. ✌🏼
Reminds me that I need to add a tire puncture repair kit to my recovery gear. Also that I have all the fixins for tacos myself. I know what I'm having for dinner.
Nice housekeeping our natural wonders. Alot of people burn pallets thanks for videos and thanks for cleaning up 👍😃
I was camping at Lake Mead and picked up a full pickup truck of garbage from one site. Someone left everything, including a kitchen sink.
I'll bet you Kelly will come whip your butt into shape real soon here. With all her hiking and biking LOL. Great video Brian nice to see you again ‼️😊👍💓
This is in my backyard and I find it very frustrating and disheartening when people trash public land. I have been seeing more of in the last 5-10 years where it is getting extremely difficult to find areas that haven’t been trashed. Thank you so very much for helping. I always try to do the same. It just seems like such an uphill battle sometimes. It give me hope that there are others like you doing the good work.
I hear you, my house is right by the National Forest. Unbelievable how people can just throw trash, another big issue for me is fire. Doesn’t take much to start a forest fire.
Great tips & funny too with how to make any meal taste really good, lol, love it. I need a magnet bar.
GREAT IDEA with the magnet!!!! The community appreciates it I'm sure. Enjoy the road and stay safe.
Starting with the big trash then looking for smaller stuff later is what I also do. I'm currently 16 miles up South Padre Island and it's amazing how much trash there is that washes up from the sea.
Everything taste good, thanks Brian
💛💛💛you’re getting close to 100K💛💛💛
That magnet strip is such a good idea. I will have to do that.
So happy to see people picked up that trash. I do that when I can. Ro-tel on tacos good idea when you can't get good fresh tomatoes. Happy travels
Taco Tuesday....🌮🌮🌮🌮 My favorite day of the week. Thanks for the video and your continued stewardship of our beautiful land.
This guys videos give me a peaceful easy feeling
Your an asset to the public lands, leaving it better than than the way you found it regardless of who littered the place. Live your simple, sustainable, and ethical lifestyle.
Great Detail for Camping Spots, Thank you and the wonderful People that cleaned the trash from others . Epic Landscape ✌️🌮
I was shocked 🤯at how many nails you picked up!
Your cabinets look really cool👍
Great video. Thank you for getting those old nails up.
After all the years of watching people who live and travel in their RVs you are the first person to suggest we use a magnet to pick up nails and avoid possible tire punctures. Thank you so much for adding this to you video. I'm sure you have just saved a lot of people from future flat tires. I've watched all your videos from the very beginning. I love your laid back easy goin kinda life style. Congrats on achieving what so many people envision as one type of heaven. Best of luck in your future journeys.
Thank you Brian for cleaning up after the pigment. I have always carried a trash bag but never thought about nails. I guess that from burning wood pallets. Amazing 😥
2:40 I can almost smell the pine trees watching this I'm going to pause the video run outside and grab a small pine twig and then restart the video.😎😎
Very beautiful campsite. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Can't bellieve the trash in such a beautiful setting. Thankfully the good people outnumber the a-holes
Unreal how many nails you pulled out of the ground there. Thanks for the tip!
I think you saved me a few flat tires in that video! When you were huffing and puffing that hill on your bike, I got to thinking that you were lucky you weren't camped in the campground on top. You would have had to huff and puff on the way back up. When I moved to a location where everything was down hill from there, I bought an electric bike. I turned off the automatic mode and only use the manual twist grip where I really need it, after a long day of biking. That saves battery power and keeps you in shape.
I was surprised on how many nails came up with that magnet! Thanks for sharing that helpful tip. ✌
LOL "For the record, I'm totally out of shape" !! Cool shower set up. Thanks for picking up trash. Yikes on the nails! It's -11C = 12.2F here...with snow...today! 🙄☃️👍😎🌲🌏🇨🇦
Omg the nail magnet, very smart..
Tacos on an empty stomach..👍👍👍
That magnet bar - brilliant!
I have the exact same bike that I converted to electric, best thing I ever did. I mostly pedal the bike and use the electric assist for steep hills or when I get tired. People who think they will not get exercise by riding an electric bike have not ridden a quality electric bike yet.
Yes, it is really a personal thing. Our health/weight conditions vary so much. I find the uphill and when I feel tired is when I’m getting the best workout so I wouldn’t want to avoid that. Enjoy your custom Trek e-bike! I’m sure its a load of fun! ✌🏼
Wow, I'm appalled at all that trash and those nail. Unbelievable. People are so disrespectful of the land. Makes me sick. Thank you for picking up the nails. Tacos look good. Great video.
Sad about the trash and nails. Your food always looks delicious!!!
A person who cares, really shines! Thanks!
Awesome days sir
Hello. Have a safe blessed day! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I love Prescott and the twn square is so beautiful and historic. Have a great time
Holy crap that's alot of nails. Appreciate you taking ur time to make sure others don't run into a problem w nails in tires. Safe travels.
You are a good example. Keep up the good work. Excellent content
Wow that was a huge pile of nails 😀. Nice vlog. It's good that some people really care about picking the trash and keeping the place neat. Thanks for the vlog. Take care and travel safe.
Thanks for the mail/magnet tip! I wouldn’t have thought of that until AFTER I had gotten a nail in my tire
What a lovely van inside it’s really nice.
Don't forget to check those front bolts on your bike 4 vibration
Hahaha taco party up in here 😂
Great video. Love the mountain biking in the nice scenery. Thank you for helping keep our planet clean.
beautiful area. I am proud of you and others who cleans up after people. that was a whole lot of nails. that taco looks yummy. be safe and keep on keeping on
Lovin the pan/grill cover. I’m totally stealing that idea
Sad sad people with no respect for the earth. But it was nice to see those kids pick it up and especially you Brian that magnet thing was amazing. Good things to know thank you!! So much beauty out there and I appreciate you always sharing it with us. Awesome seeing you over 90k now well deserved!! Safe travels
that's incredible with the nails, thx for showing that and cleaning up. youre a good man
That magnet bar is a wonderful idea, wow. Thank you for being a good steward of our public lands, unlike the other people. Looks like there was a dumpster not that far away, how hard would it have been to take their trash there, sigh.
Thank you. That dumpster is locked and only for campers that paid to camp in the campground.
That magnet bar is ingenious, thanks for doing that and the idea to build my own!
I had no idea you would find that many nails at a campsite. That magnet is a great idea. Thanks for checking in brian, I love your videos.
I have heard that in some areas the ranger can cite you for burning pallets and old lumber. Take the other way out and check out Prescott
I camp in Prescott occasionally and the litter is awful. I'm thinking of crossing Prescott off my camp spot list. I appreciate you leaving your campsite better than what you found it. I'd sure hate to see our beautiful forests closed because of careless campers. Stay safe and healthy Brian.
THANK YOU, Brian, for highlighting a growing concern among most of the nomad community...namely the trashing and destruction of our public lands. You are kind and generous to call this "desperation." I'll withhold my definition, which is not nearly as kind. Please continue to highlight this very "sad" behavior. 😡😭
Yeah the adjective I’d use for these kind of people would not be that kind.
Greetings true brethren, 😚..the lungs like that cardio..the breath is Life,i can tell Kelly is getting closer n ye are preparing..lol.your a FINE MAN..injoyed video.. Peace n Love
I've been picking up a lot of glass lately. So glad. There's fewer of us cleaning up after others to help preserve it for the few. Thanks for encouraging others to.
Thanks for bringing awareness of nails I hadn't thought of that. Enjoyed your video.
Hey Brian..I hear ya bout some good exercise and don't eat much. Everything tastes good ! lol. That was crazy how many nails your magnet picked up 😲 Seems some people thing there's a maid following them around..seen the same thing at rest areas 😠
Regarding E-Bikes vs. cardio exercise, I find that I still pedal to extend battery life and to get up hills more quickly when I've borrowed or rented E-Bikes. Strange though it may seem I probably work harder and exercise longer and enjoy my rides more when pedaling with the assistance of a motor. Thanks for the video Brian!
Enjoyed your video and taco look delicious!
I always look forward to your videos. Take care. Safe travels always!
Was watching towards the end when you were eating that chicken taco, and I noticed the burnt plywood, with the finished framing of your cabinets, looks absolutely awesome! I know you say it’s a work in progress, but it is coming along nicely, in my opinion! Excellent idea about the magnet. Everybody should pack one of those!
Thank you for the cleanup and your positive outlook.
Thanks for Sharing both the Beauty & the Left overs at camp....
Hi Brian! I think you are the picture of health, mind, body, and spirit. And if that's not enough, you are a master camping Chef! Take care, keep living YOUR dream, and God bless your travels! Louise
That was a lot of nails. Great video as always! Safe travels!
Man, that was a lot of nails! Kudos for picking those and the trash up. I’d be one of the knuckleheads that just backed in over them.😬
And my learning from you continues. I will make a magnet bar and remember the key to having my meals taste better. Another great video. Thank you.
Thanks Brian for picking up all the nails and that trash that was very very good of you I know the next person or people are going to really appreciate that. The food looks awesome also thanks for sharing be safe.
Love the videos-- down-home comfy🍿🏞🌎
Hi Brian. I'm so annoyed by the trash left by people. I always haul away others trash. I've noticed more kids trash as well sippy cups, fruit drink packets and straws. Obviously the adults don't bother to to their young the camping education. Great job on the nails, I'm sure you prevented several flat tires for folks.
Brian creates a 2nd successful channel called Brian Cooks, yeah buddy 😁 Loved the idea of your magnet, very creative & useful and definitely a good example of working smarter not harder.
Hey Brian. Good video .chicken tacos 😋
If you buy a pedal assist (class 1) eBike you get plenty of cardio because you have to pedal all the time. The motor is a nice little boost on hills.
Just doesn’t fit my lifestyle. I’ve tried many e-bikes, they just don’t get my heart pumping and sweat flowing enough with my current health/weight conditions. ✌🏼
I appreciate you leaving places better than you find them.
This is how we keep access to these places open.
Thanks for showing people a good example.
Thank you for caring about nature . What would be the reason for so many nails in the middle of nowhere ?? 🤷♀️
Folks burning scrap wood with nails in it, then leaving them there.
Mostly pallets. You can always tell by the nails being ring shank type nails. They are prohibited at many sites, as they should be.
I miss biking, so much. I have really bad knees - blew one out during a hike a couple years ago, so I'm looking to buy an ebike.
Love the magnet idea. Why do people have all those nails out there.
As usual your videos are great 👍. I think our forest land is going to get overwhelmed by the homeless being pushed out of the cities. Or people who are not able to pay rent on there homes. Not making Any excuses for them. Thanks for picking up after them! Also some RV ers are pigs and throw their garbage in the woods or fire pits! I've always do the same and also use a magnet after a few flat tires! Happy travels my friend 😊.
Magnet bar is very smart . Nail comes from many people using old construction wood or old wood pallets
I don’t understand disrespectful campers ... happens everywhere unfortunately. Beautiful camp spot though and neat magnet idea. Lastly, thanks for making tacos !! 🌮🌮
Haha mmm love tacos 💕💕
I remember in one of your early videos you said you showed your cooking so your Mom (I believe mom, if not a family member) that you ARE eating. I think you do an excellent job. Your my favorite TH-camr! An the adventure continues. ✌
I love it when your videos hit first thing in the morning. I enjoy my coffee and our adventures. You had me holding my breath going down the hills! Bravo!
Same here! When I wake up in the morning and you’ve posted a new video, it makes my coffee taste so much better!
I stayed at that lower wolf creek campground. Pit toilets, but no electricity or running water. They brought in water and put it in barrels for utility use.
I so enjoy your adventures- THANK YOU for letting us tag along with you. Great tip about the nails!…… I knew to try to avoid if possible (I was thinking broken glass) but I never considered nails. I love having a charcoal chimney- have used one for 30+ years - we used to do a lot of Dutch oven stack cooking makes it so much quicker to get your coals going for cooking and I think I use less charcoal. Thank You, I appreciate your time in sharing this with us. Safe travels🌞
We love our ebikes. But we're OLD lol. Cya down the road. :)