My husband and I have been married over 26 years... y'all are giving wise counsel and that's valuable! We are embarking on a van build this month! Thanks for being so transparent and encouraging... our future is bright if there are more young people like y'all!
Betsy, wow such kind words! Thanks for the love and for watching. We are Stoked to have motivated you two a bit on your vanbuild journey! We have lots of content on doing it yourself to help you two! Feel free to reach out if you have questions thevankookz@gmail.com good luck on the build...be sure to enjoy the problem solving together and to high five overcoming bumps in the road!
@Moneybee thanks for the love! We are stoked it was helpful. It’s not a path most travel, so the more we all share and help each other get out there, the more we can share the road with cool people🚐🚐🚐✨💕
Awesome! We have been avoiding any credit or debt at all costs, but its nice to hear people dealing with that responsibly. Hope to run into you guys someday in our big yellow sprintahhh!
Thank You guys so much for this information...I thought at the beginning of this process, that I would have to have a High Roof van just so that I could have the home of my dreams, but through the process of limiting my debt and saving for the purchase of my van, I have learned that I will not have the Promaster of my dreams but a most likely a Ford or Chevy cargo van. I would love to see a video about vans and different styles and sizes. Awesome video!!
It's so funny, because we also start our van journey in Australia and New Zealand about 4 years ago where we was travel with 4 children ;). Greetings from Poland!
Wow, crazy! Beautiful countries to Vanlife in... we want to do Europe at some point! But, we bought our van in New Zealand from a family of 4! Really inspiring doing it with kiddos! I’m sure the kids are living their best most curious lives! Thanks for watching ✨❤️
Haha, we are totally still credit kookz! Thanks for watching. we hope it inspires people that are running into roadblocks that where there is a will there is a way!
Wow, this is super helpful. And after hearing you discuss how you used credit cards, I think that would actually be really feasible for people who had the ability to get relatively good balances on their cards when they open them. Thank you for sharing!
Hahah “fired myself” I guess we are there to fire each other 😂 we are all fired! That’s awesome, it is an interesting experience. The daily problem solving goes well into your dreams, I am sure. It never stopped for us! Good luck and keep re-hiring yourself 😋
I'm selling mine stuff now, n as far as our build we will be dumpster diving/trash picking n using what we have. Prayers please, I'm so exciting but trying to stay patient🙏🙏
You guys are Pros and such a great team. I sold a lot of stuff but still have a lot more. It's so overwhelming. What do you mean the flat screen TV isn't coming in here? I'll take that as a challenge. I love how realistic you guys are and I know that comes from experience. The long exposure time lapses are so sick. What was the documentary you were working on?
Thanks Dave! Yeah it is overwhelming, which made us never want to collect that much stuff again! Most of that stuff lived in our apartment more than we did haha. At our last apartment, the landlord told us, when we were making sure our stuff would fit, “people are like fish, they always grow to the size of their fishbowl” Now we have no room for extra things... (But we still grow to the size of our fishbowl, hence the rack with all the fun stuff.) haha can’t wait to see the flat screen in there!.... I was working on a documentary about a dude name George Jung
Another great video kookz! You make a really unique point about 0% credit cards as a way to finance a van build! That's a great way to do it, as long as you know you can manage that debt.
Hey thanks Jess! Yeah so true... you can really get yourself in trouble if you don’t have a way to pay that off over the 18 months. We figured if we treat it like rent and make big payments ($1,000) every month to pay it down, there’s no way they are getting us on interest! Plus, at the end, you own the van rather than throwing rent away for a whole year. It becomes an asset! Thanks for watching 🥰
This is great advise guys . I am retired so past the financial stuff . One thing that could help some one starting out . I have just started a dully sprinter build .It is a retired Fire rescue vehicle . you get so much stuff with a van like this . Real nice built in cabinets ,great big inverter and roof top heat and air unit . You are half way there with one of these vans ,plus very low miles on them and the very best of maintenance . Stay safe on your travels .Thanks
Yes that is very true! We had a friend with a vanbulence and we were trying to talk him into keeping the built in cabinets! So convenient and the layout isn’t bad either!
@@Vankookz I am just rearranging the lower cabinets , just moving them all to the same side . the slide out bed will be opposite them .weird thing is no side sliding door.But this does give lots of wall space. The inverter is an amazing industrial unit .3600 watts ,it sets the engine RPM to the match the current draw .In the back there is 4 -500 lb slide outs . My brother that was on the fire department told me the last van they had shelving and cupboards like this put in cost them 45 grand . that does not include the van . stay safe
Well done both of you, dedication is a good thing to have and you both are really awesome people. A great inspiration for people i love your channel keep doing what you do. Congratulations to you both love all your videos. Btw Dani your hair is lovely it looks in good condition. 🙏
Kirston! Thanks so much for the love! We are stoked you enjoy the channel and thank you for saying so! it really makes our day to know we are helping people out there! Lots of love back at you💕✨
Wow super helpful thank you! My plan for the rest of the week is to empty my apartment. Already building the van but have been ignoring all of the crap I still have...
Phil thank you so much for the love! Yes, we believe that everything is possible. when you know that, all the synchronicities and doors to your future start opening for you to create and manifest the future you desire! Keep after it! What you seek is seeking you 🥰 lots of love
How many miles on a used van is generally ok ? I see 250,000 or 300,000 miles on the used vans I can afford and then they need conversion still. What do other people get on their campers before they trade up or get out? I'm looking at ford E series but also see buses, box. trucks, etc I'm a single lady with a tiny dog. I'm starting over again :) I love what you have now How do I know what to look for ?
Used cars are very expensive at the moment. You will want the lowest miles you can afford. If it's diesel its ok if it has higher miles our 2007 sprinter has 220K. The vehicle you get always depends on why you ate trying to do with the van/bus/box truck are you looking to travel around or stay local? Are you trying to get out in the woods on forest roads and out to the desert? Vans are very mobile and good for accessibility and getting lots of places. Also most mechanics can work on a vans. Busses are more for living in on a property or ranch or somewhere long term, boondocking, etc. Dont get me wrong... I've seen busses all the way down on Baja.. If you want to you can get after it in a bus, . Busses offer a lotnof space but are not very mobile. (Think grocer runs and going to any store) Also they can only be worked on bus bus or diesel mechanics. An E series is very mobile and compact. Only problem is you can't stand up in them. So looking into old handicap vans is always an option. There is way more information more than I could ever tell you here on our website www.vankookz.com
Thanks 4 the info. I'm trying to get into Vanlife. Should I find a van already converted for the money I have and I'm willing to send. For the right van for me and price. Or buy and build my self? I have the skills. I grow up helping my dad, I have had trade jobs growing up.
Buy it and build it yourself. You will be very empowered and ready for any situation that happens on the road. We have so many diy how to build your van videos
Did you only look at used vans? You mentioned that they cost around 15k, but the ones I have looked at are way higher -- closer to 60k. Am I looking in the wrong place or just at newer vehicles?
Yes. We’ve Only ever bought used vehicles. If you do your due diligence and get them checked out most of these vans are built to last. We bought a sprinter with 170k miles and now it has 215k and it’s in great condition. We look for vehicles on FB marketplace and Craigslist mainly. We check all surrounding states and have traveled to pick up some of these vehicles. Thanks for watching!
The video is cool, but telling people to just loan out money to build a van is not sound advice. Most people struggle to get rid of debt so encouraging them to take on more is not the way to go. I am sure there are great ways to figure out how to not waste money on lots of things you take for granted, like booze and partying, eating out. Just take note for a month how much you spend exactly and then calculate how much you could save in a year and then also sell all your stuff. If you still can't afford it change your job. But I would never recommend doing it if you simply can't afford it. Banks own you if you are in debt, this is the opposite of freedom and van life.
Very true. We are debt free because we live in our van and don't have expenses. We also made a video on how much we spend in a month and are working on a yearly one. The van definitely keeps cost down we've been rent free for over 6 years and have saved quite a bit of money. We now have enough to build a tiny home which is our next step to financial freedom. Thanks for the good advice 👍
You are a hater. Also I looked to your channel for inspiration but.... I didn't find anything. Sitting on the sidelines being a hater is lame. I don't have time for haters and negativity. Have a good week dude!
oh man, I use to have 97 pairs of jeans, but now I just walk around in hiking pants all day and I am down to one pair of jeans. While there are some trendy vanlifers out there taking sweet pictures of themselves in their van and cool outfits, we just live a different van life, we aren't chasing good service or wifi at cafes to post pictures on Instagram, but chasing outdoor activities. So I really have no room in my wardrobe for trendy clothes anymore with all my climbing, hiking, mountain bike, and running gear taking up all the room! Selling those true religions and other name brand clothes really helped the FUNd$ for travelling tho! So I don't hate them, they just aren't practical for my life anymore!
Thank you for your sweet response! So funny because I am so similar I have one pair of True Religion Jeans and a bunch that don’t even fit me anymore. I am obsessed with Vanlife and basically just wear a bunch of workout/outdoors clothes etc. due to pandemic. But the pandemic world has introduced me to Vanlife and the national parks! One love. Thanks for your cool vids.
