The Reality of VAN LIFE in Australia - What THEY don't tell YOU

[@journeymanadventure]

I lived and traveled in a 1966 Kombie during the late 80s and early 90s when fuel was 60-8- cpL and I don't remember any no camping signs. It was always better to camp away from towns and citys and on the highway it was worth finding a spot where you couldn't easily be seen in order to avoide dealing with drunks returning home after the pub. I grew up hiking and car baised camping and was tought camp hygine re toileting and cleaning which by the look of all the toilet paper at road side stops these days is somthing parents nolonger teach. For me at thet time aged 16-23 I lived on canned food and paster and spent most of my time looking for work. While traveling I usually stopped into a caravan park once a week to reset. It was a good time of life but it was full of saftey risks and financual stress not only for food and fuel but breakdowns though it did teach me how to servace and maintain my van and look after it. Every dream has its realitys.

[@CarlTravels]

I certainly learned my fair share about mechanics on that trip, city’s ain’t fun for van life, I found Queensland the most accomodating, nsw… forget about it ( I was stealth camping many nights) . South Australia I thought was a hidden gem, I made it a mission to walk down every pier and jetty in the state

[@oldbloke204]

Yeah good take on it all imo. I've never understood the fascination with it tbh as the compromises are really pretty obvious if you even think about it at all. It's no surprise either that councils or whatever don't offer free camping very often as it would likely end up as a complete dogs breakfast in no time. Having to supply facilities or pick up rubbish etc would be never ending. I've stayed at campsites that were fairly remote and the amount of crap that grubs leave behind or the damage they do is quite confronting sometimes. Also if you were living in a popular tourist area, we do, and you're paying a lot in rates or to purchase a place about the last thing you would want is a heap of vans with people living in them lined up out the front.

[@beyondher]

Yes but only a few people are disrespecting the places, and then everyone else gets cancelled. It's not fair when most van-lifers literally can't afford to purchase a home and many are women escaping from domestic violence. Majority of Australian home owners lack empathy.

[@oldbloke204]

@@beyondher Maybe so but then the onus should be on Govt. or other bodies to fix the problem or provide areas to camp safely and hygienically and not on homeowners or local councils. There are plenty trying to travel around on the cheap and just get what they can for nothing as well. The problem is that if you let a few do it then it becomes a never ending issue for those who live around the same area imo. We've likely donated a lot more than many to those less fortunate but it doesn't mean I want our quality of life compromised by others. Sorry.

[@1WHATSUP1]

My idea of traveling is to go where other people ARE NOT.

[@CarlTravels]

Try Greenland.

[@jim-se5xc]

The best time to travel up north is summer. its deserted.

[@robertwilson1827]

😅😅😅 ​@@CarlTravels

[@priscillacatania8275]

There are heaps of portable toilets now . Yeah U need a decent camper. Very expensive It's my wish to travel. We struggle to get good parking our hire van was so big. Hard to park we went on goggle maps and found some spots. Nothing that we could stay to long

[@priscillacatania8275]

Yeah portable toilets are good. I got bitten so bad in Cairns. My 2 legs had marks everywhere.

[@TropicalZooms]

Nice honest and realistic description of van life mate. There’s so many positives and negatives of van life. Really enjoyed your view. 😃👍

[@JackSmith-x8s]

We weighed up cost v cost and decided that, in the "off" season, it's actually cheaper, less stress and more relaxing to book a week at a time in luxury beachfront accomodation, than to own, insure, register, maintain, repair and tow a caravan all over the country.

[@kiaalexander4161]

Isn’t Off season weather usually crappy?

[@JackSmith-x8s]

@@kiaalexander4161 The off season is the best weather in Qld. Besides there's no guarantees with weather any time. 😉

[@djfghwetrysdfg]

so: get an un-smelly toilet, figure out how to shower warm, figure out something to do in free time alone or way to meet people, work online to make money for food petrol and repairs, take a folding bike to go to the beach from your far away parking spot

[@jackryan2135]

I love Vanlife in Aus, get to live in the most expensive suburbs of Melbourne. Saving about $600 a week. A nice big stealth Van is kinda a must however, mine has cost me close to $55k. But with only 120,000km on the clock im hoping it lasts 10 years. Moving up to Sydney soon for better weather. :)

[@banksiasong]

“Better weather” in Sydney?!! Keep going north, maybe to Brissie 🤣

[@Swat-se3nu]

Yes skip Sydney I'm in Sydney and it is garbage the roads costs housing tolls etc.. Melbourne is polished turd nice alley way cafes etc . Sydney well it's just one big turd with a bridge and opera house 😂

[@twoflyinghats]

"GAS" station? Why? Don't pander to Yank tourists who can learn our vocabularies. When in Rome... As for showers on the road, there are truck servos either on or just off the main truck routes along highways with free toilets and showers 24/7. Any servos with trucks there are handy for a free camp behind them and a shower and a hot cooked brekkie in the morning. There's a good truck servo in little Tarcutta NSW, 3 km off the Hume. It also has LPG and I was touring in an old dual fuel station wagon so needed to plan my trip where there were LPG servos to keep the fuel cost down till there were none. I used a cheap 12 volt shower sucking warm water and there's many kinds of those. There's no excuse for not washing or showering and you can have a sponge bath in a hand basin or pop into caravan parks and pay a few dollars for their showers, washing machines and dryers if you need them. As for porta potties on board, they shouldn't smell if you use the chemicals for them and empty them at caravan dump sites. You can also use folding seat frames over decent holes you've dug in the bush, public toilets at rest stops or at regular servos along the way. I've never had a problem with toileting or showering. After a long trip free camping in the station wagon I wanted more space and convenience so bought a light little old $4,000 caravan and improved it with solar. If you choose a tow vehicle you can sleep in comfortably you can leave a caravan at a caravan park for a few days and head off where it's best not to take it.

[@beyondher]

Carl, you're supposed to ignore those 'no camping'' signs. That's the secret to van life. You might get the occasional fine, but it's still worth it to be living on the beach full time! I think your video is focusing on all the negatives, but there is many many positives to this lifestyle as well. It's all about giving up comfort for the sake of freedom. Get a small bucket with a clip on lid and line it with compost bags and there is your toilet. Then it can be dumped in the bin like the dog owners with their dog poop. Also van life is not a new fad, it's been popular since the 1960's. It's just that it's being documented now since we have instagram and a huge number of young Aussies can't afford to purchase a home these days.

[@helenellsworth9556]

He focuses on the negative because everyone else doesn't

[@CarlTravels]

That's the point, Im just trying to be honest, and not show some instagram fake reality.

[@404errorpagenotfound.6]

The video was literally to discuss the negatives genius.

[@pooheadlou]

@@404errorpagenotfound.6 to be fair the title say the reality of van life , not the negatives of van life.

[@LB-gr5se]

Are people managing to survive over there living from vans and having jobs? Im looking to move over and considering living in a van if I have to.. as a tourist.

[@quentinrufin4025]

Thank you for making a honest video.

[@zanebarnsley5903]

reality check for sure, thanks for the honesty, driving from the west to east coast along the south coast come January.

[@ponto08]

In relation to the video.....portable toilets don't smell because you put chemicals in them. But when planning on trip like that in this country, there are things that you need 1 toilet....2 shower ( solar bag).....3 bed..... 4 stove. Then whatever else you need...but the 4 are essential. I If you haven't been across before, you will love it....don't rush.....I followed the Murray River all the way to the high country to Corryong.... Free camps all the way. Enjoy it.

[@vichetkim5533]

Excellent review on the honesty report on van life. I thought about entering Van life myself but given that i may end up smelling my own feces inside the vehicle while driving, I'll park the idea and tow it in a camper trailer instead.

[@ponto08]

What did the guy sh*t in.....all portable toilets you put chemical in that breaks up the faeces and eliminates odour....i have porta potty in van since 2013 and have never smelled it once.

[@JustOneKnight]

👋 enjoyed the vid 👍

[@emailsusan]

Stop watching KZbin USA RV'ers and watch the dust flies and basics that the Aussie youtubers put out, hundreds of them!

[@VanventureswithKaia]

My camper van is a 2005 Kia Pregrio which I converted myself and I had a brand new engine put in it of course it was expensive but worth it

[@CarlTravels]

I did prefer my kio pregio over the mitsubishi express.

[@VanventureswithKaia]

@@CarlTravels Kia Pregrio vans are very popular for turning into camper vans

[@user-McGiver]

Van life is a great alternative way of living... but only in places where Freedom is an appreciated value... and Australia isn't one...

[@404errorpagenotfound.6]

I actually find it cheaper to fly around the country and book accomodations and use rental or tour vehicles. You actually see the most beautiful parts of the country/world in comfort. Not joking flying can be cheaper than driving if you know how to plan. Also a lot of nice free spots are overun with legit homeless people that have no choice or options these days which can cause security and other issues. Some of them seem to turn the sites into festering litter bins. Sounds bad but it's true. I pay a bit and get the premium spots without worry... overall i dont spend any more money in a year because i keep an income going.

[@CarlTravels]

Your right ,I drove to Uluru, (Ayres rock) and it cost me..about $2000, and that was with 3 friends, we spent about 6k in total. for just a couple of days, the accomodation (even camping was like $80 per night or something stupid), and the petrol it cost to get there was enormous.

[@404errorpagenotfound.6]

@CarlTravels a group of friends just went on a luxury cruise. It was the best holiday they ever had and it was cheaper than staying in a local crappy hotel.

[@kiwizz2177]

MG , what a DH !

[@priscillacatania8275]

Especially in Cairns. We risk it I couldn't sleep at night. Was scared hahahah.

[@CarlTravels]

id be scared too. chances of your car getting stolen are very high.

[@Wijkkie]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍, Because I live in Sweden we have all mens right, so you can park almost anywhere, so no problem. But I am Dutch and when I go back to see my kids its awful to park somewhere. I lived 8 years in a old camper, so I know exactly what you mean. On youtube and other things, it always is sun,fun, and beautiful....but it is realy is NOT !

[@AugustusOmega]

dont buy those fancy dometic toilets for suckers, go to bunnings buy a white bucket with lid for 15$ and a roll of biodegradable black bin liners also a length of garden hose split it length wats then press it on the bucket lip for comfort then sit on bucket, poop, wrap and twist bag into small tight eat parcel and hoist it in a bin where it goes to landfill...problem irradicated...very comfortable solution just dont let your poop bags pile up...that can be depressing and disgusting, the rule is poop then get rid of it!

[@CarlTravels]

I actually did this for a houseboat I lived on. that will come in another episode. (I built a houseboat myself)

[@emergent3744]

Great video mate

[@CarlTravels]

Thanks for watching

[@jim-se5xc]

A 'gas' station?

[@lowrider075]

Have you heard of Wikicamps......also, portable showers.....maybe, instead of telling people about vanlife....you should have asked people about vanlife. BTW, you can buy a van and import it from the UK cheaper than you can buy one here in australia

[@Iaapwm]

P.P.P.P.P.P.P. Prior Preparation Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. "Every event leaves a footprint of actions or inactions." You have a BOAT in your van???

[@CarlTravels]

Yes I had a boat in my van, I visited over 30 islands and 10 rivers on my trip around oz . Was the most fun part

[@NomadOutOfAfrica]

Sounds like a nightmare 😂

[@glenranger6644]

i disagree with everything you said about van life i have been doing it for 2 years and love it maybe if you took the time to set up your van the right way i think you would of said things differently as for driving around with the smell as you said that is bull you dont smell it if you use the right equipment

[@MrAshyb87]

Bro, you brought a piece of shit. Anyone who knows anything about cars knows Pregio's are trash, that's why it's $3k. They probably knew the gasket was on the way out.

[@r3toric]

What a fad huh almost as much of a fad as these "van life sucks" videos lol

[@HLsab]

Are you for real ?? I’m 2.30 mins in and all your expectations on living in a van you have gotten from instagram hahaha . You are a peanut , see ya .

[@CarlTravels]

i. travelled almost 20,000kms in a van. And lived in it for 6 months... I think i have enough experience to tell my story, How far have you travelled. Thanks for the views btw

[@mattallen664]

Mitsubishi express van have the last 1 point safety rating in oz