What it's really like to live full time in a VW bus (Westy)

Hunter and Hannah hit the road in their 1974 vintage VW bus to live their dream life. Today, they are giving us a tour of their tiny home on wheels, and they explain why this lifestyle works for them.
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE VIDEOS:
kzbin.info...
FOLLOW HUNTER & HANNAH:
/ packthebus
---------- BONUS CONTENT ---------
TINY HOUSE GEAR LIST & RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:
kit.co/TinyHouseGiantJourney
RECEIVE GIFTS AND EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS:
/ tinyhousegiantjourney
---------GET SOCIAL W/ THIS CHANNEL -----------
Website: www.tinyhousegiantjourney.com
Facebook: / tinyhousegiantjourney
Instagram: / tinyhousegiantjourney
Twitter: / tinyhousegirl
---------CREDITS--------------
PRODUCED & HOSTED BY:
Jenna Kausal
VIDEOGRAPHER:
Matt Alexander
aerialexcellence.us/
EDITING BY:
Marcia Trader
www.marciatrader.com
TITLE MUSIC:
Kate Steinway - "Tiny Home"
iTunes:flyt.it/THGJtinyhomeitunes?ID=
Spotify: flyt.it/THGJtinyhomespotify?ID=
KZbin: flyt.it/tinyhomeYT?ID=
ADDITIONAL MUSIC: www.epidemicsound.com/
OPENING MONTAGE DRONE SHOT: Jonathan Benabed
0:00 Intro w/ show host
0:59 Meet Hunter and Hannah
1:15 Transitioning to a nomadic lifestyle
2:08 Why choose a VW Bus?
2:50 Cost of VW bus
3:08 VW Bus stats
4:01 Exterior tour
5:20 Trunk & storage
6:26 Engine & electrical
7:25 Interior tour
9:52 Sleep spaces
10:47 Thoughts on nomadic life
#vwbus #vwbuslove #campervan

[@AlexAlex-gj4jd]

My dad was a teacher and in summer 1978 my parents bought a VW Westfalia that was beige with the same woodgrain cabinets and layout and mini kitchen in Frankfurt, Germany. Along with my younger brother and my mom we camped all over Europe for 10 weeks. The pop-top was where my brother and I slept while my parents slept below. My mom cooked most meals in the van. We went east to Hungary, south through "Yugoslavia," Venice, Florence, and all along the Med to Barcelona. Then through France north to the Driebergen, Netherlands to meet up with a family we met at the University of Michigan married student housing while my dad did did a second masters in Library Science to become a Librarian. On to England, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and back to Frankfurt to leave the Westfalia and have it shipped home to Seattle! What a memorable trip! I was in going into 8th grade and my brother into 7th. It was a trip of a lifetime and my brother and I have traveled as much as possible ever since! Great memories! 🌻 Thanks!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Cool, thanks for sharing ✨️

[@amcleivam]

My girlfriend and I met Hunter and Hannah and Luna in Utah last April in our 91 westfalia. Beautiful van. They were very nice people.

[@BayouMaccabee]

instead of pouring out and wasting the water from the ice chest's melted ice bags like she said they do, they could actually use it to fill up the sink water tank.

[@nallesanchez1681]

Sería práctico y poder rehusar el agua, me molesta mucho que tiren el agua, es un recurso que puede acabarse pronto, también puede utilizar para el WC si es que tienen.

[@aprilgraham-tash1124]

I thought the same thing 🖒

[@frostygal]

When she said dry bags for ice, do you know what she meant?

[@aprilgraham-tash1124]

@@frostygal I have no clue what those are.... (???)

[@aprila.852]

A dry bag is a waterproof bag. Usually you use it to keep the contents dry from external water. In this case, they are using it to keep the water from the melting ice inside and away from their food.

[@Vivianblue.]

Hello Luna!! What a lil beauty! My Mum and I travelled around Australia in the 1980s in a VW Kombi we called Ziggy Stardust for a year all the way from South Australia around the east coast, up to Queensland and over to Northern Territory. We swam rivers and climbed trees, protested and protected the rainforests, we got dirty and explored the national parks, we climbed mountains and built tree houses. That kombi hauled arse through it all! Absolute work horses! I know you will love yours just as much as we loved ours!!!! Enjoy the journey Kombi kids 🥰

[@kathines182]

A great adventure. We have Had our 1973 VW bus 15 years now :) Enjoy my fellow Volks folks. Wishing you many miles of smiles. Peace , love and happiness.

[@kathoakes929]

Love your tiny home. In 1964 I helped my husband rebuild a VW engine so this brought back some lovely memories.

[@dmarykavanagh]

We lived in our '69 Bus during college. 1976 to 1979. Our Green Machine!!!

[@dianehall5345]

Well done! In 1974 I was 24 ( and so much more! ) Traveled Prince Edward Island area in a Dodge converted bread truck. Wish we had done the WV. Yes we had more room, but 12 mpg and it was a blue beast! You have it down pat for two people and you still have the option of staying at a campground and using their showers or even booking a small cabin once in a while. I like it! I was a flower child/ Mother Earther and haven't changed all that much. Wish 2022 was more like 1974! We are farming now in NH, but bought a 2022 teardrop to take camping. Have fun! Cheers! ~ Diane

[@alireza_adventure]

[@dianehall5345]

Sandi- Thanks. The 1970s was my favorite era. We were home steading and so were our neighbors. Noone had money, but we all helped each other to build houses and barns. We traded and bartered goods and services. Our farm today reflects those times. We are getting through these challenging times in the same manner as "keep on truckin"...

[@jamesorendorff2731]

Love your bus!! In the early 70,s I had a green 66 VW camper bus ( Cucumber) Not at all as advanced as yours ...but I traveled ,solo from the west coast to the East coast ...Mexico to Canada ...Great idea having all terrain tires...my tires melted driving thru the desert ...Back then,no cell phones ...gps videos ,I didn't even have a credit card..but I loved the freedom of a small vehicle ... Good for you two ...keep going 😎

[@dianehall5345]

james orendorff - Sounds familiar. I was in my 20s in the 1970s and loved that era! Traveled through the Eastern Canadian sea coast, back when the border had just closed to landed immigrants. Our camper was a converted Arnold bread truck. I remember bell bottom faded jeans, red bandanas and peace belt buckles :-)

[@dianehall5345]

Sandi- Good for you. I was told I couldn't go back to the past. I said, " Watch me! ". I teach sustainability. The best from 1930s-1970s and 2022. Right now the 1930s are ahead, but that is because we run our farm the same way our parents did. I still love faded jeans, red bandanas and Crosby/Stills/Nash and Young and Arlo Guthrie. Would welcome a resurgence of the best of the 70s.

[@cheriemonami]

What a great rig. I love how it's first occupation is for camping so a camping lifestyle is just a baby step away.

[@thejackofalltravels8267]

My parents bought a 72 VW van brand new we had some fantastic adventures up and down east coast of the US It was amazing off road and in the snow

[@henrygreen19]

Love it !!! No wasted time 'waiting', iconic kombi, minimalistic setup but all you need available, practical everything works and are being used. Pretty much tied up and perfectly packaged. Enjoy!

[@packthebus]

We thought we would have changed things around, but these Westys are so well designed we never found anything to change! Thank you so much, we are loving this adventure.

[@karlahernandez5750]

Lived in my '77 for 4 months. Traveled through Mexico and Guatemala back in 1991.

[@shirleyashanti3031]

Wow. Hippie days are here again. Have a beautiful time. If we had the internet back then, how more exquisite my journey. You're blessed. Thanks for sharing.

[@lizsays3324]

Love rhe Vanagons! Especially the vintage ones. This one is in great shape. Happy travels!

[@efortunywhitton]

Gorgeous van!!! Absolutely love every detail, the way you’ve decorated, the organization… excellent!

[@packthebus]

Thank you! That means a lot. We love our tiny home on wheels

[@angeladawn805]

Love this couple and their van, here's wishing them many more miles of happy travelling :) (also, so much nicer than the plethora of vanlife videos out there). Thanks for the upload 😍

[@barbarapatterson5487]

I love the VW, it's such a beautiful little bus and also perfect for our English roads. I love how you have made the most of the space too. Good luck in your travels

[@alireza_adventure]

[@joseantoniomenendezdomingu1162]

GREAT GREAT VAN , WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS , FEW STUFF = BETTER LIFE , BIG HUG 👍🇲🇽

[@TWROC96]

What a blast from the past. Very cool bus!

[@packthebus]

We love our time machine! 🧡

[@loisnewton1876]

you get 4 stars from me! good living and seeing the country, yet is a tiny space.

[@grammybear4226]

🐼 Big Panda Bear Hugs from a 68 yr old grandma in Texas, USA 🐼 ❤ 🎀 👍 🧚‍♂ 🐈 🧚

[@NicoleS0913]

Omgggg. This is so adorable I can’t take it!!!! Sleeping up on that bunk must feel amazing!!! Like sleeping in a tent with a mattress and don’t have to worry about as much up there!!! Enjoy your journey and be safe!!!! ♥️

[@tk1950]

i lived in my 89 westfalia vw bus for 2 years. quite the journey!

[@danrussell3439]

Over the years I had three VW campers. Your setup highlights you organizational skills stay safe.

[@IrishRooster86]

Absolutely love this video!! This is my dream life with my dream vehicle!! Peace out and VW on!!

[@moonmilkman5157]

This fan is beautiful. Thank you for the post and than you to the owners for building and sharing.

[@packthebus]

Thank you 🧡

[@chrisjarmain]

Beautiful bus. Very nicely finished. Such a joy to own. And although very old 1974! It still doesn't look out of place. Such an icon. Wonderful owners that clearly look after it also. ❤

[@amieewoodstock6978]

So awesome to see you living your best lives in a VW bus! I’ve a 1968 bay and I use it as my daily driver. You are definitely lucky to be out there with lovely weather, it would be hard to live everyday in a VW with the English rain and cold winters.

[@ritabroils6190]

Great that you came up with a system to keep your items in the cooler from floating.

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Thanks Jenna for sharing their story. we wish them many safe and happy adventures.👍👍❤

[@mowattlavern62]

Cool Van, I remember those back in the days. Thank you for sharing

[@georgia2404]

Thank you for supporting Classic VWs!!

[@homebase967]

Love their van!!❤️

[@TinyHouseGiantJourney]

Me too!

[@warlockgonzalez9050]

It’s awesome how you guys take pride on this Van and build….

[@pattijohnson8197]

I LOVE it! My husband and I had a blue 1974 with a straight pop-up and the same, blue plaid, interior. It was so much fun to camp especially when my parents came along in their 32ft motorhome with a/c, a dry bath, and TV!

[@packthebus]

Blue plaid, just like ours! That’s so cool. And RV like that following behind does sound nice haha

[@pattijohnson8197]

@@packthebus 😀

[@stevenspiegel4433]

Luna is gorgeous

[@homebase967]

Just love this van and how the kittied it out!!❤️

[@jeroberts7228]

What a great setup they have in that gorgeous Westfalia!

[@jamesorendorff2731]

Love your bus!! I the early 70,s I traveled coast to coast , Canada to Mexico in my 66 green VW camper bus (Cucumber) Not anything like your bus !! But I had a blast...rode solo ...no cell phones in those days ...no nothing... Good idea with the All terrain tires!! Mine didn't survive driving thru the desert in the summer time ...Safe travels 👍😎

[@ezequielmontanez2214]

This is such a sick tour! We saw you guys while camping 🏕 in Alabama Hills! What an awesome setup! 💯👏

[@mikeblack3657]

I love the van : I had found that they bought expensive for a 1974 but by going to see the price of a Classic Volkswagen Bus on the internet, I saw that the price was skyrocketing despite even this VW being several years old, it's made very sought after for the van life.

[@sheilacirioni4676]

That's a small but cute space. Enjoy when you can& while you are young.

[@packthebus]

We are! We’ll get something bigger as we get older, but for now we love our tiny bus

[@Sparose3]

What a cool van! Just love it!💕

[@elainelipscomb1476]

What a cute way to live.Enjoy🎉

[@adbc8737]

Wow,that’s a small space … 🌀💚🌀

[@dbroenen]

Love the tour of your Westy and how you're using it to live the #VanLife! 🙂👍

[@hazelscobbie8290]

Beautiful set up 😊

[@darkangelw8472]

Gorgeous, and the bus is two years older than me ;)

[@atbreet]

Loved this VW Bus! Great tour, really nice to see some more VWs on the road! Sometimes we wish we went with the bus instead of the VW Van 😆

[@staffan.eriksson5061]

Gorgeous Jenna, .....and also the van.

[@gew12]

Well done for utilising such a small space

[@janmoline]

Love that you're experiencing so much!!! Love, love, love the Westfalia!!! We had a VW bus, sadly no Westfalia conversion, but I loved it. The one vehicle comfortable for both my 6'7" husband and I (5'4") to drive. Room for our 4 kids and the dog! Great adventures. Before the kids entered the picture we looked like Shaggy and Velma from Scooby-Doo!!!! Looked liked we'd gotten married and lost the rest of the cast (shrank Scooby-Doo!). Fond memories!

[@afterthestorm9355]

I mean YES, I sure have!!! LOVE this so much. , and I’m really happy for you both! We’re you already proficient in maintenance for vehicles? My sons are always cautioning me away from VW due to ongoing maintenance-but you circle me back to a longing for a VW!! My work is hands on, being a pediatric OT-but I’m improving in my computer/TECH skills and I wonder if I could support myself virtually!?! GOID for you! BRAVO!!

[@debnewton5707]

Time to throw caution to the wind! I’ve had 3 VW campers & 2 beetles & wouldn’t trade a single moment of any of the great adventures & wonderful people I’ve met along the way for all the money in the world! Make sure the engine has been completely overhauled or install a brand new one...you’ll have peace of mind then...go for it!! ✌️from 🇦🇺

[@afterthestorm9355]

@@debnewton5707 I think you’re right!!

[@janetnash]

What a wonderful van and life ☮️

[@jimtomassetti8928]

Your both beautiful personality Top Shelf...Love your Bus.... I love VW...The storage you have in them... It's awful that there no longer built! You have all done up to your comfort cozy home affect..And yes you have to have the PEACE SIGN. HAPPY MOTORING..Be safe...Your coloris perfect of the time's!!!

[@tungngoll4859]

Greetings from Papar Sabah North Borneo. We enjoyed watching your video content, awesome 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@samvohra6992]

Lovely episode Jenna M gonna start this kinda life soon.

[@jimblue39]

The biggest complaint about these vans is the lack of power especially going up an incline. It is a beauty though, best of luck to both of you. I miss being traveling and I miss California, but age has caught up with me. Take care.

[@jublacabra]

Yes, exactly. You could see how slow it was inching up the road. No hate though, in fact, we have a Westy Vanagon. But we put most of the upgrade money into purchasing a rebuilt and reliable subaru engine. The engine is from 2005. Our mileage has gone up from 16 miles a gallon to about 22 - 25 miles a gallon. It also hits 75mph/80mph with ease on the freeway. Now we can have a beautiful vintage van that's also reliable and better modernized 👌🏾

[@sparky-thegreatestveedubin7383]

I haven't been too far in my van, but I am on engine number four and lived in it whilst I was at Uni ;) Rock'nRoll

[@marylcook3515]

Love the bus just missing the flower power

[@trailrider2571]

My parents bought a new 1971 Volkswagen camper (not the pop top kind, though) when I was ten years old. My mother did indeed make flower power flowers out of Contact paper and stick them on the left side of the camper. 🏵️🌼🌻

[@larsstougaard7097]

Love the bus 🚌

[@kellypoulos8702]

Sooooo cute!

[@user-eo6bk9sg5y]

Love 🧡your van 🚐

[@billrusk6354]

That's the life

[@SanDiego_VDubLife]

Sweet bus, I have a 1969, but I like the bed up on top on this one. I wonder if I could put on in my bus?!

[@shoegalsousou]

Gute Besserung ❤️‍🩹💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@jublacabra]

I have an 83 Vanagon Westy and I just couldn't do it without a subaru conversion. I couldn't move that slow down a road, I would lose my shit haha.

[@Groovyunclefunk]

Been living in mine for 5 years full time

[@Ann-cx3dd]

Cute, but way too small for me! The pop up tent on top totally reminds me of a my childhood...... we'd see those all around. I get it's so cool to sleep up there! Thanks for sharing.... ; )

[@packthebus]

It’s always so much fun to sleep in the pop top! Even as full grown adults we still feel like we’re sleeping in a blanket fort

[@dinsil778]

Awesome.

[@sharantej6974]

Hey there.. Jenna here

[@louise-marie]

You never mentioned a bathroom? Also, I'm curious did you quit your jobs or do you work virtually via computer?

[@canyoudoitagain7978]

super cute couple

[@homebase967]

What is their set up for coffee?? Would like to know what they use to make their coffee??

[@packthebus]

Jetboil with a French press attachment! Works great

[@homebase967]

@@packthebus ...is that the name of it?? Jetboil??

[@BrotherAlan]

What do you carry in your tool/spare parts bag? Trying to get ideas for mine.

[@jamescasejr.9679]

Wow,renew Vw 🥰

[@shawnboesen3090]

Beautiful Bay. One word of advise Id give is loose that single Progressive Carb and go dual Dells.

[@largemarge1603]

@Shawn, How do I syncronize duals?

[@sandracardiel5160]

Me encanta!

[@stephaniemazzon8308]

Looooooooove!

[@MrQdcooper]

🔥🔥🔥

[@erikdube4345]

How many bedrooms does your trailer have?

[@patricksterling7389]

I have just hit the road for fun before. But having suffered thru one of those torture chamber VW buses as a kid, I now take road trips in a C7 Corvette and stay in a nice hotel where people feed you and clean up after you.

[@packthebus]

You’ll get a kick out of this then: I traded in a 5th Gen Camaro ZL1 for our bus. I needed to slow down, both in life and on the freeway

[@patricksterling7389]

@@packthebus oh man take it easy. I think you went too for to the other extreme. Actually I should probably watch your video before commenting any more. I just have a knee-jerk reaction to the VW bus and feel I should warn everyone about them. Of course sports cars have their foibles too.

[@mikejf4377]

By putting the tier on front of your van, gives you a 30% better chance to survive a front end crash.

[@lorettataylor9902]

😎 😎 coolest

[@harrygondo6822]

We hope we can buy it

[@brendonschomer5736]

This van actually has a chance of holding its value.

[@debj7]

❤️

[@Receiver369]

❤️ ❤️

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Where is Jenna? She said "where I take you on tours"

[@Bibliobelle_]

Curious to know what their jobs are!

[@JosephPuplava]

Love that VW. Just curious about your bus. How do you keep yourself warm in freezing point night? Best of luck traveling.

[@packthebus]

Coldest we’ve done so far is 15 degrees Fahrenheit. We have 20 degree sleeping bags (which you can see behind us in the video) and we also have a Mr Heater that takes the edge off, we run it for 10 minutes while we put thermals on and get into our bags. Eventually we’d like to put a diesel heater in our van!

[@JosephPuplava]

@@packthebus Sounds like a plan. A diesel heater will be perfect for your van than running out of propane on Mr. Heater. I have one and it sucks propane like that! I get it. The best luck of your journey.

[@bonnies9861]

Adorable van for an adorable couple! Where do you shower and go to the bathroom??? Potty is high priority for me!!! Enjoy your adventures!! Sending you light, love, peace, joy and abundance always. I love you.

[@splashesin8]

💖

[@tomsummers1137]

I see Hannah and Hunter all over the place. VW people get around.

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

Nice VW Bus! If you ever need a motor - do a Subaru motor swap.

[@packthebus]

We love our aircooled engine…but we know it’ll need a pricy rebuild one day. We’ll see what we do when the time comes

[@largemarge1603]

@Advent, My Brit buddy on Whidbey Island (or maybe Bainbridge...) near Seattle did the Subaru swap. Back in 2010 or so, I think she told me it ran about six grand.

[@punjabseth260]

👌👌🏻🌼

[@SusansRoadLessTraveled]

Wish I could get my ‘74 Westy running. Currently waiting in the mechanic’s queue for an engine overhaul part deux. Bummed.

[@packthebus]

Happens to the best of them! They all need rebuilds at some point, ours included. Hoping your bus gets back on the road soon!

[@SusansRoadLessTraveled]

@@packthebus rebuilt it last year from scratch and had total detonation after only 2200 miles. Was heartbreaking and Cha-Ching! Though I can’t give up on her!

[@lucillebarnes7327]

Awesome! But what about the bathroom?

[@packthebus]

The great outdoors! And Starbucks haha

[@Peacefrogg]

Would be nice to get si numbers like m, cm, km/l, l, etc. yt has international viewers, so international measuring units would be useful. ( your german car doesn’t understand you…)

[@PrettyBlaqueUnicorn]

There is one for sale near me but I can't afford it