Gear review: 10 Things We CAN'T Live Without in the Minivan Camper
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- #vanlife #camping #travel #gear #minivan
I DIY'ed the whole thing. If I did it, you can do it.
If you'd like to buy me a coffee, THANKS! Hit this link: ko-fi.com/thevanthatgotaway
Browse the gear and materials I used to make the van a camper:
kit.co/TheVanThatGotAway/mini...
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*WATCH NEXT*>>>Full Tour of my Minivan Camper: ruclips.net/video/FsCz8USgvJg/видео.html
Aeropress and a small hand grinder . Makes the absolute best coffee
Hi Leith, Are you a coffee lover like me? Sounds like you've thought about this. 😀
Re: coffee... My goal was to be able to wake up, roll over, flip a switch, and have at least two LARGE cups of coffee ready to go, ideally with as little cleanup as possible. Since I have a Jackery Explorer 1000, powering a 5-cup Mr. Coffee is my solution, though there is still the problem of cleanup. Wet coffee grounds are a pain in the butt - it's usually the only "wet" garbage I produce. My dream would be to use those hockey puck looking sealed filters you find in hotel rooms. I don't know if they make ones that you could fill yourself. But I think I'll definitely switch to paper filters rather than the re-usable filter, which is a royal pain to clean.
I think the coffee-filled teabags are definitely the way to go for backpacking - they're perfect for that application. You can make the coffee, throw the used bag on a rock to dry out while you're packing up camp, and then not get your garbage bag all gross. But I am NOT going through the hassle of setting up a stove and boiling water and waiting an eternity for it to drip if I can just flip a switch!
I used to do Starbucks instant (I still do when backpacking) but I got hooked on Africafe when I was in Tanzania. You can get it on Amazon and it's by far my favorite instant!
I love Eric's channel and your bed is a great upgrade to his design. Hopefully going to Home Despot tomorrow to get the materials! Great channel!
P.S. I'm in a 2003 Odyssey EX-L.
I love my Aeropress! The runner-up would be the Melitta pourover. I don't mind heating water. If I'm able to be outside, I just heat it up on my butane burner. I have a small electric "frypan" that I use to heat water inside the van. Either way, it's only a few minutes to hot, fresh coffee.
Whoa, CH! Is this one of those frypans that sit up on legs? I have to look into this.
I have every coffee pot, French press, filter then pour, a percolator by Colemen, a 5 cup Mr. coffee. Now I use a Keurig from Walmart, gift of my son. I love it. I keep the on the burner Colemen perk for the time I may not have electric. It makes about two cups. Taste great. I use the small one and coffee taste great and doesn't take up much room. I buy pods from Amazon and make my own pods and the filters when at home. Camp I use the ready made. Every cup taste great. Peace!
Without coffee, camping is just sitting in the woods. 🤣
Boil water on stove/Aeropress/a milk frother(plugin) that does hot/cold QUICKLY. The *bonus* of heating water on stove is I have 3qt Stanley Camp Crock to pour boiling water into. With this setup, I make my coffee & oatmeal in morn. Wash my face. Hike/bike all day. Come back & take a shower (Geyser Portable Shower)all with same water. The hot water lasts about 3 days with showers, etc. I’m in a Subaru Crosstrek full time. Space limitations &multi use products are vital. My "best life@60" means great sleep, great showers& being outdoors. I use Exped pad for sleeping. I have Goal Zero 1500& ARB fridge. Thule storage on top. Attached to passenger side is ARB Awning & in a rack on back is ARB Awning room. The awning room CHANGED my life! I can stand up in private to dress in morning!! It’s a pain, but so worth it. This took 4 years to put together, get rid of the spouse & the house. Trade offs are important & I have no problem going potty in a yogurt cup😂Enjoy your journey & prioritize what’s important to you. Things that scare you won’t be as scary. Things that you never thought about will happen. You will have more friendships than ever & the ability to move "house" when you need peace. Take Care
Hi Stan, You got the hook up!!! And a smart routine, it sounds like. How long have you had your Goal Zero 1500?
Goal Zero since 2018. Started with 200. Love it! Got 1500 on great sale. Suitcase solar. They are great. 200 keeps lights, phone, etc going. Bigger is for fridge & I also have a separate cheaper freezer now. Can go 7-10 days with both fridge’s charging without solar. I do stay about every 15-20 days at CG with power. I hit up Costco & I cook tons of food/freeze, clean & organize, do laundry at CG. Works well. Out since 2018 all over West. It’s great to see so many Women travelers on YT. I rarely run into women on the road though. Great choice in rig. Enjoy!
PS…been alone hiking for last couple weeks. Apologies for the blah blah blah!
My go to coffee maker is the Aero Press. You do need to boil water but it is a clean and tidying way to make a good cup of coffee
I love Starbucks instant coffee we can get at the grocery stores!! It’s not bad at all. And I pair it with coffee mate hazelnut creamer. Dry or liquid. Happy camping!!
We use a 1.5 gallon pumper pot like convenience stores have for coffee. Every time we have the stove out for cooking, we boil water and add it to the pumper pot. This gives us on demand hot water for washing up dishes, ourselves, and for making tea for my very British husband, and pour-over coffee for me. We've never seen anyone else with a pumper pot, but we'd hate to live without it.
Hi Sheila, That's pretty genius! How'd you figure this out?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I was pumping coffee into a cup in a convenience store, when the lighting bolt hit...Hey! We need one of these. We've been using it about 10 years.
We used to have one, and it was an excellent thermos! My daughter would not tolerate formula that was less than piping hot, even as a newborn. Her first tent-camping trip was at 4 months old, and we made a hotpot-full of hot water before bed, so I could easily make her bottle for that middle-of-the-night feeding. Sadly, it had a glass liner and eventually broke.
Sweet idea! How long does the water stay warm in it?
We like steeped coffee, at home we use clever drippers. I thought the GSI Outdoors Collapsible Java Drip was going to be perfect for our camper. The coffee water just drips right out. I had a Primula Brew Buddy that I brought backpacking, that worked but was messy to clean. I added a #2 filter and folded it up inside the brew buddy, they way we throw out the coffee grinds and then we can just rinse the brew buddy and it dries fast. We use the stanley adventure pot for boiling water for coffee or oatmeal.
Aero press after lots of trying different items, it’s so easy, yes u do need to heat the water but it makes a really nice coffee and takes up hardly any space in our teardrop camper
Thanks, Michelle! I've heard a lot of people mention the Aero press. How long have you had your teardrop camper? Those are adorable.
3in1(coffee,sugar,creamer) instant coffee. It comes black or creamer only. High quality Vietnamese coffee. 100 to a bag,individual packs. About 20-25 cents a cup.
Im liking your videos. I too have to have coffee. When I traveled in my smaller RV I had a small nespresso machine because I had a generator and ample battery power with solar panels. Now I travel more in my minivan (RV needs a new transmission) and I bought on amazon the CERA + portable mini espresso machine. Its battery powered can be charged by micro C usb...it takes loose coffee or nespresso pods. it all comes in a very handy portable zip up case. It's one of my must haves.
Hi Michelle! What kind of minivan are you rollin' with?
2018 dodge grand caravan
My SUV has four lighter type outlets and one slow USB which is mainly to store music on a thumb drive so I have in a pouch not 1 or 2 but three USB plugs they charge the fast mode on my phone. My wife has a dexcon receiver that needs to charge. The receiver on the phone app dont always work. And for the bonus i must have a hot spot so i bring a home internet box with me and need the USB cord an outdoor antenna would help but the box works good on the dash. 73
I've watched a ton of camping vids, and the quickest way to make a couple cups of hot coffee is with a jetboil.
I've been eyeing those. Maybe for my birthday! 😄 Thanks for taking time to say hi.
Or a cheaper version to boil water almost as fast as the Jetboil is the remote canister stoves by Bulin that come with heat exchanger pot. See Mark Young, Paleohiker’s reviews for more info. Fits stove and canister inside mine for a quick grab/fast boil option for morning coffee. We’ve tried aeropress, GSI collapsible pour over with lid, and stainless double-walled bodums. I think bodums will continue to be used for family camps and pour over for quick one cups - flyncamp/backpack, etc…
The aeropress lost my vote when it burned my husband’s hand at camp. Tall = too tippy.
Jetboils are incredible if you need to boil water. I bought one of the original ones over 10 years ago and it still works great. But I'd rather just flip the switch on my electric coffee maker.
Love the practical hacks. Employing old tupperware lids as support to the trash bin is brilliant!
Got this from Odessey Camper. A 110 hot coil ($10) for heating a cup of soup or coffee (old college staple 45 years ago) plugged into my Schumacher jump pack does the job quite nicely for me. Your battery jump starter has a 110 outlet. Odessey Camper uses a Pyrex measure cup to heat his water. I use a stainless pour over coffee cup with built in steel filter for no paper filters to deal with. (under$15). I also use a stainless ceramic hand grinder for the freshest coffee. Again under $15. I rigged a double male plug extension cord to plug into my van power outlet to recharge my Jump pack while driving by plugging into a 12V outlet on the pack. Both ends of the cord will be 12V powered or hot so i use care when unplugging it so as to not short out the fuse. Another caution is not to plug in the hot coil until it is in water and to unplug it before removing it. A dry coil will burn out fast. Best part is no flames inside the van. John
Hi John, You and I are of the same mind: no flames in the van! I really like the idea of a hand coffee bean grinder. Do you have a favorite? Thanks.
Jet boil and pour over coffee
I really enjoy your videos. You are one smart lady. I do alot of cooking on the road, so I can't live without my butane stove!!!
Aw, thanks Kay! I appreciate you. Do you have a 2 burner or 1 burner stove?
Land O Lakes mini moos ,for my properly made cup of hot tea, any solar powered light ,if also USB chargeable great I have the one in video but I love Lepwings large one best it hold a charge forever
Wonderful post! We have a Vanagon Westfalia. After years of tent camping we still perked coffee when camping. We have a large perker make a full pot, fill our thermal mugs and a 1 L Stanley Thermos and are good to go. One trip in Alaska (in September) we skipped a morning brew , got desperate and crossed our fingers for the previous day’s thermos fill. Still warm! Jackpot!!! Pour over may be the ‘new’ way, but percolating has it’s place.
Hi Carolyn, You had me all anxious there about skipping a morning making coffee. I'm so relieved it worked out! Cheers!
I also camp in a Honda Odyssey and like to make little improvements each year. This year I removed the center console altogether. Huge! I feel like I added a whole new room. I also feel safer because I can easily get to the drivers seat if I need to, without unlocking the doors or going outside.
It's the little things! Do you feel like you lost much storage, or no?
@@TheVanThatGotAway not really. Just had a lot of crap in there. The biggest loss was the cupholders, and I've remedied that with a cooler I can move out of the way at night. It was definitely a good move.
OXO makes a pour over coffee maker. It allows the water to pour through slowly. I heat water in a plug in kettle that is shaped like a water bottle and holds 16 ounces. It does not use much power and I have a power bank.
Hi thanks for your videos. I like a travel French press like the Boehm travel press for coffee. You can get it load it with coffee the night before and have water ready to heat by whatever means in the morning. Just pour the hot water in put the top on and you can go while the coffee brews for a few minutes. Also it stays very hot. Be careful on first sips. Cleaning can be a nuisance. I usually rinse and throw grounds into bushes. Good luck
Hi Steve, Thanks for taking the time to say hi! So, I'm not the only one throwing coffee grounds in the bushes?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Raspberry plants love used coffee grounds!
I can't live without my toilet and pop-up tent that I use as a restroom and changing room, or a shower. The toilet is a three leg fold-up from Walmart. We disperse camp a lot, so for me a must have.
Hi Darcy! I'm sure that's the same pop up "showers" I've been seeing. And I always get a little jealous. Instant privacy 🙂
Excellent info!😊
12:53 coffee press, and a grinder. You can store good beans for a few weeks, grind fresh for 5-7 days worth and make with heated water. It’s the best coffee there is. Ever! I like the stainless press, keeps it warm after you’ve added the water, while it steeps.
The coffee delema is i dont drink coffee. But i do drink fruit juice and it must be cold. A small refrigerator for a console in the front will fill that bill. 73
You might visit a major truck stop with an associated store. Truckers have all sorts of neat 12 volt appliances for cooking on the road (RoadPro brand?). Or there is always a simple 12 volt submersion heater. Good luck and let us all know if you find anything that you like or adapt.
Hi Mike, I like that idea of a submersion heater, 'cause it sounds small 🙂 Have you used one?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I've used mine to make coffee, tea, cocoa, canned soups and stews. Takes about 5 minutes to heat a cup of water. Most auto plugs are fused for 20 amps, so look for less than 250w or safer yet at 200w. eBay has many to choose from. Yes they are so small as to be practically insignificant, but oh so handy for a quick no fuss cup o Joe! Let us know what you decide.
Forgot to mention that it can really take a sharp edge off a cold shower too. Cheers.
Very useful advice--as usual! Putting a couple of these on my Amazon save for later list. Thanks.
Well shucks, thanks Nancy! Do you have any gear you use now?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Of the ones you listed, I do have the Opolar fan. I have a Luci light which is also collapsible and rechargeable, but I much prefer the Goal Zero one because of it's design and apparent durability. I also have collapsible buckets which are on your link.
Consider a JetBoil cooker. It has an untegrated large mug. Pricey though.
I love my Mochas. I make it with cold pressed coffee and chocolate milk (soy for me). A store here in Canada makes a really great, nothing but cold pressed coffee in a 1 liter carton I also pack a 2 litre of chocolate milk in my cooler. A super quick and yummy way to get caffeinated. It will give you something to drink while you wait for the water to boil.
D, You are in my head... some caffeine while you wait for your caffeine. 😄 Hubby loves mochas, maybe we'll have to try this. Thanks!
Great information! Thank you!
Oh, thanks YAH! Thanks for taking the time to say hi 😀
Love the mirror tip! For coffee I use a collapsible kettle that plugs in to boil water and my french press, but it's just for 1 cup. Safe travels!
Coffee tea bags are great.
Hi Trish! Do you use refillable bags? The one-time use bags can get pricey 😬
@@TheVanThatGotAway Single use, love the flavor. I use a simple pour over at home.
I love that! Thanks for offering that info.
Nice! Very helpful for soon to start van lifer. Thank you for sharing these great tips!
My pleasure, Vera! What kind of van are you going to be rolling with?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I'm looking at a caravan which I have had before or the ford connect or a Toyota 4Runner, another of which I have had before. I want to be very comfortable with what I choose and at the same time be as frugal as possible. That alone will ge a big challenge. LOL
Wow!!! I'M so glad i found this channel. Great content, done right! Very helpful. New sub. from the 641. Always thumbs up! Thank you for leaving the link to these ideas. Safe travels, God bless you with safety.
Small space coffee is called the Brew Buddy. It's the size of a coaster and is a reusable coffee filter that sits on the rim of your cup, so can be used for coffee or tea! Cheap too ❤
Hi Niesa, I'm off to look that up immediately 😄 Thanks so much for the knowledge drop!
Yep, this one looks the best for my needs too! Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank You for sharing ❤
Hi Manie! Thanks for taking the time to say hi!
I have tried many different coffee set ups too...back to the old instant - Nescafe Gold Dark roast. I really like the taste and it's a no mess no fuss experience.
Nice video! I too bought a 12v coffeepot like yours, plugs into the cigarette lighter on my SUV.. Don't have an auxiliary battery, so I'll just run the engine for the few minutes it takes to brew the 4 cup pot. Don't want to pour over and make a mess or scald myself, have 2 old Thermos bottles, the coffee goes right in there and will stay HOT for hours! Coffee is a must, and gas station coffee is weak!
Hi Denny! Great minds think alike about coffee... Did you have to modify your coffee maker or did it already come with a cigarette lighter plug?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Came with the plug! Found it at Goodwill.
Goodwill is the best 👍
Love your videos! Always great ideas. Am ordering that fan and goal zero light. Thanks!
Aw, thanks for the kind words. And thanks for taking the time to check in!
Melítta pour over into a thermos. Easy clean up.
If desperate, Bustelo has a great instant coffee (Cuban). But, nothing beats the French press so far ☕️
Hi Kim, I've eyed that Bustelo instant with interest. Do you use a French press now?
About to move into my Honda Odyssey. Love your channel❤️
Holy WOW, Catherine! Congrats!🍾🥂 And thanks for your kind words. Did you build much in the van?
I love your minivan setup, especially the bed chair conversion. I have a Honda Odyssey too and I have a simple no build set up with a cot and foldable mattress. Your build inspires me to make some improvements!
That's cool! Are you feeling extra ambitious? What do you think you'd change?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I want to build a similar convertible bed/bench, but that may be too ambitious for my skill level now. I'd like at least a sturdy bed frame and larger mattress, even if it doesn't convert. The cot doesn't give enough support and makes the bed not as comfortable as I'd like. I love how large your mattress is, getting a good night's sleep on the road is key to making it sustainable!
I agree about having a comfortable mattress. That was how our build started, actually. Everything else was worked around comfort. Let me know how your upgrade goes, okay?
Some great ideas. My go-to is a stovetop espresso maker (Moka pot). I prefer the larger sizes so I can make more and store it for the next day in the cooler. I enjoy cool espresso in the morning if it is warmer out. Remember, the cups for espresso are shot-sized when ordering. The Stanley French Press (insulated) is a favorite for those who would rather have coffee.
Hi Shawn, Thanks for taking the time to say hi! You're a coffee lover, like me sounds like?
Wow that's very useful
Thanks NNR! Do you have any of these currently?
Coffee: cheaper version of the Jetboil and Aeropress
Super
A good ceramic pour-over can make 1-12 cups if you have a big enough container. I bought one from LLBean and just love it. Keep in mind, if you pour hot water through the filter (before adding coffee) it makes a much better cup of coffee. Good luck finding the best one for you.
Thanks for the info! And thanks for taking time to say hi.
French press. Or old fashioned percolator
JETBOIL + collapsible silicone cone for easily making coffee
I like the idea of the JetBoil b/c it's so compact. Is this what you use?
@@TheVanThatGotAway yes I use the JetBoil almost exclusively. It's so fast and easy, and light and compact. And if I don't want to bother even with the pour-over cone now and then, Starbucks instant is pretty darn good.
I seen a road shower that is a tube structure and sits on top of the vehicle. looks pretty neat. i have a thermos that plugs in but you can buy one with a usb connection.
Hi Joyce, That sounds cool. Can you make coffee with the thermos?
@@TheVanThatGotAway just hot water or heat up soup or something
That sounds super helpful. Thanks for sharing that info.
I use a percolator to make coffee on my propane stove ❤
Hi SuperNurse, That sounds so old-school! Do you love it?
Yes!! Much better taste than electric coffee maker or pour over. If you are a true coffee drinker...you will love it.
Same here. We make a pot and then put it in a thermos for the road.
My stanley pour over I use in my Durango as well as at home. No paper filters. The only limit is how fast you can boil 12 oz of water? Most camping stoves are under a minute. I even cut open a k cup and dump in the perfect amount.
Hi John, Yep the boiling of the water is a big part of the puzzle. Do you boil yours on a camp stove?
@The Van That Got Away yes I do. As a scout leader for +30 years I have several ways to boil water with me. Lol
Smart. And thanks for your commitment to forging our future by leading the Scouts.
You get liquid concentrated coffee, so you only need warm water.
I think that could be easier for you, there seems to be several brands, so you can find the one which suits you best.
Other than that, good video, the wide mirror is a great idea..
Hi SR! That certainly sounds interesting. I'll have to look for it. Thanks for taking the time to say hi.
if it was me i would just use a camp stove if i could or outside grill and boil water and use instant coffee lol but that's me
If you can boil water, you can use a coffee press. No moving parts, no filters, nothing to plug in.
I use a plastic grocery bag, with the handles hooked over the arm rests. Works perfectly and takes up little space.
Hi MIddleGround! Sounds simple and perfect. I love it. What kind of vehicle are you rolling with?
@@TheVanThatGotAway a Honda Odyssey. It’s a 2002. So only the back seat is stow and go. Im just a part time camper, so I’m still figuring out thins.
Do you two have the Swingaway trailer ? If you do,please tell me where you got it.
Coffee, yes before oxygen please!!!😂
Priorities... you got that right. 😄
Check out immersion water heaters for your cups,, you can plug into power supply units or a small converter for your cigarette port.
Hi Jamel, I love that because they sound small. Thanks for taking time to say hi!
@@TheVanThatGotAway also they are maybe $10-$15. I bought two and had to immediately replace the end, but they work.
What link do you have for the blind spot mirror?
Enjoy your channel.
Aw shucks, thanks! Here's the link, all the gear is in the kit that I linked to in the video description. But this is direct to the mirror: amzn.to/40ClbeM
🎉🎉🎉❤ Bravo
Aw thanks Brian!
Hi, I want to get a fan like this. What brand is it? Thank you!
What is the name of that fan and where did you get it please
COFFEE SOLUTION - Stop drinking that DRINK THIS INSTEAD
V8 Energy - 1 can is more caffeine etc than 1 cup of coffee.
You can drink it in 10 seconds if you want or sip it slow.
Each can is 1 daily serving of Fruit and Vegetables (so better nutrition than coffee)
It is flavored Green Tea and Black Tea. Best served Cold but room temperature is OK too.
Longer lasting than coffee without having to pee constantly (because you drink less liquid)
No coffee grounds to spill everywhere. No mug to clean. No prep time.
I prefer the Orange Pineapple or the Peach Mango best but there are 3 to 5 other flavors
I think they have it in the old V8 flavor too, but idk. I used to drink a pot of coffee a day.
Now most days I just have 1 of these and that is it. 2 on the rough days.
Hi Bruce, That's an idea I hadn't thought of. Creative approach. But probably not gonna happen, to be honest 😆
@@TheVanThatGotAway give it a try
Is the Maxxhaul rack removable ? I do not want to have it permanently mounted.
Hi Dennis, Yep, it's bolted on. A couple of twists will bolt it off.
Do you carry bikes when traveling? (Saw one in video) if so, ho do you carry and protect from theft. Thanks!
Hi Kevin! Yep, we carry 2 bikes on a swing-arm bike rack I installed about a year ago. We run a cable and padlock through them when they're on the rack. Probably not gonna stop someone with some badass bolt cutters and malice in their heart, but it makes them less of a target. Do you travel with bikes, too?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I have an e-gravel bile I want to take. Would love to carry on rack outside but worried about theft - it is an expensive bike. Think I may have to snuggle up to it inside :)
I wanted a bike too but didn't want to carry it on the outside. I bought a scooter with a seat (detachable), because I can carry it inside.
Yeah, for you fancy people with expensive bikes 😉 I understand why you would store 'em inside. I would do the same! But our bikes aren't worth worrying about.
We travel with 2 expensive bikes . We have 3 heavy duty u type lock plus a motion sensor alarm thing that will blow your ear off. Put it in a place where the alarm would go off if the bikes are moved apart. Those are the purse kind of alarm that go off if they are pulled apart . But honestly when we park we back it up so it is hard to steal . No choice but we just make it harder for thieves.
I do t charge anything in car I do t have to. Too many electrical problems. I'm already charging dashcsm. Anything extra I've run into problems even with new battery
Hi Joe, Do you use a separate battery power station?
How many watts does your Mr coffee draw?
I'm not sure because we always plug it in to shore power. I don't think our little DieHard has enough juice to do hot water.
French press, problem solved 😂
Hi Diggy! Are you a coffee lover like me? Also, thanks for checking in.
@@TheVanThatGotAway 100% first thing I do in the morning, make my wife and myself a cup of coffee. When I’m in the van, French press, yes, you have to boil water, stove or electric pot are my options. Appreciate the content, picked up a few ideas.
Thanks for the information! I went through the coffee process, too. I ended with a $10 four cup, regular drip coffee maker. I'm just one person.
Hi Natty, I like that price! 😄