10 BIGGEST REASONS LIVING IN A VAN SUCKS!! 

UPDATE: It's been over two years since I made this video. I've long sold the van, my face is less fat, I have a girlfriend now and I'm living a really healthy life. I don't have any regrets about the experience I had in the van. It was incredible overall. Even with the seeming negatives. I definitely plan on buying a vacation van in the future, but that might be awhile. In the upcoming, I'm focusing on my job here in Chicago, professional photography and videography. Hope you're all well! Look me up on Instagram if you'd like to see what's going on in my life as of late. Also, I will be uploading to my channel here more frequently coming up. Later!

Haus: you have given a realistic and concise version of van living and working as a young American. I did this in circa 1978 in a 1969 E100 Ford Van with shag walls and a plywood base bed n mattress on pulleys with my RD350 motorcycle tucked to the wall side. Cooked on a pump up Coleman stove, cooled with Ice in a cooler and one gallon water jugs kept me hydrated. I’d bathe in streams, eat fresh caught fish and grocery veggies. Had to use bathrooms either outside with my shovel, or stop in any type store and use theirs. This 38 year throw-back memory is brought to the front of my bank by your Vid. Great for the last years of my life to recall. Oh, gas was .79 per gallon and the van would get 20mpg. as it was a straight 260 CDI Six cylinder. Tough time climbing the 12k Colorado mountains, but sure was economical on the straights.

My friend...Welcome to your Life there's no turning back ! It's not about the van. It's about the JOURNEY! Embrace the Journey and the challenges!

With regard to the mail issue; you can have your packages sent to "general delivery" c/o your local post office...then you just show ID and pick it up.

Amazon has "Amazon Lockers" all over that you can send your stuff to too, if you don't have a friend where you are. Interesting video, thanks!

Regarding your mail. 1. get a mail box 2. regarding your grocery shopping: go every 2 or 3rd day. 3. noise: get ear plugs. Have a great night and don't buy plastic water bottles. Try to get a jug to hold water or canteen.

Thanks for the tips. Helps me to see that extra thought and planning is important. So I went through your list and tried to think of simple ways to solve each problem. 1. Lack of space- I am a clean freak and have to put everything right back soon if not immediately after I use it. 2. Things go wrong- I have an emergency credit card I keep for this problem. I can get the mechanical work I need done and rent a van while it is. I know I would not have everything I need but I would still have a roof over my head. 3. Gas mileage- That's why I went with a four cylinder Ford Transit connect. It gets on good days almost 22 mpg, and 19 on my worst days. 4. Lonely- I am kind of a loner personality already, but I do find that in every town finding a good well balanced church to attend is helpful. You can hook up with good decent people who are not judgmental (some are) and make friends pretty quickly there. If nothing else it will give you some place to be on Sundays and Wednesdays where you can interact with people. Maybe just make a friend to invite out for a meal afterwards. 5. Parking- fitting in with other similar vehicles is a help. A lot of times an industrial area where businesses are closed is good because there's no traffic at night. If you are all ready for bed for the night and you just pull in shut down and sleep and then drive away early to go make breakfast somewhere else no one will mess with you. That of course would take care of the number 6 problem. Parking is one of those hit or miss kind of things. 7. Being settled- One helpful thing is to have a routine and stick to it no matter where you are. It helps you feel settled in yourself no matter where you are. You know...wake up, make your bed, start some coffee, use the head, have some breakfast, clean up dishes etc, wash face and brush teeth etc, get dressed. Have routines and stick to them. 8. Variety- Even though you have routines to stick to, break it up with different outside activities. Go biking, skating, or jogging etc. You don't have to spend money to entertain yourself. 9. Showers and shopping- This is when a routine really pays off. Hit the store on your way home from work and pick up only a small amount. Enough to get you through a day or two if your going to be off work. Physically you can't store a week's supplies of food. Keep a list of what you are out of so you don't wonder around in the store for hours. Try to keep it down to a 15 minute trip or less. Hit the shower after that and then settle in for your evening routines before you move to your favorite sleeping spots. 10. Laundry and mail- The laundry is always going to be a little annoying. No way around it really. Just have to have a laundry day somewhere each week. The mail thing can easily be fixed for only around 70 to 90 bucks a year. Rent a "private mail box." Not a p.o. box, but a private mail box. There's one's like "Anytime Mailbox" where you can have an actual real address to have things mailed which require a real address, and have packages shipped there. If you move to another town, no problem, most of these services have locations in every major town. They will have your mail forwarded to the new town your in.

Hey, there is only one BIG reason. Simple.......living in a van it is not for you.

As a commercial long haul driver, I find all of these things to be a part of daily life. Showers, laundry, parking, and other amenities can be found almost anywhere in the US at most truck stops and travel centers- Not all truck stops and travel centers are created equal, but believe me, if you're fortunate to have a TA, Petro, Pilot, Flying J near you, you're more than set.

For loneliness, GET A DOG!!!! Since I got my rescue dog, loneliness has all but disappeared! You'd be amazed at the company a dog is. They listen to you - both to your spoken word AND your unspoken words. They sense your needs and do their very best to give you what you need!!! Good luck to you!!!

BIG issues happen in a brick and mortar. You just have to save for mishaps. I rather pay 12 MPH than $2000 in rent

I just retired from the the air force after 26 years.I'm looking at class c right now.I love your channel.I'm learning more an more from you.Keep making them brother.

Noise? Look on the bright side. One day you will be my age and you won't hear it so well.

My feeling is you could also substitute living alone in a van to living in a small apartment in a big city. While there's some adventure - lifes better when it can be shared with someone else.

Many of your top 10 reasons are WHY I'm NOT a FULL-timer. I have a Cargo Van, the cargo area has been fully insulated with 2.5" of polyiso & has shelving/compartments for my "stuff", which is just right for me for 3-5 days/nights, year round. AFTER 4 days/nights, I'm ready to return home, enjoy a nice long hot shower & the other amenities of home base. I'm 72, 5'5" & 125# & retired. For my frequent, short trips, my van is a 5 Star Motel & I'm always the honored guest & my accommodations are always available anytime, anyplace; a 5 Star Restaurant & I'm always the honored guest with the best table in the house; I always have a bathroom that's never occupied & is always fully stocked; it's always provided me with shelter from the storm. What more can anyone ask of a vehicle?

I just tried Amazon's locker delivery service. Picked up my package at this Nob Hill Foods. It worked awesome!

I suggest you buy a packet of Hearo's ear plugs to solve your issues with sleeping. They are the best damn ear plugs on the market hands down.

I once considered living in a van when i was going to university and wanted to save money. However, parking was the biggest issue since I was going to university (Victoria BC) that really monitors its parking spaces. In retrospect, I wish I'd toughed it out and tried it since I think you learn valuable life skills in the process. You become very minimalistic and learn how to live simplistically. These days, I rent a house and I just want to fill it up with stuff.

I just wanted to hug you.....so you didn't feel lonely . I am a 60 year old grandmother But I could see how lonely you were ! I could see it in your eyes, I am glad you had this adventure in the van. Thank you for sharing. Happy you have the life you see for yourself!

I was always tense while sleeping that someone would; pound on my window (rare but did happen), break in (never happened), accidentally ram my vehicle (never happened), tow my vehicle away with me in it! (never happened). Even though most of these never happened... the stress was real and I got tired of it.

Nice share - thanks. I'm about to hit the road forever and it's nice to get a reality check before I do that.

hahaha, constant shifting of items, yup. I never thought I'd have to open my wardrobe to access my pots and pans. lol I totally agree with your list. Thumbs up!

+parking with foalhaus I just spent 9 months traveling around the country in a 26' class C solo. I hit 38 states and went into Canada driving over 18,000 miles. Spent time in RV parks both private and public but also Walmart parking lots while transiting. Your top 10 was spot on even for me. I would like to recommend an app that I couldn't have done the trip without: AllStays Camp & RV. If I remember it cost me $10 but proved to be invaluable. Its an amazing app for anyone who RVs. Anything you need this app will tell you where its at and it filterable. Overnight parking to include Walmarts, rest stops and casinos that allow free overnights, dump sites, propane, all pay to camp locations, cabbalas, bass pro shops, costco, REI, camping worlds, height limits, all truck stops and more. Its amazing. Enjoy the journey!

Just an FYI, It's been a couple of months since I've made this video and I have learned ALOT since then about van dwelling. I have made multiple videos of insight about what I've learned along the way, so check them out!

Thanks for this perspective. I'm getting ready to do some of my own so I'm going to add some solution to your problems which are good problems, however they can be remedied in many many ways for instance you could take a shower in your clothes and hang them out to dry while you're at work inside your vehicle if weather permits. A lot of people in Europe wear silk underwear because it is so quick to dry. It is not so easy to find on the internet though you have to search through China. It's one of the highest quality items China produces. The thing about silk undergarments is, you don't have to wash your outerwear as often. You are very lucky to have a shower in your vehicle so you have the option of taking one and using the gym is always Prime. The last time I was at Van lover I loved the fact that if there was no eyes wherever I was I just hop in my front seat and drive away from it. As a woman I love to shop so I never lack variety and I learn where my money goes the farthest for the best deal. It's like a full-on hobby for me and my friends act like I'm a pro at it so they're always asking me where to get the best value for their cheese(bread,$). You are all so lucky to have a propane fridge if you don't mind a piece of advice...freeze your waters and put them in a ice chest. That will free up a lot of the room in your refrigerator underwater cam behalf thawed & when you drink it, well, I happen to think it's the best. It takes a little bit of planning but it's cool because you can have your ice chest with your frozen water right next to your bed and at night you don't even have to get out of bed to have a nice cold drink. My list of problems is very small my list of solutions is huge and that is why I'm going to start my own. I do think it's very important to note the drawbacks for people though because everyone is so different in their needs and wants and their half to's and can live without's. To coin a phrase, Keep On Rockin in the Free World ( as long as you like and hopefully that is never longer than you like)

"Bad for relationships..." Say no more.

Very honest sounding guy.I used to sleep in our driveway now and again in our caravan after the nightshift as the family would break my sleep at around 9am.What I noticed was how the neighbours drove their cars .Some were good drivers and others were a pain in the ass .Particularly one woman who woke me up every time she turned the corner .The noise her tires made drove me nuts .Very hard on the vehicle.

Extra storage idea.........cargo tray that fits into hitch, very strong totes that stack, latch and have a way to strap to cargo tray ( sears sells these, I have eight) .....I carry my art/craft supplies, my sewing machine, my extra food staples and extra cooking utensils, seasonal clothes, off grid survival items, and survival books......... Just in case you have not checked out these spots to park a camper van, NOT a huge RV.....if you travel interstates, welcome centers, road side parks ( to catch a nap not 24 hours) Museum and Historical site parking, Church parking lots and open gate cemeteries ( you can usually get permission to park churches by just asking as most have a parking lot or area that is suitable ....and if you let the county sheriff's office or local police know where and who you are and what you are doing ( taking pictures of and exploring the area) and only parking a few days taking a break from the road as you pass thru, most are pretty nice, and if they do not want you in a certain place they can direct you to somewhere ,................. also check out freecampsites.net, boondockers welcome, harvest hosts, (.on facebook,) and RvVillage is a great site to help you connect( if you want to ) with others with same style rig or lifestyle as well as Rv parks all across the nation if you want to park for a long period of time and be "on grid" with water and electricity.....when you google van living you will find some who have been doing this for 20 years or more and their advice on mail, state of residence, etc is awesome.

Well, here's one thing. Ever consider trucking? Living in a van seems somewhat similar to trucking, except you work right there in your home. You wake up, shit, shower and shave or whatever, then head over to the office aka the cab and start driving. Except, you don't have to worry about where to park. You park at a truck stop or a rest stop. Or sometimes at where you're delivering to. You can shower whenever at the truck stop. Unless you're the type that showers everyday without fail and if you are, why are you living in a van or truck, then you should have plenty of showers saved up on your Pilot card or wherever. You get to see the country more or less. Most of it just passes you by though. You can get some time to explore if that's your thing though. It's not for everyone but I loved it. It just suited my personality. I have obligations now but I'd go back to it in a second. It's a pretty stress free lifestyle. You can take off in a hotel or stay with a friend. If you have a girl with you, it's better obviously. Also, why no P.O. box? I'd think that would be one of the first things you'd get.

agreed!!!!!! especially the lonely part. I'm glad you put honesty in this video. nice points

Great job...You brought up a lot of good points; and you were totally honest about it. I still live in a house; but living in a van intrigues me. I have a small van that looks like it could be lived in. It's a Ford Transit Connect. I know that's a VERY small van; but I am a very practical person. I don't need fancy cabinets, kitchen sink, and refrigerator. To me, it would be very easy to live without these things. These are just a few ideas that come to mind: 1. Skateboards make a fun hobby; they don't take much space; and are good for transportation. I make my own skateboard that is very fast, easy to push along, and is only 20 inches long. 2. Since my divorce, I am eating very simple meals, that I actually enjoy. Women demand really tasty, rich food; but I don't. I have noticed that the food I eat doesn't even require refrigeration. For example, pasta, rice, bread, vegetables, eggs, bottled water, grits, and oatmeal. There is quite a variety of foods that are cheap and don't require a refrigerator. 3. Laundry is not a big deal. You do not need to use a electric machine to do laundry. Firstly, you should adapt the way you dress. For example, you should avoid cotton materials, as they are hard to wash and take a long time to dry. If you dress in synthetic materials, such as polyester, they are easy to wash and dry by hand. Check out a product called a "Rapid Washer." This is how people used to wash clothes before electric machines came along. I have one of these; and they wash clothes VERY well, dare I say better than an electric washing machine. If you are washing polyester and nylon type clothing, it's not a big deal, meaning that it only takes a few minutes to wash and rinse the clothing. So you will not need a big wardrobe of clothes. You can just wash small loads in a five gallon bucket, as you dirty them. Let me know what you think about my ideas. Thanks.

I have a 2002 Dodge Roadtrek and talked to other people with Dodges that had rear end problems. Mainly every 25K miles you need to change the transverse fluid with the additive. I recently retired and went on a three-week road trip to national parks and up to Jasper in Canada. A cat and a dog kept me company. The dog will bark at intruders; so I use earplugs. At Glacier NP, I got a No Bus message by the odometer. But AAA towed for free, and I had to spend two nights in Kalispell waiting for a $1,000 control unit from Dodge. A laundromat had good WiFi for uploading my videos. Also, if you get stuck in Park, I went through three mechanics before finding a RU-vid video showing how to jiggle the linkage in the steering column. But that happened in my driveway. And I have two houses; my mom's old house where I can have my own kitchen, and the other where my my wife stays. (She's not a happy camper.) I got the shower down to a routine; and actually prefer it when visiting relatives, because all my stuff is right there. Just do a "Navy shower" and wipe down the curtain with towel and hang up towels on stretched bungee cords overnight. If you're ever in Anza-Borrego and see a sign that says SOFT SAND, immediately stop and back up. I had no cell service and a passerby did and a tow truck came a long ways and was afraid of getting stuck himself, but winched it up and out of the sand. See my videos by putting my name, Paul Emus, in the RU-vid search bar....

Huge advice! Install some little security cameras outside with the ability to get a live feed. That way if you hear a knock on your door or window, you don't need to open it or go outside if you hear something scurrying around. Second bit of advice, get a concealed carry permit and carry a gun. A lot of people think people that have an RV have money. Even little class Bs. On top of that, depending on where you are, there may be the risk of bears busting into your RV while you sleep because they smell food. I recommend a good 357 Magnum revolver for anything up to black bear in size. Revolvers are generally better for travelers because they have more load variance and have low capacity so they will never be effected by any new gun laws. (Use 125 grain hollow point rounds for defense against muggers and 158-180 grain hardcast semi-wadcutters for anything bigger than a cougar) Unless you live in grizzly territory. In that case, get a 12 gauge shotgun and load it with Magnum slugs. they will hurt like hell to shoot, but a bruised shoulder is nothing compared to what a big bear can do to you.

It is definitely not for everyone! But I always say try it for 3 to 5 weeks to get a good feel for it before doing it full time!✌️🇺🇸

wow, a breath of fresh air...finally! Too many of the van dweller videos on YT have serious value conflicts, are fake, and/or don't address the real issues. This guy is smart, articulate, AND has a JOB!

A few solutions that come to mind 1 Hearos earplugs are the best to keep noises out, they also seem to allow me to hear my alarm clock but if you are in a van I would suggest a noiseless light up alarm clock. 2 The food issue can be solved by paying attention to packaging, (you do not need bottled water) there are places where you can buy items from a bin that you use plastic bags and labels. and figuring out what items do not need refrigeration really helps. 3 the gas mileage and variety thing is solved by having a bicycle or better yet a small moped. You can just park the rig somewhere it will stay for weeks or months while your holding down a job and use 2 wheels to get around. Just being able to move the van twice a year to go to a warm place in winter and cool place in summer can be reason enough for doing the van living thing you don't have to drive your house every other day. Going to the laundrymat (near the university) is a good way to rub elbows with the ladies, or the guys if your so inclined. Here's a trick, pay for 2 energy drinks from the machine and then say to someone "oh hey the machine gave me two drinks, would you like to have one"? When she says "I saw you pay for two", you can accuse her of checking you out. Also just out of nowhere having a budgie as a caged pet would make the most sense, even if you wanted to park the van for a few weeks or months to travel abroad, a friend could take care of a caged bird way easier than a dog or cat.

gas is pretty cheap now, however, I can remember when gas was less than 25 cents a gallon

What a delightfully sincere and informative video - well done. I have a feeling that you'll find a way of addressing the 'negatives' you talk about. Keep up the good work.

This is why I'm going to be intermittent RVr in a van. I can't take the chance. I'll keep my apartment. But, my van will be there in case of emergency bug out. I've been by myself for the first time in 67 years for a whole year now and being alone can be a drag but it can also be joyous when you want to be left alone. But being a professional musician all my life and traveling throughout the United States in every kind of bus possible, I can sleep through anything. They did wake me up for the Statue of Liberty as I was going over the bridge!. Beautiful statue, City Lights, and the water was shiny.

Thanks for making the video. All I’ve been hearing on RU-vid is how great van life is. Many pros no doubt. But you’re right on the spot about the con. Many of us just don’t realize there are basic necessity in life. Shower, clean cloth, safe/quiet living and power. Oh, yes, a girlfriend lol. Good truth video about van life. Thanks.

Take your van to a farm and be a Hand. Lots of variety, stationary for a month or season, growing in knowledge save and earn dollars and you might be near National Forest/Parks areas being in the country for short visits on days off, your sleep will be peaceful, your space will be beautiful. If timed right you could be a seasonal worker up North to down South after you get a little experience and name for yourself, you will become a Farmers best friend and have freedom, fun, health and fellowship/family.

I still think the pros outweighs the cons, I hope it's like that for you. Good luck and safe travels dude.

Finding a spot to boondock gets tougher with all the videos about it over the years, not to mention how many people that don’t like the idea of seeing people sleeping in their vehicles are becoming more aware of it, that’s a huge bummer! As far as everything else it’s definitely some getting used to, lots of practice for sure but definitely doable! In my opinion if you’re driving a clunker, stay close to a town for repairs until you know for sure it’s not clunking anymore 👍😂

geez! i'm glad to know this stuff. it will really help me to decide which route to take. have many more safe travels!

i like your realistic evaluation.

I’ve thought of that whole dating thing and how it can be awkward. Dude: So, where do you live? Me: In the parking lot...? Lol

People like you become so strong minded and can conquer anything life throws at them god bless.

Just found your channel. Great vid. Very good pints. I followed all your IG accounts.amazing photography!!!! I can't wait to watch more of your vids. I also loved reading the comments!! You have some great followers lol. Stay safe, enjoy the journey!! XO, Serin

Years later, I post this... A Refreshingly Honest Vlog about van living... re Security. The line between 'Paranoia' and 'Heightened Awareness' is a very fine one...

Dogs are great travel companions;)

I live in a 31ft RV and the minimal storage capacity is even a challenge for me. I've always considered downsizing even further and being even more mobile in a van. Thanks for the videos man and keep rockin' out the minimalist lifestyle! FYI: I pull my 31ft travel trailer with a 2002 Ford Excursion that has a V10 gas and I get 11.5mpg when I'm NOT pulling the trailer and about 8 when I'm pulling it, so you're doing pretty good!

For the mail just have them allow you to pick it up there at the postal office; and the laundry, just do it in a small tub full of water and soap scrubbing on an old fashioned scrubbing board. And if you want set up a home base where you have some land and a shed trailer or cabin that is your settling down property for a while. You can use this to keep other necessities that can’t fit in the van.

Sorry, but I'm getting tired of hearing fulltime RVer's complain about things that are so easy to avoid or alleviate : /

I know you are lazy like me...READ along 😎 1. less space 2. vehicle mechanical problems 3. hi-fuel consumption 4. lonliness 5. finding parking spot 6. hard to sleep (summer/winter) 7. surroundings keep changing 8. lack of variety 9. kitchen and shower limits 10. laundry and mail issues honest guy . . . video well done

It is true that some of these things are a problem, but here are some solutions that may help at least a little: 1) It is true that most recreational vehicles are small and limited in space. This is where organization is VERY important. Take only what you MUST have to live. And if your claustrophobic, you have no business living in a van to begin with. 2) Once you've found the van or camper that suits you to live in, have it checked out by an independent mechanic that you trust BEFORE you buy it! Also, check its history and take it for a test drive and make sure that EVERYTHING works. Now I know this does not guarantee that nothing will happen, but it can definitely give you a heads up! This may take some money and time, but it will save you BIG in the long run. 3) Uh, here's a solution to this: STAY PUT!!! Find a city that you like and stay for a while!!! Don't go on these long road trips right away. The more miles you drive, the more money you spend on gas! And when you do decide to go on these road trips, make sure you have about $3,000 for incidentals first. 4) As far as I'm concerned, I've been alone for so long that I've almost gotten used to it. ALMOST. One good way to help ease the strain of loneliness is to keep in touch with family and friends while you're living in your van, either by cellphone or web cam. 5) The best places to park are rest areas, Walmart lots, 24 hr. service stations and BIG public parking lots. Just remember to park in a well lit area and try to avoid areas with high crime rates. 6) For this, try using foam or wax ear plugs. It may not eliminate all the noise, but they definitely help. And the foam ones are very comfortable while sleeping. 7) I don't really understand exactly what he's getting at here or what he means by this. "?" 8) Totally irrelevant to me. "?" 9) This greatly depends on what kind of vehicle you're driving and how it's laid out. I custom built the interior of my van and I have a mini kitchen with counter and cabinet space. It's not very big, but it suits my needs. Here's an idea though. Don't stock up on a lot of things all at once. Just buy enough for 2 or 3 days at a time. You'll have to make more shopping trips, but you'll save on a lot of space. As for showering, I have a special set up in my van for showering that would take too long to explain here. One day I'll post a video of my van so you'll know what I'm talking about. 10) Now mail can be a problem. The best thing to do is get a post office box in your name within the general region of where you'll be and check it at least once a month. I personally don't get a lot of mail, so this isn't a problem for me. As far as laundry is concerned, there are laundromats in just about every town you go to. And if you can't find one, go to a hotel. Almost every hotel has a coin op laundry room. I hope this information helps at least somewhat. Peace all!

insightful comments....am thinking about van life just for financial purposes and tired of paying rent to someone else and being under their control. Videos like this one are important for me to watch, not just the ones where everything is all fun and frolicking....so thank you. I have subscribed and i will check out your instagrams as I love photography...happy trails to you!

You know, that part when you tell people you live in your motor home, it's so true, we had a guy come work with us, x fire fighter really nice guy parked his home in a pub car park, the deal was if you hear anything at night he phones the land lord and he gets to park for free, but I couldn't help noticing the strange comments from people, and remarks as they drove past his home, really don't understand,some people are so shallow it's sad.

Number one what you MUST have is a fat savings. My van broke down in the desert mid August and I couldn't afford the one mechanic in town (Needles, CA) when I was sitting there crying not knowing what to do, two guys approached me and said they could do it for half. I had NO other options. My parents were overseas and couldn't be reached (this was 1992) So here I was being pulled by a rope off into the high grass to a junk yard basically. These guys could have done whatever they wanted with me. I got lucky and they fixed my van after having to sleep in a 20 year old trailer for 5 hideously hot days. I feel so sorry for people out on the road with no money. Don't do it if at all possible, and especially if you don't have st least 10 grand to get from point A to point B.

I've lived in my van and it's not bad at all, once you figure out where to find essential services (showers, laundry, safe overnight parking, etc...) and develop a regular routine. Don't get me wrong. It's not a romantic or glamorous lifestyle and a real home is always preferable, but if you're down on your luck or doing a road trip on the cheap, it's fine. Beats sleeping on the dirt...

You need to suck it up. Anything is better than paying rent. As far as noise run the fan on your ac and close the windows.

Man, the only complaint I had was not really with living in one but just some lady. I was sleeping in a hotel parking lot and in the morning I woke up and was using my phone for a little bit. An employee from the hotel came out with another girl and she was just in an angry mood saying that I can't sleep there and when I replied with sorry she just got angrier. I guess it's a mindset. We all just have to stay positive and see the brighter side of things!

I love these types of vlogs because it is a totally different type of lifestyle than mine.

I appreciate this video. A lot of people upload videos about how fun and exciting it is livin' out of a vehicle and honestly, it's not. I lived out of my car for three months in the late summer to early fall of 2016 and every day of it SUCKED. It was uncomfortable, cramp, annoying, and embarrassing. Yet all over RU-vid there are cutsie videos of how to live out of a car. I'm not saying it can't be fun and exciting, especially if you're traveling, but for the rest of us it's just a pain.

I lived in a 27 ft motorhome in college in a trailer park. It was crowded enough but tolerable. When my parents came to visit...too often, they said ''Don't mind us, just do your thing''. My dad would crap in the bathroom and all of the flies would commit suicide. I had to ride my bike for 2 hours to let the radiation disperse. I looked forward to the day they would leave. 40 years later I sometimes take my old Chevy van conversion down to the waterfront 8 miles away and hang out, nap, have lunch just to get away for the day. Its stocked with canned food and drinks, clothes, and makes for a great bug out vehicle if necessary. Earthquake, wildfire, this is California and it might come in handy sooner than later.

AAA membership, the towing alone is worth it.

Maybe people are afraid you won't reciprocate. You know, they invited you to dinner at their house and you invite them to the Walmart. I'm just kidding. Noise would suck. Earplugs? Though you might be creeped out by not being able to hear. I would be on HIGH ALERT at all times. I'm sure your friends don't mind getting packages from you. Laundry: if you chip in for water or buy them a pizza now and then it would benefit everybody.

"Van life is also bad for relationships too, sigh...whatever". Lmao. That was awesome. It was very honest and it takes balls to do what you're doing. Keep up the good work and stay real.

you're so right about everything and nothing beats a permanent home in a real building on firm ground really! but even that does have its own problems anyway ... now, most of the problems you mentioned regarding living in a van or RV do have their own solutions too ... for example, if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere because your vehicle's engine is down due to technical problems, well, that surely sucks but having a bike or ATV in the back of the car may be a good idea to help you out of the spot and bring back help ... yes, it's costly and even the bike or ATV may break down just as well, but if you can afford to pay for the costs of living in a van or RV, then you'd surely be able to tackle that problem too ... worst case scenario is you'd get to use your foot and hitch hike for example to get to the nearest place in civilization ... buying food and grocery multiple times a week is certainly a no-no if you live in a regular house, but now that you have to do it because you live in an RV, then look at the bright side: you're having more 'fresh' food than the average guy! ;-) noise? then come live in my small apartment that is situated right in the middle of a suburban area that is actually turned into urban for a long time now and a super busy highway with so many cars starting at 5am is only ten minutes walk to my East side plus a busy railway station even closer at five minutes walk to my West, with trains honking that super loud nasty "child-maker" horn of theirs at least several times a day starting at 2am! did i mention the airplanes passing by overhead at very close distance every ten minutes or so, especially in daytime? wooh! all i need now would be a busy harbor with large ships passing by every few minutes, adding their own 'horny' tunes to the mix! :D what i am getting at is, again, yes, you're right about all the negative sides of living under your present circumstances, but most people living in apartments or single houses do also suffer from similar or worse cases ... good luck anyway and hope you'll be able to make it the way your find best ASAP!

PO box and laundromat. Clean off 2 from the list

I've always wondered where do the funds come from to live a nomadic lifestyle ? What income do you have going from place to place ?

Thank You for Your Insight. You have brought up some very important points. The best thing is to Be Happy.

Absolutely great video. I'm going to be living in a van soon and I can already relate to these issues. Thank you for the upload

very useful and realistic comments... thanks for sharing...!

700, not that huge? I guess it could be worse but that's a lot of money to me!

agreed i think finding a place to park at night is the biggest issue especially if you dont like campgrounds which i dont i prefer bush camping! if you are in the wilderness its not a problem but when u are where people are its not easy to find the right place but u learn as you drive!

I've been living in a standard sized van for nine years. If you (the general, universal "you") have to keep moving stuff around in order to access your other stuff, you're badly organized or you have too much stuff-or both.

Thanks for the info. I thought you did a good job of explaining.

These are very reasons I've decided to go Tiny House instead of van living. I don't imagine I can be as mobile as you are however. ~Smile!

You speak well and have great points. Best of luck to you!

My grandparents decided to live in a motor home. 14 months later grandpa passed away and grandma never drove the RV and she doesn't want to. After investing a good chunk of their retirement on a RV grandma lives in an RV park with a very expensive mobile home. Luckily Florida is RV friendly.

I originally wanted to build a van like this but once it clicked that "Oh wait, if it breaks down... I'm homeless." I decided that I would rather build something that I can disconnect from the main vehicle -- and potentially hitch up to a rental truck if need be. Not sure how great that idea is but if anyone is reading and has done that, I'd love it if you let me know if that worked out better -- or do you regret it?

You’ll know you have it made when you are LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER !

At home I have a woodshop, cnc, welder, 3d printer, laser cutter, art studio, airbrushing studio, electronics lab, stereo cabinet, arcade cabinet, cd collection, movie collection, book collection, computer station with multiple computers and three monitors, console gaming area, and a bunch of other hobby related storage (telescope, metal detector, remote controls, drones, etc).... Hobbies are not particularly conducive to van life. I love the idea, and have some wanderlust, but there's no way I could pare down all of these to fit in a van comfortably...

New subscriber. I think the points that you raised are really valid. I lived in a caravan for a year and the biggest headache was not having access to my own washing machine and with 2 children under 3, it was quite impractical. Keep going, your videos are inspiring 🖒👏

You'll have a lot of time for rolling Doobies.... while...... LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!! Matt foley RIP.

Let me add one to the list of (big) cons: It's hard to get laid when you live in your van "Hey baby, wanna come back to my '95 Dodge minivan for a hot dog?" Lol, nah I'm good.

There's ups and down with all we do. It's just life. We love your Roadtrek. Thanks 4 Sharing.

good info and in regards to being single(alone), you're not alone!...all of us commenting on your vids are jam packed in the van with you! :P

Hey just wanted to say thx for being so honest , Everyone else makes it sound so wonderful. Ur a great communicator keep the videos coming . Howie

What do you think to get a bus to be more conforble thank for the video to show the edge

Thank you for being clear, concise and informative without the ahs and ums and y'nos... truthful and useful, good information unlike many other postings about this whole other world of life on the road

Real Chill man I used to buy way too much food. Been out here for yrs. gotta say most thing along the way usually irons themselves out. Actually you've got it faded... Take it easy!

The sad part about all these videos is the fact that the baby boomers (our parents) had such an easier time just getting a real job fresh out of college (or really, just high school) with financial security that living like this wasn't even remotely necessary. Cool video though.

I think it would be a good I dear you can save a lot of money about 6 years then you can Buy a little house Thank you for sharing ✌🏻️

I wanna comment about no.8 (Lack of Variety). Once I worked in an office that was just a couple of steps away from my apartment. I know how it felt; it sucked but you can always walk around your neighbourhood, before and after working hours. This sounds simple but effective to boost good mood.

Living inside an apt's way better unless you live at a pretty cool RV/Camp spot with shower, bathrooms, and laundry, its cool. But living in a small studio apt is way better and being apart of a tight knit community, your favorite bars, and getting close to your neighborhood is by far the best thing over Van life.

For me the hardest part was the hit to my self esteem and self worth. I felt unwelcome and like a lesser human being when I lived out of my car. It definitely changed me.

Dude you should write a book and pic. of your travel. !!

Can you pick up your mail directly at post office? Here in Europe you can even have personal mailbox at the post office. Laundry is easiest part, do your laundry manualy, with your hands ;) Done it 100s of times. One more thing, get rid of shower and put bigger fridge/freezer there, get rid of little one and voila now you got even more space. If you dont want a fridge in your WC put a wall in the midle of it and remove the wall next to your living space.

Great video! I have always been wondering about this lifestyle.