The funny thing is that your van probably has more space than most NYC apartments, and even with all these restrictions, you were able to get a taste of the city on very little money.
@@dougronald561 absolutely!!! It’s so cool to me to be able to experience all these places without having to pay rent or hunker down and commit. Super fortunate for cheap monthly public transportation! One of my favorite parts of NYC was how easy it was to get all over with just the subway and not having to drive everywhere! Thanks for watching!
Another lifelong NYer here. First thing, get out of Manhattan. Brooklyn, Queens, or certain areas of the Bronx are much better for parking and Van Life. Also, I would have a few neighborhoods where I would rotate my stays. You don't want people to know your routine. That is a good way to get your van broken into while you are away. If memory serves, there is a street in Brooklyn, I believe Red Hook, where van lifers stay. It is referred to as Van Alley. I have not been there but hear that it is a great place for the van community.
For sure! I know Manhattan busy but I guess being an out of towner I wanted to be in the thick of it. Did go to Brooklyn for a bit! I felt sketched out everywhere other than East village and had no problems, but great point about people seeing routine! I did check out Van Alley but it was full and also seemed a bit sketch with the people there at the time I was there. Wish I had more money to have stayed in NY longer! Will be back for sure after work season is over and start heading south for winter! Thanks for adding a locals advice!! 🙌🏼
@@JoshyByNature if you are ever stuck, go to astoria , queens underneath the Tribourough bridge there is a huge lot there, a beautiful park and view of the east river
@@JoshyByNature Here's the deal.... "Get out of Manhattan....???" Technically there are five boroughs. There's Manhattan and then there are the other 4. Queens, Brooklyn, Statin Island and the Bronx. These are the places where the taxi drivers sleep. Manhattan is New York and New York is Manhattan, period.
I remember driving my 2015 Sienna to NYC, i parked in Bushwick Brooklyn and pretty much walk anywhere or take the subway. I didn't really need to drive out there but move for street cleaning. I would definitely suggest to tint all window for more privacy and since there alot of foot traffic. As for the restroom i would keep a empty bottle and pee. As for #2 in rare emergency i woild keep a bucket and large bag with toilet paper. Once done i would tie it and throw it out. Never really did that since i manage my eating habits on daliy basis. Best part i live in my van rent free for 3 months. Saved $3K. After drove back to Cali
I recommend while you live in New York. I live in New Jersey. And I do Van life in New Jersey. Not full-time but most of the time does put me a pocket but you gotta keep moving my friend. Keep moving, don't pop in the same place every day. You attract the attention over time.
For showers the cheapest gym membership I found is city recreation centers. $100/year so $8.33/mo. I think I’d sponge bathe inside the van, but I have seen low height van showers using curtains velcroed to the ceiling, garden sprayer to push water, sit on a folding stool, drain into a shallow basin that doubles as storage. Rechargeable battery garden sprayer is a bit more convenient.
For water get a “water thief” from RV supply. Allows connecting a hose to most any water faucet. It’s a rubber cone that fits snugly around a faucet outlet. I think I’d also have a funnel and try drinking fountains in parks, would require holding it patiently. Haul water with a 5 gallon solar shower bag tucked into a rolling suitcase, can even take that on the train :-) If 5 gallons is too much, fill it partway. I think I’d only use this water for washing; Filling from public sources seems like asking for bacteria. Another possibility: water delivery either to your van or to a friend or nearby store and pay them a little for the privilege. Could do both; Packaged water for drinking and cooking, tap for washing.
If I were to live in a van in NYC I’d install a J1772 connector (with AVC2 board) to recharge the batteries and use stage 2 EV chargers after 6p when they’re less busy. A used Tesla battery module gives 5.2kWh, costs about $1500, weighs 55lbs, dimensions 12x3x27”. Couple of those bad boys and you can run a 5000BTU window unit, sleep at a charging station. Day parking wouldn’t need a sunny spot so is more flexible.
And don't park in the same place where you're going to sleep. Because you're more likely to get that knock on the door if you do that, keep moving and you'll be fine.
lol literally NYC is one of only places it’s not illegal to sleep in car pretty sure. I parked in same place for weeks only moving for sweepers and I was absolutely fine haha. Good luck finding parking both during day and even more at night lol
New Yorker here! Get ouuuuuuuuuuuuut of Manhattan! That's your first mistake. You won't have trouble finding parking in BK or Queens, as long as you aren't super picky or need a specific spot consistently. You'll also find more sunlight. For getting around the city, all you need is your phone's Apple Pay (or equivalent) or a credit card to tap on. As for figuring out which routes to take, do NOT rely on Google Maps. The gold standard for New Yorkers is CityMapper, an invaluable tool that I rely on daily to find the fastest routes and avoid headaches. Welcome to the City! PS - yeah actually I think the humidity just recently hit. And it will get hotter, just wait! June was surprisingly cool and dry this year-I often found myself needing a jacket!
Hey! Thanks for the info! Yeah found a nice spot in Manhattan though and left it one time and then spent about 7 hours driving around looking for a spot! Also, spot needs to be flat to be able to sleep okay at night. Thank you for sharing the tips!! I actually just had to leave after 6 weeks because of the humidity that hit and was 80° at midnight and was not enjoyable sleep. For sure wanted to explore more around Brooklyn and did but just by transit and spent a few nights there in van. Seemed a lot easier for me to do the tourist thing in Manhattan. But def explored all around using trains!Kept hearing how lucky I was for the cool June weather, blessed for that! Appreciate it!! Headed north now but will likely swing back through after summer job is over! ♥️
Do Redbook bro the parking meter there is 12am to 2pm obviously no ticket agents go there at that time. I lived there in my van comfortably for a long time
Here's a source for water. At 72 st and Central Park West is the entrance to Central Park. Go in and in about 60 ft in on the left side is a fountain. It's only working when the weather is above freezing but who wants to be living in the street in the winter anyway.
One thing to add about being in your car to avoid tickets, “Don’t be sleeping!” I was in my car waiting for a relative in Midtown and I fell asleep in the driver seat no tint they put a ticket on my windshield didn’t wake me up or try to lol so make sure you are awake..
For sure slept in my van for over a month without issue and I read that NYC is one of the few cities where it’s not illegal to sleep in car.. sorry to hear that happened to you
@@JoshyByNature Thanks man, sorry I meant don’t be sleeping while waiting for the street sweeper , if your in a spot you shouldn’t be at they will ticket you instead of knocking on the window for you to leave.
@@Virtuoso87 oh for sure no doubt!! Def wanna be in driver seat ready to move over! Love how cool the police are about that situation as they walk down street to see if you’re in there ready to go!
Dude, stay out of Manhattan! Better to stay in Queens or Brooklyn. Try College Point, Queens-not far from LaGuardia Airport, lots of industrial areas for parking, but also not far from shops and the gym to get what you need. More open space to charge your batteries. And there are plenty of parking lots and street parking! Some places are also free from alternate-side parking rules (but you’ll have to check; some places are not).
Right on! I’ll likely check more of those other places out when I swing back down! I think for an outsider the allure of the city was Manhattan. I did go over to Brooklyn for a few days and parked in a sketchy area but was fine. I guess in east village I felt a like maybe safer. But yea for sure more parking and more open space for sunlight would’ve helped out a lot! Appreciate the info and thanks for watching!!
I'm originally from NYC and I would never have even thought of doing "van life" or living in a car there. I lived there in the 70s, 80s & moved in August of 1995. Do yourself a favor, go upstate. Definately get out of The 5 Boroughs. Good luck to you!🎉
Not the idea for you, my friend make a DIY Sola shower with PVC put on your roof at your Van that you need to do do that, and you can store it with water when you're not using it for a shower and then you store water in there that will hold at. Least 10 gallons of water again, your choice. But that's the way to do it, my friend. A solar shower and you don't have to pay a gym to have a shower or 2 bays. You can have a shower in your Van. But the thing is, your Van is not high top.
@@JoshyByNature I can afford it as well. I choose not to pay, that's why I live this lifestyle so I can live cheap and simple. That's why I do it and to f*** the government and screw the system, that's why I do it strictly economics. I'm not doing it because I can't afford it, I do it because I can't. It's cheaper that way, why would you give me money away to other people and you can keep it in your own pocket? That's the point I know when I say solar shower you don't have to have the shower outside, I mean, you can have inside your Van when I have a shower. I have a shower in my Van, not outside. Kumai Vanni's has a high top so I can shower and wipe myself app inside just like I have a bathroom inside my Van and I've had to go outside if I don't need to, so I'm not talking about it outside. I'm glad he's good in the summer time if you're in the country somewhere. But in the city of course, not you're gonna have a either but it's not about money this is why a lot of new people and middle class people have no money because you spend money just to spend so you can show off and follow the Joneses. This is why I live this lifestyle or 20 lifestyle. So I don't want to live. Like the Joneses, I'm gonna forward cable TV all that I don't want cable TV I don't want them that I want to watch it for free so I watch UA-cam for free t. V for free and that's my point. I listen to I stream music for free when I make music to go on my channel. I steal it from my view tubes. I don't care it's about living cheap and simple with me. Which allows me a lot more money in my pocket for me. So don't be fooled about that nonsense that people do it for no money. Yes, you write about one thing. There are plenty of vandwellers who don't have any money who are poor as hell. Who can't afford to live anywhere I can that's why I have a base. But I chose to sleep out of my Van sometimes like 3 times a week and then I sleep in my base the 4 days or the 3 days depending on where I'm going on when I'm off work. But I have a lot more freedom than the average person. That's the point of doing this.
@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 would love to know how it’s cheaper for you to live in your van and have property 😂 opposed to just living in your van and not giving your money to government for land which is what you’re saying, why give your money to anyone but you… so why do you own land if you can live and shower in your van so easily? Seems like you’re wasting money at that point.
@TheRoadIsWife No I don't own property yet, i'd like to buy a piece of land that's my end game. But I do rent a basement studio I want to pay 300 a bathroom with a kitchen and I used to store my clothes and stuff so I can kick my Van pretty tight and empty. Of course, it's still junkie no matter what I do. Just like anywhere else. Because it's a house on wheels. As well what's the best of both Worlds.. And it is cheaper because the average person pays 13 1400 a month for rent, even for one bedroom, and you can rent 1 room in an apartment and pay a $1000 a month just for that room and you get no kitchen or anything. In New York City, I watch a show on UA-cam channel when they talk about apartments. I wanna cover some of that stuff on my channel 2 in the future where you can rent a room and you pay 1500 for a room. My apartment was one bedroom in Jersey before I lived in my vampire time. Do I change my living lifestyle to alternative? I was paying 1350 a month. They wanted it to raise to 1500. That's when I started building my. I vehicle up turn my band into a camp event and it was intentional to leave at the full-time when I found that base and I told people on my channel about you can live alternatively and live cheap and simple if you don't wanna live out your band full-time cause some people don't want. To live out there Van full-time. The headache of moving around and parking everyday. I don't have that problem. Because I do it part-time. I have a choice of talkin the Van and go in in my basement. Studio which like I said before I only pay 300 a month. I'm very lucky most people for a basement. You're looking at a $1000 a month or 800 a month. I'm paying only 300. I'm lucky as hell, but it's an old lady that owns the house. And she doesn't need the money she's retired. She just wants a couple dollars to play with. And I give her that couple dollars to play with basically. And it benefits me to live a lot cheaper. I send a lot of money. I put a lot of money away towards my land in the future. And I bought another Van in 1999 Savannah high top, another high top naturally high top, and I'm working building that out. Come Spring and then I'm gonna sell mother camper Van glad I don't buy new vehicles like you. I've seen yourvan looks brand new to me, I don't I'm cheap. I'm not paying no money if I don't have to. That's what I'm about. I'm cheap as hell. I admit it. That's why I don't have cable TV I don't pay for internet. I don't pay none of that. I pay a phone bill of course on my mobile. My. I have internet on my mobile. I watch TV on my tablet for free. That's what I'm about that's what attracts me to this lifestyle that I can leave cheap and keep most of the money in my pocket. Most people don't do that this is why most middle class people have no money. Their own houses, nice cars every year and yet they don't have 2 pennies to rub, I have thousands of dollars to rub so to speak and I live out of my Van and have a small little base. But you have to do it properly though. You gotta know what you're doing if you're bad with money. It doesn't matter how cheap you live. You're still gonna. Be bankrupt because you like to spend a lot of money depends on the your have it. I'm a saver I save a lot I live fruitfully. I pray for as well. I stuck in one food my campaign and my temperature level, which I just built has food in the stocks of food. If i'd like to leave Dodge for any reason. I can pack up and get out. I'm ready. I'm doomsday prep a guy as well. I talk about that to my channel. Also, that's what I do also. Call me a note case, it is what's about my story. So I do live cheap, I'm going to live cheaper like you my friend so I might advise to use the way you live like this. Put money away if you can don't just don't squander any money. My friend put money away. Save very heavy. So if you don't want to do this Van life thing forever. You can buy a piece of land and even put a trailer on there and then still travel with your Van as well. Because the land will be yours.
The main issue with Van life in NYC is just parking. Otherwise there's 24hrs businesses like gyms, groceries, public transportation, etc. I would say its only doable in the fall, spring and summers though.
@@JoshyByNature That is awesome, my friend. I've been in my Van since. Oh I should say alternative living since 4 years or no. About 2020 same as you, my last appointment was 1350 a month and he went up on the rent to 1500. That was the last straw I said I'm a pain. No land no top of money and ever again, I've got afford it to have already won't do but why would I then you're burning yourself out? Working hard to pay for a place just to sleep. Cause that's basically what apartments are places to sleep. No, I'm not gonna pay you that date I told I said k*** m* a**So I built up my Van got out my aim was arisen to leave at my Van full-time, but I found a base. A small base where I only pay currently right now, in 24 I only pay 400 a month is the basement studio I got a bathroom a kitchen and wash my clothes for free and I use it to store my stuff while I do live at my Grandpa time, I love it the best of both worlds for cheap. That's all something to live in my friend. That's how you do it. I'm sure like you. I could afford to pay rent and you can too. But why should we that's my point?
Get rid of the fridge and get an automatic fridge when those to call small ones, it doesn't run much a simple small one is only in knee get rid of that big French you you have if that's what you have and I've to ban dollars tend to try to build there. Vans, as if it's a house which is your house on wheels but it is made no mistake, it is not a house. It is your home on wheels so you don't need to buy a big fridge like you would if in a house or an apartment and no magic liquid fridge will do.
Your biggest mistake is staying in manhattan, go to Brooklyn, it’s safe , nice and more options. You should have first gone to van alley and talked to the van life guys there.
Yep I went to Brooklyn for a little bit! For sure more of a struggle being in Manhattan but also I felt for my first time ever what a way to do it.. just in the thick of it. Did go to van alley but it was all full both times! 😢 Appreciate you watching!
Well, New York City is a liberal city. Anyway, it's all about money and control in the masses. That's why I'm glad I don't live in New York City. I've slept there a couple times and I really go to Edgewater which is across the pond. From you guys, Jersey is the best place. Plenty of parking New York is crazy. What's all about the money? And they will tell you Victor very quickly as well. And that's your home can be told and you'll be homeless. So be careful there, my friend.
@@JoshyByNature Ridicule, that's probably right as well. Because the nose the more noise you are, the more terrible it iso I do agree with you. I absolutely agree with you as well. Any liberal states that are ridiculous and taxful. Well, the conservative states are gon of getting there as well.
@@JoshyByNature I'll tell you one thing though my friend I would like to say. Earlier I'll never live in New York never they text the attacks and people to death in that state like California, you can't even do Van life properly. There's so much horror stories about people doing Van life and living. Alternatively, I live Alibaba alternatively, in Jersey and I have no problem in Jersey. I can park anyway in Jersey. No problem, whatsoever, don't get wrong. You will have your parking problems, but you've got to know where to park. I keep moving everyway I have an own shower. I have everything I meet. I don't join no Jim and pay no fees. So I really save money. Of course I admit I don't do it full-time. I do have a base because I'm not doing this. For adventure purposes, I'm doing it for living cheap living. Alternatively saving money. That's why I do it. I don't give a d*** about adventures. I don't do adventures, it's not my thing. That's why in my channel you'll never talk about you. Never hear me talk about going to this place. In that place, I don't give a d*** about. Adventures, it's all about living cheap living. In alternatively, violent piece of land have a tiny hole and live in comfortable. It's a dense capitalistic mentality of work work and burn yourself out. I'm doing it to it strictly economics with me, my friend. I'm doing strictly economic reasons not to travel. I travel anyway but I don't document that because I don't care about traveling. It's about living cheap and keep much more money in my pocket. That's why I'm dead free. And that's why I live like a king. But I don't pay those high rents or high bills anymore. I did that before those days are dumb. And now I live like a king add to my Van part. I love it cause I'm best of both worlds.
@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 great! Glad you don’t give a dick about adventures but give a dick about living in a van part time to somehow save money!
@TheRoadIsWife Exactly my friend, that's exactly why I do the Van life part-time and have a small little base. It's all about saving money and living like a king well, not a real king, you get the point I don't have no money problems because the way I live. I talk about my channel, you can live alternatively, but you gotta do it right. Because even Van life or alternative living can cost you just as much as paying high rent depending on how you do it. The difference between Van people who travel around a lot. And it's nothing wrong with that if that's what you like, you're not really saving any money but you have more freedom. Could you get to see things the stable guy like myself who do the Dan thing part-time but I said a lot of money which allows me to keep money in my pocket plus I'm cheap as well. I've met I don't have cable TV I don't join Jim's. That's why I told you. I know channel to build a shower on your Van. Get PVC and build a shower. And when you're not using the shower, you can store water in it and keep the water all year long. All day long and you said that you need it. Actually, you can save money. Except I'm going to the gym that you're doing now. My friend quit the gym, after you build your solar shower and you can have a shower in your want a new event, I'm bringing the wife. Just hook it up to your solar shower outside and bring The Wire into your Van close the door and no one's the wiser while you're having a shower in your van, that's what I do. That's how I do it and you save a lot of money. I'm about saving money and put money in my pocket rather than giving away to everybody else. Adventure like I said, it's not my thing. I watch ice to watch a lot of Van channels that do adventure but those channels are boring to me because you don't see me in the beaches, I kind of like your channel because I see you in the city, I like the city I just won't pay the price to live in the city. That's my thing. That's why I love parking on the streets in the city in the Walmart. Not so much Walmart. I don't really like parking in Walmart park. Or not, but in strip malls like shoprite place like that ipod, I love pocketing in places. But to park somewhere in the desert or in the bushes or in Arizona, don't like that terrible, but that's me, I got to talk with his people around and noise, don't bother me people bustling and hustling all around me while I'm watching TV in my Van, I love it. I get to look at her my band and watch people go around their business while I watch TV in my Van and the one's the wiser. Nobody knows I'm in my Van watching t. V. Or eaten food or cooking? Cause my fan to get the smoke out of the Van and people don't even notice you, actually that's one of the good things about moving around as well. Because people don't know tissue only if they stay one place of course, but I love this lifestyle autonomy. Living is the way I do it. I don't call myself a vanduella. I call myself authentic living because I'll be hypocrite to say. I do Van life because technically I kinda don't. I do but I don't. I live more alternatively, then. Van life actually though I live out of my Van Part-time. I just bought my second man and I'm gonna convert that into a better home than the first one I have now and I do have a camper trailer which is parked in the back of my the yard of where my base summertime. I'll travel and go all over the place. Not all of the place for adventure purposes but just to. Don't holiday when I'm not working cause I don't work online. I don't really care for computers, everything I do is analog. I do brick and mortal work and buy that I don't mean working as a builder, my job is breaking motorwork window washer plus I work in a supermarket part-time, I love it. I'm not one for computers. I don't know, I don't care for AI which is why I don't spend money on fancy cameras or fancy motion things for my videos. I use a simple phone for my video. My videos are DIY 110%. Not professionally made and never will be. But I like your videos. My friend keep on rucking a free world hell. Yeah, just keep it real and you'll have my attention.
Buddy just showed me a Ryobi 18v fan that he runs all night in his van. Then takes the battery to work for a charge. AMZN or HD. Heater? Dickinson from CA. Propane but silent. Windows are the worst thermal points so cover them come winter.
Thanks for subscribing Tom! I’d say the areas that had living spaces above businesses tend to have street parking available for days other than when street sweepers come. When I went to Brooklyn I found that beside parks tended to have parking.
This is why I'm glad I don't live in New York. Even doing Van life in New York is expensive, it doesn't make sense to me. The point of doing bad life. Olive and authentically is to cut your bills in half not free but cut them in half. New York is expensive in general. So Van life isn't is a fact. I'm gonna do a video on that. That's my next video. You get me an idea for my next video on my channel. Thank you. New York's expensive as hell. I will never live in New York. Even as A Van dweller.
What's the point of doing van life in the first place do people do it just to live cheap or to keep more of there money to finance buying a house or a business
@benjimentv for me personally it was to live freely and see the country. I have everything I want everywhere I go. I do what I want and experience a lot more new things compared to my life back home just doing and seeing same stuff every day. Plus rent, a years rent can afford you your own home on wheels 🤷🏼♂️ it’s fun.
Good to know! Everyone in the city looked at me like I was crazy for asking! Compared to west coast there’s less than nothing for water stations like that
@@JoshyByNature I got a few tips for you: from my time in New York avoid the Bronx subway one that is the most hostile, and avoid midtown planet fitness, go to the one at downtown and other bureaus, and you might want to check the private parking lot they are all over across the city they give me peace of mind every time I have to park...
@@TheWalkerCristopherPerez thank you! Yea I went up to the Bronx for a few Yankees games and for sure a different vibe 😂 went around Harlem as well and drove straight back out of there haha. Decided to stick around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Hoping to swing back through there again maybe towards beginning of winter on my way down south. Appreciate it! 👊🏼
Nope not just on solar I’ve got that alternator putting in that work too! But the problem was that since parking so limited and risky to leave the best spot I could find that I wasn’t driving to charge them like normal. Once it got super low I would just idle my van to charge them a little to make it through the night but I know that’s not ideal for my engine and such. Heading to a job now to go make some money and likely buy some new batteries 🙌🏼. But one day I did put it to work haha, drove around for 7 hours looking for a spot 😂 🤦🏼♂️
@@JoshyByNature Oil & filter every 150 hrs and no more. Ford uses 33 mi as an equivalent to an single idle hour so change on hours and not miles. Best bet, buy the WalMart 20k 5w20 (3.7) if easy available or AMZN if you have a drop off location. Warren Distributors makes most oils out there and the 20k flavor just has more additives that are favorable for like $2 more than the 5k stuff.
YEP!!! Hands down best fireworks show I’ve seen in person! When you go, go early! Stood around for hours in one spot just to have it come show time but my goodness it was worth the wait!!!
@@NYC_VanLife nope was there from May to July 4th. I’m out working on Nantucket Island saving up for a proper east coast send. Haven’t really seen anything other than NY. But was fun to be there for like 6 weeks or so! Hectic!! I’m sure I’ll be back through!
The funny thing is that your van probably has more space than most NYC apartments, and even with all these restrictions, you were able to get a taste of the city on very little money.
@@dougronald561 absolutely!!! It’s so cool to me to be able to experience all these places without having to pay rent or hunker down and commit. Super fortunate for cheap monthly public transportation! One of my favorite parts of NYC was how easy it was to get all over with just the subway and not having to drive everywhere! Thanks for watching!
@@JoshyByNature Yes you just followed those tricks you learned, and it was doable.
Another lifelong NYer here. First thing, get out of Manhattan. Brooklyn, Queens, or certain areas of the Bronx are much better for parking and Van Life. Also, I would have a few neighborhoods where I would rotate my stays. You don't want people to know your routine. That is a good way to get your van broken into while you are away. If memory serves, there is a street in Brooklyn, I believe Red Hook, where van lifers stay. It is referred to as Van Alley. I have not been there but hear that it is a great place for the van community.
For sure! I know Manhattan busy but I guess being an out of towner I wanted to be in the thick of it. Did go to Brooklyn for a bit! I felt sketched out everywhere other than East village and had no problems, but great point about people seeing routine! I did check out Van Alley but it was full and also seemed a bit sketch with the people there at the time I was there. Wish I had more money to have stayed in NY longer! Will be back for sure after work season is over and start heading south for winter! Thanks for adding a locals advice!! 🙌🏼
@@JoshyByNature if you are ever stuck, go to astoria , queens underneath the Tribourough bridge there is a huge lot there, a beautiful park and view of the east river
@@Z.November thank you! I’ll keep that in mind when I head back through there!
@@JoshyByNature Here's the deal.... "Get out of Manhattan....???" Technically there are five boroughs. There's Manhattan and then there are the other 4. Queens, Brooklyn, Statin Island and the Bronx. These are the places where the taxi drivers sleep. Manhattan is New York and New York is Manhattan, period.
Bronx would be better Throggs neck is good but limited train service.
I remember driving my 2015 Sienna to NYC, i parked in Bushwick Brooklyn and pretty much walk anywhere or take the subway. I didn't really need to drive out there but move for street cleaning. I would definitely suggest to tint all window for more privacy and since there alot of foot traffic. As for the restroom i would keep a empty bottle and pee. As for #2 in rare emergency i woild keep a bucket and large bag with toilet paper. Once done i would tie it and throw it out. Never really did that since i manage my eating habits on daliy basis. Best part i live in my van rent free for 3 months. Saved $3K. After drove back to Cali
I recommend while you live in New York. I live in New Jersey. And I do Van life in New Jersey. Not full-time but most of the time does put me a pocket but you gotta keep moving my friend. Keep moving, don't pop in the same place every day. You attract the attention over time.
For showers the cheapest gym membership I found is city recreation centers. $100/year so $8.33/mo. I think I’d sponge bathe inside the van, but I have seen low height van showers using curtains velcroed to the ceiling, garden sprayer to push water, sit on a folding stool, drain into a shallow basin that doubles as storage. Rechargeable battery garden sprayer is a bit more convenient.
For water get a “water thief” from RV supply. Allows connecting a hose to most any water faucet. It’s a rubber cone that fits snugly around a faucet outlet. I think I’d also have a funnel and try drinking fountains in parks, would require holding it patiently.
Haul water with a 5 gallon solar shower bag tucked into a rolling suitcase, can even take that on the train :-) If 5 gallons is too much, fill it partway.
I think I’d only use this water for washing; Filling from public sources seems like asking for bacteria.
Another possibility: water delivery either to your van or to a friend or nearby store and pay them a little for the privilege. Could do both; Packaged water for drinking and cooking, tap for washing.
Appreciate all the info!! Seriously!
If I were to live in a van in NYC I’d install a J1772 connector (with AVC2 board) to recharge the batteries and use stage 2 EV chargers after 6p when they’re less busy. A used Tesla battery module gives 5.2kWh, costs about $1500, weighs 55lbs, dimensions 12x3x27”. Couple of those bad boys and you can run a 5000BTU window unit, sleep at a charging station. Day parking wouldn’t need a sunny spot so is more flexible.
Pardon me. Level 2 charging. Not stage 2.
And don't park in the same place where you're going to sleep. Because you're more likely to get that knock on the door if you do that, keep moving and you'll be fine.
lol literally NYC is one of only places it’s not illegal to sleep in car pretty sure. I parked in same place for weeks only moving for sweepers and I was absolutely fine haha. Good luck finding parking both during day and even more at night lol
@@JoshyByNature Yep.
New Yorker here! Get ouuuuuuuuuuuuut of Manhattan! That's your first mistake. You won't have trouble finding parking in BK or Queens, as long as you aren't super picky or need a specific spot consistently. You'll also find more sunlight. For getting around the city, all you need is your phone's Apple Pay (or equivalent) or a credit card to tap on. As for figuring out which routes to take, do NOT rely on Google Maps. The gold standard for New Yorkers is CityMapper, an invaluable tool that I rely on daily to find the fastest routes and avoid headaches.
Welcome to the City!
PS - yeah actually I think the humidity just recently hit. And it will get hotter, just wait! June was surprisingly cool and dry this year-I often found myself needing a jacket!
Hey! Thanks for the info! Yeah found a nice spot in Manhattan though and left it one time and then spent about 7 hours driving around looking for a spot! Also, spot needs to be flat to be able to sleep okay at night. Thank you for sharing the tips!! I actually just had to leave after 6 weeks because of the humidity that hit and was 80° at midnight and was not enjoyable sleep. For sure wanted to explore more around Brooklyn and did but just by transit and spent a few nights there in van. Seemed a lot easier for me to do the tourist thing in Manhattan. But def explored all around using trains!Kept hearing how lucky I was for the cool June weather, blessed for that! Appreciate it!! Headed north now but will likely swing back through after summer job is over! ♥️
ya that's what i was thinking it would be nicer to just to go to BK and take a train
Do Redbook bro the parking meter there is 12am to 2pm obviously no ticket agents go there at that time. I lived there in my van comfortably for a long time
Here's a source for water. At 72 st and Central Park West is the entrance to Central Park. Go in and in about 60 ft in on the left side is a fountain. It's only working when the weather is above freezing but who wants to be living in the street in the winter anyway.
Thank you!! I’ll check that out for sure when I swing back down through there!! Appreciate it!
One thing to add about being in your car to avoid tickets, “Don’t be sleeping!”
I was in my car waiting for a relative in Midtown and I fell asleep in the driver seat no tint they put a ticket on my windshield didn’t wake me up or try to lol so make sure you are awake..
For sure slept in my van for over a month without issue and I read that NYC is one of the few cities where it’s not illegal to sleep in car.. sorry to hear that happened to you
@@JoshyByNature Thanks man, sorry I meant don’t be sleeping while waiting for the street sweeper , if your in a spot you shouldn’t be at they will ticket you instead of knocking on the window for you to leave.
@@Virtuoso87 oh for sure no doubt!! Def wanna be in driver seat ready to move over! Love how cool the police are about that situation as they walk down street to see if you’re in there ready to go!
Awesome video ❤
Dreamer here
Still an university student
Dreaming on van life when I’ll start working full time
Thank you! Yea get that degree and hit the road!! Totally manageable to work full time while doing it! Thanks for watching!
same here im on my last semester in collage, then im going to work for about a year then get a van or sooner if i find a good remote job
Dude, stay out of Manhattan! Better to stay in Queens or Brooklyn. Try College Point, Queens-not far from LaGuardia Airport, lots of industrial areas for parking, but also not far from shops and the gym to get what you need. More open space to charge your batteries. And there are plenty of parking lots and street parking! Some places are also free from alternate-side parking rules (but you’ll have to check; some places are not).
Right on! I’ll likely check more of those other places out when I swing back down! I think for an outsider the allure of the city was Manhattan. I did go over to Brooklyn for a few days and parked in a sketchy area but was fine. I guess in east village I felt a like maybe safer. But yea for sure more parking and more open space for sunlight would’ve helped out a lot! Appreciate the info and thanks for watching!!
I'm originally from NYC and I would never have even thought of doing "van life" or living in a car there. I lived there in the 70s, 80s & moved in August of 1995. Do yourself a favor, go upstate. Definately get out of The 5 Boroughs. Good luck to you!🎉
Looking forward to exploring upstate sometime for sure!
Not the idea for you, my friend make a DIY Sola shower with PVC put on your roof at your Van that you need to do do that, and you can store it with water when you're not using it for a shower and then you store water in there that will hold at. Least 10 gallons of water again, your choice. But that's the way to do it, my friend. A solar shower and you don't have to pay a gym to have a shower or 2 bays. You can have a shower in your Van. But the thing is, your Van is not high top.
Yea I have a solar shower… not going to be taking a fucking shower outside on the streets of New York City. I can afford 20$ a month for a shower lol.
@@JoshyByNature I can afford it as well. I choose not to pay, that's why I live this lifestyle so I can live cheap and simple. That's why I do it and to f*** the government and screw the system, that's why I do it strictly economics. I'm not doing it because I can't afford it, I do it because I can't. It's cheaper that way, why would you give me money away to other people and you can keep it in your own pocket? That's the point I know when I say solar shower you don't have to have the shower outside, I mean, you can have inside your Van when I have a shower. I have a shower in my Van, not outside. Kumai Vanni's has a high top so I can shower and wipe myself app inside just like I have a bathroom inside my Van and I've had to go outside if I don't need to, so I'm not talking about it outside. I'm glad he's good in the summer time if you're in the country somewhere. But in the city of course, not you're gonna have a either but it's not about money this is why a lot of new people and middle class people have no money because you spend money just to spend so you can show off and follow the Joneses. This is why I live this lifestyle or 20 lifestyle. So I don't want to live. Like the Joneses, I'm gonna forward cable TV all that I don't want cable TV I don't want them that I want to watch it for free so I watch UA-cam for free t. V for free and that's my point. I listen to I stream music for free when I make music to go on my channel. I steal it from my view tubes. I don't care it's about living cheap and simple with me. Which allows me a lot more money in my pocket for me. So don't be fooled about that nonsense that people do it for no money. Yes, you write about one thing. There are plenty of vandwellers who don't have any money who are poor as hell. Who can't afford to live anywhere I can that's why I have a base. But I chose to sleep out of my Van sometimes like 3 times a week and then I sleep in my base the 4 days or the 3 days depending on where I'm going on when I'm off work. But I have a lot more freedom than the average person. That's the point of doing this.
@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 would love to know how it’s cheaper for you to live in your van and have property 😂 opposed to just living in your van and not giving your money to government for land which is what you’re saying, why give your money to anyone but you… so why do you own land if you can live and shower in your van so easily? Seems like you’re wasting money at that point.
@TheRoadIsWife No I don't own property yet, i'd like to buy a piece of land that's my end game. But I do rent a basement studio I want to pay 300 a bathroom with a kitchen and I used to store my clothes and stuff so I can kick my Van pretty tight and empty. Of course, it's still junkie no matter what I do. Just like anywhere else. Because it's a house on wheels. As well what's the best of both Worlds.. And it is cheaper because the average person pays 13 1400 a month for rent, even for one bedroom, and you can rent 1 room in an apartment and pay a $1000 a month just for that room and you get no kitchen or anything. In New York City, I watch a show on UA-cam channel when they talk about apartments. I wanna cover some of that stuff on my channel 2 in the future where you can rent a room and you pay 1500 for a room. My apartment was one bedroom in Jersey before I lived in my vampire time. Do I change my living lifestyle to alternative? I was paying 1350 a month. They wanted it to raise to 1500. That's when I started building my. I vehicle up turn my band into a camp event and it was intentional to leave at the full-time when I found that base and I told people on my channel about you can live alternatively and live cheap and simple if you don't wanna live out your band full-time cause some people don't want. To live out there Van full-time. The headache of moving around and parking everyday. I don't have that problem. Because I do it part-time. I have a choice of talkin the Van and go in in my basement. Studio which like I said before I only pay 300 a month. I'm very lucky most people for a basement. You're looking at a $1000 a month or 800 a month. I'm paying only 300. I'm lucky as hell, but it's an old lady that owns the house. And she doesn't need the money she's retired. She just wants a couple dollars to play with. And I give her that couple dollars to play with basically. And it benefits me to live a lot cheaper. I send a lot of money. I put a lot of money away towards my land in the future. And I bought another Van in 1999 Savannah high top, another high top naturally high top, and I'm working building that out. Come Spring and then I'm gonna sell mother camper Van glad I don't buy new vehicles like you. I've seen yourvan looks brand new to me, I don't I'm cheap. I'm not paying no money if I don't have to. That's what I'm about. I'm cheap as hell. I admit it. That's why I don't have cable TV I don't pay for internet. I don't pay none of that. I pay a phone bill of course on my mobile. My. I have internet on my mobile. I watch TV on my tablet for free. That's what I'm about that's what attracts me to this lifestyle that I can leave cheap and keep most of the money in my pocket. Most people don't do that this is why most middle class people have no money. Their own houses, nice cars every year and yet they don't have 2 pennies to rub, I have thousands of dollars to rub so to speak and I live out of my Van and have a small little base. But you have to do it properly though. You gotta know what you're doing if you're bad with money. It doesn't matter how cheap you live. You're still gonna. Be bankrupt because you like to spend a lot of money depends on the your have it. I'm a saver I save a lot I live fruitfully. I pray for as well. I stuck in one food my campaign and my temperature level, which I just built has food in the stocks of food. If i'd like to leave Dodge for any reason. I can pack up and get out. I'm ready. I'm doomsday prep a guy as well. I talk about that to my channel. Also, that's what I do also. Call me a note case, it is what's about my story. So I do live cheap, I'm going to live cheaper like you my friend so I might advise to use the way you live like this. Put money away if you can don't just don't squander any money. My friend put money away. Save very heavy. So if you don't want to do this Van life thing forever. You can buy a piece of land and even put a trailer on there and then still travel with your Van as well. Because the land will be yours.
The main issue with Van life in NYC is just parking. Otherwise there's 24hrs businesses like gyms, groceries, public transportation, etc. I would say its only doable in the fall, spring and summers though.
Absolutely! That and just the amount of people all 24hrs of the day. The agony of parking was worth my time living rent free in NYC!
How long have you been doing in Van? Life or leave an alternative that should say.
I’ve been in my van since January 2020
@@JoshyByNature That is awesome, my friend. I've been in my Van since. Oh I should say alternative living since 4 years or no. About 2020 same as you, my last appointment was 1350 a month and he went up on the rent to 1500. That was the last straw I said I'm a pain. No land no top of money and ever again, I've got afford it to have already won't do but why would I then you're burning yourself out? Working hard to pay for a place just to sleep. Cause that's basically what apartments are places to sleep. No, I'm not gonna pay you that date I told I said k*** m* a**So I built up my Van got out my aim was arisen to leave at my Van full-time, but I found a base. A small base where I only pay currently right now, in 24 I only pay 400 a month is the basement studio I got a bathroom a kitchen and wash my clothes for free and I use it to store my stuff while I do live at my Grandpa time, I love it the best of both worlds for cheap. That's all something to live in my friend. That's how you do it. I'm sure like you. I could afford to pay rent and you can too. But why should we that's my point?
Get rid of the fridge and get an automatic fridge when those to call small ones, it doesn't run much a simple small one is only in knee get rid of that big French you you have if that's what you have and I've to ban dollars tend to try to build there. Vans, as if it's a house which is your house on wheels but it is made no mistake, it is not a house. It is your home on wheels so you don't need to buy a big fridge like you would if in a house or an apartment and no magic liquid fridge will do.
I try to not eat out and spend too much money and better to cook own food. Been in my van for years now and it’s been going just fine having a fridge.
Here in Astoria and LIC Queens we have a lot of van an RV living.
Gonna have to check it out over there when I swing back through! Thank you!
Your biggest mistake is staying in manhattan, go to Brooklyn, it’s safe , nice and more options.
You should have first gone to van alley and talked to the van life guys there.
Yep I went to Brooklyn for a little bit! For sure more of a struggle being in Manhattan but also I felt for my first time ever what a way to do it.. just in the thick of it. Did go to van alley but it was all full both times! 😢 Appreciate you watching!
Well, New York City is a liberal city. Anyway, it's all about money and control in the masses. That's why I'm glad I don't live in New York City. I've slept there a couple times and I really go to Edgewater which is across the pond. From you guys, Jersey is the best place. Plenty of parking New York is crazy. What's all about the money? And they will tell you Victor very quickly as well. And that's your home can be told and you'll be homeless. So be careful there, my friend.
If you think Jersey is nice go anywhere west from here and be amazed at how much better everything is the further west you go. 💯
@@JoshyByNature Ridicule, that's probably right as well. Because the nose the more noise you are, the more terrible it iso I do agree with you. I absolutely agree with you as well. Any liberal states that are ridiculous and taxful. Well, the conservative states are gon of getting there as well.
@@JoshyByNature I'll tell you one thing though my friend I would like to say. Earlier I'll never live in New York never they text the attacks and people to death in that state like California, you can't even do Van life properly. There's so much horror stories about people doing Van life and living. Alternatively, I live Alibaba alternatively, in Jersey and I have no problem in Jersey. I can park anyway in Jersey. No problem, whatsoever, don't get wrong. You will have your parking problems, but you've got to know where to park. I keep moving everyway I have an own shower. I have everything I meet. I don't join no Jim and pay no fees. So I really save money. Of course I admit I don't do it full-time. I do have a base because I'm not doing this. For adventure purposes, I'm doing it for living cheap living. Alternatively saving money. That's why I do it. I don't give a d*** about adventures. I don't do adventures, it's not my thing. That's why in my channel you'll never talk about you. Never hear me talk about going to this place. In that place, I don't give a d*** about. Adventures, it's all about living cheap living. In alternatively, violent piece of land have a tiny hole and live in comfortable. It's a dense capitalistic mentality of work work and burn yourself out. I'm doing it to it strictly economics with me, my friend. I'm doing strictly economic reasons not to travel. I travel anyway but I don't document that because I don't care about traveling. It's about living cheap and keep much more money in my pocket. That's why I'm dead free. And that's why I live like a king. But I don't pay those high rents or high bills anymore. I did that before those days are dumb. And now I live like a king add to my Van part. I love it cause I'm best of both worlds.
@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 great! Glad you don’t give a dick about adventures but give a dick about living in a van part time to somehow save money!
@TheRoadIsWife Exactly my friend, that's exactly why I do the Van life part-time and have a small little base. It's all about saving money and living like a king well, not a real king, you get the point I don't have no money problems because the way I live. I talk about my channel, you can live alternatively, but you gotta do it right. Because even Van life or alternative living can cost you just as much as paying high rent depending on how you do it. The difference between Van people who travel around a lot. And it's nothing wrong with that if that's what you like, you're not really saving any money but you have more freedom. Could you get to see things the stable guy like myself who do the Dan thing part-time but I said a lot of money which allows me to keep money in my pocket plus I'm cheap as well. I've met I don't have cable TV I don't join Jim's. That's why I told you. I know channel to build a shower on your Van. Get PVC and build a shower. And when you're not using the shower, you can store water in it and keep the water all year long. All day long and you said that you need it. Actually, you can save money. Except I'm going to the gym that you're doing now. My friend quit the gym, after you build your solar shower and you can have a shower in your want a new event, I'm bringing the wife. Just hook it up to your solar shower outside and bring The Wire into your Van close the door and no one's the wiser while you're having a shower in your van, that's what I do. That's how I do it and you save a lot of money. I'm about saving money and put money in my pocket rather than giving away to everybody else. Adventure like I said, it's not my thing. I watch ice to watch a lot of Van channels that do adventure but those channels are boring to me because you don't see me in the beaches, I kind of like your channel because I see you in the city, I like the city I just won't pay the price to live in the city. That's my thing. That's why I love parking on the streets in the city in the Walmart. Not so much Walmart. I don't really like parking in Walmart park. Or not, but in strip malls like shoprite place like that ipod, I love pocketing in places. But to park somewhere in the desert or in the bushes or in Arizona, don't like that terrible, but that's me, I got to talk with his people around and noise, don't bother me people bustling and hustling all around me while I'm watching TV in my Van, I love it. I get to look at her my band and watch people go around their business while I watch TV in my Van and the one's the wiser. Nobody knows I'm in my Van watching t. V. Or eaten food or cooking? Cause my fan to get the smoke out of the Van and people don't even notice you, actually that's one of the good things about moving around as well. Because people don't know tissue only if they stay one place of course, but I love this lifestyle autonomy. Living is the way I do it. I don't call myself a vanduella. I call myself authentic living because I'll be hypocrite to say. I do Van life because technically I kinda don't. I do but I don't. I live more alternatively, then. Van life actually though I live out of my Van Part-time. I just bought my second man and I'm gonna convert that into a better home than the first one I have now and I do have a camper trailer which is parked in the back of my the yard of where my base summertime. I'll travel and go all over the place. Not all of the place for adventure purposes but just to. Don't holiday when I'm not working cause I don't work online. I don't really care for computers, everything I do is analog. I do brick and mortal work and buy that I don't mean working as a builder, my job is breaking motorwork window washer plus I work in a supermarket part-time, I love it. I'm not one for computers. I don't know, I don't care for AI which is why I don't spend money on fancy cameras or fancy motion things for my videos. I use a simple phone for my video. My videos are DIY 110%. Not professionally made and never will be. But I like your videos. My friend keep on rucking a free world hell. Yeah, just keep it real and you'll have my attention.
Thanks for the tips
You’re welcome! If you’re going to New York I hope it helped!
Buddy just showed me a Ryobi 18v fan that he runs all night in his van. Then takes the battery to work for a charge. AMZN or HD. Heater? Dickinson from CA. Propane but silent. Windows are the worst thermal points so cover them come winter.
Thank you! Yea for sure need to find a better fan to go along with roof vent!
Olympian Wave heaters cost half the price and are often used by van dwellers
Just found you and Thanks for this Info... Can you give me an idea of where you parked ? I never find st parking other than with a limit.. Thanks
Thanks for subscribing Tom! I’d say the areas that had living spaces above businesses tend to have street parking available for days other than when street sweepers come. When I went to Brooklyn I found that beside parks tended to have parking.
There’s an rv park in nyc I wonder if they would let you pay to fill your water there?
Oh I’m sure! I never bothered thinking to look for rv park once there since I didn’t figure there would be one haha! Maybe it’s a bit out of the city?
@@JoshyByNature it’s technically in Jersey city but it’s right by a subway stop
This is why I'm glad I don't live in New York. Even doing Van life in New York is expensive, it doesn't make sense to me. The point of doing bad life. Olive and authentically is to cut your bills in half not free but cut them in half. New York is expensive in general. So Van life isn't is a fact. I'm gonna do a video on that. That's my next video. You get me an idea for my next video on my channel. Thank you. New York's expensive as hell. I will never live in New York. Even as A Van dweller.
What's the point of doing van life in the first place do people do it just to live cheap or to keep more of there money to finance buying a house or a business
@benjimentv for me personally it was to live freely and see the country. I have everything I want everywhere I go. I do what I want and experience a lot more new things compared to my life back home just doing and seeing same stuff every day. Plus rent, a years rent can afford you your own home on wheels 🤷🏼♂️ it’s fun.
@@JoshyByNature how do you charge batteries
@@benjimentv solar and alternator
@@JoshyByNature I can agree with that. You absolutely right?
If you were willing to drive East for about an hour, there are many water refill stations at locations like Walmart.
Good to know! Everyone in the city looked at me like I was crazy for asking! Compared to west coast there’s less than nothing for water stations like that
@@JoshyByNature that's because most of them have never known such thing existed on Earth lol. NYC is too different from the rest of the US.
@@starvingrtist8714 100 percent different! 😂 it was cool
Van life in NYC 😊. You are built different.
Hahaha it did take a lot of extra effort than any other place.. worth it! Always wanted to experience NYC!
Great video. Where did you find parking?
Just along a street but very seldomly 😂
8:05 you haven't traveled enough yet to see anything at the subway😂
Haha yea I know I likely just got lucky 😂
@@JoshyByNature I got a few tips for you: from my time in New York avoid the Bronx subway one that is the most hostile, and avoid midtown planet fitness, go to the one at downtown and other bureaus, and you might want to check the private parking lot they are all over across the city they give me peace of mind every time I have to park...
@@TheWalkerCristopherPerez thank you! Yea I went up to the Bronx for a few Yankees games and for sure a different vibe 😂 went around Harlem as well and drove straight back out of there haha. Decided to stick around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Hoping to swing back through there again maybe towards beginning of winter on my way down south. Appreciate it! 👊🏼
NICE
Are your batteries only on solar? All that driving around looking for spots, put that alternator to work🙌🏽
Nope not just on solar I’ve got that alternator putting in that work too! But the problem was that since parking so limited and risky to leave the best spot I could find that I wasn’t driving to charge them like normal. Once it got super low I would just idle my van to charge them a little to make it through the night but I know that’s not ideal for my engine and such. Heading to a job now to go make some money and likely buy some new batteries 🙌🏼. But one day I did put it to work haha, drove around for 7 hours looking for a spot 😂 🤦🏼♂️
@@JoshyByNature that’s wild! 7 hours!😩
@@partlysettledin yea that day was probably my worst day there 😂
@@JoshyByNature Oil & filter every 150 hrs and no more. Ford uses 33 mi as an equivalent to an single idle hour so change on hours and not miles. Best bet, buy the WalMart 20k 5w20 (3.7) if easy available or AMZN if you have a drop off location. Warren Distributors makes most oils out there and the 20k flavor just has more additives that are favorable for like $2 more than the 5k stuff.
were you there for the 4th of july fire works? id like to see that in person one day
YEP!!! Hands down best fireworks show I’ve seen in person! When you go, go early! Stood around for hours in one spot just to have it come show time but my goodness it was worth the wait!!!
You could of buy ice and put it into your fridge so you can get your cold water :)
Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome! Hope it helps!
Keep making vids!
Thanks Carlos! Gonna try! 🙌🏼 thanks for watching!
Hi work in that area and hi park an that same street you an it's not easy to get parking sometime you get lucky
Yea parking is so hard! Once I got a spot I wouldn’t leave it!
I think I might skip new york.
I think you should visit for a little bit at least! It’s the most difficult city I’ve lived in my van at, but also one of the most fun!
Heya
🤌🏼
@@JoshyByNature still in nyc?
@@NYC_VanLife nope was there from May to July 4th. I’m out working on Nantucket Island saving up for a proper east coast send. Haven’t really seen anything other than NY. But was fun to be there for like 6 weeks or so! Hectic!! I’m sure I’ll be back through!
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