As a full time rv'er, an overlander and an RV sales & Technician specialist I cannot express how dangerous it is with you not having the proper Torq lift tie down system! I can name numerous friends and customers of mine with stories of when their ratchets break! The problem is they tend to be on there so long you forget about them. Its always SAFETY FIRST! Please check around your local area for a set of them. Heck, even look for used ones! Just get away from those straps! You can even have a welder build you some for $200.00 Would hate to see your next video one of your rolling over because of being top heavy. Be safe bro.
As a content creator myself I can't help but think "this man doesn't get enough recognition for his work" .. HOW are you taking drone shots of driving your van, just filming by yourself?! .. for real, the cinematographic work is next level.
Most drones have a 'follow' or 'track' feature that uses GPS to follow the remote. One thing to note however is that if the signal gets loss the drone can have a bad time. Lose it's location and keep going (hit the vehicle) or get lost. So it's more ideal to have someone keep track of the remote while it's happening, but in good service areas you can usually get away with it.
@@c.s.5027 wow, that's crazy! I'd absolutely freak out if I'd lose an expensive tool of my filming equipment to a freeway lol Thank you for educating me! :)
@@antoniakenzie You're welcome! There are a lot that are fantastic and built for the solo - videographer so look around and I'm sure you can get something that works for you. Just be mindful of local laws and how high you go as some do go high enough to cause issues with law enforcement both federal and local.
@@c.s.5027 well I'm not a RU-vidr, so I won't need a drone for content but I still really appreciate you taking time out of your day to educate me, it's been really interesting ... tbh you made me think about getting a small, not so pricey drone for vacation videos!
I was skeptical about this fella, but he won me over with his self awareness on the "slapping things" peice. He's not falsely cheesy. He's just himself and exudes a likable genuine personality. Nice little review without the fluff.
Needing a toilet in an RV and not having one just seems so anti enjoyable. You can have a 3 gallon Home Depot orange bucket with a lid in your RV. Put a 4 gallon bag from Walmart in it and use cat litter in it, close up your bag and snap the lid on till you stop where you can throw any trash away. Research ‘ waterless RV toilets’. Your videos are so fun to watch. Thanks for taking us along. 👋👋😊
Good job! If you want a fan for your roof vent, no need to cut up your ceiling. Just remove the beauty ring, drill a hole in the wood frame closest to your light (you will tap in to the light for power) push a clothes hanger wire through the hole and under the insulation to the light, tape your new wires from the light to the clothes hanger wire and pull back to the roof vent. Hope that helps if you want a fan.
Love what you done with camper. You should put the CO Alarm further up, as carbon Monoxide is lighter than air and will float to the ceiling. With the current position you will suffocate before the alarm goes off. :)
jonathan please , safety first! as soon as you mentioned you were over the GVWR, that should really be a red flag. be safe, not just for you but for others in the road.
Just some advice, being that you are over your gvwr your insurance is null and void you won't be covered in the event of an accident. Maybe consider getting a half ton truck and keep the camper because that's a nice camper.
Great video, Jonathan! Happy for you! I believe Slumber Queen was made by an RV dealer here in BC and they got so big they split into two companies, Frasweway is the name of the RV dealer business and Adventurer is the RV manufacturing arm, they're made in Washington State now. So you've got a grandparent of a modern Adventurer camper
Never clicked on a video so fast. Love your stuff. My wife amd I went full time on May 1st of this year, almost a month in, amd couldn’t see myself ever going back.
You did a real nice job here, Jonathan. The only thing I might worry about is that curtain being so close to the stove. It just takes a quick second of being distracted by preparations for the curtain to catch and the flames to spread. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher within reach. I've been enjoying your travel videos and am looking forward to seeing many more.
Keep your tires checked bi-weekly for proper air pressure, that's really important, or your tires will wear badly and it's very costly to replace all 4, plus it makes the mpg much worse. Happy Trails🚚🌟
I said the same thing on one of his other videos when he was cooking, the curtain was way too close to stove. I think his last video he moved the curtain over after reading the comments.
More important than GVWR is how much weight you're putting on each axle. So long as you're loading properly and not putting too much at the rear(for both the tires and suspension) you'll usually be safe within reason. I knew you were over the GVWR when I saw it....
The first video of Jon's was his first experiment in winter camping in a pick up topper, uninsulated. He's come a ways! My observation is that he is learning as he goes all the ins and outs of equipment and travel camping. He learns from his mistakes, a valuable character trait. I suspect in a year his new camper will be grade "A" and he will be quite knowledgeable and skilled!
Would be cool if you had two of those fridge coolers and stacked them on top of each other with individual pull out drawers for easy storage and access. One could be fridge and other freezer.
I had a 1998 Slumber Queen on a Ford Ranger fx4. Even though I was close to the max payload of the truck, it handled quite nicely! One thing I would be careful about is the part of the camper that goes over the cab of the truck. I once hit a bump on the road a little too hard and it actually dented the top of the roof. So I would maybe set your camper a little higher with a couple blanks on the bed of the truck, or have some sort of foam under the front of the camper to prevent this from happening? I like the renovation and hope you have lots of good adventures with this rig!!
Man, that is so cool. I wouldn't mind having something that n be free n travel where ever n whenever I wanted to know. Have fun n be very safe !!! Don't pick up any strangers no matter how nice they seem. Please !!
Just a friendly reminder from someone living in BC. If you do drive-up through Canada, and you're puled-over and weighed, by CVSE, you will have to drop the camper. Adding a Leaf actually decreased your gross GGWR, by the weight of the spring. Canadian inspections are very firm on overloaded vehicles...great video!
Rig looks great! The algorithm from Bob Wells channel led me here.. You are doing what most people dream about while sitting in a 9 to 5 cube… Keep on keeping on….. Every day wasted is a day that is lost….
@@sharongypsydove6080 the sentence you just said has been said by many before as well. People are very rarely original knowledge is never original when you're learning it from someone, so what's your point ??
You had me laughing at several points in the video but I really cracked up when you got to the bedroom and said "This is where the magic happens..." You're a talented guy. As others have said, replace those ratchet straps with a proper hold down system. UV light from the sun will destroy those straps all too soon.
Yes tie downs are always important... I used to just drill and bolt them down with big washers.... Never had one come off that's for sure... Even on a flatbed..
Really wicked build! And yea, living full time in a vehicle, can't say the straight line from the sink out is super awesome. Especially with leave no trace, or heck, just being considerate, it's worth looking into creative ideas on how to have some sort of catch for your grey water and dispose of it properly
You’re so honest and sweet. Always be careful what you admit to on camera but I’m not saying lie. My only concern is how you have it secured in the back of that. A common thing during the 70s and 80s was for people to speed and these campers to slide out the back because they were not properly secured. Unless you have it secured in other ways when I’m seeing is that your tiedowns are loose. Your camper can slide back a bit and possibly cause your truck to sustain damage or maybe even flip over. At your age you need to be careful about the risks you take. If it’s only a couple hundred pounds over you’re probably good because the manufacturer should take into account that people will slightly overload. However, it has a high profile due to the four-wheel-drive and you need to always drive at or lower than the speed limit in the right lane to be safe with that big thing on it.
"Good try" Emma -- this kid's problem is that he's full of it, and that ain't sweet. It stinks. Do us all a favour and don't spread the manure. It leaves a bigger mess for all of us to contend with. And, while we're on the topic, you could use a refresher in basic physics yourself.
Keep a regular eye on the welds for your tie downs. The reason most frame modifications are bolted on instead of welded is because welding can alter the temper of the frame rail, significantly reducing it's rigidity.
That would be true if it was a hardened steel. Truck frames are usually made from a mild steel, 4120 or 4130. You can weld to them without too many issues, just don't drill holes in them.
Tacomas are notorious for way low payload. Weight it sometime with you, your girl friend, and anything else you commonly carry. I would guess you are probably about 500 pounds over. Now its not like you truck will suddenly ass=plode when you go over payload, but its something to watch for. Also Tacoma brakes are underwhelming, drum brakes front and rear. I put the same Amazon LED lights in my 1977 camper. They work great. Put shelves inside that closet. It helps organize it. Hook a short hose to a closed 5 gallon bucket for your gray water. No campground will allow you to run it out on the ground. A lot of old campers didn't have gray tanks, mine doesn't. For safety, get a simple 12V propane alarm.
I’d definitely change out the straps ASAP. Don’t wanna lose the truck and camper due to a rollover or something similar. Best 200 dollars you will spend
I know everyonev is harping on you about those straps, but I've got another thing, that carbon monoxide alarm being not on the ceiling might not make it super effective.
CO doesn't rise or fall. It actually mixes evenly with the available space. Having it in the open and not occluded is the best option. His placement should be just fine.
I had a camper something like that. For the gray water, I just had it drain into a collapsible gallon water bag. For one person, I didn't have to empty it too often. No porta-potty? That's something I couldn't live without.
Craig. He could just get a Lugable Loo at Wal Mart or sporting goods. It's a 5 gal painters bucket with potty seat. Or you can just buy the seat part at Wal Mart if you already have bucket. Plastic bag filled with kitty litter or wood shavings inside bag.
It's perfect! And draining your water outside is perfectly fine. I'm sure you use safe soaps and if someone has a problem with it, tell them to kick rocks.
I love the simplicity of your rig! I usually like newer looking stuff as far as rigs but there’s something about yours that got me. Love your humble personality too. Seems to keep it real :)
You might consider a sway bar, if you’re having the weight shift or a feeling of rolling. I added a foot step to my 2019 Tacoma, you might check with the dealership and see if they have a slide out one for your truck. I don’t have a bathroom either, but I use a 5 gallon bucket in certain bags used for collection and disposable. 🤪 I only use it for emergencies.
You probably have a camping toilet - get quality liners and kitty litter; helps with cleanup and disposal. Also, sponge baths are great and you can also do those right inside your camper.
You have everything pretty well in order. Can you have everything that you pretty much need? So you're pretty well-set-up case. You get in a snow storm or bad weather. You can stay right inside and enjoy your camping. The only thing that I would like is that. When you leave your camping spot, you take your camper with you. Where if you had a trailer, you could leave your trailer behind to mark your spot. But it's whatever you want. A great video
I am surprised I enjoyed that, but I did. One thing I would advise, is you get under that chassis, and give it some love. Rub it down and then give it Bilt Hambler Hydrate 80, then a couple of coats of paint. It’ll keep the truck going for many more years. Good luck 😀
Well done, and nice little rig. Next time someone makes bad comments about grey water outside, just think about what happens when it rains and all the roads oil/fuel residues goes into storm drains or on the ground where there are no man-made drains. Your gray water is going to appear rather clean then. Yeah, beat the rat race, and live life. There's more to life than a cubicle. Work to live, not live to work. Keep going.
One of my biggest regrets is not researching the dinette layout. A couch (or something like this) is one thing I REALLY want. I just wanna plop down sometimes and my only real option for stretching out is to get in bed and like you said, every speck of dirt or mud will at some point end up in the bed if you aren't constantly cleaning. Happy and safe travels!! 🙂✌️✌️
i speak from experience.... over loading GVWR will quickly destroy your front end. Bearings, spindles, steering linkage, ball joints, etc.. cost me $7000 on a HD Dodge 3500 dually. I too added extra rear leaf springs, Rancho XL shocks front & rear. I neglected the front end though. Expect serious steering looseness soon. Followed by excessive inner and outer wear on front tires. GOOD LUCK MAN
Wow that’s no good! How much were you over loaded? I’ve honestly worried a lot about wearing down the truck with all the extra weight.. may be switching to a bigger truck or just going back to a high top shell
@@JonathanYentch i went by payload vs GVWR- just so i wouldn't overload rear suspension. My payload rating was 4400lbs... camper was 4250- but that was empty. i had 60 gallons of fresh water (480lbs) plus another couple hundred lbs of gear. so, i was around 500lbs over limit but... that represents 11-12% over. if your Tacoma is 300lbs over limit... that might represent 20-25% overweight. OUCH! Because you have an extended cab, plus 4X4, you don't have much leftover weight to work with. Why not take a look at a pop up camper? it has some drawbacks, but, is a FRACTION of the weight. And they are cheap. FYI- i lost my camper in the Butte fire and i learned the hard way about insurance. If your camper is mounted to truck- then your trucks comprehensive insurance will cover it for theft, fire, etc. BUT when camper is detached- you need to have separate coverage. i took a $52k loss on a Chalet TS116 because i had it sitting on cinderblocks when the fire came through. You have a neat little camper! But with all those parking lot lights, why not make a 2nd set of BLACK curtains...hahahah :):):)
I have an old Okanagan camper and a Dodge truck. Our campers are really similar in layout! My sleeping area is a little bigger then yours and I have a dinette. Mostly it is the same. In the area between the camper wall and the truck wall I keep outdoor carpet, tarps and rope. I actually do not have anything keeping it in place, it fills the space enough and I have been driving that way for a few years. For my steps I use a step ladder that I bought at Peavy. I keep it just inside the door and just bring it down to use it. I also keep it open for quick use. I looked all over for steps and ladders and it was really my only option.
Great quality content! This might be the way to go for me to be able to road trip without having to spend a lot on a vehicle! Thank you so much for the great ideas and products you used for your build!
Back in 2005 I had a fight with my family about how things in my life were going. I had had two professional jobs since Jan of 2000 and on my third. No reason for termination. I stated to them and posted in my Facebook that the economy is going to the short term jobs and living out of vehicles. I had slept in my 2001 Ford focus for several years and today I bought a 2017 Ford Fusion Se and expect to go back to car living in a few months. The estimate amount of population in vehicle living....1/4 of the u.s population. 2/3 of Europe. 1/2 of African. Less than 1/10000000 in Asia.
I think I'm watching your whole channel memento-style, which offers an interesting perspective on your changing campers. Not much else to say except I'm enjoying going backwards in time and seeing all these setups.
Possibly looks like you could cut the end of the couch that’s next to the carbon monoxide detector to create a toilet bathroom. Keep the grey cushions for the lid to camouflage 🤗
I said same. Shorten couch since he's alone and also take space from the small closet. Viols. Space for a small but functional shower. Great minds think alike.🤣🙋
There's a adapter you can buy so you can have a seam the camper it's like a board or you can just cut one out but out to fit that window and then you can put a really small window AC in there
Re:your GVWR overload- buy steel wall tires and replace them every 5 yrs regardless of wear. Only fill fuel /water tanks full if you must. Get tire pressure monitors and youll see in real time, when dangerously high psi happens. Severe damage or lives may depend on following these precautions.
Instead of a bike rack on a tow hitch. Why not design and create a bike stand in the sofa area to hold your mountain bike sans wheels. Bike stays safe out of the elements when driving or when you are parked and away for an extended period of time.
The inside of the camper was okay, but your presentation and narration were very interesting, illustrative and draws the viewer in. The quirky things you do make it even better such as talking about opening your big window, what you do on the couch with added drama. I think you probably do pronounce curtain as 'Ker-TIN' vs. as 'curt-in'. But your presentation with Ker-TIN made it unique and endearing. I like your enthusiasm and look forward to watching more content.
Depends on what type of living he's doing. There are rec centres in many towns, coffee shops, libraries and other public buildings, hotel lobbies, free bathrooms were everywhere before covid. Where I live there is an excellent system of rec centres with pools, hot tubs, steam rooms. Starting your day with a soak and a shower is a great thing
@@biglifejake637 No, those are insecurities. I've been homeless for almost 5 years now with a abandoned RV that is gutted completely. It's 120 degrees in the summer here and no bathroom or electricity. It comes down to how much of a baby you want to be. Growth doesn't come from comfort. Go outside. Bury it. Done explaining life to children in adult bodies.
I love this! I could absolutely live here. I would have to add my lady decor but I'm not too frilly. More of a hippie chick. We are building out our van and are almost finished. Probably more like halfway through. We have a shit ton of solar, probably enough to run an RV. My husband is a carpenter, so he just ran with it. I'm gonna have to make a few changes but I didn't want to say anything negative because he worked so hard on this. Once we take a few short trips, he'll figure it out anyway. I hope! I'm super late by a year but I hope you see my message because I truly love it! We spent the money on a Natures Head and it's really worth the money. We use coconut husks and it literally just turns to dirt and if you have to smell it, it smells like nothing but dirt. Or a good ole home depot bucket with a seat riser fits right into the bucket and you can just put the lid back on. I've seen so many rude comments about people like us pooping in a bucket, but seriously, I'd rather poop in a bucket than go to a public restroom and get splashback! Ok, I'm finished. I hope this finds you well. I just sub'd You must be doing something right, because you are not lacking in that dept.!
