Before you wreck your life moving into an rv or van do this  

Brilliant. The best advice so far. I'm 73, I need my cataracts removed, all the roots of my teeth need to be surgically removed, and I have a prolapsed bladder that needs major attention. It's better for me to live vicariously through all you wonderful nomads and follow your adventures on line. My heart is with you. ❤

A test run isn't a wierd idea at all. It's completely reasonable and excellent advice.

I’m 78 and have been van living for about 8 years. The two week trial seems wise but really isn’t because the fun of van life is using your imagination and intelligence to find solutions to every problem. The van life and equipment and setup I have now is vastly different than what I started out with but is really functional and answers every problem this lady worries about.

I have friends who hardly ever camped and think they can be a nomad! Hahaha...I think they have been so romanticized by some of the videos and really need to look at the ones where people have gotten stuck a hundred miles out in sand, snow, flat tires, break downs and they have to spend days in a hotel or renting another vehicle while theirs is being fixed, towing costs can break the bank. It's a harsh reality when you are out by yourself and no one is around to help you. I'm glad that woman realized it wasn't for her before she got rid of everything.

Van life is miserable, consider all what this lovely lady has said. If you are on social security I think a good option is to move to a cheaper country. I live in Thailand for under 500 dollars a month, I have a wonderful toilet and nice air-conditioning.

I’ve been trucking for almost 20 years and 1 thing I’ve learned is the more prepared you are are the easier the hard things are to handle.

I almost did it, iwas seriously looking for a van. I didnt only watched zBob welsh but everyone living on wheels, i saw many (healthy) people whom where very tired and because i am not healty that would mean that i would be constantly exhausted and in pain so i changed my plans, i emigrated from Holland to Hungary. I have lityle house in a small village and i love it. I have a nice plot of land with fruittrees and some chicken and goats. I am home.

Started camping 20 years ago starting with a 24 foot trailer and sized down to a 20 footer. My husband was not into camping so there is that. I got most of the tips and tricks down myself. So, my husband passed, the property was too much for just me to take care of. At the age of 76 I sold it all and bought a Mercedes Revel and hit the road in January with my little dog. Been doing my bucket list since. Yes, one runs into problems but one keeps on having a good time on the road. In the meantime, I'm looking for a final (destination) home......small please. Enjoying the nomad life. Girls just wanna have fun!😁

Oh! I’m really appreciating my comfortable bed, my spacious bathroom, my beautiful kitchen, looking out the window, hearing the birds, opening my big refrigerator and cooking myself a delicious breakfast. Going for a walk around the block. Coming back and putting my feet up to watch a show on my large screen tv while I wait for load of laundry to be done. I’ll do some van life but will definitely keep my apartment. We can do both. Thank you Gloria 😘

I’ve been watching nomad videos for the past 10 years and this is the BEST video explaining what it takes to live in a van. Applaud 👏

Great advice! I tried “Kia soul life” in 2019; drove from Minnesota to Georgia, then to Michigan, did quite a bit of sight seeing over about a week. But didn’t do everything you suggested on this video. I found it exciting and for the most part I enjoyed it. Nothing’s ever all roses. One night I stopped to sleep, but immediately left a not safe part of town in Indiana. A little over a year later I moved out of my condo, traded in my Kia for a new 2020 Sprinter hightop got a diesel heater installed, a friend helped me build a bed. I lived in it for the most part in Minnesota with only a 5 gallon bucket, 3M Thinsulate insulation on the walls, two Luci lights, and Walmart plastic drawers, for 9 months, while eating lots of packaged salads, and food that didn’t have to be cooked. I saved a lot of money, even with a vehicle payment. I gave up the life because I was uncomfortable about people’s attitudes and behaviors around politics and race. What spooked me was one morning I woke up in Utah to see a car with four flags that made me feel extremely vulnerable, but nothing ever happened. I had such a persistent uneasy feeling and concern for my safety as a 76 year old woman of color that I sold the van and moved into a different condo. I wanted to live the life and travel but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I worried about traveling and unknowingly parking in a small town where people like me wouldn’t be welcomed. My mind just got the best of me.

Love your honesty Carol. Thank you for caring about so many!

It totally sucks. Full van lifer here. Really got sick and tired of trying to find a place to be. Just when I thought I had a good spot, rap, rap, rap on my door at 2 in the morning: "police". Can't count all the times I "supposedly" had the cops called on me. Suspicious van. Neighborhood watch. Van driving around the city... what a crock, the whole works, when I'd be minding my own business, not bothering anyone. Then the heat... I have 2 dogs and just can't walz in anywhere for air conditioning. I have ventilation and a maxxair fan. Still way too hot for all of us. Always had to be looking for water. Carried 30-42 gallons with me but always hunting for water. Who thinks running to the store every day is great for food? No way. Ate so much canned food, I began to feel it in my body. Sooooo unhealthy. I have a small fridge but then my batteries would become depleted. Always had to have my solar out. Always trying to resolve the battery issues. And then there's the bathing/showering issue. What a complete hassle to try to wash up in your van. When you figure out how to make it easier, you're dumping more money into other things. It never ends. I was an over the road semi driver for 9 years. I was used to being in a small area, being without things. I definitely have more room in my van, but not being able to shower or have a.c. or heat the way I could in a semi is beyond being miserable. Add in being bothered by the police when you're sleeping and even when you're not, just makes things worse and worse. I can say people knocked on my door 3 times in 9 years while I was driving semi. Compare that to 3-4 times a month in my van. Ridiculous and annoying. Spent nights and days in the national forests to be left alone. Yep, I was away from people. But then guess what? Ohhhhh... nobody told me about the ticks. Ticks, ticks, and more ticks. I'd get all comfortable to go to sleep for the night and those blasted bast#%ds would begin to crawl on me. And count my lucky stars they weren't all at the same time. Oh no. I'd get one and 10-15 minutes later another would be crawling around on me. 8, yes 8 one night! Drove me mad. Drove me right out of the national forest and I can't go back into any forest/woodsy area to this day. That's how bad it was. I have many true stories I could spend all day telling you about. I thank God, tremendously, for helping me out of the van life. I sincerely do. I take care of an elderly woman in exchange for a place with electricity, a shower whenever I want (no more body lesions from not cleaning enough with running water, painful), air conditioning, heat, refrigeration for healthy food (I'm so Blessed I can drink milk now) I can have fresh food that I don't have to eat all in one sitting so that it doesn't spoil or I don't have the room to keep it cold or the ice is no longer ice or the batteries aren't drained. And to top it all off, I thank God all the time I don't have to hope I find a good place for the night to be left alone... the cops haven't come since I've been back in a real home. True, true, Blessings from God. To Him I am forever grateful. To think it's a grand solution to high rent prices or the answer for solitude, van life is a whole nuther slew of problems you haven't even thought of until you're in the midst of the things you are without and how much trouble they cause to you.

Thank you for this checklist. I was going to purchase an RV until I followed a family on RU-vid and the father showed his daily checklist of duties. I realized that was not for me! Reality checks like this are needed.

I lived in a minivan for two years. It isn't cheaper to live in a van than an apartment. Vehicles age and will need to be repaired and eventually replaced. If you didn't need to replace the vehicle you would save a ton of money. If you don't mind gambling and buying old vehicles, you could have a good run of vehicles and save money. Drive them until they're near death and get another one. The one great thing about living in a vehicle is that YOU own it. The second great thing is that you can move to someplace else really cheaply. After a lease ended and before I moved to a different state, I lived in a compact car for a couple of months. With the knowledge learned from living in the minivan it was very easy. I put everything owned into storage. I got a cheap gym membership for exercising and showering. A heavy duty sleeping bag got me through some below freezing nights. When it was time to move a trailer was rented and loaded with my things and I drove 1600 miles to the new place. No hotels were used because I knew how to live in the car. Anybody could live in a car with ease if they just kept their stuff in storage. If the windows are blocked so no light can get out, nobody will know you're there.

In most cases, I believe people don't have a choice. My husband and I often stop at a rest area in south Seattle off the I-5. This time, there were hundreds of cars parked everywhere! From the looks of the vehicles, new cars to old, people were definitely living in them. It was scary! Before covid it was a regular rest stop, not a community of car dwellers! Wake up America! This is appalling! We need to change this before we're ALL living on the streets!

Test run is exact what I did! And everything that could have went wrong practically did! And I still wanted to do it! Sold the tiny camper I tried it in and got a new to me motorhome! Selling everything that’s left at my place this week 😁

I am 77 and so appreciate your well rounded advise for senior women. I look forward to watching each and every video. Thank you for your thought-provoking content. I am on the verge of leaving my sticks & bricks. You are helping me make one of the biggest decisions of my life. Stay safe and well! Judy

Sage advice! I took a couple of trips in my van before I set out full time, and that helped me realize that the setup I had was not practical. I did these trips months in advance of my “launch date,” so I had time to reconfigure things. I also learned a lot in those trips…don’t always count on GPS to work (buy an atlas), have a backup location in case the one you originally decided on doesn’t work out, etc. The one thing I didn’t have the opportunity to do was to stay somewhere hot. It wasn’t long into my full time journey that I experienced sweltering heat well before I thought I would have to & wound up having to escape to higher elevations! Great stuff, Carol!☮️

I've tried both and I found living in the city and its outskirts is way easier, especially if it's a place you are already familar with. In the city, you dont have to have a cooler, you can grocery shop every day or get ice from convenience stores. In the summer, you can hang out at the library all day if the heat is bad. A couple times in the summer I couldnt sleep it was so hot, so I got up early in the morning and went to my storage unit and slept on the cement floor. Unless the weather is extreme, half the time I forget I'm without a place, cuz I'm so busy with life. My past housing situations have been horrible, so this has seemed luxury to me in comparison. You'd be surprised how many boat launches or road side parks there are with porta potties that you can sleep at night. Once you start looking, you'll see them. As long as you dont draw attention to yourself, and go places during the day, people will just think your passing through. I stayed in one parking lot, with a porta potty, for a whole year and only the regulars probably knew I slept there at night. I kept the toilet clean and bought it toilet paper when it ran out, so if anyone ever said anything to me, I'd mention how I contributed to making it a better place.

I can say right now the Nomad life is not exactly what I want. Unfortunately, I won't have a choice in the matter when the time comes. I will Retire in just a few yrs. and will have nothing but my SSI. Therefore knowing what I'm looking at I have prepared for it. I have everything that's needed to live out of my vehicle. Will I be happy? Yes! I refuse not to be! Sure, I'll have bad days and days that seem to never end, but that's life. A Big Shout-Out to all the Nomads who want the real Nomad life known. It's not all Fairy Dust and Rainbows, but what is? Thank you to All of You!

I have always known I was not Nomad material. I do love to camp in my Van, but even just taking trips, the hassles are real. Stopping and sleeping for a night anywhere is a hassle. I mostly do State Parks, but they book out so much in advance. I can’t even imagine daily life of this. I have done the math. Living this way would save me about $500 a month. I truly feel for those who are forced into the Nomad life due to finances. These Click Bate You Tubers ( which is not you) are making tons of money selling lies to people. Thanks for the honesty and genuine care of others. Some of us have a true Nomadic soul, I would consider myself as one. For me, that means keeping only what fits in a small U-Haul and then moving to new areas every few years. A far easier way to explore new places while having a home base.

This is fabulous advice. I am a weekend carlife warrior. I have done this for years. That is basically my setup, a cooler, a warmer plate for food, toilet of my design, water, and my power station. I have 2 huge comforters I setup in my backseat to sleep with a mountain of pillows and I sleep like a dream. Windowcovers are a must. Your list was excellent to jump in the car and go.OH and the USB fans are a MUST for hot nights

I plan to rent a uhaul van for a week and camp at Quartzite with my emergency earthquake supplies before trading in my Kia Soul on a Dodge Ram. While I have camped many times over the years and was a Marine, I also wasn't in my 60's, lol. Great advice!

❤Thank goodness your the mom I never had ! Learned so much from you ! I was thrown into car life not by my choice ! I failed miserably to say the least the 1 st few weeks ! You name it , it happened! It’s been a long 8 months of me being in my car ! A lot of crying 😢 ! I’m saving up now on a new vehicle and along the way I have been buying the basic things to keep me going ! Giving up wasn’t an option for me so listening to your videos some times more than once has given me the confidence to be able to make the BEST of a crapy situation ! Life is NEVER EASY ! Forward movement is better than giving up ! You can do it if you try ! Take it from someone that has no one and started out with NOTHING ! ❤❤

I got into a discussion with a woman that had watched a handful of van life videos and was just like the first woman you shared with us, she’d not even slept in her van. So I challenged her to try that. Well, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not even in her driveway lol. We really have to push ourselves before making hasty decisions. Turns out she’d been watching a very popular RU-vid channel, and was shocked to learn that that creator has never hidden the fact she has a home base. She loves her camper van, and has wonderful videos, but some how she’d missed out on the fact that the creation question goes home after her get togethers, lots of RU-vidrs do, most don’t hide it, and I myself have come across a RU-vid channel, the way the algorithm recommends the videos is so nonsensical to me anyway, so she didn’t start at the beginning. Our precious LOLA, (RIP) hosted great get togethers, she was a real MVP, to the nomad community, but she had a home base and enjoyed getting out and about in her van. Your channel is such an important resource!

Van life was our plan B if everything went to hell, but after listening to this video I believe we will just make plan A still work for now. Have A Bless Day Everyone ❤✌️

Bathroom: It helps to be fit. Especially using the bathroom I. The middle of the night. I have a gallon Gatorade cooler for #1, a half gallon suction container for #2. If I weren’t fit or when I have some sort of back strain, it’s hard to get in the position. Cooler: Bought a yeti and it sits in the front seat. I made a cardboard jig to level the seat, cut a piece of wood to fit all the way beyond the seat exactly to the door topped with a fitted rubber mat…made room for cooler to be level. It holds ice for three days. Inside cooler I have a perforated container so when ice melts it freely flows out the spigot. Food: I have four jobs so don’t have to budget. But for food, carrots and blueberries hold well out of the cooler. Avocado and bananas relatively well for less time. Hummus cottage cheese in cooler…staples to satisfy hunger that are healthy. I could go on and on about food. Coffee: I have an MSR windburner. Sleep: I used to have to do the “dance” to park. But a friend has allowed me to park on the curb outside their house for a few years now. I get there after dark and leave at 5 am. Never get out while there. Minimize visibility. Bed: It is vital that when you sleep that you are comfortable. I went through about 5 iterations of bedding. Settled on 4 inch foam with three inch Thera foam topper. I hand sewed removable covers to keep the foam protected.Invest in not too bulky but effective blankets. Gym: LA fitness for working out and showering. Clean honey bucket every morning. Run to stay fit on treadmill. Work: I teach at four community colleges, three online, one in-person. House sit: I house sit about 3-5 months a year. My circumstances now are ideal to live like this, but for the first 3 years it was awful finding parking. I only had one job and so had no choice because I could not afford rent and a vehicle. I chose the vehicle (Hyundai Santa Fe sport). But it and I evolved to where I am now. House sitting gives me a breather (I get paid for that) and can relax spread out, spring clean my SUV. I don’t want to do this when I am older, so my goal is to save as much money as I can and when I retire then I will be able to afford rent. This is not for everyone. It is hard and if I didn’t have a curb safe place to sleep without feeling like I am doing something wrong, I don’t know that my psyche could handle it. Good luck to everyone out there!

Life is a hassle wherever you live but what I enjoy about vanlife is I’ve got all day with no deadlines or pressure. Keeping things simple is the secret. It continuously surprises me how little I need to be content.

I don't even want to live vanlife. I just want to start taking solo road trips and car camping and I've watched a lot of vanlife videos. I did a test run, and it went well, but I always had a option if I didn't like it. I've seen to many videos say how easy vanlife is and to just do it. But listening to various people who actually do it, you quickly find out more of the truth about it. My main thing is, what do I do once I get to a new town, and where do I sleep at night. For me, it's not too bad. Or, my test run wasn't to bad. But every night as a lifestyle? I'm not sure I could do it.

We did the nomad thing for 2 years in our class C, boondocking, moving around to blm and state parks in AZ and NM. Then Covid hit, and it was hard to even find a place to park. Since 2021 we have been permanent at Rv park in Quartzsite. Same Rv, just stationary and it is a relief to do so. Not everyone is cut out for the constant travel and uncertainty of nomad life. We are stationary, but still able to move on if we don’t like a place. Rv parks in Quartzsite are very reasonably priced for long term set up. Many folks around us stay thru winter months and then leave for summer to visit family, but keep their spot here as they pay annually. That is an option, a seasonal pass or annual, with conveniences like showers, laundry right outside your door, and full hookups. Living in an RV at Rv park here is a lot cheaper than renting an apartment.

A long term RV park is my friend! ❤ I can travel when I want, have AC and heater, can “plug in,” have showers - I prefer paying for long term fees of a RV park. It still allows me to travel only when I want, save money, and enjoy van life. 😊❤ Vehicle - Ford Transit, high roof, extended cab, professionally converted to a mini home on wheels. It has bathroom and shower. I do realize many don’t have the same setup, though.

"The GLOW simulator" I love it, Carol you are such a wealth of knowledge, thank you for all the work you do to keep others safe.

The only bad thing about doing a test run with spartan outfitting is, it could discourage a person because it’s too miserable not being properly set up. Having a nice setup makes things easier. Great tip about the driving aspect. The way I see it, the biggest challenge is where to stop overnight, and it’s getting worse from what I’ve heard.

Such wise advise. Wanted to bail from Cali and move to fl. A good friend said “DONT sell in CA until you go to fl for a month and see if it’s for you. Everyone wants to jump in headfirst.

10/10 for a timely video & reality check for people who could be making a challenging mistake!

I'm conflicted. I understand your purpose but I learned things gradually by trial and error or looking it up on RU-vid...😂 I also had an emotional start so dealing with the reasons I needed to be in a vehicle was my first major challenge. It also kept me going because I had no other viable choice. To try to learn it all at once in a trial run may be overload. Everything you mention is valuable but maybe smaller chunks would be better. I wonder if all of it on one trip will discourage almost everyone. Of course everything you mention is good to know. I dealt with cold first and with this heat dome I'm now dealing with hot weather and bugs. And finally to maybe counteract the negative have them practice the positives too. When I first started I never missed a sunrise or sunset and took joy and solace in that. Now I often sleep through the sunrise...lol. Also from the start I took joy in living outside. Hearing birdsong, hiking trails or just walking in a park. I've started using my America the Beautiful pass and going to National Parks. I look for the brown signs designating wildlife refuges or historical sites. And I take the slow roads to my destination rather than highways. I stop at beaches and waterfalls and forests even if it's only for an hour. As any lifestyle there are positives and negatives. Conquering the obstacles develops pride in being competent. My daughter recently was very upset with me for nomading. In short she doesn't think I have the resources and skills. Her critique made me start to learn the mechanics of my vehicle. It was a valid point. Yesterday I was able to check my fluids and refill those that were low. Next oil change I will try to do myself. I am rebuilding my decimated repair cushion and am proud that I had it to begin with. In short I feel I'm getting more competent and feel how important that is. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope those who really want to or need to can find nomadic life joyful along with its' downsides. And thank you for trying to educate new comers. Its very important we support and help each other. Bless you for seeing the need.

Your Sage advice is getting better and better

Bravo Carol! This video adds balance to all the vanlife videos that hype up this lifestyle without showing how hard it really can be. Having said that my wife and I love our 2017 Roadtrek campervan, just got back from a trip on the north shore. Even though our Roadtrek has everything we need to be comfortable, its greatly limited in space compared to our house. Sometimes I sleep in our driveway just to make sure everything is good and well be comfortable when traveling. Good luck and take care!

Great budgeting advice, Carol! I do agree that you need to 'try it out before you take it out'. Also, try mobile living and driving in all seasons in the areas you plan to go. Your rig might be fine in the winter but unbearable in the summer, you don't know. You also need to be aware that condensation builds when you live inside your vehicle and prepare a mitigation strategy. Lastly I would suggest trying this out with the pet you may be intending to bring along on this adventure. (Remember that leaving a pet or a child in a closed vehicle in the sun can be deadly.)

I guess before you leave see how much gasoline you will need to and from your destination. Multiply the number of miles five hours of driving will take you by at least five dollars. I put my destination on my GPS to get the miles then multiply by five or six. This is because I was shocked by gas prices as I traveled west. Here in Louisiana our gas prices are way lower than Arizona and California. My traveling is definitely restricted to gasoline prices. Great advice. I’m so glad you helped that lady before she gave up her apartment! 😆

People need to understand the difference between living in your vehicle by choice , camping around the U.S. or living in your vehicle as your survival. Most all you tubers make nomadic life everyone’s dreams. I think you doing these kind of videos will help newbie’s transition into nomadic life a lot safer and knowledgeable of things to expect . Thank you for bringing awareness to the newbie’s.

I'm so glad that the lady tried it out first. Ohh my. All great advice, you did a good thing. I would also suggest placing everything that one uses on a daily basis, in a space, to give them a visual. Adding extra necessities, such as a bucket, T.P., fans, blankets, etc. This is what I did. It helped me plan better. Don't forget the first aid kit. Right ? Thumbs up and love from S. California.

Very thoughtful video, thanks for posting. Certain neighborhoods are not good places to stay overnight.

applies to those who buy an RV. Can't tell you the women from FB groups who buy an RV, sell everything then find they hate pulling a trailer or the RV life.

finding a place to stay seems to be the hardest thing to figure out.

Excellent video! I learned a lot and I will for sure do these things before I go on a longer trip far away from home. Thank you so much for putting this online for everyone to see. People with pets have that additional responsibility and things to consider.

Great video. I would have never thought of doing a trial run.❤

This is great!I can’t wait to try it. Easy for van life and for when power goes out at home. Thanks for sharing. 😊

Wise advice. The traveling life has been so over hyped its nice to hear a realistic point of view.

😂 lol. Too funny.. bout the lady who changed her mind && went home, NO. 30 Day notice for her... Thank you Carol for sharing ur video of knowledge/thoughts.. makes sense.. to try 1st. God bless all nomads for the strength endure.. always running in.. much love ❤😊

Darling, I did the nomad life for over 20 years as an OTR Trucker. 500-700 miles a day. Good times, bad times. Folks, this nice lady is stating the obvious, but most folks probably don't ever consider these basic ideas. Listen and learn.

I never thought of all these situations from van life - yourubers make it look so carefree and nice. They don't show or tell of the REAL van life.

This is such good advice. Im 57. I thought I wanted to work on the road traveling, etc. So I took a 3 week trip from Cincinnati to Quartzsite this past RTR/WTR. I spent thousands getting ready to live in my suv, solar panels, battery bank, refrigerator, etc. I enjoyed it very much and I think that after my grandbabies get a little older I can be like a snowbird. But I said all of that to say that what I thought it would be like was different than what it was. I wasn’t ready to give up the luxuries just yet. So take her advice seriously.

You are a gem. I love how you care about people, and you are often using your experience to help them.

I bought a van but before I took off I read "10 Years A Nomad" and while he wasn't in a van everything else applied. That book let me know full time van life was not for me. Short trips and small adventures really add fun and wonder to my life, but it also feels good to return to my home base to sleep in my own bed.

I've traveled across the U.S. and Canada a couple of times, but only stayed at Walmarts, truck stops or places like a MacDonald's. Usually there were bathroom facilities, but I had my own little bucket system as well. And I had made several days worth of food to bring with me, so I didn't need to cook. I personally loved the whole experience although it wasn't always easy....I do plan on getting a vehicle soon to do a snowbird situation with my two pups and have gotten my little one burner stove. I will plan to stay in places for days at a time, so that it's not just constant gas usage. Am hoping to do winters as far south in the U.S. as possible and then make my way back up to Canada for the summers. (The exchange rate is going to take a bite out of my funds!) We shall see how it goes!! Even just having the 2 pups is going to be super challenging. (They bark...☹😄) Wish me luck!

I change my mind two years ago, because cant see to drive at night and what if i am asleep and i have to move what would i do? that is my biggest fear is finding some place to sleep every night. Thank you for your videos i will watch from the comfort of my living room,

Excellent advice! I've watched many videos of people who did leave everything behind for van life who are miserable now.

Parking a car is never easy when you do not have your own parking spot. Van life is definately not going to be any easier. Her advice is spot on.

Great ideas! Thank you! Happy Trails! 😎

I think spending several nights in your driveway is a good eye-opener for what it’s going to be like in the middle of the night different temperatures maybe not being able to stand up etc. so I think when first starting out is just been several nights in your driveway then maybe move to a close by state park then from there move on

excellent guidance and coaching. physically, i no longer have the bones for van life. bbbuuuttt - the sparse lifestyle inspires me to let go of things i no longer “need” or think i “want” in order to simplify my life. thank you!

brilliant advice! Carol, one thing you may add is if they are thinking of buying an RV RENT one first, see if it is somthing they can drive, park and live in. my 1st/2nd years on the road I met 2 diferent older women "doing van life." they literly brought everything they owned from their house, stuffed it into a van and had no way to move around, nevermind live in the van and hit the road. Both bought the low top white chevy van recomended by the nomad guru, where they could not even stand in it. WOW what an eye opener for them & me looking at this. Dont get me wrong Ive been a nomad for 10 years and i do have both ups & downs, but have evolved into a working system, compleate with, solar power, generator backup, AC, Heat, kitchen, full bed, toilet, and indoor shower, that sutes me, oh yea and plenty of room to move around. It can be done...IF YOU PREPARE.

Great video. I commuted 3 hours daily for 20 years from one side of the metroplex to the other. Driving is a big stressful and exhausting chunk of daily life, but at least I knew where I was going to, and where I would come back home to every night. Yes, after work I would stop at a couple of different gyms to work out depending on which route I took home allowing for traffic snarls. I'd swim laps at the gym, and also rode trails at several different parks with ride mountain bike trails. I always kept my bike on my SUV rack (during season). I'd shower/shampoo/dry hair at the gym, then go home and have a lite dinner before bed. But the commuting all the time was exhausting! And I knew where I was going every day! I can't imagine being a constant traveler having no place to call home, constant daily stress of driving without a certain destination, just trying to find a place to exist for every few hours. Maybe you catch a rhythm when you get the hang of it?

I personally always recommend if you want to do Van life or live. Fortunately, not to get rid of your house and everything. That's a lot of people do that nonsense but have a small local base. I do it part-time. I love you part-time. I have a base cause anything happens. I have my base to fall back on if anything happens to my base. I have my camp event. The fall on fall back on. Are you the way I have something to fall background? That's my recommendation but again, each to their own but don't be a fool to sell out. Everything just live in a Van. I'll let you do your research first or know what you want. Don't be a follower and a sheep and watch RU-vid thinking it's cool. Do your research know what you want first.

You seem like a very spiritual lady, Carol. Thank you so much for caring about people.

I have been on the road for 5 yrs. Great suggestions. Nomad life is not for the weak of heart or those that don’t know how to adapt.

Thank you so much! Your video should be a duet with Bob Wells' $365 No Build Van. You provide all the nuance and perspective that completes the 2 components of the "tryout;" the equipment + the practicum. I can only speak for myself when I say that I feel my expectations are more realistic for my first time trying to live in my vehicle. I'd like to get to Quartzsite for the women's meet up.

Lots of issues to think about. Sorry to say I think that their vehicle would require more maintenance of all kinds. Also what if your vehicle gets totaled by falling trees, heavy rain, hail, etc. Sickness on top of this would become a nightmare. Hopefully more affordable housing is created .🧡💚💙💜

Thank you so much for your honesty. I've been dreaming about this lifestyle for decades, but now that I'm turning the dream into a plan and watching 'real' videos instead of aspirational ones, it's clear that for me at this time, part time is best. I'll keep a cheap room in a sharehouse and between the two, I believe that's going to get me closest to the life I want within the limited budget I have. Thank you again for your realness!

I'm not in a van but is love to come to one of your meet ups. Been watching you for a while now and find you so inspiring. And yes you can be comfy in anything if you design it well!!!

I think this is such a valuable video for people considering this lifestyle. With the overwhelming amount of positive videos proclaiming the freedom of the road, I'm concerned that not enough people are really taking all these factors into account.

Great advise. It's always good to be aware of realities of the big choices we have to make. Some don't have a choice and so education is the best course before prceeding. Knowledge is the power needed to be as successful as you can be. Van nomad life is better than living on the street any day.

Great advice. I don’t have to try it to know it’s not for me. Am happy for those enjoying the nomad life.

Your absolutely right. It might sound like something you would like. But not necessarily. Thanks for doing this video

About having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I learned how much I could drink & when to stop drinking water in the evening so as not to have to go pee during the night. If you observe and test yourself, you'll end up finding the correct way for your personal situation.

I've watched your videos from time to time. This is a really good one, and very honest in what you say. Thanks, you're awesome!!

Thanks for being truthful and honest. Great advice. Wish there were more campgrounds with showers and bathrooms to stay overnight. All in all, I think that living nomad is almost just as expensive as living at a rental place, just a bit more nerve-wracking. True, campers and homeless people aren't welcome everywhere. Some people want you to get off the road, into a home, might get at your van and cause car repairs you haven't figured in. There can be meanness everywhere, it takes a sound mind to put up with that and not let it bother you. Keep up your good spirits, God bless you and keep you safe.

This is the best advice i've heard. Van life is fun. But it's not for everyone for a lot of reasons.

Really really really excellent advice!👍👍👍

And don’t forget a chair! I forgot that on my first test run, ha ha and felt so foolish.

This is a fantastic idea. After starting to live on our raw land, campstyle, I understand what you are saying. It definitely can be tough.

Great advice, thank you. I did one raod trip in my car 5 years ago and it was difficult. I hope to be able to avoid having to live in my car.

Do a part 2 of this same topic!

This is a wonderful idea!! Thank you so much!!

It’s definitely not for everyone nothing is and what maybe great for you may not be what your other half wants or can do. I don’t know if you have heard of the six Ps rule but nothing could be truer when it comes to being a nomad. Too me and my bride who have spent decades in the defence force and years travelling around on motorbikes with a three man dome tent two fold out stools and a couple of cans of baked beans,our life now in our 19ft van with shower,toilet,full sized fridge,cooker with oven and even its own washing machine is just next level opulence to us and even after a few years of doing it now the novelty hasn’t worn off,not even a little bit 😂😂. I also think that there’s a huge difference between wanting to be a nomad and having to be because of no other choice. I can only imagine how hard it would be to adapt and overcome, it’s comes down to being a mindset thing in the end. What’s going to be hard or impossible for one will be a revelation and complete release into freedom for another. 👁️👁️😎😇❤️🙏🦘🐨🇦🇺

Great information; been living out of vehicles for over 15 years and meet so many people that see the instagram life, commit to a $50-$120k van/RV and call it quits after a couple months. This life isn't for everyone.

It is surprising that so many try to do this so unprepared. I went out for several weeks including Quartzite and the RTR. I have friends who are full time (you did a video on one of them). I’m not sure if full time is for me, but I do enjoy getting out there for a time. Great insights. Hope to see you in Quatzite again this year. Safe travels.

Another great video. We need more of these cautionary videos. I wish Bob Wells would do more like yours. They could save a lot of heartache.

This is a great idea! I flew into LV and drove my rental car to Quartzsite for the RTR. It was a good trial run. Having only my personal item on the plane, a thrift store, big box store, Rei, and the Dollar General stores helped. The free pile at the RTR helped my last 3 days (thank you foam padding donator) and I blessed my van circle mates (#Calivangals)with my finds before I flew home. I wanted to attend the RTR and I wanted to prove to myself that I could “vacation” in a rental with just my personal item. It was challenging, joyful, a tad stressful, and I learned even more about myself. Keep up the great videos. We glowbies need down to earth non glamorous truth.

Best video ever, some of these people who live in vans and go on U tube only speak about their good days, which figuratively speaking is what we all like to hear. I am like that to; I don't like to hear "bad news" I am glad that you are also revealing the dark side of van living and creating awareness.

I've been trying to get my friend to test it out. He has this idea that it's easy. but I suspect that once he actually tries it, he won't be happy.Good video!

I've lived out of a minivan in the city for over three years, and have managed to learn what I like and don't like regarding van life without being nomadic. You can have the experience of cooking, sleeping, etc. even if you are not currently in a position to do a lot of traveling. Since the South, where I am now, is pretty hostile to vehicle dwelling, I plan to relocate, get a storeroom and have a sort of home base that way. Stay in an area that interests me, do some local travel, without driving constantly for long distances.

Thank You for some good insights on this important life style. I have wanted to be a Nomad for maybe 3 or 4 years. But some family responsibilities have kept me from being able to. And when my son gave me an older cargo trailer, i was overly excited to hurry and make an almost no build build. I got out my graft paper, sharp pencil and eraser and started drawing my plan. But because of my age and finding out that i couldnt get some, For Sure help, i stood back and had to agree that I had to step back and re- evaluate my decision. I believe now, that i only can take short trips to close places, maybe a few meet-ups. I could live with that. I think of Wendys channel from Canada. A senior with a happy, fulfilling life. Camping, fishing,and being in nature as she is pleased to be. Thank you for caring about people in general. Love to you.

Excellent advice. I would add one more thing, the first time out stay close to home, people tend to way over pack and this way you can cull out items that you didn’t use.

Best advice I have heard on how to become van life love this that what I been saying to other videos thank you for being honest with everyone

This is BEST ADVICE ,EVER,THNX

I believe this is one of your best teaching clips. Such good advice. I actually planned and went through with all of the plans including a no build out with everything needed to live as a Nomad. I very much love that way of travel, etc. BUT, I also love my very small modest home. I will continue Van life until I can no longer do it.? thank you so much Gloria for sharing your wise information as always KLS

Great video Carol. Hubby and I have talked about doing the nomad life while renting out our home but each time we are gone in our van for a long period much of which is boondocking Hubby always says he is so glad to have a home base. It is pretty crowded though in a 21 foot class B with the two of us and our German Shepherd mix.