A girl i met in Morocco described van life as the best. It really is. I have been at it for over a year. I paid all my debts, got money saved for the first time in my life, which every month is easy now. I have seen more in the last six months than the rest of my life. Going back to an apartment has so many hidden bills that is not just rent. I have counted now: Mortgage, Rent, Mobile Phone, Broadband, Council Tax, Gas , Electricity Cost, Water Bills, Phone Landline, TV Licence, Food, Drinks, Alcohol, Insurance, Train Travel / Taxi's, Fun(Restaurant, Pub,Tickets), Home Deliveries General Goods, I like this video but found it very hard to watch. I think i am dyslexic, but my memory does not remember anything you said, did you change what you were saying a few times. People that publish vids on youtube have not prepared what they are about to say. Into the mystery 13 seems to change his mind several times during a video, which is a little tricky to understand. There is something that opposes capitalism in this life, do a video on that. Landlords make their income from people who cannot afford to buy houses. Young people cannot afford homes at their prices. It opposes consumerism, which is really buying crap, to throw it out. Borrowing money to prop to banks up. A bank for example does not make money if everyone has money. It needs people to borrow, loan and have credit cards. Then people in houses compete with other to earn more, pushing up house prices collectively. This in turn aids the banking system to make people borrow more. Do you feel sometimes that you are cheating this system. Is it illegal in USA. Ultimately it seems that the "system" does not want people to be really free from it.
That's awesome! Yeah, it really does allow you to refocus things financially. Thanks for the feedback on the video. I knew what I was going to say, but I think I rambled a bit as I was reading off my top ten reasons. Looking back at it now, The video should be about cut in half. And you have some really good points about the life versus living in an established place. I don't feel like I'm cheating the system, but I do feel like I'm living a life that the government would probably prefer that I not live and I'm okay with that! I think everyone should have their option to live life as free as they pursue! Thanks again for the feedback!!
To continue:- I have lived full time in my truck for 7 years and before that in company trucks for a further 3 so I know quite a bit about life on the road. Everything from what Walmarts you can park in to getting water. I am constantly customizing my sleeper / truck / office. I am very comfortable here. Eventually I shall retire and turn my van into a tiny home complete with mobile garage for my minivan.
Parking with Foalhaus hi! Great video, very interesting I'm just wondering what you do for money and how do you insure your van if you don't have a fixed address? I'd love to be a van dweller but it's a big decision to make. Take care out there!
You're living the dream. In the last few months i've started to dump a lot of useless stuff that i don't use anymore and i'm seriously pondering about buy a motorhome and embark on a 1-year trip in South America. Your video really helped me.
I'm so glad to hear this helped!! Yeah, it is such a liberating feeling knowing that you're not wasting time on things. If you do that, TAKE ME WITH! :D
I like your quirkiness:) Look forward to watching what you don't like too You made me laugh in a humanly refreshing way Glad your doing your thing and going for it!
Hi John, great informative video, thank you for posting. I would recommend listing your ten reasons in your comments section to help summarize your video (like an index) and "orient" viewers on what to look for in your video. You are bringing very good point(s) about letting go of stuff and focusing on relationships with people, I needed to be reminded of that, life is short. BTW listing your camera gear was a great idea - which helps amateur photographers like me select on the right/most useful gear. Ciao, L
1....affordable freedom is it all for me. I moved into a van so I could travel (Travel-Working is the plan, I've been temp gig-ing for the first big push). I moved from DC to Berkeley and just go re-trapped on the west coast, and not even the west coast. In Berkeley/Oakland. I have not seen any of the middle of the country or most of California. So I want the chance to see more of the country I live in (and maybe other countries). But waiting until I have money for plane tickets and hotel rooms (which hasn't happened in 38 years of life) is over. And I don't even care that it's a barely built out minivan. I'll keep working on it as I live in it. Minimalisim has also been amazing!!!
wonderful video,i love the rv and the vans too,this is my dream have my own van for trip for everywhere,you motive me to follow my dream,thanks and good luck with you beautiful van...
As an TOR truck driver, I live in a truck and travel all over the US, thousands and thousands and thousands of miles and miles and miles. I think that sums it all up. How much time do I have to experience the places along the way? Well, those places are interstates. They're not state park campgrounds or epic beaches. I now live in a Van. The difference is that I do not get paid and I do not see traffic. I DO see a parking lot and feel the heat and cold. The similarity to trucking is much like the truck stop. It can be boring, or expensive, or lonely, or a trip of a life time. What makes living on the road in a vehicle worth it is Planning. If you jump into this lifestyle on a wimb, and just do it, or YOLO, it could become a nightmare. It can be a beautiful thing too. I am used to life, as I have been living in a vehicle for years and years. My suggestion is to take short trips, and stretch it out little by little. Find out of it is going to work for you, and how you handle the road. Get experience first before taking on the full coarse. Don't expect it to be easy or lazy. It is a lot of work. But, worth every minute you invest. Remember, it is not where you are, but how you get there. Life is not over until it's over. Enjoy the ride.
I've been sleeping in my van while traveling for the last ten months but it's unmodified. I'm considering the possibilities of a more comfortable layout and I'd love to hear more about your van, 13mpg is actually pretty good. I get around 19 and mine is a 6 cylinder minivan. What kind of AC/DC power system is in your van and what's the 12v air conditioner you mentioned called?
Hey, I don't really go into too much technical details about my van, but if you'd like to see my van tour, check this video out! Not sure about my power system and my AC unit. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KTgWofPG_R0.html
I agree with your lifestyle, it's a choice and your happy traveling. I don't think this will be a life long decision. Eventually you will probably meet that special someone and you will want to set down roots to start a family. Traveling around is fun but over the years it's fuking tiring. I've been a Contractor over in the Middle East for 6 years now, I have 2-3 left in me and then I'm going back to the house I own in Florida that I've never lived in. Sleeping Tent life and Chu's out of a backpack / small suitcase is just bullshit, it was fun at first and now I'm over it. To hop in a nice new car paid off, drive over to Taco Bell and then head back to the house and put on some TV will be the best feeling ever. Like your vids man keep up the hard work :)
I couldn't agree more. I think i have another year in me and i'll be done after that most likely. I totally agree with what you're saying! Thanks for the kind words. :D
Parking with Foalhaus Yea, I think it's a great experience, whether doing what I do out of a backpack in the middle east, or like you driving around the USA. Eventually you'll have to setup a real home base. Maybe one day we can grab a beer, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole RV thing, even though it will probably not be something I ever do, but who knows :P
Man, I respect what you're doing. Just got my class b delivered a freckles ago and still prepping to go full off grid as winter approaches. With that said: big elephant in the van--if you're single and dating, how do you tell chics you're in a van. I'm on a few dating sites and I just put that front n center on my profile. Some respect the ballsy jump, but I'm in NYC and most can't wrap their heads around it. Thoughts?
I would withhold that information until you actually prove to that person that you're not insane. Establish some level of trust first, than gently nudge that small bit of information into the conversation. :D
Ronald Scott as a single girl I'm considering living in a van. How do I explain to a date that I'm not a hobo (I actually have a master's and work in my profession. Other than van life, im totally normal lol
how do they do when is 10 or 20 below? or handling the whole winter time? you'd be spending 100s a week running that engine all night long, right? and what if the vehicle overheats or simply breaks down??
My van stays in warm climates during the winter. if i were forced to be in a cold climate, i'd find a place to plug in and pay monthly to stay there so i could run my heater at night.
What were your strategies to saving before purchasing your van and heading out on the road? I really wanna travel and thought I'd give myself at least a year and a half to save up and go. But of course there's still reality to deal with before hitting the road. I'm just curious if you have any suggestions to make it easier at saving to live that kind of life style?
DEFINITELY plan and save for as long as you possibly can. I did that, budgeted for a long time before I even bought my van. Once I bought the van, I didn't immediately hit the road. I stayed in my home area for awhile, got used to driving it around, got used to sleeping in it, made all my customizations... It's just something you have to adjust to and slowly get into. But yes, save, save, save. :)
I also traveled down to Central America in the early 80's the hard way and have been over a very big chunk of the planet. I would love to start a conversation here regarding all this stuff and perhaps sharing some things that although every trucker would know maybe is not immediately apparent to the average van dweller. So if I can save you some money or make your life easier reply to these comments and hopefully Google will let me know you have. Best Wishes Izi.
I actually was renting then I bought a house a year ago. Its an older home so Ive been renovating plus I rent the basement to a friend. Its still a step up from where I was, but owning a home is not that its all cracked up to be. Its cheaper than renting here plus you build equity but then Ive also put a lot of money into fixing this place. I think I might like to try the van life or kind of wish I did before buying a house. The only thing that has ever really stopped me was how would I work. It seems like most videos people are either on some kind of pension or they do graphic design or writing all of which I know nothing about.
I used to own a house too, but sold it and bought a van with the profits. So the thing about van life is it acts as your home, it doesn't or shouldn't limit you to where you can work. I am living in a big city now and have no problems living in my van and going to my office for work.
Hi John, I enjoyed you're video and would love to visit all the parks like on the West Coast. Quick question, could you tell me the techno tune playing in the video? I thought it was cool, thanks.
The real reason for this is I was subdued in the cons video because there were people parked right by my van that night and I didn't want to be loud. Haha. I wasn't depressed at all. :)
Well, I have decided to actually chime in on one of these videos and you John have touched several nerves. In a good way. I am a trucker. I own a 2007 Freightliner Century and a 05 Wabash 53' dry van. Obviously this is how I earn money and frankly that comes first. I watch video after video about builds and van life but this business of money is always ignored. What are you people doing?? Endlessly roaming America and Canada with zero purpose?? And with what are you paying for each fuel up and to buy groceries?? I guess you all are independently wealthy. lol.
Thanks for the comment steve. I work as a contract web designer. So I'll work a 3 or 6 month contract, save my money and hit the road. Has been working for me for years!
IF U DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS. AND HAVE OK CREATED .THINK OF THE SAVING !! $.12,000 A YEAR IN YOUR ACCOUNT EACH YEAR OR MORE !!!.12× 3 YEARS IS $36,000. THAUSAND. $$$$.WITH THAT IT'S A DOWN PAYMENT ON A GOOD HOME . THINK ABOUT THAT ?. SMALL SACRIFICE, TO RECH.A GOAL.!! AND LIVE ANYWHERE U WANT !!.
I work as a contract web designer. So, for example, I'll work on a 6 month contract, save, save some more and then travel. I'm currently in Denver on a contract, but once that's done, I'm going to travel to the west coast for more work, but I'm going to take a month or two in between there to explore. :)
Dude... I WISH I could get rid of my "stuff".... I'm a writer and academic (teacher) and have some career ambitions in writing my novels and such. I think what you're doing is remarkable and I hope it's all working out the way you hope it would. That being said, I currently life in a 540 square foot cabin, in the redwoods (Sonoma County), and feel "free" to live my own life.... finally. I have always wanted to own a van like yours... touring the country... how much did your van cost? Just curious. Keep up the good memories.
It's a different lifestyle. I'm 65, and trying to have a full life, and write my books, but I don't need to live in a mansion. Hope everything is still good for you.
I shower at the gym every day. Would much rather do that than get my van all messy. I typically get wifi when I'm near a retail store. When I'm out on the road, I'm relying on my cell service. When the van gets super hot? I get out of it. Haha. Or I sweat.
I hear a lot of people talk about freedom. Freedom to do what? I would like to see a video on how you use that freedom. Travel? Music? Business? How do you use your freedom? You give up a lot to live in a van. What payoffs do you get that you couldn't have in a house? What do you DO with your time?
Now that I have some time to respond to this question: Since I've left from the midwest, I've been to the Badlands, Wind Cave NP, Rocky Mountain NP, Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Black Canyon NP, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Grand Tetons NP and Yellowstone NP. I've gone to all these places with my only expenses being gas and food. Living this lifestyle allows one to travel and experience new things without having to pay an unreasonable amount of money to do so. And I owned a house for 6 years, I know what that's like too. I feel like I gave up more to live in that house than I do to live in this van.
Yeah, I mean no disrespect, but I hafta agree that the "background" music (which is really more in the foreground) is too loud and makes it hard to hear what you're saying. It gets especially bad around the 3:21 mark.
To continue:- So why am I writing? Because nobody seems to encompass the world of the full time trucker in their videos. My life is zero different to you van dwellers. Parking issues, cooking, toilet, water, power, inverters, batteries, maintenance and a million other things. I am also an electrical engineering technician of about 35 years standing which helps tremendously. I often am amused by some of the stuff I see regarding electronics and electrics in the vans / trailers on YT.
Have you visited the national parks all alone ? That's sad 😢 You don't bring friends with you ??? Can't believe you don't have a woman !!! You're so handsome !! There must be a lot of girls out there that would love to meet you ! 😊
I can imagine the ladies are just chomping at the bit to get romantic with you in your van, lol what's your pick up line? "You wanna come back to my van and get to know each other and the neighborhood better?
It's upsetting that you are not answering the questions your other viewers have asks About cost of van and remodeling of it.how much did you pay, what's the car make&model, mileage at purchase time, etc. some of us are interested in doing this but your lack of response is frustrating. Thumbs down!
