Van Life tour: Stealthy Chevy Van conversion for retired couple.

Retired couple converted a Chevy Express cargo van into a camper for self-sufficient travel across Canada during pandemic. Tour our finished camper. Highlights include: solar charging, a solar shower, cooking, sleeping, storage and off-grid van life. More at our travel blog at www.kyoungtrav...
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[@michellestratford9753]

I'm so happy to see people my own age doing this! Thank you for sharing! Safe travels🚙🇨🇦

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks, you too.

[@ch2821]

Michelle Stratford I don’t know many “couples”.... but there is a huge group of solo women vanners.... we get together and caravan/ meet up for holidays/ and random times in between. Some are full time, some part time. Some have hubbies that hate camping so they go alone... fun times.! 😊

[@shariburns6263]

I love the idea of putting the sleeping bags in pillow cases and using them for pillows or a backrest. Brilliant!

[@sharongypsydove6080]

A lot of people also stuff seasonal clothing in Throw pillow cases with zippers.. Puffy jackets hats mittens and so on Or just extra clothing..

[@karenwillis6680]

I especially like how stealthy this van is. You’re a cute couple & good partners to each other ❤️

[@lesliesalmon6116]

I love seeing a mature couple enjoying van life. I am inspired. Thank you.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnettew3957]

Well thought out design. Thank you.

[@rickdejean4649]

Your children are lucky to have cool parents

[@julierawlins5984]

Such clever ideas and well executed! Thank you for sharing

[@Kiwiwanderer]

Practical easy build out. Lovely couple. Calm and happy.

[@johntaylor1947]

I like the solar shower well done.

[@donnasteel4187]

Excellent build ! I got a lot of great ideas from this video. This is my dream to kit a cargo van out like this and travel across North American. Safe travels and thank you for sharing.

[@jelkhorncamper6062]

I would need to be able to make coffee from inside the van first thing in the morning. I’m delighted that our jackery will power our coffee maker to get that most important beverage while still half awake!!

[@garryharrison6505]

Great video and a nice couple. You both work so well together. Cheers.

[@kydeafie]

Both of you are cute as a couple.

[@DavidJohnson-tn8ed]

The most perfect Van I’ve seen. I’ve lived in mine also I’ve lived in my sailboat. Not because I had to. Because I enjoy it and I’m a minimalist. 👍

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. It was a fun project ànd is great to camp in

[@myfamilymatters]

The design was absolutely perfect for you both. You can tell that it was well thought out, before you started. The outdoor shower idea is brilliant. Merry Christmas and safe travels once our Canadian weather turns warmer.

[@IvyRosethebus]

Excellent job! What a well done video also. Great creativity. Just love it. Thank you.

[@livableincome]

This is charming and organized. Functional and attractive. I think this is my favorite kitchen so far. Love how everything is open where you can see it. Suppose the fridge being in front, far from the kitchen might be a bother, but I guess you'd determine what you need up front first before you go back and cook. Nice set up. 👍It shows you dont have to have an enormous van to get by.

[@kboom58]

I love the simplicity of this build. Seems like a very doable set-up

[@danwhiteman2529]

Nice build folks! I like where you have your kitchen, reminds me of a teardrop trailer setup. Happy Trails

[@gailresources8120]

I could hear just fine. Very nice build.

[@livableincome]

I heard just fine as well.

[@Eyesis_1]

What a cute little home. Love the spice rack! 😍

[@pegbilliet8014]

Nice tour and set up. Nice to see a smiling face. Thanks for some good ideas.

[@thatcanadianchick7589]

I thought this was going to be kinda lame, but boy... I was really wrong, lol !!! You gave me so many lightbulb ideas, thx !!!

[@cherriemckinstry131]

Its great seeing so many decide to take a different way of living instead of 4 walls and cable tv.. waiting for the holiday to see relatives or do anything.

[@connectionoflivesandinterests]

*Great Video. Love checking out all the things ppl are doing with their vans. 🤗🤗🤗*

[@tazmac4559]

Very nice van build and so simple

[@purposelydriven6566]

I Love it 💖💖 its super fun it’s a wonderful experience thank you for sharing

[@JosePerez-ei7ep]

Great job! Fantastic ideas...

[@lifeoflucretia]

You have done a very nice build. Blessings and safe travels. LUCRETIA

[@Sassygirl8323340]

Loved the van and lots of good ideas

[@karolsmith7593]

Nice van for travels. You have used every space, and well organized.

[@TheroldFranklin]

Nice Little Home Yall Guys Be Careful And Enjoy Life Your Friend Eddie From Athens Ala.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. It is very cozy!

[@erickanyc8907]

Really nice. 👌 Very organized! Safe travels!🙏

[@donnalouisebaza6570]

I love how simple and organized everything is and the solar shower gives us future travelers an idea. I may use up everything you demonstrated. Thank you and happy holidays! Stay safe.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Warangel144Dreamsandvisions]

I love that . Great setup and I love the bed and the sleeping bag pillows. I love that idea. Nice and comfy and it’s a great setup.I am thinking about the van life my self. At the moment it is a Matt of cash flow. And determining my needs in the van.I’m definitely not a minimalist. Lol. So I’m getting rid of lots. Lol.

[@lia_fei_]

WOW! This was so cool! The spice rack and the bed were my favourite parts 😄 Proud to call you guys my aunt and uncle 💕

[@PhilWellsCincy]

Excellent tour. Thank you

[@andrewlane7000]

Very informative video ................... thank you ................

[@henrycisnerosjr6559]

Thank You for your van tour, good job! Our vans are never finished, but, that is part of the fun. Looking forward to more posts. Happy Holidays

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Our pleasure!

[@LucyWallace95]

Fantastic build!!

[@rgold02]

Great Van build! Thanks for sharing. Goldie in Jax. Florida

[@laurajphillips]

Very nice great organization!

[@clovermark39]

Lovely build some great ideas there. Love the kitchen area. Thanks for sharing.

[@amberhoadley3404]

I love the mosquito netting ! Brilliant, thanks for sharing

[@jasperbuitenhuis6771]

great organization! Love it all, me and my wife are converting a van aslo and trying to make the most use of space seems like you guys did a great job! Hope you have a great trip thanks for sharing vandalf.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks a new good luck with your conversion

[@susanm9078]

Great conversion. Nothing complicated. Love your kitchen in the back.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. We tried to keep it simple. The hardest part was installing the insulation and panels over that.

[@artbyamyk]

So simple! Great utilization of space! I am currently saving for vanlife... you gave me some great ideas. Thank you!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Glad it was helpful!

[@taishiAlphaD]

I love your set up! It was clearly thoughtfully planned out! Have safe travels!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thank you! You too!

[@RoamingRuca]

Great video and awesome conversion 👍 love your storage and organization and use of space. I love the bug screens. Thanks for the great ideas and tips

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks very much. Many of the ideas are from other KZbin videos.

[@justkeeponmoving7727]

Nice well done.

[@pantera2137]

I like the fan

[@bettebuchheit5776]

Very nice. Love the organization! Happy travels!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thank you! You too!

[@cc5893]

Amazing 😃Great van, my favorite is the shower... never saw something like this before 👍🏻🌻. Take care you both... many greetings from switzerland 🙋🏻‍♂️🇨🇭

[@msyotaboy]

Love your simplistic yet effective build. Definitely saved a ton of money yet have all the amenities for a wonderful weekend getaway

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. Keeping the cost down was important and we lived in the van for 2 months until sub zero temperatures arrived. We plan to set out again in May! More videos to come then.

[@petehorton5591]

Well Done.

[@peace.404]

Very creative and cool!

[@rubyjreads7503]

Awesome build!!!. I've watched so many Chevy van builds and none of them had the shelving space you have. I need space for my books. You have made excellent use of your van space for storage. Very budget-friendly. Thank you for some excellent van build ideas.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks for that. We also still love our paper books! We got many great ideas from watching other KZbin videos and it is cool how many different builds are out there.

[@FindingMyMuse]

Great setup…love it! Thank you!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Glad you like it!

[@mweber2000]

Very nice and cleverly done

[@dianablanke2543]

Sweet Camper Van. I got some great ideas from you. Thanks!

[@kencarey3477]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertwagner8596]

thats a cool ride

[@jacobkilgannon6059]

Very cool! Congrats. Reminds me of my parents years ago.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks.

[@myiajp9217]

hello! for the mosquito screen. you can cut a 7inch wide by x long piece of regular screen (hint: Local screen enclosure shops always have extra materials from previous jobs LOL!) that you stick with spray gorilla glue on the outside of separation area. that will cover the gap created by the space between the magnets and resolve the current issue presenting entrance of insects. Be well :)

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks that is a great solution. We can do that!

[@jpsadventures9864]

Great build. Well equipped for anything. Liked and subscribed. Safe travels!

[@janetwarner2002]

Always something positive to learn from others who are willing to share their experiences unless you're like Cyndee below.

[@davet7663]

Nice build! Safe travels 😎

[@r.d.ontheroad-1094]

I must say, you have done a fantastic job setting up your van! Many happy and safe travels!!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks! We're still roaming around in Canada. So much to see.

[@hankfacer7098]

Great Tour, thank you

[@blunts2776]

This was so informative thank y’all so much!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Glad it was helpful

[@jajakilla]

I subbed when I saw your kitchen setup...awesome!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks for the sub!

[@gayleb9656]

Very nice. A small rug under your fridge would help it slide easier.

[@jazziered142]

That is a nice van.

[@beckywilliams1388]

I love your bedside table 💕 great job

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks - it works really well. Looking forward to travelling again soon and making some new videos!

[@dellascott163]

Awesome video.

[@ExploringCanadaInfo]

Great van build! 😎

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks!

[@booba7725]

Vantastic!

[@taishiAlphaD]

Quite a nice vandominium !

[@MotoMarvmtb]

Such a lovely couple, bet they never been in a argument before. 😉 Oh and awesome van build!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks - but what are the chances of never arguing being true?

[@MotoMarvmtb]

@@thelongroadhome7582 you guys are perfect, don't ruin my illusion of you two. 😂

[@unoefxz]

Just a couple suggestions for you guys. Easy up tent canopies from Wal-Mart for under 40.00 each. Get some of the clamp type paper clips to join them together in case of rain so the water runs off instead of between them. They also make a model that is enclosed which make a great room for changing clothes. Also, Coleman makes a camping table with a tub built in for a sink, it has several wire type shelves as well as hooks for BBQ utensils. The table was just under 100.00 but wow does it organize your cooking area. It is all aluminum and steel construction and worth its weight in camping gold! You guys did a great job, just wondering how tall you both are? I am 6'1" and don't know if I could sleep sideways or even diagonal with that bed set-up. I am about to convert my van. I have a pop-up camper which is great if posting up for a few days but would be useless for daily travel as it has to be unhitched to open it up.

[@unoefxz]

here is the camping table, got mine at Big Lots for 99.00: www.kohls.com/product/prd-1367411/coleman-pack-away-camp-kitchen.jsp?skuid=93918541&ci_mcc=ci&OUTDOOR%20RECREATION&CSE&CID=shopping20&gclid=c8765fe9981b1a4250270054e252db5c&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=c8765fe9981b1a4250270054e252db5c

[@evelynsalinas4852]

Loved it!

[@bambihargrove6499]

Beautifully done, Love love it. 👍❤👍

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. We are enjoy camping with it. Please subscribe for updates now that we are back into camping season!

[@vickiho1125]

I'm concerned about the propane tank and the lack of venting, I've seen that an enclosed outside venting box is needed.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Yes an enclosed outside vented box is needed. This is in case the pressure relief valve of the tank pops open. This could happen if the tank got too hot when it's full. A wooden box sealed with silicone and a hole thru the floor (propane is heavier than air) is the proper solution. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@yvettagrimes6175]

Thank you for sharing

[@rosed7989]

Its going to be cold in the winter cooking at the kitchen/back area.

[@madizmom]

This is my dream retirement plan! Can’t wait to travel the US, Canada and South America. One question. I see other van builders that put their propane in lockers that vent outside in case of leaks. Are you concerned at all about that hazard? Happy and safe travels!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Yes A locker is being built with a vent to the outside of the van.

[@fancysfolly554]

Nice set up!

[@bonnienklyde918]

Very nice van, but I could barely hear either of you with my volume all the way up. Be safe, stay well and God bless

[@jsmomx8]

Try earphones..they sounded better...I could not hear them either..

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Sorry about that. New to making videos and don't think we can do anything to improve this one. Next time we will be louder.

[@teresachapmanqueen1543]

Awesome video! I’m looking for the same van.

[@Ohiogirl419]

I like seeing homemade mods. Too many professional builds on KZbin that cost $100k+++

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. Sticking to a small budget was a priority for us. Apart from buying the 2011 van, we spent around $5K on everything else.

[@janicem4382]

Great plan, I like it a lot. I am wanting to convert my Van and this is the best plan I have seen. I wonder about cooking in the rain. I think I would be fine with a salad most rainy evenings. I love my coffee in the morning though and my warm milk and honey at bedtime. I guess I could use a kettle for that. Is that what you do?

[@thelongroadhome7582]

When it rains we have a tarp that ties to the roof rack at one end and two tent poles at the far end. Lots of people do cook in their van but we don't feel comfortable with that. Electric kettles take 1000w plus so the Jackery won't handle that. We boil water on the stove out back and make tea coffee inside.

[@iamgold2208]

Thanks for the tour! Can you tell me the size of your Jackery and if it provides enough power for your needs.

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Hi - we have the 500watt hour Jackery. We can go about 2 days without charging it. We have had a few days with no solar due to clouds. We run the 12volt compressor fridge (35w when it's on), a ceiling fan overnight on low (3w) and evening use of the LED lights (14w) plus phone charging. So it's about the right size. I would not recommend a smaller unit.

[@iamgold2208]

@@thelongroadhome7582 Thank you. This is the exact info I wanted. I plan on using the same 12 volt appliances with solar and alternator charging but was wondering if I would need a larger unit to power the fridge. You saved me time and money!

[@tgmcfly3568]

Nice well done well done 👍🏾👏🏾🤗😊

[@keithphillips1722]

Great presentation of a very functional home on wheels, I didn’t see any information on climate control except for the fan. Do you have a solution for cold and/or heat?

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Hi & thanks. Short answer - No heating or cooling. Longer answer - with a fan blowing on us and the ceiling exhaust fan pushing air out, we have been okay on 80-90degF nights. It's a fair bit of airflow. We are not camping in the snow in this setup but have awoken to some frosty mornings. The insulation in walls floor and ceiling help hold the inside temperature a little longer. Hope that helps.

[@kevinburgess6112]

wow!! very nice guys👍

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks. Happy camping!

[@JamesHarris-sh9ip]

Amazing Amazing

[@moongyle]

Thank you for sharing some really awesome ideas! Do you have any videos where you talk more about your actual travels? What’s the longest you’ve slept in your van? Do you mostly stay at camp grounds?

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Hi and thanks. Our travel blog at www.kyoungtravels.com has stories and a few videos. Click on the "Camper Van" category. We lived in the van for 2 months. During that time we stayed I think 7 or 8 nights in a campground, the rest was boondocking. We used campgrounds when solar wasn't charging our battery enough or when there just wasn't a good boondocking site nearby.

[@boblowrie3249]

My wife and I bought a chevy exoress that was already converted. The bed was set up to go side to side but we think we would have more room if we slept from front to back with a queen. Wondered if you had any suggestions. Love your videos. Thanks

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Definitely more room sleeping front to back but at the expense of what we call living room space. We set up a lawn chair in the space right inside the side doors and play cards and board games. One sitting on the bed and one on the chair. If you put the front passenger seat on a swivel, then you don't need space for a lawns chair. However if you don't want a chair inside at all, then yes turn the bed to sleep front to back.

[@peggylacroix8601]

Love your hair

[@r12rtpilot]

Well done!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks - we are still enjoying the van in our 2nd year of summer camping.

[@r12rtpilot]

@@thelongroadhome7582 so I take it you've never had to put chains on the tires? Our new Chevy Express Van conversion is locked in the snow in Salt Lake City right now

[@petin4940]

Very Nice!

[@thelongroadhome7582]

Thanks!