Vanlife Lessons Year 3⎜How is everything holding up? 🤔🚐✨
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- Опубліковано 27 чер 2019
- Helloo 👋🏻
It has been three full years since I moved into this wonderful little van! Every year I do a short van tour and update on how the van is running. This year the theme is 'how is everything holding up?' after three years I wanted to address how the build out itself is staying together. Mostly things are holding up well, but there are a few areas where the wear and tear of living on the road have shown through.
1. The battery needs to be replaced. After three years of heavy use, I am really starting to notice this battery's lowered capacity for a charge. In the summer (when I get full sun) it's fine, but winter time I have to be really conservative with how I use electricity.
2. The fan vent started to leak. I have never had a problem with this, but in the last 3 weeks, I noticed water dripping out of the fan after a heavy rainstorm. I just recently re-sealed the fan with sikaflex and the leaking has stopped.
3. The drawers have needed a bit of maintenance. Since the van rattles and vibrates so much, the screws holding the drawers together have come out. I needed to replace them and change the position of the screws because the wood had been worn away from the constant vibrations of the van.
I also talk about how I'm holding up after three years of full-time vanlife. And the thing is, I'm no longer full time! About 1 month ago I moved into a house with my boyfriend. I needed a break from being on the road full time. I needed a place to rest. I needed a place to work. And I wanted to try something new. There was a lot of fear for me about moving into a house. Would I regret it? Would I feel trapped? Would I lose my freedom? Would I run out of money?
But since moving into the house, I've been able to take better care of the van and take better care of myself. I don't know if this is a permanent move. But I do know that I'm still planning on doing a lot of trips in the van. So I've joined the ranks of the part-timers!
I'm excited to get to work on a bunch of new projects now that I have all this unrestricted internet access. Thank you for sticking with me these last three years! I'll see you next time :)
🔧Materials mentioned 🔧
Fridge - amzn.to/2FvyExe (Truck fridge is no longer listed on Amazon, here's another fridge I found that's cheaper!)
Colman Stove - amzn.to/2X2MehI
WeBoost - bit.ly/2XtWi7M
Foot Pump (not the exact price I mention, I think there was a deal on) - amzn.to/2LkDuCa
Video Made Possible by my Patrons!
- Timothy Franco (@northwest_franco)
- Amanda Heidt (@scatter_cushion)
- Spencer Lindsay (@spencerlindsay)
- Alan Hawrylyshen
- Deborah Lindsay
- Kirsten Jadoo
- Renee Bruno (@little.buffalo)
- Holly Priestley
- Rich Pogue
- Kellie Strickland
- Andersen Greaker
- Zoolander (lol)
Thank you!
/ onechicktravels
If you want more detailed instructions on how to build out a van check out my blog: www.onechicktravels.com/blog/...
Who am I?
My name is Kaya, I live out of a sprinter van and travel full time to rock climbing destinations. I upload new videos every other Thursday and focus on all things Vanlife + Rock Climbing related!
🧐Business Inquiries: KayaLindsay@gmail.com
📩Shipping Address Sponsored by NextSpace (nextspace.us/)
Kaya Lindsay
101 Cooper Street
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
⚡️Electrical and Battery - bit.ly/2xHgh6C
🌬 Fan Install - bit.ly/2yj2yCI
🏠 Floors - bit.ly/2xG67Dk
🧣 Insulation - bit.ly/2yovoRp
🚪 Wood Paneling -bit.ly/2z95TB3
🛏 Bed and Cabinets - bit.ly/2yL5GI7
🚰 Sink and Water Tanks - bit.ly/2yjshKY
🎥 Camera Used in this video - amzn.to/2AlxLCR
💸Patreon - / onechicktravels
🤳🏻 Instagram: @OneChickTravels
📝 Facebook: Facebook.com/OneChickTravels
🦅 Twitter: @KayaSays
✅ Master List of Recommendations + vanlife 🚐✨ gadgets: amzn.to/2FypDSn
Tip Jar!: www.paypal.me/OneChickTravels
Thank you so much for these videos!
I'm about to take the plunge and buy my first sprinter.
I have had a lot of back and forth about it but everyone who I have talked to that's already doing it loves it!
I'm going to go for it!
“Money is just fun coupons” 😂😐 Definitely relatable. Be grateful. 😊
8:52 "Money is just fun coupons." I love that. :D
Interesting what you said about not putting down roots. I was reminded of a quote. This is part of it-
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.''
Nice build out. Simple is best.
I owned a van in 1975-1978.
Retired now and getting ready to buy a new one to travel three months a year.
Good to hear from you.., I figured you were no longer living full time in your van.. All the best to you... Ive been in my Element for 23 months... about to sign a lease... I never thought I would feel disconnected doing van life.... glad I tired it.. amazed to find out I need connection and community more than ever.. I can’t help but wonder if menopause has intensified my emotions- feelings- I find myself sitting in my Element just crying at the drop of a dime, Ive never been on to cry so easily. I will always follow you... would love to purchase your book and view future videos ... don’t ever stop being an inspiration... all the best to you and your boyfriend in Reno ... Kaya you are truly a beacon of light..
I have definitely noticed I cry more as well. I'm not sure if there is something about the van that opens that door for people. I've never been one to cry easily either. Here's to the house life!
If I ever write a book I'll let you know :)
Love the info. Always great to see what works, what doesn't and how things hold up. Good luck with you home base life and hopefully we will continue to hear what you are doing.
Congratulations! Very happy for you. You are a very cool chick, so whatever you decide to put up on you channel is great. looking forward to the new adventure. be safe and well :)
CaveNerd thank you!
“MONEY IS JUST FUN COUPONS!” OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE LOVE THAT!!!! I’m gonna steal that one from you Kaya! I’m so happy/excited for you! That’s awesome! Also, if you don’t like it.....go back on the road..... or stay but travel every x amount of months stay gone x amount of time.....SO MANY CHOICES!
I have to admit, I got that from a friend! But I feel it strongly. It's a goof reminder that you can't take it with you.
That's a really interesting perspective to have the feeling of not wanting to get close to people because you were always on the move. I totally understand. By the way your videos are informative & so authentic.
I feel the opposite. I have home bases in 3 states and have made strong connections with all 3. But one of the states I live in I feel like I'm forced to always go back to because of my career and my apartment. I hate the feeling of it being able to move freely and having to always go back. I want to be able to spend as much time as I want in a place and then move to the next state/town and grow roots there. My goal is to have a home base in every state and make connections so whenever I visit, I always have a community to call home. Idk that's just me.
Vanna Mae yeah it wasn’t always like this, but I hadn’t been anywhere longer than 6 weeks in three years. Most of the time I would move around every week or less. It was very healing when I started, but it really became restricting as time went on. Life changes. People change. I’m sure I’ll be back on the road soon
Enjoy your life the way YOU want to! ✌🐧
I’m in love 🥰
Sweet !!! Skål !!! 🤩🤩🤩
I totally get the community aspect.
Adventure and travel is great, but for building a long term community it's not.
In the age of internet it's so easy to go from one place to another without connecting 100% with the people and places. Imo you can only build a long term healthy community/ lifestyle if you're there 100% of the time. Perhaps it's not so adventurous and it can be frustrating being in one place all the time. But there are advantages as well. Like safe spaces and so on. It's like a commitment. You're there. You commit to one place and don't have the easy option to leave in one snap of a second.
Ofc there are way more aspects of all this. It's just a glimpse.
Traveling, vanlife and living on the road has great opportunities too. There are just different.
Also it's very personal so everyone must decide for themselves.
I'm eager to hear more from your experiences of settling. Comparisons to living full time on the road, living both, etc.
Reno, Nv, eh?
I live in Sun Valley.
For the best stuff, go to the El Rancho swap meet (drive in) on most Sundays during summer months. Look for a red 69 ford van or white 71 chevy van.
If you want good french fries, go to Gold Dust West for some San Francisco garlic fries. I don't sell those, buti like them.
Mister Tristard thanks for the recommendations!
Im about 5 ft. 8. I see your bed is ib the back. I might get a Ford Transit connect. Im from Denver. I like your map on the wall. Makes sense.
Check out my friend Alysse's ford transit connect build out: ua-cam.com/video/wjECjjFcmgc/v-deo.html
She's much shorter than you and she *just* fits.
😊
Happy belated anniversary! Also, those earrings are rad! Are they from WildAsteria?
Thanks Emma! and no, they're from a thrift shop in Reno :) My sister picked them out for me! I hope you're doing well
Please put up a link to the foot pump you are using. All the ones I've found for water are quite a bit more expensive.
Just linked to it! I think I had a deal on Walmart.com, so I've linked to the exact one but you are correct that it is more expensive.
You mentioned you'll need to replace the batteries after the 3 year mark. Looking back, would it have been better to start off with lithium?
Possibly? At the time we looked at Lithium batteries, but they were too dang expensive for it to make sense. Even after about three years of full time use my batteries are limping along fine in the summer time. I'll most likely have to change them this winter unfortunately. If you have the budget I would consider lithium ion, but honestly switching out some batteries isn't that much work!
You're absolutely stunning
Why June the 28th? That's the same date I moved into the van, 6 years yesterday!
It was the date I finished the van and decided to move in! No significance really. Just worked out that way!
The van needs more BASS! Lol
🙋🙋👍⚘⚘
How many miles did you put in your van since you bought it?
Nicole Bender around 66k in three years!
Curious about your reliable internet comment. Do you think working a 9-5 is possible to do with vanlife if you have a partner as captain of the road?
Adrienne Burke-Moran definitely not! If anything, he made it harder to work full time 😅
But in all seriousness, the easy access to WiFi was really a game changer for my work
3 years and dead batteries = an underbuilt baterry bank for your needs. consider increasing your amp hours
Have you ever sleep on the roof?!🙂
dhyan _o2 nope!
One thing that you said that I totally disagree. “Life is long”??? When you hit your middle age let me see if you can say that again.