Built To Go! A #Vanlife Podcast

We explore the least you need to do #vanlife: a practical way to get started without turning your van into a fully equipped house. We also review the Metolius G-WHIZ, share NomadLife’s City Camping Codes, visit the Cave of the Eternal Flame, and recount getting off an elevator on the wrong floor.
Yes, I even camped in this!
MAIN - Basic Needs for #Vanlife
Basic One Person Tenthttps://amzn.to/486j1Jv
Simple Butane Stovehttps://amzn.to/4eG6hgj
Bulk Butanehttps://amzn.to/4iamcVohttps://amzn.to/4iamcVo
Simple Sleeping Baghttps://amzn.to/4seAuIY
Bulk Hand Warmershttps://amzn.to/4yyUyau
DaranEner 300W Power Stationhttps://amzn.to/4i9ZoVLhttps://amzn.to/4i9ZoVL
TECH TALK
Power Calculatorhttps://quiettechreport.com/portable-power-station-runtime-calculator/
PRODUCT REVIEW
Metolius G-WHIZhttps://amzn.to/4eKEbR7
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
NomadLife City Camping Codeshttps://nomadlife.wiki/City_camping_codes/
A PLACE TO VISIT
Eternal Flame Fallshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Flame_Falls
BONUS: Brandon Hudgeons MusicSong: "Flies" in the closing
https://www.brandonhudgeons.com
 
FCC affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Built to GO may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

This week, we talk counters, not kitchen, review the BougeRV Arch 2.0 200W N-Type flexible solar panel, recommend EveryVoyage, and visit Hawaii—with a link to live lava.
No filters
Sorry, I messed up the episode numbers. This is officially 311!
 
Main Topic: Counters, Not Kitchen
Countertopshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countertop
PRODUCT REVIEW
BougeRV Arch 2.0 200W N-Type flexible solar panelhttps://www.bougerv.com/products/arch-n-type-200w-flexible-solar-panel
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
EveryVoyagehttps://everyvoyage.com/
A PLACE TO VISIT
Hawaiihttps://www.gohawaii.com/
Live Lavahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQ1iv8iZr8
FCC Notice: I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support Built to Go at no additional cost to you.

This week, we interview YouTube sensations Steve & Audra, who live in their Ford Transit full time as they cross the country in search of new adventures. We talk about how they make it work, and the scariest moment they've had as nomads. 
Everyone likes Steve & Audra. You will too, and they'll be at Vanfest Liftoff 2027 where you can meet them for yourself. 
Follow Steve & Audra's adventures on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveAudra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steveandaudra/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steveandaudra
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/steveandaudra

This week, we revisit episode 1 and talk about how things changed and stayed the same. 
Discretion is the better part of valor.
PRODUCT REVIEW
12v Ovenshttps://amzn.to/4diqA35
A PLACE TO VISIT
Lunar Lakehttps://calval.cr.usgs.gov/apps/lunar-lake
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support Built to Go at no additional cost to you.

This week, we look at what it is like to live with an always-available AI wearable, cover safe solar-wire work, and make stops in Aurora, Ontario, and Ruidoso, New Mexico.
A slightly distorted and yet oddly accurate summary of my day.
PRODUCT REVIEW
A simple solutionhttps://amzn.to/4iYZNME
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
Gus Bus Boondockshttps://www.youtube.com/@GusBusBoondocks/videos
A PLACE TO VISIT
Putting Green Grave of Richard “Ruff” Jones, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Ruidoso, New Mexicohttps://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/59508
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support Built to Go at no additional cost to you.

This week, I'll explaing my camper pod project, we'll visit a couple of marsupials, test out a sporty device, and celebrate the return of VanFest!
The Pod - and the late van. :(`
NEWS
VanFest USA Is Back!https://vanfestusa.com/
U.S. Losing Public Landshttps://www.npca.org/articles/11495-selling-off-and-selling-out
A New Kind of Van Life: $180 to Camp for Seven Monthshttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/05/van-life-quartzsite-arizona
This Law Could TRIPLE Solar Priceshttps://youtu.be/lEf5LTBWJvU
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
Historical Marker Databasehttps://www.hmdb.org/
A PLACE TO VISIT
Phillips Park Zoo, Aurora, Illinoishttps://zoo.aurora.il.us/Home
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support Built to Go at no additional cost to you.
 

Things suck, so let’s go camping.  We’ll also look at window seals, review WhatCable.uk, explain USB port colors, and visit Salem Woods in Massachusetts.
See? Woods.
TECH TALK
Window Sealshttps://youtube.com/shorts/rtqVytwF22c?si=P74Prv9hIyhzrc3U
PRODUCT REVIEW
WhatCable.ukhttps://www.whatcable.uk/
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
USB Port Colors Explainedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSN-chBhkrA
A PLACE TO VISIT
Salem Woods, Salem, Massachusettshttps://www.salemwoods.org/
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support Built to Go at no additional cost to you.

You don't want the best. You want the optimal. Simple as possible. Really! We'll also visit East Aurora, NY, visit a community college, wrestle with clips and deal with a bit of road rage. And a new stereo! 
 
Nice unit, all told.
KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid
A Message to Garcia — Elbert Hubbard
PRODUCT REVIEW
Topdisplay Stereo Video
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gkIzq9
Topdisplay: https://www.ustopdisplay.com/products/for-dodge-ram-1500-2500-3500-radio-upgrade?ref=JEFFWAGG Code "BuiltToGo"
RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION
Community Colleges — American Association of Community Colleges
A PLACE TO VISIT
East Aurora, New York
Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, Built to GO may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.