10 things you NEED to live in your car...

0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Power Stations
3:06 - Windows
5:15 - Storage
7:32 - Cleaning
8:41 - Lighting
11:20 - Climate Control
14:09 - Electrical
15:55 - Emergency
17:03 - Fridge/Cooler
19:01 - Apps
19:54 - Outro

[RavRoving]

Jackery Power Bank

Togo Power Bank

Solar Power Bank


WeatherTech Window Covers

Car Window Screens

Vehicle Ceiling Net

Roof Top Cargo Box

Hitch Cargo Carrier

Head Rest Trash Can

Rechareable Handheld Vacuum

Wire String Lights

Recharable Flashlight

Headlamp

Plug in Light Bar

Bug Zapper Lantern

Front Light Bar

Rear Light Bar


USB Fan

Plug in Fan


500W Heater

12V Fridge

Igloo Cooler

Cigarette Port Splitter

Power Inverter

Power Strip

Jump Pack

[Demancer]

I have to say, I never realized how common it is for people to live in their cars until I started doing it myself.
I never noticed it before because people were good at being stealth.
Now that I sleep on public lots and pay attention to my surroundings, I see invisible people everywhere 😆

[noseefood]

I lived in my car for four months while transitioning and top 4 must have are 1. Gym membership 2. Plenty of data plan 3. Window tint 4. Mailing address

[iamfaithfullyhis]

Thank you, living full-time has opened our eyes to how many people live out of the cars! Rents are insanely high!

[kenc]

You should get a cb radio to get traffic alerts. And maybe handheld police scanner for emergency alerts to. I have some of the stuff you recommended. Ive driven semi truck for 17 years. We can relate to you from being on the road alot. Dont forget little 12 volt air compressor . You probably got first aid kit. Tools, duct tape, extra coolant, oil, washer fluid. Most truckers stock up on all fluids and fuses .

[stevec]

Congratulations on getting straight to the point-😮-a YoutTube video rarity. A suggestion for a sleeping platform: 3 or 4 heavy duty 27 gallon totes as the platform with a cot mattress on top which makes the best use of available space.
Keep your vehicle as stealthy as possible with it not looking like a truck on the Beverly Hillbillies. My goal for my van is for it to look like a soccer mom van. But too much stuff hanging off your vehicle is not a good look.

[rrz]

Man i have been watching all kinds of videos to prepare to sleep in my car. My plan is to be rent free by September 2024, its just too much i can save over 25k a year 🥲 I have a midsize SUV and to my advantage i dont even have to pay gym membership to shower, I work in a big 24/7 facility with gym and big shower installations and assigned lockers (extra storage) and big fridges where i place my meal prep for the week. Plan is to be debt free by summer 2025 and save/invest for and early retirement along with 401k.

[bikeradam]

I've been living "van life" for over 8 years now.
A way to sleep comfortably and a pea bottle is the minimal i can have and stay sane.

[kriskabin]

15yr nomad list for newbies:

1. A super reliable vehicle--> Toyota or Honda. And don't be afraid to remove some seats to gain living space!👍

2. Replace the car's starter battery with a deep cycle AGM quality battery; especially for serious off roaders! (Yes, they're pricey, but they can last for 10yrs if taken care of properly.) Buy a Noco battery jumper.

3. Mini 12volt air compressor with extention cable. Tire plug kit.

4. Tool bag-->Spare fuses. Duct & electrical tape. Hammer. Pliers. Silky saw. Wrenches. Wire. Zipties. Jute string or paracord. Super glue. Bic lighter. Mora Black knife. Leatherman multi tool, the "Wave" is good. Estwing small hatchet.

5. Soft-sided bags for storage. Not space hogging plastic drawers. Bags can be stuffed into the tight crevasses of a small vehicle. Pillow cases work well. Earth Pak h2o proof bags are👍 for dry food storage, cheap thin-walled coolers are better (rodent proof)!

6. Anker battery pack(s). (I hardly use my Jackery, just my little $35 Anker has been enough for my minimal power needs, & my folding 30-40 watt solar panels.) Luci &/or Lumin AID solar lights.👌 **Be a minimalist, don't have a lot of electronic gadgets! *LESS IS MORE!

7. Bear &/or wasp spray & a pocket-sized mace/pepper spray. Just having it will make you feel more secure, which is a comfort to most ppl who live on wheels. The panic alarm on your key phob is another varmint deterrent. LED powerful flashlight too; it's good for blinding ppl, among other things. A dog, even a tiny one with good ears can be a great alarm system & road buddy.

8. Knobby pickup truck floor mats. These are the poor man's "recovery boards" if you get stuck, just shove them in front of ur tires. * These are a duel-use item. Have as many things as possible that serve for more than just one function.

9. Spray bottle, paper towels & bandanas. Don't have a sink or wash basin in your rig, it wastes space & water! Eat right out of your cook pot & immediately spray it with h20 & vinegar, then wipe when done. * Backpacker's gear for cookware. Titanium fork, spoon & pot. A regular 8" pan for cooking eggs. MSR dromedary bags for h2o storage, 10 liter bags will hold 2gal of h2o from the vending machines.👌👍 (These bags save a lot of space in a small camping rig; they're pricey, but worth it. $60 for the large 10L canvas bags.)

10. Mini chuck box "kitchen" for cooking inside ur vehicle. Buy or build one to securely hold small fuel bottles for cooking. I use the 1lb propane bottles with a backpacker's stove & adapter. * Have a way to safely cook in your rig, because cooking outside does NOT work for full-time vehicle dwellers. I made my chuck box from an owl's nesting box that I picked up at a feed store. It's made out of thin plywood & measures only 10x12x10 inches. It's worked great for yrs in my suv motor lodge.

Happy Trails!

[RockyMtnGobblers]

Good video, an important item I always have in my backpack and in my car to keep me warm is a $3 emergency blanket.
They're flimsy they make a lot of noise, but they can keep you very warm if tucked slightly under your sleeping bag and around you. They do cause some condensation but not enough to get you wet, I used one at 8200 ft in October in a tent. I had to unzip my sleeping bag I got so warm and before I used it I was freezing I couldn't sleep.

[Flash]

Would add a hidden gps somewhere in the vehicle, a hidden safe, a small 12v
electric pad or something, a small carry bag with cell phone battery and cable, water filter, small rain cover, a snack, small first aid kit to carry with you. Of course you have your cell phone, gps app with you. A darker bed cover for a bit more stealth. Good luck and thanks for the information

[coreyclarke]

I would suggest you get a battery powered carbon monoxide detector. Also a heated blanket will drastically cut down on your heating power usage. Remember - unless you have a dog, you only need to heat yourself, not the entire vehicle.

[simpleme]

You don't understand how this is needed. I'v been looking for something like this. I'm thinking about doing van life. Please keep these coming.

[billjones]

Thanks I am one social security check away from car living!Its going to happen just not sure when great tips!good news I am in California so it’s kinda normal now.

[mjz]

Excellent ideas and advice. I don't live in my car but practically do cause have two jobs. Sometimes even nap or change between jobs out of my car when I don't have time to go home. These ideas will come in handy. Thanks for sharing

[samwheelock]

Thanks for posting. I'm a touring musician who travels in a minivan with gear for weeks at a time. Your thinking, experience, and thus your vid is direct and suggests how to live in an automobile while having comfort. It was refreshing that you got straight to the point without a lengthy introduction.

[JohngleNYM-skhu]

Nice moves with the storage, especially.

I went 500 days of Canadian winter-twice-in a chevy HHR with a tip for your electrical. Instead of LED lighting all the time, have an old school 100W .light bulb and a cast Iron frying pan. Not as efficient as LED but with your air circulation, thr light bulb in the fry pan will keep you warm for nothing, practically, with the up side of having a warm fry pan in the coffee for breakfast. The cast iron protects the bulb nicely.

[AlaunaRoby]

Bro how have I not thought of getting a portable vacuum 🤯 awesome video 👏🏻

[offthebeatengrid]

Suggestion: get a USB AA & AAA battery charger, then load it with EverReady rechargeable batts and stop buying batts for your lights, etc.
Also, you can take your smaller batt back up into the library with you when you use the computer, and you can get a free charge on it. There are other spots to do this, as well

[use-ThatIsWhatIamTalkingAbout]

Dang son...you covered all the bases. You managed to pack three years of my vanlife experience into one well organized video. 👍👍👍
One suggestion for the screen (roll of screen from Home Depot and small round magnets from Amazon to attach the cut screen to the frame of the windows).