I’ve been a trucker as well. I’ve also lived in busses and vans. They both are great in a lot of ways. But now in my life I have destinations I go to through out the year. Because I know where I am going plus my knowledge of larger vehicles I choose a bus, no larger 35ft.
The freedom to park in car or RV spaces really seems to be a game changer. It's fascinating to hear from people that have tried out both! Thanks for sharing!
I'm really glad that the van is working out for you. I,, personally, think a bus is better for my purposes, but I also understand that different people have different wants and needs. I'm more mechanically inclined and used to driving a 2 1/2 ton flatbed with a trailer so driving a bus is really not a big deal to me. However, each to his own, and if the van works for y'all, then that's what's important. Also, it's good to see videos from y'all again.
School bus types are usually geared for town use, not highway travel. If you had regeared the rear end of the bus, it might have been a a better experience. A gear splitter is also good, as well as a drive line retarder, but all these are expensive items. However, they make all the difference between a fun trip, and work. Taking a flat land vehicle into the high country, can be difficult, even scary. And may also ultimately trash your drive train and brakes. I think you made a good choice, a more appropriate vehicle for your terrain. And, as it turns out, probably for both of you as well.
Your bus tour was the first video I saw that made me think I could do this. Thank you for that! I went back and forth deciding between a van and a short bus, and eventually settled on a used 2019 Transit for similar reasons-parking, airbags, ease of driving, and the fact? Belief? Hope? that even in tiny, rural, western towns miles from anywhere, someone can repair a Ford.
That “Chinese food” reel is straight out of my dreams tbh Also, our bus was amazing to live in while parked, but between the length (36ft) and the worry of mechanical issues I can’t imagine ever traveling in it. Super happy for you guys!
Thank you guys for filming this video! My partner and I have been debating whether to get a van or a bus for our next adventure. Your bus tour was our absolute favorite design we had seen, but these insights you shared solidified our decision to go with a van. Cheers!
I want to thank you on your TH-cam channel it helps me a lot I'm still on the fence about getting off RV but people like you helped out give me the pros and cons of the life style
I didn't realize our build sizes were so similar! We have a 22' shuttle bus that we're working on. We installed our Maxxfan today and rewatching your van video on it was SOOOO helpful 😅💖🚐
I really appreciate your TH-cam channel. It is definitely my favorite, in the Skoolie/Bus Life area. And it’s because you all actually take the time to really explain your process of any project or challenges and really, really practical information. Including the links to the things that you utilize for this lifestyle and the build and equipment necessary. And because I don’t just want a tour, I want to do something like this myself (my own version) and so doing the research for this via y’alls channel, is so valuable. Also, I love the graphics, sound, cinematography, your personalities and the “Pups” too! And the overall vibe/build of your Skoolie. Y’all rock.🌈🎉✨
Very helpful information. Im buying my bus within the next two weeks and cannot decide if i should buy a mid size or small size. For just me and two small dogs i now feel more confident that the small size would be fine. I wanted the medium size thinking i will not have enough space but with you two and pets saying a mid sized bus was to big and you did not use about 7 feet of space was helpful
Hey thanks Zac n Tiff for the update 😊👍 all very good n helpful points for moving from Skoolie to VanLife and better fits your needs and wants. I moved from 33’ Skoolie to a 24’ Lance Travel Trailer with Ram truck recently. The bus could sleep only 2 but the Lance can sleep 4-5. I needed more room for my 2 adult kids to join me on camping trip but usually it’s just me. Also I can move faster pulling the Lance trailer with Ram truck and more mobile after disconnecting the trailer at camp site n take truck to explore n run errands without breaking camp. I can camp at a RV park or Boondock. I do miss the Skoolie and I bet you do to. Thanks for sharing and safe travels WDE!!! ❤️😄🦅
Would love a schoolie to live in on a rural/remote acreage. Driving it would be a nightmare for me. Van for travel, hands down, even with three dogs. Informative videos. Thank you.
Great topic! All questions I had and went through couple years ago. I personally chose a short bus, Ford diesel front end at 24 ft long. Yes, parking is way easier at this length, but gave me more width to play with. Living full time bout a year, hope I see you guys on the road one of these days!
Thanks for the rundown and contrast between the two life/travel styles. It brings me to one question and one idea for you. The question is for Zac, how has van life impacted your work style and productivity? I do web development for work and photography as a hobby, but would like to grow it to a monetized profession and travel more (though I'd be entering the game with a Rav4 and not even a van to work with). You also mentioned not having as much water onboard the van, if you haven't checked it out yet overlanding rigs often take schedule 40 PVC, stick it on the roof, paint it black, pressurize it with a cheap compressor and it lets them hold another 8-16 gallons of hot solar heated water for pennies on the dollar, no internal plumbing to fuss with.
What i'm hearing right now is what you've been envisioning stepping into this lifestyle, So glad that you could achieve all that and more! Good luck and enjoy the jurney. One little side note: Guess you are getting qualified enough to be nerds, consider joining the club!!😍😍
Well, that was a good talk. I'm glade you two are back in the saddle again and happily where you want to be. I think you had good reasons for every choice you made. I would of gone with a diesel which I did in a pulling vehicle. A good maintained truck that runs diesel will keep you on the road for close to one million miles before it dies, but a gas powered with get maybe a quarter of that with some extra work. I get why you switched out. I wonder if a short buss would have been better but your happy and that's all that matters.
Sorry for bothering you with so many questions i just would like to get an idea from people who have experience and you two are the first ones i have found that cover great topics and make sense.
Good video guys. I think you just found out you are van people. Which is awesome! Sounds like it's really working out for you. There is no perfect rig, just the rig that works for you! Figuring out your rig is an experiment. Like while I would like a standing height van one day, I don't think I'd ever like to get any longer then I am right now (in a Chevy Express 1500).
Glad it is working out for the four of you! I understand wanting to downsize for more flexibility, though your bus was gorgeous. I remember people commenting about why you didn’t tow the car so you could ride together, so now, problem solved.
I'm glad to see y'all back on the tube. I look forward to the van tour. Tiff, you're looking great with the longer hair. Hopefully I'll see more of y'alls content. Keep on wandering and sharing.
You say you didn't "use" the first 6-7 feet of the bus... I disagree, you DID use it as space for the dogs. There's nothing wrong with having extra room to move around. I personally don't feel that its wasteful.
They certainly seem very happy in their van. You're totally valid in saying it wasn't a waste to have that space, it sounds like for their sake it just wasn't necessary space for them. I hope that makes sense :)
I think they are saying they felt like it was a waste of space for their use and the dogs use. For them it didn't serve their ultimate purpose, but for someone else they might love it.
I'm planning to move out of my brick and mortar home within the next year. Trying to decide between a van and a mini bus and a box truck. I have two dogs and keeping them cool in the summer in Ontario is my main concern.
As someone who lived in a small shuttle bus, I wish I had gone with a van. The space wasn’t that much more than a van would be. But driving it was much more of a pain than a van was in my test drives.
Hubby, Great Dane, small dog and I are newly in our bus. We are living full time in it AND still building it out. We are in a mid-sized bus. 36’. We are already looking at the van life!! I think we’ll be in the bus a year... and make the switch. A lot of the reason you’ve talked about. Mainly, the easier get up and go! We haven’t even made it out west. (We’re in NC. Mountains). We started here for two main reasons: 1) i personally didn’t think I’d even handle the 225sqft of the bus! Let alone a tinie tiny van!! (Hubby is 6’2”!!). We were worried about the dogs! We have a Great Dane. He’s 150# & didn’t think he’d fit! (Still not sure about that). 2) we came into this thinking we are NOT going to move daily or even weekly. We really want to get to know areas. However, now that we are in, it’s a chore!! An event to pack up and move. And we DO want to be more mobile! It seems we are about 18 months behind your journey!! Lol. Looking forward to seeing more if the van life from y’all! 💕
"This might give you a bit of insight" Yes, I think it helped quite a bit. Been interest in Vanlife but don't want a smaller vehicle. On the flipside, don't want a massive bus. Was thinking a shorter double decker could be nice, my issue is that there's allot of places where the height would become a problem (they are at least around 5M/15f tall). One of the most mental things ive seen was a person that was selling an articulated bus as a vanlife project, think that vehicle was around 50 feet. Good luck parking that anywhere.
I think light bulbs went off because I was all for a school buss but for me I think van life seems more of my speed. I'm solo travel with also two dogs. And only be using it for vacations 2 times a year and weekend trips. So I don't need much.
Thanks for the video. I'm leaning more towards a van because I will have a hard time parking a bus in the city. Finding a place to work is even more challenging, IMHO. I'd be working on it myself, so I think I can handle a van build. I've been driving my Ford truck for 15 years. Never had a problem with finding services. I'll be looking for a Ford van. Best 😍
Well guys ..spot on .. simplify.. priorities.. Chinese food..beer n icecream .. what could possibly happen.. excellent vid guys ..jolly good carryon pip pips 😍😁
You wife looks amazing with her short hair, looks great, You both tell great stories on 🚌 bus/ van life. Very entertaining. Good stuff guys.😂😅😅 Your short hair looks awesome too dude, New York flair. Nice. Lol 😆 haha.
The bus im buying is from a bus dealership place that sells large vehicles with warranty on it but if anything does go wrongnit seems like just towing would be expensive
I myself I'm not financially able to buy a new van open a used bus but I have looked into getting a Class A motorhome for $500 and it has less than 25000 miles on the engine hopefully one day we can meet up and exchange stories you guys are the best love your videos you guys stay safe and stay blessed
So we were happily ex-pats in Mexico but were traveling as house sitters in the US when Covid happened and we got trapped here when the borders closed. Fast forward a bit, we needed a solution as we can't get 'home' and don't know when we will be able to, so I bought an RV for me and my daughter. If it was just me I think I'd prefer a van and we didn't have time to build a skoolie. A used RV was the right amount of second-hand ready to go that we needed with separate 'rooms' for each of us. I love watching the skoolie videos as I think they all look so cool, but I don't think I'd like driving one. We'd been traveling non-stop for seven years until this year but flying or hired transport, I haven't done any of the driving until this year. We've just made our first road trip in the RV, about 2000 miles and I didn't love driving it or driving period. We took all the highways or scenic byways we could to stay off the interstates as I don't like going over 50mph and I don't want to be a hazard but it really dictated how we traveled and how often we had to stop (way more than I was planning to!) We're REALLY glad to have reached our destination where we will be 'camped' for about 3 months. I'm terrified of heights and in particular mountain driving so I sort of struggled trying to plan routes to avoid all of that ..... which for me ultimately adds up to just finding a place near the beach and stay there. God-willing we'll get home soon enough, but in the meantime, we've settled into our rv aka 'the bunker' aka "Iyrs the Virus" our eye during the storm ..... I really like being in the bunker, I just don't enjoy driving regardless of the type of vehicle :) We've ended up in Alabama which I think is your original neck of the woods? also - veggie fried rice and spring rolls :)
XD Thanks! We are perhaps cooking slightly less often but not by much. Most of the time we cook for breakfast and dinner. We'll often make sandwiches wraps or salads for lunch. Storage is currently imperfect with an induction cook top awkwardly sharing a drawer with an iron skillet, two plates, two bowls, and some other items, but it is working. Part of what we're doing to prep for the tour is finalizing these little storage bits!
I’d love to try something like this, I’ve lost count how much time I’ve spent researching how to do it. I feel I’d be stuck between a small bus or the largest Sprinter van available. My biggest concern would be the width loss vs a bus which is a good foot wider, it’s a lot of extra room in a 20ft living space... The shower situation is sort of a non-issue with Bus/VanLife. I always see comments of “How don’t you have an indoor shower, OMG!?”, but you have to keep showers short regardless to conserve water if you’re off grid, which is the whole point of designing your own rig. No one wants to rely on campground hookups if it can be avoided because it will get costly fast. Just get a National gym membership and shower there. My biggest concern is how I’d earn money. I don’t have any major academic education under my belt, nor a trade to offer anyone. I’d probably put out blogs and vlogs as a source of income and fun, but I doubt I’d be able to live off it. It’s awesome that you guys are able to do it!
We're almost halfway through our 32ft conversion. Have been watching your videos before we purchased her. Can you tell is what the book was that had the grades of the roads pa-lease😁😁😁😁. PS Sooooo happy for you guys. Can't wait to hear about your new adventures 🍜
I'm thinking that this van thing is new. There are benefits, but I wonder that if for a long time, years, that is, if you will miss the feeling of actually having more space. The small living space seems very convenient for vacations, or a few months of hitting the road, but for a home, I wonder if the bus wouldn't be better, at least for me. Also, wondering if hitching a tiny car would be nice, with a bus.
I would be reluctant to have my "house" or living space and my only mode of transportation all in one. Simply because if there is a motor vehicle collision, I am not only out of a car, but my home is now messed up too.
That's totally understandable. The way I see it, bus and van lifers overall can have a far reduced financial burden as compared to homeowners or renters. I guess no matter how you live you should always have an emergency fund.
@@fourleafer yup, have enough money to stay somewhere in an emergency. I'd honestly rather have money put away for a replacement vehicle and/or good insurance on my vehicle then lug around two vehicles solo or do any type of towing situation. At the end of the day, I don't like being super long or towing an attached vehicle. Also, even if your "mobile house" and "commuter" vehicle are separate a true wreck is probably gonna damage them both. They are one vehicle when they are attached on the road.
I thought that you guys had a banjo on the wall of the bus. I don't remember a guitar. . . What thing or things, ( individual items ), have been hardest for you to part with in your new "home / office / vehicle"? . . . . Do you have enough, " bedroom / office / kitchen / dining room ", space for both of you? . or do you have to take turns? ( sleeping, eating, officeing .. Etc. )
One thing i worry about is me having to much clothing. Im a guy so out of curiosity how many full outfits do you find reasonable like pants and shirt combo? How many pairs of footwear? How many jackets? I think 7 outfits, 1 pair boots, 1pair sneakers, 1 pair flip flops. And have one 2 jackets 1 winter coat and 1 rain coat. What is your opinion?
Security on the bus, do you have to be careful where you park? How do you lock up the front folding door? Im worried about going to work and leaving the bus in a parking lot with my two small dogs in it.
Love your videos. Thanks. I’m thinking of a shuttle bus, but is that okay for long highway trips? I feel the same about diesel. Too few mechanics. Too expensive maintenance.
YOU ALL SHOULD FOLLOW ONE ADVANTURE AT A TIME. THEY ARE ANOTHER YOUNG COUPLE THAT TRAVEL IN THEIR PROMASTER WITH THEIR DOG ROODLE. THEY GO DOWN SOME EXTREME ROADS.
Deciding between a ford transit or a ford e350 8 passanger shuttle bus. Bus is so much cheaper and more spacious but yea driving that large of a vehicle may be a bitch... Unfortunately tranits with high tops are like 30k still lookin around though
You may have discussed this in a previous video but, I discovered today when coming in to watch this video that I have missed several videos and have not been getting notifications from your channel. I thought you simply doing fewer videos and phasing out of TH-cam. Skool, I will check for myself from now on and catch up as I can. I don't know what part of the country you are currently in but I noticed a handful of other vanlifers being harassed by local authorities when trying to find a spot in the back country and several states locked up public lands as soon as travel restrictions were being discussed and implemented. I am also aware that sensationalism is not limited to television and I am aware of a group that appears to live in an alternate reality so it is impossible to know what is really going on without being there. I am not out and about so I will ask you too as you have consistently come across as reliable and not prone to high drama in front of a camera so, have you noticed an increase in restrictions of the use of state parks, national parks and BLM land? I have looked at a lot of vehicles for traveling but husband is in a wheelchair and adequate room for that beast he moves around in quickly makes a van impractical. I purchased a wheelchair van, as a matter of fact, and measured this way and that but did not measure the height. I had no idea how long his torso is and he has to ride reclined way back or with his face in (literally) the ceiling. But I want to be able to use the vehicle for transit to and from doctors offices and similar in addition to travel across the country. I am always being told that I should find a wheelchair accessible RV but I don't know of a single one that I would trust enough to anchor a lift to the wall and lift him out of his chair and into the bed or shower or... So am looking for a shuttle bus. They would provide additional width and height and I would still be able to pull in to the doctors' office and park along a far side of the lot. They have become more popular, though, and there has always been someone who will offer more than I can manage. Having said ALL of that, do you notice that people treat you any differently being in a new van vs. a skilled? Finally, now that you have been on the road for awhile and you may have weathered the decrease in productivity with spotty internet, is this lifestyle proving to be as profitable as when working for home? How long do you think that you can continue in the present market? Do you see a time in the not so distant future where you will offer to stay longer in some areas to take on additional work? Do you think that you might have to cut this lifestyle short to find a stronger revenue stream? Or are you doing well enough to continue indefinitely? Thanks for a great video and thank you again if you managed to read this to the end and will consider answering one or all of my questions!
I have thought of traveling but traveling alone with a dog not sure how to stop and shop / or even stopping for gas without the dog overheating in my truck. Any tips on these concerns? my pick up is older so not the best thing to leave it idling for any length of time.
Would you share the pdf you bought for the passes and grades? That would be very useful! I think bus versus van is perspective. I move quite a lot so our bus checklist is 5 minutes tops to get everything secured.
The transit space is not even enought for that dog's... i feel you lost guys, you show as just the best ... idk but this is not very honest about van life , pace no hate, I hope your good .🙏
Great video. I was wondering why you chose a van over say a 22' skoolie with a Ford engine? I'm between those two and am curious what made you chose the van over a shuttle bus or skoolie of the same length? Thank you!
Thanks Erin! We were interested in having a vehicle with either 4wd or at least AWD. We were already looking at Transits, and saw that the 2020 model had an AWD option which is what tipped the scale. We're not planning on rock crawling, but the AWD w/ a limited slip differential is good peace of mind for muddy or sandy areas.
We're planning on making a "Why a Transit?" Video, and will likely do that soon. The nutshell is that the current year transit has AWD and is larger than the largest Promaster and we wanted just about as much space as we can get in a van.
We actually just had it weighed. GVWR is the highest available for this model Transit at 10k lbs and change. We weighed in right around 8400 or so. We are happy we went with the higher gvwr because it’s good peace of mind, and we’ve noticed very little sag when the vehicle is fully loaded. Plus the duallies help with cross winds, look cool, are safer if there is a blow out, and come with marker lights for foggy or snowy conditions. Only downside is tire choices. Currently trying to source options for more off toad capable tires that can fit without running each other
The thing about the bus is man it drinks lots of fuel the van isent a snall gas sipper where the bus was a huge amount of money every time you move and some places you go it's not fun to drive around in the bus the van you can drive around all day sight seeing I'm shoure the van is much more better for just sight seeing I wouldn't want to go up mt Washington in old blue bird buss
That bus engines was a winner... The modern stuff will "tell you" a lot of nonsense. Roy're running on feelings, not facts. You think the stealership is a good thing?
To each his own...having trucked over the road for 47 yrs I'd have the bus hands down.
I’ve been a trucker as well. I’ve also lived in busses and vans. They both are great in a lot of ways. But now in my life I have destinations I go to through out the year. Because I know where I am going plus my knowledge of larger vehicles I choose a bus, no larger 35ft.
The freedom to park in car or RV spaces really seems to be a game changer. It's fascinating to hear from people that have tried out both! Thanks for sharing!
I'm really glad that the van is working out for you. I,, personally, think a bus is better for my purposes, but I also understand that different people have different wants and needs. I'm more mechanically inclined and used to driving a 2 1/2 ton flatbed with a trailer so driving a bus is really not a big deal to me. However, each to his own, and if the van works for y'all, then that's what's important. Also, it's good to see videos from y'all again.
That's why I want a fiberglass shuttle bus. Not huge but also not tiny. Thanks for your vids!
School bus types are usually geared for town use, not highway travel. If you had regeared the rear end of the bus, it might have been a a better experience. A gear splitter is also good, as well as a drive line retarder, but all these are expensive items. However, they make all the difference between a fun trip, and work. Taking a flat land vehicle into the high country, can be difficult, even scary. And may also ultimately trash your drive train and brakes.
I think you made a good choice, a more appropriate vehicle for your terrain. And, as it turns out, probably for both of you as well.
Your bus tour was the first video I saw that made me think I could do this. Thank you for that! I went back and forth deciding between a van and a short bus, and eventually settled on a used 2019 Transit for similar reasons-parking, airbags, ease of driving, and the fact? Belief? Hope? that even in tiny, rural, western towns miles from anywhere, someone can repair a Ford.
That “Chinese food” reel is straight out of my dreams tbh
Also, our bus was amazing to live in while parked, but between the length (36ft) and the worry of mechanical issues I can’t imagine ever traveling in it. Super happy for you guys!
Thank you guys for filming this video! My partner and I have been debating whether to get a van or a bus for our next adventure. Your bus tour was our absolute favorite design we had seen, but these insights you shared solidified our decision to go with a van. Cheers!
Loved seeing glimpses of your Van.🤩 We are doing a mini bus conversion but have two big dogs. I love the idea of Tuko’s den under the bed.
I am looking forward to seeing your bus tour. I can definitely see that the van gives you more freedom to be spontaneous when traveling.
I want to thank you on your TH-cam channel it helps me a lot I'm still on the fence about getting off RV but people like you helped out give me the pros and cons of the life style
I didn't realize our build sizes were so similar! We have a 22' shuttle bus that we're working on. We installed our Maxxfan today and rewatching your van video on it was SOOOO helpful 😅💖🚐
Tiff you are so cute!! All I have to say is Fried Rice with Kong Pow Chicken
I really appreciate your TH-cam channel. It is definitely my favorite, in the Skoolie/Bus Life area. And it’s because you all actually take the time to really explain your process of any project or challenges and really, really practical information. Including the links to the things that you utilize for this lifestyle and the build and equipment necessary. And because I don’t just want a tour, I want to do something like this myself (my own version) and so doing the research for this via y’alls channel, is so valuable. Also, I love the graphics, sound, cinematography, your personalities and the “Pups” too! And the overall vibe/build of your Skoolie. Y’all rock.🌈🎉✨
Very helpful information. Im buying my bus within the next two weeks and cannot decide if i should buy a mid size or small size. For just me and two small dogs i now feel more confident that the small size would be fine. I wanted the medium size thinking i will not have enough space but with you two and pets saying a mid sized bus was to big and you did not use about 7 feet of space was helpful
It’s so good to see and hear you again! I’m looking behind you and the canopy, the hammock really indicate you’re loving outdoor space!
Hey thanks Zac n Tiff for the update 😊👍 all very good n helpful points for moving from Skoolie to VanLife and better fits your needs and wants.
I moved from 33’ Skoolie to a 24’ Lance Travel Trailer with Ram truck recently.
The bus could sleep only 2 but the Lance can sleep 4-5. I needed more room for my 2 adult kids to join me on camping trip but usually it’s just me. Also I can move faster pulling the Lance trailer with Ram truck and more mobile after disconnecting the trailer at camp site n take truck to explore n run errands without breaking camp. I can camp at a RV park or Boondock. I do miss the Skoolie and I bet you do to.
Thanks for sharing and safe travels WDE!!! ❤️😄🦅
Would love a schoolie to live in on a rural/remote acreage. Driving it would be a nightmare for me. Van for travel, hands down, even with three dogs. Informative videos. Thank you.
Can't wait to see your adventures, thanks for bringing me along....love the fur babies 😍
Thanks for talking through all of this... I am still on the fence as I think things thru, but this helps a lot!
Great topic! All questions I had and went through couple years ago. I personally chose a short bus, Ford diesel front end at 24 ft long. Yes, parking is way easier at this length, but gave me more width to play with. Living full time bout a year, hope I see you guys on the road one of these days!
That's the style I'm seriously considering right now.
Thanks for the rundown and contrast between the two life/travel styles. It brings me to one question and one idea for you. The question is for Zac, how has van life impacted your work style and productivity? I do web development for work and photography as a hobby, but would like to grow it to a monetized profession and travel more (though I'd be entering the game with a Rav4 and not even a van to work with). You also mentioned not having as much water onboard the van, if you haven't checked it out yet overlanding rigs often take schedule 40 PVC, stick it on the roof, paint it black, pressurize it with a cheap compressor and it lets them hold another 8-16 gallons of hot solar heated water for pennies on the dollar, no internal plumbing to fuss with.
Solid points for consideration and fun you take care roll on :)
What i'm hearing right now is what you've been envisioning stepping into this lifestyle, So glad that you could achieve all that and more! Good luck and enjoy the jurney.
One little side note: Guess you are getting qualified enough to be nerds, consider joining the club!!😍😍
Well, that was a good talk. I'm glade you two are back in the saddle again and happily where you want to be. I think you had good reasons for every choice you made. I would of gone with a diesel which I did in a pulling vehicle. A good maintained truck that runs diesel will keep you on the road for close to one million miles before it dies, but a gas powered with get maybe a quarter of that with some extra work. I get why you switched out. I wonder if a short buss would have been better but your happy and that's all that matters.
You guys make such great videos! I forever appreciate you sharing this valuable information
Sorry for bothering you with so many questions i just would like to get an idea from people who have experience and you two are the first ones i have found that cover great topics and make sense.
Good video guys. I think you just found out you are van people. Which is awesome! Sounds like it's really working out for you. There is no perfect rig, just the rig that works for you!
Figuring out your rig is an experiment. Like while I would like a standing height van one day, I don't think I'd ever like to get any longer then I am right now (in a Chevy Express 1500).
Glad it is working out for the four of you! I understand wanting to downsize for more flexibility, though your bus was gorgeous. I remember people commenting about why you didn’t tow the car so you could ride together, so now, problem solved.
I'm glad to see y'all back on the tube. I look forward to the van tour. Tiff, you're looking great with the longer hair. Hopefully I'll see more of y'alls content. Keep on wandering and sharing.
Great video ! Very unesfu full knownledge! !Much love can't wait to see you guys more!
Enjoyed the video and look forward to the van tour.
Hey Zach and Tiff!!! Miss y’all! TFS
I miss your bus. It was perfect.
You say you didn't "use" the first 6-7 feet of the bus... I disagree, you DID use it as space for the dogs.
There's nothing wrong with having extra room to move around. I personally don't feel that its wasteful.
They certainly seem very happy in their van. You're totally valid in saying it wasn't a waste to have that space, it sounds like for their sake it just wasn't necessary space for them. I hope that makes sense :)
I think they are saying they felt like it was a waste of space for their use and the dogs use. For them it didn't serve their ultimate purpose, but for someone else they might love it.
So excited to get a new video!!!
That bus was great. You guys do you boo boos! Van life is great too! Really enjoy your videos. Roll on kiddos!
so much quality information. thank you!
I'm planning to move out of my brick and mortar home within the next year. Trying to decide between a van and a mini bus and a box truck. I have two dogs and keeping them cool in the summer in Ontario is my main concern.
For me, its between ford transit with a high roof or a ford e350 shuttle bus
As someone who lived in a small shuttle bus, I wish I had gone with a van. The space wasn’t that much more than a van would be. But driving it was much more of a pain than a van was in my test drives.
My bf and I have the same timeline and the heat for our dog and cat is our main concern also
were building a box truck and the build is taking a lot longer than a year for us
Hubby, Great Dane, small dog and I are newly in our bus. We are living full time in it AND still building it out. We are in a mid-sized bus. 36’. We are already looking at the van life!! I think we’ll be in the bus a year... and make the switch. A lot of the reason you’ve talked about. Mainly, the easier get up and go! We haven’t even made it out west. (We’re in NC. Mountains). We started here for two main reasons: 1) i personally didn’t think I’d even handle the 225sqft of the bus! Let alone a tinie tiny van!! (Hubby is 6’2”!!). We were worried about the dogs! We have a Great Dane. He’s 150# & didn’t think he’d fit! (Still not sure about that). 2) we came into this thinking we are NOT going to move daily or even weekly. We really want to get to know areas. However, now that we are in, it’s a chore!! An event to pack up and move. And we DO want to be more mobile! It seems we are about 18 months behind your journey!! Lol. Looking forward to seeing more if the van life from y’all! 💕
"This might give you a bit of insight"
Yes, I think it helped quite a bit. Been interest in Vanlife but don't want a smaller vehicle. On the flipside, don't want a massive bus.
Was thinking a shorter double decker could be nice, my issue is that there's allot of places where the height would become a problem
(they are at least around 5M/15f tall). One of the most mental things ive seen was a person that was selling an articulated bus as a
vanlife project, think that vehicle was around 50 feet. Good luck parking that anywhere.
I wonder if you could've found a happy medium and gone with a "shorter" bus?
New subscriber here. Love your style. I'll be doing a lot of catching up.
I think light bulbs went off because I was all for a school buss but for me I think van life seems more of my speed. I'm solo travel with also two dogs. And only be using it for vacations 2 times a year and weekend trips. So I don't need much.
In a word for both of you...charming. :)
Thanks for the video. I'm leaning more towards a van because I will have a hard time parking a bus in the city. Finding a place to work is even more challenging, IMHO. I'd be working on it myself, so I think I can handle a van build. I've been driving my Ford truck for 15 years. Never had a problem with finding services. I'll be looking for a Ford van. Best 😍
Wow! You two look so familiar, esp. Zac.
Love your channel been watching from the start.
Well guys ..spot on .. simplify.. priorities.. Chinese food..beer n icecream .. what could possibly happen.. excellent vid guys ..jolly good carryon pip pips 😍😁
You wife looks amazing with her short hair, looks great, You both tell great stories on 🚌 bus/ van life. Very entertaining. Good stuff guys.😂😅😅 Your short hair looks awesome too dude, New York flair. Nice. Lol 😆 haha.
The bus im buying is from a bus dealership place that sells large vehicles with warranty on it but if anything does go wrongnit seems like just towing would be expensive
I myself I'm not financially able to buy a new van open a used bus but I have looked into getting a Class A motorhome for $500 and it has less than 25000 miles on the engine hopefully one day we can meet up and exchange stories you guys are the best love your videos you guys stay safe and stay blessed
I like this alot, and you guys have great insight. Please share more videos
OK it's official, I'm binge-watching!
Great video. Thanks so much for sharing. Loved all your insights.
So we were happily ex-pats in Mexico but were traveling as house sitters in the US when Covid happened and we got trapped here when the borders closed. Fast forward a bit, we needed a solution as we can't get 'home' and don't know when we will be able to, so I bought an RV for me and my daughter. If it was just me I think I'd prefer a van and we didn't have time to build a skoolie. A used RV was the right amount of second-hand ready to go that we needed with separate 'rooms' for each of us. I love watching the skoolie videos as I think they all look so cool, but I don't think I'd like driving one. We'd been traveling non-stop for seven years until this year but flying or hired transport, I haven't done any of the driving until this year. We've just made our first road trip in the RV, about 2000 miles and I didn't love driving it or driving period. We took all the highways or scenic byways we could to stay off the interstates as I don't like going over 50mph and I don't want to be a hazard but it really dictated how we traveled and how often we had to stop (way more than I was planning to!) We're REALLY glad to have reached our destination where we will be 'camped' for about 3 months. I'm terrified of heights and in particular mountain driving so I sort of struggled trying to plan routes to avoid all of that ..... which for me ultimately adds up to just finding a place near the beach and stay there. God-willing we'll get home soon enough, but in the meantime, we've settled into our rv aka 'the bunker' aka "Iyrs the Virus" our eye during the storm ..... I really like being in the bunker, I just don't enjoy driving regardless of the type of vehicle :) We've ended up in Alabama which I think is your original neck of the woods?
also - veggie fried rice and spring rolls :)
Chinese?
Love it.
Great conversation guys..look forward to the van tour.
Do you cook less in the van?
Whats the storage like for cooking etc?
XD Thanks! We are perhaps cooking slightly less often but not by much. Most of the time we cook for breakfast and dinner. We'll often make sandwiches wraps or salads for lunch. Storage is currently imperfect with an induction cook top awkwardly sharing a drawer with an iron skillet, two plates, two bowls, and some other items, but it is working. Part of what we're doing to prep for the tour is finalizing these little storage bits!
@@Rolling_Vistas cool.
I’d love to try something like this, I’ve lost count how much time I’ve spent researching how to do it. I feel I’d be stuck between a small bus or the largest Sprinter van available. My biggest concern would be the width loss vs a bus which is a good foot wider, it’s a lot of extra room in a 20ft living space...
The shower situation is sort of a non-issue with Bus/VanLife. I always see comments of “How don’t you have an indoor shower, OMG!?”, but you have to keep showers short regardless to conserve water if you’re off grid, which is the whole point of designing your own rig. No one wants to rely on campground hookups if it can be avoided because it will get costly fast. Just get a National gym membership and shower there.
My biggest concern is how I’d earn money. I don’t have any major academic education under my belt, nor a trade to offer anyone. I’d probably put out blogs and vlogs as a source of income and fun, but I doubt I’d be able to live off it.
It’s awesome that you guys are able to do it!
Yeah that's my concern too. You'd have to stay near to a city or resort to have steady work, IMHO.
I would set the van up to tow suberu problem is your almost better off with a trailer big enough for the suberu
We're almost halfway through our 32ft conversion. Have been watching your videos before we purchased her. Can you tell is what the book was that had the grades of the roads pa-lease😁😁😁😁. PS Sooooo happy for you guys. Can't wait to hear about your new adventures 🍜
Hi Renee, Exciting! Its called Mountain Directory West- www.mountaindirectory.com/
@@Rolling_Vistas You ROCK!!! Thanks for talking the time to answer 😁🤘🤘
loved the tag at the end LOL
I'm thinking that this van thing is new. There are benefits, but I wonder that if for a long time, years, that is, if you will miss the feeling of actually having more space.
The small living space seems very convenient for vacations, or a few months of hitting the road, but for a home, I wonder if the bus wouldn't be better, at least for me.
Also, wondering if hitching a tiny car would be nice, with a bus.
Super helpful, thank you!
I would be reluctant to have my "house" or living space and my only mode of transportation all in one. Simply because if there is a motor vehicle collision, I am not only out of a car, but my home is now messed up too.
Been there and done that already . I tell my dog all the time if this happens we will become backpackers 😂🤣😲
That's totally understandable. The way I see it, bus and van lifers overall can have a far reduced financial burden as compared to homeowners or renters. I guess no matter how you live you should always have an emergency fund.
@@fourleafer yup, have enough money to stay somewhere in an emergency. I'd honestly rather have money put away for a replacement vehicle and/or good insurance on my vehicle then lug around two vehicles solo or do any type of towing situation. At the end of the day, I don't like being super long or towing an attached vehicle. Also, even if your "mobile house" and "commuter" vehicle are separate a true wreck is probably gonna damage them both. They are one vehicle when they are attached on the road.
SUBSCRIBED! ❤
Thanks, this was very helpful
I thought that you guys had a banjo on the wall of the bus. I don't remember a guitar. . . What thing or things, ( individual items ), have been hardest for you to part with in your new "home / office / vehicle"? . . . . Do you have enough, " bedroom / office / kitchen / dining room ", space for both of you? . or do you have to take turns? ( sleeping, eating, officeing .. Etc. )
One thing i worry about is me having to much clothing. Im a guy so out of curiosity how many full outfits do you find reasonable like pants and shirt combo? How many pairs of footwear? How many jackets? I think 7 outfits, 1 pair boots, 1pair sneakers, 1 pair flip flops. And have one 2 jackets 1 winter coat and 1 rain coat. What is your opinion?
Speaking of Chinese food...if you're ever in the Southwest Missouri area around Springfield, you have to try Cashew Chicken. Just saying...lol
I know I'm a dreamer, but I want both, a Vanagon and a bus...& Knight Rider it. (I'm great at imagining this life, not actually doing it...yet?)
Thank you so much for sharing!!! Awesome!!!👠🚌👠
Security on the bus, do you have to be careful where you park? How do you lock up the front folding door? Im worried about going to work and leaving the bus in a parking lot with my two small dogs in it.
Love your videos. Thanks.
I’m thinking of a shuttle bus, but is that okay for long highway trips?
I feel the same about diesel. Too few mechanics. Too expensive maintenance.
YOU ALL SHOULD FOLLOW ONE ADVANTURE AT A TIME. THEY ARE ANOTHER YOUNG COUPLE THAT TRAVEL IN THEIR PROMASTER WITH THEIR DOG ROODLE. THEY GO DOWN SOME EXTREME ROADS.
How are you guys managing your LaCroix habit? Big fan of the Mango + Coconut waters.
How did you get that glass painted??? Did you do it yourself or buy it and then installed it???
Oh. You just said that😊
thank you
How were you guys using the bathroom and taking shower? On the bus and van?
Deciding between a ford transit or a ford e350 8 passanger shuttle bus.
Bus is so much cheaper and more spacious but yea driving that large of a vehicle may be a bitch...
Unfortunately tranits with high tops are like 30k still lookin around though
Wanna hear something funny? I was eating Chinese take out watching this vid.
I feel that Chinese food lol kinda my thing
Good points. Have you thought about having a Toad?
Thanks! We drove separately in the bus and were looking forward to consolidating. We do have bikes as sort of a "secondary vehicle"
You may have discussed this in a previous video but, I discovered today when coming in to watch this video that I have missed several videos and have not been getting notifications from your channel. I thought you simply doing fewer videos and phasing out of TH-cam. Skool, I will check for myself from now on and catch up as I can. I don't know what part of the country you are currently in but I noticed a handful of other vanlifers being harassed by local authorities when trying to find a spot in the back country and several states locked up public lands as soon as travel restrictions were being discussed and implemented. I am also aware that sensationalism is not limited to television and I am aware of a group that appears to live in an alternate reality so it is impossible to know what is really going on without being there. I am not out and about so I will ask you too as you have consistently come across as reliable and not prone to high drama in front of a camera so, have you noticed an increase in restrictions of the use of state parks, national parks and BLM land?
I have looked at a lot of vehicles for traveling but husband is in a wheelchair and adequate room for that beast he moves around in quickly makes a van impractical. I purchased a wheelchair van, as a matter of fact, and measured this way and that but did not measure the height. I had no idea how long his torso is and he has to ride reclined way back or with his face in (literally) the ceiling. But I want to be able to use the vehicle for transit to and from doctors offices and similar in addition to travel across the country. I am always being told that I should find a wheelchair accessible RV but I don't know of a single one that I would trust enough to anchor a lift to the wall and lift him out of his chair and into the bed or shower or... So am looking for a shuttle bus. They would provide additional width and height and I would still be able to pull in to the doctors' office and park along a far side of the lot. They have become more popular, though, and there has always been someone who will offer more than I can manage. Having said ALL of that, do you notice that people treat you any differently being in a new van vs. a skilled?
Finally, now that you have been on the road for awhile and you may have weathered the decrease in productivity with spotty internet, is this lifestyle proving to be as profitable as when working for home? How long do you think that you can continue in the present market? Do you see a time in the not so distant future where you will offer to stay longer in some areas to take on additional work? Do you think that you might have to cut this lifestyle short to find a stronger revenue stream? Or are you doing well enough to continue indefinitely?
Thanks for a great video and thank you again if you managed to read this to the end and will consider answering one or all of my questions!
I have thought of traveling but traveling alone with a dog not sure how to stop and shop / or even stopping for gas without the dog overheating in my truck. Any tips on these concerns? my pick up is older so not the best thing to leave it idling for any length of time.
Does having a rwd mid size bus vs small bus have a lot of trouble in the snow? I figure with the weight the bus would grip fine.
Would you share the pdf you bought for the passes and grades? That would be very useful!
I think bus versus van is perspective. I move quite a lot so our bus checklist is 5 minutes tops to get everything secured.
Hi Shauna, Its called Mountain Directory West- www.mountaindirectory.com/
@@Rolling_Vistas Thank you. That's great.
The transit space is not even enought for that dog's... i feel you lost guys, you show as just the best ... idk but this is not very honest about van life , pace no hate, I hope your good .🙏
Great video. I was wondering why you chose a van over say a 22' skoolie with a Ford engine? I'm between those two and am curious what made you chose the van over a shuttle bus or skoolie of the same length? Thank you!
Thanks Erin! We were interested in having a vehicle with either 4wd or at least AWD. We were already looking at Transits, and saw that the 2020 model had an AWD option which is what tipped the scale. We're not planning on rock crawling, but the AWD w/ a limited slip differential is good peace of mind for muddy or sandy areas.
Any thought re having a custom water tank mounted under the van?
What are your signs ?
Ok
Is your guitar hung on the wall in your new van now?
Why the Ford over the Ram Promaster? Good to see you two.
We're planning on making a "Why a Transit?" Video, and will likely do that soon. The nutshell is that the current year transit has AWD and is larger than the largest Promaster and we wanted just about as much space as we can get in a van.
@@Rolling_Vistas probably better build quality with the Ford as well. I don't trust FCA.
Do you know how much your conversation weighs? What gvwr did you go for when you ordered? Are you happy with that choice?
We actually just had it weighed. GVWR is the highest available for this model Transit at 10k lbs and change. We weighed in right around 8400 or so. We are happy we went with the higher gvwr because it’s good peace of mind, and we’ve noticed very little sag when the vehicle is fully loaded. Plus the duallies help with cross winds, look cool, are safer if there is a blow out, and come with marker lights for foggy or snowy conditions. Only downside is tire choices. Currently trying to source options for more off toad capable tires that can fit without running each other
Did you guys considerated shuttle bus?
Bus life vs van life. More like bus life is the worst and van life is the best.
The thing about the bus is man it drinks lots of fuel the van isent a snall gas sipper where the bus was a huge amount of money every time you move and some places you go it's not fun to drive around in the bus the van you can drive around all day sight seeing I'm shoure the van is much more better for just sight seeing I wouldn't want to go up mt Washington in old blue bird buss
That bus engines was a winner... The modern stuff will "tell you" a lot of nonsense. Roy're running on feelings, not facts.
You think the stealership is a good thing?
I just don't get why people will have large dogs in small spaces. It may not be as bad as thinking but it just seems like it's abuse.