Honda Element Camper Build | Getting Ready for Van Life

[@Julian-do7bv]

Get a plastic shoe tray or small storage box for your wet suit so it doesnt get everything wet until you can dry it out

[@stanleybest8833]

Don't underestimate the need for ventilating the chest fridge. It should be broken in on eco mode, not max. Keeping it on eco will extend it's life. The condenser radiator can block with lint pretty easily. You clean it with a pig bristle brush and maybe a blast of air.

[@adventurebythemile]

I do not understand why you had an element built it out, sold it, bought Nissan NV200 built it out kept it my 9 months sold it, bought that Japanese van built it out and sold it, bought a tiny house, and in the middle of building it out and oh, I forgot the second element built it out somewhat and bought a full-size pickup and in the mix sold Shannon's Newer van. There is no way this can be economical. I just do not understand. and this all in maybe 2 1/2- 3 years.

[@jamesparker2337]

It's a shame that Honda quit making the Element, everyone I've spoken to of em says that they are a most wonderful auto!

[@SoMooLand1nine7]

Ehh?? Daym just im bout to start loving the Honda element that's when i saw this Im already thinking of the build to do once i got money but but they dont make it anymore. Im 😭 ig second hand will do.

[@cowania]

Your snake may be a coachwhip - they are reddish pink, are really fast, and grow to be really long. Non venomous - they are great hunters and will really help with your rodent situation. However they are rather ornery as snakes go, so co-inhabit, but give them a wide berth!

[@nbrandt8]

Hi Nate, where can a dowel jig like yours? Oh, and you can talk all you want about cross dowel construction. I like your other video on the subject too 😎

[@maotaikitchen]

Been following you for a long time. I used to have an Element micro-camper, and I found the BEST way to sleep in the element was to hang a hammock! I'm 6'2" and I was so comfortable in the hammock and it takes up almost no space. Just hang a hook from one of the a-frames and the hammock fit perfectly from the a-frame to the baby seat anchor.

[@ohwhatisawtoday]

Wow! Back to the element life we go lol, I love it! Great video. Be safe on your travels, waiting on the next video.

[@AHumanEndeavor]

Awesome! I’d like to see video from the outside of the el in the evening to see how private the limo tent is w light on inside…

[@JCinLapel]

I think that the gray paint was a good chose for the ascetics as well because it looks to be a close match of the inside of the element

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

The thumbnail confused me. Thought I was getting recommended one of your older videos 😆😆 It does feel like a blast from the past to see you working on the (new) Element camper. And now you have your pickup truck, a tiny house cabin and a tiny house trailer and your own land to work on. How far you have come 😊. It also must be nice to know your camper can just be your camper and not hold everything you own in life. Just the supplies to camp and travel for trips.

[@jaguars08221]

You are doing the exact same thing I am doing except my bed is built to be a bench / bed thanks to some removable hinges attached to folding panels. Still not sure what power station and fridge I want to go with but I do have the 100watt ridged solar panel already.

[@thexxit]

love how cozy the element looks!

[@RonInAVan]

Great video Nate, you should be a pro with installing them dowels by now... I’ve tried them once took me forever, I thought of them as IKEA dowels. The right kind of Snakes can be a good thing sometimes. I’m still interested in property out your way to build a small off grid cabin and RV pad. Have a safe trip to Texas and enjoy.

[@rvboondocker2559]

Looks good! You may want to consider drilling some doorhandle size holes in your bed platform. It will still maintain its structural integrity but will remove some overall weight from your vehicle?

[@TheCruisinCrew]

Excellent idea, and it would help with ventilation under the mattress to avoid condensation and moisture build-up (which could lead to mold)

[@rvboondocker2559]

@@TheCruisinCrew Thanks!

[@travelingmertonandsue]

Love watching your videos! You never know what project you will be tackling! Where did you learn your carpentry skills? That looks like a great solar set up, look forward to your review! Have fun!> Sue

[@jamescarroll0615]

Always something special when you and an Element are together. Old school vibes.

[@Sunshine_day]

Honestly, unless this is a very delayed video or you have urgent business in Texas; it's already steaming hot in Texas right now 😳, I would wait if I were you. I live in East Texas, and I'm dreaming about traveling up north in the mountains ⛰️!

[@ChristinaColoradoan]

I'm using a couple of 500 watt solar generators that seem to be handling the fridge, I am using a couple of 100 watt panels to keep them charged though at proper angle.... 🌞

[@samchin3531]

The red snake is most likely a red racer not poisonous diet consist of lizards, small snakes, mice and birds.

[@Bdub1952]

Great video, Nate! Always nice to see a new E buildout. By the way, that snake is your friend...it will make meals of any vermin that decides to make your home their home.

[@bonniepwtf]

Nice build out, always enjoy seeing you do these. That description of the big red snake, it's size & saying it might be living under the cabin is the stuff of nightmares! Eeeek😨🐍

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Very nice! I'd rather have snakes under my house than mice.

[@chuckg6039]

When I first pulled up the video, I thought it was a past video. But no, it's being done again. I hope this one works out. Sounds like you are anxious to do the road thing again sooner than later.

[@bonniepwtf]

Same for me, I thought it was one of his original thumbnails & I almost swiped past thinking I had seen it already. Lol.

[@chuckg6039]

@@bonniepwtf have to wonder if all that time involved is really moving things forward. Been there done that it seems.

[@SweetTone76]

Dude, you’ve gone full circle ⭕️ back into a Honda Element again! 🤣🍻 just protect yo catalytic converter! Those older Elements, the low life thieves are hot for them….

[@neoncatfish4038]

I believe your red snake maybe a red racer snake! They eat mice, lizards small animals like most snake. They are non-venomous but aggressive if cornered. They say they can go 3.5 miles an hour. But they use that to either hunt or get away from people or danger.

[@shawnbailey.parkie7585]

Nate a DC to DC MPPT would be perfect for you since you do not have room for much solar.

[@evelyndunn50]

Hope the fridge works for you. Safe travels and have fun.

[@DragnDon]

Hold up! You got another Element? Way cool! I saw a bunch of your earlier vids and was sad to see you got rid of it. So now I come across this vid, was confused at first. Hopefully you are keeping this one!

[@betsyc5123]

Nice to see you are still using the cross dowel method. I remember the video when you learned that technique from a nice man. Have a good trip.

[@EnglishVeteran]

Golf Bats. Top Priority!

[@dbentley2195]

Nice little build. Well as long as your down this way you might as well bring your board and come to Galveston and catch you a few waves. 😁😎I live in Santa Fe which is about 10 minutes from the beach and your welcome to park in my drive and plug in. Safe travels.

[@OIII-IOOO]

maybe i’m wrong but the pecron seems overpriced. it’s only 40 a/h for $1000. you could buy the individual components for less and get more a/h. thoughts?

[@hermanpaul3286]

🤔I paid $699

[@ugpfpv361]

$1000 is with a solar panel... Not the ones he used though

[@christinenielsen8092]

Hope you have a good time. Love you guys Nate

[@laurajphillips]

Good luck everything looks great!

[@TheGoodTheBadTheRowdy]

wish you guys were coming up to n az for overland expo for the weekend!

[@Gunbei2]

Holy cow. When I saw the thumbnail, I thought you had re-uploaded a 5 year old video. Hahah. What you and your grandfather did back then has evolved with a ton of experience.

[@Marco-cb3oh]

Whatever you do don’t kill the snake, he will help you with the pack rats.

[@llorylloyd]

Yeah Texas! Native Texan. Bring shorts, sunblock and a hat. It's been hot as .... H🔥👹🔥LL!! It's been 100+. Yeah upgrades to the Element. I am looking at getting one for travel. WHAT 👀👀 I live in Austin. Born in San Antonio. I feel like a movie star is coming to town. You're the second person I follow that has been here this month. Can't wait to see the rest of the install. Safe travels

[@flexsez]

Hey Nate, great video. Have a question on the solar panel power cords. Did you just run them through the back tail gate, side window, sun roof, or???

[@dotsonms]

Where is Shannon and how does she feel about the snake situation?

[@db6189]

In your travels have you ever cone across bigfoot or dogman. I am 100% serious in my asking. Thanks.

[@Scorpionfury]

I'm curious how the Element's tires are holding up to the cactus thorns????

[@JakeOkilwan]

Needing to sale my 💚ed,Element any suggestions to reach "E" lovers? Very hard to do😥

[@JakeOkilwan]

Needing to sale my 💚ed,Element any suggestions to reach "E" lovers? Very hard to do😥

[@carlchucky]

Get a roof rack and put a solar panel on it, i charge my yeti battery everyday in just a few hours. I use it to charge my cell phone tablet and my ryobi batteries

[@RsLays]

What fridge did you end up getting? I saw you mentioned it but didn’t show it. Thanks!

[@darrellbambammacon8390]

Put you some Moth Balls around the house it will keep the snakes 🐍 from under and around your house.

[@happybanana3040]

I did shy away from the Jackery power stations as they are not really that cost effective when I compared it to the other brands.

[@lordofthewifis3864]

did you put 2 and 2 together to figure out it was your wetsuit which caused the bottom plywood to warp. duh. lololololol

[@chili5525]

🤔 is this a new video? Last time I was following, it was a Van he had remodeled.

[@billyhendoe4170]

Fun routes in New Mexico for a Fed Ex and UPS driver.

[@thizizliz]

And as Brian says: "The Adventure Continues"! I hope you have a great trip.

[@sgtgilbert6498]

Good you’re getting back to the element.

[@Chrisb8s]

I love this video.. like old times!

[@isacampbell7593]

Would love to see an update on the latest Element build-in!

[@neil3147]

Another great one! Keep up the good work. You going to any DMB shows this summer?

[@ElementLife]

That's part of why I went to Texas! We're considering Alpine and/ or the Gorge too but don't have tickets yet. You going to any?

[@neil3147]

@@ElementLife Nice!! Our home venue is Deer Creek so we will see them both nights here at the end of June. We’d like to make it to a few more but haven’t bought any other tickets yet. The Gorge would be amazing!! That’s definitely a bucket list item for us.

[@jeepncj7]

@@neil3147 The gorge is an amazing experience for DMB. It's what got me into DMB in the first place. Highly recommended, and almost always great weather on the other side of the Cascades.

[@DeBoerVan]

2x50w or 2x250w panels ?

[@paulh3973]

Snake is eating the pack rats.

[@JasonRelaxation]

Hey just curious why you didn’t drill holes in the wood so when the mattress is layed on top it can breathe. I have seen other builds and they do that

[@TFrakesTanks]

You don’t have to do that in the southwest states it’s quite dry. Also foam mattresses breath pretty well.

[@JasonRelaxation]

@@TFrakesTanks fair enough but wouldn’t have taken up anymore space if he did. Thanks for replying

[@ryanc9432]

Some people think drilling holes in your bed platform help prevent condensation and mold. My bed platform does not have or need holes. Been fine for 4 years...

[@nancysoto7184]

WOW......I must have missed months/year of your posts????? Last time I viewed your posts you had just completed a Japanese van. Now I saw a post about a tiny house in NM? And now you are building another Element camper.

[@nevadawarren6173]

Hi Nate, my name is Warren. I am at scrubs scriber of yours. Have you ever heard of a product called snake away? I can buy it at Lowe’s and it is a powder in a plastic bag that you sprinkle around on the ground around your campsite, and it is supposed to keep snakes away from your area. I have been using it for about six Years and have never seen any snakes around my campsite. I dry camp for up to 3 to 4 months at a time and don’t have much problem with snakes. Maybe you’ve heard of it, but in case you haven’t it works great. Take care I love your videos

[@peterpowell6168]

Good video! yes on ventilation for little fridge, I did a single wide piece of 3/4 plywood a friend gifted me & used 4 10inch iron legs used for an entertainment center. got on Amazon. used 2 sections of a trifold memory foam mattress found at a thrift store! most comfortable one i sleep really sound & comfy! thanks for your efforts! i did get a message on another video you did on the little house that i won a prize from your channel?

[@Projectgreen1]

Having limo tint is great (got it in my element) but light will still get inside and for me that can be annoying while trying to sleep. If you’re out with no lights though you got nothing to worry about.

[@BeAConservative]

Nate....get a zipper up plastic wardrobe pouch for your wet suit

[@travelingwithcharity6598]

💛💛💛

[@bevr2164]

Where is Shannon? Glad you are taking a break and camping again. Have fun. 🤗

[@StephenAldaco]

Back to the roots 🫡

[@N8TheSnake]

Nate lemme introduce you to the 2x4 lol

[@caroltaxman1343]

Maybe the snake will eat the rats.

[@antonybach373]

" On the road again" YES!

[@joharmon2148]

Cozy set up.

[@alvinmousseau1100]

Great video

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@BlackDeathThrash]

oh c'mon, paint the other side of the flip board, consistency is the key.

[@karencooper6634]

We need Shannon

[@aaronschmidt1953]

I had trouble from the first time I used the pecron. Hopefully yours works for you but mine would not charge on solar and didn’t do well going from 12v out to run my fridge. After returning the malfunctioning pecron, I got a jackery instead and it has been problem free! I understand you go this for free to promote the product but for those considering purchasing the pecron, I would personally recommend spending a little more on the USA designed jackery over the Chinese knock off pecron.

[@hermanpaul3286]

😂OMG, I was just the opposite, I bought a jackery 1000W power, and I was willing to return it because it didn't match other brands of solar panels. Then I bought two Pecron power supplies, E1000 and E3000, and they worked very well. and the price is much cheaper than jackery, E1000 is 400$ cheaper, I can always use solar panels to charge them, just need a simple connection, I don't know why yours doesn't work, but jackery's connect solar panels port are very special, you must use their brand solar panels to use it. The ports of other brands cannot be used. This is also my willingness to withdraw from Jackery. Of course, this is just my personal feeling of use. In addition, as far as I know, jackery is also a brand from China. They are a different company, there is no such thing as a ''Chinese knock off ''.🤣🤣

[@aaronschmidt1953]

@@hermanpaul3286 Glad you found success with the pecron. I don’t agree that the jackery won’t take solar as I connected mine to solar panels from another manufacturer just fine. The instruction manual alone let me know the country of design for the pecron. It was in poorly written English. Take it as you wish. I will say in pecrons defense that their customer service was pretty good to work with, they offered a solution to me, were relatively responsive, and when I decided the solution the proposed was not sufficient, they allowed me to send mine back for a refund.

[@arjandejonge]

Check out “days we spend” Chanel about there non element build, its great