10 types of camping: I've been doing it all wrong!
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- Опубликовано: 8 апр 2023
- #vanlife #camping #travel #gear #minivan
I DIY'ed the whole thing. If I did it, you can do it.
If you'd like to buy me a coffee, THANKS! Hit this link: ko-fi.com/thevanthatgotaway
Browse the stuff I used to make the van a camper:
kit.co/TheVanThatGotAway/mini...
*WATCH NEXT*>>>Full Tour of my Minivan Camper: ruclips.net/video/FsCz8USgvJg/видео.html
Love it. "Life's too short to listen to imaginary haters" So true.
Hi Dee! That might just be the most important take-away of this whole thing 😀
The only bad kind of camping is the trip you never take. This was great Leslie, I really enjoyed it!
Aw thanks Valerie! That's a good one. Can I quote you sometime? 😀
Clever approach to various types of camping. "...white knuckle parking..." So funny!
Hi Nancy! Yeah, I love the entertainment of watching it...🤣
"Pickleball court" made me chuckle and then spit out a bit of lunch!!!
Great topic. My style of camping is like yours. Keeping it simple in a minivan with the desire to visit interesting places and meeting people along the way.
Keep it simple, yes! I like how you think 🙂
That was entertaining and clever. Thanks, I enjoyed it and I agree, "oh well, who cares". They can do it their way.😁
Hi Terri, Aw thanks! Yeah, at some point we stop caring so much about what others think, right?
Great fun! Love your presentation! I’m on #4 because I like getting away from people and civilization - with walls. I converted my van also and it’s amazing to be out alone in nature.🌵 🦎 🌴
Hi Cadence, yes, walls are key! What type of van did you convert?
What a great video!!! Camping is all about feeling free, in whatever way that makes you happy. I have a very small Promaster City, that I fixed up myself, as a camper. If I go to a campground, I am always the smallest one. But I can sleep in it, eat in it, watch nature in it. I love being where it's peaceful most of the time. I like your setup very much!!!❤
Hi Kay! I know what you mean about always being the smallest camper 😆 We thought about a Promaster City. How do you like it?
Love the scale! I'm typically an 8, but I will retreat to a hotel in bad weather. For me, camping is a means to an end, to get to travel rather cheaply and enjoy nature a bit. It's all about getting to see new places, not my accomodations.
It's so good to hear someone else say that long term boondocking is boring. I've watched a lot of van life videos and I've never heard anyone else admit that.
Lol, Joann! I gotta be me. Do you feel the same, or do you love being out there in the middle of nowhere? 😄
Leslie, love this topic , great scale, I hope you do a follow-up ( maybe with our poll responses,etc.) If you changed #7 to #8 then I do 2-7 , with my wife it's 4-7. Again thanks for this scale 😊
The best is a State Park on a Monday night, Why??? Because the park is cleaned, few attendees, and the racoons are full from the weekend crowd so they'll leave you alone , 😂
Omg, that's hysterical about the raccoons! 🤣🤣🤣 I will, of course, think of that now on Monday nights 😄
Totally agree about Monday night!
Hello Leslie: We are now camping in our 2017 Toyota Sienna and we love it. We RUclipsd everything and have all the components and comforts we need. I love we can unpack some gear and be set up in 5 minutes. I love that YES I CAN BACK UP THE CAN. We live in Oregon and we’re victims of the 2020 Almeda fires. We lost our home, Tundra and 24 foot travel trailer. Once we were blessed with a home again we missed camping but not pulling a camper. Our comfort level falls in the area of nice State/Federal parks with flushing toilets and showers and hookups for power and water. We are capable of boondocking if needed. Thank you.
Hi Johnnie, Wow what a story! You're a warrior.
Love your camping explanation. Thank you
You never fail to make me smile and lol! I can’t view your vids next to sleeping hubby!
LOL, Debbie!! 🤣🤣🤣 We'll have to meet somewhere else, then!
I have an older class b. I have a toilet and a shower if u want work that hard for it. I love it for now, but when I retire and it will be only me, I may get a minivan.
Hi Samantha! Do you think you'll miss having the extra space? Or are you a minimalist like me? 😀
Great Comfort Scale ...Thanks .😊
I like variety. I'll go up and down the scale, but I'll put the hotel as my last resort!
Hi Sam, I like your style! Are you rollin' in a camper van at the moment?
We cabin camp once a year in Colorado with relatives. The small cabins have electricity and heat but no running water. We have to take our bedding and bath towels, and food. Cookware and dishes provided. There is a modern restroom/ bathhouse in the middle of the campground to serve the 10 cabins on the property. So I guess it's fairly high on the comfort level; we are 20 miles from town in a beautiful area with a river running through the campground, at 7000 ft elevation. I keep telling my husband we need to get a minivan or suburban and camp out of it because there are spectacular views where we could boondock on our way to or from the cabin. He just laughs at me. 🤷♀️
Lol, Jo Babs! Keep working on him, okay?
@@TheVanThatGotAway will do!
Yes on the boondocking balance! I like being in nature and I need my city attractions. As far as comfort, I refuse to pay money to stay anywhere - my mortgage is enough - so anything that's not free is out for me.
This is great. 👍
Aw thanks, Danny! I love your handle 😀
We do seem to like to classify anything and everything. Glad you decided to create your own camping experience.
LOL, Clara, yes I break down everything into a spreadsheet. It's how I'm wired 😆😜 Do you roll with a minivan camper, by chance?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Actually, I am in a Honda CRV.
I love your channel. Have watched it occasionally until now and am regularly watching. My camper is a 2018 DGC. I’ve been blessed by a son-in-law, son and several friends and relatives who have added to, changed and tweaked my rig. I used to tent camp as a child with my family before there were lots of paying campgrounds. Then we had a camper we remodeled, by ourselves,, when I was married. This will be my 3rd summer. I agree with all the advantages you’ve talked about. And before I set off for the summer, I get quite anxious because of being 74 and by myself. I’m not as strong, or able to take care of things myself-as I used to. I’d really like something to stand up in. Maybe a hi-top DGC addition! But I’m going anyway. I like moochcamping, truck stops, campgrounds and boondocking (after I get into my traveling groove).
What a great situation you're in, that you have wonderful people! I can tell you're unstoppable. Where ya headed?
😂 I completely hear your choice. Although I would occasionally love to have our own bathroom (and maybe not the upkeep) I truly love our 1989 VW Vanagon. We are looking forward to another season of adventures after my husband had a hemorrhagic stroke last summer. Life takes turns, enjoy what you love!
Yes, wise words about enjoying what you love. I'm keeping positive thoughts for you and your hubby.
Love your channel, it's #8 for me.
I would say that's my favorite, too. Thanks for the love!
I met a man in Loreto, BCS, who LIVED on his motorcycle. everything he owned was with him and he has for 3 years already!
Oh cool! Did you camp there?
You did miss one, army camping. Fun and excitement for all with all kinds of daily activities like guard duty, foxhole digging and time spent monitoring the radio in the command tent. And we can't forget (much as we would like to) the luxury dinning provided for you at every meal in at the mess tent. Now that's camping ;-)
Dan, what can I say... We're out here enjoying ourselves and whining when the campground shower has low pressure. But there are those who bravely Army Camp with no spa to relax in at the end of the day. I sure appreciate you and everyone else who serve. Cheers 🍻
@@TheVanThatGotAway Thanks, as old as I am I really do miss army camping sometimes. You made a really nice video.
How do you army camp? Newbie here, obv.
In my experience army camping usually starts with a 10 plus mile road march in full gear to a bivouac site close to the rifle range. Once there you set up your tent (with the help of someone with the other half of it) and roll out your sleeping bag and stow your gear. Then you get your entrenching tool and proceed to improve your position and even possibly dig your fighting position (only to fill it in later just before you leave). Once you've finished all that you head to the mess area for chow before hitting the sack. You need to get as much rest in before its your turn at guard duty. I found it was best to either get the very first shift or the very last one as it meant no one would bother you while you were actually trying to sleep. This of course only worked if they didn't have a night time attack planned just to see how you'd react. If all went well you'd get up the next morning and march to the rifle range for qualification only to march back to camp to pack up you gear and tent so you could march back to base. That in a nutshell is army camping.
@@scubaval08
Boondocking and moochdocking … I feel pretty fancy if water is easy to get….
I know, right? And if TV and full-size furniture are nearby! 🤣🤣🤣
I am old.. have an ex rental Mercedes sprinter. .6mtr. Travel on my own. Have toilet, shower, waste containment. (Compulsory in NZ.. too many vans on roads) gas heater... I Like gadgets. So yes have a few. Fav gadgets solar, extra batteries, 12v electric blanket.
Fav places.. anywhere near a lake, beach, river.
Love bird watching.
But am able to stealth camp anywhere too. Doing stuff in city.. just park up in regular carpark.
Real camping.. probably not. Comfortable lifestyle yes.
LOL Barb! At some point in life we need gadgets, right? Do you use your electric blanket a lot?
@@TheVanThatGotAway in winter I leave my cas heater on low all night.. but after that stupid 4am pee. I love to get really warm again with it..
Thank You for sharing your thoughts. I’m in Miami Fl. a solo traveler in a Prius and I love to #2#3#4.
Hi Manie! A Prius? And I thought *I* was a minimalist!! 😆 Cheers to you.
This is a awesome video!!!! Well, most of my life I grew up tent camping. My Dad owned the 34 ft. Class As. I would pitch my tent near it and sleep in my tent. Then many years traveling on my Harley and pitching my tent for the night. Now over sixty, I'm looking for the right buy on a Toyota Sienna AWD Limited to convert to a minivan camper and like you, travel. Always thumbs up from the 641...
Aw thanks, Mike! Maybe we saw you somewhere rolling up on your Harley and pitching your tent?!! 😄 Ler me know how the Sienna hunt goes.
We camp for 10 days in an suv with 2 bikes. We fold down the back seats . Rolled out two sleeping bags. And sleep. That’s camping to us because we were having fun doing what we wanted . We go in town explore and eat have lunch, bike whatever trail we find where ever we go do our toiletry at rest stops or wipe down with wet wipes. I have washed my hair at rest stops that had hot water and a towel . We make due with what ever we had but I think we are pretty well prepared for what we need. You don’t need much.
How right you are, Autumn! How many habits do we hang on to, trying to mimic our life in a house...
Beautiful
As with most things, camping exists on a spectrum. I love all of it. The one exception would be an RV-too much “comfort” for me. Backpacking is always adjunct to the car camping I do and I like that way.🌿
Hi Hope, Was it you that said your idea of luxury was not having to chop your own firewood? That definitely stuck with me. 😆
@@TheVanThatGotAway
Truth. 🪵🪓🌿
Hmmm, I would change the order on these-I see being out in state/national parks and natl forest campgrounds as more “camping” than city stealth, moochdocking, or any manner of parking lot: yes, there’s usually vault or flush toilets and maybe showers, but there are also trails, bugs, bears, etc. It’s the best way to get “out” for many of us who are disabled. I’ve stayed in hotels and motels, and don’t even consider those to be close to camping. I’ve done wilderness canoe camping, but even there you may have vault toilets and fire rings (BWCA, for example). Aside from that, I’ve mostly done state/natl park camping because I can’t hike any more.
Hi Libby, That wilderness canoe camping sounds intriguing! Thanks for taking the time to say hi.
Very informative and fun video.
Thank you for making it.
I literally just got a 2010 van yesterday and am really looking forward to getting out there.
Oh cool! What kind of van did you get?
It’s a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan.
Just over 100K and I have to get the a/c working again.
I had it blowing cold air but now it’s blowing semi lukewarm air.
I love the idea of mooch docking. I would put it much higher up the scale. I wonder where private camp grounds would rank?
Hi Books! Have you moochdocked before? We've done it 3 or 4 times. Always fun.
Leslie, THIS was so funny! As a older female “camping” solo I’ve done 3, 7 and 10. My first road trip a few years ago I didn’t think to sleep in my car 🤦🏻. However, I knew I wanted to visit places of interest along my drive but I didn’t know when or where I wanted to stop/stay. So, when I knew I wanted to stop WITHIN an hour or 2 I looked for (google) motels/airbnb within that range to stay a night or 2. I haven’t used campendium or ioverlander, etc, to find camping areas. I didn’t have ANY camping items. I wanted to see if I could do long distance driving at all!! I’ve since taken long drives, sleeping in my car and stayed at rv parks short term. It’s ironic that my passion for rv’s stem over 25 yrs but have since “downgraded” to car camping. I have an SUV. 😂😂 Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Esther! Oh how far you've come and how much adventure you've embraced 😀 I love your story!
I really like the back shelves you made. Is that a custom job? I don’t have any shelving like that and would love to make something like it for my Sienna. Also, I think comfort and safety are the top two priorities for camping.
I couldn't agree more about comfort and safety. Yes, the shelves are completely custom, I made a video about how I made 'em if you're interested 😄
@@TheVanThatGotAway nice! What’s it called? Do you have a link?
Trails, tent, grand caravan is my mix 👍 so, 1-5 works. BTW, Leslie, one channel was talking about not being able to film anymore as laws were changing concerning uploading anything filmed on public land - have you heard about this? Always good to see you 😊
Hi Jaycee! Thanks for taking the time to check in. The latest I've heard about filming on any public land, like Bureau of Land Mgmnt, etc, is that anyone using extensive equipment like sets, props, audio and video equipment and actors must acquire a permit. I'm not sure that's a recent development, though. What have you heard around the water cooler?
@@TheVanThatGotAway Hi Leslie - the channel (AvianMariner) just popped up on my feed (right term?), and thought I'd watch as some favourites are American and some fellow Canadian favourites film in the States in the winter. Thought I'd pass it around to all.
What did you do for flooring? I’m having difficulty. I also love the bed/sofa and would love to see the build and possibly the build of the side storage. Love you set up
Hi Tess, Pretty much nothing for flooring. The bed takes up most of the floor anyway, and I just put down some clear plastic carpet runner over the space behind the front seats. Works great.
I'm just getting started car camping as I get closer to retirement. My level is 8 for now.
Congrats! Yep, my level hovers at 8, too. 😄 What kind of vehicle are you rolling with?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I have a 2005 Pontiac Vibe which is really a Toyota Matrix is disguise. It is very versatile for its size. I've only slept in it twice so far. It feels roomy enough for one person.
Oo, small enough to get great gas mileage!
@@TheVanThatGotAway Yes, I came from an older minivan that had tons of room, but wasn't reliable and got crappy gas mileage around town. I just needed a reliable little grocery getter. I almost bought a Honda Fit, (also very versatile) but am glad I went one size larger now that I am going to use the Vibe for camping. Thank you for all the videos. I love your van setup.
Leslie I do want to keep n touch w you, Iam pretty handy but I really need some help with my van built, alba
QUESTION:
I have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan.
In the back I have 4 “slots” in the sealing and I’m wondering if anyone has any ideas what I could utilize them for besides holding glasses?
Thanks :)
Could you string something- bungee or rope- between them for storing stuff on the ceiling? Maybe some netting for holding clothes?
Sorry if this was covered. What types of Campsites can you use with a minivan camper at state and national parks. I tried to make a reservation at a site in Florida (state park) and they said I could not camp in a minivan but needed a rv with hookups. Any guidance when making reservations at state national / campgrounds?
Hi Kevin, Personally I haven't yet been told that, but if I were I would book a site as a "tent camper" - wink, wink - and just pitch a cheap little tent next to the van. No one's gonna check where you sleep, LOL!
@@TheVanThatGotAway great tip!
Hey Leslie!! How much would it cost to do a build out like yours??
Hi Carolyn, I did a short video about the cost breakdown, if you want details. For my build it cost me about $700 US.
Is it possible for you to share the campground location who allow minivans as camper
Hi Ramesh, We have never been turned away at any campground. Are you minivanning, too? 😀
Yes, thanks
What part of south Carolina
Hi Paul! Everywhere except Columbia, LOL 😄 Do you spend much time there?
@@TheVanThatGotAway yeah I live in Lexington SC
Hater's are going to hate
Just shake it off 😀
I overlanded and tent camped every night for 4 yrs. england to cameroon, capetown to ulan bataar. I refuse to sleep on the ground ever again, so, a bed with comfy mattress in my 4x4 with what I consider the best to camp. If I end up in a parking lot, residential street, city camping area, blm or boondock, etc etc, 👍As long as it is quiet, it is a campsite. rv parks? NOT camping.
Lol, Beni! You are a badass.