I was homeless during winter a very long time ago. No job, no savings, no prospects but I did have an old Ford truck. After two weeks of freezing my butt off sleeping in the truck, being desperate, I went to a former farm employer begging for help. He let me sleep on the back porch with the dog, on a bed the Mrs piled high with quilts, brought me their leftovers from supper. I used his hand tools, it took all day but made about $25 a day. Not bad for 1975. I paid him $10 a week rent. I did everything I could to make a quarter and by spring, I saved enough for an apartment with a roommate. All these years later, I never got rich but never slept in a car again.
I guess I don't understand why people end up in such dire straits. My parents came to America with my sister ( my sister was 4 years old). They brought 2 pieces of luggage with them. All they owned were in those 2 pieces of luggage. They had no money. money with them when they arrived. They walked & found an elderly lady with a room for rent. The lady allowed them to stay & pay on pay day. My mom found a job at a cleaners the next day. My Dad found a job as a dishwasher a few days later. My sister went to work with my Mom, who was pregnant with my older brother. When my brother was born, they paid the hospital in cash. They didn't collect free medical care or unemployment. They had me a few years later, then my younger brother. They worked very hard. They ended up paying for each of our college educations, bought us each a new car & gave each of us a down payment for our first homes. We kids helped them learn English & helped them pay bills by helping to spell , so my Mom could write checks. They're amazing. Today, they're enjoying their the fruits of their labor & are retired. Why do people that have all the privilege of being born in America have so much trouble getting ahead? I sincerely have never understood that.
I've had some very hard lonely times and lived in my car for many months through winters too...if wasn't for my car I'd have slept rough... I literally had love for my car!! Very lucky I had it!
Sad to hear. Clearly you weren’t like most homeless people because if you were you obviously would’ve sold your car for drug. This is also why you probably overcame it while most do not
I’m very proud of you young man, you remind me when I was young, I’m 54 now carpenter living in my workshop in Mississippi. Life seems to get more difficult every day. Stay strong 💪 and enjoy your life.
The snow looks beautiful when your are safe and warm. I follow the sun! LOL! I have been living full time in my 25 foot class A motorhome for over 4 years now with my little dog Tinkerbell filming what I see and where I camp for free. I m living my dream! I beat kidney cancer and chose to sell everything so I could live my dream! Im glad I did! I would have a hard time in a car but you are young and doing a great job at it! I love the dogs and then birds eating was beautiful! I just found your channel and will be watching more!
For me summers were always much rougher than winters living out of my car. I dunno I suppose it's just the way I'm built, but I'd take a frigid day over a sweltering day every single time when it comes to living out of a vehicle. Safe travels my friend.
Great vid again mate,I love the simplicity of your setup and it clearly works in all conditions. Looking forward to the next one.Keep smiling and stay safe!
Hi Giselle. Burning gas doesn't emit fumes and is perfectly safe if you keep it well ventilated. The only additional risk over an electric blanket is a fuel leak or me somehow rolling on top of it and setting myself on fire which I'm confident won't happen with this setup. An electric heater or blanket would also consume so much power from the battery I'd probably only get one or maybe two nights per charge, whereas I can keep enough gas in the car to keep me warm for several nights so I can remain off grid much longer. Finally, my gas heater is also a cooking stove... it's important that things have more than one function when living in a small car... a heater or blanket is a lot of space for only a few uses per year... you've got to look at the bigger picture here Giselle but thanks for watching and for the suggestions!
@@mortdog Imagine rolling around while you sleep...sleeping bag lays on stove or maybe flame goes out. Thats a big problem. Get alarms for that please!
i also don't like the open flames in the car.. imagine it catching fire. 😔 and the very least find a nonflammable substrate for the stoves to rest on. a stone or metal sheet pan. also, the dog jumped at you thinking you would play with her/him.
I use a Jackery in my Camry. I plug in a couple heated mattress pads at night to stay toasty. That way I'm not running my car for heat all night, and going broke on gas!
I've slept in some rough circumstances but nothing like what you are experiencing. Truly amazing that you can tolerate the cold to that extent and just accept lifes circumstances without complaint.
I am a woman and, in part, always thought that was a big part of why I had a low likelihood of homelessness. Yet I have lived to see so many women who are homeless.
Happy Days! Wintering in the car!! ☃️💙 Does look nice n cozy, but a live flame inside the car while sleeping seems very dangerous. I’m so glad you are enjoying it all so far!
People have live flames in Moorhomes all the time, they're called Gas Cookers , it's not dangerous done what this guys doing numerous times, you just have to be very careful and use your common sense simple really, he's got it nice and cosy happy days❤ what a great Adventure. Thinking of doing a road trip across US and sleeping in my car like this top man.👌😂
Hi the problem with ur heater is its building up carbon monoxide in ur car which is toxic and can/will kill you. You need to find a less fatal alternative. Tc 🙂
Hi Mort a little tip for you spray or rub in with a cloth your car rubber door seals with some wd40 it will stop them sticking in the cold weather keep up the great work regards Johnny
To keep warm long term in my car. I removed the door panels and got in between the gaps and put in sound undulation and closed cell foam to help keep the heat in
Really nice video!!! I have slept in my minivan under similar conditions but no live flame. It is a challenge but it can be done. My secret is fuzzy blankets and fabrics, they retain your heart around you. Fully dressed to be, woolen hat and good socks... the whole layer system. And then O start the engine when I wake up and it only takes a few minutes to make the interior super nice. I actually am too hot inside of my layers sometimes, even in freezing temps. Thank you for showing the beauty of the snow, the animals... the sounds are muffled by the snow, quite magical actually.
I have heard that bubble wrap placed on your windows keeps them from getting like that. Someone tested the idea and it worked, they suggested large bubbles, not the small ones. Just passing it along. Also if you buy hand warmers, the 18 hours ones are great.
You have a cozy setup. I tried making it through this winter in my Astro van in Connecticut. Temps got below zero (Fahrenheit) quite often and I was surviving well until I got Omicron in early February. I was too weak to continue and had to recover at my sister's cottage.
I've been homeless off and on for the last 12 years and I dont know how you stay sane to be honest. It really sucks to work fulltime and not be able to afford housing on a single income. I'm feeling depressed just watching this, it brings back lonely depressed suicidal thoughts that I still try to cope with to this day. I wish you the best man, people dont know how taxing this lifestyle can be on the soul and happiness.
Hope this message finds you in better light. Life is a struggle for many. Sad thing is it doesn’t have to be this hard if we would just learn to help each other… Good luck.
I get a lot of great tips on camping in a car by watching your videos, the ceramic gauze on the gas stove is a good example. Perhaps you could do a video sometime on tricks and tips for car camping. I am enjoying your journey but you seem determined to take the hard road, living in a car in winter can't be easy.
You are a brave guy. I would be terrified. As a parent I have to ask you what your family thinks of this. I would insist relatives in this situation stay with me.
Amazed by all you travellers videoing your journeys. Makes me feel like I am going along with you and I am definitely enjoying your experiences, and learning so many new things from the comfort of my home. Take care!
what a beautiful winter wonderland. I must say that little flame had me worried I'm a retired trucker from the US and I used a 12V blanket it didn't drain the battery I placed it under my bedding (sheets) then cover in a nice thick duvet super toasty thanks for sharing
I have been homeless for 7 years. We have gone from truck with 3 dogs, tent to 93' camper. I don't think I would ever trade these experiences because I have found so much gratitude for some pleasures.
Hi Morts, love your vids, and I know you get asked the same questions all the time-but would you ever do a q&a just on the things like budget, plans,tips, things you’d do differently, things you’ve learnt etc.? I know I’d be interested in how you ended up in a car in Georgia at Christmas 😀😀 All the best mate, stay safe ✌️☘️
My foot got swollen sleeping in a truck for two months I couldn’t stretch out that good. It really sucks. And sitting in truck all day getting back pain . I had fun going to the track to walk around and going to friends house to warm up. Then back in my truck. To start all over again 😮😮😮😮😢😢😢😢😮😮
I'm living in my van right now for past 4 months tonight is high of 5 degrees. lil buddy heater and subzero sleeping bag with some comfy pillows stuffed with all the cash Ive been saving not renting lol.2 more months of winter then easy peasy thru spring and summer.the subzero sleeping bag is the way to go and it's extra wide so it's not constrictive some mornings don't wanna get out of it to go to work
Another great vid Morts, I’ve enjoyed going through some of your videos. Have you got a carbon monoxide detector? Really like your content as you seem completely yourself, a lot of the other travellers on here are way too loud and too much acting, thanks for keeping it real and safe travels 👍🏻
I have just ONE thing 2 say.....PORTA POTTY! 😁😉👌 PS....[One other thing]....HOT water bottle! PSS....Can't resist.....get a wide-mouth bottle 2 spit in when you brush your teeth so you don't have 2 open the door and spit outside. 😉
So pretty yet so cold. You really are a minimalist, as far as warming comforts. I would think that using a fleece blanket inside your sleeping bag would make you warmer, rather than having that cold material against you. Do you ever start your car to warm up ever so often through the night? Stay safe!
You should watch some of those Japanese videos where their camping in their little minivans in the mountains in deep snow. You will learn some of there tricks . They have some fantastic gadgets. I watch three different ones.
I moved into my car last year (forced to not by choice) in June, an to this current date. I've some how survives through 100 + F weather to our fores fires all through winter now from 14 F
Brilliant video Morts! I enjoyed seeing how you managed through that cold night. Really interesting to see the details of how you did it. Very well done! Keep warm! 🔥
Using gas stoves in a vehicle can increase condensation inside. You might want to look at getting a 12 volt car heater and run it occasionally to warm your sleep area. Just watch the car battery though so it doesn’t drain it completely.
The snow makes everything more beautiful snd quiet...loved this....I would buy a Jackery and a heated blanket...the initial investment will save you cash in the end so you dont have to use your gas.
Hey Morts, just found your channel today. Can't help but think you seem a bit lonely in the circumstances. I'm surprised to see that you don't seem to interact with your channel followers. I would think that would be welcome company, but perhaps you really do just enjoy your solitude. Anywho, I hope the best for you!
Hope you have All-Terrain tires. I use a big lithium power pack and a small electric 12v DC blanket. It's important to heat yourself up internally with hot liquids.
It's very quaint and beautiful♥️. I must say living in your very small car in the dead of winter is a very odd experiment. You seem to be handling it fine...so far. Are you lonely? How do you deal with performing bodily functions?
These comments about people being homeless and forced to live in their car dont realise theres a diffrence between that and living in ur car and making ur car a home
Great video, but you really should think about winter tyres. Don't forget, you can use them all year round as well. I also had concerns for the stove/fumes carbon monoxide etc, but see you've addressed them already. Cheers mate, Phill
