So awesome! Thank you for sharing! Im getting a sense of van life is your time is takin up with living and doing what you do in your life to live, be clean, eat, and relax. The same thing you were doing on your apartment, but more deliberate. Maybe more of a hassel, but a fuck ton of savings $$$$. Thou time is with something. So glad to hear you're social encounters are ever expanding. Good for you and the universe... thou have a lot to offer. Thank you again.
In CA - I can understand the rent desperation of living in a van. And not being being in a slummy old RV. Make sure that you air it out - when you can. We all smell in closed spaces and you may not notice it... The gym thing is a really good idea for hygiene. Especially with a chain gym like ATF open 24 hours. Cookware can be bought at the Salvation Army or Goodwill. How often are you filling up your water tank - if you bought the faucet option. How do you handle bathroom calls in the night? Watch your money! Minimalism - yes!!
Living minimalist is smart because I find myself holding onto things that I never use especially from my childhood and if you're going to condense down to a tiny home or a RV or a small RV like you have you're either going to be paying x amount of money per month for a storage unit or you're going to sell through everything and use that money for other things like food and travel
I spent a couple years living in this same van in the PNW. Good little van. But Smart Van left out the hardest thing about van life: finding a place to poop.
the red lighting is also helping with your sleep, encouraging the release of melatonin. combined with bright morning sun, you're basically reproducing the lighting experienced by humans before we filled our lives with after sundown - sun colored light sources.
I actually use Anytime Mailbox instead. It's actually cheaper than a PO box and they scan and send mail to you through their mobile app, so that's been pretty good so far. There are 3 major providers I considered: anytime mailbox, earthclassmail, and traveling mailbox.
As far as Amazon goes you can at least where I'm from in Philadelphia have packages delivered to the UPS store if you have a membership there yearly or Walgreens Sometimes Amazon will deliver to a PO Box with the post office The UPS Store gives you a physical address which means you can get Amazon UPS FedEx DHL postal mail from the post office Etc The membership at the gym is smart but you would need multiple gym memberships if you traveled with the van or you'd have to break down and stay in a hotel every couple days to wash up or go to a truck stop or just give yourself a sponge bath heat up some water on your stove mix it with the cold water and use a rag and soap You could do it outside in water shoes sandals and swim trunks
I love that setup and was thinking about going to Cascade as well. And I have been waiting for you to make another video. So glad to see one! I would like to know how that Ventline fan is working out for you? I know it's only exhaust so I was thinking of getting a Maxx Air Fan that's bidirectional. Do you think you will upgrade it? Also, how's the stove and water setup working? Do you cook much in the van? Or wash up if you dont make it to the gym? How long does it last you? I am in my final stages of deciding and this is still on my list...but lower down since there's two of us. Do you think it can be done with two folks in there living together? Ok..I know..lots if questions. I'm done..lol. Thanks for your time!
Hi Kimberly, sorry for the delayed response. Ventline is okay but not ideal, it's compact and stealthy but not powerful enough on its own to ventilate quickly or when the van is in the sun. I'm thinking of doing some modifications, adding some smarts so I can have it run at lower speeds constantly or automatically turn on and off based on temp or CO2 at night. Will make a video on that. Stove I only use while camping, but that works well enough. Water is great, 5 gals will last at least 3 days, I went a full 10 days just using it to brush and wash my face. I don't cook much in the van, and if I don't make it to the gym I'll use wilderness wipes or some sort of shower replacement designed for backpacking. They're fairly cheap and much more effective than baby wipes. 2 into a PMC is going to be intimate, so it all depends on what you're comfortable with! Maybe try a rental mini camper van first to gauge how you like it. Thanks for the questions.
@@SmartVan Great idea on the rental! We have thought about that. Just finding a rental for that size has been a challenge. And thank you for the info on the fan...I felt it just may not be enough. Thanks again for responding! Looking forward to your next video 😊
It hasn't been an issue in the pacific northwest. But early on I bought a pack of Damp Rid. I also leave my vent open every night, and sometimes I crack my front windows too.
Can you link me to where you purchased the holder you added on the door. I have been binge watching your videos tonight since I am about to get work done with the same company who did yours. The insulation video you made is something I was also thinking since it seems they leave a lot of space for it.
The cable holder? That would be Cocoon Grid It, it's for sale on amazon. Nice to hear! Tell zach you're interested in insulation, he's working on a project right now.
Hey SmartVan! I was curious how you're doing with storage space within the van. I'm considering getting a Cascade Camper van, which I would use for climbing trips. While I probably wouldn't be living in the van for more than a month or two, I would have a lot of gear with me. While I know you have a storage unit, have you considered building in additional storage? Like roof storage (which would block the solar?) or putting additional cabinets inside of the van? Thanks!
Plenty of storage for gear so far, there's a lot behind the sofa/bed and underneath the driver/passenger seats, and I also use the passenger seat / footwell too. For extreme voyages I have a roof basket which attaches to my roof rack where I tie down larger gear or dirty gear I don't want inside the van. But I gotta say the inside of the van is very spacious, there's no lack of places to stash your gear :)
Thanks for the video. You mentioned in the video you’d share how you stored your bedding but didn’t end up shoring is that. It would be helpful to know how you are keeping that out of the way. Thanks!
@@ThomasSmith-ID Shoot I was wondering if someone would catch that :) When I want to pack the bedding I do several things: 1. The REI sleeping bag gets stuffed either in its compressed stuffsack for short durations or the loose stuffsack for more than one day of storage. 2. The down comforter gets stuffed into an REI mesh stuffsack. I used to roll it up and tie it with bungee cord but it took too long 3. The foam mattress topper I used to fold into 3rds lengthwise and then roll it up like a sleeping bag, then tie down with a single bungee cord. However the cord ends up cutting into the topper and causing the foam to split, so I stopped doing this. Now I sort of just fold it a few times and throw it around. This one is the most annoying to deal with. 4. I used to use bungee to tie down the pillow into the driver sliding doorwell (there's a nice indent where the window would normally go), but that took too long. Now I stuff it into a stuffsack. I can fit all of this stuff in the passenger seat which frees up the back.
My husband and i are getting a cascade camper in may 2019. learning lots from your videos. thank you.
Great view points and presenting the reality of van life. Thank you! 🙏
Maybe a more detailed van tour? Great video! Keep them coming!
So awesome! Thank you for sharing! Im getting a sense of van life is your time is takin up with living and doing what you do in your life to live, be clean, eat, and relax. The same thing you were doing on your apartment, but more deliberate. Maybe more of a hassel, but a fuck ton of savings $$$$. Thou time is with something. So glad to hear you're social encounters are ever expanding. Good for you and the universe... thou have a lot to offer. Thank you again.
In CA - I can understand the rent desperation of living in a van. And not being being in a slummy old RV.
Make sure that you air it out - when you can. We all smell in closed spaces and you may not notice it...
The gym thing is a really good idea for hygiene. Especially with a chain gym like ATF open 24 hours.
Cookware can be bought at the Salvation Army or Goodwill. How often are you filling up your water tank - if you bought the faucet option.
How do you handle bathroom calls in the night?
Watch your money! Minimalism - yes!!
Living minimalist is smart because I find myself holding onto things that I never use especially from my childhood and if you're going to condense down to a tiny home or a RV or a small RV like you have you're either going to be paying x amount of money per month for a storage unit or you're going to sell through everything and use that money for other things like food and travel
I spent a couple years living in this same van in the PNW. Good little van. But Smart Van left out the hardest thing about van life: finding a place to poop.
the red lighting is also helping with your sleep, encouraging the release of melatonin. combined with bright morning sun, you're basically reproducing the lighting experienced by humans before we filled our lives with after sundown - sun colored light sources.
It looks comfy. I understand that settling in and set up takes a while as one gets used to moving around in the van. I look forward to more videos.
Thanks for the insights. The experiment suits you well.
Suggest Amazon lockers for delivery (now in Whole Foods.)
I noticed that stationary van dwellers (staying in one area rather than almost constant traveling) rent P.O. boxes for mail. Just an idea.
I actually use Anytime Mailbox instead. It's actually cheaper than a PO box and they scan and send mail to you through their mobile app, so that's been pretty good so far. There are 3 major providers I considered: anytime mailbox, earthclassmail, and traveling mailbox.
Hey bud Mark here from Burning Man, great point at 4:00 jump on those life opportunities!
Thanks for dropping by!
As far as Amazon goes you can at least where I'm from in Philadelphia have packages delivered to the UPS store if you have a membership there yearly or Walgreens
Sometimes Amazon will deliver to a PO Box with the post office The UPS Store gives you a physical address which means you can get Amazon UPS FedEx DHL postal mail from the post office Etc
The membership at the gym is smart but you would need multiple gym memberships if you traveled with the van or you'd have to break down and stay in a hotel every couple days to wash up or go to a truck stop or just give yourself a sponge bath heat up some water on your stove mix it with the cold water and use a rag and soap
You could do it outside in water shoes sandals and swim trunks
Awesome vid
I love that setup and was thinking about going to Cascade as well. And I have been waiting for you to make another video. So glad to see one! I would like to know how that Ventline fan is working out for you? I know it's only exhaust so I was thinking of getting a Maxx Air Fan that's bidirectional. Do you think you will upgrade it? Also, how's the stove and water setup working? Do you cook much in the van? Or wash up if you dont make it to the gym? How long does it last you? I am in my final stages of deciding and this is still on my list...but lower down since there's two of us. Do you think it can be done with two folks in there living together? Ok..I know..lots if questions. I'm done..lol. Thanks for your time!
Hi Kimberly, sorry for the delayed response. Ventline is okay but not ideal, it's compact and stealthy but not powerful enough on its own to ventilate quickly or when the van is in the sun. I'm thinking of doing some modifications, adding some smarts so I can have it run at lower speeds constantly or automatically turn on and off based on temp or CO2 at night. Will make a video on that.
Stove I only use while camping, but that works well enough. Water is great, 5 gals will last at least 3 days, I went a full 10 days just using it to brush and wash my face.
I don't cook much in the van, and if I don't make it to the gym I'll use wilderness wipes or some sort of shower replacement designed for backpacking. They're fairly cheap and much more effective than baby wipes.
2 into a PMC is going to be intimate, so it all depends on what you're comfortable with! Maybe try a rental mini camper van first to gauge how you like it. Thanks for the questions.
@@SmartVan Great idea on the rental! We have thought about that. Just finding a rental for that size has been a challenge. And thank you for the info on the fan...I felt it just may not be enough. Thanks again for responding! Looking forward to your next video 😊
On Cascade Camper's website, they convert the PMC for the rentals for Voyager Campervan. I think they rent from 5 locations.
I’m proud of my ex roommate aka Snorlax for following through with this. Good luck my brotha.
Many thanks sir!
Have you had any problems with condensation inside your van and if so, what steps have you taken to alleviate that problem? Thanks.
It hasn't been an issue in the pacific northwest. But early on I bought a pack of Damp Rid. I also leave my vent open every night, and sometimes I crack my front windows too.
Can you link me to where you purchased the holder you added on the door. I have been binge watching your videos tonight since I am about to get work done with the same company who did yours. The insulation video you made is something I was also thinking since it seems they leave a lot of space for it.
The cable holder? That would be Cocoon Grid It, it's for sale on amazon. Nice to hear! Tell zach you're interested in insulation, he's working on a project right now.
@@SmartVan I will thanks!
Hey SmartVan! I was curious how you're doing with storage space within the van. I'm considering getting a Cascade Camper van, which I would use for climbing trips. While I probably wouldn't be living in the van for more than a month or two, I would have a lot of gear with me. While I know you have a storage unit, have you considered building in additional storage? Like roof storage (which would block the solar?) or putting additional cabinets inside of the van? Thanks!
Plenty of storage for gear so far, there's a lot behind the sofa/bed and underneath the driver/passenger seats, and I also use the passenger seat / footwell too. For extreme voyages I have a roof basket which attaches to my roof rack where I tie down larger gear or dirty gear I don't want inside the van. But I gotta say the inside of the van is very spacious, there's no lack of places to stash your gear :)
Does the roof rack block the solar panel?
@@brianrosenthal1399 Rack doesn't (maybe in the evening or morning) but attaching anything to the rack will.
may I ask how does this van total cost? thanks.
Awesome insight on your first month of vanlife , where are you located ?
Pacific northwest!
Thanks for the video. You mentioned in the video you’d share how you stored your bedding but didn’t end up shoring is that. It would be helpful to know how you are keeping that out of the way. Thanks!
@@ThomasSmith-ID Shoot I was wondering if someone would catch that :)
When I want to pack the bedding I do several things:
1. The REI sleeping bag gets stuffed either in its compressed stuffsack for short durations or the loose stuffsack for more than one day of storage.
2. The down comforter gets stuffed into an REI mesh stuffsack. I used to roll it up and tie it with bungee cord but it took too long
3. The foam mattress topper I used to fold into 3rds lengthwise and then roll it up like a sleeping bag, then tie down with a single bungee cord. However the cord ends up cutting into the topper and causing the foam to split, so I stopped doing this. Now I sort of just fold it a few times and throw it around. This one is the most annoying to deal with.
4. I used to use bungee to tie down the pillow into the driver sliding doorwell (there's a nice indent where the window would normally go), but that took too long. Now I stuff it into a stuffsack.
I can fit all of this stuff in the passenger seat which frees up the back.
Smart Van thanks for taking the time to reply.
"Hey, do you wanna do X"? LOL
Where do you live and what tpye of work do you do talk about that
I probably won't, but the short answer is Pacific Northwest, and IT stuff which doesn't require office presence