5 HARSH TRUTHS About VAN LIFE You Need to Know Before Starting
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- Social media has cultivated a glamourous viral image of simple but luxurious living in freedom by travelling in a camper van - but that Van Life is not reality. This has set many people up for a situation where they invest a lot of time and money into embarking on van life, only to be jolted back into reality once they spend a few days in their new van. This video attempts to correct this false image by outlining five things people should know before they think about starting van life.
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*I think seasoned van lifer's will agree: social media has created a lot of misconceptions about van life, so I made this video to paint a more accurate picture of the reality.*
Best thing about van life in SF Bay Area.. is not paying the $2000 rent every 4 wks.. I can pretty much buy whatever I need in my van with the money that would have went into the property owners pockets 😮
I do honestly agree with you some van life home builders have both over spent and over built. To the point where there is no way they could not prove the point that they do not live in them 24/7.
I have watched most of your you tube videos and I have honestly learned a important lesson from you live humbly with in your budget!
Thanks, I really appreciate your support and kind words.
Pump sprayer is so water efficient for everything. I also like the 3 gallon buckets make great bathrooms storage or sinks.
For sure! Sometimes the most simple and cheap solutions can end up being the most efficient!
🤣 Another great vid. Thanks for the reality check. I see so many van life sales vids extolling the virtues of an expensive van that is the key to endless happiness. I see they're busy pushing $WD for off-road and so many other frills and do-dads you don't need. Consumerism never seems to sleep. Someone has realized there's a lot of money to be made in van life. Keep it real.
Well said!
I like this approach to van life. Doesn't have to cost so much. Here are a few more ideas that might or might not work for some.
For an inside shower, you might try a pet tub that folds flat when stored. Could sit in that and bathe using your plant watering jug. If careful, you shouldn't splatter water everywhere. Dump it out afterward, let it dry, then fold it flat against the wall.
Camp stove to cook meals, heat water, and heat a pot of sand (sand battery) for hours of radiant heat in cold weather.
For water, a 5 gallon jug (water cooler type jug) with hand pump ($20) should work.
For a bed, a $25 hammock could work for some. Use an under quilt for cold weather. Hammock can store in a hanging bag when not strung up.
Two power stations (Jackery type) would provide needed electricity. 2 of them, preferably, so 1 can charge via solar while other is being used. USB rechargeable devices, like lanterns and fans and phones/tablets could be charged with a power station.
A fold up card table and folding chairs should work. Table used as desk, to cook on, to eat on, to do dishes on after a meal, and set a mirror on it and shave/brush teeth.
For luxury, an out door, fold up (stores against wall) gravity chair to lounge in. (Freaking things are more comfortable than my Lazyboy recliner)
In hot weather, try a large hot water bottle filled with cool water. In cold weather, put hot water in the hot water bottle. (They make hot water bottles that are several feet long, which are good for sleeping with, warm or cool.)
For refrigeration, could try a standard cooler and get ice from a small, counter top ice maker. (A Jackery 500 or above will power a small ice maker)
I think a van has enough room to sleep, cook, sit at a desk and work, bathe, relax in a lounger (gravity chair). Just, not all at the same time. Fold away furniture/hammock could free up a lot of space, I think.
Thanks for all of those ideas! Your focus on furniture that is collapsible to store out of the way when not in use is super helpful. If items don't need to be used all the time, it's best if they don't take up permanent dedicated space!
I have spent 15 years driving over the road in. A sleeper unit pulling 53 ft trailers. I love my van. I can stop. And see things that I had to drive by in the truck. Love my van.
That's interesting! The van has given you a lot of freedom!
Excellent points for consideration, especially the part about the need to focus on the lifestyle rather than the vehicle.
Thanks for your support!
I like the way you think! 👍
I'm just starting my research into living rent free after retirement next year by doing a minivan camper conversion. I think some folks who think this lifestyle gives them "freedom" haven't thought enough about the infrastructure that makes it possible; such as the legions of folks who build and maintain the highways, bring petrol to the gas pumps and snacks in the convenience stores. I want to be helpful along the journey, so I plan on visiting the small parishes in my faith community along the way to volunteer my time and labor in exchange for staying overnight in their parking lot. I have a lot to do yet, though! Thanks for your very helpful observations! ❤
That sounds like a great plan that will be very fulfilling!
The only problem I have with van life is throwing food away and finding a place to park.
Yes, parking is/is becoming such a source of anxiety for many people. Interesting about the food waste... I don't experience that and devour pretty much everything! 😃
Tried vanlife for around six months and gave it up for a condo. It was fun seeing new things and exciting at first, but gave it up.
1) it was too hard to maintain my professional life while living in a vehicle.
2) power is a major problem. In the south it’s very hot and I had constant anxiety about electricity for my AC and fridge.
3) being clean and staying clean was difficult. It’s kind of grubby life on the road. Smellyness did me in.
Yes these are all good points...
@@SwellerVanDweller after more than 4 decades of living in homes and apartments, it was too big of a change for me. It’s probably easier for the young.
They’re more adaptable I figure.
Yes I understand. It's also easier depending on the geographical location that you're living in your van in. Some climates and landscapes are easier than others
@@SwellerVanDweller Yeah. My brief stint with Vanlife was a couple years ago…your video has a lot of truth to it.
It’s kind of strange that there are so many videos of people in vans staying cozy in cold weather. It’s like most of the population lives in Anchorage or the north pole or some thing. It seems kind of dishonest to.
Vanlife in 90° plus humid weather was the daily reality for me. No RUclips videos of that kinda life, you know?
Yes hot humid weather is far more difficult to deal with than cold weather!
Excellent advice! We've spent the last two years living and travelling full-time in our van. Since we were travelling around Europe and Western Asia the challenges of being introduced to a new country, the rules and regulations made it sometimes even more difficult. It's great but it definitely has it's downsides as well. And definitely not every park up is insta worth, quite the contrary 😁
Thanks for sharing more real-world experience! The life can be great - you just need to be prepared to accept the difficulties that come along with the good times.
This is my first Sweller video, I like this first impression. Gonna be checking out more,
Welcome aboard!
Number 4 - priceless advice.
Thanks... it's a difficult thought for some people to hear.
Have Gratitude and Maintain Respect Absolutely! I may not know you personally, But You Sir are one that I Trust 😊 Thank you for another great video 👍 Stay Safe and Enjoy
Your feeback means a lot... I appreciate that. Thanks for you support!
I just love the intro!
Ahh so awesome
Thank you!
Thank you so much for honest talk on van life. Trying to learn as much as I can before starting on my own journey in the next few years. Much appreciated
Van life can be a fantastic experience - buying a van has been one of the best purchases of my life... but you'll have a much better chance at a positive experience with van life if you go into it with a realistic frame of mind - and I hope this video helps get people on that path.
I’m in year 5 in my ford transit van and my life has never been easier!! It’s not hard at all! I did a very simple build that I can maintain and it’s wonderful. 🎉
That's the way to do it! Keep it simple!
Great video and thanks there some people I know that are forced to live in there vehicles 😁✌🏼
Thanks for watching!
Far too simplistic to make a point of others giving out the same info on the same platform. Adding info that only a person whos actually lived in a van wouldve helped as i who have never done so could have said the same thing. But you shot and edited the vid which is work and you did it to help those who would jump into something thats trendy which is nice…but it underscores that there is a need for this living situation that makes it so popular in the 1st place
I love watching your videos you’re so funny 😂
Thanks for your kind words of support!
Thank you for the message and your content.
My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in.
good info. thanks for posting.
Thanks for the support... much appreciated!
All good points especially about the van just being a tool so to speak to help you achieve the experiences you're after. What bugs me are the people in these 150k-200k+ class B RVs who refer to themselves as van lifers. LOL. No that's not van life. It's motorhome life or RV life.
There are a few other things you could have addressed like for instance I'm always having to move things around to get to other things. If you're doing it full time, setting up your domicile and address is an issue and good luck opening an account with a financial institution who won't accept your mailbox (I'm going to have to use a friend or relative's home address for this one). Also making sure everything is put away before you drive anywhere or you might have something go flying. And looking for places to park if you're not going to use campgrounds can be a hassle. Just to name a few other things. Thanks.
Thanks for commenting. All of your additional 'truths' are very good ones. Van life is great, but comes with challenges, for sure, that newbies need to be prepared for!
You know that there are mail services that will provide a legal address and hold or forward your mail for you for a monthly fee?
@@libbygardner3021 Yes I have one of those mail services. They could look it up though and see that's it's not an actual house, apartment or condo. I was specifically trying to open an investment account with a couple different firms and went round and round with them over the phone to no avail so I gave up. Thankfully I already had a checking and savings account with a credit union in my state that I set up before moving out of the house and becoming nomadic. And here's the irony, my mailing address worked just fine for vehicle registration and renewing my driver's license.
For those in the inner cities get a gym membership to get a workout and a shower. Or go to a friends house!!?😂😂
Yeah, I think the gym membership is a great choice - as well as doing a little workout of whatever possible while there 👍
I gotten bad skin from my van, maybe hidden mould behind the panels 😐 , any one else suffered bad skin in van life ike exzema ? Thx 🇬🇧
Well said!
Thanks for the support, friend!
Well said🙂✌️🚐
Thanks, I really appreciate the support!
YEP, ALWAYS KEEP IT SIMPLE !
You got it!
I usually downvote and block and "report spam" at the "Like and subscribe!" part of a video. I did not today.
Ok, this got me subscribed. Thanks
Welcome aboard!
Same here!!! Too hard to find the ugly truth when all the algorithm shows is sprinters. Thank you!!!
@@kelseynelson6061 I appreciate your support!
really?? you don't say,
First and only thing don't trust anyone