Back in 2013-2015, My husband and I were homeless and living in our truck and going thru addiction and all the bs that comes with it. Worst part was, it was in Arizona, and I just remember covering my skin with wet towels at night and fanning myself until I basically passed out from exhaustion. I’d keep my window all the way down because I literally felt like I was suffocating from the heat. We could only afford a hotel room one night every two weeks- on his pay day. And I tell you what- that motel 6 bed and shower felt like the most luxurious place on earth at the time. Thankfully we got our shit together- and now we are both sober and have our own home in North Carolina- but I will never forget the blistering horrible Arizona summer nights we spent in that truck.
You and the old time cavalry soldiers have that shared experience especially. Fort McDowell and Fort Thomas at San Carlos were especially tough places correctly termed as shit holes
@@whitemakesright2177 all these tips were dumb and not practical or realistic. anyones who's actually lived in their car not for some RUclips reel knows this.
Yeah an external inverter is still not unlimited electricity. Matter of fact, inverters can often have horrible efficiency. You also have to find someplace to plug in to recharge. We talk smack about people out in the countryside but honestly if they're out hunting and making fires all the time as a way of life they're not dependent on as much modern amenities. Knowing what's edible. I don't think preppers are wackadoos. Crazy? Yeah but is that a bad thing during crazy times where you have to increasingly adapt to crazy extremes to get by? Preserving meats in lard from purified fats of things you have cooked before. Pioneers did it. We looked down on it when poorest among us did it for food to get by. Not using the fridge as much.
Bro I lived in my regular cab, 2 door pickup truck for 9 months of my life. It was absolutely traumatic but I made it out against all odds. 10 years later I park that pickup in the driveway of my own HOME. Even though I now have other vehicles, I still keep that old truck around as a reminder to keep me humble. For anyone going through a similar situation, I can say that it will get better. I promise. EDIT: First off, thank you all for the love and positivity. I had no idea my comment would reach so many people. For those wondering how I ended up homeless it’s simple, irresponsible spending and zero knowledge of finances. I had a job and an apartment and when I was laid off, I had no savings and no place to go. Living in my pickup was the only solution I had. I was back at the bottom and had to dig myself out of the hole that I created and I did just that. Also for those wondering, the truck is a 2000 Chevy S10 that now sits jacked up with pretty blue paint. I plan on giving the truck to my son when the time comes.
I lived in my ‘08 Jeep Wrangler for almost 6 months. I now own a beautiful home and drive a new Tesla. My jeep is still in my garage, safe and sound. I will never sell it.
I was in an abandoned garage with no door a couple winters ago. No power. But a sofa bed, thick duvet and wall i built to break the wind. It was actually pretty nice.
I mean, people aren't really homeless if they choose to live in their car, though they *are* if they're forced to live in their car with no other options. Its just that most who are actually homeless living in their car arent worried about tiktok videos etc.. People I know who were forced to live in their car were blessed to at least have transportation and used it to get their life rolling asap and find a job to get an apartment etc.
I was told that when the muffler gets blocked by snow, the carbon monoxide floods back up and seeps into the car. It's a silent, and odorless, killer. 😢
People have no idea the number of working Americans actually experiencing homelessness. Back in the late 80’s my mom worked the entire time we were homeless. We slept in our car the first night then lived in a transitional shelter for two months. She worked 9-5 at her full time job then would work 6-10 at her part time job then she’d stuff envelopes for an insurance company on Sat and Sun. In two months we moved into a condo on the beach in South FL. She was the embodiment of strength. RIP my love ❤ and thank you for teaching me how to persevere.
same, when I was 2-3 years old my mother (who was only 18) and I were homeless and living in a car that wouldnt even start. She worked 2 jobs to keep us fed and some nights she didnt eat to make sure that I did. She told me stories about how she had to beg relatives to watch me while she worked her fingers to the bone, and when nobody would watch me she brought me with her to work. One time she was sobbing outside of the car while I slept; another homeless man approached her and asked why she was crying. She explained to him that she had no money left and wouldnt get paid for another week so she didnt know what to do. After hearing our situation, that man gave her all the money he had, only 27 dollars and asked for nothing in return. She soon got a job working as a Budweiser model and made good money, enough for us to get an apartment. Soon she married someone (we dont talk about him) and I got a little brother. Iwill always be grateful to her for toughing it out and getting back on her feet; and also to that homeless man who helped her out in her darkest moment.
Live in a Prius. I spent some nights in one and it was great. Set the climate control and go to sleep. Car starts when the battery needs a change. Then turns off. Just need to turn off the dash lights. I’m sure other hybrids can do the same.
This works in a pinch when you need cold AC, but still burns a decent amount of oil + gas if it's real hot out and you need to not sweat all night, plus it's loud and not stealthy. but In my 5 years experience of owning a prius and living out of it for periods of time, the engine will run pretty 95% of the time the heat is on. Though, I have slept very comfortably down to 15 degrees F. Just gotta pre heat the car and wear long johns, socks, sweat pants, sweater, hoodie, beanie, multiple large comforters, pillows, etc. and it's actually very comfortable. getting up in the morning is a bitch though when ur wrapped like a friggin mummy..,
@@Eveandwolfi have autism and sleep like this in my house I pay for Idk how the f I did it back when I was homeless man…. I just didn’t give a f as long as I had drugs back then I guess
Since I got a shit load of medical bills to pay and lots of debt. I am putting myself through this for a few months until I can get my finances in order. Fortunately my job provides free food and a place to shower. I hope it wont be that bad. God bless you all going through this. times are tough. Be safe!
I lived in my car for 6 years. Every summer and winter was a nightmare. Just recently got out of my situation. Try to get out of your car as soon as you can, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.. I look back and saw how I lost 6 years of my life so quickly.
I was also a car dweller for six year, living in California. I worked 80 hours a week to keep myself occupied. Things weren't that bad, considering I had a gym membership that allowed me to work out and shower. I own a house now, and even though things were cool for me, I don't ever want to go through that ordeal again.
@@Nomadir Oh I did lose my mind, too many times to count. But for me the mind was like a bone.. it would snap.. but heal and become stronger. I left that situation coming out stronger on the other side, but there will always be a part of me that hated being in there for 6 years.
@@rahsaanthomas7030 I hear ya. 6 years is a lot to lose, that's over half a decade of your life. I'm also in California, and worked about as long too, sometimes it's the only thing keeping you occupied and like you have some measure of purpose. I had a 24-hour fitness membership, I took advantage of taking long showers since I didn't have to pay a water bill lol. So how did you end up getting a house if you don't mind me asking? I got out of my situation but doing the roommate/apartment thing. Glad to hear you got out of your situation!
My college wants me to pay around $7k for 16 weeks just to stay in the dorms. Im 9 hours from anywhere I would be able to stay, and the housing market up here is awful. Everything is taken and overpriced. Im gonnna be a 3rd year college student and living in my car, in U.P. Michigan. Not to mention, I work 2 jobs on campus, but the school only pays me $14/Hr in I.T. Also, im from poverty, and my parents have been on hard drugs a lot of their lives, so they have made many mistakes that impact me today. Im gonna struggle in ways, but once i get past this, I'll be a more resilient person than most. It irritated me when people complain about stuff around here, but their family is paying for their college🙄 I have a 3.5 GPA in Electrical Engineering Technology and want to get an MBA at MIT no matter the struggle I will get there!
Watch the movie Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith as the main character. It's based on a true story. If you ever get discouraged, remember that you can rise above. Your situation will make you even more amazing when you are telling it 10 years from now.
I’m 6’4” and after HS and during college was homeless for sometime in a really shitty small beat up sedan. The hardest part was trying to curl up for warmth but never being able to without kinking every part of my body.
@@davidwalker8778 Idk how much you're offering but I feel like a lot of people underestimate how much you gotta get paid to survive. Also if its trade related, theres not gonna be a lot of young people skilled because they never got taught those skills.
I lived in my car through 2 Colorado winters. The key is layering. You need to have 3-5 blankets that are different materials and densities. Lighter, thinner blankets closer to your body, with the thickest blanket on the outside layer. The differing air gaps and densities insulate you in multiple ways just like a down coat would. You also need to insulate yourself from the seat, because the seat will pull heat out of your body and into the car structure. Also, to SAFELY sleep in your car you NEED to leave a window cracked just a fraction to let oxygen in. If you’re running a heater especially. You WILL deprive your brain of oxygen if you’re in the car long enough without opening a door or window. DO NOT run electrical accessories off of the car itself, get a “jump box” that you can charge. A heavy duty one that’s rated for a lot of cycles. If you’re wanting to keep beverages or groceries cold, keep them in the trunk. They will stay very cold a shockingly long time because the trunk of most cars is a small insulated space.
Same love! I lived in Denver through 2 winters in my Murano and I lived in layers. It really wasn't that bad even with the schziy weather CO is known for. All about layers and using some creative thinking. Hope things are better for you now.
Electric heaters aren't generators. They don't produce Carbon monoxide. Cracking a window to "conserve heat" in winter is.... let's say.. counter productive. Cheers from Canada. A trunk is NOT insulated at least not in a way that would produce the reault you suggested. The drinks stay cold cause it's fricken winter. Jesus On a stick!! 🤦♂️
@@robertcampomizzi7988 No they don’t produce gasses at all, but they DO thin the air out and it can feel like you’re suffocating. Ask me how I know lol
@Tyler Roe What is the physical process by which this phenomenon occurs? If by thinning out the air you mean less dense because it's hotter .. that's true but insignificant and irrelevant. It changes nothing about the composition of the air. I asked how you know.. what is the physical process that demonstrates how this is possible? You emphasized NEED and SAFELY and neither are true. Cars are not air tight... so... How are we depriving our brains of oxygen in this scenario?
I have never been homeless , but I had a friend who was going through a difficult time in their life, and I tried to get them to stay at my house until things got better for them. They pridefully refused but they would come over and shower and sometimes stay for dinner. Life is hard and most of the time it's not fair . Anyone out there who has a homeless friend or trustworthy acquaintance I urge you to try and help. Not all homeless situations are created equal and having disdain for them helps no one. Just saying if you can help , please do so.
@@joel.ha. not really. I would argue that you could just start you car for 5/10 mins every few hours and let it heat back up. But that depends on temperatures and everything else
Had to live out of my car for a few months and boy did it suck. Always embarrassed to park where people could see me but was too afraid to park in the dark where anyone could walk up on me. Lost a lot of sleep in those days.. but I held it together and told myself it was temporary! Now I have my own house. Unfortunately that car died out on me a few years later but I’m thankful she kept me warm and safe during those hard times. Shit gets better! Never give up that hope❤️
Honestly I've never understood how people can be homeless but own cars. Here in Nigeria cars are expensive and if you can afford one, chances are you can afford a roof over your head.
@@e-ben616 here society is kind of upside down when it comes to friends and family. No one helps hardly anyone anymore. And when they do help, they usually are crazier than the reason we ended up homeless in the 1st place! Also rents in this country are all about greed and the rent for any location is exponentially proportional to the number of Californians moving to the area every year. I have watched where it went fron 2 or 3 Cali move into town and 1 year later 500 move and then rents house prices skyrocket to push out everyone born in that town all because of greed!
Layering. Get your base layer, then your mid layer, then your top layer. Youd be surprised how warm you can keep yourself with proper layers. People do it all the time camping and hiking in the mountains during winter.
Just a set of thermo underwear is doing magic already. Also if you sleep inside a sleeping bag, you need an insulation-mattress between the sleeping bag and the seats. Sleeping bags don't insulate at all when being compressed
mole hair/sherpa type blankets.. get 3 of them queen size or larger and wrap yourself up like a burrito.. your body heat mixed with heavy blankets can work
@@neal0071234able Yes, those thick wool blanekts insulate even when compressed and retain heat even when humid. So they actually keeop you warm in al coniditioons. But its s certain type of wool i thiunk its called "virgin wool" or "pure new wool" in english. its very coarse and scratches the skin a bit so its not super comfortabnle to touch it directly but one layer can keep you warm in -5C conditions
Best advice? Don't sleep at night during the winter. Seriously. Get a night shift job if thats available. Sleep while the sun is out, its much easier (and cheaper) to stay warm. Even if its below freezing you'd be surprised at how warm your car stays as long as the sun is out. As long as you can find a spot to sleep where no one is going to bother you, its way easier. Sleep with the windows down during summer, or switch shifts if thats available.
Thank god someone else understands this too! And u are not using a converter for a little heater without cranking your car otherwise you will wake up too a dead battery too. It’ll actually be u finding out you have a dead battery somewhere around 2am.
Not necessarily an issue if you have a manual transmission and a decent alternator.... roll start the car when you need to go somewhere, and let the alternator do its job
@@outcast_performance The only thing with that is you'll eventually kill your alternator. Yes, it will start, but the alternator isn't built to recharge a dead battery on a regular basis. Also, lots of alternators have to see voltage before they put out voltage.
@@outcast_performance false, a battery that is depleted constantly, will go bad very quickly, and will no longer be able to hold a charge. On top of that, the alternator is only meant to maintain your battery, not recharge it from ground up, having your alternator charge your battery repeatedly will melt your alternator.
Wool everything. As someone who has been homeless for two years I can say that if you have a bunch of wool clothes and blankets stashed for winter you are set
@@THaNaS1s What are you talking about? Everyone has the right to seek out knowledge or entretainment, especially homeless people. Also he said "who has BEEN homeless" BEEN is past tens, so he's talking about the past, not that he is currently homeless.
@@AdamDeRossiif the vehicle is not running, the alternator will not charge the battery. If you have a lead plugged into the car while it’s not running , that means the only power source that the blanket it drawing from would be the battery.
@@AdamDeRossi it doesn’t draw much power so it would be fine for about an hour or so but leaving it in all night will both drain your battery and pose a fire hazard. Just leave the damn car running, idling hardly uses gas on any 4 cylinder car produced after 2007
It seems like the implication is that you have the heated blanket plugged in during the day as you are driving around, the blanket goes inside a sleeping bag so that the actual sleeping bag itself is what gets heated up
After being on the road for 3 years now best advice is 1. Insulate your windows. You have no idea how much heat escapes through the glass. Insulate them. 2. Invest in a good sleeping bag (or best you can afford). Makes a world of difference. Even if the inside of the car is freezing you can still be warm as long as you're in your sleeping bag. I even throw a second little blanket over top. 3. Don't be afraid to start your car and let it run for awhile if you are super cold. It's not gonna use as much gas as you think just sitting there. Get the car warm for a bit then turn it back off. Which goes back to #1 and the insulated windows. Even after turning the car off it will stay warm for quite some time if you insulated properly. If you dont have insulation your car will be cold again in minutes
@edockter4274 they sell cheap insulation at home depot for like 9 bucks a roll. I bought a couple rolls, cut out pieces in the shape of my windows. Then I went to joanns and got some black fabric and cut out the pieces and glued them to the insulation. (The fabric part isn't needed I did it so my coverings would be black and no one could see them). When you look at my car from the outside with the insulation up it just looks like I have tinted windows. You'll never know I was in there.
Not homeless but I slept in a 2012 pathfinder in 17° F weather. I cutout insulation for the windows and in the morning, when I pulled one down, a rush of cold air flowed over me. Those things make a huge difference. I felt 7/10 warm with a hoodie, sleeping bag, and a few blankets.
No used an outdoor sleeping bag that 's made similar to your temperature in your local area. Used that to sleep on your car. It will keep you warm, sleep at night.
I lived in my car for nearly 4 months with my pregnant girlfriend at the time. I prayed to God every day that we would end up out of the situation we were thrown into, and thank God we were. But we still had to go through that struggle for long enough to appreciate the fact that every single day is a blessing, and it can always be worse. God bless you all. 🙏🏽
This is my second week of being homeless. I'm not going to lie but its really hard. It's definitely not easy. I had to leave were I was living due to an emotional and physically abusive relationship. I'm in my car for my safety! I've found using a weighted blanket and a regular blanket works really well. Praying to find a home real soon.
As someone who is facing the very real possibility of living in my car soon, I appreciate this info. I've been meaning to look into different ways to stay warm in the winter, but I've been to anxious to know where to start.
Get a 0 degree sleeping bag. Buy winter waffle inserts, wool gloves/socks, wool beanies, hardshell on top of fleece to retain heat further. Get Velcro tape and Reflextrix Insulation, attach the Velcro to the sides of the windows and roll up insulation, so you can create easily removable insulation that you can attach at night. It will also give you privacy. On especially cold nights you can cook dry rocks in a fire which let off heat for hours, just wrap them in old cloth and place them under the front seats.
Use foam around you when you sleep it blocks the cold really well. You can buy some in the fabric area of Walmart sewing section or you can get hard foam at home Depot and make a box with it.
I remember being homeless without a car yet still was working for at an Indian food restaurant. They would always ask why I had my backpack and offer me rides home and I could never say yes at the fear of losing my job. I would have to wait until everyone left and would walk over to sleep under an over pass where I would leave my sleeping bag. I had a possum that figured out my schedule and would steal my food while I was at work and one time caught a random guy stealing my stuff and had to fight him to get it back. It was a roll out pad thing that I found at the good will and couldnt afford it so I asked if they could hold it for a few hrs until I could get enough and they said no and threw on the ground behind them. So I left and as I was walking away from the store a lady yelled excuse me sir! I turned around and she had bought the sleeping pad for me and I said I couldnt afford it and she said here, it's on me. At that very moment I just lost it and burst into tears as she gave me a hug. I had never had anyone ever DP something that nice for me before ever in my life and I needed that hug so badly. I will never forget that. I'm a lot better now and have gotten my life together but never underestimate the power of something like a small good deed can do to bring someone out of their lowest of lows. Just to know a single human cared when no one else did changed everything for me.
I was homeless for 3 years and to this day I think of a few specific people who were kind to me and I wish that I could find them and tell them how much they changed my life. The kindness of those people meant so much to me there aren't even words for it I will never ever forget them.
Get a heated blanket for a battery pack. I lived in a 97 ford probe for a couple months, worked two jobs, had insurance, but no drivers license. Gotten pulled over twice and luckily never got arrested. I'm sure they knew I was homeless, regardless if I kept the car clean. I'm sure they saw my pillow and blanket. There's a road alongside the bay, that no cops patrol, and I really doubt anyone would try to hurt me. I kept the doors locked snd windows up. Never covered windows and I'm sure people knew I was asleep inside. Never littered, never stole from people, and never abused drugs or alcahol. Now I'm in college working on a Doctorate's for Psychiatry or Clinical Psychology. You got this!❤
@@RealFrankSwett keep up the great progress friend. I'm happy for u really am. I just want everybody to triumph over their challenges and get their blessings. This world is a place we are meant to experience suffering in. It is up to us to decide if we will be one who suffers or one who overcomes
I was homeless for about 8 months but luckily the construction company I work for heard about my situation and allow me to park my vehicle at the office lot and run a extension cord out to my car. With that I had electricity. Glad they helped out with what they could.
@@lm4349 I remember finding a working AC outlet in a shopping center parking lot. I tried to be discreet about it because if others found out, I knew what would happen. Sure enough, didn’t take long for them to cut the power to that outlet 😕
My wife and I were homeless for two years and lived out of a little Ford Focus with no heat. Winter was brutal. I lined the floorboards with space blankets lit a tea light candle on the floorboard and very carefully covered up with another space blanket while keeping my legs open to let the heat rise up to my legs. That’s how I survived negative temperatures in a car without heat. On the coldest nights we would each lay up against the doors in the backseat and I’d put her feet under my arm pits with four blankets over us. Anytime I see someone walking in freezing temps I always stop and give them hand warmers. You never know how much that can help someone.
OMG. What soukess country let's people be homeless for two years??? In Finland we have zero homeless people. We have emergency housing and help people as long as it is required.
@@LukeXMV I'm sure Finland having a population 60x smaller than the United States, while also taxing ±56% of Personal Income compared to the USA's ±37% Personal Income Tax is the issue. As well as Finland accepting 30,000 migrant people per year (2022) vs. the USA's 1.01 million migrants per year (2022). I don't think it is a "Souless country" issue, I think it's a hhhhhuuuuuggggeeee logistical issue, as well as the red tape of getting Federal, state and municipal all coming together to solve a complex issue . (also my sources are websites that looked reputable, don't crucify me for not doing more research)
I was forced to move a month ago from a beautiful place in great location to much smaller place in worse location. I felt traumatised. Coming across this video, reading other people's experience really helped me appreciate my situation. It's far from as tragic as I saw it. Thank you all for sharing your stories and for those who are currently fighting bad times.... hope you see better days rather sooner than later. Stay strong!
I’m crying reading these comments because I’m about to be in this situation due to short notice by my landlord to leave. I hate that people have had to experience living in their cars but I’m super grateful for all the advice and helpful tips I’m reading!! ❤
@elcortez5434 It's saving me a lot on rent.. most my things in storage locker sleeping in my backseat of a 2 door not to bad gotta find a way to keep condensation off windows it gets muggy and damp in this canadian environment not everyone is cut out for it but I like having my own space not dealing with annoying roommates or nosey strict landlords for now 😉
@@MightyempressI’m also soon to be living in my car 😅 My roommate is impossible to live with, just lack of chores and he lets his gf live there rent free 😊 So I am leaving, and his gf has to join the lease Worst part is not being able to sleep with my cats.. they’ll be in my moms house My new car payments+rent is just too expensive.. you need a roommate to live in this world and me and my ex plan to find a place in spring 😂 I worry I’m just putting myself in another shitty living situation but life is too expensive 😢
@@Mightyempressget a 0000 steel wool and do a deep clean on your windows with along side some soapy water and then use either a rain x window spray or, if you can, a ceramic coat solution. The ceramic coat is ideal because any type of water will just bead off/ slide down the window 💯
I heard breaking into a tree house then ripping fur off a giant squirrel inside keeps you warm. But you gotta call yourself Dirty Dan or this doesn't work.
@@angrycreeper100 no lmao I leave 2 cigarette lighter plugs that charge phone Bluetooth rgb lights on 24/7 never had a problem. Headlights have a way more amperage draw than that heated blanket
@@JoseSanchez-so8bn you're joking right? The **heated** blanket is exactly that. HEATED. It has a giant heating element, similar to that in your toaster... It is quite literally a short circuit... Headlights may draw around 3 to 5 amps, but a heating element can draw WAY more.
I'll forever be thankful to homeless people. My mother in law suffers from Dementia and was in the hospital because of a heart attack, she left her hospital bed and went outside unnoticed(yes, we did file a lawsuit) and was basically reported missing after hours she had left. We looked for her for hours after contacting the police as well, but with no success. It was freezing cold and she had simple hospital dress, also being sick and old would be fatal. When she was found, more than 20 hours after escaping the hospital(7am), she was found with 4 jackets covering her up, apparently homeless people had given her those jackets, while common people didnt even question the fact that a old lady was in hospital dress
Most homeless take care of each-other. If they see someone in need they’ll usually give you the clothes on their back. Wish our country would do the same
Winter is the best time to sleep in a car. No insects, no birds waking you up. Get 2 decent sleeping bags. Put 1 inside the other. Get a pillow. You will be warm
If you live in Florida sure. The only thing you'd be warm in would be heaven for the temps the north side sees lol. It's -30° easily some days. Only takes one cold night to kill you.
Ex backpacker and cicloturist here. Get a mountain grade sleeping bag, I camped with those in the patagonia argentina. If you need versatility there are soné that can be used as blankets
Thank you! Thats what I did and slept cozy and warm all winter long, no problem. If a mountian cleeping bag is rated for winter expeditions, why not a car? Sometimes, I enjoyed a cozy warm sleep in a really good sleeping bag more then a sleep on a bed.
Wearing layers! Use lots and lots of layers of wool made clothing - especially socks and gloves to keep yourself warm! Also if you can - choice your parking slot wisely - make sure the rising sun hits it straight away in the morning. Another thing you can do (if you’re not too ashamed - like I was) is talk to people and rent a free garage spot for the really icy nights or snow storms. Other than that: stay safe out there ❤ life is tough but we are tougher!
loose layers are better than tight layers. the air in between is a good insulator and far more comfortable than a bunch of tight restrictive clothes that will make you sweat. better to be under 6 blankets than wearing 6 pants
As someone who lives in Alaska, the first two options will kill your battery quick... If you don't want to use electricity or gas, get yourself some space blankets (the kind from medkits) and cover your windows/doors, that will help trap heat inside your car. Also, grab some Pocket warmers, and place them around your chest area. your limbs and fingers will lose heat the fastest, so keep them as close to your core as possible, that way everything including your core is at optimal temperature.
I lived in my Chevy Trailblazer for 4 months through the winter of 2020. It was rough as I’m 6’3 and had to take out the passenger seat and build it into a little bed. I made it work and it’s what I had to do in order to save up for a home. Pretty wild times.
I applaud you my friend. I'm 6ft tall so just a few inches shorter than you. Still,3in of height difference inside of a car is a big difference. I stayed in my old '85 Ford Ltd station wagon,also for about 6 months,when I was 22 & it rained more during that 6 months than I'd ever seen in a consecutive 6 month period. I mention that because the seals around every single window and door leaked so bad it might as well not had any seals left. I had a job but had made some really stupid choices & found myself evicted and without a soul to turn to for help. So I took my next paycheck and waterproofed my car with some cheap tarps and tubes of silicone from harbor freight. Then got a hot plate & found a cheap campground where I rented a lot for around $100 per month. It had a spigot with free running water & a bathroom with showers right in the middle of the camp ground. So other than the 1st week where I was broke & had to suffer through the rain all week. I have to say I value the wisdom that I aquired during that time. That was 15yrs ago, & I certainly have a different set of values. Same as for how I count my blessings.
You took that seat out made a berthing area because of that damn headrest didn't you.😂😂😂. I camped in mine and that damn headrest I swear I wanted to just take it sawzall to it and hack it out of there
@@Heyoka73 good luck! Honestly, doing it in the winter is easier than any other time of year. There are lots of things you can do to stay warm. Not very many to stay cool while the engine is off. The inside of your car will get just as cold as the outside but when it’s hot out the inside of your car will be 33% hotter minimum
I guess it depends on how you ended up there. I actually chose to live in my Suburban, for almost 5 years. I had a decent job, and a nice apartment, and alot of nice things, and I decided that I didn't need it. I sold or gave away almost all of my things, and fixed up my Suburban to live in, and thats where I lived. With my only "bills" being my cell phone..car insurance..and gas..i saved up almost $80,000 in the those 5 years. It would have been alot more, but there were 2 different times my Suburban broke down, and I had to pay $1400 to get it fixed the first time, and about $1800 the second time. Plus I had to stay in a motel for 3 weeks both times while it was being fixed, and rent a car to get to and from work, so that was all a bit costly. But anyway, that time I spent living in my vehicle really changed alot of things for me, and really made me realize how little I actually "need" to live a full and happy life. But yeah, I can definitely understand how awful it would be to end up living in your vehicle under different circumstances tho.
I did it on and off for awhile. I hated it. As soon as I got enough money together I’d get a motel room. Trying to live in my car drove me mental. It’s hard to relax when you’re basically constantly in public
Candles too. They actually put off quite a bit of heat. I was homeless for years living in my van and they definitely helped. I live in Northwest Ohio too btw
@@RealFrankSwett Vans and cars are far from airtight, you're not going to suffocate due to a candle. The greater risk would be setting your car on fire.
After a number of years in the Army, I can say that keeping dry is always number one to keeping warm. I would breathe my own hot breath down into the sleeping bag with my balaclava covering my mouth to catch the moisture. Also, a personal tip I think is to keep the clothes that you'll be wearing the next day in the bag with you. They'll both provide more layers and they'll be warmer to put on when you wake up and get dressed. Get dressed in the bag if possible to avoid the cold shock once you emerge from your cocoon of warmth. And good luck brother.
@@Amed77k Oh yeah, because we all know Algeria is a great place to live from all the millions of Algerians living in Paris. 😂 Just say that you're jealous of America being so much richer than your pathetic Arab shithole. 😂😂😂
Having you cloths inside the sleeping bag is wrong. If you get out of a warm bag in your cloths your temp will drop and you will feel colder. Have on only a thin layer and when you get up then get dressed. You will rapidly lose heat then reward and feel comfortable
@@Clintscollectiblez thank god for that. If I saw one more mean tweet I was gonna start crying, again, and then I was gonna have to go online and write about it, again, and let everyone know that the orange man was bad because he made me cry so hard, again. No more mean tweets and now I get to use my preferred pronoun and threaten everyone else who doesn't want to call me 'kid sniffing helicopter cat.'
I've lived like this... with a job and a college degree. Housing is so unaffordable. No one lives like this because they want to. Hence, it's pretty fuckedup that this is a realistic option for a standard of living. It's normalized. Fuck that.
Cover your windows. Even shut tight, glass windows lets the cold seep in. Use what you have, sun shield, towels, cardboard, to cover the windows as best as you can. You may not feel like it did much but, once you step outside in the morning, you'll feel a noticeable difference.
Underrated comment, if you can get hold of some 25mm insulation board and cut it to size it will make a massive difference to temperature and also offer a little more privacy.
Actually, need to Crack open a window at least 1.5 inches. You can die from carbon dioxide poisoning. Canadians know this as getting stranded on the side of the highway during a blizzard at minus 30 degrees Celsius to minus 48 degrees Celsius. Don't use your battery or run your engine either. You will need your car to be able to run. You at extremely low temperatures want to run your car periodically to keep your car from freezing. You will need someone to boost your car if your lucky but once completely frozen all fluids etc have frozen. Rods break and radiator cracks. If you have a Tesla, your car's battery will be completely broken and will no longer be able to be recharged.
Insulate everything - the windows with coverings; the door panels are just fabric/plastic over metal - fill it with newspapers or anything you can find to create a barrier between you and the outside. the car has vents that bring in air when you're driving - find out where they're located and close them or cover them, but be careful if you decide to use a Mr Buddy heater with propane that you leave some kind of ventilation 'cause that'll kill you faster than the cold. And layer those clothes - especially your head and feet. Good luck!
This is the comment I was going to share. Take your shirt off too. You'll be cold for a minute, but warm up quickly. You will not be cold at all through the night. I'd say you might be hot. The sleeping bags aren't insanely expensive either. I believe they are around 300 bucks. While that may seem expensive it's multiple pieces for one and a high quality sleeping back can go for 1000 bucks. So, this is a great price.
@@zetsumei1017yep, military grade sleeping systems are actually designed to sleep in underwear only, I slept manyyyyyy nights in the cold basically naked in my sleeping system and was just fine.
I was a primitive wilderness instructor I was thinking the same. Toss a hot hands in the bag. A good Rvalue sleeping pad. Wool and goosedown if you have it. So many more practical ways that require zero use of the vehicle or money on an inverter.
Lots of good advice re staying warm living in a car. First and most important do no quit your job. If laid off take any kind of job asap! Better to be cold than starve. Insulating windows (bubble wrap, etc,) is essential to eliminate condensation. Layer clothing to regulate your internal temperature. Heavy wool knit cap & wool socks. Wear fleece pants and jacket in a good warm rated sleeping bag. Down stuff in a sleeping bag is to warm/hot……sweat makes us freeze! Put the bag on blow-up quilt style sleeping mat that allows for air circulation, not directly on a car seat! A pair of wool knit gloves keep hands warm and wick sweet inside the car. Wool is king! Buy a wool blanket for on top of sleeping mat and over the seat back. Now we are warm, not hot! Staying hydrated is very important…….use two thermos’ one for water/tea and one for your hot soup of choice. Now here is the hard part. When down and out necessities are our number one priority. Let’s be humble and go to the soup kitchen, stay at night in a homeless shelter, buy stuff at second hand shops and at good will. God bless.
@Burrito I'm not homeless. I chose to not live in a bricks and stick. in 3 years I have saved over $90k by giving up my apartment and moving into a van.
Pro tip: use military winter underclothes and sleeping bags. That's it. They're not the cheapest but they work best. If you've got enough fleece and wool separating you from the environment, it'll be comfortable and warm inside. You can use TWO sleeping bags if a single one doesn't cut it. I used to live in a trench and it worked splendidly in freezing cold, just make sure it stays dry on the inside. Speaking of trenches, I recommend you build yourself a shelter. It can actually be just a hole in the ground with some watertight roofing. Or you could just use a tent, that works too, but those tend to not be very watertight.
@@NickBitts Because I was at the frontline in a war. There aren't many housing options that are safe, and there aren't usually any pre-made fortifications so you make one yourself.
The best way to live in your car is to always have a job or continue working where you can, also live where it never gets cold, use truck stop showers for hygiene and the inverter is the best option for heating your car if you can’t live where it’s warm.
Ancient Israel had that. The trick was the inheritance system. It was fully expected that your parents would give you a piece of their land, and give you the rest when they grew too old. Too bad modern people have no concept of keeping one's bloodline alive...
Tips from a backpacker: use a 32 oz Nalgene or other thick plastic or aluminum water and fill it with near boiling water and put in sleeping bag it will work as a heater for about 4 hours, a silk bag liner will add about 10° to your bag rating, wear wool it is both warm and wicks away your sweat if you get hot, don’t put your head in the bag you’ll make too much condensation and get cold instead get a balaclava to keep your face covered
Glad I didn't have to write all this cause that's what I was gonna say too 😂... that method saved my behind on a an unexpectedly cold night in the mountains camping... I was NOT prepared cause my very young self didn't check the weather (yea. I know ... I know... 🤦🏾♂️). But I slept like a BABY after i restarted my fire, boiled some water and threw that Nalgene in my sleeping bag.
One underrated tip is to try to have everything be black, especially if you manage to have a black car with tinted windows that could be the difference between bone rattling cold and comfortably chilly. The next thing is layers, don’t care what it is if you have it and you’re freezing out it on, as long as it isn’t wet it will do more good than harm.
You want the color the radiates heat the best to stay warm? How does that help you at night when you are sleeping? It will literally shed all the heat in the car faster than any other color. Although I doubt it really makes a noticable difference. If you want a car that is the hottest in the sunlight, sure, go for black.
Two layers of thermals works more than twice as well. Three if you can manage. I can't ever convince people of this. I wear two layers in the winter when I have to be outside, it makes a huge difference.
@tommytwo-times9053 luck and understanding. I'm not the only person in MN that had to survive winter like that. Trees and bushes really help to block the winds at least. Pine trees with full bottoms offer protection from the snow if you can find one. A football player gave me his rain resistant jacket and the mayor would give me bread and bananas to eat every other week. I was also smart enough to never sleep on concrete. If you steal enough woodchips they can make a nice insulating bed. Not comfortable but better than before and better than sleeping directly on the ground. Also staying away from people and not making my situation too obvious to the general public. If you are homeless due to not having the resources instead of homeless for poor choices then you are more likely to be killed or at least badly harmed by "normal" everyday people who are not in your position. I've watched so many others who were just there because they fell on hard times, be attacked by that unassuming, well-dressed guy who's always laughing and smiling and would "never hurt a fly" or was "so generous". Nobody would believe what's really hiding behind those "super sweet" people's masks. It's far more common than anyone realizes. Those who offer help usually have an ulterior motive. Especially if you're a woman. The younger she looks, the worse it gets. Trust no one, not even yourself.
This so saddens me. This reminds me of the stories my grandmothers, aunts and uncles told of what occurred about them during the Great Depression. Our economy used to work for most of us. It was not perfect but most people could get by. Now. ????
The Great Depression was much different. Most people wanted to work, but the economy was down. The majority of the people weren't alcoholics, and they weren't addicted to drugs like a lot of homeless people are today.
full time van life here.. thanks for making a video to help folks. here's a few more... #1.a single cande flame produces approximately 80 BTU s of heat. Add a heat sink. #2 Park with your windshield facing east so you get the maximum amount of sun as soon as it comes up. #3 get a dog. Happy nomading!
Would need to keep the window a little more open because the candle will be using oxygen, and because you don’t want your lungs to be acting as the filter on the smoke.
Lots of layers. That is absolutely the name of the game. Tees, thermals, sweaters, jacket, pick up at a thrift store. . Same with legs. If you can get one, afford one those recommended electric things you can get fleece lined pants and sweatshirts. If not, used ski clothes. Almost everything now will have some sort of high tech warmth layer even cheap ones. A wool blanket if possible, even a thinner Mexican blanket. Lots of blankets. Cheap at thrift stores. Those are super warm. Comforters. Thermals even the cheapest ones. ABSOLUTELY a beanie, or a winter hat. cover your head! Be a buried caterpillar. socks and mittens. Pile on your blankets. If you’re dry, out of the wet and wind, (in a car) with those things you should be fine, honestly. 🤷♀️ He’s even got a sleeping bag. Layers and a couple extra blankets Except for the absolute cheapest ones, sleeping bags are pretty good now, idk.
You know it’s bad when you see how to live in your car tips nonchalantly on social media. Thankful to live in a place where it’s warm all year around. Props to those who live in this situation 😢
i was homeless for 4 years. tips: wool socks and blankets, reflectics window covers for all windows to insulate in winter and summer(your windows cause the majority of heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, youll need to buy a roll of reflectics and cut to the shape of the windows), if you arent running the car to save gas dont use the cigaret plug as it will drain the car battery and if you need to leave at a moments notice a dead car battery is a big setback so use a battery pack to power things at night and recharge it while driving. i was a delivery driver durring this time so i drove more than enough to recharge my battery banks. get a good strong fan for summer. hand heaters help in the short term. take note of where and when you have access to a bathroom, there are mobile options but they are not ideal. organizing your things is very important not just to make thing easier to find but to also improve your mindset in a tough situation. dude wipes brand shower wipe for the days you cant take a real shower, not a replacement but it buys you time. park where you have permition never assume its ok. if you support the right to bare arms for self defense it is highly reccomended if possible. always cooperate completely with authorities. they understand your situation better than you might at that time and might even offer solid advice. comfortable means of sleep in your vehicle is a must, outdoor seat cushions are a good start but they lose their comfort after a month so carefully weigh your options here.
These are all good tips. I camped full time in my car for 6 weeks. Insulation, wool socks and blankets. A jackery or other brand battery to store power to use at night to plug in a electric blanket. Wear a ski hat to stop heat from escaping from the head. A scarf and gloves. Eat a little bit before you go to bed like a spoon of peanut butter. The body generates heat when digesting food. The coldest hour of the day is the hour before the sun comes up.
I'm retired Army, served for 23 years and a trained Winter Operations Instructor. Rule #1 Remember this acronym: COLD Clean Open Layered Dry Clean items are better at trapping and keeping air in the fabric warm than dirty items. The dirt, grease, and other things displace the air pockets and are better at conducting temperature from outside to your skin, so you will be colder if it is dirty and if it is Clean. Open means ventilated. If you trap too much warm air and overheat, then you will get damp or wet, and lose the insulating value. We would put a scarf, cloth, or towel over our faces in a mummy style sleeping bag, the moisture from exhaling would be trapped in the towel, instead of ducking our entire head into the sleeping bag and causing it to get damp or wet. Layered because you can adjust, add, or remove a layer of clothing to regulate how much heat you are retaining so you don't get cold or too warm. And Dry, because with the exception of wool, anything wet does not retain heat. In addition, use a tarp over your car to help keep it dry, reduce any leaks you may have, and if possible rig it to have a space between the vehicle and the tarp. Also, the sides need to be low, closet to the ground. Creating that air pocket around the car, under the tarp will facilitate keeping the wind and water off the car directly. IMPORTANT: Make sure to vent the car exhaust outside of that tarp, and any other heat sources that produce gasses, fumes, or emissions. A headliner in the car, and if possible a taught sheet or blanket that allows entry and exit from your car, and covers your windows. That creates another layer to trap air between the inside of the car and the blanket. It's easier to warm air that is trapped like that. And again. Remember to ventilate. Park in areas that provide protection from the wind and elements.. Good luck
A lot of people talk about high rent and it’s true, but that alone isn’t what makes it hard to land a place. For a one bedroom apartment you gotta have good credit and proof of income 3x the rent amount and 6 months to a year of that. Makes it take forever to get on your feet through tough times. Add that to there being other people constantly trying to get the same place as you and winning cause they got kids or something. It’s hard out here, great vid hope you get a break soon.
Until you kill the battery and then it wont start. Install a car starter. They can be programmed to start every 2 hrs and run for fifteen minutes this will keep the battery charged and allows you to use the heater or blanket
Kill the battery from running the car? Bruh what. I've been in my car for years now and sometimes during real bad storms my car will be running for well over 24 hours.
@generalpanda6028 priuses can do that. It's why alot of people like them for car life. You turn on climate control and it'll behave like your air conditioning at home. The car will turn on, get to the temperature you set, then turn back off automatically.
Also keep in mind that when you have things plugged into the car that draws electricity from the battery. And cold weather is already very hard on batteries so don’t be surprised when you wake up warm and don’t have enough juice to start the car.
I was thinking the same thing might as well run your engine... I spent multiple yrs in vehicles in Ohio winters just run car it's like .50-2.00 an hr to idle...
@DeputyFish I lived in car with my family all of 2021 and most of 2020 and i ran the car 24hrs a day and without driving I used 40 dollars max in a day that's 1.67 per hr with air condition and heat
I was going to leave a snarky comment but then i started reading the comments. People are really going through or have gone through really difficult times. And look how resilient you are! 😊
Good tips. But I would also recommend buying spaceblankets and using them to create something of an internal tent in your car. You lose most of the heat in your vehicle through the glass windows. Spaceblankets blocking those off will absorb and reflect heat back into the vehicle, reducing the amount lost through the glass. You can also augment that further with additional blankets behind it and/or cardboard, as that will reduce heatloss even more. If you couple that with some source of warmth, like the car's heater, or some other safe source of heat- you can keep the space warm. A trick I used to use when I lived in a house with no heat was to get bottles of very hot water and put it in my blankets with me, next to my feet. It felt really, really, really good, and kept them nice and warm for several hours. You don't want to do too hot, but if you get it hot enough and keep it inside the blankets, it'll provide a safe amount of warmth for a good long while. I used old two liter soda bottles. I know access to running hot water is limited when you're homeless, but if you can get a good amount of hot water, it can help. Maybe if you have like a little cooking thing you could heat some up- again, not too hot though. Just enough to have a little steam, but not outright boiling. It'll really help.
My friend who lives in her car just told me that in the TN winter, she wears a snow suit! What a great idea, and sleeps inside a good sleeping bag in layers. A snowsuit!! WOW, that is using ingenuity.
I wear ski pants even tho I've never been skiing 😊 I'm just a big baby to the cold. Being made fun of but I'm the only one out in it that is warm and toasty
Use lots of layers! If you have some nice warm clothes on, then do like 3-4 blankets you should be good. You can always add more or take away if need be. Those little hot hands packs can help, too.
I remember when I was living out of my car for 3 years, there was one year that was particularly bad in the winter when the car I had at the time didn’t have heat and had a hole in the passenger side. Me and my girlfriend had to use our bodies to keep warm through the long nights when we couldn’t afford To stay in a hotel. It’s not easy and I was blessed to have a car but hard work and staying focused and working nonstop paid off because I took a risk and drove from MA to Fl to start a new life. I’m still struggling but I have a roof over my head and a stable job and my basic needs are met I’m content and great full. Happy Valentines everyone ❤️🙏🏼
Add a second deep cycle battery with a disconnect to run an electric blanket off of so your main car battery is separate and can start your car the next day. Also covering the HVAC vents under the windshield on the outside can help keep a lot of cold air from coming inside your car, and space blankets.
Just shut the recirc door. No need to cover the vents, your car literally already has a door that will do that for you. Turn on recirculating air mode and it shuts off the outside air.
Good tip, from someone who was stuck in a blizzard in my car: army/surplus gear is usually much cheaper than you think, and winter gear will be very effective at conserving heat. Another good tip is to cover your windows and windshield to prevent heat escape.
I aint gonna lie this gonna be really helpful in like a year cuz everyone ls dying an my situation aint that good, i genuinely never thought of stuffing a heated blanket in a sleeping bag an i live in Minnesota where that'll be useful, im gonna thank ya in advance, illl let you know the situation when the time comes
try spend a minut thinking about these tips and how bad they really are. a better sleeping bag would be better. not hard to find a sleeping bag made for -14 degree C. and a tent is better way to spend your money on than a battery you can't even charge.
These aren’t tips this is a clout chaser trying to make money off of video. none of these so-called” tips” would help you in fact if you listen to this guy’s advice you’re gonna wind up dead from carbon monoxide poisoning or dead from freezing when your battery dies and you have no way to keep warm that doesn’t require electricity. This kid can’t give you any good tips on sleeping in your car because he’s never done it before😂
Park your car & go to a tower hotel. Walk in like you own the place. Take the elevator to the 4th highest floor. Get out & look for the service stairs. Quietly climb to the top floor. Spend your night in warmth & silence, no one is taking the service stairs down from the top floor.
I’ll keep this in mind.. I don’t think I’ll ever have to resort to that but you never know when you might be drunk as shit in a unfamiliar city with a dead phone and no currency
@@billybobthornton8553 I've literally done his recommendation in the situation you're describing but it was at a Hilton Hotel lol, the cleaning staff woke me up and just assumed I was a dumb drunk who had a room and just couldn't find it. I pretended Id somewhere to be and shot on home. City was Dublin Ireland, great time.
Yes! Wear a hat or ear warmer band around your head at night and another warmth band around your neck to keep your neck warm! Covering your ears and throat at night goes a long way towards avoiding sinus problems, sore throats & colds!
I lived in my car a few times over the years, pre mobile phone. The worst part was the boredom. I had a few blankets and pillows. Going from a VW gold to an old Nissan estate (station wagon) was a game changer! The ability to sleep flat instead of a car seat changed everything for me. All the car life, van life stuff, when you have a phone or iPad to keep you entertained is weak. Once you take the boredom away and have some place you can be in comfort you have most of your needs met .
Got kicked out after graduation and had to sleep in my car during a -20/-30 degree cold snap in Minnesota. I worked 2 jobs 7am to 11:30pm everyday to get my own place. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone
Don't sleep in/on wet fabric. Even moist fabric. If you're sweating and drenching your clothes, don't sleep in them. They'll cool you down like nobody's business. Instead, go as nude as you dare and wrap up in layers of blankets. And get WOOL. Get that shitty scratchy wool blanket and put it on top of your layers. And never, ever, underestimate the power of a pair of thick socks and a wool cap or similar. Stay warm and hydrated, friends.
Three tips from me:- 1- Make sure your car has some kind of low battery cut off when using electric appliances so you don't get stranded. 2- Try to park up in a place thats out of the wind at least, higher up a hill or valley to avoid mist or fog too. 3- Be careful if you are using your engine for heat, if the exhaust is either pooling or blowing towards the passenger compartment air intake it can pump CO in with you and while your homeless problem is solved its a very permanent solution for a hopefully temporary problem, minor exhaust damage/rust can cause it too. This could be a 4th tip but I think it fits here, always be careful with any kind of propane or camping heater stove too, for the same CO risk, get a cheap detector if you ever try one.
every car built after 2000ish has catalysts which don't allow for CO to be produced. You can't even really kill yourself with cars now, as you can only asphyxiate from CO2
I live in a 98 escort that had no blower motor for a month until it fixed the blower motor so it finally had blowing heat during the winter. Lived in it for 3 months. Got kicked out of so many rest stops and about got kicked out of deer Creek in Ohio. Still miss the summer nights sneaking the car into a field and looking up at the moon from a blanket
If you have to sleep outside also keep your clothes and shoes in your bag. It will keep them dry from the dew and keep them warm for the morning. Also I spent a couple years in a home with no power or water through some very cold winters. I was lucky enough to have a dog and best believe we stayed much warmer snuggling.
I have a Masters Degree, got laid off, wife left me and lost my home. This is so helpful Nano! My life will only get worse under Trump. Hope we still have a free country in four years.
One important thing is, if you can afford it, never underestimate the value of getting something to eat. Your body needs energy to help itself stay warmer. It also helps with the not starving thing.
Advice coming from Michigan winters. Get an extra winter coat and stick it between you and the door - the door lets in a lot of cold air. Cover the windows with double reflective insulation. You can make your own with said insulation and cardboard. Doing this will vastly insulate your vehicle and you won't need a heating blanket or to run your vehicle. Make your window covers a bit oversized with the cardboard. This way you can stick velcro on the flaps and around your windows so you can just velcro it into place and not burn through a bunch of tape. Burrito yourself and sleeping bag in a queen sized comfitor. The comfitor is the best option, but if you don't have that, using a second sleeping bag works too
Fear not, you wouldn’t have needed that quilt, because you could just cut your horse open and survive the night inside of its chest cavity. Like Luke. Advanced users will find the wood from your horse drawn buggy, as a useful fuel to build and maintain a small fire. Follow me for more 1880’s life hacks! OR you could buy a modern insulated blanket, of reasonable quality.
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Back in 2013-2015, My husband and I were homeless and living in our truck and going thru addiction and all the bs that comes with it. Worst part was, it was in Arizona, and I just remember covering my skin with wet towels at night and fanning myself until I basically passed out from exhaustion. I’d keep my window all the way down because I literally felt like I was suffocating from the heat. We could only afford a hotel room one night every two weeks- on his pay day. And I tell you what- that motel 6 bed and shower felt like the most luxurious place on earth at the time.
Thankfully we got our shit together- and now we are both sober and have our own home in North Carolina- but I will never forget the blistering horrible Arizona summer nights we spent in that truck.
You and the old time cavalry soldiers have that shared experience especially. Fort McDowell and Fort Thomas at San Carlos were especially tough places correctly termed as shit holes
I hope you faired well thru the hurricane!!!
I hope you faired well thru the hurricane!!!
I hope you faired well thru the hurricane!!!
@@coloradopackratprepper we did! We live in western NC - which was basically untouched by the hurricanes. Thank God.
that 12v heated blanket sounds like someone's gonna end up with a dead car battery in the morning
Could plug it into the battery pack as well
Horrible advice
Yeah, that one was dumb. Unless you're plugging it into an external battery pack.
@@whitemakesright2177 all these tips were dumb and not practical or realistic. anyones who's actually lived in their car not for some RUclips reel knows this.
Yeah an external inverter is still not unlimited electricity. Matter of fact, inverters can often have horrible efficiency.
You also have to find someplace to plug in to recharge.
We talk smack about people out in the countryside but honestly if they're out hunting and making fires all the time as a way of life they're not dependent on as much modern amenities.
Knowing what's edible.
I don't think preppers are wackadoos. Crazy? Yeah but is that a bad thing during crazy times where you have to increasingly adapt to crazy extremes to get by?
Preserving meats in lard from purified fats of things you have cooked before. Pioneers did it. We looked down on it when poorest among us did it for food to get by. Not using the fridge as much.
Bro I lived in my regular cab, 2 door pickup truck for 9 months of my life. It was absolutely traumatic but I made it out against all odds. 10 years later I park that pickup in the driveway of my own HOME. Even though I now have other vehicles, I still keep that old truck around as a reminder to keep me humble. For anyone going through a similar situation, I can say that it will get better. I promise.
EDIT: First off, thank you all for the love and positivity. I had no idea my comment would reach so many people. For those wondering how I ended up homeless it’s simple, irresponsible spending and zero knowledge of finances. I had a job and an apartment and when I was laid off, I had no savings and no place to go. Living in my pickup was the only solution I had. I was back at the bottom and had to dig myself out of the hole that I created and I did just that. Also for those wondering, the truck is a 2000 Chevy S10 that now sits jacked up with pretty blue paint. I plan on giving the truck to my son when the time comes.
This just motivated me good to hear your doing well 💯
yo i did the same for 6 months in 2021-22 in my ford ranger… winter is crazy
Congratulations on getting a house bro bro. You deserved it frfr
I felt that
I lived in my ‘08 Jeep Wrangler for almost 6 months. I now own a beautiful home and drive a new Tesla. My jeep is still in my garage, safe and sound. I will never sell it.
I was in an abandoned garage with no door a couple winters ago. No power. But a sofa bed, thick duvet and wall i built to break the wind. It was actually pretty nice.
Kinda scary to be exposed to passers-by and animals though
We really do live in a society where a homeless guy can give other homeless people tips via their smartphone over the internet.
dystopic
yeah crazy how a phone and a data connection costs insanely less than rent
@@runesoda a phone and data is free in my state
@@angelinavanabel921I think is part of his point lol
I mean, people aren't really homeless if they choose to live in their car, though they *are* if they're forced to live in their car with no other options. Its just that most who are actually homeless living in their car arent worried about tiktok videos etc.. People I know who were forced to live in their car were blessed to at least have transportation and used it to get their life rolling asap and find a job to get an apartment etc.
Be careful running your car. We had a homeless man die bc the snow had covered his tailpipe. I'm in Central Oregon.
Please be safe! 💞❤❤❤❤
So the car cut off and they froze to death?
I think that happened last year in Christmas Valley Oregon.
I was told that when the muffler gets blocked by snow, the carbon monoxide floods back up and seeps into the car. It's a silent, and odorless, killer. 😢
This needs to be higher. If you do, you need to crack the windows which obviously will lose heat but potentially save a life
@@carsonlogan1969truly tragic
People have no idea the number of working Americans actually experiencing homelessness. Back in the late 80’s my mom worked the entire time we were homeless. We slept in our car the first night then lived in a transitional shelter for two months. She worked 9-5 at her full time job then would work 6-10 at her part time job then she’d stuff envelopes for an insurance company on Sat and Sun. In two months we moved into a condo on the beach in South FL. She was the embodiment of strength. RIP my love ❤ and thank you for teaching me how to persevere.
This needs more like's brother. You and your mom are an inspiration
Wow
glad to hear that you had an awesome mom 🙂
This made me tear up. Im sure she was a great woman
same, when I was 2-3 years old my mother (who was only 18) and I were homeless and living in a car that wouldnt even start. She worked 2 jobs to keep us fed and some nights she didnt eat to make sure that I did. She told me stories about how she had to beg relatives to watch me while she worked her fingers to the bone, and when nobody would watch me she brought me with her to work. One time she was sobbing outside of the car while I slept; another homeless man approached her and asked why she was crying. She explained to him that she had no money left and wouldnt get paid for another week so she didnt know what to do. After hearing our situation, that man gave her all the money he had, only 27 dollars and asked for nothing in return. She soon got a job working as a Budweiser model and made good money, enough for us to get an apartment. Soon she married someone (we dont talk about him) and I got a little brother.
Iwill always be grateful to her for toughing it out and getting back on her feet; and also to that homeless man who helped her out in her darkest moment.
Live in a Prius. I spent some nights in one and it was great. Set the climate control and go to sleep. Car starts when the battery needs a change. Then turns off. Just need to turn off the dash lights. I’m sure other hybrids can do the same.
gas
This works in a pinch when you need cold AC, but still burns a decent amount of oil + gas if it's real hot out and you need to not sweat all night, plus it's loud and not stealthy.
but In my 5 years experience of owning a prius and living out of it for periods of time, the engine will run pretty 95% of the time the heat is on. Though, I have slept very comfortably down to 15 degrees F. Just gotta pre heat the car and wear long johns, socks, sweat pants, sweater, hoodie, beanie, multiple large comforters, pillows, etc. and it's actually very comfortable. getting up in the morning is a bitch though when ur wrapped like a friggin mummy..,
@@Eveandwolfi have autism and sleep like this in my house I pay for
Idk how the f I did it back when I was homeless man…. I just didn’t give a f as long as I had drugs back then I guess
Since I got a shit load of medical bills to pay and lots of debt. I am putting myself through this for a few months until I can get my finances in order. Fortunately my job provides free food and a place to shower. I hope it wont be that bad. God bless you all going through this. times are tough. Be safe!
Shower and food that’s a real bonus.
Where you work?
Dont pay those medical bills. They can't put it on your credit report.
@@mattg4836you give bad advice dude. I'm guessing youre a democrat. He owes the medical bills so he needs to pay for them.
The billing in hospital has a charity to pay those bills.
You have to ask for the application
I lived in my car for 6 years. Every summer and winter was a nightmare. Just recently got out of my situation. Try to get out of your car as soon as you can, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.. I look back and saw how I lost 6 years of my life so quickly.
I’m sorry this happened to you and wish you all the best of luck in the coming years. ❤
I’m surprised you didn’t lose your mind. No one talks about the social isolation, it’s severe as shit.
I was also a car dweller for six year, living in California. I worked 80 hours a week to keep myself occupied. Things weren't that bad, considering I had a gym membership that allowed me to work out and shower. I own a house now, and even though things were cool for me, I don't ever want to go through that ordeal again.
@@Nomadir Oh I did lose my mind, too many times to count. But for me the mind was like a bone.. it would snap.. but heal and become stronger. I left that situation coming out stronger on the other side, but there will always be a part of me that hated being in there for 6 years.
@@rahsaanthomas7030 I hear ya. 6 years is a lot to lose, that's over half a decade of your life. I'm also in California, and worked about as long too, sometimes it's the only thing keeping you occupied and like you have some measure of purpose. I had a 24-hour fitness membership, I took advantage of taking long showers since I didn't have to pay a water bill lol. So how did you end up getting a house if you don't mind me asking? I got out of my situation but doing the roommate/apartment thing. Glad to hear you got out of your situation!
My college wants me to pay around $7k for 16 weeks just to stay in the dorms. Im 9 hours from anywhere I would be able to stay, and the housing market up here is awful. Everything is taken and overpriced. Im gonnna be a 3rd year college student and living in my car, in U.P. Michigan. Not to mention, I work 2 jobs on campus, but the school only pays me $14/Hr in I.T. Also, im from poverty, and my parents have been on hard drugs a lot of their lives, so they have made many mistakes that impact me today. Im gonna struggle in ways, but once i get past this, I'll be a more resilient person than most. It irritated me when people complain about stuff around here, but their family is paying for their college🙄 I have a 3.5 GPA in Electrical Engineering Technology and want to get an MBA at MIT no matter the struggle I will get there!
Respect and encouragement. Obviously, you will totally get there.
Wishing You and Yours, All Good Things! Do not surrender!
Glory to the most high
Watch the movie Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith as the main character. It's based on a true story. If you ever get discouraged, remember that you can rise above. Your situation will make you even more amazing when you are telling it 10 years from now.
U are an amazing person. Hope u get the peace u deserve. Hugs
I’m 6’4” and after HS and during college was homeless for sometime in a really shitty small beat up sedan. The hardest part was trying to curl up for warmth but never being able to without kinking every part of my body.
I don't know if I should feel happy to discover all of these tips or feel bad for him...I hope everyone in this situation gets better, you got this.
This is happening to A lot of people in all 50 states currently
@@kingofyourhood true
Wow
He's an idiot... all the advice he gave was wrong🙄
He's white, he can find a job easily
You know Gen Z is in dire straits when there are influencers creating tutorials about how to survive being homeless.
Boomers: just work harder
They won’t work because it isn’t “enough money” even though I can get them a job making great money none of them ever take up on it 🤷🏽♂️
@@davidwalker8778 elaborate further
@@davidwalker8778 Idk how much you're offering but I feel like a lot of people underestimate how much you gotta get paid to survive. Also if its trade related, theres not gonna be a lot of young people skilled because they never got taught those skills.
@@nationofpigs485 they require high school diplomas and prioritize degrees
I lived in my car through 2 Colorado winters. The key is layering. You need to have 3-5 blankets that are different materials and densities. Lighter, thinner blankets closer to your body, with the thickest blanket on the outside layer. The differing air gaps and densities insulate you in multiple ways just like a down coat would. You also need to insulate yourself from the seat, because the seat will pull heat out of your body and into the car structure. Also, to SAFELY sleep in your car you NEED to leave a window cracked just a fraction to let oxygen in. If you’re running a heater especially. You WILL deprive your brain of oxygen if you’re in the car long enough without opening a door or window. DO NOT run electrical accessories off of the car itself, get a “jump box” that you can charge. A heavy duty one that’s rated for a lot of cycles. If you’re wanting to keep beverages or groceries cold, keep them in the trunk. They will stay very cold a shockingly long time because the trunk of most cars is a small insulated space.
Same love! I lived in Denver through 2 winters in my Murano and I lived in layers. It really wasn't that bad even with the schziy weather CO is known for. All about layers and using some creative thinking. Hope things are better for you now.
Electric heaters aren't generators. They don't produce Carbon monoxide. Cracking a window to "conserve heat" in winter is.... let's say.. counter productive.
Cheers from Canada.
A trunk is NOT insulated at least not in a way that would produce the reault you suggested. The drinks stay cold cause it's fricken winter. Jesus On a stick!! 🤦♂️
@@robertcampomizzi7988 No they don’t produce gasses at all, but they DO thin the air out and it can feel like you’re suffocating. Ask me how I know lol
much more helpful that this dude's basic advice, an electric blanket plugged into a car with the engine off? Come on...
@Tyler Roe What is the physical process by which this phenomenon occurs? If by thinning out the air you mean less dense because it's hotter .. that's true but insignificant and irrelevant.
It changes nothing about the composition of the air.
I asked how you know.. what is the physical process that demonstrates how this is possible?
You emphasized NEED and SAFELY and neither are true. Cars are not air tight... so... How are we depriving our brains of oxygen in this scenario?
I have never been homeless , but I had a friend who was going through a difficult time in their life, and I tried to get them to stay at my house until things got better for them. They pridefully refused but they would come over and shower and sometimes stay for dinner. Life is hard and most of the time it's not fair . Anyone out there who has a homeless friend or trustworthy acquaintance I urge you to try and help. Not all homeless situations are created equal and having disdain for them helps no one. Just saying if you can help , please do so.
The best part about a heated blanket is you get to wake up cold with a dead battery
Yeah and best part about idling the engine for hours on a non-diesel vehicle is you burn out your alternator and probably some other stuff
@@joel.ha.what the alternator has to do with the car being diesel or not? Is the alternator of a diesel car different from a gasoline car?
Lmao
@@joel.ha. not really. I would argue that you could just start you car for 5/10 mins every few hours and let it heat back up. But that depends on temperatures and everything else
@@keithbroh5730 lol not if you want to distribute the heat within the cab
Had to live out of my car for a few months and boy did it suck. Always embarrassed to park where people could see me but was too afraid to park in the dark where anyone could walk up on me. Lost a lot of sleep in those days.. but I held it together and told myself it was temporary! Now I have my own house. Unfortunately that car died out on me a few years later but I’m thankful she kept me warm and safe during those hard times. Shit gets better! Never give up that hope❤️
Your soft u were inside a locked car
I was homeless on the cement in the hood no tent no nothing at one point
Grow a pair
Honestly I've never understood how people can be homeless but own cars. Here in Nigeria cars are expensive and if you can afford one, chances are you can afford a roof over your head.
@@e-ben616 here society is kind of upside down when it comes to friends and family. No one helps hardly anyone anymore. And when they do help, they usually are crazier than the reason we ended up homeless in the 1st place! Also rents in this country are all about greed and the rent for any location is exponentially proportional to the number of Californians moving to the area every year. I have watched where it went fron 2 or 3 Cali move into town and 1 year later 500 move and then rents house prices skyrocket to push out everyone born in that town all because of greed!
@@e-ben616 Even here in Uganda you can own a car and be homeless but many people even manage building their own housees but can't afford cars.
@@e-ben616 lm
Layering. Get your base layer, then your mid layer, then your top layer. Youd be surprised how warm you can keep yourself with proper layers. People do it all the time camping and hiking in the mountains during winter.
Just a set of thermo underwear is doing magic already.
Also if you sleep inside a sleeping bag, you need an insulation-mattress between the sleeping bag and the seats.
Sleeping bags don't insulate at all when being compressed
Yes this was actual advice thank you
mole hair/sherpa type blankets.. get 3 of them queen size or larger and wrap yourself up like a burrito.. your body heat mixed with heavy blankets can work
@@neal0071234able Yes, those thick wool blanekts insulate even when compressed and retain heat even when humid. So they actually keeop you warm in al coniditioons.
But its s certain type of wool i thiunk its called "virgin wool" or "pure new wool" in english. its very coarse and scratches the skin a bit so its not super comfortabnle to touch it directly but one layer can keep you warm in -5C conditions
Hope you can get better man, you look like a good person, so wish you all the best and a lot of luck
Using your car battery to keep a heating blanket on is a great way to get stranded with a dead battery in the morning.
👎
%100 confirmed from experience
Yes, good answer. Use a power bank to run the blanket.
drive a manual, park on a slope.
yep
Best advice?
Don't sleep at night during the winter. Seriously. Get a night shift job if thats available. Sleep while the sun is out, its much easier (and cheaper) to stay warm. Even if its below freezing you'd be surprised at how warm your car stays as long as the sun is out. As long as you can find a spot to sleep where no one is going to bother you, its way easier. Sleep with the windows down during summer, or switch shifts if thats available.
Thats the beat advi e on here since night shifts are harder to staff and generally pay a little more!
@@MrsD4589 💯💯💯
This is the smartest thing I’ve ever heard
Best advice #1 stop meth get job….
There’s lots of overnight jobs and I would venture to say that it’s probably a little safer to sleep in a car during the day. Great tip
Okay look, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HEATED BLANKET PLUGGED IN OVER NIGHT. Dear God, you're gonna wake up to a dead battery.
Thank god someone else understands this too! And u are not using a converter for a little heater without cranking your car otherwise you will wake up too a dead battery too. It’ll actually be u finding out you have a dead battery somewhere around 2am.
Not necessarily an issue if you have a manual transmission and a decent alternator.... roll start the car when you need to go somewhere, and let the alternator do its job
@@outcast_performance The only thing with that is you'll eventually kill your alternator. Yes, it will start, but the alternator isn't built to recharge a dead battery on a regular basis. Also, lots of alternators have to see voltage before they put out voltage.
He could…..just park on a hill and bump it off in the morning 😂😂
@@outcast_performance false, a battery that is depleted constantly, will go bad very quickly, and will no longer be able to hold a charge. On top of that, the alternator is only meant to maintain your battery, not recharge it from ground up, having your alternator charge your battery repeatedly will melt your alternator.
Oh wow man!! I'd never have thought of ANY of those! You just changed my whole homeless life jee golly gooby goo!
Wool everything. As someone who has been homeless for two years I can say that if you have a bunch of wool clothes and blankets stashed for winter you are set
Wool socks are the greatest investment a homeless person can make.
Yep I had wool inner clothes, wool socks and wool blankets. Down also helps.
If you are still homeless you shouldn't be watching yt shorts. Still hope you are able to get out of that situation as fast as possible.
@@THaNaS1s why not?
@@THaNaS1s What are you talking about? Everyone has the right to seek out knowledge or entretainment, especially homeless people. Also he said "who has BEEN homeless" BEEN is past tens, so he's talking about the past, not that he is currently homeless.
Second option is a really good way to kill your battery, esp. if yours is old and it's winter.
The heated blanket kills your battery?
@@AdamDeRossiif the vehicle is not running, the alternator will not charge the battery. If you have a lead plugged into the car while it’s not running , that means the only power source that the blanket it drawing from would be the battery.
@@EdwardJamesKenway... blows my mind that people don't understand that the energy has to come from somewhere lol
@@AdamDeRossi it doesn’t draw much power so it would be fine for about an hour or so but leaving it in all night will both drain your battery and pose a fire hazard. Just leave the damn car running, idling hardly uses gas on any 4 cylinder car produced after 2007
It seems like the implication is that you have the heated blanket plugged in during the day as you are driving around, the blanket goes inside a sleeping bag so that the actual sleeping bag itself is what gets heated up
After being on the road for 3 years now best advice is 1. Insulate your windows. You have no idea how much heat escapes through the glass. Insulate them. 2. Invest in a good sleeping bag (or best you can afford). Makes a world of difference. Even if the inside of the car is freezing you can still be warm as long as you're in your sleeping bag. I even throw a second little blanket over top. 3. Don't be afraid to start your car and let it run for awhile if you are super cold. It's not gonna use as much gas as you think just sitting there. Get the car warm for a bit then turn it back off. Which goes back to #1 and the insulated windows. Even after turning the car off it will stay warm for quite some time if you insulated properly. If you dont have insulation your car will be cold again in minutes
Great advice, do you use Styrofoam?
Bump
@edockter4274 they sell cheap insulation at home depot for like 9 bucks a roll. I bought a couple rolls, cut out pieces in the shape of my windows. Then I went to joanns and got some black fabric and cut out the pieces and glued them to the insulation. (The fabric part isn't needed I did it so my coverings would be black and no one could see them). When you look at my car from the outside with the insulation up it just looks like I have tinted windows. You'll never know I was in there.
@@nomadericSmart idea!
Not homeless but I slept in a 2012 pathfinder in 17° F weather. I cutout insulation for the windows and in the morning, when I pulled one down, a rush of cold air flowed over me.
Those things make a huge difference.
I felt 7/10 warm with a hoodie, sleeping bag, and a few blankets.
No used an outdoor sleeping bag that 's made similar to your temperature in your local area. Used that to sleep on your car. It will keep you warm, sleep at night.
I lived in my car for nearly 4 months with my pregnant girlfriend at the time. I prayed to God every day that we would end up out of the situation we were thrown into, and thank God we were. But we still had to go through that struggle for long enough to appreciate the fact that every single day is a blessing, and it can always be worse. God bless you all. 🙏🏽
I think the hardest part about living in your car is not keeping warm, but finding the right place to park especially if you're in an urban area.
Industrial parks are the best… you have security cameras so nobody will try anything.
HOSPITALS. Underrated spot.
Or when you're not white.
Stay clean outside of the car, and move daily. Even if you sleep in same place at night.
@@elmtnman thanks man, Ima have to give this one a shot
This is my second week of being homeless. I'm not going to lie but its really hard. It's definitely not easy. I had to leave were I was living due to an emotional and physically abusive relationship. I'm in my car for my safety! I've found using a weighted blanket and a regular blanket works really well. Praying to find a home real soon.
Best to you !!! Hang on, things will get better!
Heated sleeping bag!
@@sarahhutton1095a weighted blanket for $25 works really good!!!
@@michaelparks6120Thank you Michael 🙏❤
I wish best things for you buddy♥️♥️♥️ Never give up!
As someone who is facing the very real possibility of living in my car soon, I appreciate this info. I've been meaning to look into different ways to stay warm in the winter, but I've been to anxious to know where to start.
Get a 0 degree sleeping bag. Buy winter waffle inserts, wool gloves/socks, wool beanies, hardshell on top of fleece to retain heat further. Get Velcro tape and Reflextrix Insulation, attach the Velcro to the sides of the windows and roll up insulation, so you can create easily removable insulation that you can attach at night. It will also give you privacy. On especially cold nights you can cook dry rocks in a fire which let off heat for hours, just wrap them in old cloth and place them under the front seats.
Use foam around you when you sleep it blocks the cold really well. You can buy some in the fabric area of Walmart sewing section or you can get hard foam at home Depot and make a box with it.
I remember being homeless without a car yet still was working for at an Indian food restaurant. They would always ask why I had my backpack and offer me rides home and I could never say yes at the fear of losing my job. I would have to wait until everyone left and would walk over to sleep under an over pass where I would leave my sleeping bag. I had a possum that figured out my schedule and would steal my food while I was at work and one time caught a random guy stealing my stuff and had to fight him to get it back. It was a roll out pad thing that I found at the good will and couldnt afford it so I asked if they could hold it for a few hrs until I could get enough and they said no and threw on the ground behind them. So I left and as I was walking away from the store a lady yelled excuse me sir! I turned around and she had bought the sleeping pad for me and I said I couldnt afford it and she said here, it's on me. At that very moment I just lost it and burst into tears as she gave me a hug. I had never had anyone ever DP something that nice for me before ever in my life and I needed that hug so badly. I will never forget that. I'm a lot better now and have gotten my life together but never underestimate the power of something like a small good deed can do to bring someone out of their lowest of lows. Just to know a single human cared when no one else did changed everything for me.
Good for you! I hope life is better now!
inspiring, ty for sharing
Inspiring. But you could have told this to indian owner and he would have Made arrangements for you. Indians are kind towards hard working people.
I was homeless for 3 years and to this day I think of a few specific people who were kind to me and I wish that I could find them and tell them how much they changed my life. The kindness of those people meant so much to me there aren't even words for it I will never ever forget them.
haha bum boy (jk)
Get a heated blanket for a battery pack.
I lived in a 97 ford probe for a couple months, worked two jobs, had insurance, but no drivers license. Gotten pulled over twice and luckily never got arrested. I'm sure they knew I was homeless, regardless if I kept the car clean. I'm sure they saw my pillow and blanket. There's a road alongside the bay, that no cops patrol, and I really doubt anyone would try to hurt me. I kept the doors locked snd windows up. Never covered windows and I'm sure people knew I was asleep inside. Never littered, never stole from people, and never abused drugs or alcahol. Now I'm in college working on a Doctorate's for Psychiatry or Clinical Psychology. You got this!❤
I am proud of u dear. Regards from Brazil 🇧🇷 😀
@@sandramist8408 Appreciate you lovely. Feliz Navidad boñita.
“Get a heated blanket for a battery pack.” So I’m getting the blanket for a battery pack? Then what? Stay in school, buddy 👍
@@RealFrankSwett keep up the great progress friend. I'm happy for u really am. I just want everybody to triumph over their challenges and get their blessings. This world is a place we are meant to experience suffering in. It is up to us to decide if we will be one who suffers or one who overcomes
I am proud of you 💪
I was homeless for about 8 months but luckily the construction company I work for heard about my situation and allow me to park my vehicle at the office lot and run a extension cord out to my car. With that I had electricity. Glad they helped out with what they could.
That's some good men right there. o7
Can't tell you how challenging it is to find a ln outlet in the wild.
Shoutout to the Company guys 🎉
@@lm4349
I remember finding a working AC outlet in a shopping center parking lot. I tried to be discreet about it because if others found out, I knew what would happen. Sure enough, didn’t take long for them to cut the power to that outlet 😕
I would have put a bed in the office for the worker
I love that you did this but I hate that anyone needed it.
My wife and I were homeless for two years and lived out of a little Ford Focus with no heat. Winter was brutal. I lined the floorboards with space blankets lit a tea light candle on the floorboard and very carefully covered up with another space blanket while keeping my legs open to let the heat rise up to my legs. That’s how I survived negative temperatures in a car without heat. On the coldest nights we would each lay up against the doors in the backseat and I’d put her feet under my arm pits with four blankets over us. Anytime I see someone walking in freezing temps I always stop and give them hand warmers. You never know how much that can help someone.
Or you could've, I dunno, drove to a warmer climate?
OMG. What soukess country let's people be homeless for two years??? In Finland we have zero homeless people. We have emergency housing and help people as long as it is required.
@@LukeXMV I'm sure Finland having a population 60x smaller than the United States, while also taxing ±56% of Personal Income compared to the USA's ±37% Personal Income Tax is the issue. As well as Finland accepting 30,000 migrant people per year (2022) vs. the USA's 1.01 million migrants per year (2022). I don't think it is a "Souless country" issue, I think it's a hhhhhuuuuuggggeeee logistical issue, as well as the red tape of getting Federal, state and municipal all coming together to solve a complex issue . (also my sources are websites that looked reputable, don't crucify me for not doing more research)
So you were addicted to drugs
@@ph1ll1p Damn great breakdown never thought of all that. It's too many ppl here plus living expenses depending what city this guy is in.
I was forced to move a month ago from a beautiful place in great location to much smaller place in worse location. I felt traumatised. Coming across this video, reading other people's experience really helped me appreciate my situation. It's far from as tragic as I saw it. Thank you all for sharing your stories and for those who are currently fighting bad times.... hope you see better days rather sooner than later. Stay strong!
@@brontiq I moved and should have stayed.
@@Msangel06can you go back?? I hope you get where you want to be.
I’m crying reading these comments because I’m about to be in this situation due to short notice by my landlord to leave. I hate that people have had to experience living in their cars but I’m super grateful for all the advice and helpful tips I’m reading!! ❤
How is it going now?
@elcortez5434 It's saving me a lot on rent.. most my things in storage locker sleeping in my backseat of a 2 door not to bad gotta find a way to keep condensation off windows it gets muggy and damp in this canadian environment not everyone is cut out for it but I like having my own space not dealing with annoying roommates or nosey strict landlords for now 😉
Good Luck out there man, is not easy but you get tougher with time. A tip to help with condesation is to insulate the windows@@Mightyempress
@@MightyempressI’m also soon to be living in my car 😅
My roommate is impossible to live with, just lack of chores and he lets his gf live there rent free 😊
So I am leaving, and his gf has to join the lease
Worst part is not being able to sleep with my cats.. they’ll be in my moms house
My new car payments+rent is just too expensive.. you need a roommate to live in this world and me and my ex plan to find a place in spring 😂 I worry I’m just putting myself in another shitty living situation but life is too expensive 😢
@@Mightyempressget a 0000 steel wool and do a deep clean on your windows with along side some soapy water and then use either a rain x window spray or, if you can, a ceramic coat solution. The ceramic coat is ideal because any type of water will just bead off/ slide down the window 💯
I heard breaking into a tree house then ripping fur off a giant squirrel inside keeps you warm. But you gotta call yourself Dirty Dan or this doesn't work.
If you have a heated blanket plugged in with the car off you could kill the car battery so be careful, maybe get a car starter kit too if you do that
It shouldnt drain the battery like that unless you have a bad battery.
@@MR_POPSICLES it will if you have it on all night. Try leaving your headlights on and see if they empty the battery
@@angrycreeper100 no lmao I leave 2 cigarette lighter plugs that charge phone Bluetooth rgb lights on 24/7 never had a problem. Headlights have a way more amperage draw than that heated blanket
If it was just the blanket You’d have to run that thing for like 40 hours to kill that car battery
@@JoseSanchez-so8bn you're joking right? The **heated** blanket is exactly that. HEATED. It has a giant heating element, similar to that in your toaster... It is quite literally a short circuit... Headlights may draw around 3 to 5 amps, but a heating element can draw WAY more.
I'll forever be thankful to homeless people.
My mother in law suffers from Dementia and was in the hospital because of a heart attack, she left her hospital bed and went outside unnoticed(yes, we did file a lawsuit) and was basically reported missing after hours she had left. We looked for her for hours after contacting the police as well, but with no success. It was freezing cold and she had simple hospital dress, also being sick and old would be fatal. When she was found, more than 20 hours after escaping the hospital(7am), she was found with 4 jackets covering her up, apparently homeless people had given her those jackets, while common people didnt even question the fact that a old lady was in hospital dress
The people who did that were actual chads, good on them
Wow
Most homeless take care of each-other. If they see someone in need they’ll usually give you the clothes on their back. Wish our country would do the same
Well kindness IS free
Its usually the people who r going through or have went through shit that r the most understanding
Winter is the best time to sleep in a car. No insects, no birds waking you up. Get 2 decent sleeping bags. Put 1 inside the other. Get a pillow. You will be warm
If you live in Florida sure.
The only thing you'd be warm in would be heaven for the temps the north side sees lol. It's -30° easily some days.
Only takes one cold night to kill you.
Much easier to get warm in a car then get cool in a car without using all your gas.
Not in -40 lmao
@@Aajb2facts Maine was hell lol
@malcolmthompson9555 where I'm from we reached -48 or -49 can't remember
Praying for you and others in your situation to not be homeless anymore. You are who God says you are!❤
Ex backpacker and cicloturist here. Get a mountain grade sleeping bag, I camped with those in the patagonia argentina. If you need versatility there are soné that can be used as blankets
Thank you! Thats what I did and slept cozy and warm all winter long, no problem.
If a mountian cleeping bag is rated for winter expeditions, why not a car?
Sometimes, I enjoyed a cozy warm sleep in a really good sleeping bag more then a sleep on a bed.
Wearing layers! Use lots and lots of layers of wool made clothing - especially socks and gloves to keep yourself warm! Also if you can - choice your parking slot wisely - make sure the rising sun hits it straight away in the morning. Another thing you can do (if you’re not too ashamed - like I was) is talk to people and rent a free garage spot for the really icy nights or snow storms. Other than that: stay safe out there ❤ life is tough but we are tougher!
Smart
I prefer that. I don't want to risk anything using electricity.
loose layers are better than tight layers. the air in between is a good insulator and far more comfortable than a bunch of tight restrictive clothes that will make you sweat.
better to be under 6 blankets than wearing 6 pants
Careful, some heated blankets cannot be folded during use.
As someone who lives in Alaska, the first two options will kill your battery quick... If you don't want to use electricity or gas, get yourself some space blankets (the kind from medkits) and cover your windows/doors, that will help trap heat inside your car. Also, grab some Pocket warmers, and place them around your chest area. your limbs and fingers will lose heat the fastest, so keep them as close to your core as possible, that way everything including your core is at optimal temperature.
100% agree. I was going to say the exact same things
Yeah buddy. He's homeless. Not gonna buy 40$ worth of pocket heaters a night
@@gabegabe9989 he literally has a car and a 20$ battery. Homie didn't say he had no money, he just said he was homeless
If he has 600$ a month to spend on hand heaters he can pay rent somewhere
@@gabegabe9989 they make rechargeable ones for $10 a piece lol
I lived in my Chevy Trailblazer for 4 months through the winter of 2020. It was rough as I’m 6’3 and had to take out the passenger seat and build it into a little bed. I made it work and it’s what I had to do in order to save up for a home. Pretty wild times.
I applaud you my friend. I'm 6ft tall so just a few inches shorter than you. Still,3in of height difference inside of a car is a big difference. I stayed in my old '85 Ford Ltd station wagon,also for about 6 months,when I was 22 & it rained more during that 6 months than I'd ever seen in a consecutive 6 month period. I mention that because the seals around every single window and door leaked so bad it might as well not had any seals left. I had a job but had made some really stupid choices & found myself evicted and without a soul to turn to for help. So I took my next paycheck and waterproofed my car with some cheap tarps and tubes of silicone from harbor freight. Then got a hot plate & found a cheap campground where I rented a lot for around $100 per month. It had a spigot with free running water & a bathroom with showers right in the middle of the camp ground.
So other than the 1st week where I was broke & had to suffer through the rain all week. I have to say I value the wisdom that I aquired during that time. That was 15yrs ago, & I certainly have a different set of values. Same as for how I count my blessings.
You took that seat out made a berthing area because of that damn headrest didn't you.😂😂😂. I camped in mine and that damn headrest I swear I wanted to just take it sawzall to it and hack it out of there
Im probably going to live in my trailblazer
@@richardcurry7663 hahah yea the headrest was a problem the entire time lmao
@@Heyoka73 good luck! Honestly, doing it in the winter is easier than any other time of year. There are lots of things you can do to stay warm. Not very many to stay cool while the engine is off. The inside of your car will get just as cold as the outside but when it’s hot out the inside of your car will be 33% hotter minimum
The hardest part of living in your car is accepting the reality.
I guess it depends on how you ended up there. I actually chose to live in my Suburban, for almost 5 years. I had a decent job, and a nice apartment, and alot of nice things, and I decided that I didn't need it. I sold or gave away almost all of my things, and fixed up my Suburban to live in, and thats where I lived. With my only "bills" being my cell phone..car insurance..and gas..i saved up almost $80,000 in the those 5 years. It would have been alot more, but there were 2 different times my Suburban broke down, and I had to pay $1400 to get it fixed the first time, and about $1800 the second time. Plus I had to stay in a motel for 3 weeks both times while it was being fixed, and rent a car to get to and from work, so that was all a bit costly. But anyway, that time I spent living in my vehicle really changed alot of things for me, and really made me realize how little I actually "need" to live a full and happy life. But yeah, I can definitely understand how awful it would be to end up living in your vehicle under different circumstances tho.
I can’t tell if this is sympathy or judgement, you sound so menacing
Accept reality and work your way up richness is scalable in the usa 🇺🇸 a being poor is a choice here in the usa 🇺🇸
Still gotta run to keep the battery charged 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I did it on and off for awhile. I hated it. As soon as I got enough money together I’d get a motel room. Trying to live in my car drove me mental. It’s hard to relax when you’re basically constantly in public
100k subs, congrats🎉🎉
Candles too. They actually put off quite a bit of heat. I was homeless for years living in my van and they definitely helped. I live in Northwest Ohio too btw
Candles burn oxygen, so it could basically leave you breathless. I'm grateful you didn't suffocate from lighting candles in your van lovely.
@@RealFrankSwett Vans and cars are far from airtight, you're not going to suffocate due to a candle. The greater risk would be setting your car on fire.
After a number of years in the Army, I can say that keeping dry is always number one to keeping warm. I would breathe my own hot breath down into the sleeping bag with my balaclava covering my mouth to catch the moisture. Also, a personal tip I think is to keep the clothes that you'll be wearing the next day in the bag with you. They'll both provide more layers and they'll be warmer to put on when you wake up and get dressed. Get dressed in the bag if possible to avoid the cold shock once you emerge from your cocoon of warmth.
And good luck brother.
@@Amed77k Oh yeah, because we all know Algeria is a great place to live from all the millions of Algerians living in Paris. 😂 Just say that you're jealous of America being so much richer than your pathetic Arab shithole. 😂😂😂
@@Amed77k I'm sure your country has homeless too. Struggling is universal.
Learnt the same in my time Army.
Having you cloths inside the sleeping bag is wrong. If you get out of a warm bag in your cloths your temp will drop and you will feel colder.
Have on only a thin layer and when you get up then get dressed. You will rapidly lose heat then reward and feel comfortable
Ooh rah
My heart hurts that we live in a world where a video like this is way more helpful than most.
This makes your heart hurt? Its a lot better than sleeping on the street.
But no more mean tweets right? 🤡
@@Clintscollectiblez thank god for that. If I saw one more mean tweet I was gonna start crying, again, and then I was gonna have to go online and write about it, again, and let everyone know that the orange man was bad because he made me cry so hard, again. No more mean tweets and now I get to use my preferred pronoun and threaten everyone else who doesn't want to call me 'kid sniffing helicopter cat.'
@@phoenixrising4073 I pooped my pants crying every time Donald drump tweeted skid marks in all my tightey whiteys now 😤
I've lived like this... with a job and a college degree. Housing is so unaffordable. No one lives like this because they want to. Hence, it's pretty fuckedup that this is a realistic option for a standard of living. It's normalized. Fuck that.
This guy seems to be very happy regardless of his living situation. If you’re happy, I’m happy for you!
And you believe this 😮
Yeah, not that he has a choice 😂😂😂
living in your car sucks wtf are you on about
toxic positivity in a nutshell:
That's what the deep state wants, americans to warm up to the idea of a dystopian society.
Cover your windows. Even shut tight, glass windows lets the cold seep in. Use what you have, sun shield, towels, cardboard, to cover the windows as best as you can. You may not feel like it did much but, once you step outside in the morning, you'll feel a noticeable difference.
This is what I was going to say.
Underrated comment, if you can get hold of some 25mm insulation board and cut it to size it will make a massive difference to temperature and also offer a little more privacy.
I just said this new comic my damn self LOL 😂😆😂 I'm currently live in this situation
Actually, need to Crack open a window at least 1.5 inches.
You can die from carbon dioxide poisoning.
Canadians know this as getting stranded on the side of the highway during a blizzard at minus 30 degrees Celsius to minus 48 degrees Celsius.
Don't use your battery or run your engine either. You will need your car to be able to run. You at extremely low temperatures want to run your car periodically to keep your car from freezing. You will need someone to boost your car if your lucky but once completely frozen all fluids etc have frozen. Rods break and radiator cracks.
If you have a Tesla, your car's battery will be completely broken and will no longer be able to be recharged.
Suffocation?
Insulate everything - the windows with coverings; the door panels are just fabric/plastic over metal - fill it with newspapers or anything you can find to create a barrier between you and the outside. the car has vents that bring in air when you're driving - find out where they're located and close them or cover them, but be careful if you decide to use a Mr Buddy heater with propane that you leave some kind of ventilation 'cause that'll kill you faster than the cold. And layer those clothes - especially your head and feet. Good luck!
Cheapest thing you can do is just buy a Military grade sleeping bag I slept in negative weather, hot as heck
Yep with proper insulation one can sweat in negative temps. No need for gas or a battery to stay warm when prepared.
for real. i'd much rather invest however much for a decent mummy bag than drain my battery with a heating blanket
This is the comment I was going to share. Take your shirt off too. You'll be cold for a minute, but warm up quickly. You will not be cold at all through the night. I'd say you might be hot. The sleeping bags aren't insanely expensive either. I believe they are around 300 bucks. While that may seem expensive it's multiple pieces for one and a high quality sleeping back can go for 1000 bucks. So, this is a great price.
@@zetsumei1017yep, military grade sleeping systems are actually designed to sleep in underwear only, I slept manyyyyyy nights in the cold basically naked in my sleeping system and was just fine.
Thanks for this informative video! I have eds and I can’t keep warm & that blanket tip is super handy. Hope you keep warm this winter❤
In the military we spend a lot of time sleeping outside & a good sleeping bag system really works wonders
In boy scouts a sleeping bag and a beanie hat. Why would you waste power on a heater fan vs a blanket 800w vs 150w
I was a primitive wilderness instructor I was thinking the same. Toss a hot hands in the bag. A good Rvalue sleeping pad. Wool and goosedown if you have it. So many more practical ways that require zero use of the vehicle or money on an inverter.
A US Army Extreme Cold Weather sleeping bag and a giant Snickers bar! Talk about being toasty.
@@DonFahquidmifact 💯🤣
Lots of good advice re staying warm living in a car. First and most important do no quit your job. If laid off take any kind of job asap! Better to be cold than starve. Insulating windows (bubble wrap, etc,) is essential to eliminate condensation. Layer clothing to regulate your internal temperature. Heavy wool knit cap & wool socks. Wear fleece pants and jacket in a good warm rated sleeping bag. Down stuff in a sleeping bag is to warm/hot……sweat makes us freeze! Put the bag on blow-up quilt style sleeping mat that allows for air circulation, not directly on a car seat! A pair of wool knit gloves keep hands warm and wick sweet inside the car. Wool is king! Buy a wool blanket for on top of sleeping mat and over the seat back. Now we are warm, not hot! Staying hydrated is very important…….use two thermos’ one for water/tea and one for your hot soup of choice. Now here is the hard part. When down and out necessities are our number one priority. Let’s be humble and go to the soup kitchen, stay at night in a homeless shelter, buy stuff at second hand shops and at good will. God bless.
Respect to everybody out there living unconventionaly and keeping your heads up.
that's what we're calling homelessness now?
@Burrito I mean if they don't got a home that's technically being homeless
@Burrito I'm not homeless. I chose to not live in a bricks and stick. in 3 years I have saved over $90k by giving up my apartment and moving into a van.
@@nykatewinslowable how do you shower and keep your clothes clean? Not being rude just genuinely wondering
@Owen Thoman sometimes the have showers and bathroom in the vans depending on the van. But sometimes if u have a gym membership they'll let you shower
Pro tip: use military winter underclothes and sleeping bags. That's it. They're not the cheapest but they work best. If you've got enough fleece and wool separating you from the environment, it'll be comfortable and warm inside. You can use TWO sleeping bags if a single one doesn't cut it. I used to live in a trench and it worked splendidly in freezing cold, just make sure it stays dry on the inside.
Speaking of trenches, I recommend you build yourself a shelter. It can actually be just a hole in the ground with some watertight roofing. Or you could just use a tent, that works too, but those tend to not be very watertight.
Why did you live in a trench
@@NickBitts Because I was at the frontline in a war. There aren't many housing options that are safe, and there aren't usually any pre-made fortifications so you make one yourself.
@@michaelbuckers which war?
@@keksicus6833 Chechen
@@keksicus6833 The ongoin one.
The best way to live in your car is to always have a job or continue working where you can, also live where it never gets cold, use truck stop showers for hygiene and the inverter is the best option for heating your car if you can’t live where it’s warm.
My hope is that one day we'll live in a world where no one ever ends up homeless.
Ancient Israel had that. The trick was the inheritance system. It was fully expected that your parents would give you a piece of their land, and give you the rest when they grew too old.
Too bad modern people have no concept of keeping one's bloodline alive...
Best comment!
Tips from a backpacker: use a 32 oz Nalgene or other thick plastic or aluminum water and fill it with near boiling water and put in sleeping bag it will work as a heater for about 4 hours, a silk bag liner will add about 10° to your bag rating, wear wool it is both warm and wicks away your sweat if you get hot, don’t put your head in the bag you’ll make too much condensation and get cold instead get a balaclava to keep your face covered
This appears to be the best comment on the whole thing.
Whoa......when the end of the world comes......I'm following you 👍🏾
Glad I didn't have to write all this cause that's what I was gonna say too 😂... that method saved my behind on a an unexpectedly cold night in the mountains camping... I was NOT prepared cause my very young self didn't check the weather (yea. I know ... I know... 🤦🏾♂️). But I slept like a BABY after i restarted my fire, boiled some water and threw that Nalgene in my sleeping bag.
Alpaca ponchos are great as well
@@DhaoistAzazel Your cologne is Burnt Almonds? Where can I get this??
One underrated tip is to try to have everything be black, especially if you manage to have a black car with tinted windows that could be the difference between bone rattling cold and comfortably chilly. The next thing is layers, don’t care what it is if you have it and you’re freezing out it on, as long as it isn’t wet it will do more good than harm.
You want the color the radiates heat the best to stay warm? How does that help you at night when you are sleeping? It will literally shed all the heat in the car faster than any other color. Although I doubt it really makes a noticable difference. If you want a car that is the hottest in the sunlight, sure, go for black.
Two layers of thermals works more than twice as well. Three if you can manage. I can't ever convince people of this. I wear two layers in the winter when I have to be outside, it makes a huge difference.
But you may die in Summer...
Does skin color work too?
@@justforever96 black absorbs the most light which turns into heat... white reflects the most light
"LIFE HACK: TURN ON YOUR HEAT IF YOU'RE COLD" 🤯
I've got one of my own. If you're thirsty, drink water!
I wish I could have had a car when I was homeless. But I only had trees and bushes. Minnesota winters are often brutal.
How did you survive during the winter?
@tommytwo-times9053 luck and understanding. I'm not the only person in MN that had to survive winter like that. Trees and bushes really help to block the winds at least. Pine trees with full bottoms offer protection from the snow if you can find one. A football player gave me his rain resistant jacket and the mayor would give me bread and bananas to eat every other week. I was also smart enough to never sleep on concrete. If you steal enough woodchips they can make a nice insulating bed. Not comfortable but better than before and better than sleeping directly on the ground. Also staying away from people and not making my situation too obvious to the general public. If you are homeless due to not having the resources instead of homeless for poor choices then you are more likely to be killed or at least badly harmed by "normal" everyday people who are not in your position. I've watched so many others who were just there because they fell on hard times, be attacked by that unassuming, well-dressed guy who's always laughing and smiling and would "never hurt a fly" or was "so generous". Nobody would believe what's really hiding behind those "super sweet" people's masks. It's far more common than anyone realizes. Those who offer help usually have an ulterior motive. Especially if you're a woman. The younger she looks, the worse it gets. Trust no one, not even yourself.
Obviously, he didn't.
@@filmc1999Stop Judging please 💜
What did you do? I feel if that were me I would head south
This so saddens me. This reminds me of the stories my grandmothers, aunts and uncles told of what occurred about them during the Great Depression.
Our economy used to work for most of us. It was not perfect but most people could get by.
Now. ????
The Great Depression was much different. Most people wanted to work, but the economy was down. The majority of the people weren't alcoholics, and they weren't addicted to drugs like a lot of homeless people are today.
full time van life here.. thanks for making a video to help folks. here's a few more... #1.a single cande flame produces approximately 80 BTU s of heat. Add a heat sink. #2 Park with your windshield facing east so you get the maximum amount of sun as soon as it comes up. #3 get a dog. Happy nomading!
Would need to keep the window a little more open because the candle will be using oxygen, and because you don’t want your lungs to be acting as the filter on the smoke.
No, don't get a dog
@@juliecarson7364why not? 😕 Best thing I can think of for protection, company, heat and moral support!! 😊
@@IsMiseAineSure, if you're traveling and having fun. Where does a dog go when you have to work to survive at any time of the year? Jesus.
@@IsMiseAine can homeless person afford dog expenses ?
Lots of layers. That is absolutely the name of the game. Tees, thermals, sweaters, jacket, pick up at a thrift store. . Same with legs. If you can get one, afford one those recommended electric things you can get fleece lined pants and sweatshirts. If not, used ski clothes. Almost everything now will have some sort of high tech warmth layer even cheap ones. A wool blanket if possible, even a thinner Mexican blanket. Lots of blankets. Cheap at thrift stores. Those are super warm. Comforters. Thermals even the cheapest ones. ABSOLUTELY a beanie, or a winter hat. cover your head! Be a buried caterpillar. socks and mittens. Pile on your blankets. If you’re dry, out of the wet and wind, (in a car) with those things you should be fine, honestly. 🤷♀️ He’s even got a sleeping bag. Layers and a couple extra blankets Except for the absolute cheapest ones, sleeping bags are pretty good now, idk.
You know it’s bad when you see how to live in your car tips nonchalantly on social media. Thankful to live in a place where it’s warm all year around. Props to those who live in this situation 😢
Late stage capitalism 😭😭
😭😭😭😭
@@KaiBrunk125 Final boss capitalism 😎😎
Guess you should make a video, how to keep cool when sleeping in your car.
Come Chicago see how u last
i was homeless for 4 years. tips: wool socks and blankets, reflectics window covers for all windows to insulate in winter and summer(your windows cause the majority of heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, youll need to buy a roll of reflectics and cut to the shape of the windows), if you arent running the car to save gas dont use the cigaret plug as it will drain the car battery and if you need to leave at a moments notice a dead car battery is a big setback so use a battery pack to power things at night and recharge it while driving. i was a delivery driver durring this time so i drove more than enough to recharge my battery banks. get a good strong fan for summer. hand heaters help in the short term. take note of where and when you have access to a bathroom, there are mobile options but they are not ideal. organizing your things is very important not just to make thing easier to find but to also improve your mindset in a tough situation. dude wipes brand shower wipe for the days you cant take a real shower, not a replacement but it buys you time. park where you have permition never assume its ok. if you support the right to bare arms for self defense it is highly reccomended if possible. always cooperate completely with authorities. they understand your situation better than you might at that time and might even offer solid advice. comfortable means of sleep in your vehicle is a must, outdoor seat cushions are a good start but they lose their comfort after a month so carefully weigh your options here.
Thx u
These are all good tips. I camped full time in my car for 6 weeks. Insulation, wool socks and blankets. A jackery or other brand battery to store power to use at night to plug in a electric blanket. Wear a ski hat to stop heat from escaping from the head. A scarf and gloves. Eat a little bit before you go to bed like a spoon of peanut butter. The body generates heat when digesting food. The coldest hour of the day is the hour before the sun comes up.
I'm retired Army, served for 23 years and a trained Winter Operations Instructor.
Rule #1 Remember this acronym: COLD
Clean
Open
Layered
Dry
Clean items are better at trapping and keeping air in the fabric warm than dirty items. The dirt, grease, and other things displace the air pockets and are better at conducting temperature from outside to your skin, so you will be colder if it is dirty and if it is Clean.
Open means ventilated. If you trap too much warm air and overheat, then you will get damp or wet, and lose the insulating value. We would put a scarf, cloth, or towel over our faces in a mummy style sleeping bag, the moisture from exhaling would be trapped in the towel, instead of ducking our entire head into the sleeping bag and causing it to get damp or wet.
Layered because you can adjust, add, or remove a layer of clothing to regulate how much heat you are retaining so you don't get cold or too warm.
And Dry, because with the exception of wool, anything wet does not retain heat.
In addition, use a tarp over your car to help keep it dry, reduce any leaks you may have, and if possible rig it to have a space between the vehicle and the tarp. Also, the sides need to be low, closet to the ground. Creating that air pocket around the car, under the tarp will facilitate keeping the wind and water off the car directly. IMPORTANT: Make sure to vent the car exhaust outside of that tarp, and any other heat sources that produce gasses, fumes, or emissions.
A headliner in the car, and if possible a taught sheet or blanket that allows entry and exit from your car, and covers your windows. That creates another layer to trap air between the inside of the car and the blanket. It's easier to warm air that is trapped like that. And again. Remember to ventilate.
Park in areas that provide protection from the wind and elements..
Good luck
Thank you for sharing this with us!
you deserve a metal for this comment
The one time I actually felt informed watching RUclips.. lol thanks
Thank you
I too went to cwlc in Black rapids
A lot of people talk about high rent and it’s true, but that alone isn’t what makes it hard to land a place. For a one bedroom apartment you gotta have good credit and proof of income 3x the rent amount and 6 months to a year of that. Makes it take forever to get on your feet through tough times. Add that to there being other people constantly trying to get the same place as you and winning cause they got kids or something. It’s hard out here, great vid hope you get a break soon.
Until you kill the battery and then it wont start. Install a car starter. They can be programmed to start every 2 hrs and run for fifteen minutes this will keep the battery charged and allows you to use the heater or blanket
Imagine being awoken randomly at 3am by your car starting
Kill the battery from running the car? Bruh what. I've been in my car for years now and sometimes during real bad storms my car will be running for well over 24 hours.
@generalpanda6028 priuses can do that. It's why alot of people like them for car life. You turn on climate control and it'll behave like your air conditioning at home. The car will turn on, get to the temperature you set, then turn back off automatically.
@generalpanda6028 who cares, as long as you don't freeze to death
@@nomadericPrius is literally the only vehicle you can do this with
Also keep in mind that when you have things plugged into the car that draws electricity from the battery. And cold weather is already very hard on batteries so don’t be surprised when you wake up warm and don’t have enough juice to start the car.
yeah pretty dumb advice
I was thinking the same thing might as well run your engine... I spent multiple yrs in vehicles in Ohio winters just run car it's like .50-2.00 an hr to idle...
@@ELI173DEWITT tbf gas prices have climbed alot, but i guess atleast were past 2022 with the stupid $7 gas
@DeputyFish I lived in car with my family all of 2021 and most of 2020 and i ran the car 24hrs a day and without driving I used 40 dollars max in a day that's 1.67 per hr with air condition and heat
@@DeputyFish $7, not 7$
I was going to leave a snarky comment but then i started reading the comments. People are really going through or have gone through really difficult times. And look how resilient you are! 😊
people don't make videos like this for no reason you know
Being open minded is a stellar quality. 👑
I was going to leave a snarky comment, and after reading how you changed your mind, you convinced me to really leave one after-all!
@anusaukko6792I love your name... But which is it though. Anu Saukko? Or anus aukko? 😂😂😂
I left a snarky comment, and now I feel bad.
Good tips. But I would also recommend buying spaceblankets and using them to create something of an internal tent in your car. You lose most of the heat in your vehicle through the glass windows. Spaceblankets blocking those off will absorb and reflect heat back into the vehicle, reducing the amount lost through the glass. You can also augment that further with additional blankets behind it and/or cardboard, as that will reduce heatloss even more.
If you couple that with some source of warmth, like the car's heater, or some other safe source of heat- you can keep the space warm.
A trick I used to use when I lived in a house with no heat was to get bottles of very hot water and put it in my blankets with me, next to my feet. It felt really, really, really good, and kept them nice and warm for several hours. You don't want to do too hot, but if you get it hot enough and keep it inside the blankets, it'll provide a safe amount of warmth for a good long while. I used old two liter soda bottles. I know access to running hot water is limited when you're homeless, but if you can get a good amount of hot water, it can help. Maybe if you have like a little cooking thing you could heat some up- again, not too hot though. Just enough to have a little steam, but not outright boiling. It'll really help.
If you have a little stove, you can heat water and put it in a hot water bottle. Also handwarmers put inside your sleeping bag work wonderful
I just read that hot water bottles are only good for 2 years. The seams eventually split. Just wanted to warn folks.
I lived in my f150. I don’t anymore, but I still drive it everyday. It treated me well and I will treat it well
My friend who lives in her car just told me that in the TN winter, she wears a snow suit! What a great idea, and sleeps inside a good sleeping bag in layers. A snowsuit!! WOW, that is using ingenuity.
I'd never get that thing off to pee 😂
@@desertgirl1392lolol me either!
I wear ski pants even tho I've never been skiing 😊 I'm just a big baby to the cold. Being made fun of but I'm the only one out in it that is warm and toasty
Wear a Depends or a large ziplok and reuse @@desertgirl1392
Place hand warmers in the pockets of the snow suit. They last ten hours
Use lots of layers! If you have some nice warm clothes on, then do like 3-4 blankets you should be good. You can always add more or take away if need be. Those little hot hands packs can help, too.
I remember when I was living out of my car for 3 years, there was one year that was particularly bad in the winter when the car I had at the time didn’t have heat and had a hole in the passenger side. Me and my girlfriend had to use our bodies to keep warm through the long nights when we couldn’t afford
To stay in a hotel. It’s not easy and I was blessed to have a car but hard work and staying focused and working nonstop paid off because I took a risk and drove from MA to Fl to start a new life. I’m still struggling but I have a roof over my head and a stable job and my basic needs are met I’m content and great full. Happy Valentines everyone ❤️🙏🏼
Congratulations and good luck to you.
what is your current struggle?
Add a second deep cycle battery with a disconnect to run an electric blanket off of so your main car battery is separate and can start your car the next day. Also covering the HVAC vents under the windshield on the outside can help keep a lot of cold air from coming inside your car, and space blankets.
Pro tip
Honestly just insulate as much of the car as you can if you know it's gonna be a cold night. Those windows will sap a ton of heat
Just shut the recirc door. No need to cover the vents, your car literally already has a door that will do that for you. Turn on recirculating air mode and it shuts off the outside air.
@@MinistryOfMagic_DoM some cars like impalas that are made cheap wont close the door completely
yep. don't wanna drain your main for sure. & do NOT use anything flammable it uses O2. park your vehicle out of wind if at all possible.
Good tip, from someone who was stuck in a blizzard in my car: army/surplus gear is usually much cheaper than you think, and winter gear will be very effective at conserving heat. Another good tip is to cover your windows and windshield to prevent heat escape.
I aint gonna lie this gonna be really helpful in like a year cuz everyone ls dying an my situation aint that good, i genuinely never thought of stuffing a heated blanket in a sleeping bag an i live in Minnesota where that'll be useful, im gonna thank ya in advance, illl let you know the situation when the time comes
Man, the thing is we shouldn't need these tips....buuut few people actually care. Bless your heart!
try spend a minut thinking about these tips and how bad they really are. a better sleeping bag would be better. not hard to find a sleeping bag made for -14 degree C. and a tent is better way to spend your money on than a battery you can't even charge.
These aren’t tips this is a clout chaser trying to make money off of video. none of these so-called” tips” would help you in fact if you listen to this guy’s advice you’re gonna wind up dead from carbon monoxide poisoning or dead from freezing when your battery dies and you have no way to keep warm that doesn’t require electricity. This kid can’t give you any good tips on sleeping in your car because he’s never done it before😂
Park your car & go to a tower hotel. Walk in like you own the place. Take the elevator to the 4th highest floor. Get out & look for the service stairs. Quietly climb to the top floor. Spend your night in warmth & silence, no one is taking the service stairs down from the top floor.
What if you snor... imagine the fricken echo...!!!
@@JUSTICE-COMING 😂😂
I’ll keep this in mind.. I don’t think I’ll ever have to resort to that but you never know when you might be drunk as shit in a unfamiliar city with a dead phone and no currency
@@billybobthornton8553 I've literally done his recommendation in the situation you're describing but it was at a Hilton Hotel lol, the cleaning staff woke me up and just assumed I was a dumb drunk who had a room and just couldn't find it. I pretended Id somewhere to be and shot on home. City was Dublin Ireland, great time.
@@billybobthornton8553 you got some fucked up priorities man 😂 stop drinking get a job
Yes! Wear a hat or ear warmer band around your head at night and another warmth band around your neck to keep your neck warm! Covering your ears and throat at night goes a long way towards avoiding sinus problems, sore throats & colds!
I lived in my car a few times over the years, pre mobile phone. The worst part was the boredom. I had a few blankets and pillows.
Going from a VW gold to an old Nissan estate (station wagon) was a game changer!
The ability to sleep flat instead of a car seat changed everything for me.
All the car life, van life stuff, when you have a phone or iPad to keep you entertained is weak. Once you take the boredom away and have some place you can be in comfort you have most of your needs met .
Got kicked out after graduation and had to sleep in my car during a -20/-30 degree cold snap in Minnesota. I worked 2 jobs 7am to 11:30pm everyday to get my own place. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone
How long did you sleep Sir?
Don't sleep in/on wet fabric. Even moist fabric. If you're sweating and drenching your clothes, don't sleep in them. They'll cool you down like nobody's business. Instead, go as nude as you dare and wrap up in layers of blankets.
And get WOOL. Get that shitty scratchy wool blanket and put it on top of your layers.
And never, ever, underestimate the power of a pair of thick socks and a wool cap or similar.
Stay warm and hydrated, friends.
People getting cooled down from the sweat of their oily smelly bodies IS my business!..
Absolutely right about not sleeping in the clothes you wore that day. Especially the underwear.
This man was in the military 100%
@@willdenoble1898 Hah. I'm flattered but no
Then sweat into the blankets making them moist and counter productive 😂
Three tips from me:-
1- Make sure your car has some kind of low battery cut off when using electric appliances so you don't get stranded.
2- Try to park up in a place thats out of the wind at least, higher up a hill or valley to avoid mist or fog too.
3- Be careful if you are using your engine for heat, if the exhaust is either pooling or blowing towards the passenger compartment air intake it can pump CO in with you and while your homeless problem is solved its a very permanent solution for a hopefully temporary problem, minor exhaust damage/rust can cause it too. This could be a 4th tip but I think it fits here, always be careful with any kind of propane or camping heater stove too, for the same CO risk, get a cheap detector if you ever try one.
every car built after 2000ish has catalysts which don't allow for CO to be produced. You can't even really kill yourself with cars now, as you can only asphyxiate from CO2
very permanent solution💀
@@36ys29 Is he wrong?
@@Admiral_Jezza I suppose it was a snarky way to joke on my part but it's true, being homeless isn't a problem anymore if you are not careful.
@@williama.6197 Except I am Gen X and Hominids have been making tools to make our lives easier for the last Million years...
I live in a 98 escort that had no blower motor for a month until it fixed the blower motor so it finally had blowing heat during the winter. Lived in it for 3 months. Got kicked out of so many rest stops and about got kicked out of deer Creek in Ohio. Still miss the summer nights sneaking the car into a field and looking up at the moon from a blanket
I listen to a band called Deer Creek.
If you have to sleep outside also keep your clothes and shoes in your bag. It will keep them dry from the dew and keep them warm for the morning. Also I spent a couple years in a home with no power or water through some very cold winters. I was lucky enough to have a dog and best believe we stayed much warmer snuggling.
Yes I know from experience having a dog sleep on top of you in a room where you can see your breath does help alot.
I only have a small dog, but when camping he's like a little furnace, makes a huge difference
I have a Masters Degree, got laid off, wife left me and lost my home. This is so helpful Nano! My life will only get worse under Trump. Hope we still have a free country in four years.
One important thing is, if you can afford it, never underestimate the value of getting something to eat. Your body needs energy to help itself stay warmer. It also helps with the not starving thing.
What a dumb comment holy
I would also suggest drinking some form of liquid at least every few days doesn’t have to be water but water is preferable
@mranderson 1 You better be drinking more than every few days or your ass is dead in a couple weeks from dehydration lmao
Don't forget to breathe air (NOT WATER)
Yea I’ve noticed when I don’t eat for a few days I get colder much easier
Advice coming from Michigan winters. Get an extra winter coat and stick it between you and the door - the door lets in a lot of cold air. Cover the windows with double reflective insulation. You can make your own with said insulation and cardboard. Doing this will vastly insulate your vehicle and you won't need a heating blanket or to run your vehicle. Make your window covers a bit oversized with the cardboard. This way you can stick velcro on the flaps and around your windows so you can just velcro it into place and not burn through a bunch of tape. Burrito yourself and sleeping bag in a queen sized comfitor. The comfitor is the best option, but if you don't have that, using a second sleeping bag works too
No . An old style quilt is the best option they were made to keep you warm before electricity
Fear not, you wouldn’t have needed that quilt, because you could just cut your horse open and survive the night inside of its chest cavity. Like Luke.
Advanced users will find the wood from your horse drawn buggy, as a useful fuel to build and maintain a small fire.
Follow me for more 1880’s life hacks!
OR you could buy a modern insulated blanket, of reasonable quality.
@@EffYoInfo the internet remains undefeated 😂😂😂
hey! Michigan is nothing compared to Wisconsin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@vohbe Cheese Turd
Knit hat, mittens, wool socks, heat packs (the kind you shake lasts up to 15 hours), mummy down sleeping bag.