When Van Life (Actually) Sucks

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Sometimes van life is rainbows and butterflies, and sometimes it's ...not 🙃
This one is pretty different from my usual videos...a series of not-so-pretty moments from the road these past couple of months. Ya'll encouraged to me share, so this one is for you! Thanks for being here ♡
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Hey :) I’m Christian Schaffer, and I’ve lived on the road full-time since May 2018. This journey began in 2013 when I left the corporate world to build my career as an outdoor adventure & travel photographer. After 14 months of SUV living - I bought the van I now call home. Van life enables me to experience and document the beauty of our natural world, while also having my home and office nearby. My hope is that by sharing my own personal highs and lows along this (sometimes) wild journey, you might be inspired to hit the road or spend more time outdoors. Maybe one day I'll see you out on that open road 🚐
#solofemale #vanlife #solotravel
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*My van is a 2019 Ram ProMaster 1500 High Roof, 136" WB with 65K miles*
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Опубликовано:

8 май 2024

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Комментарии : 1,8 тыс.

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Hiii! I forgot to mention - if you’d rather leave a question anonymously, I’ll be posting on my IG story (@christianschaffer) later today and you can submit it there. Hope you’re all having a great day, see ya soon :)

@annadarian1353 13 дней назад

Question for the birthday Q&A - what is happening with the Washington home/land purchase??

@tammyinman1699 13 дней назад

Maybe but it doesn’t seem wise on his part to do it like that 🤷🏻‍♀️

@pumpedupone 13 дней назад

Will watch tonight! Yeah buddy!

@opianstate 13 дней назад

hey, I'm sure you already correlated the two, but if you do have mice it's possible the electrical gremlins are due to the mice chewing through wires. It's happened to a couple friends of mine

@BarbraAllbritton-bs7qy 13 дней назад

Hope your birthday and the coming year are filled with beauty. Thanks for sharing. ❤

@robertcooper6910 13 дней назад

I’m a retired police officer. Please pick up the phone and call the police if there’s someone of concern next time. It costs nothing and will definitely ease your mind. Furthermore the driver of that van could be of interest to authorities.

@chrisd078 13 дней назад

Thank you for your service and good advice to share!

@michaelmitten2977 13 дней назад

Great advice. You never know if things will go wrong with the next person he approaches.

@istvanbally2817 13 дней назад

Agree with you totally. 👍

@dr.shneedlwoods 13 дней назад

Or, that driver was the unmarked authorities, investigating some shady stuff going on in parked vans (with solo female travellers).

@tammyinman1699 13 дней назад

Amen!!!!

@megaradtron 6 дней назад

That same exact thing with the van in a parking lot happened to me in California! My husband and I were stealth camping in our car and a van kept circling our car specifically (even with a ton of other cars in the lot). I felt so unsafe and couldn't help but feel like it could be part of a human trafficking scheme. I convinced my husband to go elsewhere. We took a very long, round-about way to get to our next spot just to be safe! Always trust your gut!

@straytenwhitenormell7759 10 дней назад

NEVER roll down your window when a stranger approaches! Pull out and leave!!

@Andthecheesestandsalone 3 дня назад

yeah, really unintelligent set of decisions that could have costed her life 🤦‍♀️

@tablescissors67 3 дня назад

@@Andthecheesestandsalone If she is telling us the absolute truth and this was not a set-up of any kind, then I agree. This absolutely could’ve been a real situation, but online you have to question things since things didn’t proceed logically and there was a lot that we did not see off camera.

@charlottegunning1548 День назад

Yes! I'd have left after 15 minutes of his behavior! That's One of the Beauties of VA life,you don't like your neighbors you Leave n get new ones! Glad you survived but in future Don't take chances.❤

@desitinywaits4u 5 дней назад

Never ever stay ! That uneasy feeling you get tries to protect you .....Leave immediately !

@JRao 13 дней назад

1st option: Call the police (as mentioned by previous commenter). 2nd option: Leave much sooner (before dark) and drive toward a police station. 3rd option: Park next to the other female vanlifer (safety in numbers) - maybe pull out together.

@Powerstroke98 9 дней назад

All good options, and with me yelling at my computer screen asking Christian to call the police, didn't seem to work!

@davidgabrie1302 11 дней назад

My Aunt and Uncle, in their early 60’s were in their Motorhome stopped at a Rest Area, heading home from Washington to California on I5. A truck with two guys pulls up to them. They lift up the hood of their truck and they both start knocking on the door. My Uncle opens the door and he says they were very scruffy guys. The taller man asks if they can borrow some oil, and my Uncle says that they don’t have any oil. The other guy says that he doesn’t believe that and wants to check himself… they both begin to enter into the Motorhome. Their first step inside they stopped dead in their tracks and backed out. They had a full grown German Shepherd that growled at them, with teeth showing…. My Uncle did his best to keep the dog from lunging at both of them. The two guys went back inside their truck, and my Aunt and Uncle made it safely home. We are sure Brandy saved the day and possibly their lives. Soon after that they decided to stop RV ing.

@Powerstroke98 9 дней назад

That would have been great, to have gotten their license plate number, and let the police know what happened!

@MaureenTheTemp 5 дней назад

Good dog! Hope Brandy got ALL the treats!!!

@sultanciarra11 3 дня назад

A happy ending. Doggie saves the day! Dogs have their instincts turned on high and that dog knew those two were up to no good.

@lalylunssporadicchronicles6404 3 дня назад

I’ve had a few mouse in my van mostly in the fall… so I bought a live trap with a window got rid of the sticky killing pad that I find barbaric and replaced it with a sheet of paper to line the floor of the trap, i then smeared some peanut butter and cheese doodle and chips…. I caught 3 mouse that night and released them. Later I got more in the last 4 years but that trap is perfect I catch them in a matter of hours they cant resist the smell of the cheese doodle and peanut butter. This trap is always tucked under the front seat. Also the electric system of the promaster is really bizarre and the keys can be a nightmare… Always love your vlogs!

@pinebearclub 7 дней назад

As a fifty plus male van lifer, I too will leave if I feel uncomfortable. But I leave right away! In extreme cases like this, after dudes been circling for a bit, call the police! Kudos to you for being a solo female traveller, I wish you didn’t have to live in fear of us guys, it does really suck to see and as I guy, experience. Stay safe! Bryan from Vancouver

@MyTi824 4 дня назад

I feel for you. I’ve had those days yoo

@pounepoune1 5 дней назад

Former police officer here & former RV living traveler; take a pic of the license plate and call the police! Don’t move until the cops show up.

@tablescissors67 3 дня назад

A+ advice here in the COMMENTS, confront only if there are no other options, otherwise anonymity is important. Keep as much as you can. ESPECIALLY if you are not armed (perhaps that is something else she meant by “getting aggressive” if she told him she was armed and all of this happened exactly as it was portrayed).

@tomriley5790 10 дней назад

For that van - take a photo of the license plate and call the cops, if you did and have a photo of it it might be worth sending it to them now. He might have been inocent or getting up the courage to say hello but he might also have been planning something worse.

@tablescissors67 3 дня назад

Nah, nobody “innocent” behaves like that. That’s not working up courage, that’s mentally ill and stalking.

@ihi35 10 дней назад

If someone really follows you, drive straight to the nearest police station

@KiwiCatherineJemma 4 дня назад

Another option if someone is following, and there is no police station nearby, is to drive at appallingly slow speed. Such as about 5 mph, 10 mph at the most. Obviously with 4 way flashers on. Almost all burglars, robbers and bad people, simply do not have the patience to drive that slowly. If on some kind of motorway or freeway, police will attend much faster, to come and give a person a traffic ticket for driving too slowly, than they would attend if you phone 9-1-1 and claim a man with a gun is trying to kill you. Unfortunately all too often, USAmerican Police exist mostly to fit up innocent people, steal their stuff under "Civil Asset Forfeiture" or shoot dead innocent people.

@rixanneh18 3 дня назад

First time watching your videos. Solo van lifer as well since 2018. Tips: High wind, park the van with the nose pointing into the wind. It will minimize the shaking. Circling vultures, third circle = 911 and to hell with the parking/sleeping place. "I'm not supposed to be here (or doing something) so I'm not calling the police" is one of the worst decisions we can make, I've made it myself and had a similar outcome, and resolved to do things differently. There are plenty of other parking spots but only one of you. Love your honesty

@m_collins 13 дней назад

Make sure the mice aren't eating your wires. Check for a phantom drain on your battery.

@stevederr4927 12 дней назад

Sounds like a parasitic drain/draw that’s killing the battery. Shop should be able to diagnose and fix.

@tablescissors67 3 дня назад

@@stevederr4927 Yeah, would’ve been nice to get a conclusion on that. I came here for the stalker that was advertised, but felt very baited overall by the video.

@theburtseoni 9 дней назад

Mr Smith and Mr Wesson are always good traveling companions!

@davidwebb1832 2 дня назад

My thoughts as well but my friends goes by Mr. Sturm and Mr. Ruger. I suggested she carry bear spray and or wasp and hornet spay if she doesn't want to carry a freedom stick. Also, the wasp spray reaches some 10 to 15 feet and is very effective when hitting the face and is not banned anywhere. I carry both.

@user-mj1lh1iy4x День назад

I really appreciate your brutal honesty when it comes to showing what you deal with from weather, electrical challenges, vermin and creeps. Please stay safe out there and never second guess your internal alarm bells, because if your gut tells you something isn't right, it most likely isn't.

@bmountainstate 6 дней назад

I think its one of my fav video of yours, raw, roughly edited, and showing what no one really talks about Van Life

@kookiedabear 12 дней назад

NEVER take the risk, especially at night or when alone. After the 3rd time, even I would have called the police to investigate. With each time he came around and stopped, he was building up his courage to do something you would not like, which is why your hackles were raised. Always trust your instincts, that's why they exist.

@garryhoward2793 2 дня назад

I almost want there to be a van community in every state - so both women and men can get help if they need it. Your information is establishing an awareness and a concensus about van to van protocol, van to pedestrial protocol and van to local police protocol. You rock! Please be safe and know that your subscribers pray for your safety.

@susan53226 10 дней назад

By the second time that guy came around and stopped next to me, I would have already been surfing for the local non-emergency police number. By the third time I would be calling. Even if you were stealth camping, chances are the cops are aware that RV’s do that there. We can’t have (and don’t want) cops everywhere all the time; they count on good, concerned citizens to help be their eyes.

@AprilJohnson34 3 дня назад

this is actually one of my favorite videos you have done... raw, real and honest. Keep a few of these coming every couple of months. I really enjoyed seeing "the real side" of van life

@mamo4678 13 дней назад

That sounds super scary. It's fine to call the police in a situation like that. Circling around for hours is not normal, it is "suspicious behavior" and that is a valid reason to call police to investigate, people do it all the time. Too often we wait until it's too late to get help to actually try and get help! Thanks for sharing some of the downsides of van life, happy birthday and stay safe!

@ReneeRidgeway 12 дней назад

Thanks for sharing all sides of living on the road🙏🏻🕊️💖stay safe we love you and your gorgeous videos of all of it!❤🕊️🤍

@mrmotofy 11 дней назад

Suspicious is not a crime though. Many innocent victims/callers have been killed by Police. 1 example I remember was in Minneapolis. Lady caller hears bloody murder screams from a woman outside. She calls police, she then goes outside at some point...shot goes off and she's dead...Officer refuses to speak under 5th Am. Been a few yrs now he's still working there. Nobody knows what happened and why he killed her in a bath robe outside.

@sunshine3914 4 дня назад

Had pretty much the same happen in front of my own house, which is just a few hundred feet from a busy highway. Guy in a gold Jag cruised by slowly, over a dozen times, while I was mowing. I live in small town where no one drives a vehicle of that caliber. Called a retired neighbor to follow him & get the plate, in the meantime he had returned 3 more times, that was when I decided that my truck was way bigger than him, & I took off. When I got back the neighbor was waiting, & as we were talking, the crazy azz approached, veered to the opposite side of the road, went through the ditch & up in the neighbor’s front yard, & exited out the ditch, never to return. I’ve had a few stalkers when I was younger, & kept a piece on me for 3 days, which weighed heavily on my mind, & that’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to wait for anyone to get beyond crazy, & not to live in fear for one second longer. They want to act crazy… I’ll show them crazy.

@robinhoward4204 13 дней назад

Please continue to post these honest accounts of van life, not just the creepy incicents but the ups and downs - like mechanical issues, vermin etc. It's always heartening to know that we van lifers and caravaners aren't alone in this. I don't think my husband and I have had one trip where something hasn't gone wrong, (brake lights not working, ant infestations, water leaks and so on) but we manage to get through it, and enjoy our travels!

@Madders23 4 дня назад

It’s great you told the story of the guy in the van. I’m a van lifer and this has happened to me on several occasions, though not the circling for several hours. Once I wasn’t even aware of being watched until a truck driver came over to check I’ve locked my van doors and warned me of the guy hanging around my van. It’s scary and people need to be aware this happens. Take care out there. ❤

@WhatAdventuresNxt 6 дней назад

The first part of your video made me feel much better about the string of bad luck I had with my van on my recent trip. Van life isn’t without its challenges! So glad you’re safe. Thanks for sharing.

@MariE-go7ol 13 дней назад

That man in that van was definitely trying to allure you out of your van. Really glad your aggressive when needed. I am too and have to be assertive when telling someone to get away from me. Afterwords, your knees always shaking . I’m glad you shared this for other women to be reminded of how to act.

@Mikemonoa-hz2rz 13 дней назад

Well if I were there he will diffently be luring me out the van real quick while she stays in the van nobody stalks my friend at all unless they want to tap out with there face in the mud lol 😅😂

@994pt4 12 дней назад

@@Mikemonoa-hz2rz exactly...I'll also state when that psycho enters my space his options narrow significantly. She did the right thing given her circumstance and luckily it worked out. I have ZERO tolerance for threats and intimidation from psychos.

@christopherbedford9897 11 дней назад

You mean lure. Allure is... uh, something else.

@_TheDudeAbides_ 10 дней назад

@@Mikemonoa-hz2rz You are such a funny dude. I hope you never meet a drug enhanced stalker with a gun.

@metalrocker627 5 дней назад

I like how women just congratulate each other and give each other pats on the back, just for doing the absolute bare fucking minimum. 🙄

@xfallofmanx 13 дней назад

Trust your instincts. I’m a guy and I’ve been in the same situation as you. It’s not just women who are at risk. I was sleeping right down the road from a guy camping in his van at Craggy Gardens when someone climbed on top of his van, pulled his air conditioner off, and jumped into his van. The camper was armed so he was able to protect himself but it was still a bad situation very close to home. We all need to be wary.

@Sarah-xw2ff 13 дней назад

That's grim.

@ChristianSchaffer 12 дней назад

Holy moly that’s scary. If someone came through my roof my first thought would be alien abduction 😅

@karencollins5287 11 дней назад

Gee thats really bad, how would you explain that to the cops?

@mrmotofy 11 дней назад

@@ChristianSchaffer Well if it was aliens they're usually looking for intelligent life. So while you may be at risk, many other wouldn't haha

@melodymerritt8419 10 дней назад

I have experienced creepy people like this as well in my travels, If you are in a city or town, I have found that if you drive to the police station or sheriff's office and just park in front of its they will drive right by and you will never see them again. Just a suggestion. Love your channel.

@denimlabels7315 11 дней назад

You didn't shut down the situation quickly enough so he kept getting bolder. Stay safe traveler!

@ViewerScott 13 дней назад

Christian, your video was a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, showcasing your resilience and authenticity in the face of adversity, inspiring viewers to navigate their own challenges with grace and determination.

@riariaria 13 дней назад

Good for you for not letting social expectations get in the way of your personal safety!! I know personally this is something I struggle with and I so admire you for your quick thinking and having the courage to protect yourself instead of worrying about the feelings of a stranger who’s acting inappropriately.

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Yeah, I was giving some grace for the first two hours but then I was like nope. This is not okay 😵‍💫

@DK-et6lm 13 дней назад

I have 3 daughters. Screw social expectations and feelings. Van dude violated every basic safety expectation. He wasn't coming up to borrow a cup of sugar for his baking....

@Mikemonoa-hz2rz 13 дней назад

I got to teach my good friend some self defense I would be grateful to do that 🙏 🙌 💯

@MyVanHaven 12 дней назад

@@ChristianSchaffer I would have lost all grace after the fourth time he started circling that lot and called the cops lol. I also kind of thought you were going to get out and go up to the other woman in the other van. Sort of make him think y'all knew each other and had planned to meet up or something, that would have scared him off I think. But I guess that also requires trusting whoever the other person might be, too.

@fredwerza3478 10 дней назад

@@MyVanHaven it's also probably a nice idea to carry a piece and next time a creepy guy approaches in the dark --- roll down window and say "talk to my friend Smith & Wesson"

@ABlissfulNomad 7 дней назад

I actually saw you a while back in the Alabama hills while I was camping. I'm a huge fan and you were an inspiration for me starting my own channel. Even so, I would have never, ever approach you. Next time there is a creeper, call the police, please.

@ChristianSchaffer 6 дней назад

Aw shoot, would have loved to say hello! Just preferably during the daytime, haha. Super humbled that I could offer some inspiration ☺️🙏🏻

@sross4933 7 часов назад

whatever you feel comfortable putting out here, we appreciate

@kimberlysix8357 10 дней назад

There should be some known communicative sign in the van life world to show it's just another van life person, looking for assistance, etc ur just trying to find a safe place, etc so people dont alarm each other.

@garyp.7501 7 дней назад

There are many ways to approach a stranger without making them afraid. Coming up in daylight from having parked at some distance. Waving a hello. Stopping well before you get close to listen to what they say, and asking for what you need from that distance. Clearly this guy did none of them, hence, my warning bells would have been going off.

@Eyesis_1 13 дней назад

Dude is a 🤬 weirdo. I definitely would've had "everything" at the ready with that type of behavior. I'm glad you stood your ground and are safe. Stay safe and TFS 🤍

@josemedeiros007 8 часов назад

Glad to hear that you were okay. Happy belated birthday.

@terryreichert8345 12 дней назад

Happy Birthday and sorry you have to deal with these issues and the creepy guy! I hope your travels are with less anxiety for the future and be safe always!

@vanlifewithsteve9875 13 дней назад

Sort of seemed like the creepy van was either a local or another vanlifer that didn't want any vans using that spot, but certainly could have also had bad intentions. I've had a couple of situations where I knew I was legally allowed to boondock and a local, without any legal authority to do anything, didn't want me there. Really surprising how protective people can be over parking lots that don't belong to them. Anyways in those cases I chose to move and get a good night's sleep instead of winning an argument. You handled the situation exactly the right way. Always follow your gut.

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Ah, could be. Well, I probably really pissed him off then because I still didn’t move even after he left 👀

@vitalyk5916 12 дней назад

I don't understand this behavior. Local or not local, what's the difference? I mean, protect, or kick someone out of essentially an empty parking lot by driving around a van for two hours?? This is some kind of idiocy! What's the point of this? You can’t even imagine that this resident doesn’t like it, that someone dared to park their van in some vacant lot, if the person has any real concerns then come up and say “leave because and because.”. Why bother with nonsense?? Considering that there are many psychopaths in your country and anyone can have a weapon in their hands, such things raise questions about the adequacy of such people, even if - He is a local and she is a “stranger.” I don't understand this.

@batvette 12 дней назад

@@vitalyk5916you dont understand some people are assholes?

@leonoragayle6783 12 дней назад

Woah, you are incredibly brave. I don’t think I could have stayed after that even if I scared him off.

@richs347 11 дней назад

I doubt that person that drive around for 2 to 3 hours is a normal individual, it's probably safer to just leave and at least drive towards a public area that there are many people around. Maybe even drive to a police station if that person decides to follow her.

@carriewestham4352 13 дней назад

I think the perception of vanlife has evolved in the last few years. It started out as a way to save money while traveling and save money on rent. Now people correctly realize it can be a money pit, especially in light of $100k "builds" and 100k RVs which require constant, expensive maintenance.

@ChristianSchaffer 12 дней назад

Overall I still save a lot of money - I would have had to replace the battery/get 60k service on a car if not my van. But yeah, I can also see your point for certain situations. $100k is quite a lot to spend on a van, especially when it’s lifespan is essentially finite and dependent on mileage

@peterchaloner6762 11 дней назад

depends on your comfort lvl alot of people do still live the super cheap vanlife i tend to think of dirtbag skaters lol :P

@peterchaloner6762 11 дней назад

or alex honnold

@SavvyShannon 11 дней назад

Also, even when you think your content or video quality isn’t good, we still love it. You’re the way you put things together is still fabulous and happy birthday.

@TuesdayNightFever 11 дней назад

What a scary situation. When this video went black my adrenaline was pumping. I’ve had similar experiences and your message is so on point …just don’t let somebody you don’t know in your space because your options narrow at that point. What a wild ride and hopefully you’ll kick your new roommate out 🐭have a blast in the mountains and the best birthday ever!

@stevecrombie5357 13 дней назад

Thank you Christian. When I tell you that you are in my prayers, that includes your safety. I can't believe it's not all rainbows, sunshine and unicorns! 😳 You have always made it real, both in your trials and the good times. I love you and I'm very glad this turned out okay. Stay safe my friend. ❤🙏

@pm1104 13 дней назад

Happy belated Birthday…..lovely! ❤

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Thank you!

@DinoEvangelista 13 дней назад

Wow! That was intense! Every time you showed him driving back around, I would yell, "Get out of there!" I am 5'10" 230lbs and I would have been on guard for sure. You handled it perfectly! Glad you are safe.

@MacroAnarchy 11 дней назад

Same, no way I would’ve stayed there, after like 20 mins it would be clear to me something’s off and not just in the socially awkward way.

@kfvernon73 12 дней назад

I can't emphasize enough how refreshing it is to see a video like this from you. Yes, all of your other videos are cinematic quality and just jaw dropping, but it's also nice to see the human side of what you do. Hope to see more "day in the life" type of stuff and always stay safe.

@andrewharris1837 13 дней назад

Your tenacity,honesty,ability not to totally freak out at can creep are amazing ❤😊

@brianjay9811 13 дней назад

I had a similar incident, though involving a woman. This oddly dressed gal, who looked to be in her late thirties, came by and sat at a bench close to my parked vehicle. She would often stand up, look my way, then walk a ways, and go back and sit on the bench. She did this repeatedly, well into the night. At one point, she got into a car, which was filled with what appeared to be clothing, blankets, boxes, etc., and drove it up and down the street. After about an hour of doing this, she stopped, got out and began the same bench routine. It was now one in the morning, and so I drove to another little town in the Appalachians to sleep. The next day, I discovered her parked near me again, and so off I went. I'll never know what that was all about...

@Star-zr4ls 12 дней назад

Secret admirer! 😂

@ChristianSchaffer 12 дней назад

She followed you?? Yikes. That’s pretty scary 😳 Glad you didn’t stick around to find out why

@vitalyk5916 12 дней назад

And what, you've been watching her all day? Maybe you are the stalker? I would approach her and ask what she wants, but your cowardice is justified, she could be an armed psychopath... Alas, this is America today... And once upon a time you hitchhiked and weren’t afraid, now it’s scary in parking lots.

@brianjay9811 12 дней назад

@@vitalyk5916 I was inside writing that evening, and would look out the window once in a while to see if she was still doing her strange thing. She looked like a Romani. Perhaps she was just hoping to meet a traveling buddy. I pray that she is okay...

@SmD-ff5xd 11 дней назад

@@vitalyk5916Did you not literally just watch Christian watch someone for hours, then not approach them to ask them what they want? Have you made a comment and inferred that she was the stalker in this video? I'm sure & hope that's not how you meant your comment to come off, but it's quite nasty to victim blame like this, especially when reinforcing double standards when it comes to how male & female victims are treated. Have a good day.

@benridin1259 12 дней назад

Yet another great video! Your editing, music selection and cinematography are always a joy to experience. Thanks so much for sharing, I know most all of social media is curated for all the beautiful and funs things so it's nice to see some real experiences although I hate hearing about that last part. Super scary and I'm so glad you're alright! Happy belated bday!!

@prolificnorthwest 12 дней назад

So sorry that happened to you! That’s really messed up! You do such great work and I’m glad that both shared this experience and were still critical of your own work at the same time. That speaks volumes, though mostly glad that you are ok. No one deserves to be put in those types of situations.

@jkallen58 13 дней назад

Please call the police after the 3rd circle attempt. Don't hesitate!

@LCLand 13 дней назад

That’s the number I came up with too! 😊

@thomaslanders2073 13 дней назад

No. If the driver is Black calling the police is effectively a death sentence. It almost as if people have learned nothing from the George Floyd incident 🤔

@freedomspirit9521 12 дней назад

Or just start following them, and show them you have a nice toy for self defense(if applicable)...off they go, problem solved. They don't want risk being exposed. However if this occurs in isolated wilderness areas, where it's us and them, 3 friends and I will immediately take the offensive, staring with scare tactics, which have been 100% effective.

@MOTrav 13 дней назад

Problems keep you on edge and makes choice words fly from your mouth. I locked my keys in the truck once while I was alone in the mountains. Had to break in through a window. Keep upgrading safety backup features to be prepared. Wishing you good luck going forward! We all need a little luck. 😎

@user-jb7vr2uj4n 13 дней назад

Christian, sorry you went through this! Happy belated Birthday, do try to take a day and enjoy your self. We are so glad you were born!

@outcast3397 12 дней назад

Appreciate you and all that you've created🙌💕 Thankyou

@LCLand 13 дней назад

Thanks for sharing your current reality. Yes we are here for you for all of it! You share such beauty with us. We will. Certainly support you in these more challenging times ♥️🙏🏼✝️🥂

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

😊🙌🏻

@capsytb 13 дней назад

Happy birthday and thank you for the videos, you're an inspiration!

@PioneeringFreedom 11 дней назад

Happy Belated Birthday Christian! Love ur content 💯 especially the raw stuff. Stay safe🤙

@Veg_Van 12 дней назад

It's admirable how you stay calm in such situations! Happy birthday!

@Cemeh49 12 дней назад

Happy Birthday Christian, wish You stay well and safe!

@fastneataverage 13 дней назад

Way to take care of yourself and get out of there Christian. I've been living in my van for a few years and even as a dude I can relate to the heightened spidey senses when things feel sketchy. There were moments while staying in my van in the middle of nowhere Mexico where I have felt it. All valuable lessons learned. Keep staying safe.

@freedomspirit9521 12 дней назад

Mexico is not where you want to be, living this way. 3 friends and I tried that once as well, mostly in remote wilderness areas...never again. Am thankful you had no direct encounters.

@anneyoung2310 13 дней назад

Happy belated birthday to you. Thanks for adding light to our world.

@torgundal 10 дней назад

I love how honest and real you are, its very refreshing. Dont change Christian

@thureinphyo9768 13 дней назад

The way you were so happy when the engine started, I felt it through the screen! It was so contagious. I was so happy too. Sometimes when it rains, it pours. And that’s ok. It happens to the best of us.

@thureinphyo9768 13 дней назад

Keep your chin up!

@TheCreateOutdoors 13 дней назад

Just some quick tips for the battery light issue: Usually the battery light means the charging system has malfunctioned, not necessarily the battery. This means you would have an issue with your alternator: it isn't charging the battery or isn't charging it fast enough. Your software findings might be the issue, so I wouldn't rule it out. Also, when you use a jump pack or jumper cables, you want to put the positive on first, not the negative. Since they are jump packs you probably had them off when you connected them to the battery and then turned it on, but it's good practice to get into by doing positive first. Hope that helps! P.S. Happy Belated Birthday!

@mrmotofy 11 дней назад

It really doesn't matter which

@TheCreateOutdoors 11 дней назад

@@mrmotofy maybe not with a jump pack but yes if you are doing jumper cables between two cars

@RT300Z1 10 дней назад

Happy Birthday! Keep up the great work, thanks for sharing this video and the potential concerns, and above all; continue to stay safe along with the enjoyment of life.

@ourworldwithjessy 9 дней назад

More videos like this please!! :) I'm SO happy your safe girl. Gosh, you had my heart pumping as I've been in VERY creepy situations before too.

@meganjoelyn2207 13 дней назад

First, the point where the key would not come back out of the ignition actually made me snort laugh. Second, good job with the creeper. Lastly...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!🎉

@CodyBunker 13 дней назад

Something that woke me up to how dangerous it is for women is after my dad died and i started taking my mom to the store or to run errands. When i would leave my mom to go look at things and come back to see how she was doing i would catch guys being aggressive towards her. I almost lost a membership to a place because i pushed a guy down and ran over him with his shopping cart but the store reviewed footage and saw how he treated my mom. Makes me angry to see how men act out there. Glad you were able to get yourself out of that situation and i hope you and your van are alright.

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Woah! So sorry your Mom was treated that way, that’s awful. 😳 Man, I try to picture my Mom being messed with and I honestly think she’d punch a man to the ground. I’d probably even wager a wolf wouldn’t stand a chance now that I think about it 😂

@CodyBunker 13 дней назад

@ChristianSchaffer 🤣your mom is tough! My mom is so small and shy. Honestly I never realized how dangerous things could get for women. I used to be one of the "not all men are bad" type of guys but now I just think most men are stupid or terrible. Lol. There's a few good ones but you really gotta be careful.

@LilyWasHereMB 12 дней назад

You can take the man out of the cave but ...

@JoshuaBates01 11 дней назад

You ran over him with his own shopping cart 😂😂😂 that's so funny and so awesome lol

@SmD-ff5xd 11 дней назад

I'm fully convinced america is an open air mental health secure unit at this point

@joeaverage5347 12 дней назад

OMG! Very riveting episode!!! Now, THAT is van LIFE! Beautiful runs on a beach is neat, but this episode shows the real of everyday! Love it! Maybe keep your award-deserving regular pieces, and add a "scrappy real life" a couple times a month? You have best BEST van life channel on the internet!!!

@LittleSimGoesWild 13 дней назад

Thanks for sharing some of the tough moments! All very important shares. Stay safe Christian.

@Vas0424 13 дней назад

Happy Belated Birthday, Christian! It's great to see both sides of van life as I'm strongly considering it myself so the more information I have about both the good, and bad, experiences, the better. Thanks for sharing! Also, glad that the creepy person took heed of your warning and that you don't encounter situations like that frequently. It was a very odd one, at minimum.

@OffGridBackcountryAdventures 13 дней назад

9:00 - people can be so strange sometimes! What a creeper, glad everything worked out okay.

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

It was so weird! Just glad it didn’t happen in a remote location. It’s always the cities where I have issues lol

@abc123450009 13 дней назад

Did you consider calling police? I thing I would do that!

@triedproven9908 13 дней назад

I want to say the guy had ocd or something but these days you never know, he should have known better than to approach your vehicle and you handled the situation right. U can get some sticky traps for the mouse and doubling up on batteries should knock out any lack of power issues. You'd need to add a bank controller to control the charge and switch parameters though.

@thecrewdarioo 13 дней назад

I think maybe is a driving lesson, I used to go with my dad and learn to drive in circles xd in a parking lot

@jeffharrison6059 13 дней назад

Trying to find a logical explanation - perhaps his house batteries were dead and needed to drive around to charge them on an alternator. After not being successful for hours, he became desperate as he had an important work meeting that he would be fired if he missed. He began walking around, asking others if he could plug in to their systems to charge. Other explanation: a crazy person.

@karamckaraton 13 дней назад

I'm so sorry for all of the issues but I'm really happy to see you share the real side of van life!!! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@ChristianSchaffer 12 дней назад

Thank you! 🤍

@ib516 12 дней назад

Happy birthday! Good job listening to your instincts.

@EarlAlvinDaniels 13 дней назад

All this going on and you still take the time/energy to share it with us. Bless you 🙏

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

Thanks for taking time to watch it! 😊

@Oliver-momma 13 дней назад

Happy belated birthday! Listen to your gut every time and I am glad you are safe!

@robertcannellos6880 11 дней назад

I’ve had similar van problems starting at year 6 (having to replace my inverter now; ugh!) the repairs seem to come in bunches and the ram battery lasts 5 years. Great job with your intuition with the creeper van; and not letting the driver get close to your vehicle. Thank you for being so transparent with the “not so fun stuff” and happy belated birthday!! 🎉

@CloudTree4X4 13 дней назад

Safety always comes first! We hope you always have a safe and enjoyable van life adventure. Happy belated Birthday~~🎂🎉♥

@ChristianSchaffer 12 дней назад

Thank you! 🥳

@ashleygarrett7926 13 дней назад

I absolutely loved this video! I really enjoy your aethetic style, but it's nice to see vlogs of raw real life sometimes.

@JackieBrown111 13 дней назад

This is by far and wide THE most chaotic video you’ve ever posted! So many issues you had to deal with… I’m glad nothing too drastic happened, especially with the creepo in the other van. Happy belated birthday 🎂 🥂

@rickmiller3569 13 дней назад

Happy birthday Christian. Love your wide range of art, visually, artistickley, beautiful. Sorry to see you endure that sad sack of a stalker. Sad. Glad you shared, with us. Safe travels, Rick

@daboyup2nogood 13 дней назад

This is why I carry when I go overlanding. Never know who or what animals might be lurking out there.

@DMAC1301 12 дней назад

From a 65 year old woman please hear this. Just because someone wants to speak to you does not mean they have that right. This idea that we must be polite is crazy to me. That belief is what allows us to get into dangerous or unwanted situations. I heard you giving many acceptable reasonings as to why it would have been acceptable but Darling it was not. The behavior itself took away any and all reasons that he would have had any reason to come up to you let alone speak to you.

@howareyou857 10 дней назад

True. Post menopause especially, women literally don't give a flying one who they offend if its necessary. Something to do with a decline in estrogen 😂

@Irishmoonshine 7 дней назад

Totally agree. We don't have to pander to strangers

@Euronymphflyfishing 5 дней назад

Total Karen comment.

@I_Am_SciCurious 3 дня назад

@@EuronymphflyfishingTotal creepy weirdo who feels entitled to foist his unwanted attention on utterly uninterested people comment.

@I_Am_SciCurious 3 дня назад

Absolutely. You don’t owe a single thing to any stranger who approaches you.

@tstjohn777 12 дней назад

Happy belated birthday, Christain. 🎂 🎉. Hope you had a great time. Alwsys in my prayers. Stay safe. ❤

@Kpnitreal 13 дней назад

Happy Birthday Christian! Have a wonderful day!!🫶🪴🌟

@RodRuth 13 дней назад

I'm glad you didn't approach the creeper. That would have been a mistake, and could have gone wrong very quickly. In my opinion, the best way to handle that situation is to first grab your self-defence device, and then call the police. After the police arrive and deal with the situation, tell them your concern about being followed. They would either escort you out, or hold the creeper back until you've had plenty of time to drive safely away from the area. Also, depending on the situation, the police might have charged him with stalking, and arrested him. Listen to your gut feeling Christian, it is usually correct.

@user-pz5mu4rd8w 13 дней назад

You need to get a mace spray and keep it at the front of the van.

@debbiechristiansen7130 12 дней назад

No matter if you’re a traveler or your stationary , it pays to be wary & have a plan of defence. I could share some personal stories that would make your hair stand on end but I certainly pray that you drill yourself on how you will handle the what ifs before you are in any true need of action. Giving people the benefit of doubt is just sadly not wise now days. Stay safe & hope you at least had a great birthday. Your video’s are just lovely.

@vidulawijesinghe6251 10 дней назад

Please stay safe Christian and Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you had an awesome one!

@kellymorvant 13 дней назад

Wow, I’m sorry you had these crazy issues. I’m glad you are safe. Happy belated birthday! Stay safe.🎂

@jeffharrison6059 13 дней назад

Already a new video by Miss Schaffer? Making my mid-week blues better ❤

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

😊🙌🏻

@triedproven9908 13 дней назад

When she say's the angle is unflattering and you realise she doesn't have any bad angles even on lack of sleep. 👍

@cathycharles8851 10 дней назад

I am sorry, but you made a big mistake. After he drove around for 30 or 45 minutes, you should’ve been gone. You waited until you almost could’ve been killed. Nothing that you did was correct in that circumstance. At the very least, you should have called the police department and had them ride through. The other police officer is 100% correct. Law enforcement may have been watching or looking for him for numerous things. He may have assaulted women in the past, and if you had called the police department, they would’ve been able to catch him. That’s a life lesson. I’m retired police and really cannot believe that you made the decisions that you did. I’m very thankful to the Lord that you’re OK and you’re still alive. I hope this taught you a lesson that you learned from and you will never put yourself in a situation like that again in the future. You stay safe and God bless.

@v.9802 2 дня назад

What if you call the police and just tell them the plate number and the model, will they check right away if this person is suspicious, with felonies, ect and tell you to drive away or lock yourself or they'll just tell you that they are sending a unit?

@cathycharles8851 2 дня назад

The person in the vehicle may not be the registered owner of that vehicle. You need to immediately leave where you are while calling the police and you can ask the dispatcher to have an officer meet you at a certain location and give them all the information that you have. You cannot lock yourself in good enough where nobody can get to you. Always call the police in any uncertain circumstance. That is what they are there for to help you. Stay safe and God bless.

@no_worries_van 12 дней назад

Glad you are ok! Keep us updated as always!

@kenmason9354 12 дней назад

Thanks for keeping it real and showing good time's and bad. Happy birthday 🎉🎉👍

@AndyNC 13 дней назад

You are always so calm and relaxed. Even in stressful moments you don't freak out. Your presence is so captivating and tranquilizing... like a sundown at the ocean. I like it that you show the rather unhappy moments in Van Life too. Edit: My birthday is in 6 days. Happy Taurus People.

@Sarah-xw2ff 13 дней назад

Andy, Oh brother.

@AndyNC 13 дней назад

@@Sarah-xw2ff yes?

@vitalyk5916 12 дней назад

this is creepy dude! I'm already thinking it could have been you in that car)

@AndyNC 12 дней назад

@@vitalyk5916 What's creepy about making a compliment about her calm personality? I wrote that comment related to the battery issues. Are we that far that we can't something nice anymore without getting judged and criticized?

@clintsuttonillustrationani1461 11 дней назад

@@AndyNC Bro, keep complimenting people. This fool couldn't spot a compliment from a zit. I am sure his virtue signalling will gain him some more feminist points. A guy should be able to pay a woman compliments without everyone thinking its' creepy.

@nutsbutdum 13 дней назад

Time to get a cat :)

@ChristianSchaffer 13 дней назад

hahaha

@tommyflanagan2050 13 дней назад

Not a smelly one tho

@lynwill9946 13 дней назад

My 10 pound terrier is a beast!. Mice are terrified. Especially when the weather cools and mice are seeking shelter in one’s home.

@lyfandeth 12 дней назад

A miniature schnauzer is a very trainable friendly dog--but a terrier, bred to work and help rodents find their next incarnation fast. And they are not lap dogs or nudges who insist on being in your way all the time.

@lyfandeth 12 дней назад

There is something inherently wrong with your dual battery set up. Probably very small and hard to notice. I ran dual batteries in my last car, one dedicated to a security system, and totally isolated the way we do it on sailboats. Once or twice, I literally ran jumper cables from my trunk to my hood, because the two batteries ALWAYS were isolated if the engine was not running. It does not take a lot of time or money. Any marine electrician can add an isolated battery for you. Better than the jump boxes.

@aspeler22 12 дней назад

Thanks for sharing, being real, and glad you're safe. Continue to be careful and safe.

@seabliss22 12 дней назад

Happy birthday 🍰🎂 Thank you for sharing the downside of van life. Thank God you got out of there safely. This grandma heart was pounding for a minute 😁

@hkprovideovault9354 11 дней назад

Another retired police officer. You let that go on way too long without involving the police. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...Normalcy bias is real, and you displayed a lot of it.

@Marylouise_1 13 дней назад

I’m so relieved nothing happened to u and u were smart to stay in the car! Sending u so much peace love and protection! ❤❤❤

@markperry896 9 дней назад

OMG, so many problems! But you dealt with them all. Someone apparently once said, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger." Man, you must feel like 'Wonder Woman'! Take care out there :-)

@sharonb.9128 13 дней назад

Great video!!! I always worry about you being out there alone with all the weird people we know exist. I will still worry, but much less because you seem to have great situational awareness and more importantly a warrior’s heart. You’ll do what needs to be done.