Built To Go! A #Vanlife Podcast

Another Top 10? Who knows—but here are some tips about #vanlife that might help you make decisons. A House on the Rock (and so much more), Pre-made Camper Kits, a Choose My Own Adventure Idea, Free Templates, and a Velcro Wall.  
COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus  
Top 10 Tips
#vanlife can be easier if you know a few things. Here some of them are.
 
Tales From the Road
What if someone else told you where to go? In a nice way? 
Q&A -Premade Kits? 
Is a premade kit your ticket to #vanlife? Maybe.
Wayfarer Vans is the most well known.
 
Resource Recommendation
Free van build tool? Yes! But the templates are the real value.
Thank you, SportsMobile. 
A Place to Visit: House on the Rock
One of the three "most curious" spots in the US.
You can't prepare for this - just go.
House on the Rock

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/

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 

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. 

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/

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?

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. 

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