Living in a Tiny Van - Minimalist Micro Camper Transit Connect [Oct. 2020]

[@hotPP]

Strong ‘dilla game. 🚐🎯

[@jennyjohns48]

Many banners use a spray bottle with vinegar and water for dishes, cleans and disinfects. Also if you put your food in a plastic tub in the cooler saves it from getting wet. Lots of shelf stable milk or powdered milk available too. Have fun!

[@klc517]

Thanks for sharing your struggles so far 😊 I've been looking for more minimal vans to see what conveniences actually make a difference. Definitively not going to skimp out on the stove and I'm going to try get a fridge going if I can!

[@956lizz]

Love your videos!! Very realistic urban van dwelling

[@Juancholoco710]

5:36 if you add salt to your ice it will lover the temperature of the ice and it will last longer. It can get really cold. In summer you can use the same tech to make a fan work more like and ac. Hope thats helps! Awesome little set up

[@nicki8731]

How does adding salt to ice make it last longer? Why do authorities salt icy roads? It's because salt lowers the freezing temperature of water, therefore melting the ice back into water. The only good tip you got there is sticking a fan on top of a cooler box full of ice. That's called a redneck air conditioner. $15 walmart box fan + leftover ice from a beer cooler = really nice air conditioning for the night, with the added bonus of white noise :D

[@Juancholoco710]

@@nicki8731 google it.

[@gambit3025]

I like your style of video. Was thinking of getting that stove for my as of yet imaginary van lol

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

Loved the delivery (ha, pun) and the editing. Keepin it real

[@ShawNshawN]

I got the same Frord Tranist Connect. I love the idea of the portable bike. Great way to minimize and always have the bike option.

[@jasonmarmor3700]

Very impressive and cozy setup!

[@GinaKayLandis]

Nice video! Love the foldable bike - I am too short for most traditional bikes, maybe foldable will work for me! Thanks for letting us know the pros and cons of van living, without most modern accoutrements!

[@Raven-Fish]

I recognized Cape Cod immediately. Thanks for the video I love your bike 👍

[@seekingjoynow1722]

When I camp I bring a spray bottle of white vinegar to wash dishes and paper towels. Also the Hot Logic oven is convenient to plug into 12 volt.

[@boydegg]

I've just bought a Ford Connect. Getting it ready for travel now. Your video is excellent and shows a very real view of van life.

[@JacksonTravel]

What’s your plan for it?

[@boydegg]

@@JacksonTravel I'm going to explore Scotland.

[@dvfreelancer]

What an awesome insight into the reality of living out of a small, stealthy van. This helped me decide between a VN 200, Connect and Transit. I'll be camping more, stealth parking less. That means I'm going to need a bigger van. And, for me, a powered refrigerator and greywater system are a must. Didn't touch on bathrooms or showering, otherwise a near perfect video.

[@uol1051]

My Dad taught us to wash dishes army style....with just beach sand. Works.

[@ShawNshawN]

A tip on food delivery go to Costco and get the 2 warming bag and a small drink cooler. This will keep the car clean from drink spills, food hot/cold to increase your tips.

[@barbarasummers280]

And you should get a spray bottle with white vinegar and your soap and some paper towels to clean your pots! dont put too much water in the pot! Then you don't have to worry about throwing it out.

[@ChickyDoodleAnnie]

This is a good video, as it shows some of the every-day hassles of van living, realistically. And you're funny because you're quite deadpan, and seem a bit miserable :)

[@JacksonTravel]

:) i try to be helpful and irreverent. Thanks for your kind words

[@watbri1801]

Smaller piece of dry ice may help stretch the ice, can find at grocery

[@JacksonTravel]

Dang I had not thought of that. That’s a good idea

[@EJLily686]

Dry ice needs to be ventilated when in confined space. (experience from shipping animals in airplanes. We always separated them when shipments contained dry ice.)

[@terijackson2251]

i like that u keep organized! it makes life easier

[@gerald4nomads]

Nice van, I have a 2020 Ford transit connect and love it. My van is considered a no build van build because everything I bought came from REI or Dick’s mainly because I don’t want anything campers or hikes normally wouldn’t have.

[@JacksonTravel]

Hell yeah I almost got the 2020 but didn’t have enough credit lol

[@dark04templar]

Man, you need to get solar & 12v refer, and a platform bed. More storage, and no ice.

[@JacksonTravel]

No ice 💯. I needed a desk more than a bed platform tho

[@lukegtv]

Dude this looks awesome 😎

[@EarthWiseMe]

Great videos! How did the transit connect do on the sand? I have a hard time taking mine on gravel roads uphill in the mountains. Also wanted to park at the cape but heard that it was not allowed; good thing you weren't bothered. 🙂 I also drive for Door-Dash in NC; never tried other cites; is that easy to change as you travel? Jackson you shouldn't have to use a lighter to start those stoves, should have an ignition starter on the wheel where you change the flame from high to lower; I have a similar stove and mine does. Also the butane fuel does last a long time; you can get them cheaper at Asian markets, they sell them in sets of four. Dish cleaning is not an easy task for sure. You need to invest in a 12V/Solar refrigerator when you can; game changer. Continue exploring!

[@JacksonTravel]

Lol im about to edit a new vid that starts with me getting stuck in sand. Ive done a few sketchy climbs... i think it does better than most people would expect ( which doesnt say much but..) i was just dashing for a few days in Wilmington. 100% easy to drive in different cities. You literally do nothing different. How is the money for you in NC? I couldnt seem to get many offers where i was on the east end of Wlmtn.

[@EarthWiseMe]

@@JacksonTravel That's funny; not surprised with sand issues; thanks for letting me know. If you're near Raleigh, let me know; could meetup. I'm also a Real Estate broker and photographer in the areas in and around Raleigh; but cover the whole state; many people know me; also use to have two events at the fairgrounds in Raleigh. Just like to help and network with others. But my passion is travel and van life. In NC, I notice it's very busy for food delivery (No one cooks here anymore; LOL) , if one is not scheduled it's harder to get deliveries; the markets in the big cities here are over saturated with drivers. That's been my experience been driving here since 2018, and I've mentioned this to them many times. Sometimes I can run into 12 drivers at a food place to pickup; it's wild . Well hang in there :-)

[@barbarasummers280]

that sand thing is a native american hack!

[@Catman1798]

I have been interested in a small cargo van. It’s between the Ford or the ram promaster city. I need it more for city driving and hauling stuff more than for camping but it’s nice to have that option. But when I saw your footage of you at the beach in the beginning of this video I said to myself mmmmm maybe I should stick with my Jeep renegade trailhawk lol. If I do ever get to travel I think I’m gonna miss having 4x4 capability in my renegade. You just never know you might need it. But man I love all that cargo space in the compact vans. Oh decisions decisions. Is the 2020 Ford Transit connect worth it? I heard it lacks power in that new engine it has. The promaster has the same engine and transmission I got in my renegade now. I kind of wanted to get something else. The Ford looks better in my opinion.

[@JacksonTravel]

The engine seems to have enough power for me. Seems quicker than a lot of other things ive driven. Ive done some offroading in this thing - (ground clearance is a little low). Even if I wasnt living in this van - it still has so much utility

[@EJLily686]

I would keep the jeep and add a pop up tent on top

[@zacharydus8656]

What do ya do in the winter months?? For heating. And do you have insulation in your van?

[@JacksonTravel]

Right now I’m in Cali for the winter. Not much insulation yet. I would like to install a heater that runs straight from the gas tank. My new transit has a connection point on the tank for easy install I think. Yeah I sold the transit connect and got a 2021 Transit mid roof

[@JuanLopez-td4fu]

Car refrigerator and yeti would be a plus

[@PaggiPlumbing]

I like your videos and your simple setup im about to purchase the same van

[@JacksonTravel]

thank you! have fun out there - happy trails

[@jeffhayden2737]

Great video, what made you decide on a ford transit connect and is it the extended version?

[@JacksonTravel]

Extended is a must, maybe im biased because im 6’2”. I test drove some Nissans that seemed sketchy. Ford seems mote widely used

[@jeffhayden2737]

Thanks for reply.

[@GinaKayLandis]

Yes I was going to ask if it is a long wheel base. That's what I am looking for, but unlike Chevy dealers who identify vans as swb or lwb, Connect dealers haven't gotten that far.

[@jeffhayden2737]

@@GinaKayLandis I don’t know what your plans are for the van . But I’m kind of settled on a Toyota Sienna for more cubic feet than Transit connect also reliability and stealth.

[@GinaKayLandis]

@Jeff Hayden Hmm that's interesting. Will look into that vehicle! Thanks!

[@spywriter007]

How do you like your van? I am thinking about getting a 2023 connect and am wondering how well it holds up. Do you have the standard engine or the 2.5 liter model? Also I have read that these vans have transmission problems but I am not sure if this with the previous generation or the newer models. Have you had any transmission issues?

[@JacksonTravel]

I sold it because I was doing more full-time so I got a bigger van. No issues with mine but I only put 20k on it.

[@spywriter007]

@@JacksonTravel What did you trade up to?

[@ruffnecktv8420]

🔥🔥

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Looks like you’ve scraped off A lot of the nonstick coating from your frying pan. I would throw that away and just buy a stainless steel pan.. the nonstick coating is potentially carcinogenic now you’re probably not going to die from what you’ve invested so far but I would recommend you throw it away because clearly the pain is degrading and you will be ingesting some of that toxic Teflon.ps great channel thanks for sharing ps why don’t you get an in car fridge which plus into your 12v lighter socket ? Ps dude. Please Eat more fresh green veg and some fruit

[@JacksonTravel]

You’re right. Car fridge would be great. Thank you!

[@aSpaghettiWestern]

i use salt but sand works and its free

[@EverydayMama]

Leave ice inside the bag. Less wet food. :)

[@JacksonTravel]

But bag leak

[@EverydayMama]

@@JacksonTravel still less water than you have now and less wet food. Some people keep ice in a container on bottom of cooler as well. Worked better for us.

[@kaykrochet9099]

Can you put a link to your bike?

[@JacksonTravel]

Just added one thanks ty ty

[@shortandresourceful6242]

Other vanlifers can offer great tips so I hope you are researching.

[@AndhePants]

How is it doing door dash?

[@JacksonTravel]

It varies but generally good

[@AndhePants]

@@JacksonTravel thank you for the information

[@AndhePants]

@@JacksonTravel love the van

[@deanduke8677]

Respect

[@popatop75]

thanks enjoyed your video

[@shortandresourceful6242]

Switch to powdered milk....cuts down on ice consumption.

[@JacksonTravel]

Or pasteurized?

[@devinda_me]

hey dude, do you watch kraig adams by any chance ? He does silent hiking videos and reminds me of your style too. Specially the extra work you put into the shots like opening the door and the door dash. How do you deal with battery for your phone / camera ? When I was on the road I had to use a giant backup battery that charged my phone. Hoping for more uploads !

[@JacksonTravel]

I was just checking out his channel and Im sure ive seen some of his videos before. definitely like the style and flow. Ive been charging everything thru the cig port - i have an inverter also but ive been charging places - like yesterday at the mall. Cheers!

[@lesvoyagesdelouis6574]

Joli

[@jacquelinedarby9528]

Just wash your dishes with spray bottle of water and alcohol. A lot of van dwellers do it.

[@JacksonTravel]

Hmmmm

[@johnebardo5184]

Nice simple van life.. but what about ur sex life?

[@sherry6825]

So you kind of act miserable in your van life...how about a regular house and job.

[@JacksonTravel]

What do you think I had before a van?

[@klebberbezerra1610]

Stick to fruits and veggies or else you are gaining weight 😢