Living in a Van Life Community in California | What it's actually like

[@Heavy_C]

It’s so crazy how Nomad Brad, Zac Zaller, and The Wander Box all converged on the same location at the same time. All of you guys have been at it for years, and it’s nice to see good things happening for good people. And once again Brad, Ima need OTHER Marina’s number 🤣

[@nomadbrad503]

It was Devine inspiration!

[@Maria-t1e]

Always nice to see you Brad! I live in my van and your good vibes are always welcome 🥰Keep up the great work you doing for our community 😊

[@nomadbrad503]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Living_Off_The_Road]

Another awesome video Brad! Great vibes as usual and so happy to have you in sunny SanDiego this year loving the vibes 🙏🎉

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks Kaya! I appreciate you

[@BryanKale777]

San Diego is my hometown and Fiesta Island has always been so cool about motorhomes on the beach. Just make sure you're off the island after the fireworks and the cops don't seem to care.

[@nomadbrad503]

I agree!

[@Midnight_Travels]

We got a ticket in OB overnight parking last week. Going to try to fight it. Great video!

[@nomadbrad503]

Sorry to hear, where were you parked? Dog beach?

[@Midnight_Travels]

⁠@@nomadbrad503Robb Field. Thank you. There were several rigs there that spent the night. Along with the other rigs that spent the night, we too received the ticket on the 15th. We're going to be more cautious, but I won't let that stop us from enjoying this way of life. Stay safe. 😎

[@nomadbrad503]

@@Midnight_Travels interesting, I have spent quite a few nights at Rob in the last month. I hope you are able to keep going without tickets!

[@Midnight_Travels]

Us too! The rigs by the tq didn't but the ones by the baseball fields did. Not sure what's up. Other than that we had no issues prior.

[@polish-american8107]

I'm super excited I found your channel, Brad. Really well done.

[@nomadbrad503]

thank you! im happy that you found it too

[@bencuraza6503]

Thank You for taking Viewers along for the day in the Good Vibes Nomad Life. IMO the multiple boys rockin FOR SURE merch on the tail gate is a Rap for a New Ad😎😎😎👍👍⬆️

[@nomadbrad503]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@19981217rl]

I fee like we need more safe parking lot in California especially for homeless people to live.

[@nomadbrad503]

Unfortunately, the government wants people paying rent not living for free on the streets. They will not make it easy for people to

[@krakenengineer]

Man I hope to find a community like this. Its taken me almost 2 years for my box truck build. Maybe Ill run into some great people when I hit up CA around December.

[@nomadbrad503]

It’s a great community!

[@anaqereqeretabua2045]

Wow!!!!wonderful im considering this lifestyle Ty for videos

[@nomadbrad503]

I hope my videos help you make your decision!

[@JimmySwicord]

Amazing !

[@StudioTrev813]

Nomad Brad-" I'm gonna be hoppin up in Jen's box...truck." lol

[@nomadbrad503]

😂

[@vandweleer8004]

I'd like to attend the next time like this ? Hope its in La or near

[@teasystableent]

Would love a interview on my podcast my brother!

[@nomadbrad503]

Let’s do it! [e-mail]

[@teasystableent]

@@nomadbrad503 Sending email asap!

[@ancienthealinglight]

I was in SD for over 2 yrs. Mold exposure from my rental in Maine brought me there. Spent New Years on Fiesta in 2023. I live in mt minivan with my surviving cats. 3 cats. Just got a gift of 10,000 to get my next home on wheels. Any thoughts on finding a great deal on an econoline shuttle bus? Going to star my new life with it. Art studio in the back. So excited ❤. Great to see all of you being together and making it work out happily. P S check out Homeless Court for help with the tickets.

[@nomadbrad503]

I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery

[@tracyarmstrong5943]

Just found your videos enjoyed it very much..keep having fun

[@nomadbrad503]

Thank you! Will do!

[@rickdejean4649]

Great video 😊

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks! 😊

[@onthe80omw]

👀lol Brad, you are a man of the culture

[@nomadbrad503]

😂 thank you sir

[@craigzaller107]

Nice positive video Brad. Craig z

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks Craig!

[@VanlifeMagazine]

❤ How do you find out about joining these camps? Or get together?

[@nomadbrad503]

These are friends I have met over the years and new friends we met here in San Diego

[@jeremyshelton9270]

How are you getting the older diesels registered in California? With the carb laws

[@nomadbrad503]

None of these are registered in Cali

[@lovinglife4962]

🙋🏽‍♀️Yep another great video 🫶🏽✌🏽

[@nomadbrad503]

Yay! Thank you!

[@EnjoybotLiFePO4Battery]

Great video. Brad. LOL

[@nomadbrad503]

Thank you!

[@Benny.13]

How do you register the box trucks? Commercial?

[@nomadbrad503]

They’re commercial. I registered it in my name

[@quartamile]

Dang, how many females is Zach jugglin in that bus? Cool videos as always Brad, cheers y'all.

[@nomadbrad503]

😎

[@DeliberateNRandom]

I'm wanting to do the some of the same insulation on my shuttle bus. Foam board with spray foam. I just need to rip out the interior. I think I have some leakage and gotta figure that out. I also have some elastomeric sealant, but not sure if I want to use it.

[@nomadbrad503]

Awesome! This is great insulation

[@DeliberateNRandom]

@@nomadbrad503 Chuck Cassidy uses foam board on his floors and spray foam kit on the walls, but has never commented on use of foam board on the walls. I figured with spray foam and added tape on the seams for a vapor barrier, I should be good. I don't really see anyone using foam board for extra insulation areas, but it gets extremely cold in Montana. I'm considering using extra thick foam for the battery area and sleeping area since it can get to -40° in the winter, not that I really plan on it, but I think it's important. I also figure if I make some way to enclose the sleeping area and run the diesel heater in it, it'll stay warm. I went to Sublime with Rome a couple years ago and it went from 70s in the afternoon to 30°F overnight! I was freezing in my van and it had 2" of insulation in the walls and 1.5" on the floor. It didn't help there. I could see my breath. Found out I had Covid and got pneumonia.

[@symcardnel1741]

Nomad Brad life is sweeeeeeeeeeet!!! Thanks for that ass shot btw.

[@nomadbrad503]

I got you 💪🏻

[@thegiantswordworkout]

I got over 1000 dollars of tickets in the parking lot waking up to late on grass cutting days across the street. This is what life's all about. Whatever society is doing is time and debt slavery. The cost of living is absolutly disgusting these days. This is the way. I wish I had been apart of this.

[@nomadbrad503]

Dang that sucks

[@DougK-og9bu]

Great video. I have a question: How do you guys get insurance when you buy the BOX TRUCKS before you get them converted? I can't find a company to insurance for me without it being a commercial vehicle.

[@nomadbrad503]

Yes the title is commercial so you will need a commercial policy until it’s converted. I have a commercial policy. It’s about $80/month

[@crissgen]

Thanks for the video, a question about your stove , it takes a lot of watts? Better that then using a propane stove ?

[@nomadbrad503]

It uses about 800 watts. I prefer it over propane because I dont have to buy propane or fill tanks. I get free energy from the sun every day

[@housestark4428]

hey brad any thought of installing victron inverter in your van ?

[@nomadbrad503]

Not for me, I prefer the hybrid inverters.

[@ScottErb]

Hey, this was great information! Thanks so much. This is the first video I've seen of yours and was wondering if you are Keto? I'm diabetic and have to cut back on all the sugar and carbs. Just wondering. Thanks!

[@nomadbrad503]

Thank you 🙏🏻 as far as diet, I focus on cutting out packaged food in general. Only real meat, dairy, fruits, and veggies hit my plate 😎

[@arthur...barros]

I really enjoy your videos, not so much the musics you use, but that might just be my personal preference. maybe without any music would be way better. Thanks for sharing.

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@no_worries_van]

For sure!😂😂😂

[@nomadbrad503]

🤣

[@PAVEL-JAKL]

I want to live in my van in Huntington Beach or Venice Beach is there any legal place to park?

[@nomadbrad503]

yes, but probably not very close to the beach. youll need to go inland a bit

[@DoubleGChargo]

Any wisdom about the supreme courts ruling on camping. We nomads don’t live on streets or openly in groups at public places but cities nationwide and the police out enforcing it and the police interpretation is going to affect us greatly.

[@nomadbrad503]

I’m not worried about it

[@islabonita6304]

Hey Brad..... I'm in a peculiar situation. I sold my home in Redwood City (about 20 min drive from San Jose) but have to buy something or they will tax me almost 40%. I'm not ready to buy an actual home because I don't have enough but I do have enough for land. And I'd like to buy land to host van lifers, it's always been my dream to provide a space for folks to have down time like to reset or maybe surgery recovery, or just a "support" home base for if folks need to build, or upgrade/fix. But I don't know where to start or how to do this. If you have any ideas or tips, let me know. Obviously, this is not for profit, but to contribute, but I'd have to charge for the water/electricity so it would be a very minimal charge... and some will stay for free, depending on their circumstances. If you respond to this, then I'll know you saw it..... pls leave your email if you have insight and we can connect that way. I have to do this by Jan 2025. Thanks in advance.

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks for reaching out. You can email me, [e-mail]

[@OUTDOORS.DREADHEAD]

Yo bro 😎

[@nomadbrad503]

Yo what up dread head!

[@Cleophus86]

Woooop 🤪

[@nomadbrad503]

Whoop whoop 😎

[@undercoverastrology]

I stayed in San Diego in the parking lot across from Belmont Park. Half of the parking lot was overnight vehicle dwellers and the other half daily beach goers. The police would drive through and ask if we were all OK. We would answer were cool. I had access to free restrooms and beach showers. I frequented the businesses along the boardwalk and also visited the tents/canopies of locals who set up illegally to sell their wares and food along the boardwalk. I would buy homemade burritos from a mexican guy for $2. I would go to the bars and buy drinks and buy pizza and fries. Such a carefree life for a someone vehicle camping or dwelling. I met a nice couple who invited me back to their uhaul they were living out of. I brought cut veggies, hummus and wine. They had a grill and made steak and potatoes for us. Every morning there was a canopy set up with a table grabbers and trash bags. Many locals and a lot of the vehicle dwellers would walk along and pick up and bag all trash. The beach park maintenance crew would come along in their truck and stop at each trash can and pick up all the bags of trash we picked up. Most of the trash was not from vehicle dwellers. It was from those who visited and partied on the beach and parking lot and trashed it,

[@nomadbrad503]

Wow! That sounds like a fantastic experience you had! I’m happy for you

[@shlomovenezia101]

we think the guy would have the sense to not eat meat

[@nomadbrad503]

I love meat, it’s delicious

[@brendan817]

Brother you should trim off all that stuff on the side of your face and just rock the goatee.

[@nomadbrad503]

Thanks for the feedback! I might try it out sometime 😊

[@brendan817]

@ I think it would like awesome!

[@comeconcon569]

A nomad, gipsy or tinker are all related. if you are a person with no fixed home going from place to place in a motor home and your pets, you are a nomad. if you don't have any pets with you, you are then a Gypsy or a Tinker.

[@tiphbrowne2073]

G*psy is a derogatory term for Roma people. If you’re not Roma you should reconsider self-identifying as g*psy

[@MarkMayhew]

I live in my van, at a fixed location, I rent a driveway for $200/mo…….what am I called, I’ve always considered myself to be nomadic now I’m not so sure

[@barefootincactus]

@@MarkMayhewYou’d have to move around to be nomadic. I’d call you a van dweller or van lifer.

[@bigt9391]

On the next live a panel so we can pick everybody's brains why are you guys are all together

[@nomadbrad503]

Great suggestion!

[@darrincambridge2377]

Community! Something house folk wouldn't understand 🤔

[@nomadbrad503]

Absolutely

[@mojogustavo77]

The piggies don’t like if you go against the matrix. It makes them big mad.

[@nomadbrad503]

You’re right about that!

[@PastorRichardAllenFarmer]

Almost every one of your sentences begin with “so”. Why??😀

[@nomadbrad503]

Oops 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@GeorgeStar]

[@nomadbrad503]

Hello!

[@outbacktrek]

[@nomadbrad503]

😎

[@Chrisrod619]

No offense, but no thanks to van life nomads here in San Diego, we are no longer able to stay overnight at Fiesta Island and other parks here. Van life congestion is a problematic issue, especially in Pacific Beach. Parking is already scarce, so nomad camping in residential areas is congestive.

[@nomadbrad503]

I heard they cracked down on fiesta camping because there were dj’s throwing loud raves out there during Covid that echoed across the whole city. Either way, there are definitely a lot of people living in vehicles in socal and the number are only going to grow. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ChosenOne-ju9vh]

I've already got $600 in overnight tickets here in mission bay,unbelievable....always the same officer,need to find out where his jurisdiction ends...haha

[@nomadbrad503]

Wow, thats wild

[@Chrisrod619]

@nomadbrad503 they started cracking down because of an overpopulation of tweaker RVs parked along Mission Bay Drive and on Fiesta Island during COVID. San Diego residents were getting fed up that the city was allowing such trashy people to destroy the parks and streets.

[@ChosenOne-ju9vh]

@@Chrisrod619 yeah I was parked down there all summer ,witnessed 2 separate human trafficking rings busted there,fiesta island has now been completely taken over by fentanyl trafficking illegal migrants now.... they literally found a charred human skull in a fire pit out on fiesta !..!!!San Diego has gone to shit...they should rename the city san di-shithole,..get out while you can ,this place drains peoples bank accounts more than any other city ive travelled to...(vons grocery store now has a $4,000,000 lawsuit for overcharging naive tourists )ive driven cross country twice now in the past 2 yrs...this is the best city for climate ,the worst city for people...nothing but tesla driving self entitled karens and kyles,no art and music culture like the 90s ...