A BIG thank you to everyone who submitted questions! We did that thing again where we talked for 40 minutes 😅, so we’re sorry for how long this video is, but we hope you enjoy it! As a reminder, we have time stamps in the description if you want to just listen to a few of the questions 😃
Thank you so much Diana, we really appreciate the support! This has been such a weird time for us and we are so thankful for those who continue to watch, follow along, and send us kindness throughout all of this! 💕
My wife and I work remotely and have been looking into van life. For the next Q&A could you elaborate on how working from the van has been? Has internet during your travels been reliable enough to work as you would at home? Have you ever been able to not work due to connection or power issues?
You answered so many of the questions we had after we watched your van build series! After a couple years it seems like a few couples have also sold their vans and built new ones. Do you think that would be an option? I have the feeling that you guys would cringe at that though. Haha. Also FYI if you add 0:00 before all your other timestamps, it will show the breaks in the progress bar if you're on a computer. Check it out!
Oooo solid tip on the time stamps! I suck at the time stamp thing lol! We honestly want to keep this van as long as possible. We are super attached to it now and it works so well for us, even with the few things we’d change. The thought of building another sounds horrible right now lol, but maybe one day we won’t instantly cringe at the idea 🤣
You don’t have to apologize for going too long on your video. We all love to hear from you! Continue to pray for you daily and remember Jesus loves you!
Loved watching this video and hearing about your van life experience. Not going to lie, I was a little scared during the story of the teenagers with a gun and a knife. Keeping our fingers crossed we can all continue traveling again soon :)
It was such a weird and freaky experience! We’re very thankful they were harmless, but it definitely has made us even more aware of our surroundings. And we’re crossing ours right along with ya! 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Been a big fan for a while now and we only see the good stuff if you know what I mean ,thanks for sharing some of the down sides if you can call them that , very informative thanks 👏👏 stay safe stay healthy 👍
Of course, thanks so much for watching! 🤗 We have a goal once we get back on the road to share more of the experiences we have, both the good, bad, and some of the smaller, everyday experiences that make up the adventure! We can’t wait!
I think what you're doing is great! It takes a lot of courage and faith in one in other,to live the life you really want to live! Don't worry about your home is not as perfect as you may have planned. My husband and I have built two custom built homes, during our marriage and no matter how much you plan, there's always a few things that don't turn out the way you envisioned. That's part of the fun,l guess😊 Good luck with your continued adventures!😊🍁
Thank you so much Shari! ❤️ We love our imperfectly perfect home on wheels and we’re so thankful that so far 98% of our build works well for us! And IF we were to ever build another (very unlikely lol! It was so hard!) we now know things we could improve 🙌🏼
Hahahaha this comment made Adam’s day! 💪🏼 We have adjustable dumbbells and some bands that we keep in the van (and now use to workout in my parent’s house), but before COVID-19 we had been going to Planet Fitness 4-5 days a week 😃
Hi Anne-Marie! Thanks so much! We just have the factory latch that the van came with. It is a 2019 van, so it could possibly be different than other vans out there.
hi, first of all i just found you yesterday AND im from SD, i have already watched about 10/12 vids in 24 hr and i just finished this one, the reason im writing is about the battery loss while showering(maybe you already fixed it), the battery is not charging at optimum when idling, it will charge maybe 60% more idling at 1,400... numbers might be a little different these days but put a amp meter on at least temporarily to see the sweet spot for charging(an auto parts store might help you with that), once you know the rpm your set. maybe you can affix something to peddle to give you the rpm, then remove it after.... could possibly help you in other situations, like not driving around to nowhere at 2am to charge battery. lol ..... i love watching you guys and will keep track of subscriptions and watch them soar to new heights!!!!!
Thank you so much for the insight a Jerome! We will look into this! When you say idling you mean just parked with the van on right? We actually are not allowed to idle the sprinter for more than a couple minutes, apparently it’ll wreck the engine over time. I’m not a car whiz at all lol, so maybe you mean something different!
@@AdventuresofAplusK yes, parked w/van on.. i thought you said you turned on the engine @ idle, then the power to the hot water... optimum for charging is just over idle... if you put an amp gauge on it and slowly upped the rpm you would see the charging increase to a certain point and not go any higher, thats the number you want weather its 1,200 or 1,500rpm, you will get a max output of the alternator @ that point without driving. check with Mercedes if that harms the engine(after you know what to say)...(if you are not sure about what im saying tell me)i will help if i can anytime....... i see your subscriptions were 29K earlier, now 30!!!!!!! NICE!!!!!
Ah we usually drive (for 30 mins) when we turn the hot water heater on, so we typically plan to shower after having to drive for a bit so it can heat up as we drive, if that makes sense. But I’ll check into that! And thank you so much! 🥳🙌🏼
Hi Kathryn and Adam, thanks for this video! I love to hear feeback about people living full time in their van, always a good add-on to the happy van tour on the first day ;-) I did not get the issue with the fan and the inverter: you need to turn on the inverter to get the fan running? Wouldn't it be easy to buy a 12v DC appliance that would run directly from your batteries rather than a 110 AC fan ? This would avoid the current loss of the inverter? In any case, being able to switch on/off the inverter easily would still be a plus
Hi! Sorry if that was a bit confusing, we definitely didn’t explain it super well. We have a “ceiling” fan (Maxxair) that runs off of our batteries directly, but since it’s in the front of the van, the area in the back of the van (where we sleep) doesn’t get the best circulation, so if it’s warmer out, things get a bit stuffy in the back. So we have a small portable fan that plugs into a wall outlet (which is why the inverter needs to be on) to keep us cool on hot nights. I hope that helps explain it better, let us know if you have any other questions! 😃
@@AdventuresofAplusK Thanks for quick reply ;) On our previous RV, we were using a 12v portable fan (the kind of fans with cigarette lighter plugs for cars that you can attach anywhere with a clamp or the ones you can plug on USB, if your USB plugs do not depend on the inverter). So we didn't have this issue with the inverter on all night anymore. Maybe these fans are too small to run without noise or without enough air flow? Cracker barrel were one of my goals during my last trips in the US. I miss them so much, breakfast with delicious pancakes at 10PM, what can be better than that?
@@AdventuresofAplusK something like this: www.amazon.com/Hopkins-SP570804-Go-Gear-Oscillating/dp/B003SS62PS or www.amazon.com/Quick-Products-1229-4038-QP-TE1-0126-Boundless/dp/B06Y196VR8/.
I'm in the middle of building out the same van layout as you two have. Glad to hear that after life testing it for awhile its still living up to expectations! The smelly gray water tank has me a little spooked though I've gotta admit...has the add on attachment helped at all with alleviating that? And secondly where can I find one for my own build? Thanks!
We still love it even a year after filming this! The grey water smell is honestly one of the biggest complaints we had and sometimes still have. The attachment has helped a lot, but we think sometimes items can get stuck in it (maybe hair from the shower? we don't put food down the sink) and it doesn't work like it should, but it did work perfectly for a while. We bleached our grey water tank a few weeks ago and no smells since. We also talked with another couple recently who said once they stopped getting toothpaste down the drain it helped eliminate smells, so we are trying that too. Here's the valve we bought: amzn.to/3Eu4V4z
The timestamps were messed up, don't use : after - 0:44 Why did you decide to do van life? 2:12 What’s the most difficult situation you have been in while on the road? 8:55 How has van life changed your relationship? 10:34 What updates have you made to the van? 17:07 What changes do you wish you could make on the van? 22:03 Is it safe sleeping in a van at a Walmart parking lot? 26:58 How much does van life cost compared to a more traditional life? 29:14 Did you go back and forth between a 144 WB and 170 WB? 31:07 Was it difficult to get used to driving the 170 WB? 32:54 How does showering work? Is daily showering an option? 36:25 What do your friends and family think about you living in a van and doing RU-vid?
@@AdventuresofAplusK Yes, I had RU-vid on in the background and I was writing something down ....then, out of nowhere I hear your voices talking about your conversion of the van. Kool commercial, I have it a thumbs up. 👍
DO you think your current electrical/solar system would be able to handle a small AC unit. need it for my dog? using your layout and van blog as a road map for my van build. Thanks!
We would probably add an extra battery. We are actually going to add a 4th battery at some point since we have to rely solely on our power for our laptops, charging cameras, etc now due to COVID and we have had some low power days when boondocking. We really wish we could’ve had an AC unit, especially after this hot summer 😅😅 I know Sara and Alex James are now putting in AC units, so their guide may have some updates about the power for that. I can try to check!
I just found your vlog and I love it. I'm from Rapid City SD so it was interesting to see where you all decided to go in the area. My question is what do you do for a day job? You mentioned that you work while driving... I was just curious what kind of a job you had to allow for that flexibility?
Hi Jackie! Thanks so much for watching! I (Kathryn) work for a tech company doing marketing. The company is 100% remote (even before COVID), so I’m able to work from anywhere. I typically work from 6 am-3 pm and then work on our travel business (editing videos, writing travel guides, etc) afterwards. So as Adam drives, I’m doing one of those jobs!
@@AdventuresofAplusK When you mentioned the encounter with the weapon-wielding teens (playing or not), had you considered setting off the alarm in your van....maybe would have scared them away ?
Hey guy's another great vlog hope you and all your families are safe and well looking forward to seeing you back out on the road. Hopefully in the next few months I'll be able to show you my version of 4wd and camping life when Sunny and I hit the road 👍👍 stay safe.
It is wood, but it has spindles (not sure if that’s the right word?) so she can look out. We’re currently sitting in the van working and getting her used to the door being closed and it’s going better than before, so fingers crossed! 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Awesome video guys! This was so informative and I feel like one of your friends now. I can’t wait till you can hit the road again! Thanks for sharing!!!
When you talk about the grey water tank and the little valve thingy. What was that called? We are starting our van and would love to include that in the build. Thank you!! LOVE all of your videos.
Ahhh wait, I got confused. The thing we added to help with the smell is called a Hepvo waste valve. Here’s a link to the one we have! www.amazon.com/HEPVO-BV1BUB112-1-1-2-Trap/dp/B00NLMPLDU/ref=asc_df_B00NLMPLDU/
I have a question. You mentioned about your diesel heater being pre plumbed for 1/4 tank. Does that mean there is access on the new sprinters to simply hook up a heater? Is the plumbing already there?
Hi Julia! There is an extra line in the fuel tank for you to add an “accessory” like a heater. You have to do some electrical work as well, but it’s not too bad of an installation since you don’t have to drill a hole into the fuel tank.
Oh Katherine! Thanks so much! I will have to get under there and look for it. Or is there an easy way to access it? Can you help with that? I should probably read the manual! 🤦♀️
Hi Sue! For the grey water? We installed that one thing we mentioned (forgetting the name) and have maybe only smelled it twice since. And it was a HOT summer, which usually makes it worse! Super happy that we installed that 🙌🏼
Those are super hard questions to answer! Haha we definitely want to travel or have travel be a big part of our lives forever and as for kids, we have said “in 3-4 years” for about 6 years now, so we really have no idea haha
Hi you two, I feel like I know you. We love your adventures. We have a boxer, and want to taker her on our adventures. We have a 35 ' reflection. What do you do with kona, when being gone for several hours. We r going to box canyon soon and need to be sure she will be OK. For several hours. What do you do?
Hi! Thank you so much for watching! This blog post outlines what we do with Kona when we can't take her with us places. adventuresofaplusk.com/full-time-van-life-with-a-dog-tips-for-traveling-with-a-dog/ We hope that helps!
No we didn’t consider that. Not sure what the availability of them would have been. We didn’t want to be on a wait list or anything. Plus we thought the regular 2WD 4 wheel setup would be sufficient for our needs
@@AdventuresofAplusK perhaps a call to the dealer for a future upgrade. It would increase your cargo capacity plus traction and stability. It would take a day to refit your van for dual rear wheels. Just a thought. Drive safe!!
Hey Guys, I am 6'3" and looking at buying a 170" to convert for my girlfriend and I. I know Adam says he hits his head in the shower. How tall are you Adam? Hoping the high roof is tall enough in the cargo space for all the applications we will want like a shower etc. Thanks in advance.
Hi Lance! Adam is about 6 ft tall and does have a few inches of head room in the van, but the shower is a bit tighter since it's elevated a bit (we have wood slats over the shower pan which definitely reduced the shower height). If you figure out another shower flooring option it may be tall enough. Hope that helps!
@@AdventuresofAplusK Thanks very much Kathryn, really appreciate the quick response. I am hoping with a low profile ceiling and low profile flooring I will be okay as the van is supposed to be 6'7" inside the cargo area. Not being able to stand up fully would be a killer. Thanks again. Hope you guys are well!!
Of course! One option is to make a larger shower so you can have the toilet next to the shower pan instead of on top like we do. Holler at us with any other questions!
How does the dog like Van Life? What address do you give if you need to get mail/packages What about Dr and Dentist appt Have any other animals tried to get in
Kona loves it! It took some adjusting, but she really enjoys the van and getting to go on more hikes than normal! We use my parent’s address for all mail and if we need to order something we use Amazon lockers. We also have dentists and some doctors in Austin and we try to time any appointments for when we know we will be back there. I do have a virtual doctor I see for some health issues, so her and I have Zoom dates. And we can use a virtual doctor with our insurance too! Thankfully no animals have tried to get in! That would be scary!
My husband and I so enjoy all your videos; we are slowly working our way through them (I dread the day we find ourselves with no new episodes to watch). We are getting close to retirement age (late 50s and mid-60s), so we're looking at doing this in the not-too-distant future (not the RU-vid part, just the happy wandering part). You guys are teaching us a lot of travel tips, and we're so grateful! On another note, your Montana adventure with the gun-toting teens...is not too surprising for the area. We live next door (North Dakota), and guns are just a part of life for most people out here. Definitely, your teenaged visitors were showing a not-too-surprising (age- and hormone-related, no doubt) lack of general wisdom, in their hijinks with you guys so close, but, as you already mentioned, they couldn't see in your windows, so I'm sure they didn't know anyone was in your camper. They were probably thinking how awesome it would be to have a rig like yours...hence, the "photo shoot." And I suspect they were accustomed to coming out there to shoot, with nobody around; you just happened to be there that day. I'm glad nothing came of that experience, and that you didn't let it "scare you away" from doing what you do so well!
Hey! Would the cab area be a workable CRATE space for a doggy? I can understand the fear of such a confined space under the bed/table....and it would get less circulation than a crate space. Seems that the cab could adapt for extra dog space...especially with the fan. ?? (Planning my van....looking for happy pet)
It could be, but it would be sort of narrow and would also limit the driver and passenger from getting into the back easily, which would get to be a bit frustrating I think. We still just use her regular crate behind our seat and just put it away when we are hanging out in the van and have gotten used to it more. If we could go back in time we’d incorporate it into the closet.
I’m not a super “girly girl” for a lack of a better term, so for me, it hasn’t been hard at all! I love the more minimalistic lifestyle and since I hardly ever did much to myself to get ready for the day, having the small space and less amenities hasn’t been challenging. From a safety perspective, I’m very glad I have Kona and Adam. There are so many solo female van lifers crushing it out there, it’s amazing!
