Living in an Unfinished DIY Hightop Campervan - Saving 100% of Primary Income

[@bigrichbh]

You are a friggin animal my guy! I'm getting my first van soon and your videos have taught me more than the 100s of other ones I have seen... Keep Killin it van man

[@EliPetersonjp]

best of luck!!!!

[@covontae._gotclout8551]

I like your building videos it gives me inspiration to be a diy small house

[@EliPetersonjp]

A diy small house is my goal as well!!! Hopefully soon!

[@marshabrown8337]

You stay safe, too. The world needs both of you to be around for a long time. Take care.

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thank you Marsha!! Thats the plan!

[@lismjohnston]

Eli, I have been loving watching your videos! You are so talented! God has given you so many gifts. Please continue to update us and make videos when you move into your house! Where has your beautiful wife been while you are busy fighting fires? I'm sure you miss her like crazy! Congratulations on becoming a home owner soon! Wow! You have done amazing!

[@EliPetersonjp]

I do miss her a lot! she has been working hard over in Colorado

[@angeladay2196]

I can't wait to see your Van completely finished in ducked out!

[@EliPetersonjp]

just posted the last part of the roof build video :)

[@weekendlovinggypsy1737]

That's awesome, love it. I hope bunch of sell the van that you are going to take it easy and enjoy time to yourself and your wife instead of working your butt off all the time. I think you should keep the van and have it for weekend play time with you and your wife up in the mountains and everything. Hopefully I can see the van driving around in Colorado here LOL. You be safe at your jobs and travels.

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thanks Gypsy!!! Haha yeah I could use a little time off and time with Mandi! We would keep it but I designed it more for Utah and Colorado and not the Rainy weather of Oregon. If I was to build it for oregon I would have used slightly diffrent materials or just wrap it all in fiberglass due to the constant moisture

[@jeffparkinson5005]

Great job, the only thing I would do differently after seeing the end product is, I wouldn't slope the roof down as it goes back, I'd build it the same height all the way front to back. But everyone has their personal preferences. How much will you be asking for your van? Don't sell it too cheap, I think a lot of people will be interested in it, dont sell it too fast unless you get your asking price.

[@EliPetersonjp]

it is sloped down a fair amount. hard to tell on the sloped driveway!

[@misdesixtysix8255]

Hi Eli, so good to see you again! Wow, 110 hr/wk plus cutting trees. Love your work ethic and frugality. Great to hear you n Mandi are going to buy a home in Oregon 😁 What year and make model van, mileage, does it have AC, any rust?

[@EliPetersonjp]

1999 Dodge Ram 35000, 161,000 (It is my daily driver so it goes up) Minimal rust (nothing bad) some in the rain gutter etc, nothing structural. It has AC but it is a little wierd. It is either off or full blast, not middle range.....

[@roycelane8318]

Hey Eli it's Gregg Savage, campervan looks awesome you have some serious skills as a carpenter and as a firefighter

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thanks Gregg!

[@seabasscardsandcomics4264]

I just stumbled upon this channel. Love it already! Very inspiring

[@EliPetersonjp]

So glad you found me!! welcome aboard

[@patrickjobling8676]

Sounds like a plan man .. this is gettin excitings ..😁pip pips and carryon

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thanks Rick!!! Hopefully I will be able to do fun projects like tiny homes and little cabins sometime soon on my own property!

[@patrickjobling8676]

@@EliPetersonjp absolutely mate .. get in there ...oh and be safe ..😁pip pips and carryon

[@cassieridgaway307]

Once we get our SUV conversion done we'll be moving out to the oregon coast! I'd love to meet up with you eventually! I'm so excited to start living the dream!

[@EliPetersonjp]

For sure!!! Stay in touch

[@jaywildhorsepatterson4432]

Wishing you the best of luck bro!

[@EliPetersonjp]

thanks Jay!

[@SteveHazel]

movin' to the Oregon coast - good choice !!

[@EliPetersonjp]

Hopefully!!!!

[@connormiller7947]

It looks cool

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thank you! I love it!

[@Northwestprepper411]

Congratulations soon to be home owner

[@EliPetersonjp]

thank you!

[@Northwestprepper411]

Also I wanted to say thank you for the dangerous work you do every year putting your life on the line for people you don't even know.

[@dilyanstover9267]

Interesting van

[@EliPetersonjp]

haha thanks

[@autistlev]

You just got a new subscriber :D

[@EliPetersonjp]

thanks!!! I will make your proud :)

[@JEANnotJane]

Your new subscriber here from Philippines 💕 Your so cute 😍

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thanks so much Marlboro ;) I spent 2 weeks in Subic bay in the Philippines last year and loved it!

[@JEANnotJane]

@@EliPetersonjp really? Nextime when you come back here in tge Philippines message me please... 😙

[@Imjussaiyanbro]

You should keep it for vacation or traveling or you decide you want to sell your house and move again , deck it out, but I guess you could always buy another van if you want

[@EliPetersonjp]

I need a truck for renovation etc haha

[@dustinketelhut6046]

i thought maybe bondo the gap around the top window

[@dustinketelhut6046]

thanks for the upload man !

[@EliPetersonjp]

I ended up using marine grade adhesive sealant

[@danielsoto4900]

Stay grinding and stay safe bro.. I’m out in co springs I would be interested in buying it. Do you have a way I can get ahold of you personally?

[@EliPetersonjp]

I am sadly over in Utah at the moment, will be heading back to colorado springs in a month or so. You can add me on facebook or instagram (MandeliTravel)

[@danielsoto4900]

I’ll definitely do that.. a month sounds good I’m currently building up a rig.. thanks for getting back to me.. I’ll reach out through fb

[@rarerides]

dude, how do you function working that much? And im interested in fighting fires, where can i look for jobs?

[@EliPetersonjp]

I enjoy my work :) applrications are right now for most seasonal positions. This should help you out www.reddit.com/r/Wildfire/comments/73b1vk/how_to_get_a_job_as_a_wildland_firefighter_for/

[@rarerides]

@@EliPetersonjp Thanks boss, good luck with the house! Inspiring poor people like me ;)

[@rabadooda]

Just curious: does modifying the roof of your van affect the cost of insurance?

[@EliPetersonjp]

Depends if you want to insure the new modifications or not

[@tvdevion6329]

What type of material is the roof?

[@EliPetersonjp]

cell cast acrylic

[@lewisadventurama5201]

Little thing LOL LITTLE? Good job tho bro shes a beaut!

[@EliPetersonjp]

thanks so much! Just posted part 2 of the roof build

[@muskogeeoffice951]

hello huh new to your channel.... totally confused.... when your standing up talking...is that in your van?

[@PrincessFunni]

Yes

[@EliPetersonjp]

Yup! Just posted part 2 about building my van

[@tomjaden936]

Nice how have you been bro. It's being a long time. Where's Mindy ?

[@EliPetersonjp]

Been Good! Busy with work. Mandi is over in Colorado Springs working. Things just didnt line up work wise for me to stay in Colorado so I came back to Utah for the fire season

[@sandramckinlay3424]

show goin down the road pls

[@EliPetersonjp]

Haha it looks like a regular hightop van

[@fredd1862]

Where do you park when you sleep?

[@EliPetersonjp]

There is a place by my work that allowes overnight parking. or the wood, or walmart

[@fredd1862]

@@EliPetersonjp Thank you

[@BluJasmine]

Nice to see you doing well and saving for your house. I would be very interested in buying your van , Id love to discuss price etc. just reply and we can connect 😎

[@EliPetersonjp]

Hey Hitchhiker! Still working on it. just put the backsplash in today and I am really happy with how it turned out. Hoping I can get the woodfloors in tomorrow. Its 1999 Dodge Ram 35000, 161,000 (It is my daily driver so it goes up). No issues with the engine or tranny (engine burns a bit or oil but thats fairly common for this size and age vehicle).

[@EliPetersonjp]

No rust. (mabye a little in the rain gutter but nothing structural or very noticeable. I was planning on seling it in about a month ( when my firefighting season is done) I was hoping to sell it for around $5,000-$7,800.

[@EliPetersonjp]

Engine and Transmission is good. AC and heater work but are a little wierd. It only goes at full blast and not the low and medium ( i have not looked into it all yet). I have the dashboard off right now because I am installing a new stereo so I will look into the ac and heater switch when I have a chance.

[@BluJasmine]

Do you have a time frame of when you would sell , maybe I can find the time to take a road trip and check it out . I’ll show vids to my son , as I like the height of yours because he’s 6”3 , and will go on some trips with me.

[@beastmodejelly8654]

It looks like you're super tall

[@EliPetersonjp]

haha i am 6 foot 6

[@beastmodejelly8654]

@@EliPetersonjp yes that's tall. Thanks for the high top idea by the way,,I saw it in the first video.

[@tylerrose5527]

Is there any way I could contact you? Maybe like social media? I have a couple questions that I would love to know about, mainly to do with your van life

[@EliPetersonjp]

you can find me on instagram at @mandelitravel or my facebook. Eli Peterson. It is difficult to communicate on youtube

[@thomasweeks7992]

Eli you ever come to Texas you can hookup free my wife and I would love to meet you and your wife.

[@EliPetersonjp]

Thanks Thomas!!! I will keep that in mind!! we would love too

[@josekma1]

Bad move

[@EliPetersonjp]

haha to each their own