One Year Living In a SMALL Van: The Highs and Lows (year recap) | Van Life UK | E53
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- It's been one year since I moved into my van. So, I take a moment to look back on the past year. I highlight some of the good times and some of the not so good times. It's been one hell of a ride!
#vanlife #vanlifeuk #tinyhome
Hey there 👋🏻 if you liked this video, be sure to check out my latest adventures on my channel ✌🏻
what was the remote job you were doing from your laptop?
@Jmorrison-x I'm a designer, so can do that remotely
You must be a very strong bloke to go through your break up, give your house up and start a new era on the road in your van and hope your proud of your self! Good luck and keep it up mate.
Thanks mate, oh Gaz I was a wreck when I first started, the saddest point in my life, but the community and adventures built me up and made me tougher than ever, so I have the van to thank for that 💪
@@Nomadickangoo: "oh Gaz I was a wreck when I first started". Yes, that's the way we learn to follow the path we were born into.
No doubt your marriage was doomed from the start. As time went on, your relationship was on the way to separation. Believe it or not, that was for your highest and best good from the beginning.
What better way to get you to live in a van than "impoverish" you into doing so? We learn through pain and suffering - always have - nothing knew.
Aeschylus wrote (2500 years ago) "He who learns must suffer even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart and in our own despair and against our will comes wisdom by the awful Grace of God."
PS: I'm a Medicine Man and a Buddhist. Oh, by the way, the best way to find your path of life is by doing EXACTLY what your doing.
This is what were Budda's last words; "Be lamps into yourselves. Relay on yourselves alone. And do not seek reliance on external support. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. And seek salvation in the truth alone. Do not look for assistance from any one of other than yourselves."
And of course anyone new to this would ask, how can I do that? Nomad, you made a great first step. That is, living by yourself. That means no one to distract you from listening quietly while you meditate.
The key is quieting the mind in meditation. Answers will come after when you least expected them to.
Nomad, be well be wise, and stay the course.
Thanks gaz mate
Head up mate. Keep goin. I’m goin thru bad patch myself.
Been there !
I feel your pain, mate, same thing happened to me. Been living in a Ford transit connect for nearly 2 years. It's been a real eye opener from breakdowns to break ins but i think I've gotten over the worst of it. I'm an electrician and travel a lot for work, so the van has been a godsend saving me a small fortune on accommodation. Hopefully be getting a bigger van in a couple of months, but I'm gonna miss my transit, we've been through thick and thin and I'm not ashamed to say I'll shed a tear when we part ways. I'm not sure if I ever want to live in a house again or get involved ina relationship. I'm relatively free now, saving loads and making plans. All the best in your journey, mate.
Damn man, I've not been broken into... (yet) I'm glad you're enjoying your van life. I also recently got a bigger van, which you can check out on the channel. And I totally know what you mean by shedding a tear when you sell your van, I was so upset when the kangoo went 😢
Very true words mate. Were made to believe we need lots of crap we do not need.
What about tools? I'm a plumber and want to do this!
Seen someone up Whitby way living in a swb connect
@@SnakePliskin762 Not me. I'm 6' 3". I'd never be able to lay out flat in the SWB. I have the LWB. Perfect for stealth camping, but will be looking for something bigger after Chrimbo.
Love this. I have been living in a company car Tesla for 3 years, so all paid for and can charge it at work. Camp mode every night so no condensation, built in entertainment and have saved myself so much money avoiding rent, council tax, elec\gas bills etc. Marriage collapse and was left with 30k of debts which I have now paid off.
Wow dude that sounds amazing, I just looked up 'Camp mode' thats a good feature! What tesla is it? surely the cars are abit of a squeeze?
@@Nomadickangoo Model 3, BIK is only 4% so much cheaper than a petrol/diesel company car
@@Nomadickangoo Its decent enough size, can lay flat and no engine so get space in the front bonnet to store things as well
@@danmcadie2515 nice man, sounds like you have it all worked out ✌
I have a company car EQB and I’m tempted to do the same, I would save so much money.
People who are struggling in life can learn from survivors stories . Theres always another way , always a way through the darkness ! Never give up ! ❤
Ipent 14 years and 6 months in a Roma home. Loved it. Got older and started to get annoyed by the restrictions everywhere for vans and decided to move in a tiny cottage in France.
You are a survivor to say the least…….breaking up with someone you have loved is soul destroying and my heart goes out to you for your strength and determination you possess. I think if you were stuck in the jungle with a penknife you would survive.
Best wishes for your future and god bless you. You are an inspiration to all. 😎😎❤️❤️🙏🙏👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you! I just finished my first full year in my camper! Really enjoy your richness in freedom
How are you finding it? Sorry for the late reply 🙏🏼
You’re doing a great job mate. Take my hat off too you. We all go through hardships. I’ve had so many at this point. They break you but they also rebuild you if give it enough time. You’re an inspiration, there’s probably more people in a similar position than we realise.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, you are right what you say about more people in this position.
I have and currently living in my car through similar situations. I'm currently trying to save for a bigger van. It's a tough part of living in a car. I try to stay positive but somedays it's very tough. I just live one day at a time. It's all I can do
Keep going son x
Kudos to you mate. Not easy living in such a small space but then I look at it this way. You can wake up wherever you want to and you don't have a mortgage or a landlord.
I've upgraded to a larger van now, but yes no pesky landlord!
Where do you shower and go to the bathroom and cook and eat ?
@@iFullgogo shower in gyms, cook in a camp stove 😁
You need to more of these, I love this guy, hard life yet so humble!! Please show more of your journey!!........
Total respect to you mate, you're a stronger man than me! Wish you all the very best for the future.
i live in a van, 3 years now, with my wife and my kids, one hell of a journey. Wasnt really based on money, but more to just experience it. One thing I have learned for sure, when you live like this way, everything from here is a bonus and a luxury. Now I see houses and showers etc as such nice luxuries. Anyway, will continue to watch!
Wow man! With a wife and kids that's intense!! But glad you make it work! Thanks for watching bro! You should start a channel, would love to see how you deal with your van life
I did 20 yrs in a wagon Mon to Fri. Best using truckstops for hygiene. You can shower and laundry.
what are truckstops? never heard of them in UK.
@@Fina-x5nservice stations normally on main highways and motorways.
@@richlee509 lucky. we don't have those in UK - they never have laundry or showers
Good luck to you sir ,life's not always easy ,but its the struggle that makes us stronger
Well done mate, it'll make a better person of you with the experiences your having, and although you have no one by your side to share everything, we see it with ya, and being on your own helps you think more clearly, and doing what you want when you want, without any opposition or extra negativity definitely helps you really find yourself.
I'm now subscribed and look forward to the next one. Chin up mate you should be proud of yourself.
Just wanted to say well done,must have taken courage and conviction to start that journey.
Your openess and honestly are commendable, sincerely best wishes to you, and to all whom take the van plan.look after yourselves.....
Fair play man, a lot of respect for that! Relate to the UA-cam thing, hardly ever watch my old content but it's always good to have a look back every now and again to see how far you've come 💪🏼
They really do make great memoirs 👍
Those Insta Pics can look So Great, living this way can be simple yet hard, staying at it can be so rewarding in ways others wouldn't know or understand!
Exactly mate, the freedom from all the BS is like nothing i've ever experienced before!
The most down to Earth and honest review on van life, amidst all the BS that is UA-camd on this subject. Keep going!
Love and peace.
Wow, cheers Peter for this, stay safe 🙏🏼
LOL... sometimes ignorance IS bliss.
If you had had any grasp of just how ill equip and ill prepared you were to embark on kitting out a van you would never have taken the plunge. Necessity is the mother of invention, and once you were in the shit, you knew you had no choice but to find a way out.
Well done young fella if you can navigate 12 months as you have, it will have given you a mental resilience and foundation that you will be able to build off in the future allowing you to tackle problems that would see most people crumple.
This country needs more young folk with your attitude and drive; head up and plough forward Kidda.
Just discovered your channel and in a very similar situation myself.. minus the van atm 😆. Been backpacking around with a camping set up since last winter while still going to work getting money together for van life. This is massive inspiration for me and solidifies for me that I’m not crazy 😂. Thanks mate new subscriber here ✌🏽
First time I've seen this.
Yer man is one of life's survivors.
Good on you, sir.
Thank you Graham, I'm sure you would do the same, stay safe sir 💪
Well done you for getting on with it hope you’re next year is a lot easier for you have a great life ❤
You're a strong man, more and more of us wanna start a vanlife, myself included
@@sergiozenith1426 it was a good life 🙏🏻 I highly recommend it
That's 12+ grand saved, that in itself is a massive win, think I'll be trying this out myself in the future! Nice video bro 👊
Good luck
Good luck buddy, stay strong and pat yourself on the back for the amazing job you're doing.Total respect 👍
I’m surprised you didn’t buy a bigger van than a kangoo in the initial venture, that said, i admire your gumption to do what was necessary to keep from sleeping on the street
Thank you, I did eventually get a bigger van, but I sold it and got another kangoo now 😂
Hi nice video, thanks for sharing. I have watched tons of these van life/build videos and never seen yours till today. So glad I did. A lot of what you experienced reverberates with me. I also started living in my van in October (2021). Remember the condensation turned into little ice rivulets down the side before I insulated it. Oh gosh those were the times… Still living in it and also loving it. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks peter
You’re an inspiration. Top man. 💪🏻
Glad you included a clip of Tim wearing his most favoured t- shirt 😂
God bless you bro can see your stride ambition and pain your a legend remember that better days ahead 🙌🏼😮💨💯
honestly thank you so much, I have come leaps and bounds, but the ambition stays on! ✌
Your girl did not deserve you mate, what you have done and are doing is incredible,
Lol ya he is a success story 😂😂😂
Lol ya he is some success story 😂😂
@@redmanmr2 It takes balls to do what he's doing mate so yes, he is a success story.
If I had the money I would choose to live in van, however it would need to be a much bigger van with a to-notch wood stove/ wood-cooker a proper camper van is what I mean, oh and it would need to be properly insulated… you sir are living the dream of many of us single dudes😊
been in a short wheel base hightop renault master for 4 years and love it
That's a beauty of a van 💪🏼
Magic. Aye, once you've lived away from traditional house. You never look back. Been living in everything from coaches too tents. For 38yrs. Never looked back. After escaping. Really enjoyed the film. Took me back. Awrabest
You're a true adventurer ✌🏻
@Nomadickangoo aye, one life my friend. Don't drive on the roads anymore, at 64 got fed up was tax, insurance, and Mots. But still explore, now in a wee boat and bike. Simple. Meeting so many people that have ditched the ratrace. Awrabest
I’ve just found your channel this morning and I can’t wait to catch up with your videos. Also just seen Socks With Sandals at the end of the video I’m subbed to him too 🤣 Take care.
hahah bro same time like me, November last year....well done!"!!!! wasnt easy...but i know what to expect right now.....just take care....and never let the wind to catch ya....
Had the same experience for 2 weeks,tough going,very similar story,
To be honest, when I first saw the van and before you said anything, my first thought was "that van isn't long enough to sleep in"
And you were right 😂
im gonna be doing this soon, maybe in around 12 months. I need to start stashing money. I have a storage unit (indoors) that i have 24 hrs access to, so i can store stuff of my own in there too. I think it could work amazing, it's just a weird feeling but i also feel like i wanna do it 99% sure.
Lovely video (nice production) really enjoyed watching. Love that you’re so positive about living in the van. Best wishes for your next year. 🌷⭐🌷⭐🌷
You and Tim have kept me sane over the last year 😎😎
Glad to hear it mate 👍🏻😎
Really good watch, thank you.
No no, Thank you for watching 😀
Great video, what a journey you have had so far. You was very brave starting in the winter. Jumped right in it! All best buddy hope to see you soon 😊👍🙏
Thanks PEAKY! Hopefully in the new year we can organise something! 😀
My lord it must of been hard for u lad, but never mind what folk think on this, u are a top bloke, and I admire u, ye brave old warrior, bless u, ♥️👍
Thanks mate 🙏🏻💪🏻
Great video, so many similarities to my life, although I am an extrovert and have no parents.
Without pain there is no growth and you will be the one with a strong mind.
Nice man, that's cool to hear there are others out there! 💪🏼 Stay strong
I really like the fact you've not done it for likes or to be cool like a lot of the girls do. Real life bro 👍
Oh I'm so far from cool so that wasn't hard 😂 thanks for watching bro ✌️
Wow tha algorithm is strong I'm going through a divorce and my head can't cope with looking for houses or flats and I'm thinking of doing the same thing...... admittedly I probably have a little more money to start off with mate all the luck in the world to you ❤
I'm glad you found me. Wishing you all the best! Let me know what van you end up with! 💪
@@Nomadickangoo Will do I'll also let you know if I chicken out I could be the wrong side of 40 for it lol
@@morgansteele3158 no mate you will be fine! Enjoy life ✌️
Wishing you both all the best, stay strong!!
Just keep doing as you please, take small steps for greater progress. Take care
Bless seriously feel for u fella.been thinking doing same thing prices of flats these days are over the top. Legend
@@Turnsta007 thank you, this was a few years ago now, I'm well and truly back on my feet now and living the life I've always wanted to now, I hope you find your way as well, if that's in a van or not. Good luck 🤞🏻
I think it's about time for a new 1 year update... 🤔😉
I just completed 9 months in a Honda jazz car, been in a flat a week and hate it, hope to get car winter proofed a bit more and head back to full time car life soon
That's amazing, how do you find car life?
@@Nomadickangoo it was fine during late spring and summer, even with all the rain we had, and I did around 9,000 miles around uk having a great time, when I started in February the windows were regularly getting frozen inside and I was feeling the cold, moved into flat this week mainly so could get some work done on car, have had seats removed to insulate better and trying to find space to fit a heater so I can remain full time, a widow, in my 60s with two small dogs so trying to make it more cosy for all of us, but I love the freedom to go off exploring
Happy you never gave up❤Take care and wish you nothing but the best😁
Good video. Well done to you.
You are a very brave men. Good luck with that keep. Going from Lancashire England UK pendle 🇬🇧🍀🙏😎
Will do! Thank you!
Believe me I know you will be a better person you could be worse of most are, I used to climb in the back of my astra van, fully boarded carpeted,and a mattress and sleeping bag,makes you appreciate everything believe you me,also nice people still exist 🙏 take care.
Alot of people say they can't imagine changing living in there van when they do try this it is like there more at peace with it and less stressed
Hi, lovely to meet you... This just come up on our feed and in the first few minutes, we had to hit subscribe. The whole thing about not fitting in the back of the van and the camp bed was hilarious. We like how you laughed through that now, but it must have been frustrating at the time. Will watch your back vids. Many thx. ..😁😁😁
Hey, I'm really glad you enjoyed it! It's people like you that make me want to continue making videos 😊
Instant sub, love your outlook on life, wish you then best mate road to 100k subscribers
good for you hope you stay safe
A nice rewind of the year that's gone by so quickly. It's the winter cold that is bad part. If you are in good health then it's do able with what you have, I doubt that I could hack it without the luxury of good heating.
Thanks buddy, nothing wrong with a good heater!
Fit a night heater ..
Just found your channel- this is the first video I watched. Now a subscriber 😃 absolutely loved it. Hope you are well 😊
Had to support you after listening to your story…I admire your spirit
Thank you so much! It means the world to me your support
Sorry to hear you broke up pal, you seem like a super nice guy. i hope you move on to better things. as they say everything happens for a reason..
Hey man, thanks for the comment, you and every one else has been super supportive and that's a great thing to see! 💪
@@Nomadickangoo good things come to good ppl keep that in mind just be patient 🙏
Congratulations on making a year. As you say its a life style that suits some and not others. Also its a great thing to know that if life turns to shit ,as long as you have a van, you'll be Ok.
If you never know what to do, get a Kangoo!
Awsome video mate. Some great stories ups and downs and a testiment to what dosent kill you will only make you stronger 💪 👏
Thanks Chris, it was quite the journey so far 💪
Congratulations on achieving a year in the van.. we are coming upto a year as well. It takes some getting used too, but from my point of view, best thing we've ever done.
Totally agree with you! Just checked out your rig! Woah what a beast!
@@Nomadickangoo thanks.. we started off in a Jumbo Transit, had that for 7 months.. 3 of us in it. Had to upgrade, just not enough room. Hats off to you for living in a Kangoo. ❤
How much is a van? Im 1000% considering this but sadly i dont know how to drive lol just need somewhere to sleep
Really enjoying your journey. You are one of the few Real van lifers. Long may it continue, stay safe.
It takes real to appreciate real, and you sir is real. 💪🏼
Cheers Dave
God be with you son, sorry to hear about your break up with your fiancé. Things will look up for you, you are a great guy, the universe will be with you.
You are handsome. You’re so relatable new subbed here. I’m currently in Spain. I’m a old lady bless you Sir!
New viewer. Subscribed and looking forward to more. Will check out older videos. Cheers mate and stay safe
Thank you for the sub, plenty of new videos since this one as well ✌🏻
I went through a break up which left me with debt and nowhere to live....but I just worked 50hrs a week and have done for 10 years to have my own place and pay for my kids.
I salute you 🙏🏻
blessings bruv from a fellow full time van lifer now 5 years on still blessed davey
Woah 5 years! Impressive mate 👍🏻😁
I've been living in my VW t5 midtop for a year but on and off for 3 I love it
Nice one man ✌🏻 check out my latest to see what I'm up to now. Life's a mad ride
Well done for moving on with your life mate,and not moaping around. Just wish you got a bigger van for your first one.👍
Thanks man, took a while but i managed to move on 🙂 Feel free to check my newer videos, I got a bigger van now, LOVE IT
@@Nomadickangoo that's great I will defo check out your new vids and van. There is also so many tips from other van life people you will meet and probably already have. Yeah I split with my ex too and had to start again and rent somewhere new. I was hurt to start with but I soon realized I need to find someone that likes me just as much as I like them. I tend to go for the ones I have to chase . Instead now I am going for the ones that show they like me first. Good luck mate and I will defo see how your getting on.👍
am about to embark on van-life because of a relationship breakdown il b in a nv200 wish me luck
Good luck and have fun with it, sorry about your relationship
Fair play mate, I remember finding your channel around about the same time as finding Socks and Peakys and along with Liam the terrible I’d say you lot have gotten me through the last year of ‘nonsense’ with my sanity still intact! so thanks man I’m glad you like the lifestyle you’ve chosen 👍 it means I get to watch even more great sanity saving content instead of all the lies and BS thats being pushed out on the old mainstream brainwash box 📺 😉
Tim thats quite the comment mate, Im glad you enjoy my videos. Hopefully 2022 ain't full on nonsense!
It's good to have another like minded person watching and appreciate real, no Bullshit life as it is.
There is a reason rents are so high in this country. It immigration pure and simple.
Could you explain how you've come to that conclusion please
@jonathanstephens6949 supply out stripped by demand. Too many people, not enough houses .
Good job!
Best of luck to you mate goin through the same thing marriage broke up lost my house living with my parents now
Thanks mate, you can check out my more recent videos to see what I'm up to these days ✌🏻❤️
Wow you’re a cool guy and inspiring to us all solo campers etc wish you all the success… Top Man
Thanks mate, I appreciate that. Stay safe out there 💪🏼
And what a year! It’s been a wild ride and a pleasure to watch along bro.
Good on you for getting froo I'm just going froo loss of my marriage home and in my car finding it helps for some concentration when you can't focus 👍👍
❤️
well done bro, stick at it, we're all with you.
From pasty land.
ps.. ..get a diesel heater, makes a van a home.
Thanks Ant Man!
From back of my van land
What a great video!
Very watchable nostalgia.
Looking forward to many more of your videos 😀
Thanks Tom! Bring on 2022!
That's for sharing. best wishes for the future
Thank you Sally ♥️💙♥️💙
I was just recommended your channel, I’ve now subscribed what a journey you’ve had.. best wishes going forward.. I will watch some of the earlier vids now.
I was made homeless by the pandemic and made a camper out of a Ford galaxy and was just about to live in it when my best mate offered me a room. But I’m definitely a wild one and only spend half a week away. I’ve called my home on wheels Frankenshed because it’s so old and have to fix it a bit lol
Thanks for watching! 😃That's so funny a Ford Galaxy was one of my first choices when I thought about van life. I hope everything keeps getting better for you my man! And stay strong out there 💪
@@Nomadickangoo thanks, you too!
Your lifestyle makes me jealous, mate. Keep on trucking, full respect to you.
As glamorous (or in my case not so glamorous) it may look, it's a hard old life
Good man,some tough times but you got through,respect to the max.
Thanks Gary, got to keep going
Thankyou, brilliant, made me think how I would cope with the same situations,. not as well methinks.
Mind over matter, I'm sure you would do great.
Hey man i was just like you never touched a tool in my life or had any tools. I relied on a Neighbour to make me a bed, but then i bit the bullet. I brought myself a drill a Jigsaw a tape measure amd it brought me so much enjoyment making my own stuff in my van now.
Hey dude, thanks for your comment, yah man it's hard when you don't know what you're doing. What van you got dude?
@@Nomadickangoo i have just come across your channel man you have some good content. Yeah its a good learning experience. My van is a Vauxhall vivaro swb, i love it. I dont live in it full time but i am out in the van like 4 nights of the week or so.
He good lucking man to bless him
Could have made a hammock to keep storage space or a raised platform for a mattress
I feel this as I’m living it now.4 months in. Liked following and living it
Enjoy the experience my man
@@Nomadickangoo I am
It’s deffo new. Nights are getting colder too. Every day is a adventure. Living and working from my caddy van
@@sjiroofingandmaintenancese2494 I recommend an electric blanket for those cold nights 👍
i went through the same thing in a car but had 2 dogs 7 months dont remember having 1 bad day,now in in a bungalow loads more to worry about,best thing i ever done was getting rid of that bint
Respect all the best
Wow great video man.
Lived in a T reg Honda Accord for 2yrs, 10yrs later and being in a house I'm considering a camper now
@@Digdeepstill I'm also in a house now, but kept a camper for the adventures 🙏🏻
@@Nomadickangoo I've always had a car, cramped but stealthy 😆
@@Digdeepstill sounds perfect, gets the job done 🙏🏻
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