Van Build BASICS as a SOLO FEMALE
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Figuring out van life as a solo female with a dog! The basics of my van build had me stumped... but after this conversation with a van life buddy, a friend that does professional build-outs, and my experienced family members, I was able to make decisions about where to start with my build.
We go over the 4 main things that I was most unsure about:
Electrical System
Cooling Options
Cooking Set-up
Water System
Planning is everything at this stage - it is much harder to go back and add things in a van, so getting clear on what you need for your level of comfort is crucial!
If you wish to support our channel & help us continue making videos to inspire others, visit our Patreon here!
/ linneaandakela
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We are Linnea and Akela. In May, 2020 I purchased our 2016 Ram ProMaster, Togo, to become our full-time home. With this van build, I am using my stubbornness and drive to show individuals that they, too, can convert a campervan BY THEMSELVES and ON A BUDGET, with a lot of learning, rolling up the sleeves, and getting to work.
Our goal is to inspire individuals to chase their dreams... to break from societal limitations and live the life they truly desire. And, to GET OUTSIDE!
SUBSCRIBE for van build details, wanderlust travel, and the truth about van life with a big german shepherd!
Follow on Instagram: @linnea.and.akela
Thank you for allowing us to see the entire thought process.
Absolutely. I always wondered where someone could even start with something so big, so I figured I would share!
Thank you for being a good person
@@Linneaandakela thanks it helps….. I wish I knew someone I could call up and ask for help or even to work along side me I want to do my own build but would have to some type of guidance . I learned somethings from this video so thanks you like when he said direct current. I was like what’s that we both had that moment. Then he explained it
I’m in a precarious situation right now where I may become homeless after the company (who I’ve worked for since I was 15) goes out of business at the end of the month. I was even starting to have some suicidal thoughts.
Your video on Tik Tok not only gave me practical advice on how I can survive, but it also gave me something even more important: Hope.
I am so sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing a bit of what you are going through. I wish you the best of luck with your path forward! You got this 💕
Hope all is well for ya how are you?
Hope you had your situation turn around and are doing well🙏🏽💕💕
Hope you are doing okay and your situation is stable again
What an INCREDIBLE INSPIRING series. I'm watching all rn as I'm starting my van journey as a solo female
With the Promaster, you don't have to drill into your gas tank to install a wabasto-type heater. There is a simple adapter that you add to the top of the tank and it is accessed under the floor mat between the seats.
You could do the 2 bucket method for the toilet. 1 bucket with biodegradable bags and a lid. the other with wood chips. You put down some wood chips, do your business and then cover the business with more wood chips. and bury it or toss it in the garbage. The wood chips will cover the smell and as I understand, Cedar really masks the smell.
you can get a toilet lid that's made for buckets at a camping store or bass pro. etc.
Thank you for the suggestion!
What a beautiful organization. I learned a lot of things from this video. I also feel positive. Thank you very much.
I'm so glad!
Just came across your channel and have a low cost tip for composting toilets. 2 5 gallon buckets one empty and one filled with sawdust ( you can get bags of sawdust at any large animal feed lot (where they sell hay)) and a bucket of odor control cat litter. After using the first bucket add a thin layer of cat litter and a layer of sawdust. Once out in the woods you can just bury the compost bucket contents without worry. By the time you read this you will have found other solutions that might work better for you, just putting this out there for others just starting out
It's so exciting to me to listen you to plan your build. I cannot wait to plan my own. All little details would just keep me up all night 😊
Very useful information!! Thank you for taking us along!!
Hey Linnea & Akela!!! I'm gonna continue to watch your videos to get caught up. You are SO PRACTICAL and I intend to follow your lead with keeping true to what is important to one's self. Continue to be SAFE out there and Thank you for sharing. 😎
So funny that I had the same questions! Solo female with a doggo here as well! See you out there!
Hey, I heard your story on FNA Van Life and you inspired me, i have been waffling over buying a ready made Roadtrek or building my own, and the one issue i keep coming back to, is i am a woman, and i will be doing it alone. Thank you for sharing your journey, after watching your videos i will let you know which route i choose!
Thanks for emphasizing unusual parts of the process, like planning. Great channel!
Yaaass!! Thank you so much for this video! I'm just getting started and I want to live a more simplistic lifestyle. Love all of this! 👏👏👏
I found you on here and I am starting a van build very soon and all your videos are so so so helpful. Thanks so much.
Congrats on the upcoming build! You are welcome :)
About toilet... Composing toilet is great for actually living in a van or if it'll stay above freezing all times. You can actually build one yourself, maybe not worth almost thousand $ I think.
My weekend warrior got moderately cheap Porta Potta which is easier when not actively in use especially below freezing conditions.
See that heating is needed to get water not freeze, including toilet & plumbing.
I won’t be In freezing temperatures much :) when I am, I will be using a Mr. Buddy every so often! Since I will be living in it full time, I am going to do my best with following the seasons and staying away from freezing temperatures
I wanna do this too and your making me confident enough to make my own van! I want it to have a shower tho
I was thinking I love to see the flame when I cook...but I wonder about circulation issues due to combustible fuel carbon monoxide issues? I love your research sharing. Airflow....YES!!
I have an e-350 ambulance, and I'm glad there's someone posting successful van building.
I think preppers are somewhat ridiculous in preparing for the end of society, but the ability for modern humans to live... currently revolves about people buzzing around to maintain a vast infrastructure which is no longer the only option.
People need visions to seed their dreams, and you've taken to providing. I commend you.
The ambulance has many loose wires from when it was decommissioned, so the chore of cleaning it is justice for the large, square cabin. My design philosophy is for a modern apartment. My plan is to add a(n) hydroponic bay for fresh greens, electric/gas kitchen appliances, manufactury, shower/sink, and wireless. All this is possible without grid connection, and I believe it is necessary to make such an option mainstream because our human development is being retarded by centralized infrastructure.
After power( both motive and electric), I think water can be pulled out of air via an electrostatic sponge. With a biofuel converter, the ideal van would be a veritable ark of modern life, only requiring your main food source. Adding AM radio equipment, infrastructure for civil life could be established anywhere in the world.
That's the vision I possess, what's yours?
Just watched yah install a heater. Makes me feel better about things changing as the build goes along. Relieves some of the stress
Absolutely :)
I agree with everything except for the toilet. This is a definitely must have if you do not wanna get into troubles. I have a sailboat and I still use my bio toilet even when I stay in marinas.
I have been full time in my van for over a year and I love my decision to not include a toilet! Works great for me :)
@@Linneaandakela Sounds to me that you have some superpower that I don’t))
Your face when he said "just drill a hole in your gas tank" was priceless 😂
Right lol…I had that same face lol…. I was like uhhhh
Plan B….
Great thought process. TFS
I just started learning about vanbuilds and currently trying to get educated. We definitely whispered 'WHAT??'🥴 at the exact same time🤦🏽♀️🤣
I am a new subscriber I LOVE AKELA German Shepard right! I am going to be starting van life and these videos will help a lot and my partner and I are going to stay together but do separate things too! loving your videos! xoxo Carla
You can make your own composting toilet. Urine diverters are available which are the main principle in the modern composting toilet. Check it out online you can save hundreds of dollars.
I will need to look into this for sure!! Thank you!
I found you here while looking for rivnuts, I can attest to the "dump in a hole" technique 🕳️😂😜👌
Hey Akela, can you tell me what battery bank your mom is going/went with? Ask her cuz I'm doing a van build and I'm stuck on the battery question. I'm like you (I think) and my brain zaps out with all the battery information and I just want to play ball or play in the river.
❤❤❤❤
Linnea, you better to plan your furniture to take later cheap Chinese diesel heater when you've settled for longer stay in sub freezing climate.
Just make sure that the place will allow punching hole through floor and there is not to long reach for exhaust plumbing toward van's outer edge.
I'm building weekend warrior type of camper from my -89 Chevy Van and installed heater behind driver's seat. Will build cabinet over it and do some T-fitting and longer hot air plumbing to evenly heat interior as it'll see near arctic circle winter weathers...
Wow! Where are you planning to be? Sounds like a great set up. My van isn’t diesel - so I will just use a Mr. Buddy when needed. I wish you the best of luck with the build and all of your adventures!
@@Linneaandakela Thanks and I'm wishing the same for your build, it's looking great!
I'm living in Oulu, Finland, Nordic country between Sweden/Norway & Russia.
Plenty of caravans but very rare camper vans, almost none diy built. I've got great winter proof camping trailer but it's hassle to pull it distances just for couple of nights...
Wow! I have been there! You have a beautiful home... absolutely beautiful. That also explains the attention to heating in your van haha
@@Linneaandakela btw, my van isn't diesel either... just plumbed supplied 10 liter diesel jug underside to its fuel pump and heater. Not fun but possible.
Mr Buddy is that gas heater? Better ventilate well, I've learned that it generates plenty of moisture which isn't fun...
So looking back on this video, what if anything would you change.
i came from tik tok and i’m never leaving
Same. I downloaded it today. This is roughly between the first 10th to 15th video that it showed me, And now I’m gonna delete TickTock because there will never be a videos on there as good or important to me as the one in this series.
Haha you guys are great!
Welcome!!
This was an awesome video I was as confused as u in the beginning
What will you do with trash/potential food waste?
That’s why you get a dog.
Hi!! I will have a normal trash. Something small and simple!
This is awsome can’t wait
You need to right size your alternator to charge deep cycle batteries. Also, the device that makes AC from DC is called an inverter. Not sure why the guy didn't tell her this.
I learned all of this as I decided my solar set up. Which is installed and working great. What I needed from Kyley was an understanding of if I even wanted or needed much power. I wasn’t banking on him to tell me all of the details right then!
Linnea & Akela Understood. Thanks for the reply. Love your videos BTW.
Very helpful. 👊🍻
Who the fuck disliked this video? This was so informative and interesting.
Have you looked at the Jackery portable poweer station? It is very portable. Also , there are very inexpensive water pumps that have USB charghing.
Oh that is awesome! I have decided (for now) to go with a 200w solar system and a foot pump! I will have to look into the USB charging pump though... that sounds pretty neat. Thank you!
I use Pilot 0.7 gel pens, how coincidental is that?
Man you asked all the things I’d wanna know lol
What is a bluie water thing you are taking about ? I can’t find it on Amazon
🌸💗🌸💗🌸💗🌸💗🌸💗🌸
Hi so, I watched your buying your van video 😎😊I see that you financed it and it was about $20,000 so can you share what you monthly payment is? I know you said you put some money down? What was that amount? I’m asking because I am saving for a van but I’m thinking it would be good also to finance it and make monthly payments instead of rent! My van will be my forever home I am 59 and ready to get out of the stick and brick stealing my money .. thanks
She said $300/month
😊😉😉🤘👍👍
By the way, we didn't see your handwriting.lol
The only thing I hate about your videos is the amount of adds you've put. So far I've had like 10 adds play just to watch this video..
They are automatic - I don’t mess with them at all 🤷🏼♀️
@@Linneaandakela Your content is amazing. I wish RUclips didn't plague it with adds but looking forward to watching all your videos :)
I seee all of them never skip. It is the way we support our contebt creator without pay them directly. They provide free content we should help them with not skipping ad