I find you can not insult anyone in the nomadic life by saying that they're cheap. It is an honor to be frugal. Most people who live in a sticks & bricks are very upset if you say thing about living cheap. And I feel most people who live this way are feel that the new way of living is so much better than in a sticks & bricks. That the quality is honestly better, like eating, sleeping going to the restroom in a bucket or bathing with a pan and water or wipes so much better than a nice house. They also have more pride in themselves than if they lived in a sticks & bricks. And if you did live in a sticks & bricks and lived like you would in your care like the bucket and everything like living in a vehicle they would highly be offended. Thank again Bob. Your a master of what you teach. Say hi to your best buddy Cody. (The dog who lives like a king).🐶💗🤗 🤴
Years back I had an empty full size cargo van as a daily driver because I moved alot. Sometimes we all would go camping with it. My friends tossed in their gear and I bolted an old couch to the floor. Endless possibilities
Thank you for sharing your awesome home with us Robert! The cot is a great idea; no work to put together, light and you can top it with a real mattress or anything you wish. Happy trails and wishes for lots of fun adventures to come! And Bob..thanks SO MUCH for all your hard work! I cannot begin to imagine how many tens of thousands of people's lives you have changed for the better! What an amazing legacy you are creating. I hope you are rewarded with more health, love, joy, laughter and other successes than you know what to do with!!! ☮🌺☯️
It was my pleasure to join Bob in this video. Like so many others, I learned a ton from Bob that made my experience so much easier as I was getting started.
I love my $400 minivan 2001 Chevy Astro Van 6 banger. I take it everywhere. it now has over 200k miles but the ole Chuck wagon has never broke down on me. No mechanical issues until now my alternator is starting to go. I would take Chuck across the USA before I would take my low mileage truck. I hope everyone out looking gets lucky like me.
Another Great interview with another Inspiring Nomad! Robert's got the right idea living minimalist and frugal financially when possible in order to have a rich and abundant quality of life!
I really liked this guy's set up. Very low maintenance just great for me as a single female getting ready for my retirement and cannot wait to hit the road. I though first of a truck van but i like this guy's mini van. I will be doing most of my living outside. Thank you Bob, Melva jo from Modesto Ca just waiting to retire.
Love my mini-van conversion! 08 Dodge Grand Caravan with the new body style, it has stowaway compartments for the car seats which add extra depth in space to the vehicle. I use one of the stowaways for storage and the other is for my kitchen sink and I store for aqua tainers that fit perfectly side by side in the stowaway providing me with 21 gallons of fresh water and 7 gallons of dirty water. Minivan seat stowaways are a game changer
I was on the road for 3.5 months in my Dodge caravan minivan and loved it! started in Ohio and drove to the RTR and traveled the west coast. when I came back home I realized how easy it was and how happy I was during my trip. A friend told me I'll be miserable in a small rig but it wasn't true, I absolutely loved it.
Standing up to change is a wonderful luxury! LOL Definitely not something I was ever able to do in the minivan. A tent is handy for those kind of things, and can also make room for an "outdoor" potty, a place to bathe, and onsite storage while camping if you have extra stuff in the van :) Best wishes as you look for a van and prepare for this adventure.
Now that brings back memories of living out of my 1974 VW bus way back when. I had to keep the seats for the kids when they were with me so had to work around them. This minivan was already being used as a camper when it came to me so the seats were already removed.
Really liked the simplicity and the efficiency of Robert's Dodge Caravan. Knowing how to setup the basic essentials....maximizing the free space is a wise and ingenious talent. I may be a bit partial too...as I have the same make vehicle. "Gotta love it"... 😃. Thank you Bob for sharing. Happy Travels! @CheapRVLiving #VanLife Enjoy the Journey!! *Van🚐Wings🦋*
I like the easy going people you interview I see the ones who count their subs while blowing large amounts of money buying class A's and then crying how bad they have it,I was homeless and living in a Camper on the back of my truck back in 08 to 11 I worked my way back into a job and finally a Mobile home,I have no regrets this is my choice to live the way I do,I think if had met anyone like you I would probably still be there, take care safe travels to you all,
I know a lot of people who camp out of a Prius and have even thought about it myself. A tent is particularly nice in a smaller vehicle, whether for sleeping on a nice evening or just temporarily moving some gear out of the vehicle.
Thank you, Marsha! I have done a few videos with Bob and it is always a pleasure. I learned an awful lot from Bob over the years and it is nice to give back in some small way.
Talk about rising to a challenge! Brilliant. Great job, Robert. Loved your face when you talked about the non regulated water shower deal for $3.00 at a campground. The little things in life can mean so much. That and shoestring simplicity. The lack of stress from living gently and unpretentiously... I can totally understand. Blessings and thanks to both Robert and Bob for sharing endless possibilities. Oh yeah, great mileage. ;DD
This van worked pretty well for me and was reasonably comfortable. I had expected the gas mileage to be closer to 20 when I bought it so was thrilled with how good it was. Definitely helps with the gas budget :)
You can get butane WAY cheaper at Asian markets. I get at least 4 cans for about $6. It's half of what Walmart sells it for. There is also a butane stove I had that was convertible to propane. I think it was by Gas One. It was very good.
Thank you, Jarrod. I have done several videos with Bob and it is always fun and a pleasure. I learned a LOT from Bob going back to when he only had his website.
@@RobertWitham people like you are few and far between now. I hope someday to run into you and share a meal. Thank you for sharing your life. I hope someday to have your courage
@@RobertWitham great video to watch! Really enjoyed this. I'm going to start watching your channel. My husband and I are visiting Idaho and I am very curious how a person could live there in a van. I wonder if there are areas that allow this. Or if a few acres of land could be purchased to park.
I hope you get a second mic for your interviewees. Your voice is always so clear and sometimes they are hard to hear. Thanks for interviewing Robert. He has a lot of experience and clever ideas.
Using the cedar chips makes it a composting toilet, there is no odor. Off grid people living in houses use the same thing, they just build a box w/ toilet seat attached and the bucket underneath. Also, a 1 gal pressure jug w/ a hose on it, normally used for applying pesticides, works great for a portable shower. Put it on the roof of the van.
The stow and go seating option would have been great for the extra "basement" storage. I have seen a few minivan setups where those extra storage areas were put to good use.
I have heard good things about the Honda vans. The T&C served me well for a full year and 20,000 miles before I passed it on to someone who still planned to use it as a camper van. I loved the fuel efficiency, reliability, easy driving, and good handling.
@Kurt M. The more I look at vehicles the more it seems that every brand has its troubles and every brand has its loyalist fans who have experienced those troubles far less than other brands. Toyota is the only common brand that springs to mind with minimal complaints [and uncommon brands are a complaint in and of themselves- in the wallet when it comes time to repair them] but even that brand has had some serious recalls over the last decade.
This is part of a response to someone else: His little stove, they're great. You can buy one at a Japanese store with twin jets, the one metal circle has 2 rings of flame instead of 1. Look for a Chinese market, where you can get the canisters for about 4/$5. When the canister gets low, you can do one of several things, a.) Plan for cooking slower, b.) Exchange for a fresh canister, and use the depleted canister elsewhere. I have found that coffee water doesn't take that much longer on low, c.) Put a hot rag, pour boiling water on it, (don't) do like me and use a Bic lighter, just joking, I don't do that), to heat it up and boost the pressure. I am just patient. If I can't be patient, new canister, and coffee water is always fast. One thing about coffee water. I know people who fill the kettle, boil a half gallon for a cup. If I will make 16 oz. of coffee, I pour 16 oz. of water in the empty kettle, fast, and less energy.
I measure my water that will fit into my thermos, boil it in a covered kettle, and have no waste of fuel, or of water. Butane has taken the chill off a room in a little while, too. I'm planning on using it for 5-10 minutes in my trailer at night if I get cold. With ventilation, of course, just in case... But, it's not as dangerous as propane. I love cooking with it. So easy, and fast. I buy all my really cool kitchen stuff at the Asian market.
I'm thinking as I watch this video that that looks like the same camp spot we used on a ski expedition in the la sal mtns. A nice site on a bend on the la sals loop road. Thanks for the great interviews etc. Ski bums frequently live in cars and so forth. There is a wealth of subjects for you to interview in the ski bum and outdoor sporting bum world. Keep up the great work!
A good alternative to cedar shavings and cat litter is horse bedding pellets. They're compressed so you get a lot more absorption for the space they take up and they're much neater. It smells beautiful, absorbs instantly, and is very low dust. I use it for my cat's litter box too. Much you need are in cleaner with no litter tracking all over the place, so it's a double duty thing.
I set up a composting toilet and used a product designed for cleaning equestrian stalls. Very absorbent, way mor that cedar chips which I also tried. Pitched up at tractor supply
This was a reasonably comfortable setup for me over the course of a year or so. I put about 20,000 on this van before passing it on to someone who also planned to use it as a camper.
Thank you for sharing Robert's van life! He's got it down to a science. I totally understand why people use plastic bags for collecting their waste, but it always makes me cringe at the thought of all the plastic we toss into landfills... seems there must be a better way!! peace
It was my pleasure to be able to make this video with Bob. I have learned a lot from him over the years and was glad to be able to share in this video. I hear you about the plastic bags and try to use that option only when necessary.
there seem to be better options for plastic these days, I don't know about in larger sizes. From heath stores and large grocery stores have a good green section, there are often biodegradable plastic bags or non - plastic bags.
@@lindasue8719 problem is that the bio- degradation begins immediately. You aren't always in a place where you can dispose of it. You don't want it to degrade in your trash can.
I don't know how old this video is but I've noticed in some others, the wind noise. A little piece form placed over the mike with a rubber band does a great job and makes a better pro video.
I have sold the van, but we recorded this back when I still had it. I am looking for another van and seriously considered a minivan again, but am thinking I might try something just a bit larger this time to make it easier to have a dedicated workspace.
@@RobertWitham besides part of the adventure is always being willing to try something new. Life long learners know that nothing is perfect but the quest continues :)
I think I've decided that this is how I will retire. I've got a Eurovan now, but the gas mileage sucks and I'm terrified of all the maintenance that may have to be done. (Expensively) It already has sucky storage so I won't really lose anything.
This set-up is kinda like the Frank Sinatra song lyrics, "...nice and easy does it." it doesn't take much. Also, for good gas mileage, a Ford Ranger is great. I pull a small vintage "Scamp Style" trailer...light weight. You can get in the low 20s and up to 27 mpg.
If you buy the butane cans at the Asian grocery stores, they cost 4/$5. That's cheaper than propane. I know about freezing, but you can put it under your arm or somewhere else warm for a little while, really. Not an issue, if you are so unfortunate to have gotten yourself into that situation.
I heard you can get the butane canisters at the big tent in quartzsite very cheaply. But I don't know how many anyone wants to carry. Robert is a great guy. I have a small cargo van. It gets 30 miles per gallon. There's probably a little more headroom. The problem with a cot is that it takes up permanent space.
I have taken to carrying 6-8 butane canisters to protect against the times when I cannot find it locally. That seems to be enough to carry me through. I know a lot of people are happy with making up a bed every night, but I find it to be a hassle. I like to just be able to crawl into bed when I feel like it, especially if I am stealth camping or traveling and just stopping at a rest area to sleep. To me it was worth the space loss, but I also used the area beneath the bed for storage as well.
My wife and I are considering going semi-nomad. I"m wondering if there would be a market for a mobile handyman catering to RVers. I've been in industrial maintenance for many years. I think solar installations are right up my alley. Do you think there is a need ?
I gotta get me one of those butane stoves those are nice i will always carry many extra cans though kause rumor I have heard not all stores carry the cans of butane ...looks like a nice comphy van home he has ...yes I keep a dust free kitty litter for the potty , have wondered about the cedar will try that next time
I have occasionally run into trouble finding butane, particularly in smaller towns. My solution now is to carry 6-8 canisters at all times so that when I have trouble finding butane I have enough to hold me over until I am able to find it again.
@@golightly5121 I'm actually looking at a larger van now to have a bit more room than in the minivan. I would like more headroom and space for a dedicated work space as I work on a laptop all day.
Thank you so much for this. Very valuable info. I also have an RV RUclips channel, so I'm super excited to see what the collagues are doing. Subbed your channel!
Fill a plastic bottle with water, rubbing alcohol and shampoo. Hole on top and shower. Shower cabine on the bavk of the car. Fix shower curtains with feldpron , plastic bag on de floor agains sand and shower to go. Same systeme to wash the car.
That looks like a Previa. Mine gets about 18 m.p.g., but it is all wheel drive. You discussed mileage a bit, and made it sound like you had that conversation before you rolled the celluloid. I'm not done yet. I'm like the kid gathered around the storyteller, interrupting with feedback.
This van averaged about 26-28 mpg on open roads so long as I held the speed to 62-65 mph. Driving faster dropped it to about 24 mpg. It was front wheel drive with a 3.8 V6 engine.
@@tomcondon6169 this was a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country. It has 226,000 on it when I bought it from a nomad friend who was already using it as a camper van and ran like a champ. Only had a few repairs needed over the next 20,000 and it never left me stranded anywhere.
Robert Witham I have a Toyota Previa, their engines have to be small because they have a mid engine, and a supercharger gives better mileage than the standard. My behind-the-driver's seat length is 8 feet. I wonder what length the Town & Country has in the back?
@@tomcondon6169 I forgot about the mid-engine design on the Previa. I used to work with a guy that had one of those vans years ago. My. inside measurements were 48" between the wheel wells (a bit more above and in front of the wells), and right about seven feet from seat backs to the rear door. The roof height was low enough that I had to keep the bed very low to be able to sit straight up for cooking, etc.
Join Planet Fitness for a year (or any gym) and get a shower (and a locker) anytime. Planet Fitness, anywhere in the US, for $250/year. Can't beat it. And get a little exercise while you're at it!
I have looked at several national gym chains a few times, but have yet to find one that has enough branches in the places where I travel to tempt me. I will definitely do that in the future though if one of them expands into enough places that I am able to justify it.
@rattlayitdown I like the idea and will definitely do it if either my situation changes or more facilities open in the areas where I tend to travel. I do the same in Wyoming during summer with a local, county-operated rec center and take advantage of the chance to work out a bit while I am there.
The biggest question i always have is. Where to park and especially if you still work somewhere full time but have off days.? I want to do this and that always been my concerned about where to park.
It seems that most van dwellers (RV, car, etc.) who are tied to one location end up developing a circuit or places they sleep and use facilities so as to avoid being in the same place long enough to attract attention. My default for hanging out during the day in town is to find a city or county park. These are public locations so it is legal to hang out within the open hours and whatever rules the site has about cooking, etc. So I may sleep in a parking lot, drive somewhere to use the facilities, head to a park for the day (sometimes the park has restrooms as well), and then drive to a different parking lot to sleep for the night again. I will also sometimes take off for a few days and head to a dispersed camping area when I have the time to get away.
TieDye Kris Look on the cans, find out their consistency, poke a hole in them and squash them flat with a sledge hammer, and look up, 'recycle,' 'key in metal here,' and, 'key in your location here.' Go. Recycle. Retrieve a few cents for your effort.
TieDye Kris I take the attitude, I try to leave a small footprint on earth, I think I do quite well, but I do not cave in to all the propaganda. To keep it simple, (there is a lot I could say), I have to live in THIS world. I think we were deliberately caused to forget the old ways, the self-reliant ways, to cause us to be reliant. If I was planted in one place, studied out to use every cell of my animals, my vegetables, then I could be in perfect balance. This may seem off-topic, hope so, because that OTHER topic is repugnant to me. Suffice to say, his little stove, they're great. You can buy one at a Japanese store with twin jets, the one metal circle has 2 rings of flame instead of 2. Look for a Chinese market, where you can get the canisters for about 4/$5. When the canister gets low, you can do one of several things, a.) Plan for cooking slower, b.) Exchange for a fresh canister, and use the depleted canister elsewhere. I have found that coffee water doesn't take that much longer on low, c.) Put a hot rag, pour boiling water on it, (don't do like me and use a Vic lighter, just joking, I don't do that), to heat it up and boost the pressure. I am just patient. If I can't be patient, new canister, and coffee water is always fast. One thing about coffee water. I know people who fill the kettle, boil a half gallon for a cup. If I will make 16 oz. of coffee, I pour 16 oz. of water in the empty kettle, fast, and less energy. Penny stove, alcohol? I have a Kero-Sun kerosene heater I used to use with alcohol. Alcohol is more expensive, unless you distill yourself.
Tom Condon yeah alcohol, I only use when camping but I’d like to ready to go nomad at any time either by choice or necessity. I thought maybe somewhere would exchange those bottles for refill.
TieDye Kris The CANS of propane you see in this video are not refillable. My Japanese ex-wife turned me onto the stove. We made shabu-shabu, and clay pot sea bass. I still have one. It is my redundant stove, and sometimes-in-emergency heater. For less expense, either find something that hooks directly to a bigger tank, (3 to 5 gallons is the most familiar), or use something that takes the smaller green 1 pound tanks, about quart size. The tanks are expensive, but you can learn to refill them. If you ever get to that point, either ask me, or look up one of numerous videos on the topic. There are numerous people who refill who don't get it. Putting it in the freezer is dumb. Anyway, buy the 1 pound green tanks for awhile, save your tanks, and if expense creates expedience, solve the problem.
24 to 28 mpg as only range on that van is deceptive..depending on which of three engines gets 17 - 21 mpg combined cty/hwy..up to 25 mpg highway if 4 cylinder
John Shann I have a 99 Caravan 3.3 v6 built out. Full size mattress, group 24 house battery, tv, DVD player, fridge, cook stove. Weighs 4400 pounds with above items. Add 2 almost 200 lb adults and 2 60 lb dogs plus gear. 23/24 highway and 18 mpg city. The 3.8V6 will get better on the highway, less in the city. I've owned 6 of these vans.
This van had a 3.8 liter V6. City mileage would be lower, but I rarely drove in the city. On open roads I consistently averaged 26-28 mpg, though I do drive slow and easy.
If it was just me I'd go with a minivan too. I'd be spending most of the time outside anyway. the van would just be where I slept anyway. I have 4 cats though so yeah don't think that would work for me right now
Hi bob do you have a dead cat for your mic,, it will sound better than the wind,, your the best in the camping area,, you are the go to guy,, thanks for your work in the videos,,,,garygary
My experience has been that I actually have far more and closer friends than ever before. The challenge for me is isolating enough to be able to work. LOL I know many others who have had the same experience as nomads. My recommendation is usually to attend some van life/RV/nomad gatherings as an opportunity to meet people. Most nomads that I have met are pretty friendly. Another good "virtual" option is interacting on the Cheap RV Living forums as that will allow you to start getting to know other nomads and possibly make arrangements to meet up on the road.
Kathy McG You could use paper bags, just invest heavily in Betadine Surgical Scrub for the infections you will get, and GSE for your intestinal infections...
I understand the concern about plastic bags and try to limit how often I need to use them. If I have the option I use public facilities (if staying in or near town) or dig a cathole if boondocking. I have thought about paper, but really don't think it would hold up well.
@Kathy Mack-- I haven't researched as far as bags but slowly there are fungi that make a biodegradable type plastic. I would check that and any other similar items. They exist, but they might just be more expensive or less convenient to purchase. When you find out please inform us many would love to do same. Great comment, really.
I have been jammed up a few times with not being able to find butane. I try to carry at least six or eight canisters now to carry me over if I have trouble finding it locally.
@Wanda Tolbert that seems to be the issue. It is usually really small towns and cities near areas popular with nomads/campers that are the most challenging. I had one time early this spring when I could not even find one pound propane cylinders in Pahrump, Nevada other than at the local Big 5 at twice the normal price.
@@trellwalker9282 my inverter was far too small to run a microwave, but I also did not have the battery capacity or solar to recharge the batteries. A minivan typically does not have enough roof space for the 400+ watts of solar necessary to run a microwave, and I did not have space or funds for enough batteries to power a microwave either. Bob has a few videos where he goes over the power requirements to run even a small microwave. I was running a 100 Watt rooftop solar panel and a 100 Amp hour battery. That setup mostly met my needs for charging phone and laptop, but even then on cloudy days I might run short on power.
Robert is awesome. And that smile... The boy in him lives, and lives well. I'm so impressed, and charmed, by his person.
I find you can not insult anyone in the nomadic life by saying that they're cheap. It is an honor to be frugal. Most people who live in a sticks & bricks are very upset if you say thing about living
cheap. And I feel most people who live this way are feel that the new way of living is so much better than in a sticks & bricks. That the quality is honestly better, like eating, sleeping going to the restroom in a bucket or bathing with a pan and water or wipes so much better than a nice house. They also have more pride in themselves than if they lived in a sticks & bricks. And if you did live in a sticks & bricks and lived like you would in your care like the bucket and everything like living in a vehicle they would highly be offended. Thank again Bob. Your a master of what you teach. Say hi to your best buddy Cody. (The dog who lives like a king).🐶💗🤗 🤴
Years back I had an empty full size cargo van as a daily driver because I moved alot. Sometimes we all would go camping with it. My friends tossed in their gear and I bolted an old couch to the floor. Endless possibilities
Thank you for sharing your awesome home with us Robert! The cot is a great idea; no work to put together, light and you can top it with a real mattress or anything you wish. Happy trails and wishes for lots of fun adventures to come! And Bob..thanks SO MUCH for all your hard work! I cannot begin to imagine how many tens of thousands of people's lives you have changed for the better! What an amazing legacy you are creating. I hope you are rewarded with more health, love, joy, laughter and other successes than you know what to do with!!! ☮🌺☯️
It was my pleasure to join Bob in this video. Like so many others, I learned a ton from Bob that made my experience so much easier as I was getting started.
I love my $400 minivan 2001 Chevy Astro Van 6 banger. I take it everywhere. it now has over 200k miles but the ole Chuck wagon has never broke down on me. No mechanical issues until now my alternator is starting to go. I would take Chuck across the USA before I would take my low mileage truck. I hope everyone out looking gets lucky like me.
Another Great interview with another Inspiring Nomad! Robert's got the right idea living minimalist and frugal financially when possible in order to have a rich and abundant quality of life!
I really liked this guy's set up. Very low maintenance just great for me as a single female getting ready for my retirement and cannot wait to hit the road. I though first of a truck van but i like this guy's mini van. I will be doing most of my living outside. Thank you Bob, Melva jo from Modesto Ca just waiting to retire.
Love my mini-van conversion! 08 Dodge Grand Caravan with the new body style, it has stowaway compartments for the car seats which add extra depth in space to the vehicle. I use one of the stowaways for storage and the other is for my kitchen sink and I store for aqua tainers that fit perfectly side by side in the stowaway providing me with 21 gallons of fresh water and 7 gallons of dirty water. Minivan seat stowaways are a game changer
Stow away seats would have been a wonderful addition for the storage space!
I love Robert! He seems like such a good guy! Thanks BOB! Awe, hi 🐶
I was on the road for 3.5 months in my Dodge caravan minivan and loved it! started in Ohio and drove to the RTR and traveled the west coast. when I came back home I realized how easy it was and how happy I was during my trip. A friend told me I'll be miserable in a small rig but it wasn't true, I absolutely loved it.
Im saving up for a minivan now. Im also going to get an outdoor tent so i can stand up and change.
Standing up to change is a wonderful luxury! LOL Definitely not something I was ever able to do in the minivan. A tent is handy for those kind of things, and can also make room for an "outdoor" potty, a place to bathe, and onsite storage while camping if you have extra stuff in the van :) Best wishes as you look for a van and prepare for this adventure.
@@RobertWitham
Thank you.
great idea i also will be doing this
I only lasted about a month in my minivan. I had to keep the bench seat which really killed any room. I'll be picking up my Savana tonight!!!
Now that brings back memories of living out of my 1974 VW bus way back when. I had to keep the seats for the kids when they were with me so had to work around them. This minivan was already being used as a camper when it came to me so the seats were already removed.
Really liked the simplicity and the efficiency of Robert's Dodge Caravan. Knowing how to setup the basic essentials....maximizing the free space is a wise and ingenious talent. I may be a bit partial too...as I have the same make vehicle. "Gotta love it"... 😃. Thank you Bob for sharing. Happy Travels! @CheapRVLiving #VanLife Enjoy the Journey!! *Van🚐Wings🦋*
I like the easy going people you interview I see the ones who count their subs while blowing large amounts of money buying class A's and then crying how bad they have it,I was homeless and living in a Camper on the back of my truck back in 08 to 11 I worked my way back into a job and finally a Mobile home,I have no regrets this is my choice to live the way I do,I think if had met anyone like you I would probably still be there, take care safe travels to you all,
Keeping the prius, adding a tent ;o)
Great advice no matter how small the rig! Great video!
I know a lot of people who camp out of a Prius and have even thought about it myself. A tent is particularly nice in a smaller vehicle, whether for sleeping on a nice evening or just temporarily moving some gear out of the vehicle.
Nice video! Robert is an authentic and clever guy!
Thank you, Marsha! I have done a few videos with Bob and it is always a pleasure. I learned an awful lot from Bob over the years and it is nice to give back in some small way.
Can’t beat that stove to start for compact. Remember when I got my first on, hot food finally.
Talk about rising to a challenge! Brilliant. Great job, Robert. Loved your face when you talked about the non regulated water shower deal for $3.00 at a campground. The little things in life can mean so much. That and shoestring simplicity. The lack of stress from living gently and unpretentiously... I can totally understand. Blessings and thanks to both Robert and Bob for sharing endless possibilities. Oh yeah, great mileage. ;DD
This van worked pretty well for me and was reasonably comfortable. I had expected the gas mileage to be closer to 20 when I bought it so was thrilled with how good it was. Definitely helps with the gas budget :)
God bless you Robert you’re so humble so fun to watch
Thank you, Isidore :) This van served me well. The setup was somewhat basic and simple, but still reasonably comfortable and functional.
You can get butane WAY cheaper at Asian markets. I get at least 4 cans for about $6. It's half of what Walmart sells it for. There is also a butane stove I had that was convertible to propane. I think it was by Gas One. It was very good.
@@LilyGazou thanks!
Very good video and very nice and humble man that Robert is. I will be checking out his RUclips channel
Thank you, Jarrod. I have done several videos with Bob and it is always fun and a pleasure. I learned a LOT from Bob going back to when he only had his website.
@@RobertWitham people like you are few and far between now. I hope someday to run into you and share a meal. Thank you for sharing your life. I hope someday to have your courage
@@RobertWitham great video to watch! Really enjoyed this. I'm going to start watching your channel. My husband and I are visiting Idaho and I am very curious how a person could live there in a van. I wonder if there are areas that allow this. Or if a few acres of land could be purchased to park.
I hope you get a second mic for your interviewees. Your voice is always so clear and sometimes they are hard to hear. Thanks for interviewing Robert. He has a lot of experience and clever ideas.
The wind makes for a camping ambiance.😊👍
We seem to end up camping lots of places where the wind never quits. LOL
😁
Using the cedar chips makes it a composting toilet, there is no odor. Off grid people living in houses use the same thing, they just build a box w/ toilet seat attached and the bucket underneath. Also, a 1 gal pressure jug w/ a hose on it, normally used for applying pesticides, works great for a portable shower. Put it on the roof of the van.
what a great down to earth person. i think if i chose a mini van i'd go for the ones with stow n' go. :-)
The stow and go seating option would have been great for the extra "basement" storage. I have seen a few minivan setups where those extra storage areas were put to good use.
There is a product called Sweet PZD sold in farm stores that also controls odor.
Looks very functional and comfy enough. Can't beat that gas mileage. Thanks guys.😊
This was simple, but I found it to be reasonably comfortable and functional. The gas mileage definitely made it hard to complain about :)
I am living in my 2008 Honda Odyssey and I LOVE IT :)))))
I have heard good things about the Honda vans. The T&C served me well for a full year and 20,000 miles before I passed it on to someone who still planned to use it as a camper van. I loved the fuel efficiency, reliability, easy driving, and good handling.
@Kurt M. The more I look at vehicles the more it seems that every brand has its troubles and every brand has its loyalist fans who have experienced those troubles far less than other brands.
Toyota is the only common brand that springs to mind with minimal complaints [and uncommon brands are a complaint in and of themselves- in the wallet when it comes time to repair them] but even that brand has had some serious recalls over the last decade.
This is part of a response to someone else:
His little stove, they're great. You can buy one at a Japanese store with twin jets, the one metal circle has 2 rings of flame instead of 1. Look for a Chinese market, where you can get the canisters for about 4/$5. When the canister gets low, you can do one of several things, a.) Plan for cooking slower, b.) Exchange for a fresh canister, and use the depleted canister elsewhere. I have found that coffee water doesn't take that much longer on low, c.) Put a hot rag, pour boiling water on it, (don't) do like me and use a Bic lighter, just joking, I don't do that), to heat it up and boost the pressure. I am just patient. If I can't be patient, new canister, and coffee water is always fast.
One thing about coffee water. I know people who fill the kettle, boil a half gallon for a cup. If I will make 16 oz. of coffee, I pour 16 oz. of water in the empty kettle, fast, and less energy.
I measure my water that will fit into my thermos, boil it in a covered kettle, and have no waste of fuel, or of water.
Butane has taken the chill off a room in a little while, too. I'm planning on using it for 5-10 minutes in my trailer at night if I get cold. With ventilation, of course, just in case...
But, it's not as dangerous as propane. I love cooking with it. So easy, and fast.
I buy all my really cool kitchen stuff at the Asian market.
I'm thinking as I watch this video that that looks like the same camp spot we used on a ski expedition in the la sal mtns. A nice site on a bend on the la sals loop road. Thanks for the great interviews etc. Ski bums frequently live in cars and so forth. There is a wealth of subjects for you to interview in the ski bum and outdoor sporting bum world. Keep up the great work!
Simplicity at its best. Thank you.
☘️🌝🌲
Robert is a sweetheart. Great video.
Thank you, Janna :)
A good alternative to cedar shavings and cat litter is horse bedding pellets. They're compressed so you get a lot more absorption for the space they take up and they're much neater. It smells beautiful, absorbs instantly, and is very low dust. I use it for my cat's litter box too. Much you need are in cleaner with no litter tracking all over the place, so it's a double duty thing.
@Cheryl Taylor Been a few mos since your post, but I like your idea abt horse pellets....but where do u buy these?? Thanks I'd appreciate it😊
I enjoy Robert's information and follow him on IG - what a wonderful person!
Thank you, Wendy :)
I set up a composting toilet and used a product designed for cleaning equestrian stalls. Very absorbent, way mor that cedar chips which I also tried. Pitched up at tractor supply
I've been subscribed to his channel for a while.
Great interview 👍
There are some great mini van builds on YT. Eric has a really clever set up. Easy as well.
Ty4Sharing....Thumbs up ! Wolf from central Florida
I love moab, we live up in salt lake area. Great video. We have a Chevy Astro van, it's really no bigger than a mini van inside
Clark Lindquist n
I love Roberts Van. Nicely done!
Thanks Faye. It was a pretty comfortable and functional setup for me.
Very good👍🏼 thanks for info.
Can’t beat simplicity.
This was a reasonably comfortable setup for me over the course of a year or so. I put about 20,000 on this van before passing it on to someone who also planned to use it as a camper.
Thank you for sharing Robert's van life! He's got it down to a science. I totally understand why people use plastic bags for collecting their waste, but it always makes me cringe at the thought of all the plastic we toss into landfills... seems there must be a better way!! peace
It was my pleasure to be able to make this video with Bob. I have learned a lot from him over the years and was glad to be able to share in this video. I hear you about the plastic bags and try to use that option only when necessary.
there seem to be better options for plastic these days, I don't know about in larger sizes. From heath stores and large grocery stores have a good green section, there are often biodegradable plastic bags or non - plastic bags.
@@lindasue8719 problem is that the bio- degradation begins immediately. You aren't always in a place where you can dispose of it. You don't want it to degrade in your trash can.
I have a Subaru Forester. Plan on hitting the road in the next year or two with a tiny trailer and tent.
Best wishes as you make your plans. The Forester should provide some decent options in addition to your trailer and tent.
I'm driving my Forester up to AK this summer. Can't wait.! Totally autonomous.
I don't know how old this video is but I've noticed in some others, the wind noise. A little piece form placed over the mike with a rubber band does a great job and makes a better pro video.
ozzie strom I wouldn't normally mention, but you are the expert giving advise, what is, "Piece Form?"
I thought Robert got rid of that van quite a while back. This looks like an interview from over a year ago. Still informative though.
I have sold the van, but we recorded this back when I still had it. I am looking for another van and seriously considered a minivan again, but am thinking I might try something just a bit larger this time to make it easier to have a dedicated workspace.
@@RobertWitham besides part of the adventure is always being willing to try something new. Life long learners know that nothing is perfect but the quest continues :)
@@RobertWitham
Nice video Robert. Very informative for those going that route.
I think I've decided that this is how I will retire. I've got a Eurovan now, but the gas mileage sucks and I'm terrified of all the maintenance that may have to be done. (Expensively) It already has sucky storage so I won't really lose anything.
This set-up is kinda like the Frank Sinatra song lyrics, "...nice and easy does it." it doesn't take much. Also, for good gas mileage, a Ford Ranger is great. I pull a small vintage "Scamp Style" trailer...light weight. You can get in the low 20s and up to 27 mpg.
Simple does have its advantages!
Robert is such a nice, good man. You should try to go to their meetup in December in Quartzsite, Arizona. It was a fun time last year!
When the kids were in diapers the “diaper genie” worked great. No smell even after a week. I would think it would work fine with this lifestyle
Robert is the best!!!!!🤗🤗🤗
If you buy the butane cans at the Asian grocery stores, they cost 4/$5.
That's cheaper than propane.
I know about freezing, but you can put it under your arm or somewhere else warm for a little while, really. Not an issue, if you are so unfortunate to have gotten yourself into that situation.
Hey, Robert got a van! Great!
Mr Frugal man. Your cot is portable if you decide to get a tent. Your bed is all ready. Hugs
That is a good point about using "portable" furnishings like a cot!
I heard you can get the butane canisters at the big tent in quartzsite very cheaply. But I don't know how many anyone wants to carry. Robert is a great guy. I have a small cargo van. It gets 30 miles per gallon. There's probably a little more headroom. The problem with a cot is that it takes up permanent space.
I have taken to carrying 6-8 butane canisters to protect against the times when I cannot find it locally. That seems to be enough to carry me through.
I know a lot of people are happy with making up a bed every night, but I find it to be a hassle. I like to just be able to crawl into bed when I feel like it, especially if I am stealth camping or traveling and just stopping at a rest area to sleep. To me it was worth the space loss, but I also used the area beneath the bed for storage as well.
My wife and I are considering going semi-nomad. I"m wondering if there would be a market for a mobile handyman catering to RVers. I've been in industrial maintenance for many years. I think solar installations are right up my alley. Do you think there is a need ?
I gotta get me one of those butane stoves those are nice i will always carry many extra cans though kause rumor I have heard not all stores carry the cans of butane ...looks like a nice comphy van home he has ...yes I keep a dust free kitty litter for the potty , have wondered about the cedar will try that next time
I have occasionally run into trouble finding butane, particularly in smaller towns. My solution now is to carry 6-8 canisters at all times so that when I have trouble finding butane I have enough to hold me over until I am able to find it again.
Robert Witham yealp that’s what I’d do also
I like Robert!!!
Yep, even unscented cat litter smells strongly.
Great interview ,thanks !
Nice minimalist setup!
It was a pretty simple setup, but I found it to be reasonably comfortable and functional
Robert Witham : Maybe not for full time living but really nice for camping.
@@golightly5121 I'm actually looking at a larger van now to have a bit more room than in the minivan. I would like more headroom and space for a dedicated work space as I work on a laptop all day.
Lol he looked scared the entire time. Wonder what that was about. Lol. Thanks bob
Haha! I always find it a little intimidating to be on someone else's videos for some reason :)
I got 4 butane cans, 8 oz each, for $4.99 at a Chinese grocery. HMart has them for about the same price, much less than at Walmart.
Inspirational
Thank you so much for this. Very valuable info. I also have an RV RUclips channel, so I'm super excited to see what the collagues are doing. Subbed your channel!
Fill a plastic bottle with water, rubbing alcohol and shampoo. Hole on top and shower. Shower cabine on the bavk of the car. Fix shower curtains with feldpron , plastic bag on de floor agains sand and shower to go.
Same systeme to wash the car.
Is there an interview video missing? This one just seems to start without the usual introduction.
That's the guy from two meander. His daughter just gave him his fifth grandchild.
That looks like a Previa. Mine gets about 18 m.p.g., but it is all wheel drive. You discussed mileage a bit, and made it sound like you had that conversation before you rolled the celluloid. I'm not done yet. I'm like the kid gathered around the storyteller, interrupting with feedback.
This van averaged about 26-28 mpg on open roads so long as I held the speed to 62-65 mph. Driving faster dropped it to about 24 mpg. It was front wheel drive with a 3.8 V6 engine.
Robert Witham So, not a Previa. What is it?
@@tomcondon6169 this was a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country. It has 226,000 on it when I bought it from a nomad friend who was already using it as a camper van and ran like a champ. Only had a few repairs needed over the next 20,000 and it never left me stranded anywhere.
Robert Witham I have a Toyota Previa, their engines have to be small because they have a mid engine, and a supercharger gives better mileage than the standard. My behind-the-driver's seat length is 8 feet. I wonder what length the Town & Country has in the back?
@@tomcondon6169 I forgot about the mid-engine design on the Previa. I used to work with a guy that had one of those vans years ago. My. inside measurements were 48" between the wheel wells (a bit more above and in front of the wells), and right about seven feet from seat backs to the rear door. The roof height was low enough that I had to keep the bed very low to be able to sit straight up for cooking, etc.
I didn't catch what kind of van and what year he has?
I was wondering, too.
Join Planet Fitness for a year (or any gym) and get a shower (and a locker) anytime. Planet Fitness, anywhere in the US, for $250/year. Can't beat it. And get a little exercise while you're at it!
von junzt My 24 Hour Fitness costs me $20/year, but sadly, limited locations.
I have looked at several national gym chains a few times, but have yet to find one that has enough branches in the places where I travel to tempt me. I will definitely do that in the future though if one of them expands into enough places that I am able to justify it.
@rattlayitdown I like the idea and will definitely do it if either my situation changes or more facilities open in the areas where I tend to travel. I do the same in Wyoming during summer with a local, county-operated rec center and take advantage of the chance to work out a bit while I am there.
Always amazing. Take care.
The biggest question i always have is. Where to park and especially if you still work somewhere full time but have off days.? I want to do this and that always been my concerned about where to park.
It seems that most van dwellers (RV, car, etc.) who are tied to one location end up developing a circuit or places they sleep and use facilities so as to avoid being in the same place long enough to attract attention. My default for hanging out during the day in town is to find a city or county park. These are public locations so it is legal to hang out within the open hours and whatever rules the site has about cooking, etc. So I may sleep in a parking lot, drive somewhere to use the facilities, head to a park for the day (sometimes the park has restrooms as well), and then drive to a different parking lot to sleep for the night again. I will also sometimes take off for a few days and head to a dispersed camping area when I have the time to get away.
Um, I didn't see that anyone mentioned what make, model, or year Robert's minivan actually is?? - so what actually is it ???
I don't know, I'm curious, too!
Is there a place to recycle those used fuel canisters?
TieDye Kris Look on the cans, find out their consistency, poke a hole in them and squash them flat with a sledge hammer, and look up, 'recycle,' 'key in metal here,' and, 'key in your location here.' Go. Recycle. Retrieve a few cents for your effort.
Just wondering, I have been thinking of getting a small propane stove but have been getting by with my penny stove.
TieDye Kris I take the attitude, I try to leave a small footprint on earth, I think I do quite well, but I do not cave in to all the propaganda. To keep it simple, (there is a lot I could say), I have to live in THIS world. I think we were deliberately caused to forget the old ways, the self-reliant ways, to cause us to be reliant. If I was planted in one place, studied out to use every cell of my animals, my vegetables, then I could be in perfect balance. This may seem off-topic, hope so, because that OTHER topic is repugnant to me. Suffice to say, his little stove, they're great. You can buy one at a Japanese store with twin jets, the one metal circle has 2 rings of flame instead of 2. Look for a Chinese market, where you can get the canisters for about 4/$5. When the canister gets low, you can do one of several things, a.) Plan for cooking slower, b.) Exchange for a fresh canister, and use the depleted canister elsewhere. I have found that coffee water doesn't take that much longer on low, c.) Put a hot rag, pour boiling water on it, (don't do like me and use a Vic lighter, just joking, I don't do that), to heat it up and boost the pressure. I am just patient. If I can't be patient, new canister, and coffee water is always fast.
One thing about coffee water. I know people who fill the kettle, boil a half gallon for a cup. If I will make 16 oz. of coffee, I pour 16 oz. of water in the empty kettle, fast, and less energy.
Penny stove, alcohol? I have a Kero-Sun kerosene heater I used to use with alcohol. Alcohol is more expensive, unless you distill yourself.
Tom Condon yeah alcohol, I only use when camping but I’d like to ready to go nomad at any time either by choice or necessity. I thought maybe somewhere would exchange those bottles for refill.
TieDye Kris The CANS of propane you see in this video are not refillable. My Japanese ex-wife turned me onto the stove. We made shabu-shabu, and clay pot sea bass. I still have one. It is my redundant stove, and sometimes-in-emergency heater. For less expense, either find something that hooks directly to a bigger tank, (3 to 5 gallons is the most familiar), or use something that takes the smaller green 1 pound tanks, about quart size. The tanks are expensive, but you can learn to refill them. If you ever get to that point, either ask me, or look up one of numerous videos on the topic. There are numerous people who refill who don't get it. Putting it in the freezer is dumb. Anyway, buy the 1 pound green tanks for awhile, save your tanks, and if expense creates expedience, solve the problem.
24 to 28 mpg as only range on that van is deceptive..depending on which of three engines gets 17 - 21 mpg combined cty/hwy..up to 25 mpg highway if 4 cylinder
Www.fueleconomy.gov 2003 chrysler town and country
John Shann I have a 99 Caravan 3.3 v6 built out. Full size mattress, group 24 house battery, tv, DVD player, fridge, cook stove. Weighs 4400 pounds with above items. Add 2 almost 200 lb adults and 2 60 lb dogs plus gear. 23/24 highway and 18 mpg city. The 3.8V6 will get better on the highway, less in the city. I've owned 6 of these vans.
This van had a 3.8 liter V6. City mileage would be lower, but I rarely drove in the city. On open roads I consistently averaged 26-28 mpg, though I do drive slow and easy.
Okay what do you cook in a car that you need baking soda for serious question?
I think he mentioned that it was for odor-control.
Also, it's a good fire retardant in the event of a cooking fire.
If it was just me I'd go with a minivan too. I'd be spending most of the time outside anyway. the van would just be where I slept anyway. I have 4 cats though so yeah don't think that would work for me right now
Sharp van build.works out good look s like
Is there a church service at your r t r or does everyone have their own
Hi bob do you have a dead cat for your mic,, it will sound better than the wind,, your the best in the camping area,, you are the go to guy,, thanks for your work in the videos,,,,garygary
Bob, I’d get so lonely. What do you do.
My experience has been that I actually have far more and closer friends than ever before. The challenge for me is isolating enough to be able to work. LOL I know many others who have had the same experience as nomads. My recommendation is usually to attend some van life/RV/nomad gatherings as an opportunity to meet people. Most nomads that I have met are pretty friendly. Another good "virtual" option is interacting on the Cheap RV Living forums as that will allow you to start getting to know other nomads and possibly make arrangements to meet up on the road.
How do you get mail? I have RX’s from the VA delivered via us mail what do you do about receiving things like this?
Is there a more biodegradable option for lining the bucket. Plastic bags are so bad for the enviroment.
Kathy McG You could use paper bags, just invest heavily in Betadine Surgical Scrub for the infections you will get, and GSE for your intestinal infections...
@A Free and Simple Life - well, yes but I was just asking in general as I wouldn't feel comfortable using plastic bags.
I understand the concern about plastic bags and try to limit how often I need to use them. If I have the option I use public facilities (if staying in or near town) or dig a cathole if boondocking. I have thought about paper, but really don't think it would hold up well.
@Kathy Mack-- I haven't researched as far as bags but slowly there are fungi that make a biodegradable type plastic. I would check that and any other similar items. They exist, but they might just be more expensive or less convenient to purchase. When you find out please inform us many would love to do same. Great comment, really.
1/2 of "Two Meander"?
That's me :)
Raw food storage?
what is the screen tent used for ??
I love my Coleman, but finding the butane is really hard here in Cali, I think they regulate it here. My hubby likes his bio lite.
Smart and final has a pack of four butane canisters for less than nine dollars a pack!!
If you were in San Francisco, say, you could go to a Chinese grocery store, I think 4 for $5.
I have been jammed up a few times with not being able to find butane. I try to carry at least six or eight canisters now to carry me over if I have trouble finding it locally.
@Wanda Tolbert that seems to be the issue. It is usually really small towns and cities near areas popular with nomads/campers that are the most challenging. I had one time early this spring when I could not even find one pound propane cylinders in Pahrump, Nevada other than at the local Big 5 at twice the normal price.
Brilliant :-) *
I prefer my diy micro campers 😛
Two words...wind sock. Otherwise a great video, thanks.
👍❤️😀
say Wal-Mart again
👍
TMI about the bathroom setup. Just saying....
Get microwave! Easier!
I didn't have near enough power to run a microwave in this van.
@@RobertWitham inverter!?????
@@trellwalker9282 my inverter was far too small to run a microwave, but I also did not have the battery capacity or solar to recharge the batteries. A minivan typically does not have enough roof space for the 400+ watts of solar necessary to run a microwave, and I did not have space or funds for enough batteries to power a microwave either. Bob has a few videos where he goes over the power requirements to run even a small microwave. I was running a 100 Watt rooftop solar panel and a 100 Amp hour battery. That setup mostly met my needs for charging phone and laptop, but even then on cloudy days I might run short on power.
@@RobertWitham I have a huge inverter in my minivan and works great! Just a suggestion! Thank you!
what is the screen tent used for ??