What Solo Vanlife is Actually Like
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- This is the truth about living alone on the road.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. 🫶
⛺️A few Camp Gear Favorites:
✧ Two-Burner Stove → amzn.to/3GESuFn
✧ Folding Firepit & Grill → amzn.to/3uPev1I
✧ Water Jug with Spigot → amzn.to/3Rlfajg
✧ Folding Survival Shovel → amzn.to/3RbZgYm
✧ AAOBOSI 12V Fridge Freezer → amzn.to/3R4ME6f
🏗️Favorite Build Accessories:
✧ Solar Lights → amzn.to/3QZoZEj
✧ Slim LEDs → amzn.to/3R4CcM0
✧ 40” Kingpin LED Light → amzn.to/3MLYr74
✧ Digital Mirror & Dashcam → amzn.to/49PwJAp
☀️My Solar Setup:
✧ Solar Panel → amzn.to/3MCVFkD
✧ Solar Wires → amzn.to/3SIUBiG
✧ Parallel Connectors → amzn.to/3OhQOpF
✧ Battery Bank → amzn.to/40wQ0lC
🛻Tacoma Gear Favorites:
✧ Triple Color Switchback Fog Light Bulbs → amzn.to/48Bg3LB
✧ Tacoma Key Fob Cover (Grey) → amzn.to/47M2ZCZ
✧ Tacoma Front Window Shade Set → amzn.to/49lqiEI
✧ Tacoma Rear Window Shade Set → amzn.to/3RUrVmH
🏔️Favorite Off-Road Gear:
✧ Portable Air Compressor → amzn.to/4777OGI
✧ Traction Boards → amzn.to/3QS0GrZ
✧ Tire Deflators → amzn.to/3UenpAL
✧ Soft Shackle & Recovery Ring Kit → amzn.to/3RUNQZp
Everything I use for building and camping - www.amazon.com/shop/salvageto...
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TikTok - / salvagetoscenic
00:00 Intro
01:25 Off to The Grand Canyon
04:54 My Experience So Far
10:03 The Truth
14:37 Dad’s Wisdom
16:52 A Few More Thoughts
19:56 Cooking Dinner
22:08 Poking Around
Some of the links above are affiliate links that help these adventures continue. Thank you for your support!
In an ever increasingly unpredictable world it’s amazing that the vast majority of humans are actually very kind, considerate and caring.
The BEST DAMN series on TH-cam ever!!!
Interesting choice of words to capitalize
We all appreciate the extreme honesty of how your adventure has been. Too many people have not spent time alone to figure out how they are, how they feel, who they ARE without being around other people. Diving into this lifestyle without knowing that…
Food recommendation:
Make yourself a ham and cheese sandwich with tomato soup on the side (shoutout to Luke from the outdoor boys). You put mayo on both sides of the bread (salt, pepper), put ham and cheese on it and in your pan. Heat on medium/high to let the cheese melt without burning the bread. Heat up the soup and dip the sandwich in the soup. It’s soo good
It’s so weird…I used to love watching the outdoor boys. I loved the skits with the kids, their humor. He posted a video about traveling one time with a ton of sped up footage. I mean, it was just an entire video of sped up stuff. I commented on his Facebook channel, “I bet you guys had a ton of fun! I really wasn’t a fan of the sped up footage. I like to see when you guys stop, get out, eat. Have a great day!” I promise you he blocked me from his Facebook after that comment. The next day, I went over to his page to see what others thought, etc. boom. Nothing. I could not find his fb page. I asked my sister to look for it, and she found it with no problem. I was dumb-founded. It makes no sense. Surely, he didn’t get offended over that?
I love that you wear your heart on your sleeve, that you can show your emotions and are not afraid to tell us how you really feel. We are rooting for ÿou all the way. Thank-you for your honesty 😊
I also like that your videos contain still real shots, and don’t always have annoying music over them.
Grandma advice here, if you had a companion, romantic or otherwise I believe that would make a big difference. There’s nothing like sharing these wonderful experiences with someone in person. Even a pet could be a partner.
I think your very brave to go on this adventure and share it with us .
Do be careful on ur motor bike and keep ur phone close in case of an accident.
☝🏼couldn’t help that last piece of advice. Mom mode is automatic.
🤗
Thank you 😊
This is a contender for the best video yet. Thank you for sharing, Jake.
Nothing compares to a Fathers wisdom and advice your Dad sounds like an awesome person my dude definitely always listen him
I can relate to this experience, at any rough point in life my Father is always capable of making the situation better
Absolutely. That's one thing I miss most about my mom, she always knew the right things to say and how to say them. She passed 5 years ago. I have my dad but he's more old school and in my 32 years of living I can't remember one time he gave me one of these talks or words of wisdom. Times I needed it most I had nowhere to turn so I bottled it up and sometimes made bad decisions. Sorry for the rant. If you guys have a dad who provides as such, take every word into account and apply it, keep it close, and never forget it! Have a good one fellas.
Bro loves that girl he spent a couple days with
Me too my dude i lost my mom in 2016 now i try to just remember what she would tell me if she was still around these days i feel like for the most part i have a general idea of what she would say those kind of things never leave your memory or mind which is why it is so important to have a good parent to guide us in life @@trujillo71921
Also, you are on target with what other van life creators show and don't show. They show only the good stuff and make it look like the best time ever, everyday. When that's the furthest from the truth. Which is why we love and root for you so hard because you show the REAL van life. We're rooting for bro. Stay up.
Keep your head up man you got this!💯 you’re doing something many wish they could do
Enjoy life while you're young. Once you get to middle-aged, you don't have time to travel and see beautiful places. You have to work 40 hours a week to pay for your bills and mortgage. Stress overwhelms when you are in the rat race.
It's so amazing to see someone openly share their feelings. You're doing great and going to have so many amazing stories. This too shall pass. I'm up in the PNW or pacific northwest and there's so many amazing things to see around here. Ocean, mountains. Rainforests!
You are at the perfect time in your life to experiment with different lifestyles. You are gaining wisdom as you experience different emotions, whether good or sad. Life will always have its ups and downs. I'm in my 70s, and I enjoy watching your adventures. God bless you and keep you safe 😊❤
Like your honesty about the road life. I am loving your videos.
Never forget WHY you're doing it, along with knowing you control this journey and happiness for the most part. There's a whole lot of us rooting for you and wishing nothing but the best. Stick through it man, keep pushing. Push push push and push. YOU GOT THIS.
With a dirt bike Moab is a must! Thats a mecca of off road sports. After that you can keep going north. You’ve got Yellowstone and glacier NPs. The Tetons. Natural hot springs up there you can find off the beaten path. If you have a passport Jasper and Banff in Canada are even more spectacular imo. Although those high altitude roads are closed until late May early June. Been following since the beginning. Great stuff!
Keep on keepin on bud! You were just feeling down cuz you had just spent a week with a pretty cool girl.
This is real af, Jake. I was on the road for a month and it was great! The highest of highs came with lowest of lows. It was an amazing opportunity for me to visit beautiful places all over the southwest but the loneliness hit way harder than I had anticipated. Being lonely in beautiful places made me feel very ungrateful.
You might want to think twice before washing dishes in the bathroom sink. Maybe keep a jug so you aren’t one of a bunch of people who combine to clog the drain. At the very least maybe flush those little bits in the shitter but I don’t know if that might eventually clog as well. Great thoughtful video
No matter what,,,,,,, ain't gonna stop watching your videos... you are inspiring me too to wake up and do this kind.
i think maybe setting goals on what your want to do & where you want to go may help with the unpredictability & loneliness. Don’t have to have it all planned out, but having some milestones to look forward too can help get through those dips. Love the content & keep on truckin 🤙
I've definitely felt those ups and downs myself... but I think it's part of the beauty of it, looking back. I was so happy for you when you were biking at the grand canyon! I can totally relate to that overwhelming feeling of joy.
I have been enjoying your video series. I also like how you have not been adding in music on everything. Keep up the good work Jake! Look forward to more adventures.
Thank you so much!
New to your channel and I love it.I've watched almost all of em. Thank you for bringing us along on your journey. You are doing what a lot of us wish we could do.The episode you gave to that family was so heart warming. You have a sweet heart. I just want to say prayers for you to have great calm and peace on your jouneys and to stay safe. God bless you and keep sharing your journey with us.
Your journey this far makes me realize how much I missed not traveling throughout my life. This part of your life is temporary. But the person you meet and share your experiences with will make the next chapter in your life so memorable and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Amen 🙏 It’s a chapter in your life where you challenge who you thought you were.
Van life is weird. Everything is a factor. I have done 4 different builds now, and have traveled all different ways. My fist build was a sprinter, and I traveled all over the US.
There was something about the nonstop, looking for a new spot, etc, that just became so exhausting. I craved a home base. After 6-8 months on the road, I saw so many killer places, but I was depressed. I went back, and was lost for some time.
I started my business that allows me to work in the summer, and take off winter, so I just ski bum for 3 months out of the year. It’s weird, for these 3 months, I stay in roughly the same place. And that feeling of being lost, never hits me.
I think it has to do with the constant rush of bouncing around. It’s a huge dopamine rush/dump every single day. I also feel the connections that you talked about. It’s hard leaving some people, but you’ll learn, that also just becomes part of life. And don’t get me wrong, sometimes it sucks!
Anyways, I don’t know the point of this comment, other than to say I feel you. It’s a fun experience, but never a full time lifestyle. Enjoy my friend.
Thank you for understanding 🫶
im not skipping ads when i watch your videos to help support your channel and your adventures, i know some days are lonely but it's all part of the journey, take care always man, keep making the most of it!..support from the Philippines🙂
thank you for bringing me to the grand canyon! life is full of the ups and downs but if you surround yourself with people like your parents and friends, anything is possible. watching from calgary
I’m ur new subscriber bro n I’m already in love with ur vlogs especially ur views on the truck life style keep it real man cheers
The Grand Canyon is truly breathtaking. Well it was when I first set my eyes on it.
Nomads say,” See ya down the road “. From what I’ve seen on TH-cam. You’ll find many friends on your journey and adventures.
Love seeing your adventures ❤
Thank you for being so real and honest about how tough it can be.
The amazing adventures and people you've come across is such a blessing ❤
I'm so happy that you have been able to accomplish doing this.
I'm disabled and in a wheelchair, so it's not very feasible for me to do something like this but I love seeing your journey ❤
Many blessings and always safe travels 🙏🏻❤
Thank you so much for your kindness. 🫶 I’m grateful to be able to share this journey with you.
Wish I was able to have a relationship like yours and your dads! Thanks for sharing Jake keep goin dude!
Great video and great advice. Keep on exploring.
Your editing is amazing, I don't know how you get some of these videos without help! Anyway, I hope your next build is big enough for two. I'm an introvert but would never want to adventure alone. Happy trails!
Your videos have been a highlight of my day since I discovered the shorts about the build, glad for the ridealong
You are doing great man! I always enjoy watching your videos, keep on being you.
I always want the Van life experience once in my life but still I haven’t had a chance yet. You are very lucky you can have your dream now. You should try instant noodles bowl and they are very delicious. Add eggs and veggies will be the best tastes. Take care and Have a wonderful journey.
Get your van life experience. Enjoy life while you're still young. Travel and see new places. Youth has all the power. Once you get older, you won't have time. You'll be busy working and paying your bills.
Now image how much worse it would be if you didn't have this channel.
Great move on starting this. Glad to follow your journey bro 🤘
Thanks for sharing. Hope you are still doing well
New subber. I love these types of vlogs. I live vicariously through those of you who do this type of content. I love seeing young people enjoying their youth. I wish I had done more of that.
Yep, enjoy your life while you're still young. Once you hit middle-aged, you don't have time to travel and see these places. Middle-aged is about working and paying your bills to survive.
Yo man!!
No bro lol
Listen, in about 25 years you’ll look back and wonder wtf lol
All is ok and know we got your back !!
Your on an amazing adventure thanks for taking us along. I am so motivated to get out and start traveling. Keep up the great videos Jake.
Was watching your video and thinking 🤔:).. Why don’t you get a Man best friend- a dog that can share life with you ? ..You can save a dog life and have pure energy with you ..
Man I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a tough time on your journey, but keep motivated by the fact that you have thousands of fans that love you and your content
I truly enjoy this series and watching all of your adventures. (highs and lows) I appreciate your authenticity and I find it very interesting as a viewer to hear your conscious-stream of thought and watch you grow as an individual. I have no doubt that you not only inspire others but teach and mentor them as well. I'm happy for all the wonderful experiences you have had and wish you many more on your journey through life.
Love getting notifications that you have a new video!
Truly inspirational my dude. Its been awesome watching along from the beginning of the building all the way to now. Keep your head up, the lows will come, but they make the highs better too. Keep making the most of it!
You’ve restored my faith in the goodness of others, and have inspired me to get out a little more and create these experiences while l’m still young
You need a dog to keep you company. Keep your head up. I know what you’re going through. It is ruff but what you get to experience is amazing. 😊
Thank you so much for sharing allllllll the ins and outs of this life style ♥️♥️♥️♥️ I just found your channel and have binged watch your videos! Thank you for sharing!
Stay strong life in general is not easy. You’re going to be ok.
All right all right, you reeled me in. I've been seeing your truck on Instagram and TH-cam for a while now, but for whatever reason I didn't check out your content until today.
I'm planning a 2 to 3 month solo road trip for this fall, and the loneliness aspect is what intimidates me most. I appreciate your candidness about solo life on the road. If anything, seeing someone else share and address my concerns has sparked more excitement for a few months of solo travel and content creation! I'll be watching more of your videos for sure. Cheers!
Love your videos!
Keep it up.
your honesty is refreshing and we appreciate you sharing it with us. Hopefully this in itself is an outlet and avenue for you in a way to cope with it.
Keep Ya Chin Up ❤
I really appreciated this video as I'm getting ready to head out on a solo van trip this summer across Canada. It takes courage to be vulnerable, as you did in this video so thanks for that! Looking forward to watching more of your channel.
Your honesty is so refreshing. I’ve been yearning after van life for some time now but have not acted on it. I think you should go back home for a week and then head out again. Hang in there 🫶🏼
God bless your soul man, you have what it takes to be the nomad you want to be, it’s your path to pave no one else, we are here to support you and watch your endeavors with these amazing adventures it’s all about appreciation in life and you got it brodie
Thank you brotha!
Just now at the 12-13 min mark in your video. I feel like a lot of what you’re describing is what is called a “Happiness Hangover.” I’ve became more familiar with these as I’ve gotten older. It’s a really interesting thing to read about. Best of luck in your journey and I appreciate your honesty!
From a fellow MA resident, I feel you. Yes I still plan on doing this when I buy my Tacoma, but hopefully I will be prepared.
New subscriber:) Sound advice from your dad. You are having amazing adventures that most people never get to experience. The memories that you are making are forever.
Love this series
Love your videos man ❤
Love watching your videos. All the way from Australia.
I think you need to set goals on where you want to go. Set a travel plan and anything that comes along is just an addition to the fun. Aimlessly wandering can be uneasy. You set out for this adventure now go to those beautiful areas. Views on views😇
I think that’s a great idea 🙂
I’m not sure if it’s the angle but it looks like your bed is bending away from the cab at 4:40 🫣
Keep your head up bro what flows flows what doesn't doesn't just remember you're living some one's dream who can't live it. appreciate what time you have with people tomorrow is not promised whether how short or long it is. And if you need to go home for a while go home then see your family you can definitely still do what you do and see your family take a break and decompress Keep up the great content stay positive and safe travels my friend you got this bro.
Just... keep making the most of it!
personally the not knowing what’s next is one of the best parts for me
THANKS AGAIN... WHAT AMAZING FOOTAGE. 🤘
Learning to be ok alone is one of the greatest things you can achieve in life. Not needing people but ok if you’re around them. I would imagine the longer you are out there the easier it becomes. We struggle with the high’s and low’s of travel because we are part-time. Just when we get in a groove traveling, it’s time to come home and head back to work. Life is a roller coaster. We are all riding it. Some are on the dramatic turns and hills, some are just coasting long recovering from the last dramatic spin, some are climbing toward the next hill. That was a lot of time with Madison, I think you got attached…see ya laters are always hard after a strong connection but you two can always meet up again hopefully. Parents are always a phone call away…as are family and friends. Follow your dream!
Thank you 🫶
Las palabras que salen del corazón siempre inspiran, gracias por compartirlas 🤍🤙🏽
Just found your channel today and this is the first video of yours I watched. And you’re in my home-base town! Love your build, I have a similar bed to yours in my car camper.
Great content, can’t wait to watch more!
love from Colorado! keep it up brotha!!
dishwashing tip: scrape food particles into trash or toilet before washing dishes in a handwashing sink
When you were talking to your dad about the roller coaster of highs and lows in travel and how what goes up must come down it brought up an idea I’ve thought about a lot. In relation ships and in life there are 1-10s. They seem to correlate. If you want to experience 10s in life and you want to love at a 10 you will inevitably fall to a 1 when that experience or relationship ends . The 10s are the most blissful and rewarding experiences we can have as humans while the ones are the most painful and dark. I feel like travel and living life on the edge is one of these 1s and 10s experiences. If we want to feel the highest highs we must accept that the lowest lows will follow. A lot of people are okay being comfortable in a middle ground. Maybe a 3-7. When you choose to live a comfortable life you won’t have to go through the 1s as often but you also won’t have the pleasure of experiencing the 10s. I’ve always tried to live and love in the fullest forms. The 1s and 10s. It’s such a wild painful and beautiful journey. I always try to love at a 10 but when it ends the 1s absolutely destroy me. I’m in the 1s right now.. I was on a hike in Sedona AZ about a year ago. I got to the top of one of the spiritual vortexes and meditated/ prayed for some help with my drug addiction and loneliness. Then on the way down I ran into this amazing girl. We started talking and ended up hiking back together. Then this turned into one of the most amazing weeks of my life. We shared so much love and had the most blissful and beautiful experiences together. She lives on the other side of the country so saying goodbye was so hard. We talked everyday after that for a couple months building our connection. Over the last year we have gone on four other trips together in different places around the US. These were some of the best trips I’ve ever experienced and our love and connection was so special. There was so much magic, synchronicity’s , and telepathy between us. It was a connection deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced.We fell in love and I asked her to be my girlfriend. We had plans to save up and travel together in the future. Fast forward to a month ago she told me that she doesn’t love me or have the same feelings for me anymore. I’m so confused and heartbroken.. I truly thought that she was the one. It was worth it anyway and I don’t regret a thing. The 10s I got to experience with her are worth the suffering and heartbreak I’m experiencing now at a 1.
Your time is coming bro... keep working I know one day u gonna look back and think damn what if I didn't ride that Rollercoaster
You should make a slide out table for your cooking. It would save you a bunch of time and be just much more convenient.
Beautiful video❤
I think dirt biking at the grand canyon is worth a couple cruddy days. take it as it comes my dude. we're not going any where.
life is what you make it
Great honest video alot of them TH-camrs talk about that online therapy. Might help you out having someone to talk about things with especially when your on the low end.
I love the van life! Travelling in a Suzuki Every
Great and honest video. Thinking about doing the summer in my taco and rtt. Probably gonna split my apartment in Colorado with someone and come back every few months when I need a break and to work a bit
Thanks for being so honest in your journey. It will help others, I’m sure! Also, thanks for sharing all the beautiful views and places you have gone, as I can no longer climb and hike like I used to, and now because of you, I get to see more places! Love seeing your adventures! Some meal ideas, make sandwiches for easy meals. You can also make foil packs, any meat, potatoes, and veges and cook over the fire. We do one that we also just cook on the camp stove if we can’t have a fire and it is polish sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers. It’s so good! Breakfast burritos, ham, bacon, or sausage, eggs, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese and if you have left over potatoes, you can add those in to it too! Noodles are good too! French toast. We do all of these camping! We also make stir fry when camping!
Your comment means the world! I’m so glad you’re on this adventure with me 🌎 And thank you for the meal recommendations!!
Awesome video!
I agree more with your dad. Live in a house & just take a week here & there to go visit places. I tried van life once a couple years ago.
Everyone treated me like shit; nobody invited me to anything. I was absolutely nice to everyone. I guess that life just wasn’t for me. Best of luck to you though 🤘🏻
Ur in love buddy
Adventure and wisdom ♥️
Ahhh… after 10 months of being a nomad and staying a lot of my time solo… when I met up with new friends or old it meant so much to me. The up and downs of connections is serious. It’s funny that I don’t think those grocery store, waitress, lady at the gas station realize how they make a difference in someone’s day. I think you are absolutely right….see you down the road
Awesome, watching you and Madison lately inspired me to take a bit of a solo detour on my move to CO. Gonna swing into Utah to see some good views. Can't wait to do my car camping, it's been too long since I spent a night in my 4Runner!
I’m sure you’ll have a blast! Stay safe!
@@SalvagetoScenic thank you so much!
I had a camper van that was really roomy and luxurious with oven, shower, toilet waste tank and so on and only 6m long it was great to try living in it but not for me. One of these offroad cars however would be awesome to have along with a apartment or something
I suggested this in an earlier video of yours and I think it’s even more true now, get a companion pet. Small dog, lizard, cat, fish or whatever. As long as you get another creature in your ride you’ll feel much better.
You listen to the best music.
Grand Canyon was one of my favorite stops. You gotta come back and hike to the bottom!
Next time!
Hi viewing your videos from Ukraine, is very cool dude, good luck😁
Where as i have never done van life, ima bit of nomad myself. I also understand the highs and lows of life. But tbh, i think what your experiencing is love. I think you made a connection with Madison on a deeper level than you think. Maybe van life couple. Not van life solo. Good luck, stay safe,and thank you for shedding light on an aspect instagram and yourube and all the rest dont portray.
Funny to see you came through Flagstaff. Hope you enjoyed Northern AZ
Thanks for sharing this
Back when I traveled some of the times I was by myself and other times with friends. Maybe it's because it was a different time in the world back when I traveled (started in 94 and was on and off the road until fall of 98), but no matter how I was traveling I never felt many downs except for my very first time. I had hitched a ride with a friend of a friend who was going out to Utah from CT. My goal was to get out to Santa Cruz to meet up with some friends and hop on the west coast Grateful Dead tour. After we arrived in Utah I needed to find a ride to CA. I thought for sure I would find a ride fairly easily, but man was I ever wrong! I was able to hitchhike from Salt Lake City to a rest area right before the Sierra Nevada Mtns. Keep in mind, I had a backpack and that was it! I was splitting time in the rest area and on the highway for a good 7 hours, thumb up and *nothing*. As the day turned to night I really started to panic because this rest area was the ONLY thing in the area so I had nowhere to go if I couldn't find a ride before it got too late! as the sun set and it was pitch black out I decided to go back down towards the gas pumps from the highway and as I walked up I was a Honda Civic hatchback with a Steal Your Face sticker on the back glass. I walked up to the car and asked the guy pumping gas "if you guys are headed west can I hitch a ride?" His response "San Fransisco...and hell yea, throw your bag in the back and hop in!"
This is your first trip. You'll get used to the "loneliness" as you travel more
Edit to add: I had paused the video after you spoke with your father. So my last sentence was said before you came to the realization that you'll get used to the loneliness the more you travel!
One more thing to add. A good friend of mine who started to travel before I hit the road gave me this advice as I set out on my first journey: if you ever get confused, or start to stray off of YOUR path, go talk with the trees; they'll listen