What to Bring in Your Van - Van Life Equipment Tour

[@serenityjewel]

Great video. Glad to see you enjoying the process. Don’t let internet trolls steal your joy. Almost no one watching these videos will ever get off the sofa and do vanlife, let alone start a KZbin channel. Both speak volumes about your courage and determination. Keep going!!!

[@mylifeinavan]

I so appreciate your encouraging words. Thank you for your wisdom about Internet trolls. It definitely takes courage to take action. Just can’t imagine the alternative!

[@WendyLeeB111]

Spent last night setting up my "Element to be "in my living room along with your videos 💃.Thank You Natalie!🌹

[@mylifeinavan]

Wendy, way to go!

[@nomorebsforme]

I'm in admiration as you get your rig together! Your energy and enthusiasm is a joy to see! Keep on enjoying...maybe take some long trips before you sell your place....its fun out there but it's even nicer to have a base camp. Write your own script how that works for you. Take care and God Bless you always...❤❤❤

[@mylifeinavan]

Thanks for the suggestion to take some long trips before selling my place. That's what my friends and family are suggesting too. It's hard to not take action on breaking fully free, but I get the logic of keeping a base camp. Maybe a smaller, cheaper one.

[@Jeff-wb5rt]

Way to enjoy life, looks like a good start of stuff you've bought, take your time and venture out and you will see what you truly need, I've been in my van 5 years and fully enjoy full-time van 🎉

[@mylifeinavan]

Jeff, thanks for your encouraging words. Yes, I realize that here at home, I really don't know what I'll need. Heading out today for my first camping trip!

[@LynetteShawMcKone]

The little wins are the best x

[@mylifeinavan]

Thanks Lynette - I agree!

[@christine8184]

Quite a bit of info that is very useful. Thanks for posting it.I just subscribed to your channel.

[@mylifeinavan]

Thanks so much Christine!

[@carolmaplesden916]

Hey 👋 Super Cool You just showed up on my feed I love your setup I have been at this for about 4 years and this video would have been such a life saver if id found it first back then I have a bluetti about the same size as your power bank for my car fridge but it cycles off because of how little my fridge needs to come on so I have those same little bar shaped lights like what you have and I am going to plug one of them in and turn it on to keep the bluetti from shutting off Please let me know how your power bank does if it will stay on 👍👍👍

[@mylifeinavan]

Carol, that's GREAT! Where have you travelled to?

[@carolmaplesden916]

@mylifeinavan To tell you the truth as soon as I put my van together I went to see all my distant family and then spent time in quartzite and then I got a phone call from my brother saying our dad needed help and stayed with him until he passed. Then one daughter had a baby I went to be with her for awhile then another daughter had a baby and she asked me to stay with her for awhile then I went back home to catch up with friends and now I am in quartzite agen LoL

[@mylifeinavan]

@@carolmaplesden916 Love your story! I'll be in Q Jan 6!

[@carolmaplesden916]

@@mylifeinavan Hey right on 👍 I will probably still be here I am planning on checking out workamping jobs available at the big tent event Maybe i will see you

[@mylifeinavan]

@@carolmaplesden916 If you're still there, we have to meet! I'm volunteering for the WRTR + RTR - will be a "Floater" most days for a half day. Never been to Q as a camper before. Looking forward to the big event!

[@barbwire8280]

Wow, you have great stuff, can't wait to see it all set up and where your adventures will take you.....subbed ! Hint, a pool noodle placed around the top of your bucket will be a game changer. Very interested in how much the fridge uses for power. Please cover that in a future video. Nice job, have fun !

[@mylifeinavan]

thanks for the pool noodle suggestion and all your support! Shooting an interview tomorrow where we discover how much power all my toys use - including the fridge.

[@barbwire8280]

@@mylifeinavan nice thank you

[@shericontrary2535]

I sold my house in Washington State and moved to Georgia. I live west of Savannah and I want to get a van to take trips to the beach. I'm on a list for senior subsidized housing then with the money I save on rent I can buy a van. I'm driving a Lexus that's almost 30 years old. I hope to meet other people who also want to hang out at the beautiful beaches here.

[@mylifeinavan]

I'm SURE you'll meet others who want to hang out at the beautiful beaches of Georgia! I hope to get there some day!

[@jackiehorn3724]

I hope to be back in my van , at least for the most part, again in the spring. My engine light has been on in the van. So far I have spent thousands. So hopefully the up and coming garage visit will get whatever the issue is taken care of. I am a sightseeing fanatic, huge national park fan, state parks, day hiking, and boon docking fan. Probably spend a lot of my time in Texas this year just due to some personal issues happening. So need to be close to home. I have a galley with stove in my van. But honestly, due to ease of clean up I pretty exclusively use an instant pot, and or a rice cooker. I also take a small crock pot. Honestly seems to cook differently than the instant pot, and I love my small air fryer, And also my dash mini pie maker. I use it as a little oven for cornbread, etc. but my rig has solar. I plug in somewhere once a week and scrub the rig out from top to bottom, food prep, empty and rinse out all the tanks, take care of any minor maintenance issues. But if I had it to do over again, I would still get a tall van to stand in. But I would not buy a class b rv conversion. Very expensive, not great quality. It’s pretty much been a money pit. A simpler buildout done by myself, so I would know exactly how it was done and can repair it myself. All this fancy stuff is just in the way and costs money to maintain. I say kudos to those doing their own set up. I am even considering next fall hiring a teenager to help me empty out the van. And redesign the inside in a simpler easier to deal with design.

[@mylifeinavan]

Jackie, I love hearing how you sightsee, hike and boondock. Hope you get the engine light thing fixed so you can get back out. I've never been attracted to RVs - they just feel too big, too expensive, too complex for the task. I'll be traveling through Texas a couple times next year. Up to now, I've only been in Austin, Round Rock and Dallas. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@courtneysands6646]

I would say buy the absolute basics, otherwise buy as needed. Don't spend a lot of $ at first until you get some experience and know what you absolutely need. Start with a sleeping bag, you can always use it as padding if you acquire some sort of "bed". Go bare bones at first. Having to return or give away items when you find out they're not absolute neccessities is a waste of $ and time. It's also discouraging. Measure twice, cut once.

[@mylifeinavan]

I hear you. Appreciate your wisdom. That was my plan at first, then I got seduced by Black Friday sales. Hope I don't regret many of my purchases.

[@susanaustin4809]

You are coming along.

[@mylifeinavan]

I AM! Thanks Susan.

[@susanlewis1875]

I think you should go buy a lottery ticket! 😆🤣

[@mylifeinavan]

Susan how come?

[@susanlewis1875]

@@mylifeinavan It seems you're on a lucky streak! ❤

[@mylifeinavan]

@@susanlewis1875 May your words be the Truth!

[@christelena1783]

Subscribing and following 👍👍

[@mylifeinavan]

Thank you Chris!

[@joyjournal6157]

🦋🦋🦋

[@mylifeinavan]

🧡🧡🧡

[@cadence9055]

There are years of videos from people who have been on the road recreationally (or van lifers) who know from experience what to bring. FYI

[@serenityjewel]

It’s going to always vary but person. What one person needs might or might not apply to the next person. The best thing is to do test runs starting only with the basics - bed, clothes, and personal hygiene - and then add as you actually need stuff.

[@mylifeinavan]

Of course! And a few years down the road, I will be one of those people.

[@mylifeinavan]

Yes, this is great advice.

[@serenityjewel]

@@mylifeinavan Yes you will be one of those people!!! Are you planning to attend any vanlife events next year?

[@mylifeinavan]

@@serenityjewel I'm currently booked for FIVE events in Jan - March. More to come! How about you?

[@davidclark3147]

Good Lord just get a van

[@mylifeinavan]

Are you suggesting the Element is too small?

[@giselleplantbasedvegan9174]

@@mylifeinavan If you’re organized the Element will be great! Folks have lived in their Elements for years. But you are the only one who can determine your own needs and comfort.