Van Life tour: Stealthy Chevy Van conversion for retired couple.
Vložit
- čas přidán 23. 08. 2020
- Retired couple converted a Chevy Express cargo van into a camper for self-sufficient travel across Canada during pandemic. Tour our finished camper. Highlights include: solar charging, a solar shower, cooking, sleeping, storage and off-grid van life. More at our travel blog at www.kyoungtravels.com/
Please subscribe for more videos!
I'm so happy to see people my own age doing this! Thank you for sharing! Safe travels🚙🇨🇦
Thanks, you too.
Michelle Stratford I don’t know many “couples”.... but there is a huge group of solo women vanners.... we get together and caravan/ meet up for holidays/ and random times in between. Some are full time, some part time. Some have hubbies that hate camping so they go alone... fun times.! 😊
I especially like how stealthy this van is. You’re a cute couple & good partners to each other ❤️
I love the idea of putting the sleeping bags in pillow cases and using them for pillows or a backrest. Brilliant!
A lot of people also stuff seasonal clothing in Throw pillow cases with zippers.. Puffy jackets hats mittens and so on Or just extra clothing..
Well thought out design. Thank you.
Your children are lucky to have cool parents
I love seeing a mature couple enjoying van life. I am inspired. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Such clever ideas and well executed! Thank you for sharing
Practical easy build out. Lovely couple. Calm and happy.
I like the solar shower well done.
I would need to be able to make coffee from inside the van first thing in the morning. I’m delighted that our jackery will power our coffee maker to get that most important beverage while still half awake!!
Excellent build ! I got a lot of great ideas from this video. This is my dream to kit a cargo van out like this and travel across North American. Safe travels and thank you for sharing.
The most perfect Van I’ve seen. I’ve lived in mine also I’ve lived in my sailboat. Not because I had to. Because I enjoy it and I’m a minimalist. 👍
Thanks. It was a fun project ànd is great to camp in
This is charming and organized. Functional and attractive. I think this is my favorite kitchen so far. Love how everything is open where you can see it.
Suppose the fridge being in front, far from the kitchen might be a bother, but I guess you'd determine what you need up front first before you go back and cook. Nice set up. 👍It shows you dont have to have an enormous van to get by.
The design was absolutely perfect for you both. You can tell that it was well thought out, before you started. The outdoor shower idea is brilliant. Merry Christmas and safe travels once our Canadian weather turns warmer.
Both of you are cute as a couple.
Great video and a nice couple. You both work so well together. Cheers.
Its great seeing so many decide to take a different way of living instead of 4 walls and cable tv.. waiting for the holiday to see relatives or do anything.
I thought this was going to be kinda lame, but boy... I was really wrong, lol !!! You gave me so many lightbulb ideas, thx !!!
Nice build folks! I like where you have your kitchen, reminds me of a teardrop trailer setup. Happy Trails
I love the simplicity of this build. Seems like a very doable set-up
What a cute little home. Love the spice rack! 😍
Excellent job! What a well done video also. Great creativity. Just love it. Thank you.
Nice tour and set up. Nice to see a smiling face. Thanks for some good ideas.
I could hear just fine. Very nice build.
I heard just fine as well.
I Love it 💖💖 its super fun it’s a wonderful experience thank you for sharing
Very nice van build and so simple
*Great Video. Love checking out all the things ppl are doing with their vans. 🤗🤗🤗*
Lovely build some great ideas there. Love the kitchen area. Thanks for sharing.
Loved the van and lots of good ideas
Great job! Fantastic ideas...
Excellent tour. Thank you
Really nice. 👌 Very organized! Safe travels!🙏
Sweet Camper Van. I got some great ideas from you. Thanks!
Great build. Well equipped for anything. Liked and subscribed. Safe travels!
Amazing 😃Great van, my favorite is the shower... never saw something like this before 👍🏻🌻.
Take care you both... many greetings from switzerland 🙋🏻♂️🇨🇭
I love that . Great setup and I love the bed and the sleeping bag pillows. I love that idea. Nice and comfy and it’s a great setup.I am thinking about the van life my self. At the moment it is a Matt of cash flow. And determining my needs in the van.I’m definitely not a minimalist. Lol. So I’m getting rid of lots. Lol.
Great Van build! Thanks for sharing. Goldie in Jax. Florida
Nice van for travels. You have used every space, and well organized.
You have done a very nice build. Blessings and safe travels. LUCRETIA
Very nice. Love the organization!
Happy travels!
Thank you! You too!
I love your set up! It was clearly thoughtfully planned out! Have safe travels!
Thank you! You too!
Great video and awesome conversion 👍 love your storage and organization and use of space. I love the bug screens. Thanks for the great ideas and tips
Thanks very much. Many of the ideas are from other CZcams videos.
Love your simplistic yet effective build. Definitely saved a ton of money yet have all the amenities for a wonderful weekend getaway
Thanks. Keeping the cost down was important and we lived in the van for 2 months until sub zero temperatures arrived. We plan to set out again in May! More videos to come then.
So simple! Great utilization of space! I am currently saving for vanlife... you gave me some great ideas. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
WOW! This was so cool! The spice rack and the bed were my favourite parts 😄 Proud to call you guys my aunt and uncle 💕
Nice build! Safe travels 😎
Fantastic build!!
Very creative and cool!
Thank You for your van tour, good job!
Our vans are never finished, but, that is part of the fun.
Looking forward to more posts.
Happy Holidays
Our pleasure!
Great Tour, thank you
great organization! Love it all, me and my wife are converting a van aslo and trying to make the most use of space seems like you guys did a great job! Hope you have a great trip thanks for sharing vandalf.
Thanks a new good luck with your conversion
I must say, you have done a fantastic job setting up your van! Many happy and safe travels!!
Thanks! We're still roaming around in Canada. So much to see.
Awesome build!!!. I've watched so many Chevy van builds and none of them had the shelving space you have. I need space for my books. You have made excellent use of your van space for storage. Very budget-friendly. Thank you for some excellent van build ideas.
Thanks for that. We also still love our paper books! We got many great ideas from watching other CZcams videos and it is cool how many different builds are out there.
I love how simple and organized everything is and the solar shower gives us future travelers an idea. I may use up everything you demonstrated. Thank you and happy holidays! Stay safe.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for a great tour. You certainly have a lot of creative ideas, which I will copy.
We too are retired previous backpackers.
You're welcome. We got most of our ideas from youtube so happy copying!
Very nice and cleverly done
Great conversion. Nothing complicated. Love your kitchen in the back.
Thanks. We tried to keep it simple. The hardest part was installing the insulation and panels over that.
Very cool! Congrats. Reminds me of my parents years ago.
Thanks.
I subbed when I saw your kitchen setup...awesome!
Thanks for the sub!
Awesome video.
This was so informative thank y’all so much!
Glad it was helpful
Great setup…love it! Thank you!
Glad you like it!
Very informative video ................... thank you ................
I love your bedside table 💕 great job
Thanks - it works really well. Looking forward to travelling again soon and making some new videos!
Very nice great organization!
I love the mosquito netting ! Brilliant, thanks for sharing
Loved it!
Beautifully done, Love love it. 👍❤👍
Thanks. We are enjoy camping with it. Please subscribe for updates now that we are back into camping season!
Nice set up!
Great tips! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video! I’m looking for the same van.
Great van build! 😎
Thanks!
Nice well done.
Thank you for sharing
That is a nice van.
wow!! very nice guys👍
Thanks. Happy camping!
I like the fan
Nice well done well done 👍🏾👏🏾🤗😊
Nice Little Home Yall Guys Be Careful And Enjoy Life Your Friend Eddie From Athens Ala.
Thanks. It is very cozy!
thats a cool ride
hello! for the mosquito screen. you can cut a 7inch wide by x long piece of regular screen (hint: Local screen enclosure shops always have extra materials from previous jobs LOL!) that you stick with spray gorilla glue on the outside of separation area. that will cover the gap created by the space between the magnets and resolve the current issue presenting entrance of insects. Be well :)
Thanks that is a great solution. We can do that!
Always something positive to learn from others who are willing to share their experiences unless you're like Cyndee below.
Such a lovely couple, bet they never been in a argument before. 😉
Oh and awesome van build!
Thanks - but what are the chances of never arguing being true?
@@thelongroadhome7582 you guys are perfect, don't ruin my illusion of you two. 😂
Vantastic!
Quite a nice vandominium !
Well Done.
ooh is it ok to handle the potty then open the fridge lol needed the sanitary wipes there. all in all tho cute van very well designed
Well done!
Thanks - we are still enjoying the van in our 2nd year of summer camping.
@@thelongroadhome7582 so I take it you've never had to put chains on the tires? Our new Chevy Express Van conversion is locked in the snow in Salt Lake City right now
Love your hair
Great work!!! Love the idea and it will help with my savana build, whT size of mattress did You guys use? Safe travels.
Hi Greg - it's a double mattress (54x74) and because it's foam, it squeezes into the 72" opening. It's also a trifold mattress so we can fold it to one side to get items stored under the bed.
Very nice. A small rug under your fridge would help it slide easier.
Amazing Amazing
Very Nice!
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing some really awesome ideas! Do you have any videos where you talk more about your actual travels? What’s the longest you’ve slept in your van? Do you mostly stay at camp grounds?
Hi and thanks. Our travel blog at www.kyoungtravels.com has stories and a few videos. Click on the "Camper Van" category. We lived in the van for 2 months. During that time we stayed I think 7 or 8 nights in a campground, the rest was boondocking. We used campgrounds when solar wasn't charging our battery enough or when there just wasn't a good boondocking site nearby.
My wife and I bought a chevy exoress that was already converted. The bed was set up to go side to side but we think we would have more room if we slept from front to back with a queen. Wondered if you had any suggestions. Love your videos. Thanks
Definitely more room sleeping front to back but at the expense of what we call living room space. We set up a lawn chair in the space right inside the side doors and play cards and board games. One sitting on the bed and one on the chair. If you put the front passenger seat on a swivel, then you don't need space for a lawns chair. However if you don't want a chair inside at all, then yes turn the bed to sleep front to back.
Great plan, I like it a lot. I am wanting to convert my Van and this is the best plan I have seen. I wonder about cooking in the rain. I think I would be fine with a salad most rainy evenings. I love my coffee in the morning though and my warm milk and honey at bedtime. I guess I could use a kettle for that. Is that what you do?
When it rains we have a tarp that ties to the roof rack at one end and two tent poles at the far end. Lots of people do cook in their van but we don't feel comfortable with that. Electric kettles take 1000w plus so the Jackery won't handle that. We boil water on the stove out back and make tea coffee inside.
Its going to be cold in the winter cooking at the kitchen/back area.
I'm concerned about the propane tank and the lack of venting, I've seen that an enclosed outside venting box is needed.
Yes an enclosed outside vented box is needed. This is in case the pressure relief valve of the tank pops open. This could happen if the tank got too hot when it's full. A wooden box sealed with silicone and a hole thru the floor (propane is heavier than air) is the proper solution. Thanks for pointing that out.
Very nice van, but I could barely hear either of you with my volume all the way up. Be safe, stay well and God bless
Try earphones..they sounded better...I could not hear them either..
Sorry about that. New to making videos and don't think we can do anything to improve this one. Next time we will be louder.
Very well put together nice and organized but what about on those cold nights what do you use for heat if any and what year is the van? I am looking to buy one but not sure if to go with a full size or a small one.
We did not plan to camp in subzero weather so there is no heater. We have sleeping bags for colder weather.
Question on your Jackery setup. Like us, mostly of all your electrical needs are 12V and not 110. How does your 12V output (looks like a 12V cigarette port) power the Fantastic Fan, Smaller Fan, LED lighting and the 12V compressor fridge all off what appears in the video using the cigarette port and one USB port to the smaller fan? I thought those ports handle about 10 amps max. Our lighting, two fans, 12V fridge, phone charges might be pushing a bit of 10 amps at peak. Thank you for sharing your setup. Very similar to our Express Van.
Hi - yes, the 12VDC outlet handles a max of 10amps (120watts). With all that stuff plugged in and running at maximum we are at 84watts (7amps). Breakdown in watts: fridge is 45w (when on), 4 pot lights 12w, 2 reading lights 3w, roof fan 24w (highest speed). The smaller fan is USB powered and so is in a separate output section also rated at 10amps. Hope that helps. Safe travels!