Totally true!

I completely agree with you! Following your dreams is important, and it's okay for them to change over time. I'm also excited to see what the future holds for those who are transitioning from van life. By the way, if you're into outdoor adventures like camping or RV trips, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Cube Series Portable PowerStation. It's an impressive power backup solution with a massive capacity, fast recharging, and versatile sockets. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us!

I totally agree with your comment! Everyone's reasons for quitting or continuing van life are valid, and it's important to follow your dreams and adapt as they change. By the way, if you're into outdoor camping and want a reliable power source, I recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It has a massive capacity, fast recharging, and waterproof technology, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts like us. Keep exploring and enjoying the great outdoors!

Well done. Good luck to you.

Exactly what I’m looking for.

Beware of squatters who may occupy your “home base” while you are away. If it is over a long enough period of time, they can actually attain “squatters’ rights” to continue to stay there. Also, you may need to have the property somewhat maintained per local ordinance. Something to check on.

@@pmurphy12 Not happening, squatters like to live close to town, this property is miles from any town. It's totally fenced in with military style fencing with a double roll of razor wire on top. I have camera's installed everywhere, plus my neighbor is a Deputy Sheriff that will shoot first and ask questions later. The thing is, people in Alabama don't act like that, we respect each others properties. My cousin maintains the property for me while I'm on the road.

Exactly. Said perfectly. Most people did it on a whim and as a “trend” with no plan on the financial portion. I have a remote job and plan on starting van life soon. I know it won’t be forever, so enjoy it while it lasts and move on. Just because it doesn’t work for some doesn’t mean it won’t for others.

#this! Most of these folks are just stationary folks who are on a road trip. This has nothing to do with living a nomadic like which like you said, regular life. One issue I have when I meet these kind of people is that you know eventually, they'll give up because they act like they're on a road trip. I tell folks all the time, I'm not on a road trip. I live life on the road. There's a difference. I have a job, businesses, get mail, medical services, etc. all on the road... normal life stuff.

I live in Portland. Lots of 'van life' here that's not on KZfaq lmao.

​@timforgot KZfaq used to be an awesome place to share and learn valuable information... and it still is... but it seems like Instagram and tiktok have turned these younger generations very superficial and wannabe-narcissistic... It's so bizarre. But I'm glad these people get to abandon typical society for a while to learn about themselves and about the world outside of their hometowns. These people annoy the hell out of me, but I'm sure I annoy the hell out of a lot of people as well. I think we should just try to remain open to receiving and guiding these temporary tramps... and I think they ought to pass down their vehicles when they're done living on the road. May as well pass it onto a new aspiring greenhorn tramp. BTW, I have 2002 Tundra SR5 if anyone wants it. It needs work, but it's a great start. I'm also happy to do or help with the mechanical work as long as you can afford the parts. Toyota parts are insanely expensive and I'm just over it. I prefer older chunkier vehicles with less tech😅 I'm used to rucking it... I'm NOT used to dropping a grand on a OEM remanufactured steering rack... and that was just for the rack... NOT for installation. Speaking of all this... that's one way to avoid "boredom" whilst rubbertramping... just do all your own maintenance and mechanics... and help others when you are graced with the opportunity

Great response. I don't do fun activities every day. I work, go home, shower, eat, sleep ... Now and then I go somewhere fun. I also think people quit van life because their KZfaq channel never took off.

@@timforgot My man, this is funny but not funny if you know what I mean LOLOLOL. I concur though. Plenty of van lifers around that aren't on KZfaq at all.

Me too, before "vanlife" was a thing. I would never want to live in a van/homeless again and am soooooo Thankful for my apartment. #Gratitude

@@melissagoodwin4042- was it that bad? I lowkey wanna try it cuz I’m a pretty adventurous person and i wanna travel to most of the states and see the whole us because it is very large

@@R3MMY I could not sleep in my tiny van due to health reasons, I have constant chills and very cold after last covid last summer. So, I left my apartment in WA and decided to live out of motels to travel, that is how hard the desire to see the USA was. I drove from WA , through OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, Missisippi, Alabama and the entire Florida and guess what? I hated it. I thought I would buy a cheaper home in FL, nope. Being on the West Coast all my life, I have lived in CA, OR and WA the rest of the states did not feel like home to me. I love hiking and West Coast has the most trails. Some states were outright scary like LA. And the hotels were the most stressful part. I stayed mostly in Best Western with some local motels sometimes and it was horrible due to chemicals they use to clean and I cannot stand the smell, musty odors, unsafe areas, noise in hotels. Also Florida had the worst drivers and I was not feeling very safe driving there at night. I also tried sleeping in my van one night with the electrical cord from my motel because motel stunk like insecticide, I guess they had roaches problem, and despite the air in the van being warm, my bed, my walls, my mattress were ice cold and I got very sick. I am back to CA now, looking for a place to buy in Oregon as CA is too expensive, but I am finally feeling safe and in peace and never want to hear about vanlife or travels again, maybe once in a while for a few days but not uprooting myself, getting rid of my belongings and living on the road. I was a fool believing that I would feel free. Far from it, I was scared, depressed, feeling unsafe, vulnarable etc. I went to travel to find inspiration, to reinvent myself and after 3 months on the road I have returned with PTSD from travelling. The political situation, the crime in this country is out of control. I drove through TX El Paso when the truckers were driving to the border to support TX and I was terrified. I lived through CA storm and my hotel lost power and I drove in crazy storm at night to another hotel, and many many more things that made me hate travelling full time. I cannot believe I am feeling this way but I am.

vans are expensive . I've seen lots cheaper than a van

@@R3MMY it's definitely different . It's worse if you live in one within the town or city. It's kinda lonely tbh , unless you are in a group of van lifers

That made me tear up as I was reading it to Nick - thanks for sharing that with us ❤️

I most likely lived more actual life than 90% of us out here, man.

@@cheflifevanlife without a doubt man. You probably lived three more lifetimes than others lolhaha

Vaccine damage?

My Dad battled MS. They said I'd be a fatherless child and yet he kept fighting and got to see my wedding, my girls born and raised to teenagers. Keep fighting the good fight and stick around for your kids. Even when my Dad couldn't do the things Dads want to do- teach me to drive, walk me down the aisle, he was alive, present and told me he loved me. That's what is important. Never ever let ALS get you to give up. Just keep loving and living each day, it's a gift. Praying for you and your family. Glad you had adventures young. My Dad got to fly around the world before he was grounded. Treasure memories 🌟

Well said 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

Add the expectations of an audience on KZfaq that for some ties their income to their van. That's an unreliable, dependant life.

Because you are a poser

Hopefully so

So are the other 10% unable afford a sticks and bricks home?

"I know a guy who has been living in his van for fourteen years out of love for the life and not fore economic reasons." Bullshit. You know a guy with a lot of pride that doesn't want his friends and family to pity him.

What was his explanation like? I'm interested. I mostly just want to have a van so I can live in a cheap place with roommates that are noisy and not have to worry about being homeless and to be able to travel locally cheaper without having to get a hotel, etc. Mostly I want to be able to sleep and take naps whenever I want, though.

These are all the signs of poor planning. You should have bought a rig that was large enough for the two of you and the animals. You should have saved and spent enough money to have all of the things you needed to be comfortable. You didn't do any of this and so your plan failed. It's literally like going on a long expedition without the right gear or vessel. This has nothing to do with the lifestyle or if it would have worked for you and everything to do with the fact that you didn't do what was necessary to make it work.

defo not for you luv :)

Van life is for rich people. The reason you struggled was because you don't have the money for it. It all comes down to money, and a lot of these van lifers have money, something that they don't say it in their KZfaq channels.

Been doing it for 3 years and don’t plan to quit anytime soon

honestly i only find the idea of cramming as many things a possible into a van interesting, otherwise the people who do these things do look a bit stressed and un-anchored... Perhaps in the same way a rock band has to tour for months or something. I find the idea of unpacking and packing things over again tedious even in my own house!

I agree. To sum it up though, vanlife just wasn't for them. Nothing wrong with that...Also people love those types of videos. So if you're going to quit and have a youtube channel you're going to make that video. Case and point.

so if we can sum it up: they planned poorly following a trend.

@@EllaNonimato it's this 100%

@@EllaNonimato its a trend but doubt they wanted to do it longterm regardless, they were youtubers. Regular people doing it see it as a lifestyle. They aren't planning on making content, they just living and trying to make it work for as long as they can. I saw another youtuber quit video and they clearly have money and were vlogging in their massive garage. If you have luxury to go back to why stay cramp in a van? If you get money the old fashion way (9-5) makes more sense to stick with it and build up.

Even "Paul in the Philippines old dog new tricks" did. He was planning on moving from city to city in the Philippines, but ended up staying in his $360/month house in Dumaguete, Philippines. Just hoarding away money each month for travels around Asia from his home base.

Historically nomadic behavior became a problem during the Industrial Revolution as the need to corral workers near factories became "necessary" along with the discovery that congested human waste lent itself to sewage control.

@@navmarroaming2292 Did you know only 4% of the buildings in India have a toilet?

@@MyLifeThai371 Yes. There are also serious sewage problems there.

I just want to see sunsets in other countries :)

I live beside a mile long Pacific Beach . It would never occur to me to EVER go down there and look at it again . I put up with hearing it 24/7 365 days a year.

@@rewindlly gotta remember extroverts need to be doing something all the time.They see van life as a temporary thrill more than simple living. Theres a certain peace that makes van life appealing to many. The sunset might lose its appeal but the peace you get doesn't.

This is my plan exactly, how have you been working towards the property? I haven't started vanlife yet but i was looking towards getting something remote so i could work full time and save lots of money. What about you? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated!

@@alkassel2793 The only advice I have is what you probably already know: Keep your expenses as low as possible and save any money left over towards buying that property. The first few months on the road you will have some expenses as you figure out exactly what items and/or services you need to purchase in order to be reasonably comfortable. After that, just live as frugally as possible and save, save, save your money.

Saving money from not paying rent. I found out that house prices are going up faster than I can save! Should have just bought sooner. The previous owner of my house mades 100,000 in a year. I cannot save that much.

@@lorneserpa5888 I can appreciate that. What I have planned isn't really traditional. It will take some time and is something I can afford, but is probably well below many peoples' standard of a "home." I'll be buying rural land in a county where I can build any building under 200 square feet without a permit. I plan to get a shed that size and turn it into an art studio/lounge space, and still sleep in my van. It'll take me 3 or 4 years to save up for the land, then another 1 or 2 years to purchase the shed, and probably another year to fix it up. At the end of 5-7 years I'll have something that meets my needs and is completely paid for. It won't be a 3 bed/2 bath in the 'burbs, but it will be mine.

yeah that would be my exact goal minus the traveling. My van would be a liveable space and allow me to work jobs that I wouldve passed on because the distance. Ideally I would be parked somewhere abandoned, i would go to work with a short commute, get my 8 hrs and head back to wherever is abandoned and chill out for the rest of my day and repeat. Stacking money, saving to buy some land, and build something on said land. Those house kits seem like something I can throw down. Then reduce my work hours or keep grinding. Depending on if I want to stack up more or just take it easy. I should have enough for property tax if I am living a simple life. Gas, phone would be the main bills and food expenses ofcourse. If I am saving 3k a month, do it for a few years I seen what guy managed to accumulate 175k working at fedex.

It's just different things for different people at different times. All reasons are valid.

​@@cheflifevanlifenot all reasons are valid, and these people are ruining it for the rest of us.

my feelings exactly

lol

thats the truth crazy having these 2 people in one van

We travel in a Sprinter 4 months at a time. 2 nights in hotel every 6 weeks gives breathing room to 48 year marriage

I’m bout to start again soon lol

yes. they are click baiting. youtube is not helping nomadic life so there is no money to get them incentivize them to keep on going. They did it the wrong way and think everyone is like them.

Nick and Raychel aren't talking about you.

Totally - we are definitely not going back to that anytime soon

I’ll take some of that van clam Amber.

It won't happen to you if you are able to 1. have a plan for an income source that works 2. spend whatever you have to spend to have all the comforts of a home or better 3. you understand that you're not on a damn road trip. There' nothing hard about this lifestyle at all. I work remotely, I have businesses, I have a ton of hobbies (indoor and outdoor) and I meet the most awesome people and have nomadic friends I meet up with regularly. You can be happy long term out there and there are tons of us who are.

@@CS-uc2oh thanks. I’ve got no excuse on saving since I’m waiting until my daughter is grown to go full time and she’s only 10 now. 😅

That’s a great goal!

Of course! Your video was so well done and loved the commentary feel to it. Best of luck to you guys too as you carry on with your biz xx

I wish everyone were quitting. I hate being a negative social stereotype especially as I’m old and love being a nomad.

great insight!

I have been doing this 30 yes and still do it.

Also I have met so many kind and polite lovely people that are friends to this day. The first year my husband died I went to a nice resort and I helped them sing Christmas carols and the activity center I went to Costco and brought some lovely things for the Christmas dinner the next day we have just had a ball I was given a bunch of roses for my contribution of both song and laughter it was fantastic I decided I didn’t want to stay home when my husband died I had to get out and be with people it’s a memory I will never forget

So true Kathy! A motorhome not a van, with shower, heated grey tanks, electricity, maybe a scooter in the back to explore, camp in proper campsites, go slow, take your time, explore the area and then move on. And when the season's over, go home, take a breather, plan the year ahead. That's why you're doing this 30 years but you'd be hard pressed to find a vanlifer with 30 years of vanlifing.

Thank you for stopping by!

Yes I’m not sure it’s necessarily just a trend, but a life phase for some people. Just like I used to live with roommates for 4 years and absolutely loved that time in my life, but would prefer not to do that again ❤️

interesting!!! ❤️ totally, different strokes for different folks

@MG You need to move to a different state. I know people from Missouri that moved into their garage with a big water tank cystern and rented an out house. They then rented out their main house.

I'm homeless in an old Toyota Sienna minivan in Los Angeles after losing my housing twice during the pandemic and couldn't afford the skyrocketing rents.

Also, for every person quitting there is a new person starting. It's not slowing down and with the cost of housing in Canada and the US there will be more "vanlifers" than ever. Good luck with your bus! 🙂

That’s awesome!! You will absolutely love living in your shuttle bus!!

Yep! We have hundreds of van life friends and we only know two other couples that are on KZfaq. TONS of people within the community are quitting because of the reasons I talked about in this video :)

@@nickandraychel Tons of people YOU KNOW and YOU SEE on KZfaq. You can only speak for those you know. You don’t know everyone who is living in their vehicle, you just don’t.

You are real ones!!! So appreciate you!! ✈️✈️

eeeekkk!!! me too!!!!! ✈️✈️

thank you so much 🫶🏼✨

I was noticing that to. She doesn’t say uhhhh and ummm. She knows how to say things and get her point across

@@n3wt I agree, you're right, not to say that anyone who drops an uhh here and there doesn't know how to get their point across.

this is true!

it's so funny when people comment stuff like this but clearly didn't watch the video - i clearly talked about how van life was too repetitive and comfortable for us, and that we wanted to push our limits and go live out of backpacks & see more of the world again. van life was pretty damn easy!

yes!! let's gooooo!! :)

Thank you! ✈️✨

❤️

The first 6 months is definitely the hardest. After a year, it’s smooth sailing (for the most part) - at least that’s our experience. Enjoy every moment of it!!! xx

@@nickandraychel Thanks guys!

​@@LloydandMandy I'm currently looking into "RV life" here in Canada as well! I'm not even really sure where to begin lol but I'm looking at trailers and learning everything I can!

@@Tess.of.all.trades amazing! We’ll stay tuned because we are learning too and we will share all of our secrets experiences along the way

@@LloydandMandy yes! I just discovered and subscribed to your channel! Love it 😊👍

Haha thank you! I love your input. Appreciate you watching!

Love that

@@nickandraychel WE KNOW YOU LOVE IT TOO! That's why we do it. 😆

Can't wait!!!!

Hey Amy! I'm not sure if you know much about us or our story, but we aren't full-time KZfaqrs. I make about $200-$500 a month from KZfaq.. we work seasonally and very much do van life full-time. We are in a work-save-travel-repeat cycle. Right now, we're working! So we are living full-time in one city and my husband works Monday-Friday 9-5pm in pest control (some weeks overtime) and I work 2 assistant jobs on top of content creation. Van life still offers freedom - because this way, we don't have to pay rent, and we can travel in between seasonal gigs!

@@nickandraychel I didn't know, you just appeared on my feed. That sounds like a good strategy.

I love that. Thanks for sharing your story, and happy 40th anniversary!!

@@nickandraychel :) THX... a blind date, and def my BFF!