Just ordered a change robe. Been snorkeling for years. Never knew such a miracle existed. Always had to result to the Kama sutra, yoga, pretzel towel technique to get changed in public
Use silica packets. I also grab dollar tree moisture grabbers. They work. I have silica packets hanging in the windows in little mesh bags. I have them attached to my window coverings with velcro tape. I also place them under my sink area, garage, Porta potty box and laying in on the dash. If I am in high humidity regions I place throughout van. Also 2x monthly, I wipe the interior windows with anti-fog. Life saver.
My convenience bottle is an apropriately named Comfort bottle. (Fabric conditioner). Simple to use dont even have to get out of bed and the cap is fully sealed. In the morning you can walk to the services and no one knows what you are carrying so you can empty it rinse it out and it is ready for the next night.
I think it's appropriate to buy a half dozen of those midgie night lights, go back to Glen Coe during twilight, light them up and leave!! Payback !😄 You've been upgrading your carry-alongs since we first saw your empty van last year. Glad it's all working out for you.
Some of these are something I take motorcycle camping too. Shower wipes, great for a 'bits and pits' wash in the tent; mini hot water bottle (quarter the size of your sheep) great in the bottom of a sleeping bag. Not got the van, but some of your thoughts here will come with me next time I'm on the bike!
Hmm yeah definitely a bit of a crossover. Some of this stuff I use camping too, maybe in a different format. Like I use a camping lantern with warm and cool light options.
Wow what a through and complete list. Some great ideas for making camping more pleasurable. Sorry you had the uninvited lookie-lou as an uninvited audience member. One suggestion is instead of the bug spray is hanging som good old fashioned fly paper in the van. They work surprisingly well and just replace when full. Really enjoyed this video thanks.
Ben-One Beach very good! Sadly camping with a van has sadly changed a massive amount in 20 years. These days you have very few free camp sites. I had a T4 Transporter from 1996-2006, it went all over Ireland > Scotland, > Wales and the West Country. 400,000 miles worth and loved it : ) I Just had a Camping gas unit, a potty, dc power bilge pump used for showers, I drove a company supplied new Custom transit for 2 years a great van.
Definitely seem to be a lot more vans around now! Think the pandemic had a lot to do with it, people bought campers instead of going abroad. You had a shower, one better than me! Yeah I really like the transit custom, drives like a car. Drove one for a week in Scotland when I was filming a documentary about two years ago and it convinced me.
Super helpful, I hadn't come across several of those items before, some of which may prove invaluable - thank you! I'm especially surprised that I hadn't seen that stove heater before, I'm thinking it should work well with an alcohol stove inside a tent (with good ventilation).
28. electric washing machine 29. electric refrigerator 30. more electrical gadgets 31. diesel electric generator 32. solar panels 33. wind turbine 34. mini atomic power station 35. etc.
At one point a group of Americans were standing about 20meters away just staring straight at me. I went and hid inside the van in shame until they left 🙈 I suppose it did look a bit like I'd opened a shop on the beach 🤣 Next time I'm going further down the beach!
Some items a bit redundant, but change robe is a brainwave. So simple. Also you're all about electric when that's so hard to sustain with the system you have, unless you're not in your van for more than 3 days at a time. Cooking with propane so much more efficient.
I have a gas stove as backup if I need it. But I often plan trips so at least every third day I’m at a proper campsite so that means an electric hook up for recharge
Great film, thanks for this - so many things I didn’t know I needed for my van!!!
Thanks Phil!
Just ordered a change robe. Been snorkeling for years. Never knew such a miracle existed. Always had to result to the Kama sutra, yoga, pretzel towel technique to get changed in public
Forgot to say thank you. Thank you
You’re welcome! Game changing bit of kit, thought they were overkill to start with but then realised it has a lot more uses than just changing
Use silica packets. I also grab dollar tree moisture grabbers. They work. I have silica packets hanging in the windows in little mesh bags. I have them attached to my window coverings with velcro tape. I also place them under my sink area, garage, Porta potty box and laying in on the dash. If I am in high humidity regions I place throughout van. Also 2x monthly, I wipe the interior windows with anti-fog. Life saver.
I have a dehumidifier bag which is like a big silica packet.
Brilliant Stephen, may steal a few of these ideas myself... a few I have already and are invaluable.. the bike is looking very tempting lol
Thanks Colin!
Glad to see sheeepie is still with you on your travels 😎😎😎
Sheepie is my best friend on cold nights 😂
@@StephenJReid 🐏🐏🐏😂
Great list! Big fan of a duvalet, a pee bag, and a (crazy loud) personal protection alarm. Also a wireless outside temp indicator super useful.
Ooo outside temp would be useful, my current method is stick an arm out the window and flail it around a bit
My convenience bottle is an apropriately named Comfort bottle. (Fabric conditioner). Simple to use dont even have to get out of bed and the cap is fully sealed. In the morning you can walk to the services and no one knows what you are carrying so you can empty it rinse it out and it is ready for the next night.
I think it's appropriate to buy a half dozen of those midgie night lights, go back to Glen Coe during twilight, light them up and leave!!
Payback !😄
You've been upgrading your carry-alongs since we first saw your empty van last year. Glad it's all working out for you.
Haha, been plotting my revenge on the midges for a year now 😂😂😂
Great list, I must have magnets 😍
I love my magnets. Want to buy more. Keep finding uses for them and then having no loose ones
I love the Bricklayers tan Stephen 😂
I only tan from the neck up and the sleeves down 😂
That was very interesting lad well done
Thanks! 🙂
This is really helpful! love it! Got a few things on my list from that video.
Thanks Rachel! 🙂
A radar key is handy for locked public toilets if you’re ever stuck. Can get them online.
Got one of them. Totally forgot I had it. Total emergencies only though
Some of these are something I take motorcycle camping too. Shower wipes, great for a 'bits and pits' wash in the tent; mini hot water bottle (quarter the size of your sheep) great in the bottom of a sleeping bag. Not got the van, but some of your thoughts here will come with me next time I'm on the bike!
Hmm yeah definitely a bit of a crossover. Some of this stuff I use camping too, maybe in a different format. Like I use a camping lantern with warm and cool light options.
Wow what a through and complete list. Some great ideas for making camping more pleasurable. Sorry you had the uninvited lookie-lou as an uninvited audience member. One suggestion is instead of the bug spray is hanging som good old fashioned fly paper in the van. They work surprisingly well and just replace when full. Really enjoyed this video thanks.
Fly paper! That’s a great idea, although assuming not the curly long ribbons? I’d end up with it stuck on my face 😂
@@StephenJReid That'll be a good video. "How I hung myself with fly paper" 😄
That change robe looks like it would make a good pillow. Does it fold into a built in pouch/pockets?
It doesn’t, but you can easily roll it up into a pillow shape
Ben-One Beach very good! Sadly camping with a van has sadly changed a massive amount in 20 years. These days you have very few free camp sites.
I had a T4 Transporter from 1996-2006, it went all over Ireland > Scotland, > Wales and the West Country. 400,000 miles worth and loved it : )
I Just had a Camping gas unit, a potty, dc power bilge pump used for showers, I drove a company supplied new Custom transit for 2 years a great van.
Definitely seem to be a lot more vans around now! Think the pandemic had a lot to do with it, people bought campers instead of going abroad.
You had a shower, one better than me!
Yeah I really like the transit custom, drives like a car. Drove one for a week in Scotland when I was filming a documentary about two years ago and it convinced me.
Great video, thanks 🙂
Thanks Pam!
best yet, i was in bits "....it's not glamorous." :)
It ain’t! 😂
Super helpful, I hadn't come across several of those items before, some of which may prove invaluable - thank you! I'm especially surprised that I hadn't seen that stove heater before, I'm thinking it should work well with an alcohol stove inside a tent (with good ventilation).
Thanks Andrew!
28. electric washing machine 29. electric refrigerator 30. more electrical gadgets 31. diesel electric generator 32. solar panels 33. wind turbine 34. mini atomic power station 35. etc.
😂 I keep those in the trailer
Very useful video Stephen, but you didn't mention that dangling red leash ;-)
Ah yes. I actually did record a bit for that, it’s a ratchet strap. But I swapped it for the cargo net as thought it was the more useful option
@@StephenJReid Now we know. So not a leash for the missus :-D
@Pixelpeter 🙈
@@StephenJReid BTW: the elastic net instead of a shelf in the back is a good idea and much more practical :-)
Good video Stephen. How long did you have to wait for the ? to vanish between numbers, 21 and 22 ? I was cracking up maybe they were star-struck!
At one point a group of Americans were standing about 20meters away just staring straight at me. I went and hid inside the van in shame until they left 🙈
I suppose it did look a bit like I'd opened a shop on the beach 🤣
Next time I'm going further down the beach!
Fair play you carried on I would have put the kettle on waiting for them to move on
@@StephenJReid Americans tend to do that overseas...stand around staring.
@@SpaceCadet4Jesus Should have charged them for admission and then conducted a tour of van 😂
Cool vedio sir ✌️🙂
I love going out in my van, no way I'm swapping my noisy gas heater, it's a life saver when I get out of the water.
Hard to beat a lot of quick heat. I use the stove heater for that in colder weather
Stephen. Add a small gel dehumidifier will help cut down condensation …… still can’t find a ‘join’ button duh!!!
Good tip! Have since done so, have a couple of them
Is that Benone/Downhill beach?
Yup
What’s number two called again ?! 😂
Number twos? 😂
@@StephenJReid 😂 😂
that red car has been up and down 3 times now getting closer every time, nosey ****s. #08 having a gypsies' - big deal.
Definitely attracted a bit of attention!
Some items a bit redundant, but change robe is a brainwave. So simple. Also you're all about electric when that's so hard to sustain with the system you have, unless you're not in your van for more than 3 days at a time. Cooking with propane so much more efficient.
I have a gas stove as backup if I need it. But I often plan trips so at least every third day I’m at a proper campsite so that means an electric hook up for recharge
#16. Hiiiii. Shhheeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!
😁😁😁