Living in an SUV Full-Time as a YouTuber! (A Tour of Her Setup)

May 5, 2020VideosTristan

In this video we meet Linda from the YouTube channel Serene and Simple Life. Linda lives full-time in her 2012 Toyota Highlander and even runs her online business from it. No matter what kind of vehicle you’re interested in living on or traveling out of, I think you’ll find some great tips from Linda as she walks us through her setup. (Also, this was filmed in January 2020, long before the coronavirus stuff in the US.) (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

I know people are going to ask about her toilet and shower setup, which we didn’t cover in this video. If you’d like to learn more about that aspect of her travels, check out these two videos on her channel: this one and this one.

Here’s a synopsis of Linda’s channel in her own words:

“Serene and Simple Life.. – Knowledge and FUN.. GO SEE DO.. Living life LARGE.. my mantra is ‘New Beginnings.. Off the treadmill.. Into the great unknown.. I have over 250 videos with 30,000+ miles across the USA to 35 states, including 20 National parks, working at 2 seasonal jobs in Utah and Washington , working on the road as a digital nomad, daily life, cooking, my budget, personal story, My top 10 ‘Why’ I’m a nomad, how I sleep.. to name a few! All in the playlists!”

LINDA’S LINKS
* Linda’s channel, Serene and Simple Life
* Linda’s inspirational card company, Say It Display It
* Linda’s Serena and Simple Life RedBubble merch store
* Linda’s blog
* Linda’s Instagram: @sayit_displayit
* Say It Display It on Facebook

STUFF LINDA USES
* Folding adjustable lap table
* Jackery Explorer 240
* 6-drawer cubby for holding clothing
* 12-volt coffee maker
* Steering wheel table/tray
* Jackery Solar Panel
* Anker battery pack
* Battery powered mouse deterrent (string lights)
* GasOne propane/butane stove
* KingCamp chair

OTHER LINKS
* Kamchatka Gear (My online store)
* Gear I use
* SUV RVing the book (Affiliate link)
* Instagram (@SUVRVing)
* SUV RVing Facebook group
* My second YouTube channel (It’s about minimalist fly fishing)

SOLO CAMPING FEARS: Medical Issues & Car Troubles [VIDEO]

May 2, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I talk about a couple of topics that most of us have worried about at some point or another, namely having medical issues and car troubles when out camping alone in remote places. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

LINKS
* CAMPING FEARS VIDEO #1: Car camping in bear country video
* CAMPING FEARS VIDEO #2: Serial killers/crazy people video
* Matt’s Off-Road Recovery channel
* My emergency kit video
* Splint on Amazon
* My car first aid kit video
* Air compressor
* Gaia GPS
* Here WeGo

A Quarantine Camping Adventure Featuring My Wife and Dog [VIDEO]

April 25, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I go on my first camping trip since the start of the major coronavirus outbreaks in the US. (Don’t worry, I stay close to home and interact with zero other people.) I also talk about how the coronavirus affects my travel plans for the upcoming months. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

DATE FILMED: Mid-April 2020

GPS COORDINATES & LINKS
* Hike trailhead: 42.7606, -112.3968
* Hike endpoint/viewpoint: 42.7654, -112.3785
* Campsite: 42.7261, -112.2957
* Quesadilla recipe – I used half a packet of taco seasoning and no garlic or onions.
* Bendy phone clamp thing

Song: City Rain City Sleep by The Eastern Plain

Overnight in a Remote Desert Oasis!

April 18, 2020VideosTristan

In this video, a couple of YouTubers head out for an overnight backpacking adventure in a surprisingly lush but rugged and remote desert mountain range. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

DATE FILMED: January 2020

► Check out Joe’s channel, Homesteadonomics

GPS COORDINATES, etc.
* Arizona Trail Passage 18 starting (northern) trailhead: 33.4220, -111.1733
* Stone wall campsite: 33.3559, -111.1330
* Arizona Trail Passage 18 ending (southern) trailhead: 33.2727, -111.1769
* Campsite at the end of the video: 33.3598, -111.2083

Fantastic “No-Build” Minivan Camper Tour! (Dodge Grand Caravan) [VIDEO]

April 14, 2020VideosTristan

In this video we meet Jo Ann and take a look at her “no-build” 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. “No-build” means that you basically just buy pieces and stick them in your vehicle. No need to actually build anything with wood, nails, screws, etc. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

Jo Ann on showering: “For showering, while boondocking, I just use one of those pump sprayers, that I have entered the link for below, or I use wipes, and I also have a collapsible tub that I can use to just add water to and wash with a wash cloth and soap. Of course for the urban camping, I have a Planet Fitness membership.”

Jo Ann on toilets: “My toilet folds up and fits right in the wicker basket, and it can also be used as a stool or footrest. I keep plastic bags (https://amzn.to/2XuCmku) and kitty litter along with packets of Eco Gel (https://amzn.to/3a0kgcJ) that is supposed to help with smells. I mostly use a pee bottle, because most of my camping so far has been urban, as I said, and so for the big jobs I have been fortunate to be close to facilities. However I am prepared if the need should arise.”

Jo Ann on her bed: “I cut [the mattress] to fit the bed. It is about 39 inches wide and my bed is only 24 inches wide: I was just given a trifold 1 inch yoga mat that fits my bed perfectly, so I can now use that under my foam mattress for a little more support. Another thing I did since the tour, is I shortened the legs of my bed about 2 1/2 inches, to give myself a little more room to sit up straighter on the bed. The bins still fit perfectly under it for storage.”

THINGS IN THE VIDEO
* Home Depot shelving (bed frame)
* Foam mattress
* Bench with drawers
* Jackery Explorer 240 power station
* Adjustable floor chair
* Rechargeable fan
* Brown plastic drawers

THINGS NOT IN THE VIDEO (BUT THAT JO ANN USES)
* Portable toilet
* Pump sprayer (used as a shower)
* 1-burner butane stove
* Jackery 60-Watt portable solar panel
* Pop-up privacy tent

SOLO CAMPING FEARS: Serial Killers, Meth Heads, Crazy People, etc. [VIDEO]

April 11, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I answer your solo camping questions by talking about my experiences with crazy people on the road and how you can be more comfortable when camping alone. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

VIDEO LINKS
* Car camping in bear country video
* Curtains/window covering video 1
* Easy curtains/window covering video 2
* Boondocking Tips: What Makes a Good Campsite?
* How to Find Free Campsites (for Vanlife, Car Camping, RVing, etc.)
* Dispersed Camping on Public Lands Explained! (Finding Free & Cheap Campsites)

Exploring a Jurassic Park-Like Canyon with Another YouTuber! [VIDEO]

April 4, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I meet up with a famous YouTuber to go an adventure deep in the remote Sierra Ancha mountains! The terrain and scenery was straight from Jurassic Park. (Click here if you can’t see the video above.)

Be sure to check out Joe’s channel, Homesteadonomics, here!

DATE FILMED: January 2020

GPS COORDINATES, etc.
* Trailhead: 33.8235, -110.8600
* Info about the ruins we were trying to get to
* Devils Chasm Ruins location: 33.8139, -110.8768
* Campsite location: 33.6813, -110.8586

The Least Crowded National Park I’ve Ever Been To! [VIDEO]

March 28, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I head into what I consider the forgotten national park of Arizona. It turns out to be the least crowded national park I’ve ever visited! (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

DATE FILMED: January 2020

GPS COORDINATES, etc.
* Blue Mesa Trail trailhead: 34.939452, -109.756261
* Newspaper Rock: 34.961878, -109.798918
* Puerco Pueblo trailhead: 34.975889, -109.793943
* Route 66 1932 Studebaker: 35.051156, -109.805293
* Painted Desert viewpoints: 35.081167, -109.801608 (There are more to the south.)
* Crystal Forest trailhead: 34.863768, -109.791916
* Long Logs/Agate House parking trailhead: 34.814691, -109.861779
* Agate House: 34.805104, -109.861598
* Campsite: 35.1783, -111.4100

Touring an Amazingly Spacious Small Pop-Up Truck Camper! [VIDEO]

March 24, 2020VideosTristan

In this video we take a thorough look at Bill and Maureen’s 2014 Toyota Tacoma long bed with Four Wheel Campers’s Fleet model pop-up camper in the back. I love how surprisingly spacious the camper is. It felt much larger inside than it looked on the outside. You can also tell that everything is well-built and of high quality. This thing was built to last. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

I didn’t film Bill saying how much the camper cost (he told me off-camera), but If you Google “Four Wheel Camper cost,” the first result shows a 2020 Four Wheel Fleet MSRP being $19,395. That’s similar to the number that Bill told me.

LINKS
* Four Wheel Campers
* BFG KO2 Tires

Remote Adventures in the Four Corners Region! [VIDEO]

March 21, 2020VideosTristan

In this video I visit a Colorado folk art oddity, make snow angels at the literal Four Corners, and spend time exploring what has to be one of the most remote units in the US national park system. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

DATE FILMED: January 2020

GPS COORDINATES & LINKS
* Frost Blocker
* Quack quack quack signs: 37.352943, -108.572656 (I think they were were around here)
* Muffler art: 37.413629, -108.577053
* Four Corners Monument: 36.998982, -109.045184
* White House Trail trailhead: 36.130490, -109.477586
* White House Ruin: 36.133843, -109.470547
* Junction Overlook (Junction Ruin and First Ruin): 36.137932, -109.493377
* Tsegi Overlook (Not sure of the name of that ruin): 36.138958, -109.512205
* Face Rock Overlook: 36.104529, -109.367612
* Spider Rock Overlook: 36.105709, -109.355414
* Mummy Cave Overlook: 36.228674, -109.361412
* Antelope House Overlook: 36.158225, -109.440465
* Campsite in Cottonwood Campground: 36.149385, -109.539584
* Massacre Cave Overlook: 36.236737, -109.359717

MUSIC
* Song 1: Wandering Nomad by Cody Francis
* Song 2: We’re Gonna Be Okay by Cody Francis