There’s something so comforting about being in a nice cozy place while it’s cold and snowy outside

I love the idea of being cooped up in a small space like this for some reason.

My dad passed away a few years ago, but he started a little VW business that we run out of our garage. He would've loved that you're living in a VW van! That's so sweet. Loved the video.

I live in the desert, unable to travel, so in my recliner I get to kick back and enjoy a winter I never see. Beauty and excitement. Cozy and comfortable even in the snow. Loved the video.

Everybody is worried about the cold. The hot is even worse because there are many ways to heat up your van but there is only one thing to keep it cool and that is air con.

Pick up some old WWII Army blankets. These make fantastic insulation for the top. Use magnets to hang them, starting at the top bed. The weight of the blanket will pull the first magnets down so starting at the bed area means less stress on the magnets when only a couple are holding it up. If you find the magnets aren’t strong enough, add more or get stronger ones. Thermal underwear is good for keeping you warm but they become problematic when you start sweating. Though harder to find, silk long underwear keeps you warm but usually (like wool) will maintain your body temperature and not get too hot. Good socks, wool again, is good. Good footwear, like your duck boots are necessary. Gloves and a hat. Avoid getting wet, but if it is unavoidable, wool is your best bet. Unless it is saturated, it will still maintain your body temperature. Keep traction control (even a bag of kitty litter) in the back. A sleeping bag even when you are simply going from point a to point b. We grew up in the Rockies at the Colorado New Mexico border and we kept these things in the vehicle at all times in the winter. Full tank of gas is a must. Running out of gas when you are snowed in in your vehicle can mean you don’t survive until help arrives or you dig yourself out. And don’t jump off road if you don’t know the terrain in the snow. The snow can camouflage deep holes, bumps big enough to high Center, etc. use your head, above all things. Until you understand snow, don’t put yourself in a situation far away from civilization. Great fun can go bad very fast if you don’t have what you need. But I will admit, playing in the snow is great fun.

we lived in our camper for 7yeaes we loved it we traveled an lived in every season from Fla,to az,nc,tx ECT we loved it,the freedom the Gypsy way of life , it was AWESOME, 3peopke our dog an even my cat LOL

I love this guy. Great channel brother

Double thumbs up for the first van Tokyo drift I've ever seen. Haha!

In those conditions I'd be tempted to throw a light plastic sheet over the pop-top to double the insulation by trapping some air

Glad to see you doing regular videos again Chad. You're an OG with Vanlife and I've been watching your videos since you started and glad you're showing the reality and not glamorizing it.

Stumbled across your videos yesterday. I am really enjoying the content and editing. Keep up the great work.

I always want to go camping with my own Van and enjoying the snow, then i warming my hand, cook my food, omygd that was my dream living in cozy litle Van House 💚💚💚

Great job! Love watching the adventures.

We do hot tent camping here in MI it is challenging but during deer hunting season we use small wood stoves, vented properly. Mr Buddy works too but if you run out of propane you need a reliable back up heat source. Northern Michigan has a lot of hardwood so fuel is plentiful! I'm 62, we grew up boondocking in a tent ⛺️ during the winter. We didn't have a van or RV just the tent, snowmobiles, hunting & fishing gear. Love the pop top by the way. The VW Westphalia, or Reconcamper van & the Sportsmobile are all in my radar! Love your channel.

I love the video thank you for making it. Reminds me when I was younger back in Michigan from 95 to 97 I lived in my S-10 Chevy pickup with the topper on it. I was young and single had a job working for Hungry Howie's Pizza just didn't want to pay rent high prices in town so I lived in my truck for 2 years. And those cold Michigan nights I didn't have a mr. Buddy Heater back then I had an old Coleman lantern no I never used it overnight though. What I found helpful was is those silver window shades that you put inside your car to protect you from the sun when you park your car at work it makes a great insulation underneath your bed blankets I found if you lay the silver side up to you it regenerates your body heat underneath your blankets back up to you. So I just wanted to share that with you and your viewers and yes I will be subscribing to the channel I kind of like these little adventures makes me want to go out and get a little van or something like that and have a couple of Ventures again. Thank you for making this video I really appreciate it.

Nicely done Chad! Well documented in real situations which is huge to the online audience. Keep it up man!

Omg that must be awsome sleeping in a van i specially love to take road Trips it’s alot more fun then tacking the aircraft . I once was Camping but I need to sleep in a van once in my life

I love the feeling of hunkering down & battening down the hatches during a storm at home....I couldn’t imagine the thrill of being in a van! I would totally do it. I just wouldn’t be able to do it alone. I’d need a companion. Even just a dog would suffice 😅

I lived in WA for 6 years. I'm from Pennsylvania , it's the most beautiful state to camp and also one of the coldest places during winter.

Me again. 🤣 Yeah its great to see you actually doing the winter camping, vandrrelling cooking and not just takling about it.. Thanks for sharing the real deal😎👍🍺... Safe travels and keep up the great work ✌️😎🍺

Them heaters are brill I've been using one for years with no probs, you got some beautiful country there my man how cool is the van keep it up nomad

STILL watching these videos mans keep em coming, especially with the freezing cold season coming up

Love thoses VW Westfalia s...

1:41 Is no one gonna talk about how crisp these jump cuts were?

Love your quick cuts with the gas fill up. Great vid.

Wow, this is so cool how you actually bring us there into the conditions you're talking about - sweet!

WHEN I LIVED IN BELLINGHAM YEARS AGO, I WAS INTRODUCED TO PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR DENS CENTERED AROUND THE TV. I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT. SO GRATEFUL I MET THEM.

Enjoying your life!!! Thanks for having me along!!!👠🚌👠

Uuuugh those buddy heaters! I had one for a few months winter camping in my little Scamp but they apparently have problems at altitude. And the colder it was, the more difficult it was to light. Lol it’s nickname was “Mr Bummer”. Love your van, dude. Great video!

4:12 living the van life *2* *fast* *2* *FURIOUS* 🤣

Man! Idk why but your video made me so happy! You have such a beautiful van and cool boots. Keep it up! Have a good journey

Two alternators will power all appliances, I've only seen one van build conquer the power issue out of hundreds. Drive two hours and power for days was his claim so awesome.

...and thank you for the Celsius conversion (never understood the bizarre Fahrenheit!)

Your the only van lifer that I’ve seen on KZfaq who actually has videos showing how to survive the cold/winter.

My semi truck is my second home. I cook in it 3-4 times a week and also take momas cooked meals for when no time to cook. Its fun also i get a kick out of watching the other drivers on the same job talking about stopping somewhere after loading because they are starving. 😁 While im nice and relaxed with a full belly.

That’s a tank your driving. Love Baker always a reliable ski area.

That’s one of my favorite types of camping. 👍

I like watching you doing all your chores, while I do my chores, it makes mine alot less boring!

Inspiring man, love the sound of the van when you give it some.

And windshield washer liquid is important to be topped off . Lots of Canadians have wood stoves in their rvs or campers. It's also easier to clean the snow of the roof when the roof is up . Love your channel Chad

Been following you a long long time still here glad to see you are living the van life again

I can feel that coziness

OMG the scenery driving up the mountain was BEAUTIFUL

I see you with the drifting going up a mountain.... I’m subbed an clicked the bell.

Beautiful snowy scenery! I am so glad you’re back. Even with the thousands of van life videos I’ve seen over the last 9 years, you still offer a specific element the most don’t capture. I think it’s the up close and personal aspect. Keep doing things your own way. That’s what will keep you separated from the others. Keep On Trucking!

Ok...your eyes are amazing. Truly, the window to our soul. This is great and I’m so wishing I could live this way. I loathe, deplore, hate hot weather and bunking in it’s my pups in the snow sounds like a dream. Thanks for sharing!

This episode should be called "all the comforts of home". I think I'm gonna hear it in my sleep.

That meal looks good 👍

Chad you can get a silicon spray to water proof your canvas on your poptop from wal-mart Silicone Water-Guard Water Repellent, 13.13 Ounces bout 6 bucks a can i would buy and use bout 4 cans. Take your vanagon to a garadge pop the top let it dry out if its wet and spray it down with the spray let it cure 48 hours and it will be good all winter

Great video. Thanks for taking me along on your adventure.

i really loved watching any of the tiny house and van life someday im gonna build my own tiny house

Nice to see the actual cold weather living. Side note: the close ups remind me of the Blair Witch Project.

Good cozy dinner!

I really love the winter content, esp the cooking. Its so cozy and fun. Good job man.

Great video. Been watching your channel going back a number of years. Thanks for all the inspiration.

holy cow that "Winter" Title is pulling views hardcore! , Keep Pumpin the Winter content my dude!

It's beautiful there.

Thanks for the honesty. Winter camping rules!

Keep the videos coming! I always enjoy your videos, you're much more open about all the practical aspects of van life

America is like a different planet. Try doing this in the UK lol.

Awesome refueling montage 1:41

Beautiful scenery, some solitude, some snow, some grub, some whisky, some tunes. Your livin my dream, I'm almost there!

It sucks watching this from Florida in the summer. We barely get winters down here, I'd go as far as to say just a few weeks of "cold" weather a season. If ever I leave Florida, the lack of proportional weather seasons will be a big factor. I'm fed up with summer weather 3/4 of the year, and watching this really makes me want to live somewhere more balanced. With that said, it looked like a winter paradise in this video! So beautiful

Insulate ALL windows. by any possible means. VELCRO reflectives / bubble wrap, thick cloth, ? whatever ? anything is better than Nothing. ALWAYS LEAVE A FRESH AIR GAP to BREATHE !!! If you SEAL IT too tight you will not have air to breathe / or / air circulation to avoid Damp & mould. What would possibly help, :- Place a TENT / Tent material over the whole van with a small airspace between to block the wind / Draughts. Also to keep the snow off the van . = no direct contact with the wind or snow. The Air pocket will act as a heat / cold barrier. only by minimal degrees, but EVERY degree Helps ! Like a Garage , or " VAN in a big Tent " . Plastic / Polythene sheet, Net with Branches & Leaves & Local Plant Growth as an Outer cover on the coldest side ? or all over ? Any heat lost from the Van will be trapped in the tented space. Outside = Zero Deg. Tent space 1.5 deg Van 18 deg inside . = No ice on the van. ( OK i guessed these Figures but give it a TRY & see if it works ? ) Less Draught, Less Direct contact with Cold air, Plus an Air Gap & Stealth / low visibility. if covered in Branches & local Growing Matter.

I made foam board cut outs and stuck them over windows I had a 72 bus with a camper convert

Good to see your back making REAL van lifer videos. Awesome job man, love your approach to things.

I just love you man, its just the kind of thing i always wanted to do...travel alone in a van like this and live my life in secluded parts of the world...sadly its never going to be possible i know...So thank you brother....it seems i am living my life through your vlogs...wish i could be a part of your journey someday...god bless...keep up the good work

I live in my van east of Nashville. Last night it got down to 17* f... Your right, all you gotta do is prep right and you will be fine.. 🤘🤘

wish i had one of these vans as a daily lol

Entertaining ourselves while self-isolating. This was fun to watch.

It is truly amazing that has inspired me to do something like this in a few years in Wisconsin

Just come to Wisconsin anytime frim November to March or April. You will most definitely get all the snowy cold weather camping you want!!

Keep it basic? My mouth was watering looking at your stir fry!

I just can’t get enough of watching this channel 😍,, CHAD hascso much positive energy in his eyes that kinda attract you to the next video

Got the diesel and been using it last few day it dropped down to 2 last night. It stayed nice and worm in my 27 foot trailer glad I seen your KZfaq and u putting one in.

Looks like you had a nice cozy night in the Van. I have to say that it would be very difficult for me to do that. I could survive staying in the van with 100 degree temps much easier than this. You have my admiration.

I think about my home on wheels every day (2016 Dodge Grand Caravan) when I make my $1200.00 payment on a 1 bedroom Apt in Phoenix Arizona :)

love it when he says: welcome guys with livin' the van life hahaha

Wonderful soundtrack used while climbing up the mountain

Awesome video bro.

Hey Chad, the videos are great! I got a diesel parking heater off ebay for my '85 Westy and it's the best $180 I've spent on the van. It puts out a ton of heat and sips fuel. All combustion gases are vented to the outside so safe to leave on all night, though I still have a smoke detector and CO detector, and it doesn't build up humidity inside the van. I also like that the diesel fuel tank it comes with is easier to top off than the propane ( always feel bad that the attendant has to lay on the ground to fill my propane tank). I'm down in Tacoma, it'd be cool to have a van meet up somewhere around the Puget Sound for some winter camping and beers; seems like there are a lot of van enthusiasts in the area. Keep up the good work brotha.

You're a blessing! You motivated me to start doing this. I haven't done sleeping in a car yet - just touring and I'm really content 💟. Much love from India!

Best videos ever Chad, you were born for this man!

Interesting how different than you are than others that say that they have done every video possible. Many think that they must buy toys to keep people interested. Just need to do the basics, differently.

Chad van living vs virgin house living

"You don't want to let any kind of inclement weather come between you and an adventure" - favorite quote!

A classic. Great info, good meal prep, perfect background music. What's not to love. Thanks Chad. You the best.

You literally just need like 4 layers of blankets and you're fine

Nice set up,i been living in my van for 6 months now.,ford freestar.stuck in nj for abit.cant wait to get on the road an start traveling.is your van 4x4? Ill be getting a little buddy for heat monday. I hope it works keeping me warm 👍

Rule no.1 of living in a van.... holding a camera and looking into it while you're driving. Absolute genius!

I have never seen snow in my life. Respect to u. Live yr life.Enjoy.

Just curious, Im not trying to assume anything, but is van life lonely? It seems like it could be, similarly to truck driving

Dang dude, that’s hard core

I watch your videos all the time & I do solo camping myself I have a 2008 Ram all set up for off-roading. Something you said in this video is something I say all the time. Any time you go off the beat& path fill up you vehicle. Please keep up with the great videos. Thank you Chet

Thanks Chad for another outstanding video!! My next van is a westfalia!!!!

I feel watching a lot of the videos giving advice not u Chad are the ones who don’t live in a van the I the videos I have seen icouples esp in vans where the van has almost nothing in it than a bowl of fruit etc are I believe being disingenuous at best anyone who has lived this way either through choice or need know at the beginning is not easy at all

Man I wish I was there I'm in Australia and its so hot.

Man i loved your appreciation and lovevof the cosy vanlife in the cold. Man thats great serenity right there. Yer i need a bigger vehicle. Suby outback a bit small ha ha but i can sleep in it and not het bogged. Thank keep the vids coming

Thanks for sharing man ! Love your videos keep them coming.