How Do We Live In That Van?! (FAQ)

[@DEKenna54]

We love our American Coach Patriot for camping and been following you guys picking up pointers on van life. This video is bang on. Mirrors our RV trips. Thanks for that. We spend a lot of time outside. Have chairs tables grill rug other items to make us comfortable. Where would you or do you store the outside items. We utilize behind the couch but need everything out at bedtime to recline the bed. Thanks

[@LivinRVision]

We never put anything outside simply because we are either working or driving most of the time. Always seem to be on the go. Owl locker boxes on the back are a great way to get extra storage if you need it, but we all carry different amounts of items. The Strada-ion has a big storage area in the back above the bench.

[@johnthomson5730]

When the wife and I were looking at B vans to replace our travel trailer rig, I quickly came to the conclusion that my height of 6'3" limited our choices. The two constraints for me were headroom and bed length. The mercedes sprinter and ram promaster failed the headroom test, but I discovered that the Ford transit worked. Unfortunately, many ford transit models we checked out failed the bed length test. Also, the wife was concerned about storage, so we settled on a Winnebago Ekko as our compromise as it has the headroom and bed length I need (mostly if I sleep at an angle). Funny you should mention leaving cabinet doors open as yup, those are head bangers for me and anything protuding from the ceiling in a b van. Thankfully, I just fit under the cabinet doors in our Ekko. But like y'all, we so much prefer the nimbleness of our van sized Ekko, and it is a welcome tradeoff for the room we lost going smaller.

[@Expeditionmarc]

Great video. I totally understand what you’re saying. We downsized from a 44 foot Dutch Star to a Leisure Travel Van. With the big Class A you always need to have a destination now our 25 foot rig alowes us to stop to any roadside attraction without even thinking about it. Best thing we did.

[@angelaklinger2951]

I just recently found your channel and subscribed. I totally agree with you and your thoughts about a small unit. We have been full timing now a little over 18 years and hauled a fifth wheel for our first 13 years. The fifth wheel is now parked on a lot that we leased at a campground in Arizona. For the last several years we have exclusively traveled in our truck camper and have taken extended trips up to one year. We love our truck camper and it has all the comforts of home. Looking forward to many of your videos, safe travels.

[@LivinRVision]

Oh wow, 18 years! That’s amazing! So glad you found us and enjoying the videos…welcome! 🧡😊🤓

[@reginaraibon5349]

Always love to hear your perspective on things, Michelle. And as a working woman, you still challenge yourself to enjoy your family, surroundings and pie. Safe travels.

[@dawnie3029]

Great insight! We full time in our 37 foot Class A and we can see the benefit of a van for certain trips!

[@marilynhamer2688]

We have a home and a 20 ft travel trailer that we travel in several months of the year. I agree you need to decide what is important for your happiness. My happy place when home is in my kitchen. I love to cook and bake. When we are on the road we cook most of our meals but I sure do miss having a nice oven to bake and do casseroles. I always say the two things I miss when traveling, my grandkids and my kitchen. Keeping our sticks and bricks allows us to have both. 😊

[@LivinRVision]

We miss the oven too, except we would hardly get time to bake even if we wanted to, mainly due to how rushed we always are due to the nature of always finding content to keep the channel going. We love to cook also, but we sure do enjoy finding new places to eat as we travel.

[@Chuck-Pat]

OMG. At 78 and 5 class A,B,C’s in our rear view mirror. You ALMOST started that ITCH again. Well thank Goodness we now have a beach house in NC to enjoy. WHEW….No cold shoulder needed today but tons of memories that you touch on each week ! Hearty Thanks stay safe 🙏

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓

[@RoadsofLife]

Great video and great info too. We have a 22' Class B, but we don't live in it full time. Not sure if we could do that with any RV, really. But it does afford us a lot of storage space (garage below rear bed and lots of drawers and storage areas), comfortable living space, and lots of memories. No matter which RV you choose, there are always compromises... there is no perfect way to travel. Have a great adventure, and be seeing you!

[@davidoverholt251]

Brian and Michelle, I love to follow you two all these years! Now how of a sudden, I had learned how to take a 1 minute shower in 1970 when I was in the USAF, Lackland AFB!

[@MegaSolegirl]

Brian, today’s video just might be our favorite so far. You articulated so much valuable information about van life. Thanks to your videos, we decided on Grech for our future class B purchase. We cannot wait to get our Grech strada ion tour!

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓

[@pl5bnsf]

It's the interpersonal space that I find would be a problem for us. But I totally can see the smaller van working fine compared to a big RV, your videos have shown in the past all the work for the large RV. The parking and just 'get up and go' for the smaller van is great. Wherever you go...there you are...all set. And now you travel kind of daily often it seems, giving you so much freedom and chance to see things. Look forward to your next steps.

[@dawned-onme2601]

Thanks for making us part of your experience in whatever you decide to travel in. Very much appreciate all you do!

[@ChristineLyon-q8l]

We appreciate all the specific details in this video! Thank you. We love our Grech

[@1BABartz1]

Have you ever talked about how you manage dealing with weather? How you plan for it. What apps you use, etc.

[@LivinRVision]

We just use the Weather Channel radar map and plan accordingly to the time a storm may be going through the area. Many times we squeezed right through in between two storms by timing it just right. Sometimes the app can be a bit delayed on the timing.

[@mikemadden865]

Great video and your comments really puts things into perspective about van life! Safe travels.

[@mcck1555]

I have only been a subscriber for a short amount of time and I just want to tell you, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ❤️ watching your videos!!!!! Your videos are of such high quality, so fun to watch and so beautifully edited. Please continue doing what the two of you have been doing. 😊🥰❤️

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓

[@sheilacaine]

Great information. ❤❤

[@mcck1555]

@@LivinRVision I don’t even own an RV. Yet, through your videos, I get to experience what it would be like to travel and live in one. 😊

[@LivinRVision]

We’re so glad you enjoy them! 🧡

[@christieflesch3750]

I would love to travel like you guys do. My boyfriend and I are best friends so we could totally do it. He retires in six years and I’m hoping to travel some like you guys do.❤❤❤

[@horizon42q]

Brian, You and Michele have been fun to watch over the years. We just bought a Brand New 2023 Coachman Nova 20C Li3 with 630 amp-hours of Li. We are going to do different travel with this B Van. We still have our 43 ft Winnebago Horizon 42Q and will keep it for a few more years. But we thought now was a great time to get a B Van since sales are down. We got a great deal on This new leftover 2023. I appreciate your videos, been watching a long time. Seems kinda funny you put this video up when I just bought the B Van last Thursday. So thanks for all the tips. We love watching you and Michele. You guys are One of my favorite KZbinrs. I should add Scott ( Live Large go Small ) is up there with you guys. I have recommended your channels to many, many friends with big Class A diesels. So here we go! Wish us luck on our trial. We did the Promaster because I didn’t want a second diesel to do service on at this time. But, I see a Sprinter in our future. Maybe in 4-5 yrs when we sell the big one. Again, thanks for your excellent channel, and great editing. Jim & Vicki.

[@LivinRVision]

Congratulations on your new Class B purchase! It’s so nice knowing you’re enjoying our videos. Thank you for the kind words. 🧡😊🤓

[@mikeanderson6522]

Great video. Back when we vacationed with wife and 4 girls. They were always moving around as we went down road. In fact they were very good at making sandwiches as we moved.. only bad thing was my mother was up and someone pulled out in front of us. She fell and sprained her wrist. Happy travels. Thanks for videos.😊

[@pamelaruggles3766]

Ok, is it crazy that I know all the words to your intro song and sing it as I’m waiting for the episode to start 😂. Seriously though, it is such a catchy tune, probably should get some type of KZbin award 👍😊.

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓 Not crazy at all! 😉

[@susanbennett5431]

Me too!❤

[@sadielaurentiwhitley3762]

Oh my goodness, I do the same. I love their intro song. I sing it sometimes when I get in my van.

[@mikemanjo2458]

Me, too...singing along!❤🎶

[@garythovson2587]

Enjoy your new travels. Looking forward to new places.Safe travels.😎🥸🤓

[@kimproffer9456]

This was very informative! Thank you Brian and Michelle ❤❤

[@sgriffith2353]

You should consider getting a high idle system installed. It will increase the RPMs, allow charging faster, and it is better for the engine.

[@jamestreanor182]

We have a Boldt, pretty similar to the Grech. We love to travel but couldn’t live in the van full time. Bryan your videos are great, and your explanation of the power system is perfect. We shower in our van every night, but we have a KL model with slightly larger rear bath

[@loffy742]

I'm curious about what you do when the two of you need a break from each other. At home we go to different rooms, go for a drive, gp for a walk, etc. On vacation, one of us might go for a walk or do an activity on our own (like golf). I know it's a personal question, but I've just always wondered what full time RVer's do.

[@LivinRVision]

Someone else asked this same question…we are all different and have different tolerance levels. 😁 That has a lot to do with it, but being with your best friend never gets old for us. If we get on each others nerves, it doesn’t last nor do we let it consume us. We move on and enjoy each others company.

[@dross24MA]

@@LivinRVision So, what *do* you do to give each other space when needed?

[@LivinRVision]

@dross24MA I guess you would need to know us personally in our personal life to know we don’t need to. We have been places with other couples before and sometimes the girls are together and the same with the men if we are going on a walk or whatever.

[@cliffthomas1389]

Great video. I always enjoy just hearing about your day to day stuff with the van. It allows us to make decisions based on your pro's and con's that you have experienced so I can just focus on the pro's😊 Hopefully we will be pulling the trigger soon on the Grech. Not full time but good times!

[@DMRSIX]

Thank you for the well articulated explanation Brian!! 😊I also love all your music selections! 🎶

[@barbaraharter8851]

We really appreciate all of the information you shared from this video. It was exactly what we were looking for. We are preparing to purchase a 2025 Strada Ion Tour in January. We never heard of these RVs until your video of your first one a few years ago. We have been following your videos since you were in Vinny. We have previously had a class B and currently have a Class A, but we only travel extendedly a few months of the year when we leave our Florida home. We are looking forward to our new adventures in our future Grech.

[@LivinRVision]

You should really enjoy your travels in your new Strada-ion, truly. We hear that the new 2025 now has a built in TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). If it does, you would get there with the little scroll pad on the left side of the steering wheel. First hit the little home button with a little back arrow to the left of that scroll pad. Next, scroll to your left until you come to “Service” then scroll down until you see “Tires”. Click that. Safe travels and we hope to see you out there sometime! 🧡😊🤓

[@countdowntowinddown]

When you all decided to hit the road, what did you do with all your stuff, ie: furniture, clothing etc.? I think I remember hearing you all sold your home, is that right?

[@LivinRVision]

We sold most of furniture and items, donated or gave some things away. What little we kept was put in a storage unit. We have whittled that down in the past few years.

[@janalaughlin2197]

We found a great shower/bathroom at the YMCA in Newton, IA just outside of Des Moines! Interested to see what to both do next!

[@mikemanjo2458]

Great video, Brian. You answered some questions for me that we've been discussing lately. Thanks for reading my mind on living in a B van. I hope y'all had a great visit with your friends. Much love from SC, Jane❤️🙏

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓

[@jamestreanor182]

Ditto, we narrowed down to B-van from watching Bryan’s videos

[@veldasellers4021]

Thank you for your informative video. We've been watching you for years. Can you provide a link for your REI towels, please.

[@LivinRVision]

We don’t have a link for the REI towels because the last we checked Amazon did not sell them.

[@barbaraharter8851]

Thank you. We are aware of the TPMS along with the pre wiring for Starlink so we hope to have both.

[@shelbystanczyk9189]

I think what you are doing and the way you are traveling is so very cool.

[@BillSprague]

I’m convinced. Now to sell the house and convince my sons I’m not nuts! 😂

[@daverson1508]

Happy hour/time is good.😀

[@CaseyKing-w4u]

I got the sense you were hinting at a possible RV swap out in the near future? Just a sense. Love your videos and as a current Grech owner, it gives us a bunch of ideas. Thx.

[@MonacoMike]

A lot of good info. Our first RV has been a 45 ft Class A so we've never known anything different. I can say though there has been time when I wished we had something smaller and I can greatly appreciate odd of the advantages of a van like yours. In fact, I wish I could have a van like yours plus our Class A. Safe traveling and stay healthy. Hope to meet y'all on the road sometime :-)

[@LivinRVision]

We felt the same way when we had our Class A and then the Airstream. The one thing that holds true is, nothing is “perfect”. :) We hope to meet y’all sometime as well! Safe travels! 😊🤓

[@MonacoMike]

@@LivinRVision Brian, one question I do have is about your workstation you attach to your steering wheel. Do you think it would work on a larger Class A steering wheel? The pull-out keyboard tray I have at our desk isn't wide enough for my laptop and a mouse at the same time. Yeah, I know, my laptop has a 'mouse pad' on it but I find it difficult for me to use. I looked at the other options you have on your Amazon store and the Sofa+Sam may be another option. The big attraction for me is having a pull-out shelf for a mouse.

[@LivinRVision]

@MonacoMike it should definitely work. It comes with a couple hooks, but as I mentioned when we purchased it, the hooks have grooves and would tend to dig into your steering wheel cover/leather. So I just removed those as they just snap on and off and use velcro straps with the padding to cushion the velcro straps so that it doesn’t affect the leather on your steering wheel from constant on and off. The velcro straps would fit around any steering wheel (adjustable). If you get it from Amazon and don’t like it, you can always return it for a full refund.

[@kathimeadows7869]

Great video. Husband and I plan on renting a van for a road trip. This will tell us if it is what we are looking for.

[@karenfrancis5572]

We travel part time in a Tiffin Class C and have turned our shower into an additional pantry/overflow area. Love all the extra space, and if the showers are really bad at the campground, I have no problem washing my hair in the kitchen sink (cleaned out, of course)! Our longest trip has been 5 1/2 months and it's worked out great for our needs. Do ya'll spend much time outside at the CG?

[@LivinRVision]

That’s another great example of how we are all different. We could see ourselves doing the same thing and that makes a great use of that space. We have washed our hair in the kitchen sink before as well. Your idea works great when you have a separate shower than your toilet area. We do not get a chance to spend much time outside at the campgrounds very often. Every once in a while, we get a chance to go visit someone we know or go for a walk, but it doesn’t happen very often for us.

[@seahorsevista2254]

Love this video. So informative, thank you!

[@harterbob]

We plan on trading in our class A diesel pusher (Tiffin Allegro RED) and getting a Grech Strada Ion, hopefully during the Tampa RV Supershow.

[@LivinRVision]

That would be a great place to purchase. Hope we get a chance to meet you there! 🧡😊🤓

[@pattidavis8043]

I love the ease of your van.

[@TodaysEscapade]

Do you guys ever get nervous of having an issue with the motor of the van and getting stranded? Enjoyed the information!! Safe travels!!

[@LivinRVision]

Great question! Not at all. 4 of these vans so far putting 15k to 20k on each and never having an issue. We don’t see it any different than any other vehicle you’re driving while traveling.

[@KAW5]

Great video as always! Thanks for sharing! Living in a van down by the river…😂 SNL

[@cjv6052]

I can see how a van could be convenient for travel, but not to live in but enjoy your channel

[@LivinRVision]

When you know you’re not “living” in it forever and know it’s purpose is to get you to see places much easier and quicker during your time of exploring the country, that makes it much easier to swallow, especially when you’re someone that has already experienced what it’s like to travel full time in 2 other larger RVs.

[@seeker60]

Very few van lifer's mention the miles per gallon or fuel costs. How does the Grech RV do in that department. And what is your opinion on gas vs diesel ?

[@LivinRVision]

We've discussed this topic extensively across various videos. We've compared previous six-cylinder models with the current four-cylinder model and recently covered fuel efficiency in the Rocky Mountains. It's important to watch all our videos before forming an opinion on what we say. It's challenging to cover everything in a single video, especially when we're often in a rush. The new four-cylinder Mercedes performs significantly better than the six-cylinder, offering more horsepower and averaging around 19 to 20 mpg, though this varies with terrain. We believe the diesel engine is superior for several reasons, including towing capacity, resale value, and fuel efficiency, even when accounting for the cost difference between diesel and gasoline.

[@seeker60]

@@LivinRVision Not meant in anyway to be critical. I do watch your videos but admittedly not 100%. I guess that's my fault. Heard another youtuber talking about his Coachman Beyond earlier in the week and he was mentioning 10 miles per gallon. Just curious is all. Grech on their website doesn't cover the topic either. Nor do any of the other manufacturers.

[@whciv091865]

We too are full timers but we could never “live” in a Van. Too cramped. Not enough storage. And my wife would never use a truck stop shower. In part time travel that might be fine but not really feasible long term. Glad you guys can. I know you get these Vans free or discounted from the manufacturer but even that wouldn’t be worth it. You should thank your wife daily. Not many would live in a Van and shower at public showers.

[@LivinRVision]

We understand that living in the vans is not a permanent situation for us. Having traveled in the last four van models, we've found that these vehicles make our journeys easier. Unlike most people who stay in one place longer than we do, we are working all week sitting in one place before exploring and filming, we live differently, we don’t need the room as much as others do. But there are still others that have found it better for them than a Class A or fifth wheel. If you watch our videos, you know the vans are not ours; we test them and then return them. What's best for us might not be best for someone else, which is why we never tell others what they should travel or live in. We've spent two years in a 40’ Class A and one year in a 33’ Airstream Classic, sharing how each works for us. The term “truck stop” might bother some, but many don't realize how much cleaner they can be compared to campground showers. Every RV has its pros and cons, which is why people often switch from time to time. We know we'll probably switch again someday, but for now, we're enjoying fewer stresses and fewer breakdowns. Not all vans are created equal, and this 24’ model has just enough storage for us compared to smaller models. Brian and I both monitor and answer questions here and on our social media accounts, so when making a comment, know that it is to both of us. That said, if I (or we) had a problem with what we're doing, we would have stopped long ago. We've spent two and a half years in four model years of the Strada-ion, and while this channel consumes much of our lives, we enjoy providing content that helps others make decisions and entertains them. Thank you for your concerns.

[@brendameyer6567]

I sure would and alot of other people do!😊 By the way Brian and Michelle Great video!!!

[@billtorrence8102]

spent the last two weeks with my 5 and 6 year old grand kids. we watched one of your videos. now every chance they get its RETAGO?🤣🤣RETAGO grampers RETAGO

[@LivinRVision]

😂 very cute 🧡😊🤓 Grandkids are so much fun!

[@heatherangellight8558]

Thank you for all of the information!!! Do you stay at family members homes when in Iowa? Will you still keep a you tube channel if you get a home? How long are you planning to stay in Iowa this time and is that where you will settle? Happy travels!! ❤

[@LivinRVision]

Hi! No, we always stay at the campground. We return every year for a couple of months to see as many family and friends as possible before heading out again. The only thing that draws us to Iowa is our family, but we’re not fond of the weather changes. We plan to continue the channel with even bigger plans in the future. 🧡😊🤓

[@plhm33]

Thanks this video very informative. What did you mean when you said “It’s not our van.” When you were referring to not drill holes and putting up permanent hooks? We are considering buying a van, and love yours.

[@LivinRVision]

We have been testing 4 models of the Strada-ion over the past 2 1/2 years now as ambassadors. We decided to do this mainly because the company (GrechRV) agreed that we could give our honest opinions about the van on our channel. Other companies we knew of were not like that with their ambassadors. It showed their confidence in their Class B motorhomes. Being truthful is the only way to be helpful to others.

[@plhm33]

@@LivinRVisionThank you for responding so quickly…the van is beautiful.

[@cjg8822]

I love your content and your way of producing videos!! You do a great job and of course it wont appeal to everybody, the ones with such negativity show move on!!

[@danielruiz3443]

We have seen people with vans like yours in RV parks. Every time they want to do anything, they have to pull up stakes and leave the park. You don’t have to do that with a fifth wheel or trailer.

[@LivinRVision]

Not sure why they are putting stakes out. We haven’t seen that and we see quite a few of the same vans as we travel full time. Like we have mentioned and shown many times, we don’t put anything out at all, just our power cord and water hose that we have on quick connects. Tear down in a couple minutes and ret-ta-go. Most of us know the headaches with a fifth wheel,so we won’t go there. There are pros and cons to every RV. You’ve gotta do what works the best for you.

[@JustMe-pn6xw]

We have a small class C. Question though is do you stay long in one place? We travel July and August and it is tiring. The longest we stay anywhere is 2 weeks near family. By the time we get home I am exhausted. Not to say it isn’t great traveling and seeing things without going in and out of hotels but long days on the road are killers.

[@LivinRVision]

You’ll notice after watching our videos of over 5 1/2 years now, that we usually don’t stay in one area very long at all. The longest is when we come back to visit family, which we still always stay in our RV. We have to keep moving usually just to keep new content, plus we prefer to move more often.

[@lindalowry150]

I just found your channel and I enjoyed your video. You mentioned that the van wasn't yours. Do you lease it? Just curious. :)

[@LivinRVision]

Welcome to our channel! 🧡😊🤓 Almost 3 years ago we were presented with the opportunity to test these vans without any requirements of showcasing their vans. We were told to just keep doing what we normally do and give feedback of things that need improvement etc. Unheard of in this industry, as an “ambassador”, but it showed the confidence in their vans. It’s been working out really well. We give occasional updates to them and our viewers and basically travel as it showcases the ease of traveling in the Strada-ion.

[@jodycoyote3916]

Do you bring fresh bottled water to drink or use your tanks?

[@LivinRVision]

We prefer to buy water and never drink from our tanks.

[@peterx1334]

Guys. I have a 22 turismo ion and I tried the battery with the AC on. The battery started at 100% and ran out it in about 5 hours (parked). About 20% per hour. Seems quite high consumption for the Dometic unit, I would not expect it to last the whole night. Also when I ran about (0%) I was not able to recharge the battery with the engine. I had to connect to shore power. One more thing, with the AC and the car idle, the batteries will not go down but they will not add charge. Seems to me that the AC is pulling too much power. I want to get your opinion. Thanks!

[@LivinRVision]

I’m not sure how the Turismo is set up, but have you taken the time to reach out to someone from Grech to ask about this?

[@kathyzehner9660]

Great video guys! We are kicking around going to a van someday for the nimble-ness. One practical question… where/how do you store dirty laundry?

[@LivinRVision]

We have a laundry bag that slide right under the bottom shelf I. The closet even when it is full. We have shown this a few times but don’t recall which exact videos. Be sure to watch each episode all the way through because we share tips a lot of times in various parts of a video.

[@kathyzehner9660]

@@LivinRVision thanks! We’re behind on all of our RV videos because of the Olympics! 😆

[@Banagal]

Thanks for the good, practical information.

[@alwayshere9731]

Thank you for all you both do.

[@keithandrsn3319]

“Living in a van down by the river.” Classic! Sure LivinRVision’s version is far superior to Chris Farley’s vision. 😅

[@LivinRVision]

😂

[@cjv6052]

The roads are better because there are only 38 to 40 million people in all of Canada. I live in California and our population here is 40 million !!!😮😮😮

[@JamesBairdJr]

What kind of towels are you using (the ones hanging by bathroom door)? Doesn’t look like the ones on Amazon store

[@LivinRVision]

They are mentioned in this video. REI brand. Amazon does not sell them.

[@davidoverholt251]

Well, my enlistment TI (Training Instructor) was telling me to bring my 12 recruits to the airport ant put them aon planes to Lackland AFB

[@craftyclarke2514]

These are all really good points. TFS!

[@stephenhair5501]

Do you use satellite TV in your Van?

[@LivinRVision]

No. We stream and we also use the antenna for locals.

[@horaceirvine8038]

So, is it true you can not open any of the rear windows? Do you miss fresh air access?

[@LivinRVision]

This model still has the windows that open, but we don’t use them very often. We usually have the AC on. Even if you don’t have the small windows in the back that open, you have the sliding door screen or even back door screen that comes down.

[@dianabusby420]

I want a remote job where u can work from anywhere and still make enough to live comfortably. I know you did a video about that a while back. Any additional tips?

[@LivinRVision]

We think FlexJobs.com is the best website for finding remote work. In the settings, you can select “100% remote“ to make sure you’re only looking for jobs that are 100% remote otherwise some remote jobs may require you to either live close by or go to the office once in a while.

[@rodgaver7605]

Brian you talked a lot about recharging your batteries with engine, I’m wondering. Do the solar panels not do much ?

[@LivinRVision]

They help a little but not much. It’s more like a trickle charge due to the robust batteries. There is 300 W of solar on the roof, so think of it as if it was charging a motorcycle battery, then it would do a lot more good than a more robust battery with more power to restore.

[@rodgaver7605]

@@LivinRVision makes sense was not aware of the amount of solar on roof . So many do what ever to get away from Eng charging. U know environment stuff . Thanks so much explaination was extremely helpful. on your van life journey

[@carolmcdaniel7693]

Lots of good info! Safe travels. ❤️❤️

[@brendawhisenhunt8444]

I really enjoy your channel.. Safe travels! I have to many clothes .lol

[@debbietaylor9392]

So this is my first time watching, you said this is not your van? Are you leasing it?

[@LivinRVision]

Welcome! 🧡😊🤓 (Copy and pasted from earlier response). We have been testing 4 models of the Strada-ion over the past 2 1/2 years now as ambassadors. We decided to do this mainly because the company (GrechRV) agreed that we could give our honest opinions about the van on our channel. Other companies we knew of were not like that with their ambassadors. It showed their confidence in their Class B motorhomes. Being truthful is the only way to be helpful to others.

[@JBRose]

Great info. Thanks. Brand new. Looking at vans for extended trips of a couple to maybe 8 weeks at a time. Have you ever run out of battery power while boondocking? Thinking about a few days a time and how do you/would you handle that? I know there are solar panels and the high output alternator, but how do you leverage them in that situation?

[@LivinRVision]

If you continue watching our videos, you’ll see that we never run out of battery power. I touched on that a little in this video. The lowest we’ve ever had was in the 30% range. We are either driving, which recharges the batteries or we top them off a little bit by starting the engine. The solar is only 300 W so it doesn’t do much at all for those batteries. It makes it very easy to Boondock, and with it being the van, it is likely your only vehicle to drive, so even if you are Boondocking you are still likely to take it somewhere even to the store or out exploring, which charges the batteries.

[@JBRose]

@@LivinRVision Thank you. Loving your channel. Very informative.

[@kathycampbell8000]

Safe travels!!! 😁

[@LivinRVision]

🧡😊🤓

[@kathyerikson637]

Do you have any hobbies? I sew and even bring my machine when we camp. Do you get tired of going on tours and doing tourist things?

[@LivinRVision]

We both work full time. I (Michelle) work a 40 hr week job for an employer and Brian edits every single week during this same exact hours plus some evenings. The channel takes the majority of our time (which we enjoy doing for everyone) and traveling to find new content just happens to be a small part of it all. We truly don’t have time for a hobby anymore. We do try to make some free time once in a while to go to dinner with others and spend a little time once in a while, but not very often.

[@cherylhughes2988]

I'm confused about cycling the batteries. Is it better to let them get low before charging?

[@LivinRVision]

It just says that they last longer (life span) when you don’t keep charging them to 100%. This is just on lithium-ion.

[@cherylhughes2988]

@@LivinRVision Thank you.

[@dross24MA]

​@@LivinRVisionDitto not letting them go to 0% -- the stated lifespan is usually calculated on cycles of 0% to 100%

[@tarseneau8975]

What is the manufacturer of your lithium batteries in your Gretch van? What size and total do you have??

[@LivinRVision]

That was mentioned in the video also. They are made by Lithionics and are 1260 amp hour. You can also go to grechrv.com and click on any of the models to see every detail about each model.

[@ldd9672]

Im really surprised how few use the shower…. I way rather use that than a truck or camp show no matter how clean…..r the class b that hard to shower in?

[@LivinRVision]

It all depends on the individual. Often, your assumptions about what something will be like differ significantly from your actual experience compared to observing someone else living that life.

[@danielruiz3443]

I see others like traveling Robert taking about showers. It seems like you might stink and not realize it. Plus those truck stop showers seem to me to germ traps and places to breed foot fungus? That’s just my personal opinion. FYI - my wife and I love your videos.

[@LivinRVision]

@danielruiz3443 As mentioned, truck stops clean the showers after every single person, campgrounds do not…if anywhere, that would be the place for germs. Plus we wear shower shoes in either of these places.

[@JeffMattice]

What type of internet do u use and it it fast for everything.

[@LivinRVision]

We have a video about this also but we use AT&T with a Netgear Nighthawk, Visible hot spot off our phones (which is Verizon) and only Starlink when absolutely needed which has only been about 3 times. Our Starlink can be paused so we don’t pay for it when not using. We’ve always been able to have speeds fast enough to work.

[@FMTFXE22]

What kind of work does Michelle do? Not specifically, just in general.

[@jamestreanor182]

In one of the earlier episodes they said she is a payroll manager

[@LivinRVision]

Payroll

[@bevbender3587]

Where did you get your steering wheel desk?

[@LivinRVision]

We have it listed in our Amazon store. If you go to our website www.livinrvision.com/ and in the menu click on Amazon Store you should be able to find it in there.

[@billpitts1034]

That was a very clear explanation about the way you make the van work. Best discussion I've ever listed to. Great video!

[@gloriatreis2204]

I have a premium membership at Planet Fitness (less than $30 per month). I use their showers on my travels. Cheaper than truck stop showers.

[@LivinRVision]

I know we’ve mentioned it before, but Planet Fitness has not worked well for us in our travels. They never seem to be located in a good spot for us as we are traveling the interstates which makes the truck stops much more convenient for us.

[@grechrv]

Wow!! 🔥

[@stevenbryant8382]

Who can afford a van like that , most of us can’t.

[@pdub6453]

We travel PT in an 18 ft Class B, out for a few months at a time. We agree with all your reasons why it works for travel. One primary reason it works for us is that when we are packing for a trip, we don’t overload the van with stuff. We have discovered that we don’t need so much gear. We only take what fits into the storage areas. When it is full, we stop loading - nothing on the floor, etc. This helps reduce our stress because we are not physically or visually cramped. Also regarding shower houses at campgrounds, we find them fine and with everyone in their larger RVs who don’t use them, the shower houses are often empty.

[@LivinRVision]

Agree, except with someone that travels full time vs part time, we don’t have a house to go back to, so we probably tend to bring more with us since it is our home too. I used to use campground showers once in a while when Michelle used our shower just to help us get ready quicker. There are still a few others that do the same, but for the most part you are correct about the campground showers. Great info, thanks for sharing! 🧡😊🤓

[@kimfleming8631]

❤

[@lbar4759]

😊❤😊

[@carrieclark1604]

C4YT

[@grizztough4091]

Ok, how do you guys simply get a break from each other? Been married 40 years and at times, to keep the peace we have the space of a house , I work in the garage, she has a craft space, how do you guys manage some of that?

[@LivinRVision]

😂 Not all days are perfect of course, but I think some couples are definitely different than others in how they handle stress and “tolerance level”. 😝

[@grizztough4091]

@@LivinRVision lol, yes , I jokingly tell my wife if she would just lower her expectation standard a bit then I wouldnt disappoint, so it’s not my fault she sets her self up for failure!

[@LivinRVision]

😂