How my Minivan Camper has Changed in 4 years of Full-time Vanlife

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My vanlife story and how my minivan camper has evolved over the last four years. When I first moved in, I camped in the van like I was still on a bike tour. I used my camping air mattress and sleeping bag and loved the freedom of metal walls that didn't flap in the wind....
*Favorite Gear*
Bed: alnk.to/eDOsZGM
New Bed/Couch: amzn.to/3ZjxFHr
Big Stove: bit.ly/3IXx72Z
Battery Bank: amzn.to/41Pxzcd
Small Battery: bit.ly/3Zu0dxX
Solar Panel: amzn.to/3SWk8TF
Candle Lanterns!: amzn.to/41P8yhl
*Camera Gear*
Main Camera: amzn.to/3IUxknK
Small Camera: amzn.to/3SWV9j2
Wide Lens: amzn.to/3YubdtM
Normal Lens: amzn.to/3ZNBlBe
Favorite Lens: amzn.to/3SUD8lv
Microphone: amzn.to/3ZxHRfx
Lav Mic: amzn.to/3ZH9PoE
00:00 - My Home of Four Years
00:21 - Early 2019: When I first moved in
00:40 - The most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on
00:57 - Extra cash while traveling
01:31 - Spring 2020: Preparing for Quarantine
03:16 - Vanlife in Quarantine
04:29 - Upgrading my life
05:15 - Converting my minivan to a "real" camper
05:50 - Thruhiking break
06:16 - Thoughts on vanlife
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!

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Опубликовано:

25 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 36

@terryzanger7152 5 месяцев назад

Nice to see a modest, practical van life unit. How on earth 20 somethings sleep nights with an 80000 rig is beyond me. What kind of freedom is that. Thanks

@RyanKodakBrown 4 месяца назад

I know! In debt for many years or they just have a. lot of money to burn....

@je-fq7ve 8 дней назад

Dodge GC are great vehicles. I have had a few over the years.

@ModernDayPilgrim Год назад

Very cool! I’ve got the same van! Same color, I love it! 😃🙌🏼💯

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Right on!

@saylorgirl799 Месяц назад

I want to do van life! Been watching numerous van life channels for years now. I’m currently looking at minivans and trying to decide which make/model to go with. I know that Toyota and Honda are supposed to be the most reliable, but I LOVE that Stow-and-Go seat feature that I found on the Chrysler Pacifica. I didn’t know that the Dodge Caravan ALSO has it! COOL! My question is… how reliable has your Dodge Caravan been? Have you had any major problems/mechanical issues? Have you had any expensive major repairs? How many days out of the last 4 years has it been in the shop? Do you budget for a certain amount of repairs (including hotel stays) while a garage is working on your home? I’m just trying to figure out how to handle that AND to choose the most reliable van within my budget to hopefully MINIMIZE time spent in repair shops. THANKS! Great video, btw! 👍👍

@RyanKodakBrown Месяц назад

Hello! The van was incredibly reliable for four years and tens of thousands of miles. I must have put 50k or more on it. 60k? Not even sure anymore. Anyway, it only went into the shop for oil changes until 130k miles. Then, the transmission started to go bad. It's a known issue with certain model years. You could avoid those years or budget for it just in case. With any van, it's good to have some money set aside because break downs can happen with any vehicle at any time. Hopefully, it's as rare as my experience! My advice: Toyotas as super reliable and they hold resell really well. For me though, I didn't find it worth spending thousands more upfront. Best of luck to you! Happy trails!

@Hiker97 Год назад

Humble Minivan to Cabin-on-Wheels: How 4 Years of Full-Time Vanlife Transformed My Camper Van, Part II?

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Yeah, what would you like to see?

@serenityjewel 11 месяцев назад

This is one of the best videos I have seen by a vanlifer probably ever. I've been in the vehicle dwelling community for 16 years, back when we were called vandwellers, so it's been really interesting to see the van life trend start up and see RU-vidrs change from van dwellers to van lifers. Most of it is b******* but that's okay. It's entertainment. Your channel seems a lot more real and that's cool. Glad you found a life you love and then found love on the road. ❤

@RyanKodakBrown 11 месяцев назад

It is funny how its evolved and gone so mainstream! I mean, even my grandparents had a tiny RV that they traveled for months in! There’s a whole lot of BS out there. Thanks for the kind words! ✌️

@Glenn.Cooper Год назад

That was a really great video - thanks!!

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Glad you enjoyed it!

@Koolik-art Год назад

Wow, i absolutely loved this video!!!! Very inspiring. I found your channel via your OTC video, which was great. I am currently making plans to do a long thru-hike for 2024.

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Thank you! Glad you liked it! What trail(s) are you planning to hike?

@Koolik-art Год назад

@@RyanKodakBrown Still trying to decide and see what kind of time commitment Im able to do. Strongly considering the AT, but also the Oregon Coast, John Muir Im completely new to all this, so I will start with some small weekend and then week long trips this summer. I live in Mexico, but heading back to my home state of MI in May. There is so much nature there to practice :)

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

@@Koolik-art The AT is an incredible experience but the John Muir is crazy beautiful! The Oregon Coast is fun but not my favorite hike. It's not as much a "wilderness" experience like the others. Sounds like a solid plan though! And smart of you to get some "warm-up" hikes in though I've met quite a few people who were spending their first night EVER camping on day 1 of the AT.... Where do you live in Mexico? I bike toured a lot through the country and found it very beautiful.

@padude131 Год назад

Hey Kodak, how's it going? Great video! I spent last night at the Dravo campground where I first met you. It did go well. I had my tent setup in one of the shelters and I just can't get comfortable laying on an air mattress. I should have taken my hammock. I got up at 4am and biked back to Boston. Maybe I'm just getting too old ( turned 65 last month) for that crap! And a raccoon got to my food bag hung up PCT style. Oh well, take care and safe travels. Maybe I need a mattress like you showed here.

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Hi Buddy! It's going well! Today I booked a flight to hike across Norway and Sweden with the wife this summer so I'm pretty stoked. Oh no! Damn raccoons! I always find shelters to be more uncomfortable than grass or softer ground but maybe a thicker air mattress would help? Do you use a pillow? I really like mine and don't think I could go without anymore. Actually, the more I think about it, I never sleep well the first few nights. It takes a few days for me to adjust (and to be so exhausted I'd sleep anywhere anyway 😂). How long ago was that now that we met?! I think I might be getting old too!... Almost five years ago? Crazy.

@padude131 Год назад

@@RyanKodakBrown I do use a pillow but idk it just wasn't comfortable. You guys are going to have an awesome time Norway and Sweden! Can't wait to watch your videos. You have an amazing hiking partner! Does she have a twin my age?!! I guess that's not possible! Have fun tell your wife I said hi! Take care.

@richardmccombs617 Год назад

Nice video

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Thank you

@dolores2716 Год назад

Always enjoy your videos! I think I found your air mattress - is it the REI Exped MegaMat? I'm not camping yet and comfortable sleeping is one of the biggest puzzle pieces I am looking to solve.

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Hi Dolores! Thank you 😊. It is indeed the Exped MegaMat 10. They make it in two widths depending how much space you have. Here's a link to the one-person size: alnk.to/eDOsZGM

@dolores2716 Год назад

@@RyanKodakBrown Thanks so much!

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

@@dolores2716 No problem. Good luck solving the comfortable sleep puzzle! A random tip: an eye mask really helps me. I can hardly sleep without one these days.

@slimpickins2371 2 месяца назад

Watching this shows how people will do whatever they are told for "safety". Even starve to death. "Whoever gives up freedom for security, deserves neither...and will have neither." ---Thomas Jefferson

@RyanKodakBrown Месяц назад

I'm not sure if your insulting me / van lifers or what your getting at. I guess I traded security for freedom a very long time ago.....

@serenityjewel 29 дней назад

@@RyanKodakBrown He’s talking about the world shutting down because of Covid. He thinks people shouldn’t have chosen “security” even though hospitals didn’t have enough space for all the people who were sick so people were kept in hallways, and they didn’t have enough equipment to help people so they were picking who lived and who died, and funeral homes couldn’t process all the bodies of people who were dying so people were buried in mass graves. But yeah, the entire world was crazy to try and curb all the deaths. We should go to the graves and ask all the dead people who didn’t listen how much they’re appreciating their freedom now.

@thefpvlife7785 Год назад

Thank you for reminding me how boring my life is.

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

😅

@DanTheManIOM Год назад

wait, Pittsburgh, 2013 DGC, camping....hey stop spying on me. Just back from a 3K mile trip.

@RyanKodakBrown Год назад

Hahaha, that's awesome man! Hope you enjoyed it!

@veldalong2653 5 месяцев назад

Is this van front wheel drive? Mine is and I can’t keep it on the road in the rain.

@RyanKodakBrown 5 месяцев назад

Yes, it’s front wheel drive but I’ve never really had an issue with rain. Maybe new tires?

@orlandobabe 6 месяцев назад

Oh man that outbreak brings back so many memories. People behaving like it was the end of the world and they had to stock up on food water and toilet paper! And when they couldn’t use up all that toilet paper they tried selling it online. That was American citizens are the worst and they are an embarrassment to me as an American.