ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- $800 for 30 days of Traveling in an Astro Van
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Gas: $407
Food: $149
Entertainment: $30
Necessities: $233
--- TOTAL: $819 but rounded to $800 for simplicity
That's how much I spent while traveling! Really it wasn't too bad going as cheap as possible and it clearly paid off in the end because I spent MUCH less than what rent would cost and will be able to have plenty of money to continue doing this for much time to come.
If you're thinking about doing this, just remember to stay cheap and don't be afraid to sacrifice those things you don't need!
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If you get a membership at planet fitness you can access any location for showers and workouts for like 20 some bucks per month.
I’ve thought about that. Planet fitness is probably the most wide spread gym out there right?
@@bgrace27 i think so! probably some different national options also
Yup Planet Fitness is the way to go!
I'm from Los Angeles and am in Northeast Tennessee. Will be living in my van, but not traveling. I've seen planet fitness across the country. Plan to get a membership to shower and use equipment for preparing for hikes.
Were you in Tooele county?
I've been homeless several times in my life. And I know I can survive on about 60.00 a month. No fancy food, lot of beans and rice. Find a place to keep out of wind and rain. Been there done that. Have a good week, looking forward to your next journey!
That’s so awesome man, very impressive
You're robbing your health with just beans and rice. You need protein, vitamins, minerals. Sure you can live cheap, but you're going to pay in other ways.
@@bgrace27 taking a shower every day has a very negative effect on the health of every person because it washes away the protective properties of human skin
Boy you must have been gassy eating those beans every day 😖🤭
@@theonlyonestanding8079 😂
Here is a cool tip for food.
Costco gift card, you can shop without a membership...
Buy in bulk for a month and then food prep it all.
Sounds like a good idea for gas ⛽️
Thanks
Go buy an “america the beautiful” pass. It’ll give you free access to all national parks and federal day use areas. It also gives you 50% off federal campsites. $80 for the year, so two or three NP entrances pay for it.
I actually have one! You’re right, it’s very much worth the money, I love having that thing around
I didn’t know about the pass and I’m practically around the corner from the Tonto park in AZ. This is so awesome! Thank you for sharing it!
Baby wipes "washing" is also a good way to stay clean for cheap.
better to just pay $10 (or 20 if you want access to multiple gyms) a month for a gym shower to actually get clean. if that's unaffordable, then there's bigger things to worry about
Whats even cheaper is using a small towel anf soap water. Also, less waste. And gets you arguably cleaner than just having water sprinkle over your body like in a shower. Plus, its healthier to not shower/wash every day unless you're sweaty.
But most are not biodegradable and lands in our landfills for decades.
You can get a hand pumped portable shower kit for about 30 bucks. Just fill with 1 part hot water to 2 parts cold, pump a few times, and away you go. Either shower outside, weather permitting, or open the back doors on the van and throw a tarp over them for a mobile shower cubicle.
How about 3 parts at the correct temperature...
@@chrisniner8772 what temperature is that?
@@Avery-rb2bd a comfortable temperature I'd imagine.
😊
$40 will get you a rechargeable battery powered one, drop it in a bucket with warm water and pump away.
Don't forget maintainance for the van that is more than just 20 bucks and what you had to pay for it and what you have to save every month for future repairs or another van as substitution. The point is this: If your van will last 4 years you must add (13000 : 48) = about 270 Dollars per month without interests. And the same amount you must save for the next van.
And what about earning money and paying for health insurance?
I have a 5 Gallon water bladder that I use for showering. I place it on top of the roof of my truck. Later that day it's nice and warm to shower. God Bless and be safe
Iiving the rasta way, money isn't everything. Big up yuh self youth!! Who Jah BLESS no man CURSE.
🤙🤙
With inflation the way it is, this guy hit the nail on the head
For real bro, thank you. Certainly a better way to live a fulfilling life while also saving money
@@bgrace27 Damn right
Bob Wells would be proud of you. ❤
I sure hope so!
bro is in breaking bad parking lot
Before I retired I worked at a job that was way the heck out there!
I have a little cabin on my own lot but commuting back and fourth to work was out of the question.
Wound up talking the passenger seat out of a 73 Bug and laying down a piece of plywood with a small mattress and a sleeping bag.
Took daily sponge baths and survived just fine, went home on the weekends.
The warehouse operated 24 hours a day so I put up sunshades on all windows and slept in the parking lot.
It was great getting off work and I was at my temporary home, waking up and I was already at work! 😁
I was jealous of people showing up in any kind of van because I would fantasize how I would set one up.
Retired now and I don't ever want to do that again!
Sounds like a great time but I can’t blame you for not wanting to do it again!
Try that TODAY you would get ARRESTED! Good luck getting a job while you're HOMELESS! Would not happen BOOMER. Let alone find a job that would let you SLEEP on their property. They would call the COPS and put you in JAIL
Much respect for keeping it real. I did van life back in my hippie days, when it wasn't called van life. Keep up the great work..
Awesome bro
I lived in an old RV in the 90s for over 2 years, cooked 99% of my meals, baked my own bread and lived cheap. Don’t pay $20 for a shower! Ask around at a chain truck stop if anyone has any extra shower credits. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee. Some drivers are local & go home every day. (Most chains give you a shower credit for buying 50 gallons of diesel.)
Thanks for sharing
$40 buys a rechargeable shower head/pump. Bottles of water on the dash driving in the sun heat them up, dump in a bucket, put in pump, and shower away. lasts about 3 years, or 25 cents a shower...
You can get a 26 quart USB Portable Refrigerator so you can store food for longer intervals, which will mean traveling less and less gas. The fridge can be powered using a solar generator/solar panels. If you switch to Google Fi cell service, you get unlimited hotspot, so you can tether your laptop.
Since I have moved into my van 🚐 my petrol has now become my rent
@@user-eo6bk9sg5yhow do you stay licensed and insured? I can’t figure this out.
This will help a lot of punters who are sick of rent and utilities.
I grew up in Utah. I love it and I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I used to have an Astro Van lol. My bills are way higher with health insurance, phone, gas, student loans, food, credit cards, internet, vehicle incurance ($68 like you have is great!), dog food/vet/grooming, camping occassionally, amazon prime, gym membership, random kid stuff, etc. I'm building a tiny home on wheels soon. I'm sick of wasting money on rent that is stuck in one place.
Hey Bronson, nice breakdown on your expenses. Star link is very expensive. I'm thinking of a Garmin satalite phone. You can text even without service on your phone. Gas prices are more out West and California is ridiculous! Last week I paid $2.85/gallon. Filled my van for $40. Groceries at a convenience store is highway robbery! Wal-Mart carries pre made meals in the camping aisle. No refrigeration needed. Quick and easy to make. 😎😎
I’m headed to cali soon and looking at gas prices they are around $5 a gallon 😔 I think this next road trip will be a little more expensive unfortunately. A garmin satellite is a great idea 💡
@@bgrace27Look into bulk freeze dried foods. All you need to add is boiling water.
Don't visit Canada as $40 gas will give you a quarter of a tank. And foods way more than it is in the USA.
I have a Zoleo GPS SOS device...can send a "I'm o.k." msg to a few contacts...send a SOS when it hits the fan...and send a few texts if needed too - and it's $20 a month for peace of mind.
Those mountain house meals are 13.00 and change now. No longer worth it in my opinion.
I started this lifestyle around nine months ago. Not in a van but in an SUV with a little popup trailer. So far it looks like you can teach me a thing or two. So yes, I will subscribe.
I’m glad I can help!! Welcome to the channel my friend
Do you ever wish you had a van instead of an SUV?
@@MeJaneEntrprsz all I can say is yes. Because I'm new to this I am learning.
@@kennethgardner3090how long do you stay in a town? Sorry for asking 😅 I want to travel through the USA down to Central America but right now money is tight.
Wishing you the Best in your suvlife
Great video. New subscriber. I have been living in my Toyota Prius for 8 years. An LA fitness membership goes a long way. For just 30 dollars a month, you get access to a swimming pool, a hot tub, a sauna, showers, and unlimited daily fresh water refilling whenever you want.
I think it’s time I get a PF membership
It's important to note that this completely depends how you do it (planning wise) and where your starting destination is compared to where you actually want to be. I live in FL so just getting out west (where I wanted to be) was $600 alone. I also had to the ride home eventually so that's another $600 on fuel. I did not plan my trip I just kinda went with the flow so I backtracked a lot, crossing the New Mexico/Colorado state line at least 4 times. This was due to poor planning not knowing exactly where I was going and adjusting to the poor weather in CO at the time. Eventually I decided to check out Arizona as well, while I was in New Mexico. By the end of my month long trip I was up to $3400 in expenses. Don't be like me folks, do your homework plan the route wisely.
I'll give you a few tips from my "hobo fabulous" days...
I would use a water bottle or disposable cup and fill it in the bathroom sink and grab a paper towel and put whatever soap they had on it... I'd go to the toilet, do my business, and then suds up and rinse off and flush (grocery store/gas station - places like that). I refused to smell homeless... nowadays I still do that when I wanna freshen up when I'm out in the summer heat.
Truck stops are usually around $10 unless you have a loves card. You can get a free shower by fueling with the points system.
With a gallon of fairly hot water, and a washcloth, one can get remarkably clean.
A gallon of hot water is just as hard to come by 😂😔
I forgot to mention@@bgrace27
Car campers need to have some kind of stove with them. I'm a backpacker with over 1/2 dozen stoves. What I recommend for car campers is the Coleman funnel shaped stove which screws directly onto the (typically) green, 1 lb propane cannisters at walmart.
Coleman calls this the "Bottle Top Propane Stove". Nice, because it is affordable, burns clean (very low CO production), and the fuel is available all over the place, and lasts forever.
White gas stoves are not ideal (flare ups and CO), 230 gram isobutane backpacking stoves are as good as the Coleman, just expensive fuel. Alcohol stoves I really didn't like, running in an enclosed tent.
In a pinch, in a sunny climate, any 2L plastic bottle can be spraypainted flat black and left in the sun. The water will be pretty hot in a few hours.
Big Up, thanks for sharing. Well done video. Greetings from Switzerland…
Thanks for watching!
Dollar Tree has packets of tuna with different flavorings or spices added and with a fold up plastic spoon in the packet. They are also flat so they store well and easy to open. Just an idea.
I’ve seen them at Walmart for around $3-$4 so I’d definitely pick some up at the dollar store for cheaper! Thank you
THIS IS THE FUTURE with home and rent prices where they ARE and where they're HEADED.
People suffering from CRAZY RENT PRICES and "never getting ahead" should live IN A VAN (or large car if necessary), save for a down payment, THEN buy a cheap place, fix it up quickly and RENT IT OUT and still LIVE IN THE VAN. Then after a couple years of renting, you can refinance it and LIVE THERE at an affordable mortgage payment.
A lot of things to consider when doing the van life, like the type of van you, have the engine and transmission ,how much weight you have on the inside and modifications to the suspension and outside stuff, and life can be cheap or expensive it depends on the individual but it ultimately comes down to just getting out there living life and having fun I'm going back to it full time in another month so stoked
EXACTLY DUDE!! It’s all about getting out there and living life to make memories. Have fun out there brother
@@bgrace27 I'm 55 and I got exposed to the van scene way back in the seventies as a kid, then I had my first van in the 1980s and it's been my addiction since then I've led the van life before it became very popular but I love it and it's so fun cuz nothing stays the same always something new down the highway or back roads
My husband and I travel on a motorcycle! Gas is cheap! We get into national parks for free because he is a veteran. We do cheap hotels and stay with a lot of family. Work gives us paid time off. We do cook some and go out to eat some. Not as cheap as a van but slot cheaper than a car and hotels.
For sure! That’s awesome
Do you sleep in the parks?
We normally sleep just outside the parks. It can get expensive in the parks.
I only eat one meal a day. Breakfast is usually a handful of vanilla wafers and drink one cup of coffee.
Our family of 7 lived on $6/day total for years. In a bamboo Nipa hut with grass roof and dirt floor. No electricity, no plumbing, no furniture, just enough space for us to lie down at night. It was a war zone with atrocities my family and I lived through. Americans cosplay at this, so I was glad you did the "startup cost" portion at the end because it is quite deceptive not to.
I married a wealthy Americano, we have a homestead in remote rural Alaska. We could easily go six months to a year without spending any money at all. We could say how cheap it is to live like this. All you need is start up money for boats, an airplane, ATV's, Snowmobiles, bulldozer and other heavy equipment, logging equipment, a log home with outbuildings and a fully equipped 50x24 shop, a thousand gallons of fuel on hand and 1.5 tons of stored food. Lots to do with a hockey rink, billiards room, music recording studio and band room, MMA fighting cage, etc.
dude what are you braying on about you donkey? boats, ATVs, 1000 gallons of fuel?? lol shut your mouth. nobody needs all that you silly little mail- order- wife.
this guy did it in a van, no land.
Americans COSPLAY LMAO? sorry not everybody grows up in garbage, trash countries.
it's not cosplay sweetie, some of us are minimalists and we don't need to pretend to come from garbage cultures to justify our lifestyle.
you married a "Wealthy Americano"? good thing you did, or you would still be sleeping on the dirt floor. show some respect to the nation that literally saved you from wriggling around in the dirt like a worm. give that man a top tier BJ tonight to show your gratitude for your nice, western lifestyle.
Yup ,,save money ,get out and have fun. Nice one Bro !!😎
Greeting from Hormigueros Puerto Rico. I recomend you to use your van with the Windows up because driving that kind of vehicle with the Windows down is like driving with a parachute open behind you and waste a lot of money in gasoline. The air conditioning will make you save money in gasoline. 😊
You don't have to pay that much to take showers, I'm going to get me a brand new weed sprayer, twist off the end off so its short. I am going to spray me down. They make 2 gallon ones, they are relatively small.
yes you can do thing on the cheap,you have just proved it safe travels Bro.😃
✌️✌️
I had a planet fitness membership. I mostly bought canned goods for food and water and canned milk for breakfast.
If you don't mind the taste you can use powdered milk.
i get a chance to stay on the property at work and they allow me to use their showers there... huge help.. seeing as i work in the public... and my other job is also flexible as i work nights there and they allow me to charge my battery while i'm parked there working.
i love that i can just buy when and what i want, but also keeping it limited... I also am paying off the work done to my van... which is a lot given a new floor and frame was needed to make it road safe.
safe travels little one!!! 🖖🧡🐾🚙
That’s an awesome deal, you’ve seriously got it setup for living cheap, way to go
I really like what you did with your strolly, really Sharp! Happy trails......
Greatly appreciate your cost breakdown, I’ve been working on my own van and it’s nice to see what angles I can avoid spending unnecessarily
I’m glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!
so happy i found your channel! by the end of february 2024 i'll be living in my small car, several times I kept getting bummed because i've seen so many car camping youtubers have these awesome hatchback cars, but my car is a sedan, so the trunk areas is separate.
So far i've removed the backs of my rear seats, I've placed some wool blankets and sleeping bags on one side in the rear, then pulled all the layers through the hole I created from taking the seats out.
Ive been sleeping by in my car the past 3 nights now just to improve little stuff every day.
I can't believe how much time DOWNSIZING my things is taking.
I'm a 22 yr old female so I can't imagine how much harder this would've been if I decided to do this lifestyle decades later.
Ahhhh hatchbacks are awesome and all but you’re going to be the baddest traveler out there! I mean seriously, I rarely see anybody doing this travel thing in cars much less sedans…
That means you’ve got some guts, it’s awesome 👏
Have a great time traveling! It’s coming soon
god this is so cool!! i'd love to do this after university or something, i just don't want to wait too long and be too old
I would also say to switch from a gas stove to a hot plate. You save a bit of money because you're not spending on propane tanks. Also, you some more space that you can use for something else. You already have the electricity from your solar panel so you're good to go.
I considered but since propane for a month is like $3 I don’t mind plus with an electric stove, I’d have to worry about getting ENOUGH solar charge all the time.
If you didn't drive so much you could drive the (gas) costs down further. I feel like $149 for groceries for a month was excellent, but if you could plan a couple meals and not visit the grocery daily that could save on gas costs. I saw someone said a gym for showers, but a joolca (or something similar) is a great alternative if your close to a water source (pay once - hot shower on demand anytime there is a water source). Dispersed camping on BLM lands can save on park costs, I think Quartzite Arizona you can pay $180 to stay for 6-7 months (there probably are some in Utah too). I've been studying van-lifers for a while, my husband and me want to van(bus)-life in retirement. I value honesty and integrity, thank you, glad you came up in my suggested videos, subbed!
Yes gas was a pain to spend on. I certainly will be more cautious and meticulous this next travel season.
Luckily in Utah I found TONS of free camping everywhere I went. Not once I paid for camping or a spot to sleep but that also meant a lack of amenities
Also, welcome to the channel!!
I really enjoyed your video~ Thanks so much for going to the point!
You’re welcome, thanks for watching
You can do it way cheaper than that even. I've been doing the van life thing for about 7 years now. I'm working full time and putting back money for a new van. I'm saving everything I can, and I can get by on about $400 a month. And that includes paying for a storage unit for all my other stuff, vehicle insurance, gas, phone, food etc. Currently I have a van that gets good gas mileage, which will change once I get the new van. The new van will get about half what this one does.
I will say that at $400 I'm not driving all over the place. I typically park about 6 miles from work, but I go camping nearly every weekend.
It most certainly CAN be cheaper than renting!
I would love to know how to do this. Getting a new engine for my van next week, so I have reliability.
My question is, how do I have a valid drivers license and insurance without a home address?
Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
Thanks for this honest and truthful, but very helpful video. I for one am considering the van life as I am fed up the default of my life and I want to try a new adventure.
All boils down to one thing, the man is a genius!! ☝️
🥰
Yes, you have a lot of potential with your skills and knowledge in building and customizing vans along with your travel adventures. Plus being able to get discounts on products from sponsors and manufacturers. You're great and awesome at cooking meals on the road and should have a recipe for all of the meals you cook. I really enjoy your channel and I still can't get over what an awesome van you have. I am thinking about traveling more but I don't have a van - just a Raptor a Bronco and a Tent lol. Or stay in a motel but that gets expensive.
Mmmm I should put the recipe in the description….
$28 a day in El Paso for the monthly rate.
Great parking job! lol! The inside of your van is so cozy! I love it!
Thank you! 🤗
Great video! First van life video I’ve seen break down travel expenses to the exact dollar. Makes me more confident to book a car camping trip next month
Glad it was helpful!
GREAT job Brett! I'm 74 and travel in a EuroVan and I love the life but I want to tell you that your video is Head and shoulders above most of those I see. So much better than seeing an old unattractive person sitting behind the wheel of their vehicle rambling on about very little. It's nice to have you around and I'll look forward to seeing more videos.
I love the Eurovans 🤤 thanks and welcome to the channel
I like the bedliner painted yellow. Makes the stro’ look ready for whatever
That’s cause it is 😏 😁
I'm really enjoying your videos!
I Live full time Luxuriously in my SUV and it still costs me much less than living in a Bricks and Sticks! My Montra is "High Quality but Low Quantity". I don't own much but the few things I do have are DeLuxe and bring me much Joy and Happiness. With the money I save, I travel and enjoy more time with Family and Friends. I Love my SUV Life!
On a side note, be careful with the amount of fish you eat. Mercury poisoning is no joke.
Be safe out there and have Fun!
I’m glad you’re enjoying! What kind of SUV are you traveling in?? I’d love to know!
I just looked into tuna and mercury poisoning 😵💫😵💫
@@bgrace27 I've been living full time in my 2004 Toyota Highlander for almost 4 years and it's the best thing I've ever done. It's more than enough room for me to live in and I can park her anywhere without being noticed. The savings on gas is also a huge plus and there are few roads that I can't venture down.
I'm currently building out a 1994 Chevy G20 Gladiator van conversion so my girlfriend can join me on some of my travels here in SoCal. I'll keep living in the Highlander for the economy and use the van when my girl wants to go"Glamping" LOL. And who knows, she might come to love this Lifestyle as much as me and join me full time but only if we live in the van. Lol
I hope you make some time, in your traveling schedule, to come visit the mountain and coastal communities of Southern California. We're one of the few places where you can go surfing in the morning and snow skiing in the afternoon! Not to mention all the crazy stuff to do in between! I just Love it here and I think you will too.
@@rickcooper156 a Toyota Highlander would be a pretty good rig to get into, I think it’s awesome 👏
I personally thought about building out a G20 as well so you’ve got me jealous!
•
I’ve got big plans for SoCal….some day
great video! vanlife is something that's not realistic for me to do but it's cool to see other people doing it!
Dude you inspire me to meal prep. I spend an embarrassing amount on food. I gotta get that cost down.
Glad I could help 🫡
Getting frozen fruits and veggies from Walmart is a really good way to eat on the cheap. They stay fresher longer that way
Good job man it’s cool to see you getting some real adventure and I think your also probably learning some real great life lessons 👍👍
Thanks bro ✌️
You absolutely right. I am one who also keeps track of my expenses and that’s the way to do it!!! And you’ll probably have a nice bank account! You are so smart ❤looking forward to your next adventure my friend until then stay safe stay strong and God bless 🙏❤️✌🏼
Thank you!!!
Depends on what your income is. If you're on SS, you won't have enough left over to save.
@@youdontwanttoknow5203 it's according to how long you worked and how much you made per hour. A lot of people get more than 2,000.00 a month.
I'm currently crossing true a hard time and unemployed, I have a 2010 Ford Escape and I'm really debating in trading it for a van or just accomadate it for living. Definitly an inspiration man. Got you a new sub, and loved your van!
I’m glad I could help bro 🤙
Welcome to the channel, let me know if ya need anything
Kia Sedona are legendary for lots of length for sleeping if you can't swing a van. th-cam.com/video/H3SNwpzPQI0/w-d-xo.html
People have even rigged a way to shower in the recessed floor!
All the best to you!
Great video. Love the van. Keep posting!
Yesssssir
We are on the road full time. And have been back and forth across the country several times. My girlfriend and I have one planet fitness black card membership which comes with unlimited guest passes - so basically two memberships for the price of one. We go to a lot of remote destinations for rock climbing and skiing and if there isn’t a planet fitness there is almost always a hostel with $5 showers. Eating out and bottled drinks are the biggest money suck - I think most people would be surprised how much money they can save if they just stopped buying so much shit. Costco is a great way to save on gas and food.
Big facts right here
There are cheaper ways to do the start up costs. You really decked out Fred, which is really beautiful, but you could do a no build van with thrifted items. You could technically live without solar if you needed to and just stick with basics like a cooler, water jugs, and a cooking source and some reflectix window coverings. Use what you have until you can afford something better.
Yes for sure, you could go for SO cheap
I have more in my van than he has (full size RAM ProMaster 2500 with sink/shower/microwave etc. and have less than $5K total, all DIY.
12v fridge is the first thing to get, since it means keeping condiments cold, and buying things to eat that last over several days, instead of meal by meal at greater expense and having things like milk or cold drinks/water. I've converted 2 vans, but if I was near destitute starting out in one as an empty shell, I'd sleep on an air mattress and use the first saved $$$ for a solar panel on the roof, LifePo4 battery and cheap charge controller to run a small 12v fridge. Under $300 total. Any full time job at even minimum wage could after a week's wages or so pay your food that week and buy such a setup if living in the van and doing it DIY from any of dozens of YT videos.
Now you have power for LED lights at night, power to charge a phone, power to cook a meal in a HotLogic Mini ($40) for FREE. Put in some 12v LED lighting and a USB charge port ($6). Depending on time of year / climate where you are, a powered roof vent ($150) might be next.
Less than $1K you can have everything in a van to store and preserve food and drinks cold and cheaply, cook, bathe ($40 rechargeable shower head pump, bottles of water on the dash in the sun to warm, dump in bucket, put in pump, shower away), and sleep comfortably (2" nylon strapping stapled or screwed down, wrapped a time or two around 2 2x4s spread apart by 1 cut in half to make a 4' wide bed and fastened to the walls make a sling bed for sleeping comfort with any foam padding and a sleeping bag or in summer just a sheet.
The roll down window 🤗🤗🤗
I’ve got those fancy upgrades
Wow 😮 that's an amazing rebuild ❤
Thank you 😊
You did it! Thanks for taking us along for the past month. Next time spend an extra $5 on bug spray if you go back to Spider Mountain! Blech!
I think that would be wise 😂 I think I’ll spend more and get a flamethrower!
Should work out a "micro-shower" for inside your van, have seen people do it before and it works well and very simple setup. Also, I think maybe get yourself a little scooter to put on the back of your van, like a Zuma 125 or something or a Honda Ruckus maybe, so you can park your van and go explore with your little scooter, also if you break down you are never actually stranded. Great video.
I’ve got an outdoor shower, it was so hard to use it for that road trip but on my current one, it’ll be a bit warmer thank godness
WOW! Nice build . Home Sweet Home.
😁
Thank you for the money talk!❤
Bro's got crank windows. Wish I'd found a van to convert with manual windows. I'm about 90% of the way through my own conversion of a 1995 GMC Rally Wagon. So wee bit bigger than the astro, but i'm makin sure to have space inside for my bike. I'm lookin forward to this more than I ever thought. Never been an outdoors person. But somethings gotta change. And I hate the midwest.
Crank windows and no cruise control 🤙
Heck yeah bro, the Rally Wagon would be awesome! The outdoors and nature is a whole new world. One day you’ll find yourself on top of a mountain at Sunset and you’ll never go back, promise 🤝
The struggles of vanlife will be a place to park, source of clean water, restroom and where to dumb the waste and a place to take a bath. But modern life have many solutions for this problems.
That’s for reals tho. IOverlander was a lifesaver
I've stealth vanned for a total of about a year altogether over the last 4 years in 2 van conversions. One way streets with little used parking spaces or neighborhoods without driveways are easy pickins, even in places like Miami. Look for a street on the side of homes with a fence, back up to the car behind you to conceal out of state plates to casual drive bys. Buy 3 gallon water jug, fill at any Walmart if you can't find free water in city parks, restrooms with a 1g jug, etc. Orange Home Depot or similar bucket and a toilet seat they sell for mounting on top, and a bag and you've got #2 covered. for couples, easy DIY on composting toilets which when properly used and vented offer NO smell. As a guy, I picked up an airtight plastic box, roll up the bags and put inside for no smell until you can make a dump of them. $40 rechargeable battery powered shower head/pumps on amazon get you free showers. Put bottles of water on the dash while parked or driving for the sun to warm them, dump in a bucket or pail, put in the pump, and shower away. I've even rigged a hanging shower curtain that sets up from a roof rack in 20 seconds, or you can often just shower in shorts as a guy. There's also pop up shower / changing enclosures you can buy.
there's solutions to every need out there, just need to look.
Wow! nice job on the van! I really like the interior design! The one thing to consider is, all that wood adds a lot of weight which adds to your fuel cost. The more weight, the more fuel. Looks like you have a plan for next months food cost. Your doing great! Good luck in your travels! :)
The wood covers insulation in the walls which lets you stay cooler in the sun, or warmer at night, depending on your travels. I "tented" up with a blanket "fort" overhead (like when you were a kid) and slept in 38 degrees near Yellowstone 4 years ago in my van. My thermometer middle of the night showed 63 degrees under the blanket fort due to my body heat getting out of the summer weight sleeping bag. $20 fuzzy blanket from Walmart. Slept like a baby. You use light weight cheap woods and it's not a problem. Vans have quite a load capacity also. Fully kitted out with 600 watts solar, sink, shower, microwave, etc., my RAM ProMaster 2500 weighs less than a Amazon van pulling out for a day's worth of deliveries.
Our vans are identical!! Mines a blue 04’ awd ladder water tank roof rack they are so similar I love it
Well the inside is way better than mine 😂
If you go to a truck stop, ask a trucker to get you a shower. Truckers get free showers whenever they fuel, they usually have rewards cards with unlimited showers on them, especially at Love's, Pilot, or Flying J
Every month you have to add some funds to your vehicle maintenance so add that expense into your monthly budget.
This very good advice for many people spending unnecessary including living in fixed location such as apartment. Many people waste money not thinking about and so they are always the broke ones. $800 per month is cheap and if not driving around then even cheaper
Very cheap if you’re in a fixed location
Awesome build and video! Nice work!
Thank you! Cheers!
truckers usually have lots of free showers on the truckstop rewards card , if u ask them real nice and im a trucker and have done this , they will give u a shower free, also mom n pop style truckstops usually have cheaper showers like 5 or 10 bucks compared to 15 or 20 at big chains, ive seen as high as 25 for a shower ,
Good to know, thank you
When you're in a apartment you're usually working if you're travelling constantly you're not usually working so yeah it might be cheaper but you're resources are finite
I smashed the like button once i heard the van's name is fred. Love it.
😎
If money is a concern and you want to save on traveling, look up remote wilderness campsites. Up in Washington we have a good amount of those, and your allowed to stay up to 2 weeks at a time for free. So if Utah has something similar, you could always just move to a different one every 2 weeks.
You'll be in the same place for a while, but you would save a lot on gas doing so.
Thanks for the tips! If I ever don’t want to travel around as much you betcha that’s what I’ll do!!!
I guess I got lucky cause I found a 1991 ford econoline high top with 50,000 miles on it. For 3,500. It runs great even after the cold it hasn’t killed the battery yet. I have gotten wheel bearing fixed and windshield wipers. And I need to get a new door seal but it’s still great. The woman before me had already put floors in and a wooden box you could put a mattress on and has inverter and battery in it with shore power hook up
That’s a great deal man, way to go!
Love the channel bro .i like your set up im thinking of doing van life here soon myself .be safe man .keep making cool videos .!!
It’s worth it! Thanks for the support
If you stayed all 14-16 days in dispersed camping sites, and found them no more than 30-50 miles apart you could easily save gas. $200 savings. Then just get EBT if you qualify you’ll get $291 a month. There’s food savings. You could probably get it down to $500 a month. Just have to make sure you’re meticulous and stay all 14-16 days at dispersed sites.
Studio apartment is cheaper than a van and better lifestyle. You get bathroom and shower and don’t risk losing your home plus is a few hundred bucks cheaper than living in the van.
Lol you must be joking😂 It all depends on the location. I'm in Florida $1,000 and more per month studio or not.
Oh and the landlord can kick you out at will from your studio 7-30 days depending on again location. 😂 Also don't have a felony or pets way worse 😅😂
Very nice build!
Most state parks in my state are free mon - fri, but charge on weekends. Hit them during the week for free and less crowds.
Very Good presentation of vanlife living. Wet wipes is something you should consider and have your own batterypump for water so you can shower whenever you want. Otherwise you have things under control. Best wishes ! Mike from Sweden 🇸🇪
Thank you for the compliments!!! I have a 12v air pump for my outdoor shower that runs off my van battery!
Good thing i make about $800 a month right guy hahaha I subbed man.. Im one of the original van life youtubers b4 it was cool.. Im about to move into my van all over again 7 years later..
That’s badass man, you’ve got it worked out 💪 have fun getting back on the road
$700 Without Starlink, pretty cool! Thanks for the video 😬 Another free emergency option is an EPIRB.
Hi I just saw your vlog ,interresting ,I am old enough to be your Grandma..don't be too cheap on yourself life is too short
I’ll keep it in mind 😊
Utah TH-camr here! Inspiring brother, great vid. I hope to get in a van someday. Love your rig.
Thanks man, I appreciate it!
Starlink is cool, especially for cell dead spots in the Midwest, but I stick with Visible: $25 for unlimited data and tethering.
I'm also creating an indoor shower kit out of a small circular folding tub. Just need to find a low-volume spray nozzle, or at worst I can pour the water, after heating it in a kettle.
I’ll have to look into Visible
Great video and good info.
upkeep on a vehicle is the most expensive part. In some places like Ontario Canada , insurance comes next . Gas is last . everything else is not related to vanlife
Yeah that's good you can start off with a small van and work your way up to a bigger van
Your build out looks nice. Good for you. Honestly, as a woman I wish I could feel safe traveling alone in parks. I read a ton of crime stories. I have traveled alone however, I feel safe staying inside a nice neighborhood and rent so I can cook some of my meals to save money. I also enjoy going to local markets and cooking. So cool you get to travel seeing such beautiful areas. I live in LA. For a family of 4 to eat out you are spending $86 dollars is the magic number. Living in San Francisco I spent $800 total on groceries and eating out, possibly more. Making $100,000 a year in California barely allows you to save unless you live like a college student which would make me feel depressed. I enjoy eating out and grab a coffee twice or once a week out. I feel happy when I’m out and about. Yesterday, I found a new restaurant. Hungarian and Italian, Posto 896. Excellent! A definite must on to do list of restaurants to try in LA. If I’m going to spend outrageous prices on food eating out restaurants better have good customer service and be on point with their food. Enjoy the rest of your travels. Please cover parks you feel would be safe for women to camp alone. Thanks. 🙏 ❤
I'm 67 and 4 yrs on the road. Don't read the creepy stories. Just do it. If I can you can.
All fun and games until the first 3-5k repair is needed for van though. But great video overall man, new sub here! mad props
For sure man, I’ve been watching out for those repairs. Luckily I can do 90% or any mechanical work myself so that cuts costs a ton. I’m just praying for my preventative maintenance to work! Thanks for the sub!!
Honestly that's nothing though compared to how much you save on rent. Im stacking an extra 2500 a month in the Bay Area on top of my regular savings. I also have good credit and a Capital One CC with a $4500 limit. The van i chose is also notoriously cheap to repair. (GMC Savana 2500)
It beats paying a grand a month to be stranded without a car. Some people have to choose, car or room….
@@ITech2005You are stacking cash living in a van in SF?
@@4kasiavlogs Yes, i park in Burlingame. Have a full time job and uber on the side.
Good on you xx😊