9 REGRETS of our Van Build // What would we CHANGE??
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- We love our van Foley, but like any big project there are usually some regrets or saying "if we did it again we would...."', so we thought we would share some of those things with you so that you can learn from our mistakes...well not really mistakes...over sights??
Quick Summary:
1. High Roof - We wish we could have found a high roof van that ticked all our boxes.
2. More TIME! - We only had 30 days to convert that van because we were borrowing tools and house sitting during the build.
3. Shower - I knew that I needed to put in some sort of shower but I wish that I had planned it our during the build and installed something (future project).
4. Weight Balance - Not the biggest deal but the layout of the van has most of the cargo weight being on one side.
5. More room at the back of the bed - This just would have helped in folding the bed down without having to open the back door.
6. Table too big - Self explanatory.
7. U-Shaped at back of bed - This would have allowed us to have more storage.
8. Better roof vent - We wish we had a bigger and better roof fan
9. Lights - Didn't need as many lights as we put in and I wish I had just done some LED strip lighting or something.
Sorry we have been MIA lately, thanks for all the kind words to those who have been messaging us!
For a more in depth video on how to convert a van, check out our build series to see exactly how we did it! We are super happy with the result and we did the entire construction ourselves. We also completed the build entirely while living in Australia (we are Canadian). This build wouldn’t have been possible without TH-cam so we decided to film the whole process.
If you have any questions about our build, feel free to contact us by commenting or follow us on Instagram.
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/ @thewanderingwagners
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I love showers! How about a shower curtain track that allows the curtain to tie against the wall then pull out to circle a 24" plastic tub? For pressure hot water how about a kettle of hot water in a 3 gallon Hudson sprayer hooked to a RV hand held shower? Very effective!
Such great tips! I love showers as well! Sounds like good ideas, thank you so much! And thanks for watching :)
from being in the rv sales you have your table folding upwards if you mod your table folding down you can add some cabinets above your table and for showers they make portable showers and when using that type of shower in the RV camping world we call them navy showers and for A/C units there's a lot of videos on you tube on how to make your own A/C unit that works good to keep you guys cool on hot days and cookware the best cookware i have seen was 12 volt cookware since propane BBQ is a hassle to clean and to pull out and put away and if i didn't have a daughter my dream van would be a ford chevy or dodge van and extended it with an tandem axle and that would add an extra 2 or 3 feet of space
Aw thank you so much for all these wonderful suggestions and tips. Good option for getting more storage about the table. Will look to get a shower like that! Definitely would be so cool to make our own A/C unit! We are on 24 V with just a little butane cooker but that sounds like a great option. That would be so nice to have the extra 2-3 feet of space one day. Thanks for all the tips and for watching :)
Where in Australia are you? Here in Huskisson New South Wales (NSW) we have free showers in our public toilet blocks on the beach - it's a gorgeous part of the country if you like the beach and really good coffee, also Hyams Beach is just down the road with some of the world's whitest sand and easy driving to Queensland and Victoria. If you're ever in the area let me know; we have plenty of room for free overnight stay and hot showers too - it's our dream to do what you're doing but with a self sufficient caravan (trailer) and 600 watt solar etc... (in the process of sourcing one at the moment). We're a family of four (2 kids) and we can't wait to get out there and see our beautiful country. Good luck to you both - enjoy it!!
Oh wow that sounds absolutely beautiful. We are currently in Western Australia but you never know if we will be your way. Thanks so much for the generous offer - we will keep it in mind! That would be so great if you could do it too! I hope you do. Thanks for everything :)
OMG, you are talking about the (very practical, very handy etc) battery lights!!! Its a taboo among vanlifers!!! All the vans have to have absurdly complex electric system which is always breaking down. IT MUST BE!
This has been the most helpful video by far. Admittedly, it popped up in the feed, but it’s helped with some of the questions I have about my future build. You still have an awesome van, but I get what you’re saying. 😊
Aw that’s so great to hear! We really wanted to help in anyway we could! Thanks so much for that and for watching :)
Thank you guys so much! We are starting a new round of build-out, this helps in our decisions!!
So glad to hear that. Definitely wanted to share to help anyone in some small way! Thanks so much for watching :)
for your shower problem, check out evershower.com
they are an Australian invention. You can have a 20 minute hot shower with just 20 litres of water.
folds up into a tiny little box you can fit under the bed or anywhere really.
I highly recomend 10/10 :)
you still have a nice build, you can still cut the table down but i think you should make your bed a permanent bed so you can have more storage!!!
Agree with the table cut down but MY FAVOURITE part of the van is being able to sit at the table! We have drawers that make for enough storage for us since we don’t have much stuff! Thanks so much for watching!!!
you guys have a great way of showing us your life. super jelly.
I gotta give all the credit to Joe there. I love the word jelly so much. Thanks for the comment and for watching
I'm currently saving money for my van and i love videos like this because they're super helpful for me trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing. I love the way you guys set up your van so thanks for the inspiration ❤
That’s an awesome thing to save up money for!!! So glad you enjoyed the video and it was useful for you. Thanks for the kind words and for watching along ♥️
Lol, I am in research mode for van life right now. Searching all the bad sides of van life. That bear was entertaining, made me laugh, thanks.
Yes definitely nice to learn from others previous builds. Glad we could make you laugh. Thanks so much for watching and best of luck with your van build :)
Ventilation is big..looks comfortable..enjoy
For showering do it like they do in southeast Asia, heat some water, fill a bucket and use a scoop or enamel mug to ladle water over yourself. It works really well and you can have a full wash in hey little water. Any leftovers just tip it over your head, it's great!
That sounds like a great way to save water and have a nice shower, we will have to try that! Thank you and thanks for watching!
Bucket and cup shower workers better than a submergible shower!
Just get a kids pool and bath😁
Was my thoughts exactly. Bucket shower can be every bit as good as a proper shower for cleaning. I showered that way almost an entire year in India.
So true. I am an Asian yes most of us still do that though we have shower systems 😘😘
Thank you! Look forward to more.
Most welcome! We finally got a new video up and one in the pipeline so hope not not make everyone wait so long!!! Thanks for watching :)
Nice van ( someone would love it ) you could sell it buy a high top move the bed to the other side shorter table and more cabinets , all the best to you too 😊
Yes so true! Thanks so much for that and for watching :)
Great video and build. I am waiting for the snow to clear in Canada before I start my build. I really appreciate your list and thank you for stressing the importance of not cheeping-out on a fan.
Enjoy your ride.
Aw thanks so much for that! Ahhh i've heard the weather has been crazy this year! I hope Spring comes soon for you! Glad to be of any help! Thank you, you too! And thank you for watching!
G day I have two of the same fans in my van one above the bed blowing and one above the kitchen to suck out any smoke (when I'm cooking there's always smoke!!) and when its hot like lately mid-30s no worries at all apart from the noise nice and cool. ;)
Ahhh two fans. There's our downfall. So nice to hear that we will have to keep that in mind and try access some tools. I love love love white noise sound. So glad you're happy with that. I wish I could add this into the video for others!!!
The Wandering Wagners I thought you would like the idea they are a little bit to noisy so I’m looking into ways to slow them down.
Don’t know how you could add my video to yours? If you can you’re welcome too or maybe just give me a shot out on your next one ? Nice to see such positively happy travels Mel
The same fan you get on the little water squirters.... Too funny!
Seriously I would like to compare one of those with this LOL. The fan is reversible and you can feel it alright if you’re under it but yeaaaa she’s a bit weak
You guys will be big vloggers one day I believe in you guys
Besides drive handling, an off-balance van will wear out suspension parts faster on the weighed-down side. It is an important point. Also, it is not as safe in high winds. High profile vehicles tend to roll over in high winds, especially when it's already out of balance and therefore predisposed to it.
Really good insight. Thanks guys
Glad to be of help to others!!! Thank you so much for watching!
great timing with this video. We watched your van build vids and loved it. We just got back from our first trip in our bus. we went to Esperance (in WA) check out Twilight beach it is gorgeous. We are a family of 5 and are going to convert a 7.7m mitsubishi rosa bus into a motorhome. for our recent trip we just threw in some mattresses and took off but now we are home and time to get serious about our bus build. we will be re-watching for build videos as they have been really helpful. we hope you love WA.
That's so amazing! Oh my gosh you should do your own build series that bus is going to we wicked!! Glad that we could help you guys and feel free to ask any questions, I might not have the answer but hey I can try haha. Thanks for the WA tips we definitely want to get down there soon. Thanks for the support and for watching and have so much fun on the build :)
So beautiful!
Aw thanks for that! And thank you for taking the time to watch :)
Nice video/conversation! Treasure your experiences and each other.
Aw thanks so much for that. I love this comment!!! Thank you for watching!!! :)
Thank you so much for the information.
Most welcome! We really wanted to share what we had found! Thanks so much for watching :)
I think you did a great job in the time you had , don’t beat yourselves up it’s a great looking van , enjoy your travels and stop being lazy and get some videos out there ! We in UTUBE land think you two are great . You did make me laugh when you said about the road noise , being Canadian I would of thought you were used too noisy neighbours ...( USA ) English humour sorry so good luck and be safe .
Love this comment so much! And this is the motivation we need to propel us. So happy to hear you think we are great and most happy to hear we made you laugh. HAHAHAHA we get your humour! Thank you so much for watching, your kind words and mostly your honesty to tell our lazy bums to stop being lazy!!!!!! Hugs
High corner shelf (shorter table) is ideal for storing plastic totes or containers. Cabinets are overrated and cannot be stuffed to capacity as easily as a storage container and the contents can shift/rattle. Just put a small lip on the shelf to keep the totes in place.
Bring them down to the table when needed to stuff or remove items. I've got 7 large totes in my box truck conversion in the 9 foot front area. 3 foot rear utility room offers more storage. You can never have enough storage.
That sounds like a great way to give you lots of storage!!! Definitely a good option for a modification or for the next one we build. Thanks so much for the info and for watching :)
Propane camp shower 140 bucks heated and you use a bucket of water add a shower tent
WildandLiving solar tube roof shower! We just saw a really great one that mimics an expensive one. Holds 6 gal I think? Anyway, another idea😉
Another vote for solar.
Happy travels
Thank you so much :) :)
Very good tips! Thank you. :))
Most welcome! Glad it could help. Thanks so much for watching :)
Hey Guys,
I was thinking, if the roof height is a real issue look into adding a pop top. Its a tedious process but well worth it in the end. Also it would give you a view of the stars at night!
That's definitely a cool thought and an option for sure! We probably are too lazy to go through the hassle because of the nice pine lined roof and the solar panels on top but you just never know!!! Thanks for watching :)
Yeah adding a Pop top roof will be the way to fix it . It will look and feel awesome .
Hey guys, been watching your video's on you van build and was quite impressed of the craftsmanship and the time it took to build. Where are you located now? I'm in Northwest Australia in the Pilbara, if you're ever up this way and looking for some local knowledge of potential camp spots get back to me. Also have a big boat if you want to catch some fish!!
Ahhh shucks we were up in Exmouth for a couple months but are currently in Asia and will be heading back to Perth early February then back across the bottom to Melbourne or we would have loved your local knowledge. Thanks so much for the kindness and for watching :)
Love it, very helpful thanks guys!!!
So glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!!! ♥️😘
Thanks for sharing.. great points to learn from ..
I guess vandwellers all have some regrets. I just bought a 15 passenger van really cheap with low miles that used to be a school van. If I had done more research I would not have bought it due to the high rollover accident rate as a passenger van and why they no longer make them. I removed EVERY bench seat and It just make me very mindful that all heavy items need to be equally distributed before the rear axial. I have to limit my solar panels to the front of my roof and I may have to strap my bike to the front instead of the back of the van. I just have to learn and save up for that perfect van that will be more suitable.
We wanted to share our regrets in hopes others might benefit from them. We did get it looked at and the load capacity is nowhere near the maximum and regular tire rotations and checks have proved that it's been okay. We like learning from our regrets and accepting things the way they are. I hope the lessons you learn are valuable as well and always room to improve. Thanks for watching and the comment :)
Because ... learning from mistakes.... don't always equal regret. Regrets usually a conscious thing.
Yes that's right. This is more our way of saying...not EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Sometimes it is just a mistake and you can learn form it or in some cases it wasn't a mistake. By this I mean that we made the decision to so some of these things not by mistake but by intention and therefore we now regret it haha
9:56 - I knew it! I was sure you were from #Canadastan with those accents from out west! Nailed it!
HAHA you nailed it! I guess there is a few words that would give us away quite easily.
Could y’all add another “table” and put your bed under it an add floor/living space on top of your bed? Anywho loved your video!
Interesting idea! Not sure that we would have the head room for that but maybe if we had a high roof we could do that!
Interesting idea! Not sure that we would have the head room for that but maybe if we had a high roof we could do that!
You are both awesome , love your van :)
aw you’re so sweet. Thanks so much and thanks for watching :)
Guys in any major town in Australia we have a great resource called Mens sheds , they can help with most things and more often than not if you are willing to listen you can get things made,repaired or modified for very little cost , ask around you will be surprised 😎
Omg this is genius!!!!! Funnily enough Joe did some construction work with the company he is with right now at the Kalgoorlie Men's shed and he never even thought of it!!!!! This is probably the most excellent tip we have got. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!
If you ever get down to Australia’s best kept secret Tasmania come and check out Port Sorell men’s shed , we’ll look after you 😎
Realllllly hope that our visa gets extended and we can head there in the summer! Sounds so amazing, thank you for that we will definitely keep that in mind! Thanks for the awesome tip!!!!!! And thanks for watching :)
Pressurized garden sprayers work ok, and there are some good portable shower stalls on the market.
Yea we have been thinking about those options a well, thanks for the ideas!
You mention height - - what is the height of the interior of the van? Also what is the size, make model of the frig? You say you love it, but what kind is it?
Thanks!
Great video, thanks for sharing!
Well thanks for waaatching!! :)
The Wandering Wagners totally enjoyed it
Look into GLIND heat exchanger shower system...
Oh awesome! Thanks so much for the tip! Just the storage part we would have to work out. Thank you for watching :)
The Wandering Wagners
You mean storage for water? I’ve used 5 gallon containers even and it’s been awesome. Fill up out of a river or whatever and heat it up! Of course the easiest system is fully onboard tank and plumbing, which is what I do now and it’s fantastic. You guys still in Australia yeah?
I personally will do more research on LED lighting - sure they use less power however there is a strong indication they are not good for our health.
Oh yikes! Good to know! I shall look into it as well. It’s good we don’t use the lights too often! Thanks for watching :)
What makes it "bad" for our health?
Good to know! Are these regrets unbearable enough to make changes or get another van? Would you be able to adapt to the inconveniences or get around them?
No we definitely can live with these things and if any of them drive us too crazy we could likely change them. We are happy with the van and really are proud of the job that we have done. One day we may look at doing another van but for now, Foley is all we need
Hi! 1st vid watched. New sub! Looking fwd to viewing more. The fact that it was done in such a short time is impressive. Many of what u mentioned u can fix. I agree with high top but definitely a cost. You did a great job! ☺👍
Thanks for watching and for subscribing! The time crunch definitely put a constraint on things. The positive of it was that it forced us to get things done quickly and as were in Australia on a working holiday visa, we didn't want to spend more time than we had to building a van and miss out on travelling! Thanks for the kindness :)
You need to pack some Heat. Iron. One that barks here and bites over yonder.
LOL! You aren’t the first person to say that. Thanks for watching :)
What if you get a whole bunch of water bottles and put them on the side that is too light? That might help balance the weight.
Or what if we stock that side of the van with beer!! Haha good idea, I have been looking at some options to even out the weight a bit but then I also don't want to add additional weight to the van necessarily either. It's really not to bad its more when we have a full load of water and food and fully stocked is when she leans a bit lol
Buy Road Shower for $300. It's so worth putting on top of your Sprinter. Google it and you will find one.
Cool idea! We’re using a little 12v camp shower pump with our extra 25L jerry we have in the back. Works okay but could definitely be improved! Thanks for watching.
What kind of fridge freezer did you get?
We just got a regular household bar size fridge. The brand is Hi-sense. We were too cheap to get a proper camp fridge.
where did you by the magnetic blinds/nets on your door?
We got them from Bunnings!!! Very handy things. Thanks for watching :)
thank you!
lol, we all make mistakes, it's the only way to learn. Why don't you take out the bulbs out of all of the pot lights and leave one in, that would cut out the brightness.
We are still happy with our sweet Foley even after our regrets. We tend to think of regrets in the positive ever since I read “You’re Not That Great” by Elan Gale. We actually installed a pricey dimmer that sets any type of perfect mood lighting (the old dimmer was too bright on the lowest setting)! But, next time we would realize we didn’t need that much and just wanted to share. However, that would be a great option if no dimmer was involved. Thanks so much for watching and the comment :)
Check out Eamon and bec's channel - they solved the problem of how to pull out the bed slider by chopping the sliding part so that a narrow section by the back door can be slid out after the main part. With a bunks the the narrow section can be slid out to serve as extra seating in sofa mode.
"... With a BONUS that the narrow section..."
Yea that's a good idea for sure and we had watched their videos when we were making our bed as well. Only thing with ours because it is the older style SWB which is actually the current MWB dimensions, we had to make the bed the exact size of the mattress. I like this idea and the idea that it can be an extra seat. At first I didn't get how it would work but I totally do now. Good idea! Thanks :)
How do you find the spotlights? They look good but I always fear that it’s just not a very nice ambiance.
Scrap that, you covered it 👍
James Stimpson hehehe love that we had the dimmer for some mood lighting. Just didn’t need to have so many! Thanks for watching :)
The Wandering Wagners Good video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! We really wanted to give people some help for their build!! :)
The Wandering Wagners Yeah I’m binge watching diy campers videos in the hope of buying one. I think I’m greedy though as I like the idea of a shower and loo and a permanent bed with a garage under the bed, plus a kitchen. I used to have a sprinter for work the same size as you guys have. You must have crook necks or sore knees;-)
If I ever van-life'd... I would NOT build-in / screw in stuff... I would need to be able to remove all of that stuff - in case I wanted to haul stuff... for me, or for money - Man with Van.
Yeah that makes sense for a reason why not to screw things in - good for transportation. Thanks for your feedback :)
Was that stop along the Hume Hwy?
It was up towards Eliston Park in SA I think! thanks for watching!
I don't recommend getting a shower in your van, it takes up a lot of space.
Yeah you're right an outdoor one is def the way to go! Thanks for watching!
I do recommend a shower, which doubles as a toilet room (folding cassette type). Just need to start with a bigger van, standing room essential.
Dee Lee I concur and it has been done with ingenuity.
For them an outdoors one is probably better indeed, because they live in australia.
Im from belgium and I wouldnt be able to do vanlife without aninside shower, more then not its raining and cold outside
Guys! Love your videos, I'm a French photographer and Film maker in Melbourne, I'm setting up my Van at the moment too, are you still around? Would love to catch up ;)
Aw thanks so much for that and for watching! So awesome you are setting your van up as well! We are actually in WA right now unfortunately! Hope it's not too chilly over in Victoria xo
Australia is a great Country
We definitely have to agree with your there. We totally love it! Thanks so much for watching :)
In anything that moves weight distribution would be first priority....
Totally agree...just wish I had thought of it sooner haha. It's not too bad and after consulting with a suspension mechanic, he said that it seems to be performing well and shouldn't have any issues. Just maybe need to swap the types here and there for even wear.
Do you have to have commercial insurance with these vans?
I had to get the van assessed by an approved insurance appraiser which I could then use to insure that van for a higher value :)
That music.. those six chords get old after a while.. :)
Hehe sorry about that!!! Thanks so much for watching :)
Bob Wells... CheapRVLiving - who Van Life'd for decades, says that a van is too small for two ppl.
I can see how many people might think that, it has worked for us but it isn’t a long term situation. Just a great way for us to travel across Australia! Thanks for watching :)
Where do you guys find WiFi to upload?
For WiFi we use libraries, Telstra hot spots but mostly we have a 40 gig data share plan that we often use for uploading! Just hot spot the computer and go!
prithvi raj ok... hot tip... google Moose...! $78 bucks for 90 gigs. Best mobile option.... no need to thank me everybody... your welcome.
There is only bunnings... almost only.
How much did the van build cost you in total?
Just finishing up editing that video actually!!! Hope to have it out soon! Thanks for watching!!
So, plan? Groundbreaking.
🖒
:) thanks so much for watching!
The van?
Yeah, like not getting one that we can stand up in. Since a Mercedes high roof was out of budget we could have looked at different makes of van or just different options. We do love her lots, but wanted to share truthfully to help others. Thanks for watching :)
👍
You could go to Key party's to shower more often lol Giggitty Eh
Haha interesting idea...think we might pass on that but love the creativity!
Max air will juat drop in
I would just have to cut the hole a bit bigger I believe because we got a small vent originally as I was worried about fitting it between the two back structural roof beams but I think I could get one to fit!
You guys will be big vloggers one day I believe in you guys
I was thinking of a low roof, I do believe I changed my mind...
YESSSSSS!!! Glad to hear this! At the time we were looking the high roofs were $7,000-$8,000 more and we just couldn't fit that into our budget since we were on a short time frame!!! Thank you for watching along and letting us know! Always glad to help :)
High roof every time for me. Think volume not floor plan. Also a low roof is fine for short trips but you can't beat the comfort of being able to stand up to walk around. The extra fuel usage is largely unimportant compared to the extra comfort. Great build in only a month. Most of us are still building when we should be travelling ! You can tweak some of these as you go along including 2 fans. Happy travels everyone. John.
Same.
On the one hand, I kind of want a low roof. I'm not tall at all, how much roof do I really need? On the other hand, a low roof looks like it gets nigh-unlivable.
@@jauxro hi. A lot depends on how much you're using the van and what for......Im 5 10 and wouldn't ever have a low roof for myself but I'd happily convert one for someone else. For me it's not just about standing room, it's more to do with feeling like a room, rather than a vehicle. But there's no right or wrong just what's right for you. Is there any way you can try one out for a weekend maybe ? Possibly just a hire van...no conversion. Just to try the two types for size with maybe a few camping chairs and a table placed inside. In the UK BNQ do one hour van hire if you buy a large item from them. It's something ridiculous like ten quid for a brand new transit. You can always take that plastic garden water butt back for a refund after your trial run ! Seriously they are fab on refunds. Lol I know...Im weird. Lol
Hey I think you did an awesome build , and yes you now have some regrets , but don’t beat yourself up over them . If you ever find yourself in QLD , pop around for a shower , and we can trim down your table , and me being a sparkie we can swap out that fan for something a bit more powerful , in a matter of minutes . [ ok 2 regrets as you can’t take the shower with you ]
Aw you're so sweet!!!! We don't mind our regrets since we learned from them!! We read this book called You're Not That Great....But Neither is Anyone Else by Elan Gale and like to actually learn from our regrets. That's so so so so kind of you - will definitely keep that in mind as we don't have tools with us. Thanks for all that and for watching :) :)
To shower in van. A foldable dog swimming pool. It has a drain hold on the side. Was going to have it near the side door, with a drain to a grey water tank. I can shower with 2 liter plastic bottles. Paint them black and have them in the sun. Use a hula-hoop to hold a shower curtain up for privacy and not splashing water ever where. Even have a pump up bug sprayer, for extra water and another option tool to shower with. Drain water into grey tank, wait for everything to dry and folder everything back up for the next shower. Number 2 in a bucket toilet seat with plastic bags. Dispose as soon as possible. Use cat litter or sawdust until then. Yes have a big and great rooftop vent. Comfortable bed and a place to pee. Funnel into a bottle, dispose as soon as possible as well. Live as comfortable as you can.
Oh wow thanks so much for the awesome tips. I just recently heard about the sawdust! Thanks for all the suggestions and for watching :)
It’s been a minute. Your back!! - Good stuff. Nice to hear your thoughts after living in the van for some time.
We are aliiiiive - buncha slackers over here. Thanks so much for that and for watching, means a lot :)
Hey guys, just two things about the van. 1. Joe mentioned a longer van being too hard to get around towns, we have a 20 foot Sprinter and it's not an issue driving around towns, ours drives like a sedan(love it) 2. Try getting a garden pump spray and garden hose nozzle for your shower, just pump it up and shower away. :)
Love what you guys have done so far, now get off them lazy arses and get out there and have fun. ;)
Oh that’s so awesome to hear that you have no problem getting around town!!! Maybe just the areas we were in we were unnecessarily worried because we have successfully stealth camped in small spots! That’s an awesome suggestion we will definitely have to look into that! THANK YOU GENUINELY for that motivation, always good to have honesty and a little push in the right direction! Thank you for watching :)!!!
A garden pump sprayer is another good cheap option for a simple shower - If you paint the water tank black and leave it in the sun for a while it will heat the water for you too!
I love that table! I'm trying to figure out a way to get one that size. I'm in the layout part of the build. I don't think you can avoid regrets. You don't know how you will like something until you get out there. I'm trying to keep them to a minimum but I'm sure there will be some. I love the open, clean look of your van!
your wife man ... she's awesome
I would have to agree with you there! Thank you for watching!
Your hus is hot!
they are such a pretty couple. she is so beautiful and he is so handsome
Great post!! Thanks a lot for sharing your findings so honestly! FANtastic 👌
Most welcome! Happy to share. Thank you for the kind words and for watching along!!
> For all those 'shower' comments below - consider each of these - a cheaper option for the mobile van life, quick easy to operate, stows away neatly & uses minimal space: Sea To Summit Pocket Shower, we recommend also used in conjunction with their Folding 20L Bucket (Independent Review): www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-shower/sea-to-summit-pocket-shower or even the NEMO Helio Pressure Shower (Independent Review): www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-shower/nemo-helio-pressure-shower "A truly versatile, all-around useful shower that you’ll want to take with you everywhere!" LoL
PVC tube solar shower . Easy to make
Yes Joe has been talking about this. Just need to find some time for it! Thank you !
Thanks for taking the time out of your work as professional models to make this video
You are both photogenic people I hope you're enjoying your trip yeah there are better roof vents if you're still in the van check out overload Springs for the balancing problem. Also one of the cheapest shower Solutions is go to a hardware store can you buy pump up sprayer. Then just put hot water in it
Hey Jim! I’m so sorry I thought I replied to this! Thanks for all this info and for watching it’s very much appreciated! :)
Thanks guys! Super helpful - happy travels!
So glad to hear that!!!!! Thanks so much for watching :)
cute couple ... cool accent.
Aw you're too sweet! Thanks for that and for watching along :)
Teddy Bears aren't scary. Clowns.... Now those b@$t@rd$ are scary!!!! Lol.
Hahahaha yeah it was scarier in the night time lol!!!!! Thanks for watching :)
I missed your vlogs glad your back.
New Sub, we are converting our van to a campervan so out here
in TH-cam land learning planning etc Thank You for sharing! - Stacey
& Bill :) :)
I knew 24 volts would cause regrets. One option would be to buy lights from a truck accessory shop (few and far between).
You can get a new 2500w - 12v inverter for under $400 AUD. www.elinz.com.au/buy/pure-sine-wave-power-inverter-2500w-5000w-12v-240v/INTP2500
There's probably some even cheaper if you search longer than my quick search.
Also place another exhaust fan (vent) up near the kitchen slide door for smoke, odour and heat caused by cooking plus extra cooling. Perhaps put your weaker one there and buy a good one for the back of the van.
Good luck.
P.S. Don't say "out" or "about" so much. You Canadians sound like you're saying "aboot". Like a Scotsman. lol
Oh and I think you meant "Satdee" and not "Seturday" for your "inside joke" in an earlier episode. The latter is more of a kiwi (New Zealand) way of saying it.
Great tips, thanks so much for that. Hahah we never noticed the “aboot” till Australia, guess that’s just how we talk hahaha so don’t really mean to say it “so much” as you said.
Lol the Saturday inside joke is something from years ago and a North American reference. I guess that’s why it’s an inside joke because only we get it hehe. Thanks for watching :)
Shower options - check out this innovative system using PVC pipe and a few easy fitments www.rei.com/blog/camp/diy-car-top-solar-camp-shower Or for a really simple solution - use a black jerry can and buy a 12V camp shower kit for about $30. Am considering both of these options for my upcoming Sprinter conversion here in NZ - I have the hi-top extra length version (ex-Ambulance) with windows down both sides - but that suits me as I'm going for occaisional campervan rather than full-time living.
Oh this is so great! Love that!!!!! Sounds like you got an awesome van!!!!! Thank you for all this and for watching :)
Hey guys, don't be regret. It just a learning experience amd you could make it better....enjoy the trip and be safe. Takecare. Btw...i like the set up of the mobile home. Though they are some issues of the set up... Again enjoy the journey..
Yes that’s so true it has been a great learning experience and we really do still love the van. There’s always improvements that can be made! Thanks for watching and for your comment!
One of the issues I ran into when it came to Van Living, is that if/when the vehicle itself needed to visit the mechanic shop(keeping the van overnight), I was like: "Where am I going to stay?!?" Solution! ...I still have a van, but I also tow a box trailer. So if the van ever needs to visit the garage again, I'll still have a place in the box trailer(which was parked in the shop's lot), instead of having to find a motel or sleeping bag it.
Justin! Sorry for the delay in response!! Actually I have the answer to your question. We are members of RACV roadside assistance and our fuel leak needed servicing, so on a Sunday morning we called the RACV up, they sent a tow truck and actually hooked us up with a rental car AND a hotel room. How good is that!!? However your solution with the box trailer is very helpful for any other circumstance. Thanks for commenting and for watching :)
BTW luv your vid guys its so inspiring to see couples sharing a happy life together and living the dream :) so, Shower suggestion..........depending on your budget, you can buy a portable shower unit from either BCF, Rays outdoors etc...., attach onto rear door next to cabinets, can use water from bucket, power the unit from cigarert lighter, and have a removable curtain for privacy. Good luck.
Ah so so sweet of you to say! Those are all great suggestions and ones we definitely have to look into! Thanks for the great tips and for watching :)
Shower - open the rear doors, hang your solar shower from one door, get a shower curtain, stitch in a few magnetic strips, attach it across the doors and you have a nice shower cubicle.
Sounds like a great plan. Just need to get doors that actually stay open heheh! Thanks for the tip and for watching :)
I love the "We were suffering from laziness and lack of motivation". Then she says "We should make a video on that". His reply (Priceless) "Should be" To be read as "Meh! I can't be arsed!" LOL
th-cam.com/video/dK6ePfHuirk/w-d-xo.html our lazy butts did make a video (finally) and I hope our lack of motivation/laziness has been cured!!
Being in Australia I guess it is not legal to carry a firearm (even if simply a shotgun) on board for protection in case of a Kngeroo attack attack huh ?
By the way, I agree with MR., your wife does seem awesome. ;-)
Hahaha no I don’t think it is legal! She really is awesome (she told me I should add in “most of the time” 😂 lol), thank you so much for watching!
I like your regrets.... ha ha but its in great condition with history to sell to may be a long wheel based high top (4x4) Merc next - I had one on hire and it griped the snow well and spacious enough on the hot day
Aw yay thanks, we wanted to share what we would do differently! That sounds like a great choice!!!! I’m sure it was so much fun!!