Celia takes us inside her minivan camper that took a village to build.
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- I love touring the country to meet my subscribers. Celia was one of my very first subscribers and over these past several months we've become good friends after getting to know each other through my "Travel Grandma" women's only private Facebook group for women who love to travel. In this video Celia takes us on a tour of her minivan and shares how friends and family helped to build a van that she would be comfortable living a nomadic life in.
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Gosh. I have the same van. I too bought my van just before the lock down. We need a dodge caravan camping/exploring group. Fun. I haven’t figured out my back window curtain out yet either.
Great idea about starting a minivan camping support group. Would you like to moderate a Facebook group one with me?
Use tension rods for curtains
Wow, love the set up! Her Village rocks!
What about using Alien tape for the back curtain? I saw someone else use it in their van and you can easily remove it if you don't like it. I bought some for my van build I am planning in the Spring.
You have good sound system and the van owner is wearing a good microphone so I was a le to hear both of you. The van has a great build also.
What a nice village she has. Such a great build.
Yes. She has wonderful friends and family.
Thanks for the video. Now I know there would be room for a sewing machine. I don't leave home without mine. She has a great build.
I've met several people that travel with a sewing machine. Most tend to plug into shoreline and spread out on a suitable table. One guy from the Yukon I recently met travels in a class C and makes quilts as he travels.
@@TravelGrandma yes I use in on in my trailer and I make crafts, and quilts too.
lol village people. Love the tray that fits in the cupholder. Lots of good ideas. I love her attitude. I'm a grandma too. I just watched your tour on Mini Van Lee's channel and I see where you got some of your ideas. I might need to get that stove. I pack my tiny van based on the trip too. If I will have shore power, I don't take my Jackery or Blackstone, but I do take my instantpot and electric heater if needed. Space is precious. Good video.
+qq1
Which electric heater do you use?
@saylorgirl799 it's a little 400 watt plug-in. I got it at home depot
Nice use of space and she has the best gear. That van looks like a good time !!!
I’ve gone on two extended trips in a carefully built mini van camper, watched every you tube promising such a “wonderful!!!!” Great travel/living camping experience with all the cute Neal gizmos , storage, etc. it boiled down to 1) extreme heat...there is no dealing with it beyond sleeping with the engine and AC running. 2) extreme cold- shore power to run the tiny electric heater was not a compromise 3) to reach one item, 8-10 other things have to be moved. This gets to be tiresome busy work. Some people thrive on the busywork of all the nifty procedures/ things they’ve figured out. Not me. There was no way on Gods earth I could cook in there. I am tall, so moving/changing clothes/ trying to use the cassette toilet turned into an exasperating chore. Plus, how on earth could you fit even one grandkid in there?? Sorry, for me the glitter has all fallen off. Mini-vans make poor campers at best. Plus...I was turned away from two camp parks ( not fancy ones!) in TX and could not camp with my friends! Ugg!! Think twice before falling for this.
There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of car, van, trailer and RV that people use to travel and camp in. Over the years I've owned three different RVs. Two were different size Class C's and one was a Class B fully equipped van style RV. Today I travel, park and camp in a minivan. So I know a little bit about the difference between traveling, parking and camping in differently equipped RVs vrs traveling, parking and camping in a minivan. For the type of traveling, parking and camping I like to do I have discovered a kind of convenience and freedom in my minivan that I did not experience in any of the RVs I've owned. I thought about converting a van I could stand up in, but wanted to try a minivan first to see if I really needed something bigger. I discovered that I don't. Everyone's needs are different. I'm sorry that you did not have the kind of experience you were hoping for in the minivan you traveled in. It's been working well for me. A lot of the things you mentioned have more to do with preparation and adaptability than the minivan not being a suitable vehicle to travel, park and camp in. Some people have set up their minivans to sleep two adults. Granted, it can be challenging and expensive to set up a minivan to meet an extreme off grid power need but knowing this it makes sense to travel, like the snowbirds do, with the seasons. At campgrounds bring and stay at a tent site. I cook in my minivan using a portable one burner butane stove with my window cracked open. Most people over pack. But that's their problem and it doesn't have to be yours. I prefer to only keep thing things I absolutely need in my minivan. I have a designated area for my clothes, my food and kitchen items, my toiletries and my camping gear. The only thing I need to do is lift up a custion or pull out a drawer to get to what I need. I tend to be a minimalist, but I too continually find myself downsizing. These are just habits though and work arounds that take time to figure out. I am not trying to duplicate my minivan to have all the conveniences of living in a home. I'm using my minivan to travel throughout the USA to have different experiences wherever I go. These experiences mostly take place outside my van. I don't live in my van. I live around me van. Attitude is so important. I hope you will consider not giving up on trying to find the bliss that traveling can bring in whatever travel vehicle fits your needs more. Best of luck to you.
@@TravelGrandma excellent response.
I love Celia's set up and am amazed at all of her storage! This was great!
Taking all the seats out gives you so much storage.
I dunno, Grams. That's tight for ya. Can't fit your head?
Try putting metal tape along that fabric edge and use magnets on the blackout curtain.
Wonderful build. You girls have enough fun for me too!!!
Flexible RV curtain track/ curtains should work for the back.
Proud owner of a 2002 Grand Caravan Sport since Hurricane Michael took my newer vehicle! No stow n go storage but bins work! I ordered a roll of reflectix due to arrive tomorrow & will make all windows covered but I did make bug screens with some old chartreuse sheer fabric that I use cord & magnets over the side doors & back gate as well as pocjet screens over front doors. The sheers keep "no-see-ems" out better than normal screening. Only using sterno cooking at present but will probably replace soon. Good luck Celia! And thanks for sharing your journey Traveling Grandma!!
Glad to here how well you are adapting to van life.
Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the screens. 🙂
oh wow you are in my neck of the woods! I really enjoy the videos, thanks for sharing!
I would love to meet up with nomads in eastern North Carolina
Wasp spray works for bears etc. because it will spray 12 feet...while bear spray you have to be very close to the bear. Conservation office said that it works very well. It worked very well when we had a bear trying to get into our house.
Try a spring rod that would go all the way across
I have a 2013 dodge caravan. I bought black out curtains and just tuck them in all around inside the van.
Great
Great interview. Near lady. She is inspiring.
The horse bedding pellets is what I plan to use for my toilet as well. I use it for my cat's litter box along with the Breeze Tidy Cat box. It is so cheap and doesn't smell.
If you get to central Arkansas give a shout.
Jackie- I'm in central Arkansas too
40 miles from little rock
Great build! I’ll be joining you beautiful grandmothers in just a few years! I’ll be a Nomad Nana
I loved your tour on Minvan Lee. Could you please link your water container? Thank you
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hahaha ! that shower tent is like trying to fold up an octopus ! Great van, built by the village !!!
I know it took me awhile to figure out the folding sunshade for my windshield and that folding shower looked way more complicated but certainly doable probably with just more practice. LOL
Love this! Thinking about the back curtain… (and forgive if this has been mentioned previously I have not viewed comments) what if you used hot glue to attach magnets to penal behind the door then also glue magnets to curtain? Would that work? Might be an easy fix.
Not sure Celia will see your comment but I'll mention your suggestion to her next time I talk to her. Thanks for your idea.
That oven is sooo cool!
Yes I like the oven too.
I love her dad's oven. So amazing to have that keepsake item. ❤ Great memories
Very nice set up in her van. Thanks for sharing
That dressing room would make a great “outhouse”. Wonder if it comes in a child height?
Where do the grandkids ride when you take them camping?
I believe the grandchild she took camping was old enough to sit in the front seat.
Great tour and great interview! I have a suggestion. You mentioned that your stove burner was a bit too large for some of your pans. Just put your oven rack or any grill on top of your burner and you can fit any size pan. So glad you were safe when your stove hose caught on fire! Guess that's another reason not to cook in the van! I'm in NC. Would be great to meet up with y'all sometime!
Great suggestion.
Yeah, if you want to cook inside the van it's better to take a look at 12v rice cooker/steamers. Practical ones with a double layer system can cook a full meal easily with very little power and no risk of fire. 👍
You can buy the pellets in smaller bags, cheap, at tractor supply.
Have you ever had the fire come out of the hole where the can is?
instructions are on the stove for proper use of the stove.
It's recommended that you don't use Bear spray. Instead, buy bear gel. Less chance it blows back on you if wind direction isn't favorable
I did the same thing with my GasOne. Luckily I was cooking outside. Had to buy a new propane hose.
Where exactly was the hose stored? Sorry I’m confused. I want to buy one and start weekend camping on my own and use stove to heat water for coffee. Now I’m thinking bad idea.
nano gel phone holder (amazon) **DO NOT PUT ON YOUR DISPLAYS** it will crack the 'glass' when removing
She is ADORABLE! Please someone lower the mattress, that can't be good for your neck and back and get her a real popup shower.. 🥰
I enjoyed this video thanks for sharing, what do people do with the seats they remove? Keep to put back in at a later date?
We have a 2016 Ford Flex and was looking for people that use them for this purpose, I’ve run across a few but not many.
My husband isn’t as game as I am in removing our second and third row seats to set it up to camp in, basically we would only need the car to sleep in and get a small trailer to pull with extra stuff in it. We are both 63 and on disability and both use CPAPS at night so we would have to set up some kind of power station, we’re not small people we are both tall and on the heavier side of life. We already have a luggage carrier for on top of the car that hold a lot of things, we used it on our road trip last year but for that trip we stayed in Hotels, that’s the expense I’d like to eliminate so we could travel more. We also have a big black Lab that loves to be with us on a trip, that made it really fun.
I believe Celia sold her seats. When I was at her place, her son took out only the very back seats in my minivan. This freed up so much room. I now have my refrigerator and all my camping gear stored in that area. I kept the two middle stow n go seats intact for passenger seating when I am not traveling. I did not keep those rear seats.
Thank you for the great video! I, too, have a 2018 GDC and want to do a build like this one.
horse bedding is made & sold by tractor supply 40lbs is ,like, $7.00
Sticky gel pads for the curtain. On Amazon.
Sticky gel pads for the curtain. On Amazon.
In which video did you show your window screen solution for keeping bugs out?
I love your tiny home! Where did you get the cover for your ice chest? It's so pretty!
Has she tried command strips for the back window area?
I’ve heard that Feline Pine is even better than the horse pellet bedding. I have not tried either yet.
I haven't tried either yet.
Nice ladies
Awesome setup
Oh my goodness what an inspiration! Great ideas and the craftsmanship is amazing! Her and her village did an awesome job. ❤
I totally agree!
Soften the rubber with silicone
I bought screw in snaps on amazon
Hot glue gun will be your friend!
Nano tape for curtains?!
Hey Celia great van. You remind me to Astrid Lindgren and specially when you said you can’t go without a library 📚. Save adventures for you 😊By the way: your “village” should start to produce this ovens. Everyone will buy it😉
I wanna goooooooo!
I was thinking 🤔 she could put a 1x2 on the rear with screws like the front curtain wooded area for the front behind her seats. That’s what I’m thinking about for my van 🚐.
Awe love this. Beautiful,Brave women! I’ve learned so much. Thank you 🙏🏼 for sharing. Love this.
Awesome 👍❤So much storage and so organized ❤😊Safe travels 😊❤
Maybe just do a back window shade that fits exact, like the other window shades. Love this build 👏👏❤️🌸
Great build! I love the fact that so many people helping with the build.Beautiful ❤️
Celia, Putting up your screen/tent alone is made easier if you lay out the tent and stake it down first: then put your poles in... that will help when you raise your “screen room” alone.
Very nice build. Thank you for sharing.
Hi from Santorini Greece.. your video are interesting thank you
Thanks for watching!
Liked the shower idea.
Hello, you can scuff the plastic and it will stick.
I store my pine pellets in dry bags with roll tops. They get smaller (and take less space) as you use the pellets. I use them in a flexible 1 qt paint cup from Home Depot (buy lid separately) lined with a doggie poop bag. Keep liquids and solids separate for odor control.
I have a variety of porta potties. The Reliance tripod collapses like a bag chair. For #2 I use cedar shavings and put the full bags in a METAL ammo box (Harbor Freight). Smells adhere to plastic.
Great build.
Thanks for sharing your tips.
Great tour, Great lady!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have a Grand Caravan, and I used generic double-sided nano tape to stick metal discs to the pebbly plastic around the windows. Now I can use magnets to hold fabric in place, or mosquito screen. The advertising claim is that nano tape won't leave residue when it's removed. So far it's held up through 8 months of hot and cold so it sticks pretty well.
Great idea.
What a nice setup 🙌
Glad you think so!
I just subscribe.
Than you.
Great interview. I seen many new items.
Great video I have the same van too and am getting ready to do a no build. I bought command strips to hold up everything
Good idea
Tip for pottery candle roll up 3 alum. Balls.to rest your ceramic candle on, this will allow air thru,try it
Thanks for the tip.
Thank you for sharing 💞
You girls are a hoot. Just started following you and can't wait to see what kind of mischief you can get into along the way.
Thanks for watching Shirley.
Wow 🤩 so clever awesome 🤩
That was a cool tour, I loved the wood work and oven, thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it
I have the same van too!
Great tour. The storage was amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Yes she has a very nice layout.
Super glued the Velcro to the interior of your van
Thanks for the tip
try a tension rod for back window
Thanks for the suggestion
💜
There's gotta be an efficient electric blanket that could be used and I'm not clear why no one seems to do this?