Freezing Temps in Van | Travel Costs [solo van life]
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- I'm sharing my travel costs from the East Coast to the West Coast living in a van and I had to insulate the van after leaving a beautiful camp spot in Nebraska because of freezing temperatures. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! There's a snow storm coming and I have to make it all the way from Nebraska to Salt Lake City, Utah and over the mountain passes before the snow arrives in the next day! I'm a solo van life traveler and this is the story of me traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast for the winter and getting my van fixed.
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★ My Story
Hi, I'm Amber and in May 2017 I started full time RV living. I started this nomadic journey after selling my house and all my belongings to pursue this crazy dream of traveling full time in an RV and creating incredible memories.
After 1 year of traveling, I sold my 26 foot Winnebago Class C RV for a more nimble Class B van on a Promaster 2500 chassis. Now in my 5th year of RVing in my camper van, I'm still loving this RV lifestyle and being a digital nomad. I almost always boondock in nature and really enjoy that off grid living.
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★ Travel Vlog Season 5, Episode 62: Salt Lake City, Utah
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I went to an Army/Navy surplus store and bought some used wool and wool/mix blankets - they'd make a great 'dark' shade that also absorbs window (and room) moisture! that is also light enough to be able to sew or velcrow or glue Reflectix onto with regular magnets. I used my wool as insulating, room darkening and moisture absorbing house curtains!
I wonder if the wool would eventually grow mold if left in the windows long enough?
I painted my reflex covers with black flat paint, and you cannot even tell with my tinted windows.!! Works like a charm on my Subaru Outback. Love your videos, you are so inspiring!!
Amy Lipkin 😊 Oh now that's a great idea. No issues with heat on the paint? Thank you for your kind words.
I did the same thing. 👍🏻
What type of paint? Latex? Oil based? I wonder about adherence to the foil. Did you use a deep based black primer?
@@Elizabeth-rq1vi just a flat spray paint, it has been good for the past year, works like a charm
My van came with painted windows. Genius!
You are an amazing lady doing this all by yourself. The trips your going is just gorgeous. Good luck👍👍❤
So inspired by you and other travelers. Hopefully in 4 years when I can retire I will be able to see the country. Do weekend trips with my dog now. Thanks to You and Lily
luvmusic163 😊 Thank you so much. Keep your eye on the goal and you'll be here sooner than you think. It took me 5 years!
I'm right there with you I have 2 years and 8 months to retirement not that i'm counting or anything, I do the weekend trips as well.
Yay a video! So sorry you lost footage! Glad your window treatments worked! Stinks to be cold! Love that you’re telling us how much things costs! Hugs to you & sweet Lily! ❤️
Sandra P You're so welcome and glad you enjoyed it. 😊🙏 Yeah kind of different on the travel costs. I might start keeping that in there when I make these trips over longer distances perhaps.
The picture of Lily in Salt Lake, is adorable! Safe travels and stay warm!
The sites are amazing! For my mini van blackout, I used a white pvc pipe (long, cheap and flexible). I cut it a bit longer than actual width across (passenger to drivers side). Put those kind of blackout curtains on, then put one end pvc in top of seatbelt area on frame bending to get other end of pvc on other side. This left the front seats looking unoccupied, and could not tell anyone in back and can't see black curtain from outside. If I did a build out, I could probably re-use using those closet end things?
Also, the dollar store has black thin foam sheets in where paper/pens etc are, to cut out for windows. Cheap way to start, and if you get reflectix later, you can use these as templates. Thank you for your helpful info! I can't wait to explore. Stay Safe, have fun, and give scratches to the pup for me. Peace.
Amber be careful of the reflectix in the skylight. It's been known to warp the plastic cover from overheating. I did something similar to what you did, but I added a layer of thin white towels to the top of one side. I just duct taped it on. Works great.
Thanks for the tip Sharon!!! That would be horrible considering we already have issues with those things!
@@AmberJBaldwin Your welcome :)
There's a bunch of little lakes along I-80 through Nebraska. When they made the overpasses they had to dig the dirt. So the state made little recreation areas for public use. A van is as big as I would trust to fit in most of them.
Gregory Jones 😊 They did a great job. I saw some big Class A's there and travel trailers too at this particular one.
Your black shiny glasses are great and make your complexion beautiful! Great Lily shots today, yay! 🚐
Lorene Noe Thank you very much! 😊🙏
For your paper towels, I just use a clothes pin or some kind of clip to fasten the end piece to a small portion of the rest of the paper towels on the roll. You only have to clip one side. Problem solved and easy to unclip when you need to use it.
La Fawnduh 😊 great tip!
Even a paper clip would work, but you might lose because it's so small
Having my second viewing.Got my big mug of coffee and 2 giant oatmeal cookies,all ready to go with you 2,the sun almost going to show her smile here to greet me ,funny thought,when she leaves you guys she heads on over to me🌞 ok my story done back to my vid.😊❤❤
Beverley Grimbeek LOL ....
Great video Amber! I really love the curtains that you hung in the back of your van! It makes the area look so cozy. Thanks for the great ideas.
Great job 👍 knitting together the new footage with the lost footage. So happy to see you back here. I have seen others use the black felt on the window side and contact paper on the inside. They look really pretty 😊. I am on a fixed Income so I can't join patron but I'll be happy to continue liking and commenting to keep your UA-cam numbers up. Happy travels 😃
seabliss22 Thank you very much! 😊🙏 You're so very kind and I appreciate your support always!!!!
Too cold 🥶 or hot🥵 … where to go 🥺.!?!?!?!
It's always something when you live in a van. lol You go where it feels better and your pipes don't freeze. That's one reason the Southwest is so popular during the winter because the weather is pretty moderate and pretty predicable so you don't have these huge swings that send you packing.
Another idea for your sky light would be to put a pillow up there...
Charlotte Wilson 😊 Like maybe a memory foam or something. I tried my standard pillow and it just fell lol.
Nice video, I follow Tiffany. Nice lady,she has a beautiful smile.
Awesome! Thank you! She does indeed. Love that woman!
It was fun to get a glimpse of Lily....
Zooming around the Sandy Beach....
I really do like to see the actual cost that go along with the video...
When we see the end of the year costs...
It's hard to imagine it in our own lives....
Sending Loves to Lily....
Thanks for the Video....
by pinkerton You're so welcome and glad you enjoyed it. 😊🙏
Those still photos are absolutely beautiful!
Your new eyeglasses are very flattering. You are a lovely lady. Love your travel videos!
Oh thank you!
The Nugget in Sparks has a driving board at the valet parking desk on what highways are closed due to snow. You need to be very careful traveling in the Rocky and Wasatch mountain range areas. I've driven from southern NV to northern UT. It was a consistent 5°F from north of Cedar City well into SLC. If you're traveling in any fashion, you need to outguess Nature being a mother and be a meteorological chess player or you may get stuck and possibly die. I personally would have headed south towards I-10, 20 or 40 and stay in the southern US once the northern US starts getting cold. Sub freezing temperatures start to happen around mid to late fall in parts of the US. If you're going into the hurricane belt during hurricane season; check NOAA's National Hurricane Center site. You typically get a 72 hour warning from NOAA's NHC. Same thing if you're traveling through tornado alley. When the sky is black like Armageddon which happened to me driving northbound on US-287 through TX you need to punch it or find an overpass to shelter in place under.
Your vids really make me miss the truckcamper and Van I had.
Amber, thanks once again for being my Pathfinder. I made the trip last year to see my daughter in Washington state. Illinois to Omaha Nebraska, to Laramie, Wyoming, to Hill AFB Utah, to Mt. Home AFB Idaho, to Cascade Locks, Oregon. I paid for KOA and stayed at the Air Force bases. You have inspired me to venture out to free spots...thank you. Stay Beautiful and safe travels.
Louis Guthrie 😊 It's quite the trip. That's so cool. Let me know how it goes with finding these cool spots. It's soul strengthening to get out there and explore and find places that aren't as easy as just getting an RV park campsite.
@@AmberJBaldwin as I continue with my journey fron Virginia to Washington state next year I will continue to use your videos as my guide. Thanks again Amber for leading the way. Stay Beautiful and safe.
Can’t beat the truckstops and campgrounds and free areas
At 22 while drunk and tired of walking around Boulder, Colorado I bought a '69 Javelin with a stick shift, bald rear tires and a tree stump holding up the drivers seat. Later that night while sobering up i picked up a friend cause I wanted to go to SanFrancisco. Since it was 1978, i had no weather app to alert me to the snowstorm blowing into Cheyenne. Thank God for the credit card Mobil Oil had (foolishly) sent me as a graduation gift in June as I used it to throw on a pair of oversized rear tires. Happy to report I finally learned to drive a manual without grinding the gears in San Francisco. Fast forward 40 years when I blew out of Vermont heading to permanently relocate in Philly area. No place to live other than my now trusty 2001 Buick Regal with a solid V6 but busted electrical from cruising in Florida rain with windows down. Spent the winter of 2019 like a wawa parking lot nomad through 2 Polar Vortexes (rear window permanently open, but taped). Temperatures at -15°. Excuse me, is this supposed to represent Adventure? 30° sheeet. Oh yeah, still drinking coffee all day, cigs for breakfast and Cheetos for dinner.
Have fun
David Sager Thank you very much! 😊🙏
I got to meet Where's Tiffany in Tampa Fla last weekend, she's really awesome to talk with. I use reflectics in some of my minivan windows too.🥰🥰
Tina's The Outsider 😊 She is indeed. Love that woman.
So happy to see you and Lily again. Also, cold I understand. It has been cold in PA. Several heavy frost this past week. Stay safe!!
Oh wow! I left in time.
Your pics are AMAZING
Thanks for sharing your weather apps. I really appreciate you.
I down loaded them on my phone for future travels. Really enjoy your videos.
Awesome! Thank you!
What a gorgeous free spot! It looks pretty cool regardless if you lost footage or not. I've started a file tracking your spots for when I take my trip south next Spring! Thank you once again for sharing🥰 (Too funny! I just hung all my thermal blackout curtains today. I already had reflectics from when I bought the van do velcroed material to it last winter 😚).❤️🥰🚙🇨🇦
Michelle Stratford 😊 Are you using Google Maps to pin everything? You're so weclome.
Good evening from Godley Texas, trying to sleep in the cold is never fun. Good choice deciding to move on. Hopefully you'll be able to stay ahead of the bad weather. Keep the nature videos coming. You may have lost footage, but you still have the memories.
When you get a chance check out Foil Bubble Wrap to put in your windows. Stay safe.😎
John Huff Thank you very much! 😊🙏
I really enjoy your channel and look forward to many more in the future. I sold everything and purchased a truck and truck camper back in May and have been living in it full time since. Fuel really is the biggest expense with this life style. I'm in Hawaii at the moment helping a friend move into a new home but I can't wait to get back to Arizona where I have my Rig stored. I would love to say hi if you are going to be in Arizona this winter. I wish you continued success and safe travels.
That is awesome! Yeah gas is crazy! I may have a meet-up in AZ at some point. Stay tuned.
@@AmberJBaldwin I look forward to it.
How fun! Greetings from NY
Foam really works well in skylights!!
I’m so glad I clicked on this. Perfect way to end a busy day at work. I love your explorative spirit and enthusiasm for traveling. Something I hope to do one day. I learned so much with your tips and so happy Lily gets to enjoy too. Always take care on the road sister! More power!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I must have watched more of these than I had realized. I'm getting ads for off grid showers.
It's great watching the two of you travel (even if you lost some of the footage). I live in the area you passed through so I'm happy you got a dose of the Rockies!
Thomas M LOL .... that's too funny!
Just joined your Patreon. I use an ad-blocker, so I am actually supporting my creators there.
You're the best Sally! Thank you so much!
Another Great Video. :)
Thanks again!
Kimball Nebraska is beautiful 😍
🥰 I love your channel
I'm not getting notifications from your channel. I checked and I'm still subscribed. Love your videos!
C K 😊 Did you hit the notification bell to be notified?
Sometimes it's hard to take the reflectix out easily without making a mess of the material. One great idea I saw was making a tab on it so that it's easy to pull out.
I have straight talk. They are a great cell service. They pretty much use Verizon or whoever’s tower is near.
Sterling Woods 😊
Brrrr cold temps are one of my “fears” for van travel! 🥶
Tara C 😊 You just have to know how to handle them. It's rare I'm in areas where weather gets bad like this. I'm not a 4 season van so pipes can freeze quickly at 27 degrees, but if you get a 4 season, you won't have this issue. I saw your IG post...wooo hoooo. Can't wait to see more.
Hey Amber. Just a pointer, if you haven't already considered it, put some hooks up across the front and hang some of those blackout curtains across the front of the cab at night. Your cab isn't insulated like the back of your van and it does make a big difference. I use the in the summer too to cut down on heat. I still put the window inserts in but use the curtains too. I recently did a trip with much cooler temps and it helped hold in the heat really good. If you are in really cold temps, add military styled Pancho liners behind the curtains. My only concern when in cold temps is keeping my water lines from freezing. I have a heat tape on my tanks and my lines are insulated but in extreme cold, the lines would still freeze. I do have water tanks under the van though, not inside. Saved space inside but, I do have to be cautious. It's all trade offs. Stay warm out there and happy travels.
Bless My Gypsy Soul oh great idea. Thanks for that. 😊
Awesome tips 🙋🏻♀️ Thanks so much. Safe travels!
Thank you for the video. I think the reflectix and the blackout curtains was a good idea
Unfortunately, reflectix is ugly and light blocking, but a necessary evil. We have it in our van. It does make a major difference in both hot and cold weather. The problem with covering the shiny surface, is that you would be losing the effectiveness of the product. In addition to the slight amount of insulation that you get, it reflects the heat or cold. Additionally, I don’t know what you have on your floor, if it’s uncovered or lightly covered, consider insulating that as well. Those rubber floor mats that fit together like a puzzle are very insulating and you can put a nicer looking rug on top. You might also want to replace the refectix in the skylight with a piece of foam - since you have the room and a lot of heat gets lost there. We have comfortably survived an ice storm in New England with these methods. The one other thing to consider, is the condensation that will build up in the cold weather in places like under your mattress and behind your curtains, find a way to dry it out.
Hopefully, you’ll be in a lovely warm area by the time you read this! I’m curious as to why you keep losing footage (so that I can avoid doing the same), is it the camera or the laptop? Thanks for another video.
juliana chandler 😊 I am in warmer place for sure! Thanks for the great tips there Juliana!
funny, I just got done yesterday doing the exact same thing making widow covers with reflectix for my suv i glued then sewed a heavy dark plaid material on outside (glue didn't really hold), i'm heading to florida (from Delaware) to car camp and lows at night supposed to be in the 40's
Thank you so much!
You're welcome!
Magnets for window covers! Cloth on inside and outside. Colors of your choice. Inside becomes decoration.
I’m really interested in the ways you use your phone for finding camps and weather, etc. Having names of such as ioverlander is not the same as seeing it in action! Sorry your pictures were lost…what you did show was Beautiful.
Another great video Amber. Keep them coming!
Thank you! Will do!
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You were about 3 miles from me. Wish I had known.
Robert Phillips 😊 well darn it.
Question for you my friend...when you moochdock, do you take them out to dinner or give a little bit for electricity if you plug in for a period of time? Just wondering because I have many friends all over the US and when I hit the road in a few years, I will be moochdocking probably 30 to 40% of the time. Thanks for any feedback you can share and glad to see you and Lily Pop are doing well :-)
Michelle ~ Cella's Chariot 😊 Can't wait to hear you say you're out on the road now! Most of the time they seem offended if I want to give them money, so I either do things around the house, yard, etc, take them to dinner or buy some groceries to make dinner.
@@AmberJBaldwin I kind of wondered if that would be the case but I want to do what I can because they will be saving me from spending so much money on campgrounds when I can't boondock on BLM. YES, I am working on it slowly but surely. Soon my friend, soon!!! Then we can meet up !!
I had to laugh at the paper towels. I did the same thing my first week of owning my camper van. Had the windows open and they just completely unraveled with the air flowing through the van.
Lol you’d think I would remember after all these years.
Looks like it's kind of cold pretty much everywhere at night, so we all may have to weather it.
enjoyed the Video,really great Content, thumbs up 👍🏻
Thank you 👍
Have you thought about using a file recovery software? I lost a day of photos once and used recovery software and was able to get everything back. I think that was a case of a corrupt file directory. You might also try doing a first aid on your memory card using Disk Utility on your Mac.
Tyanna Burton 😊 I did use the recovery software and unfortunately it was too far gone and couldn't retrieve it which was a huge bummer!
@@AmberJBaldwin Bummer!
You have any idea it gets cold out on the Great Plains. You’re talking somewhere from zero to minus 30 F
I watch your videos from Pakistan i like so much
Thank goodness that you didn't have to get out and hook up a trailer....
How come you didn't just use a pressure curtain rod (or a pressure shower curtain rod) across the back for the back doors?
Kerri-Anne Wilson 😊 I didn't think I had the room because I have that shelf up there, plus it's not perfectly flush level on the side with the molding they installed on the walls. I might redo this, but for not it's okay.
@@AmberJBaldwin Uh oh. That was what I was planning on doing in the back of my van (if I ever finish converting it and get on the road). I'll have to be sure to put some kind of flat surfaces on the sides. *Sigh* So much to consider.
San Fernando Valley. ( California) I paid $7.40 for premium per gallon.
Hello Amber and Lily, I enjoy your videos but I'm curious as it relates to this leg of your journey. What was the time and miles you would have logged? The other expense was great to know when traveling. Thanks. Safe travels! ☆
May I ask what kind of bike rack you have and if you have had any issues where someone tried to steal it? I have seen that crime is on the rise even in camp grounds.
Sandy Carpenter 😊 Here's a link to the bike rack video: ua-cam.com/video/a4n6U9vcU2A/v-deo.html So far so good on theft. I lock it down though with 3 locks and keep it covered.
She’s back!!! Oh how I have missed your videos!
Brandon Corley 😊 awww thanks! It's good to be missed.
I’m curious about lost footage from your camera- is there any chance of preventing it? In case I do this in the future 🤷🏻♀️. I’m not very savvy about this stuff. Thanks for sharing your trip and the costs.
Cablelas still let people stay? I say a video where someone said cabelas was not letting people stay or dump? Following....
Does your heater work? When it’s freezing outside my heater keep it warm in my RV. Take care Love your videos!
While driving semis I used My radar AMD trucker path
No man? Sweetie u need somebody with u, it's too dangerous out there to be alone.
💕💕💕
How do you know where to go that's free and how long can you stay in each spot?
Thank you for your videos!
Thanks for the great video. So happy you made it out safely. What is the name of the app you use for free spots?
Mary Robinson 😊 IOverlander and Campendium. Thank you so much!
Time to invest in heating.
When are you getting your rev mobile home
June Ghasemi 😊 I'm sticking with the van for now. Shifting gears a bit so-to-speak. lol
What is the name of that awesome app you were using to find a place to park? Love you video!!!!!
GodsVeryOwnDaughter55 😊 Thank you. It's Campendium.
I don’t understand offering your Patreons ad free vlogs, I thought that you get paid when we watch the ads? 😻
angela youssef 😊 You're correct, we do get paid for you watching the ads, but the ads-free is just one of the perks to joining my Patreon community. I guess it's kind of a little trade-off in some ways.
Where did you find window washing?
Greg Borton 😊 just a self service car wash. Sometimes my van doesn't fit inside those because of the height of the van, but I'll pull in close and then just wash the windows and the front part of the van to get the bug splats off too.
would it help if you put a folded up blanket up in sky light then shut slider?
why not weatherize your water tanks?
On those gas prices you showed at 8:55 , what was price per gallon of gas. Thanks
What app was that you were using??
What kind of camera are you using to film? Thank you
🌝
$7.60 / gallon in UK.
Jonster Small OMG...that's insane!!!!
ALO VELY LITTLE dog to keep you company
👍🏻❤️🐾
pupcamper58 😊
Can you use a heater?
Maria Betancourt 😊 Yes, but it doesn't heat the pipes or tanks under the van. That's the part I was worried about. Freezing pipes.
@@AmberJBaldwin
Oh my goodness. I never thought of of that Amber.....
That is scary.
Hi,
What’s the app you used to find the free over night in Nebraska?
Nicholas Fraunfelter 😊 Campendium
12v electric blanket powered by 80% charged lithium battery.
The thing that sucks about rv and van life is that you are ALWAYS driving. It gets so tiresome, i rather just use the money to buy a tiny home on a tiny parcel of land and live out my days that way. just imo
Who does silver on the outside? 😂
Zero dollars rent is the goal?
What kind of dog is Lilly? Is she a rat terrier?
rescuehoundemtd 😊 She's a mix of rat terrier, whippet, and chi.
you don't have a heater in the van?
sisterpet smitt 😊 Yes, but it doesn't heat the pipes or tanks under the van. That's the part I was worried about. Freezing pipes.
Hmmm..... what i dont use ill take back..... like back to the store for a refund....
That is correct. If it’s unopened you can take it back. It happens a lot in construction and building things. You over buy sometimes to get a project complete.