Built To Go! A #Vanlife Podcast
Built to Go is your #vanlife companion for long days on the road, working on your rig, or just relaxing by that perfect spot. Self-build? Living in your vehicle? Stealth Van? Our magazine format has something for every #vanlife interest.
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Episodes
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Top 10? Who knows - but here are some myths about #vanlife that need to go away. A moving highway? Yes, it exists and it's called the "Badger." How do the pros do laundry? Infrequently. And we'll explain the difference between solar charge controllers, tell a story of a storm and recommend Travels with Charley.
COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus
Top 10 Myths
#vanlife is gaining popularity and so are the stereotypes. Don't buy them.
Tales From the Road
What can a storm teach us about perspective?
Q&A - Laundry?
Use the laundromat?
The Scrubba promises to let you do your laundry in a bag. For a price. https://amzn.to/3bQRegx
A mini washing machine. https://amzn.to/3cOJo8v
A fine salad spinner washing machine. https://amzn.to/3e6ehp9
Resource RecommendationPerhaps the very first "#vanlife" book, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.
Tech Talk: Solar Charge Controllers
Will Prowse is the god of solar. Here's is explanation, which is a lot more thorough than mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB6zojol9o0
A Place to Visit: SS Badger
The last coal-fired steamship running the United States today.
https://www.ssbadger.com/
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Can you work while living and traveling in a van? Of course you can! And there are more opportunities than you might imagine. I tell tales from the light and dark sides of Moon, Oklahoma, and spend a lot of time talking about insurance matters you need to consider.
COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus
Working From the Road
You don't need a #vanlife job
You need a job you can do remotely
RV folks have some answers for us
Great place to start: http://www.workamper.com
Divine on the Road's Earning a Remote Income | Van Life Facebook Group.
Tales From the Road
An alien visits Moon, Oklahoma and makes brief contact with the beings living there.
Google Maps: Moon, OK
Q&A - How Do I Get Insurance?
VIN determines if your vehicle is commercial or not
Concentrate on liability insurance
State Farm often comes up as the best
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Minimalism? Yes, but what kind? An exploration... also, we review Curtis Tow Hitches, take a look at drive options for different vans, take a death march through Texas, and invite you to visit Starry Meadows, and maybe see Charon.
COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus
Video Games in Your Van
A lot of #vanlife folks talk about "minimalism." What is it? And do you want it?
Melissa Camara Wilkins discusses Types of Minimalism
TECH TALK: FWD vs. RWD vs. 4WD
There are pros and cons to each of these setups. What will you use your van for? What's your budget? That can help you choose the best option for you.
A PLACE TO VISIT: Starry Meadows
Like astronomy? Visit Colorado (or what to)? Check out the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society and their amazing site, Starry Meadows.
https://csastro.org/
PRODUCT REVIEW: Curtis Tow Hitches
Not planning on towing anything? You might still want a tow hitch for bikes, storage, etc.
You can install it yourself.
Curtis makes a decent product. https://amzn.to/3c6un1L
Q&A - Kittens in a Van while at work?
It's fraught to attempt to have a pet in a vehicle while you're away, but if you have no other choice, here are tips for making the best of an imperfect situation.
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
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/
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
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?
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
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.
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
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 CookIt'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
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
Saturday Mar 28, 2020
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 SocksThese 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