Our Last Desert Days | SOLO VAN LIFE 

Yes, my radiator needed to be replaced. The shop took me out to the van multiple times to explain and show me issues. My coolant was continuously needing to be topped off, and the leak was apparent. The pricing that I mentioned is realistic for everything they did to the van - there was other research done, as well as other repairs that I didn’t mention because they were small and insignificant to include in the vlog. I appreciate some of the advice for maintenance, please keep in mind that not everything is a scam, a rip off, or them taking advantage of me. Prices for product for these vans are often pricier than normal cars or vehicles. I am more than capable of doing research, receiving second opinions, and making the correct decisions for my van. Thanks!

You should name the repair shop! It is always good when traveling to be able to locate a reputable honest mechanic!

Even though you experience frustrations along the way, you still appreciate the simple pleasures like making coffee & loving Akela. Thanks for sharing!

I watched all the ads so you can afford your radiator 🤣

Again, I always feel like a very proud mama watching your life play out Linnea! You continue to amaze me with your maturity and your ability to share your life so perfectly with all of us who love you! ....and you still make me cry 😭

I agree with the comments…Always name great shops and/or mechanics. I know when sailing it is the best service people can do, name a great marina, mechanic or yard……Its the little things you do like bringing the guys donuts that shows you are mature well beyond your years…..Your B Roll shots are becoming really, really good….You are not a RU-vidr, but a story teller and filmmaker

I so love hearing your stories, seeing the areas you travel to, and learning of your life experiences on the road. The drawing you worked on while waiting inside the auto repair shop is lovely. You are very talented! Being an RN working in a hospital ICU keeps me indoors 12 hr. at a time, so your videos are my happy escape! And I love, love, love Akela. Thank you Linnea for letting us share your adventures. ❤️

I am just so impressed with you. You were raised sooooo right. Thanking laborers for doing good is a class move. I've taught my kids to do the same. Nice job.

I love how you take time to remind people that just because they're not doing everything like you doesn't mean they're doing it wrong. ❤️ Can't wait for Noah's build series 👏🏻

This film is my favorite. Watching Linnea sitting with her back to me, speaking words of wisdom. How can she be so young, yet, so wise? Deep. I am grateful for all the things i learned from Linnea. I watch her from a far, but , it feels so close to me. She feels like a friend of mine. In my mind, i owe her a debt of gratitude.

Your drawing is INSANEEEEEE YOURE AMAZING

That is one of the things I see as being a challenge while on the road. Where to get your vehicle serviced. Where to go? Who to trust. Is there a vanlife network that gives reviews of garages? Thank you for this peek into your life. 👍

Cost of a radiator and install for a 2500 Promaster is between $1100 and $1400 national average, plus taxes and possible disposal fees depending on state and/or local requirements. I'm not getting everyone saying you got ripped off. Sure yours was on the high end but it's not like you paid $2000 or more for the job. Since other minor repairs were also done along with the radiator then you were definitely not ripped off. Same with the tire. Without knowing what size and brand of tires you have, no one can claim to know you paid too much, especially if you have all terrain tires. I am pretty sure they not only rotated but also balanced all 4 tires, not just balancing the new tire. Love how you do most repairs yourself. Safe and happy travels!

hi to both of you ..500 does seem a bit steep for one new tyre and rotate ..check prices elsewhere please ..the dc to dc is to allow charging from your vehicle alternator and battery of your home battery..has nothing to do with the solar system ..should connect when motor is running and disconnect when not running..your ground is the vehicle body ..sometimes a separate ground wire is used but should not be necessary..solar does not need a ground ..both wires got to other controller and then to home battery..hope this does help you..

I love the desert too!! I've been there 3 times and it's so great!

I always feel calm and inspired after watching your videos. And I have a smile on my face watching you and your awesome 🐕 .

Buying my entire car was less than $2,000! Ouch. But at least you don’t have to pay that plus rent each month. Glad you found a good shop, that’s super rare! ♥️

Wow...that picture is beautiful. You are so talented.

Make sure you back that Macbook up religiously! Or better yet save everything to external drives.

I love when you stop and have doggies moments. She is so sweet. I love her happy moments. I love that you stop and pay attention to her when she is being happy.

You were staying exactly at the same spot I was. I just like it there because it’s so close to the city if you need that. Not sure if you got to check out Bloody Basin Road or that area but it’s pretty quiet and easy to get a space by yourself. My dog and I are headed back to Colorado today and just left that Phoenix area yesterday too! Currently in New Mexico and it is already much colder. I’m hoping I didn’t leave too soon! Love your show!

I always love seeing you and Akela and especially how much you Love BEAUTIFUL AKELA!!! 🐾💗🐾AKELA Is So ADORABLE!!!

Linneas, you do the BEST video filming of any of the van lifers on RU-vid. You are So inspirational!

People like yourself are rare,paying it forward with the donuts, amazing spirit girl. Liking the view of your journey🤙

The tech stuff you show us are so so useful. Especially since it’s mostly men talking about it on van life channels. I find it much more gratifying listening to another woman trying to navigate through electricity and what to do. If it’s okay to say something about isolation/isolating. I use a cheap silicone baking mat that I cut to size. I have found that it’s easy and cheap to find and use and it’s made to handle the heat. I always think when ever in doubt, don’t leave without. I wish you the best day possible.

You might already have figured this out about the non-isolated DC/DC charger, but if you haven't, here's what I have learned researching this for my upcoming van build. In a car, all the grounds are connected to the chassis of the car, so that ground in the non-isolated DC/DC charger you can connect to either the ground of the starter battery, or the ground of the house battery or straight to chassi (directly to the metal, no paint in between). The isolated one is more for boats, where they don't have one common ground and therefore needs to keep the grounds separated. You can use the isolated DC/DC charger in a van as well, but then you need to ground it twice, which means more cables. Hope it helps!

You‘re such an inspiring and truely beautiful person…inside and out! Your videos are so soothing.

Wow!! That burning is so amazing! Good job!!

You go girl. I love watching you handle all the issues you run into. If I wasn't 63 years old I would so love doing what you are doing. Keep the videos coming I do so enjoy you and Akela. Safe travels.

I know that wood burning project was special for a friend, but I think it looks so fantastic! You should consider selling them on occasion!

You are totes amazing, in case ya forgot.

Thank you for adding that we don’t need to understand or do all the stuff ourself!! That was so sweet especially for older folks who may not be as tech savvy or even care where our solar power comes from - beside the sun ☀️😂! Safe travels. I’m looking forward to the build & all the fun we’ll all have with you & Akela! Happy Trails! ❤️🙏🏻

Thanks for sharing, Linnea.

Much love to you and Akela, take care xx

Simply, thank you!

Love hanging out with you! Safe travels🌵

-- You go Girl!!! You remind me of myself when I was younger & adventurous... Now, I'm 70 yrs YOUNG dwelling in our 2018 Ford Transit 250. I got the extended premium warranty that covers major repairs bumper to bumper. We are exploring Oregon by way of camp hosting in state parks. I just love it! You two take care! Happy Trails Ms CharLee 🙋 Angel🚐 Nikki the Adventure Dog 🐕

Can't wait to see the next adventures! :D

Awesome vlog....you're a joy to watch and listen to...safe travels 💗

Love the videos from Ontario

Good luck with the charger

Your videos always make my day. They are the best.

That looks awesome!!

Happy travels! Looking forward to your homeland adventures❤️✨

Thats amazing art. x

I love az I so appreciate everything I've learn from you I hope you have a safe trip

Wow! That's a beautiful gift for your friend.

Beautiful

Thank you for sharing,I'm here for it all lol 😆 💚✌

Another great video. I love how you always keep it real. Repairs and all. Safe trip home.

Holy moly!!! Your art is uh-Mazing!!!

Always enjoy your vids. You also always get one of these 👍!

Your shares are so nice. I enjoy your insights. The wood burning, pretty. Life is good

Safe travels! I pray Togo holds up and doesn’t give you any trouble. Good luck with the solar. I’m hoping that you make it to 100k soon.

Another great inspiring video from you! Greetings from Italy! 👋🏼

First off, that word burning is absolutely spectacular! Second, I totally feel that working on an older computer. I had an old Dell laptop that would literally take over ten minutes to load up. My Windows taskbar stopped working. She was an old girl. lol I finally upgraded to an HP Omen, and OMG! It loads up instantly, it's like magic!

Akela must be a great calming influence on you ..truly a beautiful companion..lots of love from sunny South Australia..

Super looking forward to seeing all your new adventures! Legit not gunna lie I'm just blown away with how much you accomplish by yourself

Linnea your awesome 🙌🙌🙌 wire up a charge controller and then some, the Dc to Dc charger needs a ground so it can complete the circuit , wire up a ground from the body of the van or from the starting battery ground … it’s fairly simple … Safe travels Linnea 🚐

Your the only other pyrographer I've seen as a nomad !!! and your sooooo good :)

I love that picture that you are making that is awesome

Love all your video's, safe travels, welcome back home. Can't wait to see some videos from my state too.It should be warming up a bit.

Pretty wood work

Wowww, that wood burning piece looks fantastic!

What a beautiful picture you did very gorgeous such talent. And yup always repairs some more costly than others but we need are vehicles , so a fine honest mechanic is what we need happy you found this one. looking forward to your new adventures .

Thank you for inspiring me to do things that I do not know how to do. There is always a way to do things plus we can always ask for help when we are stuck. Stay safe.

You did it again. I LOVE how you specifically choose your sponsors to be congruent with your lifestyle. Yet again, I did NOT fast forward through it like I normally do, except in your videos that is.

I was a mechanic for on-and-off 20 years. The thoughts I have about your van breaking down so much, as well as other people who have these extremely beautiful but heavy builds of wood in your Vans. These things are not made to take that sort of heaviness they don't have the torque in the entire engine. Twerking an engine is not simply engine power, especially in today's post 80s Vans. They're highly balanced electronically and hydraulicly. You have to balance the whole system to carry that weight, they're not originally built for it. Not to say modifications could not be made. But I think you're expecting RV performance from a much less designed That said I love watching your videos, I did the same thing in the mid-1980s. Traveling in an old Volvo station wagon I love watching your shows and I love seeing young people out on the road. There is some logic in just basic physics and this is what I think is is the problem with Vans built-out like this they're beautiful but you're asking small systems do something it's not designed to do just keep that in mind love your stuff.

Wow very beautiful drawings of your dog I love to look at your vlog stay safe out there baby girl 💕

Nice picture looks great

Looking forward

Just saying Hello Linnea & Akela safe travels home.

I wasn't trying to be an a****** when I said you're getting ripped off but you did get ripped off it's always good to go to a friend's house if your friends are close or ask around about mechanics before you jump in and have work done ask the locals go to coffee shops stopping at Diner I'm glad everything worked out in your back on the road have a very good vacation

Oooh I love your wood burning! I work with oils and pastels but have been thinking about giving wood burning a try. Great job, you've piqued my interest even more now.

Very refreshing to watch your channel. Also kinda cool to see a female as handy with tools as you are. Your pal Akela looks great and happy..Stay safe out there young lady and keep on truckin'.. Peace ( JC from da Bronx ).

You are so Cool, love your Chanel it's so well balanced. Thank you x

Akela is the best

That drawing is amazing :)

I am new to your channel and watch a lot of Vanlife videos. I am in high dessert and am a wannabe to the lifestyle. I am from Wisconsin and will be looking forward to your videos in the future. I have an old Honda Odyssy Van but last year borrowed a Denali and went to Wisconsin. Have a great trip!

Literally one of your biggest fans

Jeez, so may of us wish you could just buy the parts and let us turn the wrench! That being said we can’t all be there for ya all the time so good work and glad you’re doing big things as always! You the best L and love A almost as much as my own doggo! 😁

Love ❤️ it 7:04 Akela… I just love her and she ain’t even my 🐕 that put a smile on my face seeing you with her. Linnea my friend gurl…..YOU IS one of a kind. One of these day I hope we cross paths you are truely a inspiration to me a want to be VLerr lol… God bless you

You changed so much.... Having grip on whats going on with the Van, and repair .... I love your vids because they are about what is going on.... Safe travells you2😘

Quite a young lady jack of all trades master of none but at least you have your head screwed on right and you got one heck of a dog I love your doggy safe travels 👌😊😁😉🐝

And another note on your videos in general: I appreciate that you do not read a "script" during your videos. It is so much more candid and pleasant to watch this way. Don't get me wrong, having a script is fine. Though reading from it while recording is not, imo. Good job.

Welcome to kansas love!!

You know Aaron can sort that stuff out lickity split! I have a few things for him to figure out for us too.😉 safe travels.✌️

you can cover the solar panels while doing the wiring connections the eliminate sparks ..

Hi again 👋. Beautiful picture you did ❤️. Hoping the work on tow go. ( not sure of spelling). Works out for long while The repairs on our vehicles can be costly I remember days growing up with parents. Dad would had put stop leak or so in his radiator first. Lol. But I understand why you didn’t Your traveling so need dependable Anyway. I love akela being so happy 😁 Safe and blessings when on road traveling. Till next time 🙏🌻🐻😇✌🏻❤️

Been following you for awhile. I also built my van out myself and LOVE the troubleshooting and knowing exactly how things work. I'm a solo female traveler as well, hope we can meet sometime on down the road. Currently in AZ, but headed "home" to Colorado for six weeks.

What is in the little jar hanging from your rearview mirror? You show it a lot. ❤ Safe travels!

Girl you are truely a badass chick!! I learn so much from your videos, and it helps me to just try stuff and not be afraid of what might go wrong. Keep em coming! And give that little girl some belly rubs!

That cup of coffee with the crema looked so appetizing! Was that made with just the aero press?? I'd love to have a cup of coffee with you some day!! My build is over half way done now. Have fun in Wisconsin. Looking forward to seeing more of your Mom!

That voiceover is crisp eh? It’s like you have a new mic setup or something…😬👍 Always good seeing your vlog! I can’t wait for the build vlogs with Noah, I imagine it’ll be hilarious!

Love the wood burning wolf art! Would love to see the finished piece! I want to learn wood burning, do you use a stencil or do this off a picture? Your vid's are very nice to watch, very comfortable and if you don't mind my saying very homey. And your can do attitude is very inspirational! Keep up the good work and happy, safe travels!

At is beautiful art work

2000 to get a tire mounted and balanced and rotated and have a radiator installed sounds a bit high i would have just done it myself as you can do your own install for solar im sure you are more than capable of doing some mechanical work

💛💛💛

What?! When did you get so crazy tallented?! Gorgeous.

The only way I can explain this makes me aggravated so much you can go online and find out how much a mechanic in that state makes an hour and then you could still go online and find out how much it cost to put a radiator in it's all online you'll know if you're getting ripped off or not