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Lina, thank you. My younger sister had done this as well. And when we visited with her it made me wonder what's been hiding under MY hair color for - oh - these many decades! LOL!!
I bought some motion activated solar lights ($5.00 a piece at Dollar General) and attached them with magnets to the side of my van and the back of my van. I do remove them when driving but I just place them on the dash so they charge and then place them back on the outside of the van when I get to where I'm going. I also just recently got a 10 ft. (I think it's 10 ft, could be 12) line of solar lights that go around my awning. I will attach them to the awning using small binder clips that you get in the office dept at walmart. I haven't used those yet so I can't say how well they work but they were only about $10.00 at Walmart. Just thought I'd give you a couple ideas of what I did to add lights to the outside of the van.
Hey Gypsie, I like your idea of having 2 sets of lights. One for atmosphere and one for lighting up the path to the facilities in the night. How do those Dollar General lights work for you so far?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I bought two of the 2 years ago and about 6 months ago one stopped working (it's probably just the battery) but the other one is still working great. I figure for 5 bucks I got my money's worth. I haven't been able to find the same ones again for less than 10 bucks now so I will see if I can find replacement batteries before I buy a new light.
Clam shelter. More expensive than a tent but up and down in mins. No need for pools CLAM. Comes in great sizes. Lots of RUclips on it. I have one i love it
Hey Rosy, thanks for that info! I'm watching prices on some Clam shelters, waiting to pounce when the price drops to "what a steal" level. LOL! Thanks again for checking in.
Low impact, shielded, and appropriate levels of lighting are okay, but honestly, the way some people light up their campsites at night makes me wonder why they even leave their houses. There's so much light trespass and often the light is so bright that you may as well not be camping. Also the places we camp are some of the last places left that are okay to go where we can actually see stars at night. I once camp next to somebody who had such bright lights that I literally couldn't see the stars at night and it was lighting up our tent. The little lucy string lights are really great and they will charge themselves during the day so you can use them at night. You will be surprised at how little light you actually need to be able to "see" and enjoy your evening activities.
I camped with my niece for the first time ever in my minivan. Bought the bucket and kitty litter however there was a restroom at the campground across from where we were. I open the minivan door thinking it would just be a quick trip across the street and the door locked 💁🏽♀️. 12 o’clock at night me and my 10-year-old niece. 🙄. Thank God I bought one of those reacher thingies that you use to pick trash up off the ground I purposely placed it on top of the van along with other non-food items. and left the van windows cracked in the back and so happen to hang my keys near the window. That was God’s grace lol! After sleeping cramped in the second and third row seats while my niece took the first row seats I understand why people need to build out their van! 😂😂😂. I want to enjoy my van like the people I see on RUclips lol!
Thanks Christine! But the real thanks go to my younger sister who went silver first. And my amazing stylist who rocks. 😀 I appreciate the encouragement, it means a lot!
Good job again! Please do a video on how you put your house on Air BNB. I imagine you had to move A LOT of personal items out and commit to life on the road. Also you mentioned a pop up screen tent. I've been searching but yet to find the perfect one. Can't wait to see what you find. Keep it up.
Okay, I'll do that video for you! I'm so glad you asked 'cause I LOVED the process and hoped other people might want to know what I learned. Thanks for watching and thanks for the encouragement.
We really enjoy your videos. Although we are older, we still camp a lot in our minivan. We use 2 different shelter approaches. You are correct about showing occupancy of a site, when away for the day. We use an REI 10x10 screen house. We have had 2 other brands & like REI best. We also sometimes use a 10x10 "woodland shelter" from LL Bean that does not have screening. We drape a tarp between between the van & the shelter so we have great cover in the rain. Attaching to the shelter is easy, but the van not so much. The boat shops sell expensive 4-5" suction devices to attach things to kayaks. I've found smaller & much cheaper suction cup thingies at Harbor freight. They are used for pulling out dents in car body panels. They easily attach to metal or glass on the van. When you go away just untie & leave cups in place. Both shelters are free standing. The shelters take 2 people to assemble but we have gotten good at it, had them for years. Sorry this comment is so long. I too would be glad to answer any questions.
Hi Dick! I love that idea of making a walkway between the van and the screen house. It's more than just adding an extra room, it's like adding an extra wing to the "house." LOL!! I'm glad to hear from other minivan campers like yourself. And it's inspiring to hear about your smart solutions. No comment is ever too long when it's full of good quality chat. Thanks so much for taking the time to share what you're up to. And thanks for watching, as well.
I have watched your Full Tour and more. I like your build, your philosophy, and your practicality. I tend to over-think things, so I am taking it slow and trying out different layouts. Right now I'm doing what I call a Home Depot build out. Crates, tubs and shelves I can move around. So I am not going to build anything until I know what works right for me. I had running water and a shower on my wish list, but like you, I will wait until I need it to install it. Thanks for the tips. Edit: I don't see a link to the awning. That intrigues me. I have a tarp over the rear hatch for cooking and relaxing. Yep, it needs outdoor lighting :-)
Great video. And Yes, Lights outside are awesome. I use solar or battery twinkling hung from my van to trees for lights. I also have a few solar garden lights i lay on the path to "potty" easy peasy .
At two dam-related, Corps of Engineers, type campgrounds, I was told I had to put up a tent, or something, in order to stay there. Luckily I carry a pop-up screen/ sun shelter that looks like a tent, so I got away with sleeping in my car. Also, it DID mark my spot, although once I paid, my spot was reserved. But I had to go about 30 minutes back to a town because I forgot to buy charcoal and having the tent kind of hid my camp stuff so i didn’t have to pack everything up and put in the car. Love your videos!
Adding a screened in pop up shelter is an excellent idea for many reasons !! One would be for a bucket potty to use at night !! No way I'll go into the forest at night, too many things I can't see
Another good job, Leslie. You're a natural in front of the camera. Thanks for all the tips. Less is definitely more. Plus it makes more room for different wines!
You might want to check with Journey offroad. They do lift kits for minivans, They may be able to tell you options and how it effects drivability and wear and tear on suspension. Great channel,
Hey Leslie! I use 2 kinds of lights . Exterior u can get cheap solar tube lights, remove the stake from the charging cell and zip tie them along the roof rail. Can also mount them along floorboard exterior. Auto-on/off. I also love the magnetic bottom usb rechargable swivel head mini flashlight by Feit. Pricey but strong magnet, bright minilight, swivel head (point it down as u load the van or stick it to the lid of the grill) convenient & pocket-small. Grab it on your way to the bath house. Other brands/styles available, but the magnetic bottom was key for me.
Screen house...we bought a 13x9 from Walmart for $40! It's survived 3 windy, rainstorms so far. Only wish it had magnetic doors and openings on all 4 sides, so I just ordered a magnetic screen door and I going to alter one side and see how that works. As a bonus, it's big enough to set up over my little car to use for car camping.
Norma, that is so cool! You use it as a portable garage😀🤣 Thanks for taking the time to share this info. Let me know how the added-screen project goes, okay?
Wonderful practical content! I have used the CLAM brand pop up screen tent (Traveler version perfect for 1 or 2 people) both camping and in my backyard. It is approx 6 ft long it fits in my small car but could easily be added to a roof basket or left in the van. One person can certainly put it up; but with two people it's a breeze. I recommend you watching a few RUclips videos to make the process flow better. What I like about it is it keeps the bugs out, is simple to put up and take down. and gives me wonderful additional space. They go on sale periodically so look around. PS: Have even used it as a tent since you can get it with "flaps".
There are definitely solar lights that charge during the day and then run at night, which are put on a vehicle with double sided sticky tape already on them so that you don't have to put any screws into your van. (So an not to ruin the paint finish, I would suggest you put them on the back window.) I believe you can buy them almost anywhere, Walmart, Lowes, Amazon, whatever is close to you. I've seen videos from Panda-monium where she put them on her Class C when she had the old one. (She now has a brand new Class C which has lights.) Anyhow, yes, you can buy solar lights made for your exact needs, it's not just wishful thinking. (If you've ever bought any angled solar lights for stairs, deck, or fence, you can use that same style. No solar panel needed.) Another tho't is that you can buy cheap solar lights to stake into the ground around the van, or even put in a clay pot or something on a table. When we have power failures here at home, I sometimes go get the ones I have in my garden and bring them in the house for light. Get a clay pot and put some floral foam in it to stake them in.) Hope this helps!
I love your videos Leslie. You always put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing. I don’t an awning or a pop up, although I’m also looking to buy one but they are all sold out here. I bought a product called the overnighter from Roadie. Here is a little description « THE OVERNIGHTER™ The Overnighter™ Door Cover is a universal fit for mid to full-size SUV rear passenger doors that sets up in seconds, by stretching around your rear door. No Tools Needed. But that’s not all, the retractable canopy and No-See-Um screen mesh keep bugs and rain out while allowing ventilation. Use two Overnighters™ for total cross-ventilation in your SUV! » I love this product. It’s great to provide shelter from the ran, great bug screen as well. If you want I can send you a picture installed on my van.
That is very interesting item you describe. I am very curious and interested for my minivan. Can you please send me the pictures of it? My email is "biosoo55 @gmail.com " I will be really appreciate your response. Thank you in advance.
Great bike rack idea, outdoor patio rugs are great I have one and it is very lightweight and folds up very small. I got mine on sale from World Market.
I have a Honda Odyssey that I’m doing a simple build until I have someone help build a few pieces for. I am strongly considering getting a clam quick set screen tent for myself to spend time painting, and my little dogs can chill in there with me. I also found a set of 4 solar motion sensor lights that can be mounted on top the van. They have on off switches. I’d turn on before going to bed so if something or someone approaches my van the lights will come on. . They were fairly cheap on Amazon.
Hey Sandra! I love your vision for the painting and the chilling with your dogs. I can picture it! Let me know if you pull the trigger on a Clam Quick Set, okay? I'm watching a few closely to see if any fall to an irresistible price.🤣 Thanks for sharing about the lights; I think motion sensors might be the way to go. What year is your Odyssey?
@@TheVanThatGotAway it’s 2007, with 127K miles on it, which makes me a bit nervous, but that is what I could afford. I had a Scamp trailer which I loved. I spent almost 2 yrs traveling the south and northwest and visiting relatives. But ended getting nailed down in FL taking care of my sister, so sold the Scamp. Now I want something smaller and cheaper to drive. But a build is starting from scratch and every surface is uneven! I’ve used mostly plastic drawers. I’m just loading to leave now! But ‘Elsa ‘is almost here...
Robin at Creativity RV researched screen shelters and found one that is very good in windy areas. I don't know the name of the video, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Or maybe you could just send her a message.
Just a caution with lift kits. They change your driveline angles and cause premature wear on cv axles etc. Then because you lifted it you will want bigger tires and they will cause premature wear on suspension , brake components, and the transmission/engine. Ride quality and handling will suffer as well. Personally I wouldn't do it if you don't plan on needing the extra clearance on a regular basis.
Hi David, YES, that is EXACTLY what I'm talking about! Why wear out all the other components, if that's what lifting it will do? And how much do we want to manipulate the original integrity of the van? It's a lot to ponder.
In our extended sienna travels, your list is so similar to what we found! The Clam shelter(on Amazon). Also we bought a Kuat swing arm for bike rack,game changer for accessing the back of van! Just got home from30+ days on the road. Loved whole trip but bikes stolen off rack in Vegas(they were locked) love your channel! Safe travels!
Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your bikes. Thieves make me soooo mad!! But then again, it's just stuff, right? Still... GRRRR! I will check out that shelter, thanks for that recommendation. And thanks for being here.
I bought the clam escape shelter and then it took me 6 months to find the panels for it but I finally did find them at camping world you can get them right now three for $49 that's twice as cheap as Amazon if you can even find them on Amazon... I have a question I've been looking for a swing arm like you're talking about but not for a bike rack I just need one for my hitch cargo platform I would like one that swings to the driver side but I can't find one that swings the either side I seen many videos with them but when you try to look them up they're hard to find... How did you find yours
@@carelfst thank you very much I was looking at the Kingdom 3 REI camp cot for my van but REI wanted to charge $75 to ship it which was kind of shocking because most of their items ship free.... Thank you for the information I will go back over to REI and look for the swing hitch! Safe travels my friend
There are companies that install lift kits that is all they do. You do not want to lift more than 3 feet. A pop up room sometimes can get blown away by strong wind we lost our $100.00 pop up shelter in new Mexico, the strong wind ate it up, even though we tied it down.
Yes to a Screen House! I have the Eureka 10 Breeze. It’s pricey, but I wanted something that would have built in zip panels to keep out rain if need be...
Pop up shelters tend to be bulky. It would take up space in the van. I use a sylnylon tarp over the picnic table. Folds up very small. Provides shade and a place to cook out of the rain.
Hey Cathy, Bulk is always a consideration, yeah. We do have some space on the roof. I'll be curious to see if we can "Tetris" it all together! 😂 Thanks for taking the time to chat.
I love my Jackery with the solar panels. Provides power for my laptop and my USB devices. You can charge it while you are driving and when you are stationary you set up the solar panel. I MacGyverized a way to hold up my solar panel to the sunroof and it keeps it charged fairly well. (Toyota Sienna)
Leslie I’m so glad we found your channel. It sounds like we camp like you and your husband do except we take our dog Harley. We don’t get off on the road as much as you do but we have found that our minivan is a very good alternative for travel camping. I thank you for some of the packing tips I saw in another of your videos. We live in Florida too and NC is usually our destination when we get a chance to get away. One thing I did to my 2009 Toyota Sienna was add a hitch to the back to carry a hitch hauler but it was kind of low in the back so I added one of those hitch risers to get some clearance and that has worked well. It added just enough clearance that I can still open the rear hatch. I also upgraded the rear springs and shocks to the heavier duty ones used on the all wheel drive Siennas. This worked on my van, not sure about all of them. We have One of those string light solar powered things made by Luci lights They sell them at camping world and I’m not sure if they sell them anywhere else but we use those on the inside and you can also charge the battery with a USB if you’re not in the sun. Also camping world sells a couple of these small solar motion lights that has two levels of brightness and it gets brighter when the motion is detected. I really haven’t used it outside yet but it seems like it’s a good way to go. You can either stick it on your vehicle or do like I did and just hook it on to the roof rack and remove it when I don’t need it. I’ll try and find some links on those two items but I think you can get the same motion detector light at dollar general. It’s probably a little cheaper too. I probably should come up with my own videos but I have not done that yet. We have one of those air conditioning units that has an exhaust hose that goes out the window and we don’t normally use it for camping because we don’t need it in the mountains of North Carolina but we’re going to be doing some camping here in Florida where we will definitely be needing it. What do you use in hot areas? I haven’t had a chance to watch all of your videos yet but I promise I will. Take care, Joe
Hi Joe! Thanks for reminding me, I need to call our mechanic about some beefier springs/struts. Good idea! And thanks so much for taking the time to chat. For warm weather, we've always just cracked the windows at night and fired up our usb chargeable fan. Even in Florida, but most of our FL camping has been on Amelia Island, LOL!! Where do you camp in FL?
Awsome vlog !!!!! finally mate you an senior from hosopality industry to assist in any query of mine A strip light below the hood and above will be really good for great,evening times
Hey Tejas, Thanks for the kudos. Strip lights are great, we have one inside on the cross piece that goes between the shelves, along the ceiling. Thanks for watching!
Great thoughts and information! Thanks MUCH! I would suggest looking at sumo springs for your Van, as I should have gotten them for my old RV; I know they make them for all kinds of vehicles, and may lift about an inch, and add to your clearance and weight carrying.. fronts go into existing stru spring, rears are tougher and higher bump stops.. I did see a youtube video on a company that lifted a Prius since they ar so low to the ground, and I think they used heavy duty struts to do so; not too many options for mini vans, and not sure if more than a mild lift would be advisable or available. Would also consider heavier rear shocks with springs to add to rear, and have heard air bags are not recommended for lift either... but those are some options. I see Weeboosts for cell signal improvement, but expensive, used to have a stick on window that had tiny cables for hotspot devices that worked fairly well. All the BEST to you and your adventures! I am getting another grand Caravan ready for part time getaways, so information helps! Cheers ! :)
@@TheVanThatGotAway I know what you are saying. I live in Canada and have wintered in Florida for the past ten years. This last year we were prevented from going so we stayed hunkered down in the house with our noses pressed up against the glass window, lol.
A lift kit dramatically change factory designs or specifications. After installation, long term the suspension bushings, ball joints and all others links and arms connected the suspension will affected.
Thank you for another great video. There are companies that do lifts and trim. Here it is KC Customs. After some research we feel we can do 2 to 3 inches of lift with out stressing other areas of the minivan. We have not done it yet though. We got an umbrella like shade, that is not as tall as an easyup. You can set in it in chairs, but it is not made for standing. I think they are more for sporting events. It can be staked down and the frount ground sheet can be used to close off the opening with toggle. It is smaller than an easy up or our SUV tent so we use it more. Thank you for taking the time to create your videos. They are always really good, and informative. They have really helped me solve some of the issues I have been trying to work around. Safe travels.
HI Anita, Good to "see" you! Thanks for the info on KC. That shade sounds like a good alternative. I think I saw them once when I was browsing around, but didn't really pay enough attention to them. LOL! Thanks so much for being here, I appreciate you.
Really love your videos thanks for bringing us all the great information.... You can get manual adjusting shocks like in the rear you just put air in them to add lift like with a regular compressor or at the gas station... Then when you're back home out of camping mode you can let the air out and they will go back down a few inches... I'm not sure what the big downside to them are but I've never heard of anyone having to make any transmission adjustments or anything like that... I mean if you tow you might have to make an adjustment... They probably are just a pain in the butt to raise up and down all the time 😂... I really like your cabinets.. I don't feel like I'll ever be able to do anything like that I can't build a shoe box... I did buy a goal zero 400 solar battery.... Let me tell you the big advantage of the goals zero..you can chain additional batteries to increase your amp hours... I don't know of any other solar batteries that will let you do that... I bought a dokio 200 watt briefcase for $220 on Amazon it works really good it's the best deal I've seen on a foldable solar panel... I already had a 100 watt Rock pal it cost $220 when I bought it I wouldn't spend money on the Big Brand when it comes to solar panels you can find nice off brands nowadays... The big advantage to the foldable briefcase solar panels you can get a 30 ft cord for them you can keep your van parked in the shade and put the panels out in the sun 🌄☀️🙂 oh yes and Overkill Overkill Overkill when it comes to solar panels and your electrical system because when it's shady outside people would probably wonder why I have 300 watts of solar panels but on a shady day I can only put about 50 or 60 watts in with 300 watts of panel if I'm lucky
hell'o like your style and just found you on the clam tent thanks for that info and noticed the shower with the bike rack swing i and thats how i landed here looking for some swinging bike rack info, did you do a review on that as i can't find it so if not whats your take on it and type price ect thanks david
Love your helpful videos! Re: the popup tent, I tried a trunk tent that got returned, currently have Alvantor 6'x6' popup screen room which is working well, less expensive than clam shell traveler and easy to pack, but kinda large (43" diameter folded...fits on ceiling cargo net in my Sienna or the side wall). Look forward to learning what you end up with, the "lessons learned" are so important!
Hi Rebecca! Easy to pack is a big plus for me. And if it's large, well, maybe it's something else to store on the roof... Thanks for sharing your knowlege.
@@TheVanThatGotAway should have mentioned it's not the best in the wind. With 2 people you could probably get it back to it's original 22" shipping box size. I added beige fabric shower curtain liners with velcro for privacy and optional portable shower (not waterproof, but dries quickly). The clam or gazelle might be better and worth the cost upgrade...a video where you discuss the options you looked at would be fantastic!
We have the Alvantor screen room pop up for over two years. Love it , just unzip the case throw the room out and stand it up. Fits two chairs and a table nicely. Easy to pack and stow away in very thin bag. Live on the road for six years now.
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and any guidance you might offer on renting the house out while traveling. That is exactly what my husband and I envision. I have imagined hiring a property manager to handle it, but perhaps there is another way you might prefer? Thanks.
Great video! Really useful to hear about the awning not being right for your style (would probably be the case for us too) because I’ve been trying to decide between that and a pop-up shelter. There was a perfect one on Playing With Sticks a few years back (just search best teardrop tent playing with sticks) but nobody has them in stock. 😩 Going to try a $100 Amazon special this summer and see how it goes. The mosquitos in Minnesota are no joke, so either way we have to have screens. My big surprise was that you didn’t say you’d add an air conditioner or some other kind of thing to keep the van cooler at night. That’s my big worry for our first trip in July. Aren’t we going to sweat all night even with ventilation and fans? What’s your secret?
Hey Minn! Let me know how the shelter goes, okay? Good luck with it. And nope, I wouldn't go with AC. Nope, nope, nope. We open the screened windows, start the fan, and we're fine. The fan runs all night and still has plenty of charge. We were even a little cold camping by a lake in Texas in June (Gasp!!) so we got a light sleeping bag to use as a blanket. That's my secret, LOL!!
@@TheVanThatGotAway thanks! I think I’m traumatized by my childhood in Minnesota with no AC, where the humidity can be so high at night that you just lie there waiting for morning. 🥵 But we’ve switched gears now and the big trip will likely be in Colorado so, YAY! Cold mountain air!! We live in Abu Dhabi where right now, at midnight, the heat index is 117. I can’t WAIT to be cold again. Oh, and I may have found a clone of the Playing With Sticks shelter for $65 but we’ll see if it’s a scam or not. 😬 I’ll let you know.
I haven’t started my build yet, but had a family emergency and had to drive from DFW area of Texas to central Florida. I left one 2nd row seat in, and folded down the 3rd row seat of my 2014 Honda Odyssey. I bought a twin size air mattress thinking my son could sleep while I drove, since we had to drive straight thru. Yeahhh, the air mattress was too tall, it was like riding on a trampoline lol, I think the height was 18” or something, it would have been better if it had been lower to the floor. We had to bring my sons 1 year old Pit Bull/ Lab mix and he was miserable, half the time he tried riding with his rear feet on the floor board and his front feet on the seat. Ugh, we had no time to prepare. The only good choices I made were I bought a 500 watt 12 V inverter so we could air up the air mattress, and I also bought 2 rechargeable fans at Walmart, Mainstay, for $8.88, they are so good! Depending on the speed they run about 6 hours per charge, and I used them the whole time. On the trip back, the mattress was deflated, and we just made due with the 3rd row in its semi reclined position. It was awful. Not a leisure trip for sure, but I’m more motivated then ever, gotta get those rails and storage up top, and build the bed. I’m just the only one building it and I don’t have any of the tools, that’s the only thing holding me back...tools.
Peetie!! Oh no! That trip sounds like it was full of suckery, except for the fans. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But regarding tools, what's holding you back? If you can get a hold of a jigsaw and a drill you can do it.
Hey 6, I won't deny they're more complicated than most solutions. The best other alternative I've seen are these: amzn.to/3AULznx Legal mumbo-jumbo: This is through my affiliate link and I may earn a small commission from qualified sales at no cost to you. Let me know what you decide to go with, I'll be curious 🙂
Hi SeaTurtle, No we haven't. We debated a lot about it and decided we are more committed to long-haul highway driving than off-road. Thanks for asking, though. Are you thinking of lifting a minivan, too?
@@TheVanThatGotAway we had talked about it. we built the folding bed and the one cabinet like EEE. We did a window cabinet on the passenger side .. working on hanging it .. figuring out how to install it. and brace it. Next is the kitchen..we have window coverings but we are making new ones. We have window screens. but will likely make new ones too. Solar and battery needs a lot more research to figure out what we really need.
Don't lift the vehicle that is not built to handle rough terrain. The vehicle's road handling is designed specifically with the OEM components. Once you change ONE thing, everything else connected to it need to be upgraded. You will deal with lots of headache in the long run. Change the whole vehicle if you want to go explore dangerous terrain. IMHO.
Mo, Thanks for your thoughts. I have been inclined to that conclusion, as well. I figure there's a reason you don't see a lot of minivans with badass suspensions and giant wheels. LOL! I really appreciate you talking the time to check in. Thanks.
Send an E-mail to Weldtec Designs. They can answer your questions (suspension, transmissions, brakes, etc.) and direct you to a company who can directly help you with you minivan.
If you want to go offroad, get a vehicle meant to go offroad. You'll just end up ruining your suspension system if you lift and go too far off road in a minivan.
I'm not sure for the fist year hitting the road that i'd like to give up my house. Unfortunately with an HOA I can't airbnb it but can rent it out. Did you post on airbnb or used another option to get a renter?
Hi Bailey! We decided to go with AirBnB. That way we can always visit the house whenever we want. 😀 What's the minimum length of time you can rent for?
Hi Jimmy! Yep, when I was shopping for vans I looked for an AWD Sienna. But none were available in my time frame. Now I drool a little bit whenever I see one, Lol!!
Hi, enjoy your videos, thinking of subscribing, but need some pictures ... lots of dialog, but few pictures. And who is "we" ... I only see "you." Thank you Leslie.
I'm really going to watch your video and not because I have a RV that I would like to say this beforehand I get so tired of people advertising Senate social security has a insurance plan for senior citizens that's a lie you have to pay $150 a month for it why do they allow people to lie about it the telling me that you get in it free okay that's your video sweetheart
Watch Next! >> FULL TOUR of my Minivan Camper: ruclips.net/video/FsCz8USgvJg/видео.html and
The famous TOILET video: ruclips.net/video/61V3hTasCdw/видео.html
I love that you are growing out your silver hair. It is lovely.
Lina, thank you. My younger sister had done this as well. And when we visited with her it made me wonder what's been hiding under MY hair color for - oh - these many decades! LOL!!
You are such a breath of fresh air. I love your no airs attitude, and how you share what is and is not working for you. Thanks for sharing with us!
Hey MK, Shucks and thanks! Being myself has always worked well for me, so I'll keep the party going... LOL!! Thanks for being here.
Agree MK. Leslie is a VanLife concierge extraordinaire. 🌿
I bought some motion activated solar lights ($5.00 a piece at Dollar General) and attached them with magnets to the side of my van and the back of my van. I do remove them when driving but I just place them on the dash so they charge and then place them back on the outside of the van when I get to where I'm going. I also just recently got a 10 ft. (I think it's 10 ft, could be 12) line of solar lights that go around my awning. I will attach them to the awning using small binder clips that you get in the office dept at walmart. I haven't used those yet so I can't say how well they work but they were only about $10.00 at Walmart. Just thought I'd give you a couple ideas of what I did to add lights to the outside of the van.
Hey Gypsie, I like your idea of having 2 sets of lights. One for atmosphere and one for lighting up the path to the facilities in the night. How do those Dollar General lights work for you so far?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I bought two of the 2 years ago and about 6 months ago one stopped working (it's probably just the battery) but the other one is still working great. I figure for 5 bucks I got my money's worth. I haven't been able to find the same ones again for less than 10 bucks now so I will see if I can find replacement batteries before I buy a new light.
Clam shelter. More expensive than a tent but up and down in mins. No need for pools CLAM. Comes in great sizes. Lots of RUclips on it. I have one i love it
Hey Rosy, thanks for that info! I'm watching prices on some Clam shelters, waiting to pounce when the price drops to "what a steal" level. LOL! Thanks again for checking in.
I love the Luci lights. The string lights and the single ones charge by solar in my window and last most of the night.
Low impact, shielded, and appropriate levels of lighting are okay, but honestly, the way some people light up their campsites at night makes me wonder why they even leave their houses. There's so much light trespass and often the light is so bright that you may as well not be camping. Also the places we camp are some of the last places left that are okay to go where we can actually see stars at night. I once camp next to somebody who had such bright lights that I literally couldn't see the stars at night and it was lighting up our tent.
The little lucy string lights are really great and they will charge themselves during the day so you can use them at night. You will be surprised at how little light you actually need to be able to "see" and enjoy your evening activities.
Right!?! Nobody wants to camp on what feels like an airport runway. LOL!!
My husband and I Minivan camp. We take a easy set up tent also. We also take a camping toilet for the night time visits. It has worked out great.
I camped with my niece for the first time ever in my minivan. Bought the bucket and kitty litter however there was a restroom at the campground across from where we were. I open the minivan door thinking it would just be a quick trip across the street and the door locked 💁🏽♀️. 12 o’clock at night me and my 10-year-old niece. 🙄. Thank God I bought one of those reacher thingies that you use to pick trash up off the ground I purposely placed it on top of the van along with other non-food items. and left the van windows cracked in the back and so happen to hang my keys near the window. That was God’s grace lol! After sleeping cramped in the second and third row seats while my niece took the first row seats I understand why people need to build out their van! 😂😂😂. I want to enjoy my van like the people I see on RUclips lol!
Lori!! OMG!! Sleeping all cramped up was a terrible reward for figuring out how to get back in the van, LOL!
thank you so much. Love your new hair by the way! You look fantastic.
Thanks Christine! But the real thanks go to my younger sister who went silver first. And my amazing stylist who rocks. 😀 I appreciate the encouragement, it means a lot!
Good job again! Please do a video on how you put your house on Air BNB. I imagine you had to move A LOT of personal items out and commit to life on the road. Also you mentioned a pop up screen tent. I've been searching but yet to find the perfect one. Can't wait to see what you find. Keep it up.
Okay, I'll do that video for you! I'm so glad you asked 'cause I LOVED the process and hoped other people might want to know what I learned. Thanks for watching and thanks for the encouragement.
A clam is the way to go!!! 4 person
I have one and it’s a game changer. And take the stove with you lol
We really enjoy your videos. Although we are older, we still camp a lot in our minivan. We use 2 different shelter approaches. You are correct about showing occupancy of a site, when away for the day. We use an REI 10x10 screen house. We have had 2 other brands & like REI best.
We also sometimes use a 10x10 "woodland shelter" from LL Bean that does not have screening.
We drape a tarp between between the van & the shelter so we have great cover in the rain.
Attaching to the shelter is easy, but the van not so much. The boat shops sell expensive 4-5" suction devices to attach things to kayaks. I've found smaller & much cheaper suction cup thingies at Harbor freight. They are used for pulling out dents in car body panels. They easily attach to metal or glass on the van. When you go away just untie & leave cups in place.
Both shelters are free standing. The shelters take 2 people to assemble but we have gotten good at it, had them for years. Sorry this comment is so long. I too would be glad to answer any questions.
Hi Dick! I love that idea of making a walkway between the van and the screen house. It's more than just adding an extra room, it's like adding an extra wing to the "house." LOL!! I'm glad to hear from other minivan campers like yourself. And it's inspiring to hear about your smart solutions. No comment is ever too long when it's full of good quality chat. Thanks so much for taking the time to share what you're up to. And thanks for watching, as well.
I have watched your Full Tour and more. I like your build, your philosophy, and your practicality. I tend to over-think things, so I am taking it slow and trying out different layouts. Right now I'm doing what I call a Home Depot build out. Crates, tubs and shelves I can move around. So I am not going to build anything until I know what works right for me. I had running water and a shower on my wish list, but like you, I will wait until I need it to install it.
Thanks for the tips.
Edit: I don't see a link to the awning. That intrigues me. I have a tarp over the rear hatch for cooking and relaxing. Yep, it needs outdoor lighting :-)
Great video. And Yes, Lights outside are awesome. I use solar or battery twinkling hung from my van to trees for lights. I also have a few solar garden lights i lay on the path to "potty" easy peasy .
HI Julianne, Solar garden lights are a great idea! Thanks.
At two dam-related, Corps of Engineers, type campgrounds, I was told I had to put up a tent, or something, in order to stay there. Luckily I carry a pop-up screen/ sun shelter that looks like a tent, so I got away with sleeping in my car. Also, it DID mark my spot, although once I paid, my spot was reserved. But I had to go about 30 minutes back to a town because I forgot to buy charcoal and having the tent kind of hid my camp stuff so i didn’t have to pack everything up and put in the car. Love your videos!
Adding a screened in pop up shelter is an excellent idea for many reasons !! One would be for a bucket potty to use at night !! No way I'll go into the forest at night, too many things I can't see
Subscribed! Your videos are some of the best I've seen on van builds. You take such a common sense approach. Cheers!
Aw shucks, thanks Chris! Great to have you here.
VANCITY VANLIFE. This is Chrome's channel he has done it all
Hey RP, I'm off to watch more Chrome. You reminded me that's it's been a while since I checked in on his channel. LOL!
I was going to suggest him as well!
Another good job, Leslie. You're a natural in front of the camera. Thanks for all the tips. Less is definitely more. Plus it makes more room for different wines!
Look up the clam. It's like a screen room and comes in different sizes.
Maybe just try some coil-over adjustable shocks and struts. If the ride is too high, you can dial them back down. Good vids y'all!
You might want to check with Journey offroad. They do lift kits for minivans, They may be able to tell you options and how it effects drivability and wear and tear on suspension. Great channel,
Thanks, Billy! I appreciate you taking the time to check in on this.
Yes. How do you manage as an AirBNB? What about arrivals and make-readies for the next guests?
Hi Tangerine! Thanks for asking. Stay tuned for ALL that good stuff. I'll have something for you soon!😃
Leslie, I like your videos because you're funny and you give out useful, concise tips and insights. Thanks.
Young, my friend! Thanks for the kind words. I'm just out here tryin' to be useful. I appreciate you watching, it really means a lot!
Definitely the pop up canopy is needed. It will help for sure
Hey Leslie! I use 2 kinds of lights . Exterior u can get cheap solar tube lights, remove the stake from the charging cell and zip tie them along the roof rail. Can also mount them along floorboard exterior. Auto-on/off.
I also love the magnetic bottom usb rechargable swivel head mini flashlight by Feit. Pricey but strong magnet, bright minilight, swivel head (point it down as u load the van or stick it to the lid of the grill) convenient & pocket-small. Grab it on your way to the bath house. Other brands/styles available, but the magnetic bottom was key for me.
Hey Tiny, I love both those ideas. Especially anything having to do with magnets... Thanks for that info!
Screen house...we bought a 13x9 from Walmart for $40! It's survived 3 windy, rainstorms so far. Only wish it had magnetic doors and openings on all 4 sides, so I just ordered a magnetic screen door and I going to alter one side and see how that works. As a bonus, it's big enough to set up over my little car to use for car camping.
Norma, that is so cool! You use it as a portable garage😀🤣 Thanks for taking the time to share this info. Let me know how the added-screen project goes, okay?
Wonderful practical content! I have used the CLAM brand pop up screen tent (Traveler version perfect for 1 or 2 people) both camping and in my backyard. It is approx 6 ft long it fits in my small car but could easily be added to a roof basket or left in the van. One person can certainly put it up; but with two people it's a breeze. I recommend you watching a few RUclips videos to make the process flow better. What I like about it is it keeps the bugs out, is simple to put up and take down. and gives me wonderful additional space. They go on sale periodically so look around. PS: Have even used it as a tent since you can get it with "flaps".
Hi Carolyn, Thanks for mentioning the Clam. I think there's one in our future... I'm watching them for a major price drop so I can pounce, LOL!!
There are definitely solar lights that charge during the day and then run at night, which are put on a vehicle with double sided sticky tape already on them so that you don't have to put any screws into your van. (So an not to ruin the paint finish, I would suggest you put them on the back window.) I believe you can buy them almost anywhere, Walmart, Lowes, Amazon, whatever is close to you. I've seen videos from Panda-monium where she put them on her Class C when she had the old one. (She now has a brand new Class C which has lights.) Anyhow, yes, you can buy solar lights made for your exact needs, it's not just wishful thinking. (If you've ever bought any angled solar lights for stairs, deck, or fence, you can use that same style. No solar panel needed.) Another tho't is that you can buy cheap solar lights to stake into the ground around the van, or even put in a clay pot or something on a table. When we have power failures here at home, I sometimes go get the ones I have in my garden and bring them in the house for light. Get a clay pot and put some floral foam in it to stake them in.) Hope this helps!
That's a great hack, using the garden lights during a power outage. Genius! Thanks, Pat🙂
I love your videos Leslie. You always put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t an awning or a pop up, although I’m also looking to buy one but they are all sold out here.
I bought a product called the overnighter from Roadie. Here is a little description « THE OVERNIGHTER™
The Overnighter™ Door Cover is a universal fit for mid to full-size SUV rear passenger doors that sets up in seconds, by stretching around your rear door. No Tools Needed. But that’s not all, the retractable canopy and No-See-Um screen mesh keep bugs and rain out while allowing ventilation. Use two Overnighters™ for total cross-ventilation in your SUV! »
I love this product. It’s great to provide shelter from the ran, great bug screen as well. If you want I can send you a picture installed on my van.
That is very interesting item you describe.
I am very curious and interested for my minivan.
Can you please send me the pictures of it?
My email is "biosoo55 @gmail.com "
I will be really appreciate your response.
Thank you in advance.
@@Biosoo55 ok it’s dark here now but I’ll send pictures tomorrow.
I would love a pic too. Thank you! 😊 narcandempath@gmail.com
@@manondesrochers5729
Thank you for your response and look forward to see the pictures.
Have a nice evening.
Oooo! That sounds cool! I'm off to check it out... Thanks for the info, Manon.
Great bike rack idea, outdoor patio rugs are great I have one and it is very lightweight and folds up very small. I got mine on sale from World Market.
Very cool, Debbie! Gotta love the sales🙂
I have a Honda Odyssey that I’m doing a simple build until I have someone help build a few pieces for. I am strongly considering getting a clam quick set screen tent for myself to spend time painting, and my little dogs can chill in there with me. I also found a set of 4 solar motion sensor lights that can be mounted on top the van. They have on off switches. I’d turn on before going to bed so if something or someone approaches my van the lights will come on. . They were fairly cheap on Amazon.
Hey Sandra! I love your vision for the painting and the chilling with your dogs. I can picture it! Let me know if you pull the trigger on a Clam Quick Set, okay? I'm watching a few closely to see if any fall to an irresistible price.🤣 Thanks for sharing about the lights; I think motion sensors might be the way to go. What year is your Odyssey?
@@TheVanThatGotAway it’s 2007, with 127K miles on it, which makes me a bit nervous, but that is what I could afford. I had a Scamp trailer which I loved. I spent almost 2 yrs traveling the south and northwest and visiting relatives. But ended getting nailed down in FL taking care of my sister, so sold the Scamp. Now I want something smaller and cheaper to drive. But a build is starting from scratch and every surface is uneven! I’ve used mostly plastic drawers. I’m just loading to leave now! But ‘Elsa ‘is almost here...
Hey Sandra, Are you faring okay in the storm? Darn Elsa! 🤨
@@sandrabeck8788 Odysseys get at least 300K miles.
Yes you definitely need a swivel bike rack. I love mine.
Yes we do!! 100%!
I use the Cuisenart Magnetic grill lights available on Amazon for my outdoor light over my door. Quick and easy.
Robin at Creativity RV researched screen shelters and found one that is very good in windy areas. I don't know the name of the video, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Or maybe you could just send her a message.
Mr bike rides inside the van next to my bed. We usually don't fight.
LOL, Cathy! You're a good team.
Just a caution with lift kits. They change your driveline angles and cause premature wear on cv axles etc. Then because you lifted it you will want bigger tires and they will cause premature wear on suspension , brake components, and the transmission/engine. Ride quality and handling will suffer as well. Personally I wouldn't do it if you don't plan on needing the extra clearance on a regular basis.
Hi David, YES, that is EXACTLY what I'm talking about! Why wear out all the other components, if that's what lifting it will do? And how much do we want to manipulate the original integrity of the van? It's a lot to ponder.
In our extended sienna travels, your list is so similar to what we found! The Clam shelter(on Amazon). Also we bought a Kuat swing arm for bike rack,game changer for accessing the back of van! Just got home from30+ days on the road. Loved whole trip but bikes stolen off rack in Vegas(they were locked) love your channel! Safe travels!
Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your bikes. Thieves make me soooo mad!! But then again, it's just stuff, right? Still... GRRRR! I will check out that shelter, thanks for that recommendation. And thanks for being here.
I bought the clam escape shelter and then it took me 6 months to find the panels for it but I finally did find them at camping world you can get them right now three for $49 that's twice as cheap as Amazon if you can even find them on Amazon... I have a question I've been looking for a swing arm like you're talking about but not for a bike rack I just need one for my hitch cargo platform I would like one that swings to the driver side but I can't find one that swings the either side I seen many videos with them but when you try to look them up they're hard to find... How did you find yours
@@jayburke1601 I bought the brand Kuat , i bought it from REI. Its a 2” hitch( use with yakima bike rack)
@@carelfst thank you very much I was looking at the Kingdom 3 REI camp cot for my van but REI wanted to charge $75 to ship it which was kind of shocking because most of their items ship free.... Thank you for the information I will go back over to REI and look for the swing hitch! Safe travels my friend
There are companies that install lift kits that is all they do. You do not want to lift more than 3 feet. A pop up room sometimes can get blown away by strong wind we lost our $100.00 pop up shelter in new Mexico, the strong wind ate it up, even though we tied it down.
Hi Dora, Ohhh that New Mexico wind can be a bear!! Sorry for your loss.
Yes to a Screen House! I have the Eureka 10 Breeze. It’s pricey, but I wanted something that would have built in zip panels to keep out rain if need be...
Hi RDT! That sounds intriguing... thanks for that info. Off to look that one up... Lol!
Pop up shelters tend to be bulky. It would take up space in the van. I use a sylnylon tarp over the picnic table. Folds up very small. Provides shade and a place to cook out of the rain.
Hey Cathy, Bulk is always a consideration, yeah. We do have some space on the roof. I'll be curious to see if we can "Tetris" it all together! 😂 Thanks for taking the time to chat.
These sound like great suggestions, thank you for sharing. Not on the road yet, so can’t answer any of your inquiries :).
What's holding you back, TJ? LOL!!
I love my Jackery with the solar panels. Provides power for my laptop and my USB devices. You can charge it while you are driving and when you are stationary you set up the solar panel. I MacGyverized a way to hold up my solar panel to the sunroof and it keeps it charged fairly well. (Toyota Sienna)
Hey Susie, thanks for that info! I do love anything you can charge while you drive ❤️
Leslie I’m so glad we found your channel. It sounds like we camp like you and your husband do except we take our dog Harley. We don’t get off on the road as much as you do but we have found that our minivan is a very good alternative for travel camping. I thank you for some of the packing tips I saw in another of your videos. We live in Florida too and NC is usually our destination when we get a chance to get away. One thing I did to my 2009 Toyota Sienna was add a hitch to the back to carry a hitch hauler but it was kind of low in the back so I added one of those hitch risers to get some clearance and that has worked well. It added just enough clearance that I can still open the rear hatch. I also upgraded the rear springs and shocks to the heavier duty ones used on the all wheel drive Siennas. This worked on my van, not sure about all of them. We have One of those string light solar powered things made by Luci lights They sell them at camping world and I’m not sure if they sell them anywhere else but we use those on the inside and you can also charge the battery with a USB if you’re not in the sun. Also camping world sells a couple of these small solar motion lights that has two levels of brightness and it gets brighter when the motion is detected. I really haven’t used it outside yet but it seems like it’s a good way to go. You can either stick it on your vehicle or do like I did and just hook it on to the roof rack and remove it when I don’t need it. I’ll try and find some links on those two items but I think you can get the same motion detector light at dollar general. It’s probably a little cheaper too. I probably should come up with my own videos but I have not done that yet. We have one of those air conditioning units that has an exhaust hose that goes out the window and we don’t normally use it for camping because we don’t need it in the mountains of North Carolina but we’re going to be doing some camping here in Florida where we will definitely be needing it. What do you use in hot areas? I haven’t had a chance to watch all of your videos yet but I promise I will. Take care, Joe
Hi Joe! Thanks for reminding me, I need to call our mechanic about some beefier springs/struts. Good idea! And thanks so much for taking the time to chat. For warm weather, we've always just cracked the windows at night and fired up our usb chargeable fan. Even in Florida, but most of our FL camping has been on Amelia Island, LOL!! Where do you camp in FL?
Awsome vlog !!!!!
finally mate you an senior from hosopality industry to assist in any query of mine
A strip light below the hood and above will be really good for great,evening times
Hey Tejas, Thanks for the kudos. Strip lights are great, we have one inside on the cross piece that goes between the shelves, along the ceiling. Thanks for watching!
Great thoughts and information! Thanks MUCH! I would suggest looking at sumo springs for your Van, as I should have gotten them for my old RV; I know they make them for all kinds of vehicles, and may lift about an inch, and add to your clearance and weight carrying.. fronts go into existing stru spring, rears are tougher and higher bump stops.. I did see a youtube video on a company that lifted a Prius since they ar so low to the ground, and I think they used heavy duty struts to do so; not too many options for mini vans, and not sure if more than a mild lift would be advisable or available. Would also consider heavier rear shocks with springs to add to rear, and have heard air bags are not recommended for lift either... but those are some options. I see Weeboosts for cell signal improvement, but expensive, used to have a stick on window that had tiny cables for hotspot devices that worked fairly well. All the BEST to you and your adventures! I am getting another grand Caravan ready for part time getaways, so information helps! Cheers ! :)
Hey Marty, thanks for that info. I asked our mechanic to check on that kind of solution for us. It's times like this that I miss my truck, LOL!😂
Check out VAN CITY VAN LIFE Chrome's Channel he just installed Lift kit and he also had installed previously some lights.
Hi Olga, I watch him quite a bit but haven't lately. He's always doing some cool improvements. Thanks for the heads up!
Extra Room: Consider a Tent attachment like the Vail Tail, or a awning with an extra room Ironman 4x4 is great.
Look up Journey offload. They have lift kits for minivans.
if you ever need heat .... get a Diesel heater , Chinese , from Amazon or ebay. They work great .
Thanks. So far, we've been avoiding places that get too cold, LOL!
@@TheVanThatGotAway I know what you are saying. I live in Canada and have wintered in Florida for the past ten years. This last year we were prevented from going so we stayed hunkered down in the house with our noses pressed up against the glass window, lol.
Oh, boo!!🤨 Next year 🙂
Just found your videos. Great info plus… you are a hoot. I’m hooked. 🌹😎
LOL! Thanks for being here Catherine. I appreciate that you take the time to watch my shenanigans.
A lift kit dramatically change factory designs or specifications. After installation, long term the suspension bushings, ball joints and all others links and arms connected the suspension will affected.
My exterior lights can be changed to motion sensor. But mine are magnetic as i have a cargo van. I take them down when in transit.
Good evening Leese, I would love to know the make of your lights if you don’t mind.
@@manondesrochers5729 Urpower is the brand. Got them off Amazon. They're solar too. I dont see the magnetic ones now though....
Hey Leese! I love the idea of those lights, I'll have to go do some research... Thanks for sharing your smarts.
This is very helpful. Thanks!
Hey Nico! Cool, I hope it's useful. Are you in the middle of a build?
I have a folding solar charger made by x-dragon that worked really well to charge my phone etc. on a 2-week camping trip :)
Ooo! I love anything that folds. Thanks for the info, E!
Thank you for another great video. There are companies that do lifts and trim. Here it is KC Customs. After some research we feel we can do 2 to 3 inches of lift with out stressing other areas of the minivan. We have not done it yet though. We got an umbrella like shade, that is not as tall as an easyup. You can set in it in chairs, but it is not made for standing. I think they are more for sporting events. It can be staked down and the frount ground sheet can be used to close off the opening with toggle. It is smaller than an easy up or our SUV tent so we use it more. Thank you for taking the time to create your videos. They are always really good, and informative. They have really helped me solve some of the issues I have been trying to work around. Safe travels.
HI Anita, Good to "see" you! Thanks for the info on KC. That shade sounds like a good alternative. I think I saw them once when I was browsing around, but didn't really pay enough attention to them. LOL! Thanks so much for being here, I appreciate you.
Just learned about Nomad Internet. Little pricey but sounds like the best if you use a lot.
Hey Linda, It sure does look intiguing. You're not kidding about pricey!! LOL! Thanks for checking in.
Really love your videos thanks for bringing us all the great information.... You can get manual adjusting shocks like in the rear you just put air in them to add lift like with a regular compressor or at the gas station... Then when you're back home out of camping mode you can let the air out and they will go back down a few inches... I'm not sure what the big downside to them are but I've never heard of anyone having to make any transmission adjustments or anything like that... I mean if you tow you might have to make an adjustment... They probably are just a pain in the butt to raise up and down all the time 😂... I really like your cabinets.. I don't feel like I'll ever be able to do anything like that I can't build a shoe box... I did buy a goal zero 400 solar battery.... Let me tell you the big advantage of the goals zero..you can chain additional batteries to increase your amp hours... I don't know of any other solar batteries that will let you do that... I bought a dokio 200 watt briefcase for $220 on Amazon it works really good it's the best deal I've seen on a foldable solar panel... I already had a 100 watt Rock pal it cost $220 when I bought it I wouldn't spend money on the Big Brand when it comes to solar panels you can find nice off brands nowadays... The big advantage to the foldable briefcase solar panels you can get a 30 ft cord for them you can keep your van parked in the shade and put the panels out in the sun 🌄☀️🙂 oh yes and Overkill Overkill Overkill when it comes to solar panels and your electrical system because when it's shady outside people would probably wonder why I have 300 watts of solar panels but on a shady day I can only put about 50 or 60 watts in with 300 watts of panel if I'm lucky
Thanks for this, Jay. I'm currently in discussions with my trusted mechanic. I'll see what he has to say. Thanks for watching!👍
Please share how you manage AIRBNB when you travel
hell'o like your style and just found you on the clam tent thanks for that info and noticed the shower with the bike rack swing i and thats how i landed here looking for some swinging bike rack info, did you do a review on that as i can't find it so if not whats your take on it and type price ect thanks david
Best way to get ground clearance that I know of is to buy a van that already has it like the first generation Toyota Sienna
Oh yeah, I thought about it! Do you have one?
@@TheVanThatGotAway yes my first van was a 98, and now I have an 02 but haven't camped in it yet
✔ with Chrome Valdez from Canada he did it to his van
Omg, I love watching Chrome but I haven't in a while... Time to fire up his channel! Thanks for the heads up ☺️
A simple cheap tube tent will make your site seem occupied while your away. Less than $10. I prefer the orange emergency ones.
Hey Mechaya, That's a really cool idea - just set up whatever! Plus, orange! :)
Love your helpful videos! Re: the popup tent, I tried a trunk tent that got returned, currently have Alvantor 6'x6' popup screen room which is working well, less expensive than clam shell traveler and easy to pack, but kinda large (43" diameter folded...fits on ceiling cargo net in my Sienna or the side wall). Look forward to learning what you end up with, the "lessons learned" are so important!
Hi Rebecca! Easy to pack is a big plus for me. And if it's large, well, maybe it's something else to store on the roof... Thanks for sharing your knowlege.
@@TheVanThatGotAway should have mentioned it's not the best in the wind. With 2 people you could probably get it back to it's original 22" shipping box size. I added beige fabric shower curtain liners with velcro for privacy and optional portable shower (not waterproof, but dries quickly). The clam or gazelle might be better and worth the cost upgrade...a video where you discuss the options you looked at would be fantastic!
Woo! Shower curtain liners are a great idea. You're so creative ☺️
We have the Alvantor screen room pop up for over two years. Love it , just unzip the case throw the room out and stand it up. Fits two chairs and a table nicely. Easy to pack and stow away in very thin bag. Live on the road for six years now.
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and any guidance you might offer on renting the house out while traveling. That is exactly what my husband and I envision. I have imagined hiring a property manager to handle it, but perhaps there is another way you might prefer? Thanks.
Hey lishana! Thanks for asking. I'll do a video for you, as making money with real estate is one of my obsessions🤣
@@TheVanThatGotAway Amazing. Thank you!!!!!
As always, my delight😀
Great video! Really useful to hear about the awning not being right for your style (would probably be the case for us too) because I’ve been trying to decide between that and a pop-up shelter. There was a perfect one on Playing With Sticks a few years back (just search best teardrop tent playing with sticks) but nobody has them in stock. 😩 Going to try a $100 Amazon special this summer and see how it goes. The mosquitos in Minnesota are no joke, so either way we have to have screens.
My big surprise was that you didn’t say you’d add an air conditioner or some other kind of thing to keep the van cooler at night. That’s my big worry for our first trip in July. Aren’t we going to sweat all night even with ventilation and fans? What’s your secret?
my secret is i like to sweat!!!🙂 LOL
Hey Minn! Let me know how the shelter goes, okay? Good luck with it. And nope, I wouldn't go with AC. Nope, nope, nope. We open the screened windows, start the fan, and we're fine. The fan runs all night and still has plenty of charge. We were even a little cold camping by a lake in Texas in June (Gasp!!) so we got a light sleeping bag to use as a blanket. That's my secret, LOL!!
@@TheVanThatGotAway thanks! I think I’m traumatized by my childhood in Minnesota with no AC, where the humidity can be so high at night that you just lie there waiting for morning. 🥵 But we’ve switched gears now and the big trip will likely be in Colorado so, YAY! Cold mountain air!! We live in Abu Dhabi where right now, at midnight, the heat index is 117. I can’t WAIT to be cold again.
Oh, and I may have found a clone of the Playing With Sticks shelter for $65 but we’ll see if it’s a scam or not. 😬 I’ll let you know.
I haven’t started my build yet, but had a family emergency and had to drive from DFW area of Texas to central Florida. I left one 2nd row seat in, and folded down the 3rd row seat of my 2014 Honda Odyssey. I bought a twin size air mattress thinking my son could sleep while I drove, since we had to drive straight thru. Yeahhh, the air mattress was too tall, it was like riding on a trampoline lol, I think the height was 18” or something, it would have been better if it had been lower to the floor. We had to bring my sons 1 year old Pit Bull/ Lab mix and he was miserable, half the time he tried riding with his rear feet on the floor board and his front feet on the seat. Ugh, we had no time to prepare. The only good choices I made were I bought a 500 watt 12 V inverter so we could air up the air mattress, and I also bought 2 rechargeable fans at Walmart, Mainstay, for $8.88, they are so good! Depending on the speed they run about 6 hours per charge, and I used them the whole time. On the trip back, the mattress was deflated, and we just made due with the 3rd row in its semi reclined position. It was awful. Not a leisure trip for sure, but I’m more motivated then ever, gotta get those rails and storage up top, and build the bed. I’m just the only one building it and I don’t have any of the tools, that’s the only thing holding me back...tools.
Peetie!! Oh no! That trip sounds like it was full of suckery, except for the fans. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But regarding tools, what's holding you back? If you can get a hold of a jigsaw and a drill you can do it.
Tools ... if expense is an issue, try a pawn shop. Sometimes ROWS of $10 power tools
@@TinyLiving great idea!!!
Amazon has the solar lights
👍as always
Oh, thanks Topi! Good to "see" you here, and thanks for checking in.
Hi! Can you show how you built your cabinets/pantry?
Hi Lily, You bet I will. Thanks for asking! Are you doing a build currently? Or an interested observer?
Starting my build tomorrow! 2008 Honda Odyssey
Best of luck! Keep me posted on how it's going.
New subsriber Love your videos.
Oh thanks, Daniel! Welcome aboard. Great to have you here 😃
I'm sorry, but these screens sound so complicated, yet I want nice screens. Any other hints?
Hey 6, I won't deny they're more complicated than most solutions. The best other alternative I've seen are these: amzn.to/3AULznx
Legal mumbo-jumbo: This is through my affiliate link and I may earn a small commission from qualified sales at no cost to you.
Let me know what you decide to go with, I'll be curious 🙂
Did you get a pop up? What’d you get?
Hi GSM! Nope, we haven't gotten one yet. How about you?
Leslie!! Did you ever add a lift kit to the van? we had been looking into that as well.
Hi SeaTurtle, No we haven't. We debated a lot about it and decided we are more committed to long-haul highway driving than off-road. Thanks for asking, though. Are you thinking of lifting a minivan, too?
@@TheVanThatGotAway we had talked about it. we built the folding bed and the one cabinet like EEE. We did a window cabinet on the passenger side .. working on hanging it .. figuring out how to install it. and brace it.
Next is the kitchen..we have window coverings but we are making new ones. We have window screens. but will likely make new ones too. Solar and battery needs a lot more research to figure out what we really need.
Don't lift the vehicle that is not built to handle rough terrain. The vehicle's road handling is designed specifically with the OEM components. Once you change ONE thing, everything else connected to it need to be upgraded. You will deal with lots of headache in the long run. Change the whole vehicle if you want to go explore dangerous terrain. IMHO.
Mo, Thanks for your thoughts. I have been inclined to that conclusion, as well. I figure there's a reason you don't see a lot of minivans with badass suspensions and giant wheels. LOL! I really appreciate you talking the time to check in. Thanks.
Send an E-mail to Weldtec Designs. They can answer your questions (suspension, transmissions, brakes, etc.) and direct you to a company who can directly help you with you minivan.
Hi Peter, Thanks for that info! Are you a current minivanner, too?
@@TheVanThatGotAway
Not FT yet thanks to Covid restrictions. But yes, went minivan for all the benefits.
You're obviously a genius. 😉😃
♡
Joli
If you want to go offroad, get a vehicle meant to go offroad. You'll just end up ruining your suspension system if you lift and go too far off road in a minivan.
There's a company making camper conversions in Suburbans out of Idaho. Search for his video(s) for some ideas.
Hi Kellie, Yep this might be the way to go. If it's meant to be a minivan, it's meant to be a minivan, right? Thanks for that info!
Do you always stay in camp sites? I never have..
Hi Heather! We do mostly camp sites with some rest areas, boondocking and city stealth camping thrown in there once in a while.
I'm not sure for the fist year hitting the road that i'd like to give up my house. Unfortunately with an HOA I can't airbnb it but can rent it out. Did you post on airbnb or used another option to get a renter?
Hi Bailey! We decided to go with AirBnB. That way we can always visit the house whenever we want. 😀 What's the minimum length of time you can rent for?
@@TheVanThatGotAway I haven't looked into the details of rental information yet.
Ever needed or wished you had a AWD minivan?
Hi Jimmy! Yep, when I was shopping for vans I looked for an AWD Sienna. But none were available in my time frame. Now I drool a little bit whenever I see one, Lol!!
Hi, enjoy your videos, thinking of subscribing, but need some pictures ... lots of dialog, but few pictures. And who is "we" ... I only see "you." Thank you Leslie.
I'm really going to watch your video and not because I have a RV that I would like to say this beforehand I get so tired of people advertising Senate social security has a insurance plan for senior citizens that's a lie you have to pay $150 a month for it why do they allow people to lie about it the telling me that you get in it free okay that's your video sweetheart