what living in a minivan is REALLY like 

What do you do exactly to make money? I'm always impressed with today's youth, stepping out on their own to be independent on their own terms.

Cracker Barrel restaurants let you sleep overnight without getting the knock. Truck stops such as Pilot, Loves, T/A etc., allow overnight parking in the front where other cars and vans park. Don’t park in the actual truck parking area. Also the ones I named have excellent showers and most have laundries.

Ive been doing "van life" for about 6 months. While there are definitely things i miss (unlimited water, internet and in house laundry) you do adjust. People adapt incredibly fast to new situations and it just becomes normal.

I was an over the road trucker for several years. I miss that life some days. Bathrooms: sometimes I'd wake up having to pee, but be parked at the back of the truck stop, it's super cold out, raining, whatever - I had a small bucket for that. I had my cat on the truck with me with me, so I always had kitty litter. I'd put in a plastic bag, throw in some kitty litter, and take care of business.

*TIP* Don't put your stuff into the dryer in a big clump straight from the washer.. if you give each article of clothes/towels a quick fling or shake individually, then toss in dryer. I guarantee it'll cut your drying time by 3 fourths and they will A lot less likely to be wrinkled when you take them out of the dryer

Collect the melted ice water to boil for the dishes. Save your water a little bit.

Girl get a 'bog in a bag' toilet. It's a tripod fold out stool with a hole in the seat. You put a bag over it and some sawdust or urine gel crystals, and it swells up. Pop it in the trash. Great for emergencies.

Maybe you should consider a backup plan with the bathroom situation just in case you get sick and cant leave your car.

One of the more genuine down to earth videos. Thanks, wish you the best

I have containers for drinkable filtered water, like what you refilled at Walmart. I also have containers for plain old tap water, which is easy to come by, that I use for washing dishes and myself, but that I don't want to drink or cook with. So I use less than ½ gallon/day of filtered water and don't need to fill up often.

Thanks for walking us through your day!! You are making this work and doing a great job!!🙂

I love how cozy your van looks!

I can’t believe this about to be my life I am nervous but exited at the same time I am sharing my journey as well you seem so cool and down to earth

I'm so glad you came to my area and have had a good experience. Enjoy the season.

Thank you for the video. Nice van and routine. Enjoy life. Stay blessed.

I use a old Windex bottle with light soap and water for cleaning dishes and such. I clean the majority off with a paper towel and then spray the light soapie water and wipe with a dish towel. It works so good. I also use it for cleaning my hands. I've been living in my van for 11 years and I lived in my Nissan for 6 years before the van.

You can be comfortable in a car or suv or van if you make a good sleeping surface. I have a chevy express high top. I do fine with a fluffy rug on the floor an air mattress and soft quilts or comfortors for sleeping. I live in a warm climate and do fine with a small fan power station and 12 volt refrigerator. I use black out curtains and can easily move into the drivers seat if i need to relocate from one area to another efficiently. Keep it light simple and convenient. I camp and travel with two tiny toy chuahuas. Were a happy trio.

Great video! Enjoy & safe travels!!

Nice video I like how you explain it. Specially because your simple. Best of luck and stay safe 💜

Awesome video! If you’re ever in Charlotte again and need a recharging spot you’re always welcome. Have a great year and stay safe!

The fact that you are doing this in the East is so rad! Awesome vibe and great content.

Motivating, thanks for your video! I learned a bit

Julia, you can look online for springs where you can fill your water. The best water!!

Thanks for the look into your day. Be well little one.❤

I wish you the best shorty, and hope you can get yourself into a better situation.

Life is short! Everyone's idea of an adventure is different. :) I stumbled across your channel and though we lead two different lives - I'm cheering you on!

Awesome video! Love it

The purple pitcher (PPAid) is the best thing I’ve found for going on the go, it’s anatomically perfect for women’s physiology. Combine with a chux pad for additional security catches any splashes and pour into a jug for later disposal. I appreciate your tour and walking us through a day in the life. I am practicing for the day when I can no longer afford to pay rent.

Dude this was relaxing to watch,I get soooo paranoid with other van lifers freaking talking loud specially at night ! Like do they not realize people walking by can listen to them? Ick !

Happy to have found your channel ❤

Nice set-up,stay safe little one.❤

You Americans adapt so well to situations. I'm Australian. Ive adapted because I've had to. But I haven't done it with the same positive outlook.

I looooove this video!!!

Hi there just stumbled across this video very interesting great content looking forward to seeing the next episode safe travels

You were in my neck of the woods at Shenandoah National Park. I love living here, its a gorgeous area.

Keep going Julia. Blessings 🎉

easier said than done, right? ahhaha ... love it Julia! keep us posted

That was a great video..So much infomation in it..I'v lived in Charlotte for years and i loved it..I'll be coming down there soon this summer for a while..If ur in ohio feel free to stop in and camp/hang out a few days in my back yard..And we can look over ur van and make sure it keeps running good for you...BeSafe..

This is a great video. One thing i would say as just an onlooker and never having done van life before, wouldnt it be easier and less stressful on you to find somewhere to park the van so you didnt have to move so much? For example, a public parking lot within a couple minutes walk from the gym, shopping and where you go to do work. Stay there for as long as you can until someone tells you to move. It eliminates being worried about where you are going to sleep that night and spends less gas etc.

Happy Thanksgiving. I always enjoy day in the life of folks that live out of their vehicle. You seem to be more and more comfortable in van life.

This is awesome video stay safe out there.

Best of luck and be safe . Our prayers are with you from California 🙏

Awesome video!

I love your channel and your videos. I wish you and success in building this channel. Keep giving us some great videos. you stay safe hydrated and And healthy.

I ALWAYS find water spigots near gas filling stations - it's USUALLY free - may need an inline hose filter or filtration pitcher - works well for bulk water (cleaning, bathing & cooking)...

Advantage of being in the States is that are contrasting climates which must make it a better for choosing where to be in certain seasons as you say. In the UK you wouldn't want to be in Scotland in the winter but even in the extreme south it could still be pretty cold.

You are a treasure Julia🌻 Well done. I'm subscribing. You're sweet and calm🌷 Ive been vanlife living for 2.5 decades! During covid i got an oceanfront studio condo in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida yet i live 20x more by living vanlife style. I also have a Toyota Sienna and keep it simple, clean, organized, and it's not difficult and offers a lot of freedom💥 Sending you waves of calm love🎶 Great presentation Julia👍👍

Enjoyed this. Ty!

super cute and nice van

Nice video! You are living a great life! We have something in common; traveling in a Toyota Sienna minivan. We have a 2022 Sienna XSE Hybrid but the big difference is that we tow a 3,000 lb. travel trailer with ours! We bought the van in Jan. 2022 and the TT in Nov. 2022 and since purchase of the RV, we have travelled to 25 states and put almost 16,000 miles on the RV. Our longest road trip was from central FL to Washington state, and back in the summer 2023. We have gathered tons of content and will be posting videos on YT soon documenting our travels. Take care and safe travels!

New subscriber here. I enjoyed your video & your experiences shared. Before I ask any questions, I’ll check out your past videos for info. Stay safe, stay healthy, cheers, Mo in NJ

OMG someone else n a 1st gen sienna!! I just started about a month ago in mine. Build is really coming along! Its all ways great to find inspiration from others but very few people use our van so happy to have found this! Peace

Great job!!!

Be glad you went south, lol. Virginia is freaking cold right now! I love Charlotte! There is so much to see and do there. This was the first video of yours I've seen. I'm going to subscribe and watch your adventures unfold. Stay safe!

Visible is verizon. I've used it for 2 n 1/2 years. It is a great option. Glad I came across your video. Safe travels. From AZ, a big hello. 😊

You do you girly. Ima thinking sleeping in my van as trail see how I like it🌻

Adventure of a lifetime:) Good luck. I did a similar thing, but out of a sedan and only for a month visiting national parks. But I TOTALLY feel you.

Anyone in cold environments I suggest a mr heater propane heater. On low setting it can warm your vehicle, high if it is extremely cold. You will have to crack two windows though. Because it will shut off if the oxygen level gets too low. On low setting a 20 pound tank will last two weeks

An interesting and informative video. There seems to be many options for travellers/vanlifers when it comes to getting access to essential things like water, restroom and laundry facilities. As you are currently traveling in cooler places do you ever have issues with things getting damp inside the car from condensation build-up?

Liked your video so much I subscribed. ^_^ I do the library thing too. Visible is great. I was on Mint mobile and they say unlimited data but it is unusable once you reach the cap. On Visible I have never had that happen. One thing I noticed with using Visible as a hotspot is that it only allows one connection at a time. I've been on the road since 2013. Yay van life!

Love the video! You should try putting down a layer of dry ice wrapped in some butcher paper at the bottom of your cooler. The ice you pour over it will stay solid and cold for a ridiculous amount of time, especially considering how well insulated that cooler is. A trick I picked up camping one 4th of July. Stay safe out there!

Happy Thanksgiving late, nice to meet you 😊

You can use the water from you cooler to wash up, wash dishes etc instead of dumping it out. That gives the ice a double use with less waist.

I love this

Loved this Video, liked and subscribed...more,🤩 please!

I really enjoyed this video. You explain well and are calm which i appreciate cause so many youtubers are loud and fake as hell lmao

i use the $50 round amazon single use portable toilet fyi. great footrest and not uncomfortable. ive heard the square seat ones are more comfortable but cant confirm.

I would love to try this!!! I'm a big stealth camping follower! Frederick from South Carolina!!!

I love Granola & a nice thick greek yogurt. I also love to add fresh berries. Parfait style is my jam.

Good luck your van life julia

New subscriber, looking forward to seeing your adventures. So excited to see young people living their dreams. Got married, kids, career at a fast pace when I was young. I do enjoy watching vanlife vids. Hubby is 6'6" so vanlife is really not for us! What do you do for income? I will probably go watch some older videos and get some answers.

You are so adorable Julia!

I liked the video as soon as you hit that Im clean transition

I think that saves much space for people, using public restrooms. Also a much healthier option. And for food for me i would probably find public food sources such as restaurants to save space for storage and bedding. My ideas might not be conventional, however food goes bad really easily, so snack food stuffs, might be the best option for me.

Your videos are amazing and you are so brave. Sending love from RIO!!!!!!!

Hi. I’m new subscriber Thanks for the iOverlander tip and great suggestions on how and where to get things done lol. I’ve just sold my house and bought an older conversion van. Going over it mechanically and cleaning it up and will be heading out on the road soon. I’m retired long haul Trucker and looking forward to this new adventure. Maybe see you out there. 👍🏻✌🏻

Have you seen those collapsable mini washing machines. Very small but it might be useful. Just to was out one or two items would dry fast on a sunny day. I like the mini washer , I think it cleans well. Might save you money.

I"m glad you shower 6 times a week, I've always wondered about some van lifers how often they shower.

awesome video!

Florida has nice tropical, warm weather😏🏝🏞🛣

I live in a mini-van during the workweek and go back to my condo outside of commuting range on the weekend. The secret to camping in the city is stealth. I don't go to the sleeping spot until dusk, I black out all the windows and I have headphones so I can play music movies without making much noise. I also have a 6 am job so I leave the sleeping spot by about 5:30am before alot of people wake up. I like to park on residential streets at night because its quieter and safer and I can park my minivan almost anyhwere if I'm stealthy its alittle harder to park on the really rich streets those people are more picky. If I had to park somewhere for the weekend I might drive alittle more outside of the city to a park or forest.

I live in my Sienna too. ‘01. Awesome life.

Happy thanksgiving. Looking at getting a minivan like the one you have because affordable. I found something called a steering wheel tray/table thaat looks usefull.

I think the weather would be a big issue, especially the heat cars can get so hot. I don’t think I could ever live in my car in the summer. I’d rather be in my car when it’s cold cause I can always bundle up.

New subscriber, great video, your very talented!

"i dont have anything to .. manipulate the weather in here" 😂 idk why but that made me laugh

Also road tip, you can always find a hotel for a bathroom usually and clean!!!

Good for you....GREAT VIDEO...

When I first dreamed of such a life, there were no minivans, no super-stores with gigantic parking lots, national gym memberships, etc. As close as I got was an early 1970's mini pickup (Datsun, Toyota, Mazda, Ford Courier) - mine was a Mazda B1600 with a canopy (topper) and a carpeted plywood platform over the wheels. If I'd stretched out completely it would kick the window out of the canopy lid. ;^) A few nights in the cold, hunting for a bathroom, air mattress deflating, cooking in the rain and the dream didn't excite any more. If it could have worked for me, income would come via street busking or solo lounge gigs - folk music on acoustic guitar was still popular then. Fifty years later, there is still an appeal of van life - not overnighting - but traveling - something more comfortable to rest while on a road trip or to lie down while taking my spouse to a long doctor appointment or shopping. Glad your video came across my recommended feed. Do take care and be safe. Hoping you have a network of friends and fellow travelers to practice community safety. That would have been a real problem for me - a flaming introvert who prefers the mountain top or deep woods experience where not another soul is in sight.

One of the best and cleanest place to use the bathroom is office buildings. Usually if they have around 3 to 5 stories there is one on every floor.

Hello, new subscriber here and I must say, “I really enjoyed your video vlog!” Blessings and Merry Christmas!🎄🎁

Love it

I just found your channel. Great content. New sub today . Happy trails

Great video 😊👍🏽💕🇦🇺 Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Have you thought about tinting your windows ? It will help shield you a little more 👍🏽 it’s like sunglasses for your car 😊

I just started van life is quite har for me need all of the tips i can get

*Situational awareness is your friend*

I have a box of Travel Janes. Can't attest to their actual use yet because I keep them for emergencies but they've gotta be better than a water bottle

Stay safe!

Honestly...some kind of toilet... even just 4 emergencies is a must and makes the difference between living in your vehicle and merely existing. With all the options, there's no excuse 2 not have one. Like auto insurance....it only takes neading it and not having it once, 2 make you regret not having it.

Nice informative video .........................thanks .....................