Vanlife Reality Check: Costly Campervan Repairs & January Blues Escape
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Welcome back to another instalment of Life Adventure Projects! This week we have some BIG expenses to share with you for Ray, our campervan, after failing his MOT. We share with you the costs and some of the breakdown of what work he had done, PLUS, we take you with as us we visit 3 big UK attractions - Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Figsbury Ring.
As usual, we chat about what life adventures we’re looking to do next, so give it a watch and don’t forget to like and subscribe too (if ya fancy it ;))!
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About Us
Welcome to Life Adventure Projects, we’re Andy and Sophie and in 2022 we made the decision to work on changing our lives for the better. We’d grown tired and weary of the rat race, only living for the weekend or looking forward to a holiday once a year, so we made a plan to start working on projects to improve our lives.
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Hi, my name is Derek, I made a big change, on the 10th February 2023 I gave up my private rented hous of 11 years & moved into my motorhome to live, it's an Elddis Majestic 275, so nearly one year on, I live it, I work as a quarry manager & stay at my quarry, it's a one man operation so have the whole place to myself, I save a fortune & get away most weekends around Dumfries and Galloway, this area is a hidden Gem, I look forward to following yous atb Derek
Hi Derek 👋🏼 thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience with us. That is definitely a big change, and so exciting - having that independence, away from rent or mortgage - and being able to get away and explore - priceless. We’d love to visit around there - any spots in particular you recommend?
Chin up people, van life is a huge learning curve....you will look back and laugh when your looking at a sunset out the back doors, all the pain is worth it 😊😊
Yessss exactly! Man those costs just kept skyrocketing though 😂😂 thanks so much for tuning in 😃
Hi guys love you both , down to earth what you see is what you get no glossing over. I made a big change this year on 1st January 2024 to get out of my rented work unit in Ringwood as the rents were holding me back and the commuting from southampton to Ringwood everyday for 5 years has taken so much out of me financially and not allowed me to move forward with things me and my girl want to do. Like get my van finished for one. I am now converting our garage into a workshop for me to continue as always self employed to carry on my work as a marine and vehicle upholsterer. Looking forward to working from home for the first time and spending quality time again. Sorry for the story but needed to share as I am totally with you guys as I was loosing track of what I wanted out of this . Keep it up guys love the wheels I have the cc2 rogue alloys , what a difference 👌
Hey Lee, amazing news. Finding financial freedom really does seem to be the answer to making change, sadly living in the UK (especially the south east) is very hard. We think we may move away from here soon, try living a simpler and quieter life. Thanks so much for sharing, so good to hear stories like this. You got this! ❤️
I would sell the old roof window as it looks like it is only the corner which is damaged, not the window, and could be repaired. You did the right thing replacing it with a new one because of the standard you have been working to.
January blues and changes to life. I've no blues and I think that is partly down to me not working full time anymore. I've gone contracting and take two months off work between contracts. I'm in my late 50s and this helps with the balance of life... gives me time to do DIY jobs at an age when I can do them.
Keep going with your adventure... looking forward to your road trip.
Thanks Richard 😊I think we feel like that’s what isn’t quite right at the moment, that balance between working and having time to do some of the things we want to do. Sounds like you’ve got a good balance going on now which is not a small achievement! Are there any projects you’re working on in particular? Yes good idea on the damaged window too, we might pop it on eBay or something and see if someone picks it up! Thanks for watching :)
We live in an 1800 cottage and have always got things to do.
Big jobs on the list:
- Once we have had some Velux windows changed, the old bathroom will be replaced with a new cottage one.
- Carport converted to a garage (keep our cats off the roof of the car)
- and the garden which is a full-time job, but we need to give the bushes a hard prune this year.😊
Once all repaired, and if you fit a 1 inch suspension lift to it, get it properly height measured... when empty, and install a height indicator sign in the cab. Hopefully this help you avoid costly mistakes like this again.
Thanks for watching. Very sound advice, we are doing exactly that.
Hi guys. I know exactly how you feel there's nothing like freedom my mum has always said that im a wanderer always wanting to be out and about. After a while i get itchy feet and look for more. I got to say i have sat today and binge watched your van build feel more itchy feet now. Good luck to you both in your search 😃
Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed the videos. Wandering is good for the soul, we need to do MUCH more of it.
We have literally just put our 2008 sprinter through her MOT yesterday and was fearful as last and cost us £1800 and another approx £1500 during the last year. Our video is up later today with the cost.😮 Regarding life changes we have travelled around in syna for two years now and she was only ever a tester van to see if we could actually do a build. (But we got attached) however this year we are hopefully in the summer getting a MWB sprinter alot younger. Stripping syna out doing the smaller van and then looking at a e month trip. If we like it after 3 months we are seriously contemplating selling up. Sorry about your damage but again a great vlog and your always positive we love that ❤
Hey guys, owning a van certainly comes with a cost doesn't it. Still, we feel much happier with some big things and the little niggly bits being fixed. We love our LWB sprinter but we also now think a MWB would be more than enough, you can get so creative with them. For me (Andy) I felt I could not live without having a shower - but since then have seen some cool ways to shower in a van still!
Hope you both are keeping well, we will give your video a watch later today!
@lifeadventureprojects we thought that re the shower but after using the van without one and just a space for one we decided against it and used the space for storage and a simploo. We just have a shower tent and a hose extention from the main tap. We are having a external point in the new van at the back so we can open the doors and create a shower room, Oh and Andys tree climbing was Epic Ha ha 😂
Loving the positivity! Things are looking good for 2024. Horrid expenses but there you are, done and done properly. Looking forward to hearing more about the first full trip. Lovely visits, thanks for sharing those xx
Thank you Dad 🥰 yes feeling positive and I think those trips out have helped, fresh air blowing the cobwebs off! Feels good to have the van properly looked at so we know it’s ready to go. Now just to get it finished! ❤️ x
Brilliant video. When your out on your big adventures you will forget about the cost! Cant wait to here all about keep up the good work.
Thanks so much, really appreciate it. We are very excited for the adventures to start, it certainly keeps us going!
Oh dear, sorry to hear about the damage but the tyres/rims look great! xx
I've always been told - if your going to do somethimg, do it properly.... you smashed it 😂. Sorry couldn't resist. We have all been there, easily done. Better to do it now than in the middle of a trip where you cant repair it.
😂😂 yeah lesson learnt! Maintain awareness of your surroundings!
I went self employed. About 5 years ago. I am a mobile mechanic. I have 2 kids. Best decision I have ever made,I now have more time for the kids & the wife.
Money is better & I work less hours.
Bravo 🙌🏻 that’s exactly it - finding more balance between working and doing your own stuff, I think it’s about feeling like you have more control over your time! Thanks for sharing with us, lots to think about and we will get there eventually! 😊
Great to see you guys again. The tires are great, so sorry about the skylight damage 😞 Yes, I understand that desire to get away from the every day and create a life you love. I’m currently saving to get a van for retirement (four years from now). I’m a teacher and looking forward to traveling the US and Canada 🇨🇦 and enjoying living in a van conversion. For now, I travel on long weekends and vacations with my Jeep Wrangler. Last summer I took my dog and we traveled three weeks to Banff in the Jeep. Wishing you both the best this year and on your van 🚐 adventures!
Oh how exciting, retirement and a van - you are about to enter dream status! I think it is so important to start living now, there is an awful lot to see. Thanks again for all your support! ❤️
Main dealership will always ripe you a new one always go to other garages they still stamp your book and use a Mercedes parts love watching you guys looking forward to seeing your next vlog 👋👍👋👋👍
Thanks David, you are right. Was really over priced, next time we will go to an independent specialist. Thanks so much for watching.
Hello from the US! I love watching the van build and the every day ups and downs as you go along.
Being restless is a good thing and it feels like maybe you guys are ready to try something different. I know it's easy for a stranger to say from behind a keyboard but I honestly feel the same way. I'm making changes big and small.
Life is short. I hope you make those bold moves and I hope they make you happy.
P.s. I'm a vehicle-obsessed American man who owns a Dodge Ram 2500 so I think I'm a good judge: those rims and tires look bada$$ on the van.
Heyyy! Great to hear from you. A dodge ram 2500, what a vehicle that is! The sad truth about the UK is vehicles like that just are not very available, it is one of the things we love about the US, big vehicles!
You are so right about making bold moves, we now think it’s the only way forward. Try, if it fails then try something else. Gotta be better than the alternative! Thanks so much for watching ❤️
those wheels look awesome !! was unsure regrading having that kind of tyre on a van really , as most of the time , especially in a van as large as yours, the times you'll actually need a tyre of that calibre would be small id guess. however.... who cares... they look amazing on the van.. also, have the van measured, and get that sticker slapped on the dash somewhere. got a few of your vids to catch up on , as been moving house also, so ill get cracking on that so. keep up the good work guys. peace and looove guys!!
Hey pal! Great to see you are still around. ❤️ How has your house move been? I think I understand why some people never move for their whole life! 😂😂
Do you know what, the sticker is a fab idea, I am on Amazon now taking a look! I also think you are right on the tyres, but they do certainly bring the van to life and the drive feels, "sturdier" but not sure if that is just in my head. haha.
Hope life is treating well bud! Big love from us.
@lifeadventureprojects thanks, yeah moving closer to the shore, so the stress of it all is somewhat outweighed by the excitement. The missis moves over to next month, so really excited and can't wait to start our new life.
Hi, well im a great believer in ' lifes an adventure' . I may not say that in 6 /7 wks when we move out of our rented accomodation into a smallish van which we are converting with not much in the way of money or proper tools. Anyway Itll be rustic for sure but fortunately i like rustic 😂. Well done both of you . Enjoy life!
Wow that’s amazing Ailsa! What an adventure you’re in for, some of it might be hard and you might wonder why you did it but you will definitely not regret it in the long run! So many adventures to come, wishing you the best of luck! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Yep! Well we're either brave or mad!! Houses are boring anyway iv decided!! 😁 x
Great vlog loved it shame about floppy hair ,wait till you got nun like me 😂 if you watch life’s too short the little red camper it brings it home life’s too short so enjoy and get on with it , and I’m thinking your on the right track . You will make wrong decisions along the way but lots of good ones too . If you don’t make any decisions you’ll not do anything so go for it . Camped in Cirencester last September lovely and will go back this year it was excellent , so well done both good luck 👍👍👍🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦🦢
Cotswolds way is amazing, so many beautiful places. We are going to spend more time in that direction, even if for just long weekends. You have inspired us to just start doing, totally agree with you. ❤️ Thank you so much for watching!
Also , get out a measuring tape , work out the height of the van now with the newer wheels and tyres , in feet/inches and also in meters/centimeters , give yourself a 5% margin too
We will definitely be doing this and it’s great advice to add on the extra, don’t want that happening again. Thanks for taking the time to give us the advice, we really appreciate it, and thanks for watching too! Hope you’re well! 👍🏻
Love the adventure video! Fun to see you out and about. Climbing the tree and Andy getting mad at the driver behind you was the best. Chad and Andy are the same, lol.
And live the new carpet. No more blue! Funseeing you both back at it! 💛💛
Oh hey guys, we have been waiting more than 2 months for your next instalment! When can we see your lovely selves on our screens?
Andy is a liability 😂
Yeah new carpets, that blue one is still in other rooms 🤮, needs replacing soon!
@@lifeadventureprojects ha, next video is a full feature directed by Francis ford Coppola, lol. No we gonna get going again since the holidays but it’s cold. Seeing you guys inspires us though. Soon!
Marlon Brando has nothing on Chad! Sounds like we are in for a winner. 🏆
Shame about your damage as your new wheels look great keep your chin up as the van build is nearing the end
Thanks John, yeah it was pretty annoying but never mind, these things happen! Nearly there now 🙌🏻 thanks for watching 😊👍🏻
Lovely update video and totally agree with you sentiment. Work life balance is so important. Planning our own van build at some point in the next year so all these valuable what not to do lessons will come in very useful 😩😂🤦🏻♂️. Thought this was your best video to date tbh. 👍🏼
That’s so lovely to hear 🥹 we’re always a bit unsure because it’s not just van stuff but really glad to hear you enjoyed it! Exactly that - it’s that work life balance that we think is missing, as well as a bit more adventure! Ooo yes you should go for it! Would love to hear how you get on 🙂
Andy climbing the tree at Figsbury Ring! LOL Even my kids won't try getting up there! We live 20 minutes from there, it's a great dog walking spot in the summer.
😂😂 Oh what a beautiful part of the world you live in. We were weeks away from completing on buying a Cottage round there, we decided against it in the end due to survey feedback. But we do love it round there! And yes, Andy thinks he is a kid, he also skips and walks across thin walls like a 5 year old 😂😂😂
Hi guys love the video keep going with the good work 😊
Thank you so much Andrew! 😃🙌🏻
Hello you two. Sorry to hear about your shit luck regarding the height barrier incident. Really looking forward to your up and coming adventures. Once your on the road, you'll be all smiles. Thanks for sharing and all the best 👍
Hey Gary 😃 yeah not the best start to the van upgrades was it haha. We’re excited to share them too! Not long now 🤞🏼 and all this money spent will be well worth it, as you say, once we’re adventuring in Ray. Hope you’re doing really well 😊💛
Loved this video guys! Really nice to see a little mixture! Sucks about the barrier damages! We went to Salisbury last weekend, we love it there. Such a nice place for a casual weekend wonder! Sounds like Ray is ready and raring to go! 😊👍🏻 Xx
Aw thank you! It’s really lovely isn’t it, we had a walk round there before Christmas and stopped for coffee and cake in a lovely little cafe, was great! He’s almost there! Just to get the heater fitted and then he’s good to go! 🙌🏻 hope you’re well and thanks so much for watching Ella 😃💛
Keep uploading guys been following you from the start and love seeing your latest update
We will try our best! Thanks so much for watching! ❤️❤️
Interesting video well done, shame about the damage taking the buzz off getting new wheels and tyres, your van is coming together nicely now keep at it soon be finished
Hey Gerald, yeah he is coming along nicely. Very excited to get him finished now, few big things to do and think we will be home free! Really appreciate your support and positivity. ❤️
Loved the video, was also excited to see you did exactly the same as us at Stonehenge and walk along the outside fence lol
haha - it is so much more convenient than the main entrance! You have to get on a bus to get there from the main office.
Dull January for sure ! But keep positive guys and loving the videos best wishes for 2024
Best wishes to you too! Hope you’re having a good start to the year ☺️✨🙌🏻
Stick with it you are doing a great job I am also converting an ex dhl sprinter I feel your pain on the cost of the conversion
Yeah it’s not cheap is it 😫😫 how is your conversion going, how far along are you? Thanks for tuning in Nigel!
I am only a few weeks in I have just finished the insulation I am now on first fix electrical and plumbing
Wheels look superb 👌
Nice catch up video guys did they check your timing belts on van . Keep upbeat soon be spring /summer ❤
Yes all checked and okay, for now…. 😂
Hi guys, we are converting the same van into a camper, along similar lines as yours with some difference, it will be a few months before we can use it as a camper, looking forward to your next episode as we are also fitting a Truma heater in the next few weeks.
Awesome! Sounds like you are moving much faster than us. We do struggle with fulltime jobs and building, especially during the winter months.
More expense! Wheels look great and I don’t think the Mercedes bill was too excessive. All those little jobs mount up, labour wise! and £400 would be vat!!
I know 😩 but needs must and it feels good to know that he’s all up and running properly, so we can relax about it! And exactly, labour is so expensive 😫 thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it!
Just come across you guys. We've just been to Old Sarum/Salisbury too and did a little video. Life can be really tough when something is out of alignment for sure, even worse when the place you live and work in is actually a negative force - same here too... I've thought about this a lot over the last couple of years and I realised that "if you're not planning your life somebody or something else will be". After much navel gazing I came to the conclusion that all I have to do is be involved with and do in things that in some form make me content. Climbing lessons it is then :-)
Just gave your video a watch, loved the sound effects you put in!! We’re big fans of Salisbury, lovely place to spend some time. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head - you’ve got to prioritise and spend time doing things you enjoy as much as possible - simple really! Thankfully we both work places we don’t completely hate, I think it’s more the fact that our time isn’t our own that feels difficult at the moment. Thanks for sharing your insights and story, really helps and we appreciate it. Hope your year is going really well so far 😊🙌🏻
That's my worst fear, putting the van under somewhere it won't fit. Not needed, but it could have been much worse. I'm interested in how much MB charged for the door adjustment as I need mine done.
Hey guys, happy new year to you both, a great video, don’t be so hard on yourselves you’ve had a lot to deal with, moving house, ray build, Xmas & new year etc but January isn’t good for many but I love it as it’s the start of new adventures & challenges, but nature is free and to get out as much as you can to ground yourselfs, I couldn’t work in a office but hey everyone is different, but keep up the fantastic work on the channel you guys are a blast, really easy going and super fun to watch, take it steady & stay safe 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hey Mark, hope you have had a lovely star to your new year. Loving your positivity! Thanks for your continued support and motivational comments. ❤️❤️
We are feeling much much better now, we have a clear idea on plan now which is usually have the battle!
@@lifeadventureprojects amazing, smash 24, like no other, have a great Sunday, ❤️🎉🎉🎉
Loving you both from the USA
❤️❤️
Heyyyyy guys.
It's so lovely to see you again. I'm so sorry to hear about your bad luck with the van. Hopefully you won't have to pay out that much again any time soon.
Andy, you up that tree was hilarious 😂 You are right. We do think we are kids when we do things like that. We can climb up, but how the hell do we get down 😂
Other than that, I hope you're all fine. See you in the next one 😊
Hey Lisaaaa! How are you guys doing ☺️? We’ll have to think of a very imaginative way to get money if we had more bills like that anytime soon 😂 worth it to know he’s all fixed up though. Hahaha I was genuinely concerned he was going to fall out of that bloody tree 😅 hope you’re both keeping really well and having a lovely start to the year. Thanks always for tuning in 💛
@lifeadventureprojects We are doing great, thank you. By the way, I forgot to say that the Rogue Alloys look amazing on the van. We bought Rogue Alloys for our van last year, and it makes such a difference to the look of it. It's always nice of you to reply to me. Thank you so much. It makes my day.
hi big changes in my life too as I have worked for my company for 30 years this year I have been offered a large severance pay which hope sort me out with a van to get me out and about in the great outdoors on and upwards 😀 😂😢
Oh wow, an actual blessing in disguise! You got this, now is the time to start living them real life adventures. Exciting! What van you planning to get?
@@lifeadventureprojects something similar a vw crofter or Mercedes sprinter hopefully 🙏 😀 😬 👍
Loving the vlogs, half way through a MWB myself. They’re money pits but so worth it. Can I ask how much MB wanted for realigning the door. I’ve tried doing it myself but I’m only making it worse 🤦♂️
They really are 😂😭 yes for sure, it was £43.50 for the actual adjustment, not sure in terms of labour as that was all chunked in one on the bill, but yeah not too horrendous! From what they’ve said ours might need some more attention - it closes but seems to not quite line up still and they’ve recommended taking it to a body shop to have another look. Not sure what the issue is but yeah we did a lot of fiddling with it and probably made it worse 😂
@@lifeadventureprojects wow, that’s actually a reasonable price. Thanks a lot, good luck with the rest of the build. Fitting the Truma is fiddly but not too bad.
Guys, find yourself a local garage, they are called main stealers for a reason!
Yeah, 100% the plan next time. Think we got diddled!
Sorry if you already stated but what size wheels & tyres did you get and how does it drive now, are the tyres any louder while driving?
Don’t know any noise from the tyres. They are 16” wheels. Tyre is 225/75/16
We are C and JJ and maya the border collie, after a few years of just failure and disaster after disaster and a Christmas in 2022 spent in and out of hospital with JJ dad who just didn't care the stress this put on JJ we decided enought was enought so we sold a few bits and a at the end of January 2023 we bought our big red van, who we proudly named big red, we bought it as a none runner and c rebuilt the turbo etc and got her running she's a 2013 2.2 rwd transit, and we had a grand time starting the conversion we not gone crazy with what we have but we've made a van that is very usable and took her to Scotland over Christmas and then wales in January really made a massive diffrence to JJ mental health, few little tweets and upgrades in places but getting her ready for her next adventure but we're setting a deadline of 6 months and we want to go traveling for longer so sorting out finances and commitments we both have and making the big jump, we all are a number on a spread sheet which is our national insurance number pull your life in and leave the pigion hole, bit much love from a fellow Mini owner!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing. You have absolutely made the right decisions, if you can afford it then start living the life you want. We are really enjoying the build process, despite its challenges, but we are now getting very excited about all the things we can do in it. 🍻
Do you think you’ll be able to seal the antennae with silicone? Ive the same one and i can imagine it’s a pain to get off! And While it would have been terrible! Just think filmed falling off a tree £250 from you been framed towards the bill 😉
😂😂 good point, you’ve been framed pays more than RUclips! Yeah not sure on silicone, would it ruin the signal? Not even sure if it works at this point, may just need to buy a replacement. Annoying!
The joys of owning a van but the hubby does all our mechanical repairs as hes a mechanic, main dealer are stealers for a reason always use an indy much better, did mercedes inform you there is a safety recall outstanding on your van by any chance ?
Yeah! They recalled the vehicle because it needed a new airbag, they replaced that whole piece in the middle of the steering wheel. Is that a tactic?! 🫣
@@lifeadventureprojects quite common one of our cars we bought as a dead car and rebuilt the engine had a recall on the front airbag for similar which was surprising considering it was 15 years old buy ifs its done that's great, never turn away freebies!!
@chillingwolf yeah all done, I mean they say it is free but the amount we paid am now wondering if it was 😂
Why would you go to a main dealer ? Especially Mercedes.
New house eh? Hope you looked at the deeds before buying....
Most new homes round here don't allow you to have a trailer, caravan, motorhome, or any sign written van in the driveway.
Hope it's not that?
Hey, as it happens it is not a new build so we don’t have them restrictions. However, we also don’t store the van here (only work on it here), we keep it in secure storage nearby which has 24x7 security. Thanks so much for watching! 🤛🏻
Been a bad year all ready lost my dad 28th December then got covid 2 days after lol 😢😂
Dam.. So sorry to hear that, sending hugs
Hey Damien, what an awful end to 2023. Sending you much love from the two of us. ❤️❤️
One climbing trees like a 10 year old, one splodging in mud like a 5 year old, i can't take you two anywhere 🤨
😂😂 very true Glen!
Are you selling your misses???? Rookie mistake the barrier, but at least you can repair it yourself 👍
😂😂😂 haha yeah an easy fix thankfully 🤪
@@lifeadventureprojects see how much you saved. You could have had Mercedes do it 😝. It's a learning curve I mean a massive van yep compared to your mini!!! I think the missus should drive, the twinkle in her eye when she made you hold your breath 😂🤣😂🤣
Your young any thoughts on emigration. Australia. Europe .
Oh I think we would both love to try some time in Europe, but first we want to explore and maybe see if anything tickles our fancy. We also have our eyes on a homestead type scenario - we crave living a simple life.
Ouch , 2200 pounds , streuth , find yourselves an independent Mercedes specialist . You paid a higher price because you used a Commercial Vehicle Garage....it's not an HGV so don't pay HGV prices next time
You know John, you might not be wrong there 😩😩😩 think we might have messed up slightly there, but all done now and will know for next time!
All the best for 2024. 👍👍🚐😎
To you too Rob!