Hey, medically retired cop here. I have been driving a semi truck for a couples yrs now and i learned quick that its a great idea to loop your seatbelt through your door handles (not the handle that opens the door but the part that connected to the door itself) then click them in. No one can open the door even if picked. Be safe out there and good luck to u.

Just a tip. I’ve work outside in Michigan for many,many years. The trick to keeping your feet warm is making sure your socks and or boots are not too tight. Because you will cut the circulation off to your feet, and that’s the quickest way to get your feet cold. Sometimes when wearing 2 pairs of socks the outer one may now be too tight. If you wear just one pair with that full body sleeping bag and those blankets. Or get a bigger pair of socks for the outside layer. I believe you would do much better keeping your feet warm. Cold feet are miserable. I hope you see this and I hope it helps.

Suggestions: 1. Carry a hot water bottle with knitted cover.. and keep it in your sleeping back. 2. Neck warmer... when you get into your sleeping bag/bed.. pull the neck warmer onto your ears and head.. it will keep you much much warmer 3. Snow mittens.. wear e'm to bed. 4. wool highnecks. 5. Thermal fleece tights. 6. wool socks. 7. 1 person tent inside a camper.. smaller space to heat up. 8. Sleeping bag inside another sleeping bag.

according to the hosts at the Ice Hotel I stayed at in Finland, you want NO LAYERS at all when you are inside the sleeping bag. You WANT your body heat to warm the trapped air INSIDE the sleeping bag. The bag will STOP that heat escaping. I was sleeping in my tidy whities and singlet, ON a bed of ice, IN a room literally made of snow. So there's that.

I sleep in an uninsulated aluminum step van most nights. I have access to shore power most of the time but a 1500w heater only does so much, and it's especially cold when the wind is blowing. Last year around Christmas it was around 0 degrees. I bought a tent to put over my bed and it makes a big difference. I switched from a heated blanket to a heated mattress pad. Having the heat source below you is much more comfortable. The mattress pad with a couple of blankets inside a tent is quite bearable.

Quick fix until you get your heat: make the area around you smaller. Use cardboard (corrugated) material. Tape together, multi-layer, or just a big box. Sleep inside the cardboard. Your own body will warm inside, much better than trying to retain heat inside the whole van. Also, as many have said, a 12v blanket will serve you better. Good luck!!!

You did well. I slept in a tent in Korea mid-winter. The stories I could tell you. I'm proud of you rising up to meet the challenge.

Hello Tory, in case you're interested; buy some (brand name) Hot Hands, body warmers with adhesive backing; stick 1 on to your chest, over your heart (but onto a t-shirt, etc, not bare skin); this will help keep you warm for many many hours outdoors, indoors, while sleeping, hiking, etc. You can also buy some hand warmers, put 1 or 2 in bottom of sleeping bag (very warm for feet), and stick one near your head (don't lay on it); you'll be very comfy in cold conditions. Good luck, stay warm/safe; Happy Holidays!

I'm a camper and hiker and I have slept outside in the northeast mountains. One thing I can tell you that will keep you warm is a wool blanket. Invest in a good wool blanket and some either wool or alpaca socks. Since I have experienced the cold, these are tips from personal experience. Good luck with your build and keeping warm

I was cracking up when you said that you’re just going to sleep because your don’t feel cold when you’re asleep. I was thinking, you might not feel hypothermia set in 😂 painless way to go. Glad you survived! Always fun and entertaining.

Hello Tory! I use a big buddy heater on low at night, it works really well! I 'am always warm and cozy when sleeping in winter! On low a 20lbs BBQ tank gives me 80 - 90 hours, It not that expensive! Get a heater! Stay warm!! Also, until your van is built out properly, get a 5-gal bucket with a toilet seat attachment and use bags in the bucket. It works great as a toilet! Very convenient and clean! Happy New Year! Enjoy! Cheers!

As a girl from the south, I think heat is super hard to deal with too. Rolling up in a thousand layers can keep you alive and warm, but when it’s deadly hot, you can only get so naked! You can end up in an oven, and die quickly. So heat and a cooling method are both vital.

I’m feeling cold-panicked just watching! Some tips from my off grid life: Assuming you have a camp stove, I highly recommend the Fashy hot water bottles. I made a cover out of a ruined wool sweater and that keeps the heat all night long. Before I got around to cutting and sewing, I just stuck the water bottle inside and folded the sweater around. Two of them should keep you very toasty. (Bonus, you can use them with cold water when it’s too hot to sleep, too) For layering, go for many *thin* layers, concentrated on the core. Also, haramaki (Japanese belly warmer) really help maintain core warmth and you can still use your arms.

This is my fifth winter in Ontario Canada. The coldest I've had to endure without heat is -35C or -31F. I always hate it once it dips below -10C or 14F. I use a Mr Buddy, but I don't use it when sleeping...so I use blankets. I have two fleece blankets over a quilted heavy cotton blanket over a cotton covered duvet from Ikea. I have used canvas clamps to keep the sandwiched layers together. I sleep over a cotton sleeping bag that is opened up (when together it is rated at -35 C by itself). It is my emergency back up to also climb into if it's going to be less than -35. The heavy sandwiched blanket is amazingly comfortable. Safety first ...no flame while sleeping...don't sleep and idle. We only have one life and fire and carbon monoxide can take you quickly.

I heard that extremely cold temperatures play havoc with batteries and power stations. You'd probably need to wrap it up in another electric blanket to keep warm longer, but it'd deplete that much faster. Wrapping it up in a thermal blanket might help too if it puts off enough heat too. "In the cold, lithium-ion cells can get damaged, lose their charge-holding ability, and basically leave you frustrated."

Quilted shipping blankets work pretty well for temporary insulation. I just poked some small holes in the edges, and cable tied them to the walls and roof. Had some extras left over amd just threw a couple layers on the floor. Made a pretty big difference in my 350HD Transit, especially for a quick and temporary fix.

Camping or sleeping in the cold, try this. Use only one layer of wool socks. If your feet sweat your feet will get cold, from the sweat. Sweat is the number one thing not to do when camping or sleeping out in the cold, even if sleeping in a van with no heat. I like your videos, as they are informative on things. Most important, be safe out there and have fun. Edit: As for using the bathroom, you might want to keep a bucket in the van, put an empty bag in it if you have to go, that way you can tie it off when done and you're still inside your van, if you have no toilet in your van. That's what I use when I go camping and it works really well. In the morning, just throw it away with your regular trash and no muss no fuss.

My wife and I will spend a couple weeks in our van traveling. We have a table, a Coleman propane stove and a propane tank. I went to the Goodwill and bought a pot and filled the pot up with rocks. On the very lowest setting the van will be warm at night without all the condensation of a buddy heater. Very low cost.

REVISIONS: I also want to add something else I do is keep my phone, laptop and electronics in my blankets at night so that they don't get too cold at night (which is not healthy for them and my laptop and headphones lose charge when cold easily). But keeping them in my blankets keeps them warm at night. (After writing this I am realizing it may be a fire hazard... but also... idk I'm still going to do it... haha)

Home Depot: cheap packet of foam insulation panels and bungie cords, magnets that hold things, summer windshield heat/sun reflectors turned inward surrounding your bed area. Bucket with padded edge and plastic bag for emergency toilet use. For padding, get foam pipe insulation. Sleep in a double breasted shirt with a hand warmer in each pocket. Warms your chest and circulates warm blood to your toes. Toss one or two in the bed with you. Wear wool and synthetic blends, avoid cotton in the cold. Military surplus for thermals and wool blankets.

Diesel heater = $ 130.00 ,also they make 12 volt electric blankets. Bend is one of the coldest places I've ever spent the night in my car.

Thank you for the Blockbuster trip down memory lane! I also love the t-shirt. I hope your heating system gets installed smoothly and quickly!

A foil blanket on top of all the layers of clothing really works well to lock in heat if you have no electricity. Bty, you are so brave to camp in such cold weather!! I get cold in even 70 degree weather being from such a hot climate! Bty your Blockbuster T shirt looks great on you matching your beautiful blue eyes!!

The powerbank will lose power quicker because of the cold. Also a proper sleeping bag will be better than the one you have now. With a proper sleeping bag your legs/ arms etc will keep each other warm. At the moment your body is trying to keep separate parts warm, rather than one whole body. Think of it this way a mitten keeps your hand / fingers warmer than gloves, a proper sleeping is the mitten, you currently have a glove. 🙂

Insulate your power bank. Get it off the cold floor. Coldness helps drain batteries and power banks

I was at that same Walmart, summer of '22. Before I could even attempt to park over-night, the security guard drove by to tell me, "No over night parking." He suggested that I park over at the bar and maybe peeps will just think I had too much to drink and passed out in my truck. Guess what? It worked! 😅

Hello Tory, you are an inspiration of inner self-strength, you dug deep and heard your inner self offer you a suggestion, and your insight was right on point. I admire how you keep your safety first and find a solution that works for you on so many levels, stay strong Tory, God Bless, you have a Gift.

I live in Bend. The issue is less about many van lifers, but more of a homeless problem. You are relatively sheltered, but a lot of the homeless here are not and they cause a lot of social inconveniences to the general public. They enjoy beautiful summers here buy create a real social burden, then they want to be bailed out during the winter.

Hey Tory, I'm late to the party. just saw this video and would like to offer some advice. I lived in Alaska for 4 years and did winter camping without heat. Layering is great , but it can't be restrictive, separating your legs, arms, fingers etc. from the rest of your body takes away from your heat. A good Arctic rated sleeping bag. Fully undress and put your clothes inside the bag with you, use moisture barrier between the bag and the floor and add layers to the outside if needed. I have used this technique in temperatures of -87F and slept fine with warm and cozy toes. Your body will heat the air inside the bag and keep your temperature the same from nose to toes. Have fun and be safe out there!

Thanks for the video. Most van life vids are about all the build out features and how it easy it makes things. It's good to see the other side.

USB Throw sold on Ebay,Amazon.Campers on KZfaq use...and just charge a battery bank during the day and use during the night!I use a layered approach...2 blankets and a 20 degree Coleman sleeping bag on top!Almost sweating'

How about a luggable Loo or something temporary so it’s with you at all times? They have biodegradable bags, and they have biodegradable pellets.

Hi Tori, can't wait to see how the floor heat works out!

The lights on reveal of the cat blanket 😂 made me lol. Love the t shirt! Gotta try the 12v car blankets they don't draw as much wattage.

Used thoese sleeping bag thermal sheets for 3 yrs great when layered. Hikers will have a hjgh fat snack just before bed like chocolates or nuts so the slow burn helps keep you warm. Safe travels!!

look for videos on SAND HEATERS. It is a pretty simple concept. As an example you get a 5 gal bucket, line it with tin foil and fill it about 1/3 to half way with sand. Use a large tin can and fill it with sand and get some copper or aluminum sheets and cut them into strips. Say using the 12x24" sheets from homedepot and cutting them into strips and inserting those strips into the sand in the tin cans. Then using something like a propane camp burner to heat the can and then place the can in the bucket. the bucket will have holes in it that you place pvc pipe fittings into and have an opening in the top that you can place a DC or AC fan in the top to force the heated air out. Pretty simple concept. This would probably be total overkill for your situation but I am sure that this solution can be adapted to your situation.

Hi Tory. To keep your hands and fingers warm I recommend Drasry neoprene gloves that I purchased from Amazon. The gloves’ thumb tip, index tip and finger tip of finger next to index are removable, to unlock your phone with your fingerprint. To keep your feet warm I recommend neoprene socks, they are preferred by ice-fisherman and other winter sportsmen. Stay warm.

You are so determined and brave, this is inspiring to me! Keep it up!

Keep warm Tory, and I definitely need to get me one of those Blockbuster T-Shirts! Have a great week, good to have you back ❤

In terms of motivation, summer heat in Florida is no better. Sweat, soaking wet cloths, everything you touch get wet, varying degrees of body odor, air so thick with humidity it's hard to breath, etc., etc. Try sleeping, when you're so hot, it's miserable. Cold is definitely worse, because hypothermia is a real thing. On the other hand, heat exhaustion and complete discomfort, is a close second. Stay warm! First visit to your channel. 👍

I sleep in a sedan and the way I keep warm is a furry hat with face cover, fuzzy thermal socks, a sleeping bag, and a power bank I use to power my heated blanket. Gets me about 5 hours before it dies.

Well Tory welcome to the West Coast and got to say your a trooper handling the cold like a champ, stay warm keep dry and your head on a swivel be SAFE!

Some good ideas in the comments here. I grew up in the area in a house with no heat and found putting up curtains around my bed ( like making a little blanket fort even) and sleeping with my head covered really helped. I imagine hot water isn’t the easiest to come by but hot water bottles are so nice( maybe get a Trenta of hot water for tea at Starbucks but just use it in a bottle-even warm is better than nothing) I’d also sleep under pillows with my blankets over them lol. And we would always always have blankets over the windows/doors.

wool blankets are your friend three work well one folded in half put it on the bed between you and the mattress the second fold in half and put it inside between your sleeping bag and the liner and the third fold in half and wrap it over the top of your feet

I do a lot of static hunting in cold temperatures. My recommendations for sleeping in freezing temps: Wool Army blanket Darn Tough Wool socks Sub-temperature insulated boots, like Baffin Boot blankets (Arctic Shield) Gloves with wool liners Hothands super warmers. Possum wool beanie I'd also wear merino wool base layers (Thin wool layers against your skin. This helps prevent sweating, and the sweat mixing with the cold makes you colder.) Stay away from cotton, and start looking for wool. Cotton soaks up water like a sponge. Wool helps wick it away from your body.

Get off the floor of the van. That was a large Walmart. Those usually have a decent selection of relatively inexpensive cots. Duck taping a survival blanket to the under side of that reflects quite a bit of your body heat back into your sleeping gear. The candle heaters work well, but you again need to be off the floor. Using your stove to heat water for a couple water bottles wrapped in a pair of socks inside your blankets also helps out for a while. PLUS gives you the heat from the stove for a bit as well.

The base is where most of your heat goes as you compress the insulation, a high thermal insulation self inflating mattress on top of a camping mat will help enormously.

Sending all those warm vibes for an electrical system and that heated floor. Stay warm Tory 😃

You’re the coolest Tory. Thank you for this. It’s making me ready to get a van unbuilt out.

A couple of layers of cardboard underneath you covered with a foam rubber pad will help with body heat loss and using a couple of Mylar emergency blankets they do reflect a lot of body heat

I’m from Buffalo….what we do when the power goes out is use a candle in a jar and then get two glasses higher than the jar and place a flower pot over the candle on the glasses on either side….also use a quarter to cover the flower pot hole in the middle.

So for a heated blanket, you can get a 12v blanket for about 20 bucks, and they're on a timer, so they don't run all night. I used one in below zero weather to preheat my bed. combine that with a thick layer of blankets and a memory foam pad under me, and even -30 was doable.

Get yourself a woodstove!! They make small portable woodstoves for tents You can cut a 4-5 inch hole in the side of the van for the pipe and put 2-3 small 1 1/2 inch small holes for air draw across from it about 6 inches up from the floor and 5-6 inches apart. Also build your bed platform up higher with hinges so you can store wood under it, Its also great for cooking. Heating water you can even bake with a cake pan and a clay salad bowl for a cover. If you had a portable toilet you could avoid being so reliant on public washrooms. You can pick up a woodstove for 100-300 or so online. They even make portable fold up ones you can carry on a tote. Also for Added warmth you can line your walls with 2 dollar emergency blankets you can get at the dollar store they will reflect heat and keep you warmer :)

Glad to see you're feeling better than last time we saw you. Agh Blockbuster brings back memories.

Yes ma’am I love me some Block Buster videos .. stay safe and stay warm .. thanks for sharing ❤

My suggestion because it's helped me out during my unfinished Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van build. emergency blankets with a silver and orange lining, put one of those or a couple of those under rubber mats that you get from tractor supply or harbor freight. It really helps keeping the floors from getting super cold. Get that cheap , insulation from Lowe's or home Depot and the bubble insulation and temporarily put it up. It helps a lot. Insulation tape.

Great video on what van life is really like. I used to be a trucker and had a good Webasto heater, but it was prone to breaking down. My single most effective hack was a heavy duty winter sleeping bag from Cabellas, along with wool socks, sweat pants and hoodie. The first thing in the morning was a hot shower, followed by a good breakfast, not cheap neither 😆. All the best for your van adventures 👍

I have to do everything before the winter. Have a lot of blankets/comforters, and BIG pillows. When it is cold. Always have a full tank of gas. Cover your windows. I usually don't cover my windshield. Make it real hot. Wap up then cut it off and go to 😴

The vibes are immaculate with the cat blanket

Slept just a few hours in a freezing van and woke up and still absolutely beautiful

I do a lot of DIY around the house. I completely agree that it’s difficult to get started when it’s too cold. Also when it’s too hot.

Good luck on your adventures stay safe and be well. Wishing you the best!

Living in vehicles in Canada durning winters I can absolutely say so many people underestimate how it feeling living in that environment full time with no breaks sleeping isn’t so much the issue yes we all know sleeping bags blankets and all that obviously But It’s living in that cold and dealing with it durning the days while trying to go about life that not many people fully understand You have done an amazing job showing exactly what it’s like to live in this environment and I greatly appreciate that 🙏🏼😁 Here in Canada we see -40c and -50c for weeks at a time and few people truly understand how painful it really is Batteries die Feet and fingers loose feeling And at times we loose our minds 😆 Or at least it feels like it 😅 Thank you for sharing your experiences !! New subscriber here Keep up the great work 😎🚐💨

Love the movie theater idea !

I'm a diesel mechanic here in las vegas and I gotta job offer in OWEGA NY. I'll be staying in my trailer with tool boxes and I added a roof tent. Hopefully I'll stay warm lol

I used to hang a fleece blanket from the ceiling of my van like a tent that went over my head to create a small air pocket of slightly warmer air. Plus a sleeping bag with liner, extra blankets, and like 8-10 hand warmers

Truly enjoyed the whole ambiance of your video. Like you, I also miss having a Blockbuster to go to. Stay warm and safe. Aloha from HAWAII ❤

I can relate lol. I'm trying to winter in my RV this winter in Minnesota. So 🥶🥶

ive used big buddy heaters for years, and have only had a small gap in the window for circulation of clean air. never had a problem whatsoever.

Layering socks can compress them which removes some of their insulator properties. Better to have one pair of socks. Also being in the sleeping bag it might be better to not have any socks because it will heat the air in the sleeping bag.

I was tent camping in 15 degree weather. Is kinda chilly. I made a thing that’s basically a steel rod about a foot above my sleeping bag and then put two moving blankets over the top. Kinda like a fluffy pup tent. It works really well.

Tory, When I go squatching in the Sierras I sleep on a sheepskin that has 5 hides sewn together from Costco, $90. These reflect all your heat right back to you.

So, I'm from South Africa. We don't have harsh winters but we do see Temps as low as -10 c during the night and early morning. I have been thinking of wrapping 1/4" copper pipe around the exhaust and insulating it with exhaust wrap. Then running the pipe through the floor, through an expansion tank and back to the exhaust. This way it heats up water, heats up the floor and if insulated properly, can provide a good amount of preheat for a reasonably warm habitat, even if it's for some of the evening...

A true “Back to the Future” fan! Love the dash ornament!

Sooooo Joshua Tree and other area BLM in SoCal and tons of pretty cheap San Diego County campgrounds available here. Not stealth urban spaces like you enjoy .. but you could stay 14 days at each area and work🤷🏻‍♀️ MUCH warmer❤

Put a small tent up in the van. Cardboard or blanket underneath for insulation from bottom of van. Tent traps heat.

Thank you for the video 🙏🏻

Omg I just ❤ you, so inspirational 🙌

In Oregon,you're going to get lot of moisture in the van anyway,old mechanic+ big motorhome owner,go with the buddy heater.Also,they are a good backup for any onboard furnace system.Everything breaks,usually at 2 AM. Nothing like the instant heat of a Buddy type propane heater.Keep them away from bedding/ curtains/ etc as operating temps exceed 500 degrees. Always keep the 20# white grill tank outside,run a 10-12 hose to heater.The green 1# camping cylinders are fine inside. Also,solar is extremely weak Amperage for any heating system.Plus,good luck if you're not in Arizona or Florida,and even then,sun may be intermittent at best.Electric heaters are the reason for a gasoline or dual fuel generator.Why suffer in the cold, go with dependable high BTU fossil fuels!!

Can’t be better said about Blockbuster. Have the same thoughts too about what the future will bring. Love your vid.m! Be well, stay warm and safe out there! Happy New Year’s!

I was too tired to come comment but you gave me such a great idea on getting the movie monthly pass, that I came to give you a tip back. The heated blanket deal: I am building out my car. I am trying to figure out how to set up my electrical system. I bought an electric blanket and read the instructions. It said don't hook it up to that type of thing (an inverter, maybe?) I'd recommend reading the insert that comes with the product, it should tell you. Thanks so much for the awesome movie theatre hack. There's one in my area and I don't have my electrical system figured out yet, this was a much needed tip for me. Love your van, have a blast.

G'day. Thx for another entertaining video. It's funny because it's 30 degrees Celsius in Sydney Australia at night. Stay warm & safe 😊

I bought a 20 degree Coleman sleeping bag at walnart for like $20. Someone gave me a second one so I can use both at the same time.

ELECTRIC BLANKET: Buy the ones made for DC (Direct Current). The AC blankets suck power like crazy.

Come to Arizona, gets chilly at night but still high 70s during the day, lot less struggle and nice folks in the desert here in Quartzite

Box truck life - I have a ecoflow Delta portable solar charger. I run a heating blanket all night long and into the morning and only use half the power thats with the tv on. When there is no sun out I can charger the eco flow with a power cord to any outlet. i once charged it in a 24 hour Landry mat

❤ GR8 VID ~ LOVED IT ❤ you are too FUNNY .. laughed my ass off .. had to subscribe ❤ I'm 72 yrs old, retired and a seasoned VanLife guy for many many years. Look forward to following your channel ❤

The Mr Buddy really works which you can put some water on a metal coffee cup and moisture back into the atmosphere it don't take much

Get a 12VDC electric blanket. It will plug right into your power station. They're usually around 55 to 60 Watts, which means a 500 watt hour Jackery will run it for close to 10 hours. You might be able to pick one up at a truck stop or I got mine from E-bay. Most A/C electric blankets don't like to be run on an inverter and eventually the controller faults out. As a journeyman electrician since the early 80's, I'm not trying to BS you. Best wishes. Hope that next time, you can stay warm.

The last couple minutes were the absolute highlight of this video…that’s right, the last Blockbuster or as we used to call it, the video store! I knew you had made it through the night, otherwise there wouldn’t have been any video. Here’s to getting that heated floor installed and the heated blanket conundrum solved 🤗

Thanks for the great video. Love the sleeping bag pajamas. Had to spend the night outside the emergency room (in vehicle)when COVID allowed only granny in there with my grandson. Glad I had a regular *winter* sleeping bag in there for the winter, JIC, but what if I needed three? Plus, had to remove it to get out for anything. Chemical toe warmers, foot warmers, hand warmers in hunting dept. Never went to his cold football games without them.

Legit there are cold weather quilts and sleeping bags rated as low as -60° F. Feathered friends makes great cold weather sleeping bags and Enlightened Equipment makes great cold weather quilts.

Oregon is a great place to live 😄 I'm sure once you get your van all fixed up you'll be comfortable about wherever you go . you have a great sense of humor .✌️❤️👍 Bend is cold in the winter and nice and warm in the summer.

Ahh blockbusters great video stay safe and warm

I can’t wait to see how it turns out

I get the cold, that is rough. Turn your water bottle upside down (with a secured lid) and you will still be able to drink it! And, last year I ended up getting a 12v heated blanket and haven't had any issues (plugged into the vehicle or power station).

Holy Hell! A Blockbuster? Next thing you're gonna tell me is you found a Radio Shack.

The Mr buddy is the best thing ever made..we’ve been off grid for a cpl yrs and we always have a use for ours and they never fail

Can't say I'm very interested in Oregon, but it would be cool to go to that last blockbuster lol. Fun. Glad to see you on your adventures again

The bathrooms are locked etc because it’s not “van lifers” it’s people living in their cars because they’re homeless. It’s a huge issue here.