260 How to Kill Your Van

Video games in your van? YES! Here's how. Also, an electric dry box, an easy shower solution, Winter Island: the place to stay for a visit to Salem, MA and Roadside America, the only tourist guide you need. COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus    Video Games in Your Van It's all about power and what you want to do. Clear winners: PC laptops and Nintendo Switch. But want to play the latests games on your favorite console? Doable.  TECH TALK: Electric Dry Box Fight humidity with an enclosed space and a old-fashioned light bulb.    A PLACE TO VISIT: Winter Island, Salem Massachusetts This historic 17th century fort will welcome you and your rig for a visit to the Witch City.  Winter Island Info PRODUCT REVIEW: SmarterFresh Quick Connect Sink Faucet Sprayer Set  This thing is great - it turns almost any sink into a shower you can use indoors or out https://amzn.to/2ShvGmv Q&A - Essential Tools? Which tools should you bring? Quick answer: pick how much space you want to devote to tools, and then take a subset of all the tools you used to build your van.   Resource Recommendation: Roadside America While the website is great, get the app (pay for it!) and you'll never be without someplace interesting to visit. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/

29 Apr 202029min

How a goldfish teaches us what's important about the #vanlife community, can you have a plastic-free van?, review of the Camco Flexible Camper Drain, getting over the fear of wires, a visit to a cool archaeological site, and a story of a van with no driver.  COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus    The Goldfish Metaphor Someone wants advice on how to have a pet goldfish in their van. What's your response? It can teach us a lot about #vanlife and ourselves.   TECH TALK: Fear of Wires I talk though an experiment in wiring designed to get you beyond you fear of electricity and cutting wires.  A PLACE TO VISIT: Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village When in South Dakota, skip the Corn Palace. Go here: Mitchel Prehistoric Indian Village PRODUCT REVIEW: Camco Flexible Camper Drain 37420  This thing is great - I don't know why people use anything else! https://amzn.to/2VOCWHn Q&A - Single Use Plastics? Seanna wants to live without single use plastic. Can this be done in a van? Tales From the Road: What happens when you're in a van going down the highway and no one's driving?

23 Apr 202031min

Sick of hearing about COVID-19? We get it, but it does give us a chance to take a look at ourselves and evaluate our assumptions. We'll talk about bulkheads/partitions, explore one switching solution, and talk about the bizarre Craters of the Moon. Oh, and the joy of tiny inverters! COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus    What can COVID-19 teach us? Why do we choose #vanlife? A disruption can show us many things about ourselves that we didn't know, and reinforce the things we did know.  TECH TALK: Bulkheads Yes, you should strongly consider having a partition between the front and back of your van.  American Van, probably the premiere source for bulkheads.  A PLACE TO VISIT: Craters of the Moon Idaho's World Wonder, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve  PRODUCT REVIEW: Tiny Inverters  Do you really need that massive 2000 watt inverter? Maybe not. A really nice one for only $15 (with coupon): https://amzn.to/3esVZzt Q&A - Which Switches Did You Use? Erica asked, here's the answer: https://amzn.to/3cnof4Y That's not exactly what I have, but it's close.

16 Apr 202028min

Why not cook weird? We explore ways to cook without the normal things, including some without heat! We'll also talk about the two-container system for filter-free fresh water, a review of the Tree Frog Gel Mat no slip surface, invite you visit Iowa 80, and relay a story of getting lost in the Everglades.  COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus  Strange Ways to Cook It's not cheap, but if you want to cook with the sun, this thing is amazing. GoSun Solar Cooker: https://amzn.to/2XmoV6m Cook with your engine? No problem! Hot Pot: https://amzn.to/34jN8eY Cook with chemicals? Kinilaw!  TECH TALK: No Filter Fresh Water  Instead of going to the trouble of installing a water filter, consider the two-tank system.  A PLACE TO VISIT: Iowa 80 The world's largest truck stop! Be sure to visit the museum. https://iowa80truckstop.com/   TALES FROM THE ROAD: Can I sell you some swamp land in Florida? I now know where they store it. PRODUCT REVIEW: Leap Frog No Slip Gel Pad This large sheet of no slip gel will keep your things secure as you drive around. But be careful what it comes in contact with! From Iowa 80 Q&A - Will This Vehicle Work?? Yes! And here's the proof right here: Smart Car Camper

8 Apr 202031min

Mistakes, I've made a few, but then again, not too few to mention. Learn from this! Also, a discussion of propane considerations, a review of Window Socks, a B52 Crash Site, and talk of determination.  COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus  TECH TALK: Do you want propane in your van? Here are some things you might not have considiered. Refillable 1lb bottle: https://amzn.to/39pjh5F   A PLACE TO VISIT: Elephant Mountain B-52 Crash Site Drive through the Maine woods (easy) and explore the widespread wreckage Visit Maine Site Ki-Jo-Mary Checkpoints TALES FROM THE ROAD: There's no room at the Inn or in the van. What to do? We figure it out. PRODUCT REVIEW: Window Socks These are flexible mess fabric socks that fit over your windows and act as sunshades and insect screens. https://amzn.to/2WQ0wpp Q&A - Will This Vehicle Work?? Yes! And here's the proof right here: Smart Car Camper

28 Mars 202030min

Yes, it's the SEX IN A VAN episode you've all been waiting for. Haven't you? Also, some very important COVID-19 resources, a diamond mine you can visit, whether you should install windows or not, and a really strange story.  COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus Sacha has done an amazing job with this!  TECH TALK: Windows aren't that hard to install. Still scared? Chek out Levi Allen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hT4J72yzzw   A PLACE TO VISIT: Diamond Crater State Park The largest (and only) diamond mine in the United States Diamond Crater State Park TALES FROM THE ROAD: So weird. This is the walk that only took 30 minutes.

20 Mars 202033min

Want AC in your van? Don't we all. We discuss why most people just choose to drive north and turn on a fan. We also explain LED lights, extol the virtues of standing mats, explore the Lincoln Highway and find weird tires.  AIR CONDITIONING: There are three things in the way of you having AC in yoru van. We talk about them, and the best possible solutions. Let us know if you have something better! TECH TALK: LED lights are GREAT for vans. Low power, low heat - but they need to be hooked up right, especially if you want to dim them.   PRODUCT REVIEW: Standing mats? Exciting? No, useful YES! Get one.  This mat is great if you like black. Other colors are available in the "similar items." https://amzn.to/38JP2G6 A PLACE TO VISIT: The Lincoln Highway The first coast-to-coast road in the United States, from way back in 1913! Lincoln Highway Association TALES FROM THE ROAD: What to do (?) if your friend needs a shoulder Glow worms!  RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION: Simple Tire for hard to find tires http://simpletire.com

11 Mars 202029min

Welcome! In this episode, we pre-empt our scheduled topic and talk about the current COVID-19 scare. (Wash your hands!) We'll also discuss wire gauges, a cool table, heater woes and the idyllic Smugglers Notch. COVID-19: While the virus is headed our way, there are some interesting issues for those living vanlife. We take a look. TECH TALK: What thickness of wire should you use? A brief overview of why bigger is better, and how not to make the same mistake I did.   PRODUCT REVIEW: A nice, versatile table (that went way up in price for some reason.) https://amzn.to/3cH4p5E A PLACE TO VISIT: Smugglers Notch, Vermont One of the "great drives" of the Northeast with hiking, waterfalls, and a bit of the arctic Smugglers Notch State Park Thermostat Anticipators: A solution to rapidly cycling heaters? A much better explanation than I give in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mldGGxAVIs

5 Mars 202030min