UPDATE: Immediately after making this video, we listed the red van for sale, and it disappeared fast! We wrote a blog post including the final sale price, how we sold it, and way more details on the conversion, repairs, and maintenance. Here it is... www.tripofalifestyle.com/gear-and-tips/nissan-nv200-camper-van/
Amazing, we will probably be doing the same with our VAN (sell it) once we finish our travel and need bigger. :) 5 In a SUV is tight, but RV/Ford Transit/sprinter is too expensive at the moment. An SUV / Small VAN is a nice option and its amazing how much space it can have start travel.
... and predicable t&a from the girl. A calendar of her vogue poses might make a small amount of money to help out and satisfy her need to show it. I suggest several strong coffees because this is fast chatter. Keep truckin'....🍀
I used to do it like that. Just rent a normal van for some festival, throw in a matress over a tarp and sleep in my sleeping bag. It was convenient compared to a tent. But when I got myself a decent camper van, I had to get one with a toilet. It was so annoying having to dress up and put on shoes when you had to go outside. Now, with a toilet in my van, if I have to go I can go to the toilet with bare feet and in my underwear. For me, that's a huge convenience. And while I do like to hike in the great outdoors with my dog, I also like just to hang out in my van reading and whatnot. So each to their own. These are just my thoughts. But I do agree with a lot you said on the video. Sleeping in a van instead of a hotel saves a ton of money.
A small toilet is a necessity, I have found remote businesses and roadside rests closed and was grateful for the plastic grocery bag napkins I had. Now I snag an empty ice cream bucket from friends and family, and with grocery bags and cat litter I've been saved some embarrassment. Of course, I haven't had to use it yet, but I'll be ready for those emergencies.
We have never come close to needing to use a grocery bag or a bucket as a bathroom lol, but we do carry a single roll of toilet paper with us just in case. It's never been used.
You make some great points. Personally I would want a van with standing room, at least for changing clothes. I would also add a 12v fridge and a butane stove along with minimal pots and pans. Wet wipes can substitute for a shower, if needed. Thanks for sharing.
😎👌 i agree with everything here. I bought a NV200 3 years ago as my only transport for its economy, with a standard single bed and floor space left for my bicycle next to it. Plenty packing space under the bed. Simplicity works.
@@sameersmerchant Wow, 1973! One of the things we sometimes warn other potential vanlifers about is putting a lot of time/money into renovations/recovery, when that money could be directed toward purchasing a newer and more reliable van in the first place. We spent $12.3k on the van and only $455 on renovations/conversion. A lot of people invert that ratio and wind up with a beautiful van that doesn't have much mechanical life remaining. Be careful!
First time here. Your video is professionally done. And you are showing the price and the equipments, the bed etc with a special post on the bottom that is impressive well done. And yes you are right nothing too flashing just practical and you can easily blend in the city 😊. God bless 😊
Save space by having a futon style bed design and add something that you’ll feel will be most helpful during rainstorms, holidays etc. I use to have a sink that was accessible from the back and it was the size of a nightstand.
This is brilliant! It's so refreshing to see a minimalistic and more so achievable build as compared to the instagram-centric builds that take months to complete and cost thousands.
Cute idea for young couples or singles, but as a SENIOR with mobility issues, a larger vehicle that can be entered and exited with more ease is a better choice. Get a vehicle that fits YOUR physical space and needs.
You are right. I'm 80 and have a minivan camper. I'm not full time yet, but finances might change that in 2025. Anyway, I have to have my bucket and bags and absorbents at the very least for night. Standing would be nice, but until I can get my financial picture more rosy, I'll have to stand outside. Love this video. Love this couple, but could do without that tiny bikini bottom (sorry, jealousy breaking through!)!
True, I rented one of these campervans and had difficulty getting in and out of the platform van due to arthritis and bad knees. Great on gas and parking and appearing "stealth," but definitely better suited to the young camper. Platform bed was so high that I had to get out of the van in the middle of the night to pee. Not good in the cold or bear country. Agree with getting the next level up in van height.
You make a lot of sense! I agree completely. Have been shopping for RV Vans and there ain't no way I'm gonna pay for that. If I do this I'll buy a new van (for reliability) and outfit it much like you did.
I picked up an old Econoline conversion van for $2800. It needed a few repairs of non driving items (like a step and window) but it runs and drives great, it's not rusted out or high miles. Being a conversion van it's already insulated. I love it and drive it everyday.
Some great ideas ... I would likely have insulated & added some solar. But if it worked for you fantastic. I'm planning on this type of rig for Europe... I have a 170 Sprinter now
This is exactly how my setup would be. Great to hear I am not the only one who thinks this is the ideal way of traveling. My husband however doesn't agree with me and therefore bought me a Volkswagen California for my 50th birthday. Great car, but not ideal. A kitchen in a van is a bad idea. Everything becomes super smelly. Better cook outside on a gas stove and use a jerrycan with a watertap for water. Transforming your bed into seats every morning is a real chore. We live in Europe and a lot of cities start to ban vehicles with diesel engines. Your idea is far cheaper, simpler and hassle free.
Great plan for seeing the country without blowing a ton a cash along the way. Love the simplicity of the conversion too. Place to sleep and some storage. Boom!!
We plan our trips based on good weather. As-is, this van is comfortable to sleep in with the doors and windows closed when overnight temperatures are between 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C). Condensation is only a problem at the very low end of that range. A ventilation fan would help with that, and might be a nice addition to the van. In a pinch, you can also run the AC/heat periodically during the night, or just grab a hotel if necessary.
@@TripOfALifestyle If you get a hybrid minivan like a Toyota Sienna you can run the heat or A/C all night and the van will start and stop the engine as needed to maintain the battery. Yes, that costs more up front, but if you need the climate control... Oh, it also doubles your gas mileage, so if you're traveling a lot that saves you some money too.
this is great. Curious what the dimensions of the back of the van floor are and if there are other models with similar dimensions (guessing you guys already looked into this). Also - the no windows in the back seems like a negative for air flow, condensation, temp control - is there a reason you went w/ that?
Our wooden bed platform measures 48” (122 cm) wide, 71.5” (182 cm) long, and 11 ¾” (30 cm) tall, and it's a pretty tight fit in the back of the NV200. Not 100% sure about other van models, but we know for a fact that the smallest Ford Transit Connect model is just a little too small for our platform (we tried putting it into one once). As for windows, you'll see some NV200 models with rear side panel windows, but they don't actually open, so they wouldn't help with air flow. We're very comfortable with overnight temperatures between about 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C). Condensation is only an issue at the low end of that range, and sleeping bags are needed then as well. A ventilation fan might be a nice addition if you camp in the cold a lot.
Thanks! We use a very small cooler, filled with free ice from drink machines at gas stations (just be sure to bring your own cup). We also carry a tiny single-burner propane stove and make use of gas station microwaves sometimes, too.
Brilliant! And the same strategy would make sense for outdoor people with full-time jobs who need a daily driver and a perfect simple camper for camping out in nature many weekends and a few 1-3 week expeditions each year. Simpler is incomparably better.
Question: I'm wondering about comfort.. I.e. mainly airflow at night especially if it's hot and raining. I can imagine it can get super muggy in the van. How do you handle that? Love the video and your enthusiasm / attitude!
We never camp in this van when it's hot. All of our trips are planned around weather, so we generally go far north (Canada/Alaska) in the summer. Here's a recent example of one of those summer trips: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
We've never really missed the insulation, but we do plan our trips around good weather. As long as overnight lows are between 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C), we're generally very comfortable. Forgoing insulation saves a bit of space in a very tight cargo area. On cold nights, sleeping bags are necessary, and we do experience a condensation problem sometimes. A ventilation fan would be a positive addition that could probably be done relatively cheaply! Also worth noting: In a pinch, you can run the AC or heater periodically throughout the night, or just grab a hotel occasionally as needed.
You have ventilation fan already built in your car. But it still needs energy and car battery cannot run it for long. All you need is to connect it to additional deep cycle battery that feeds from your alternator.
I always crack a window open in the car. The much smaller space would fog over real quick if I didn’t. Coats and blankets to stay warm. I’m 6’4” in a Prius.
Exactly! Planet Fitness card elimates need for a bath combined with easy no prep salads or healthy takeout and youre done. My dogs enjoy the extra space and I've never had a problem with overnight trips. Can't understand all these overbuilt van build vids. Good job
We live in Florida too! We don't sleep in the van when it's hot. We strategically go north (especially Canada/Alaska) during the summer, and we only camp in Florida during the winter. Here's our most recent Canada trip: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
Something worth mentioning. You have to truly love your partner for this type of lifestyle. Excited to give something like this a try with mt husband one day. I can tell, you two are truly life partners. 🩷
So do you go to restaurants all the time? And with no way to keep groceries safe on blm land, what do you do about food?: very cute can😊. Thanks for sharing!
We do go to restaurants a lot, and we use menu hacks to keep those prices down: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/hack-the-menu-and-pay-less/ We also cook outdoors using the propane burner shown at 04:51 in the video, and we make use of gas station microwaves sometimes, too.
How many miles before your van engine wore out? The old Ford straight 6 used in the Econoline vans routinely runs over a half million miles without any major repairs. The vehicle will wear out before that motor does.
@@jameshill8498 We had 220k miles when we sold the red NV200. It still ran fine, but it had a low compression engine cylinder at the time, so it was probably on its way out.
I love my pop top van with a kitchen. I like cooking my own food, having a fridge full of the food I like. The rock n roll bed is wonderfully comfortable. Being able to stand up inside is great too. A little van with a mattress....no thanks....
We didn't! All of our van trips were planned around good weather. We spent summers in Alaska/Canada and the northern US, and we spent winters in the south. When we wanted to do something different from that, we just paid for hotels.
This is great advice! YT will have you thinking you need $100k to do vanlife! Maybe of us want to do this for financial freedom. Thanks for the reminder!
@@Brinaweenahwoo Absolutely true. 💯 Make sure you check out the rest of the channel and our blog for more finance-focused content in addition to the travel stuff!
Glad you asked! We have a whole blog post and TH-cam video about that! Blog: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/health-insurance-without-a-job/ Video: th-cam.com/video/-KZqf1RAjUQ/w-d-xo.html
This is good advice but it is extreme. Personally I would use a bigger van (Sprinter or E-Series, long wheel base). This would give you the bed space plus room for storage, cooking and some minimal toilet facilities.
I like simple solutions. But this is not one of it. Only for perfect weather conditions. It’s hard /near impassible to access your storage under the bed from inside. You don’t want to get outside if it is raining. You don’t want to cook outside if it is raining. You don’t want to explore the area if it is raining. And if, you don’t want to come back wet and only have a mattress covering the hole back area in your van to sit/lay on. Insulation/condensation problems were mentioned before. It’s at most a slightly better tent. In general the nv200 is a great car for camping if done right. But not like this.
You mentioned that this is "a better tent." In addition to being a vehicle, yes - you're absolutely right! It is a secure, waterproof place to sleep with a full, uncompromising bed, attached to an emergency source of heat and air conditioning. Our van is designed to be exactly that: a nice place to SLEEP. We never claimed it was anything more than that. And still, amazingly, it saved us tens of thousands of dollars while having some of the best experiences of our entire lives for the last 6 years. 😊
This is a nice example. For my tahoe, no build or conversion; I sleep and make food. Basically cold prepared food. I have ways to stay clean....Hate to say it on my behalf; I gotta have my compost toliet 😅😅😅😅
@@BeeKraemer We buy cheap, liability-only insurance like we would for any car. It has ranged from around $30 to $60 per month over the years. Here are our thoughts on insurance in general: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/how-much-insurance-do-i-need/
@@robertdepalma7321 Yup! The purpose of our van is to provide transportation and a comfortable place to sleep. This does both really well at a very low cost.
My dream van would be very different from yours. And it would cost something between $ 100,000.00 and 200,000.00. With my life savings I could actually afford it, but then I'm a) broke and b) dead, because my wife would kill me.
Haha. Here's the thing: This isn't actually our "dream van" at all. It's what we found to be sufficient to travel happily and make a lot of great memories at a minimal cost. As a result of many frugal choices like these, we saved up a lot of money a young age, which is what allows us to travel so freely in the first place: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/how-to-save-a-million-dollars/ Sometimes, less is more. 😉
@@davidsloat1016 A typical "meal out" on the road for us costs something like $6 per person. Three times a day, that's $36, which doesn't even cover a campsite with hookups in many places. Not to mention the additional gas, insurance, and initial cash outlay on a bigger RV. In reality, we spend even less than this, because we also carry a single-burner propane stove with us (linked in the video description) and cook canned goods in addition to making PB&Js, etc., sometimes. You can see some of our real-world trip spending reports on the blog... Our typical US vanlife trip budget: www.tripofalifestyle.com/gear-and-tips/cheap-travel/ Our typical Canadian vanlife trip budget: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
Hello, I was wondering, if I can share with you the most important thing. God the Father sent His holy Son Jesus to earth, to be born of a virgin. He grew up and died on the cross for our sins. Then He was put into a tomb for 3 days, after that Abba Father raised Jesus to life.He appeared to people, and went back to heaven. We all must sincerely receive Jesus into our life to be God's child. See John 1:12 for this please. Will you today genuinely by faith receive Jesus into your life for salvation?
Are you familiar with the VW bus camping scene from the 60’s? A camper is any vehicle you camp inside of and installing beds, batteries, etc is converting it from its original design.
MMNNNN . just way too basic to be realistic for most and its not really a van conversion is it ?? you answered your own question about buying a bigger "ready made " rig . Sell it at the end of any trip ( and if you buy wisely ) you will get back what you paid , making that side of the equation free effectively . far Bbetter to spend more at the start and have a " mobile apartment " in van .
It's true that you might be able to constantly buy and sell RVs to take trips and try to squeeze your money back out of them without putting too many miles on. There's nothing wrong with that strategy at all! But that comes with a little risk and a lot of hassle that most people don't want to deal with. Also, RVs tend to depreciate very quickly, and they're not as liquid (i.e. easy to sell) as cars. More importantly though, remember: We're saving money on gas by having a small rig, we're paying $0 every night for campsites because we don't need hookups, and our insurance is dirt cheap ($30 to $60 per month) because our van is considered a small personal vehicle like a car. Aside from that, tying up large amounts of capital in more expensive vehicles comes with an investment opportunity cost (you lose the returns that you could've been earning on that cash elsewhere instead, like in the stock market). The savings of our setup go far, far beyond the difference in purchase price compared to an RV.
I like you guys .I know a lot about car brands.The van you have is junk.Next time buy A toyota or A Honda. But toyota is better .You can drive A toyota 400000 miles with just maintaining it.
I love how every "cheap vanlife!" video has a pre-requisite of being privileged enough to either be born in or have £millions to qualify to immigrate to USA or similar country where vanlife is legal & possible... That pre-requisite is not "cheap".
@@TripOfALifestyle in other words, rich people make video about how to "convert a CHEAP Camper!" (as long as you're rich). Step 1: be a millionaire so you can qualify to immigrate via investment route to a country where vanlife is legal.
@@Fina-x5n Some people are born in countries where vanlife is viable. Most people who choose to watch this video probably fall into that category. If you live in a place where vanlife is illegal and don't plan to move, then you may not wish to continue watching vanlife videos on TH-cam. There are lots of other interesting videos on this platform that you could check out! 😊
@@Fina-x5n In what world do you live in where you're required to be a millionaire to qualify to immigrate to any country? Most immigrants are definitely not that rich.
@@eugenekim9961 I live in the real world, apparently you don't. "Most immigrants" make up a tiny portion of the population because only a tiny percentage of people qualify to immigrate. The majority do not, unless they become millionaires.
So nice that you spend so much quality time with your daughter but I’m not crazy about the idea of sharing a bed with your teenage child. That seems a bit much.
@@grumpyiwegianpodcast3505 We plan our trips around good weather, staying in Canada/Alaska and the northern US during the summer. We just get hotels if we really want to travel outside that comfort zone.
I hope you two clowns had enough integrity to tell the new buyer of your dying old van what all was wrong with it. Since you stated on your blog post so proudly that you were able to still get $4,000.00 for a dying van I doubt you did?
@@grumpyiwegianpodcast3505 Not only was the buyer informed, but the check engine light was on during the sale with the code provided, and the odometer was intact with 220k miles showing. NV200 vans are hard to come by right now because they were discontinued in 2021, and prices are high. Thanks for commenting.
UPDATE: Immediately after making this video, we listed the red van for sale, and it disappeared fast! We wrote a blog post including the final sale price, how we sold it, and way more details on the conversion, repairs, and maintenance. Here it is...
www.tripofalifestyle.com/gear-and-tips/nissan-nv200-camper-van/
An amazingly useful and real world video! So many others are touting these $150,000 plus vans.
Congrats.
@InternetEmail-m4h Thanks!
Amazing, we will probably be doing the same with our VAN (sell it) once we finish our travel and need bigger. :)
5 In a SUV is tight, but RV/Ford Transit/sprinter is too expensive at the moment. An SUV / Small VAN is a nice option and its amazing how much space it can have start travel.
Legit one of the very few honest and realistic van life videos I’ve ever seen😂
@@walkonearthofficial 😊
... and predicable t&a from the girl. A calendar of her vogue poses might make a small amount of money to help out and satisfy her need to show it. I suggest several strong coffees because this is fast chatter. Keep truckin'....🍀
I used to do it like that. Just rent a normal van for some festival, throw in a matress over a tarp and sleep in my sleeping bag. It was convenient compared to a tent. But when I got myself a decent camper van, I had to get one with a toilet. It was so annoying having to dress up and put on shoes when you had to go outside. Now, with a toilet in my van, if I have to go I can go to the toilet with bare feet and in my underwear. For me, that's a huge convenience.
And while I do like to hike in the great outdoors with my dog, I also like just to hang out in my van reading and whatnot. So each to their own.
These are just my thoughts. But I do agree with a lot you said on the video. Sleeping in a van instead of a hotel saves a ton of money.
A small toilet is a necessity, I have found remote businesses and roadside rests closed and was grateful for the plastic grocery bag napkins I had. Now I snag an empty ice cream bucket from friends and family, and with grocery bags and cat litter I've been saved some embarrassment. Of course, I haven't had to use it yet, but I'll be ready for those emergencies.
We have never come close to needing to use a grocery bag or a bucket as a bathroom lol, but we do carry a single roll of toilet paper with us just in case. It's never been used.
You make some great points. Personally I would want a van with standing room, at least for changing clothes. I would also add a 12v fridge and a butane stove along with minimal pots and pans. Wet wipes can substitute for a shower, if needed. Thanks for sharing.
@@wes326 Appreciate the comment! Thanks for watching.
😎👌 i agree with everything here. I bought a NV200 3 years ago as my only transport for its economy, with a standard single bed and floor space left for my bicycle next to it. Plenty packing space under the bed. Simplicity works.
That's what's up!
Does the Nissan NV200 have the same engine and trans as the Ford Transit?
@@dopeMike_ no, not as far as i know.
@@dopeMike_ Not sure, tbh!
Im planning on doing this in my 1973 VW Bus. Working on rust repair now. Watch out for the CVT transmission on the newer NV200
@@sameersmerchant Wow, 1973!
One of the things we sometimes warn other potential vanlifers about is putting a lot of time/money into renovations/recovery, when that money could be directed toward purchasing a newer and more reliable van in the first place.
We spent $12.3k on the van and only $455 on renovations/conversion. A lot of people invert that ratio and wind up with a beautiful van that doesn't have much mechanical life remaining. Be careful!
You two are the best. Keep those tips coming :)
@@Rls2236 Thanks for watching!
First time here. Your video is professionally done. And you are showing the price and the equipments, the bed etc with a special post on the bottom that is impressive well done. And yes you are right nothing too flashing just practical and you can easily blend in the city 😊. God bless 😊
@@josephrobi6806 Appreciate it!
Just got a Toyota Sienna mini van and was going to add kitchen, shower and all of those things. but this video has changed my mind. Thank You
Save space by having a futon style bed design and add something that you’ll feel will be most helpful during rainstorms, holidays etc. I use to have a sink that was accessible from the back and it was the size of a nightstand.
@ that’s exactly what I did, I got some wood and some futon brackets and made that
This is brilliant! It's so refreshing to see a minimalistic and more so achievable build as compared to the instagram-centric builds that take months to complete and cost thousands.
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful. 😊
You guys rock! My buddy Doug Cunnington just told me about you. I just bought a Nissan NV200 a few days ago and am doing some upgrades. Love it!
Awesome! We've done a few episodes on his podcasts too. Have fun with your van! Thanks, @DougCunnington 😊
great inspiration
to get back to my plan
to live and be so free in mine.
... been bumps in the road.
@@siljrath Do it!!
Cute idea for young couples or singles, but as a SENIOR with mobility issues, a larger vehicle that can be entered and exited with more ease is a better choice. Get a vehicle that fits YOUR physical space and needs.
All you have to do is take their idea and scale it up to fit a full-sized van. Still relatively inexpensive and maneuverable.
You are right. I'm 80 and have a minivan camper. I'm not full time yet, but finances might change that in 2025. Anyway, I have to have my bucket and bags and absorbents at the very least for night. Standing would be nice, but until I can get my financial picture more rosy, I'll have to stand outside. Love this video. Love this couple, but could do without that tiny bikini bottom (sorry, jealousy breaking through!)!
True, I rented one of these campervans and had difficulty getting in and out of the platform van due to arthritis and bad knees. Great on gas and parking and appearing "stealth," but definitely better suited to the young camper. Platform bed was so high that I had to get out of the van in the middle of the night to pee. Not good in the cold or bear country. Agree with getting the next level up in van height.
Dig your rig, great video, thanks for sharing.
@@scottthejeepguy7499 Appreciate that! 🙏
What a great video. Good job. You kept it simple an honest. I feel the same way you just need a place to sleep.
@@bonesg3385 Thank you!
You make a lot of sense! I agree completely. Have been shopping for RV Vans and there ain't no way I'm gonna pay for that. If I do this I'll buy a new van (for reliability) and outfit it much like you did.
Thanks! You can really save a lot by buying used though. Consider letting someone else take that initial depreciation hit for you. 😉
I picked up an old Econoline conversion van for $2800. It needed a few repairs of non driving items (like a step and window) but it runs and drives great, it's not rusted out or high miles. Being a conversion van it's already insulated. I love it and drive it everyday.
@@jameshill8498 Great!
Some great ideas ... I would likely have insulated & added some solar. But if it worked for you fantastic. I'm planning on this type of rig for Europe... I have a 170 Sprinter now
@@mermaidvanvb Thanks!
Amazingly well explained. Thank You!
I want to make one of these myself in the near future :)
You got a new subscriber!
Happy to hear it; thanks!
This is exactly how my setup would be. Great to hear I am not the only one who thinks this is the ideal way of traveling. My husband however doesn't agree with me and therefore bought me a Volkswagen California for my 50th birthday. Great car, but not ideal. A kitchen in a van is a bad idea. Everything becomes super smelly. Better cook outside on a gas stove and use a jerrycan with a watertap for water. Transforming your bed into seats every morning is a real chore. We live in Europe and a lot of cities start to ban vehicles with diesel engines. Your idea is far cheaper, simpler and hassle free.
@@cornelisachtenzestig5533 We love that we don't have any "transformations" to do when it's time to sleep!
Great plan for seeing the country without blowing a ton a cash along the way. Love the simplicity of the conversion too. Place to sleep and some storage. Boom!!
What did you do for ventilation in the van while sleeping? Add any bug screens, etc?
We plan our trips based on good weather. As-is, this van is comfortable to sleep in with the doors and windows closed when overnight temperatures are between 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C). Condensation is only a problem at the very low end of that range. A ventilation fan would help with that, and might be a nice addition to the van.
In a pinch, you can also run the AC/heat periodically during the night, or just grab a hotel if necessary.
@@TripOfALifestyle If you get a hybrid minivan like a Toyota Sienna you can run the heat or A/C all night and the van will start and stop the engine as needed to maintain the battery. Yes, that costs more up front, but if you need the climate control... Oh, it also doubles your gas mileage, so if you're traveling a lot that saves you some money too.
this is great. Curious what the dimensions of the back of the van floor are and if there are other models with similar dimensions (guessing you guys already looked into this). Also - the no windows in the back seems like a negative for air flow, condensation, temp control - is there a reason you went w/ that?
Our wooden bed platform measures 48” (122 cm) wide, 71.5” (182 cm) long, and 11 ¾” (30 cm) tall, and it's a pretty tight fit in the back of the NV200.
Not 100% sure about other van models, but we know for a fact that the smallest Ford Transit Connect model is just a little too small for our platform (we tried putting it into one once).
As for windows, you'll see some NV200 models with rear side panel windows, but they don't actually open, so they wouldn't help with air flow.
We're very comfortable with overnight temperatures between about 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C). Condensation is only an issue at the low end of that range, and sleeping bags are needed then as well. A ventilation fan might be a nice addition if you camp in the cold a lot.
I'd be inclined to carry some limited cooking facilities to save on dining costs. Not sure if that is applicable in the US though.
@@donquixote3927 We do! Our single-burner propane stove is linked in the video description along with some of the other gear we use on the road.
Question -does your Black Card for Planet Fitness work in Canada? If not, what is a work around
Yes it does! No issues.
Very cool setup! So minimalistic. Easy to start like this and then add stuff along the way if needed. A fridge and a microwave, maybe?😂
Thanks! We use a very small cooler, filled with free ice from drink machines at gas stations (just be sure to bring your own cup). We also carry a tiny single-burner propane stove and make use of gas station microwaves sometimes, too.
Amazing! What a legendary Nissan!
@@drjohnzoidberg80 It did its job well!
Brilliant! And the same strategy would make sense for outdoor people with full-time jobs who need a daily driver and a perfect simple camper for camping out in nature many weekends and a few 1-3 week expeditions each year. Simpler is incomparably better.
Very true! The "replaces your daily driver" aspect of tiny vans is vastly underrated. Thank you!
Question: I'm wondering about comfort.. I.e. mainly airflow at night especially if it's hot and raining. I can imagine it can get super muggy in the van. How do you handle that? Love the video and your enthusiasm / attitude!
We never camp in this van when it's hot. All of our trips are planned around weather, so we generally go far north (Canada/Alaska) in the summer. Here's a recent example of one of those summer trips: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
Fantastic information
So needed
Thank you
Great video and great ideas!! Thanks.
@@donbrown599 No problem! Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe and check out the blog as well. 😊
Thanks for sharing your NV200 experience with us! How much did the 2021 cost and how many miles did it have?
Thanks for following along! All the details of the "new" 2021 van pop up on screen around 08:43 in the video. 😊
@@TripOfALifestylethank you! Didn’t see it the first time 🧐
No insulation means cold nights, hot days and a lot of condensation.
We've never really missed the insulation, but we do plan our trips around good weather. As long as overnight lows are between 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C), we're generally very comfortable. Forgoing insulation saves a bit of space in a very tight cargo area.
On cold nights, sleeping bags are necessary, and we do experience a condensation problem sometimes. A ventilation fan would be a positive addition that could probably be done relatively cheaply!
Also worth noting: In a pinch, you can run the AC or heater periodically throughout the night, or just grab a hotel occasionally as needed.
You have ventilation fan already built in your car. But it still needs energy and car battery cannot run it for long. All you need is to connect it to additional deep cycle battery that feeds from your alternator.
@@MrNiceCobra Very true! That's an option as well.
I disagree. Have camped in work vans several times and no issues. Condensation comes more into play when you have high humidity inside a space.
I always crack a window open in the car. The much smaller space would fog over real quick if I didn’t. Coats and blankets to stay warm. I’m 6’4” in a Prius.
Exactly! Planet Fitness card elimates need for a bath combined with easy no prep salads or healthy takeout and youre done. My dogs enjoy the extra space and I've never had a problem with overnight trips. Can't understand all these overbuilt van build vids. Good job
I live in Florida, it's hot most of the year. How to you keep the van cool at night?
We live in Florida too! We don't sleep in the van when it's hot. We strategically go north (especially Canada/Alaska) during the summer, and we only camp in Florida during the winter.
Here's our most recent Canada trip: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
Something worth mentioning. You have to truly love your partner for this type of lifestyle. Excited to give something like this a try with mt husband one day. I can tell, you two are truly life partners. 🩷
@@Veronica-tk9rl Thank you!
So do you go to restaurants all the time? And with no way to keep groceries safe on blm land, what do you do about food?: very cute can😊. Thanks for sharing!
We do go to restaurants a lot, and we use menu hacks to keep those prices down: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/hack-the-menu-and-pay-less/
We also cook outdoors using the propane burner shown at 04:51 in the video, and we make use of gas station microwaves sometimes, too.
I'm glad i watched this video!
How many miles before your van engine wore out? The old Ford straight 6 used in the Econoline vans routinely runs over a half million miles without any major repairs. The vehicle will wear out before that motor does.
@@jameshill8498 We had 220k miles when we sold the red NV200. It still ran fine, but it had a low compression engine cylinder at the time, so it was probably on its way out.
I love my pop top van with a kitchen. I like cooking my own food, having a fridge full of the food I like. The rock n roll bed is wonderfully comfortable. Being able to stand up inside is great too. A little van with a mattress....no thanks....
Awesome! Do what you like. 😊
Sweet video!
@@sameersmerchant Thank you!
I am curious how did you sleep in your van during the hot summer time without any fan even in your van?
We didn't! All of our van trips were planned around good weather. We spent summers in Alaska/Canada and the northern US, and we spent winters in the south. When we wanted to do something different from that, we just paid for hotels.
This is great advice! YT will have you thinking you need $100k to do vanlife! Maybe of us want to do this for financial freedom. Thanks for the reminder!
@@Brinaweenahwoo Absolutely true. 💯
Make sure you check out the rest of the channel and our blog for more finance-focused content in addition to the travel stuff!
How do you pay for medical insurance?
Glad you asked! We have a whole blog post and TH-cam video about that!
Blog: www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/health-insurance-without-a-job/
Video: th-cam.com/video/-KZqf1RAjUQ/w-d-xo.html
@@TripOfALifestyle thanks!
Yall seem awesome!
@@ImChrisDeDecker Thanks, haha 😄
So easy and cheap!
NV200 ❤
This is good advice but it is extreme. Personally I would use a bigger van (Sprinter or E-Series, long wheel base). This would give you the bed space plus room for storage, cooking and some minimal toilet facilities.
YOU ~ ROCK ! ! 🤛
REALLY smart move getting a Japanese brand van 👍
Everything made by Stellantis has horrendous reliability ratings !!
I like simple solutions. But this is not one of it. Only for perfect weather conditions. It’s hard /near impassible to access your storage under the bed from inside. You don’t want to get outside if it is raining. You don’t want to cook outside if it is raining. You don’t want to explore the area if it is raining. And if, you don’t want to come back wet and only have a mattress covering the hole back area in your van to sit/lay on.
Insulation/condensation problems were mentioned before.
It’s at most a slightly better tent. In general the nv200 is a great car for camping if done right. But not like this.
You mentioned that this is "a better tent."
In addition to being a vehicle, yes - you're absolutely right! It is a secure, waterproof place to sleep with a full, uncompromising bed, attached to an emergency source of heat and air conditioning.
Our van is designed to be exactly that: a nice place to SLEEP. We never claimed it was anything more than that.
And still, amazingly, it saved us tens of thousands of dollars while having some of the best experiences of our entire lives for the last 6 years. 😊
Nice Vid
Thank you!
This is a nice example.
For my tahoe, no build or conversion; I sleep and make food. Basically cold prepared food. I have ways to stay clean....Hate to say it on my behalf; I gotta have my compost toliet 😅😅😅😅
only downside about the Nv200, its only got 97 horsepower, steep hills might be a challenge
It's not a high-power vehicle, but we've never run into any issues!
26 mpg fuel efficient. But a diesel. Easy get double.
Planet fitness requires you to have a home location and only allows so many free visits to other locations when I tried this is what I ran into.
We've never had any issue with that, and we've traveled as much as 7 months in a single year.
I think you're talking about regular membership rather than black.
What about insurance❓
@@BeeKraemer We buy cheap, liability-only insurance like we would for any car. It has ranged from around $30 to $60 per month over the years.
Here are our thoughts on insurance in general:
www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/how-much-insurance-do-i-need/
what's the age difference between you two? you look like you're in your 40s, and she looks early 20s. If that's the case, you hit the jackpot my guy
So basically it's just a bed?
@@robertdepalma7321 Yup! The purpose of our van is to provide transportation and a comfortable place to sleep. This does both really well at a very low cost.
Wait till you get older and have to pee a couple times during the night. lol
Bottle
@ yeah a no.
My dream van would be very different from yours. And it would cost something between $ 100,000.00 and 200,000.00. With my life savings I could actually afford it, but then I'm a) broke and b) dead, because my wife would kill me.
Haha.
Here's the thing: This isn't actually our "dream van" at all. It's what we found to be sufficient to travel happily and make a lot of great memories at a minimal cost.
As a result of many frugal choices like these, we saved up a lot of money a young age, which is what allows us to travel so freely in the first place:
www.tripofalifestyle.com/money/how-to-save-a-million-dollars/
Sometimes, less is more. 😉
Great vid and tips! 4:10 is awesome too. Cheers!
Isn’t that the same van the couple had that fought until the guy murdered the girl?
No, that was a Ford Transit Connect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Gabby_Petito
She has a fantastic rear end. Would be wonderful traveling with her. Happy Holidays guys!
0:14 my favorite part of this video
I would rather shite in the privacy of my own bathroom. My own scent is enough for me to deal with; I don’t need any additional smells.
When are yall going to start a family?
@@diamondx12 You mean expand our family with a kid? No idea! 😅
@ yes, y’all are a awesome couple husband and wife.
@@diamondx12 Appreciate that! 😊
Nice minimalism. Sinks and showers so unnecessary
@@NFTeve We have ready access to sinks and showers whenever we need them. 😊
maam idk why but i did really deeply falled in love you look like an angel
🤔 So, you want to spend the thousands of dollars you saved by getting the van on eating out for EVERY meal?
Most of those rooms you could spend the night in also provide a form of Continental breakfast... and the RV has a kitchen.
@@davidsloat1016 A typical "meal out" on the road for us costs something like $6 per person. Three times a day, that's $36, which doesn't even cover a campsite with hookups in many places. Not to mention the additional gas, insurance, and initial cash outlay on a bigger RV.
In reality, we spend even less than this, because we also carry a single-burner propane stove with us (linked in the video description) and cook canned goods in addition to making PB&Js, etc., sometimes.
You can see some of our real-world trip spending reports on the blog...
Our typical US vanlife trip budget: www.tripofalifestyle.com/gear-and-tips/cheap-travel/
Our typical Canadian vanlife trip budget: www.tripofalifestyle.com/destinations/eastern-canada-road-trip/
just too many" NOT NEEDED"
Does Lauren have a sister? Asking for a friend
This ONLY works if you live with a "young" amiable/flexible female.
Constantly using dirty, unsanitary bathrooms, and having to crawl or constant bend over to mover around is nasty and a deal breaker.
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“Hmmm…we only have 2 months saved up for our trip…”
Lauren washes van in bikini…
“Ok, we’re good to go for 7 months.”
well... she knows what shes doing
Sticking a bed inside of van doesn't make it "camper" or "conversion", sorry
You all right, but they save shit tons of money ,but just sticking a bed , they make the money not the rentals
🎉It's converted for their style and they can camp.🎉🎉🎉🎉
They are camping in a van.... Isn't that all camper a van is. Not a hotel on wheels, its a camp...er....van 😂
Are you familiar with the VW bus camping scene from the 60’s? A camper is any vehicle you camp inside of and installing beds, batteries, etc is converting it from its original design.
MMNNNN . just way too basic to be realistic for most and its not really a van conversion is it ?? you answered your own question about buying a bigger "ready made " rig . Sell it at the end of any trip ( and if you buy wisely ) you will get back what you paid , making that side of the equation free effectively . far Bbetter to spend more at the start and have a " mobile apartment " in van .
It's true that you might be able to constantly buy and sell RVs to take trips and try to squeeze your money back out of them without putting too many miles on. There's nothing wrong with that strategy at all! But that comes with a little risk and a lot of hassle that most people don't want to deal with. Also, RVs tend to depreciate very quickly, and they're not as liquid (i.e. easy to sell) as cars.
More importantly though, remember: We're saving money on gas by having a small rig, we're paying $0 every night for campsites because we don't need hookups, and our insurance is dirt cheap ($30 to $60 per month) because our van is considered a small personal vehicle like a car.
Aside from that, tying up large amounts of capital in more expensive vehicles comes with an investment opportunity cost (you lose the returns that you could've been earning on that cash elsewhere instead, like in the stock market).
The savings of our setup go far, far beyond the difference in purchase price compared to an RV.
I like you guys .I know a lot about car brands.The van you have is junk.Next time buy A toyota or A Honda. But toyota is better .You can drive A toyota 400000 miles with just maintaining it.
I love how every "cheap vanlife!" video has a pre-requisite of being privileged enough to either be born in or have £millions to qualify to immigrate to USA or similar country where vanlife is legal & possible... That pre-requisite is not "cheap".
@@Fina-x5n Yes, this vanlife video is aimed primarily at people who live in or travel to places where vanlife is possible. That is correct.
@@TripOfALifestyle in other words, rich people make video about how to "convert a CHEAP Camper!" (as long as you're rich). Step 1: be a millionaire so you can qualify to immigrate via investment route to a country where vanlife is legal.
@@Fina-x5n Some people are born in countries where vanlife is viable. Most people who choose to watch this video probably fall into that category.
If you live in a place where vanlife is illegal and don't plan to move, then you may not wish to continue watching vanlife videos on TH-cam. There are lots of other interesting videos on this platform that you could check out! 😊
@@Fina-x5n In what world do you live in where you're required to be a millionaire to qualify to immigrate to any country? Most immigrants are definitely not that rich.
@@eugenekim9961 I live in the real world, apparently you don't. "Most immigrants" make up a tiny portion of the population because only a tiny percentage of people qualify to immigrate. The majority do not, unless they become millionaires.
So nice that you spend so much quality time with your daughter but I’m not crazy about the idea of sharing a bed with your teenage child. That seems a bit much.
Nice azz❤
And you failed to mention you sweated your butts off too!
@@grumpyiwegianpodcast3505 We plan our trips around good weather, staying in Canada/Alaska and the northern US during the summer. We just get hotels if we really want to travel outside that comfort zone.
Dirty Slags!!
I hope you two clowns had enough integrity to tell the new buyer of your dying old van what all was wrong with it. Since you stated on your blog post so proudly that you were able to still get $4,000.00 for a dying van I doubt you did?
@@grumpyiwegianpodcast3505 Not only was the buyer informed, but the check engine light was on during the sale with the code provided, and the odometer was intact with 220k miles showing. NV200 vans are hard to come by right now because they were discontinued in 2021, and prices are high. Thanks for commenting.
Why be such an asshole?
Wow what an low life asshole. Something about their financially free lifestyle trigger you? Are you maybe a slave to the 9-5? Sorry for your loss.