This video is the reason I can now proudly say I am the owner of a Ford transit connect and currently converting it solo after years of dreaming but not believing it was possible. Just wanted to say THANKYOU for proving it’s more than possible, it’s beautiful! So grateful for your videos❤

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

Congratulations! That is so exciting! We are so happy for you! You have to keep us updated on your progress, we would love to hear all about your build and travels 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you. Best of luck!

The shoe pockets are definitely a game changer.

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

You are right! They may not be the prettiest addition but they added valuable storage that we absolutely needed. Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!

To pee or not to pee, It's on a need to know and got to go basis and all you need to know is I've got to go.

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

This should be the van life motto 😂 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

@mysurlytrucker7510

9 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather ha ha have a nice day or nyt .

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

You too :) @@mysurlytrucker7510

@rickwaisanen

7 ай бұрын

As a 62 year old man I have been going to laundry mats and sometimes wherever I keep the 1 gal jugs for wiper fluid they never leak and in many too much coffee days I am not littering or attracting attention on side of the road or whatever place I can stop

I have a 2012 Transit Connect with 312K miles on it. Be sure to change the transmission fluid somewhere that actually drops the pan and cleans it out (including any debris on the magnet). I have had the engine and transmission mounts changed to remedy a problem with vibration. From what I understand from talking with people having these in commercial service, they won't go over 400k without some sort of major repair.

Outstanding! As a 6'4 person who was wondering if this van was going to be workable, this was just what I was looking for 🙌

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it. Best of luck in your van search!

my wife and I have been wanting a camper van for a while but haven't seen a super spacious van in our price range, seeing someone able to convert something smaller has given us a lot of ideas, thanks !

Nice looking van. I also knock on wood that my Transit Connect hasn't had transmission issues.

Love the updated van tour. I have watched all your vlogs, and seeing your home after the 49/50 state adventure shows how organization and practicality makes van life possible on a small budget.

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We learned the hard way that organization is a must! The first time we went out, we had way too much stuff everywhere lol Ever since then, we have tried our best to only bring what we need and make sure it has a specific place in the van 😊 Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!

Another nice Sunday. Have fun 🙂

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊 We really appreciate it and you!

That bed set- up is extremely tight!

This was the most interesting video! You guys complement each other so well. I have never seen a micro camper with so much installed and so logically! Keep doing what you do.

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching, it means a lot to us!

For such a small van, you guys have done an amazing job. 😊exact organization is not only necessary but I also noticed the touches of decor that make a cool statement. The wooden border on the rail of the bed 👍🏽, nice detail. I love your build for you.🥰🥰🥰

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

You are too kind! We really love our van and are glad you do too 🥰 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!

I'm a Buffalo transplant living in New Jersey and I just loved following your traveling adventures! Seeing that little 716 Buffalo travel everywhere with you just warms my heart.❤ I'm looking forward to what your new adventures will be!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Small world! That's awesome! We even have a little Buffalo 716 sign in our van 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it and you!

I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to set up my FTC. I'm completely clueless, so your videos are a big help!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

That is so exciting! Best of luck in your van build! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it 😊

@melissadavis1873

2 ай бұрын

Me too!

Great Vlog... Happy and safe travelling to you both...🚐👏👏☘

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and well wishes, we really appreciate it and you watching 😊

Looks like I will be starting my journey next month-September 😎🙏❣️🤗

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We are so excited for you! Best of luck in your travels! You are going to have an amazing time 😊

You guys continue to bring me joy!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Ditto 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it and you!

This is awesome, super inspiring!

One of the better vids on van builds.

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!

I loved your minivan and the way you organized it. You both did excellent work and a great video!

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it 😊

Such a beautiful & complete build! I also love that your road shower is mounted across the width rather than the length! That really opens up the roof some! Amazed that a 6’5” man travelled comfortably here!! Congrats on your adventures! Thanks for sharing!!

@mikeandheather

4 ай бұрын

You are too kind! Thank you so much for for watching. We really do appreciate your words of encouragement and you watching, it means a lot to us!

Thanks for another excellent video. I travel in a 2010 transit connect and cross the country frequently with a 3 year old female English Bulldog.

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

Too cute! It sounds like you have an amazing travel companion 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Looking at this type of van right now, retired (old 😉) looking to live my best life 🎉 So glad i found you two! Thank you so much! Happy trails! 🦋

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

That is so exciting! We were actually inspired by a retired person traveling in a Ford Transit Connect which is one of the reasons we purchased our van! There is no age limit on van life 😊 Best of luck in your van search and travels!

@Goghvangoghandme

7 ай бұрын

I looked at this size, but decided this old lady needs to stand up inside so I went with a hightop van

Congratulations. I love the simplicity & how organized u both are❤

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching 😀

Your build is most practical. I'm a newbie here. Love the tour

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

I have these hanging convex mirrors from amazon on mine and I hate how gaudy they look. One of the mirrors actually broke off and I had to gorilla glue epoxy it back on so idk how long that'll last. I had no idea Britain had the good mirrors! Thanks for showing those, that's at the top of my wishlist now lol

Great awning

love the tour, so much inspiration!

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build 😊

Great video! You guys have done an awesome job. It’s really going to help me figure out my own build. Thank you!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build!

This is fantastic. Best micro camper ever!

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

Wow, you are too kind! Thank you so much, we really do appreciate it and you watching!

Very informative yet very succinct...love it!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Nice job guys! Got some great ideas. Thanks❤

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build!

Love your sink...I have grappled with this.

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

It isn't the fanciest sink but it gets the job done haha Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck with your build.

As always, your commentaries are so good! I enjoy them immensely and can totally relate with my 2013 Transit Connect! Hope you are intending to continue your traveling!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your travels as well 😊 #teamtransitconnect

This gives me tons of ideas for a build out I want to do.

@mikeandheather

2 ай бұрын

That is so exciting, best of luck in your van build! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😊

Just found your channel love the van, great layout you have everything you need & doesn’t look cluttered, would love to do this one day ❤

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! We really do appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your van search 😉

What a great van tour you made! It is such a wonderful rig. What you tell about your campervan I can relate to with an Opel Combo (I think in the US it is a Vauxhall). It is a little bit smaller, but I travel by myself. This video showed again how organised you are, I learned a lot from that! Greetings from the Netherlands!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching ALL THE WAY FROM THE NETHERLANDS! That is too cool! We googled an Opel Combo and you are right! It is very similar to the Ford Transit Connect, especially the newer models. It looks like a great little van 😊 Best of luck in your travels!

@HettyHartpreneur

9 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather Thanks! You too, on to your 50th!!! 💪🏼

You can use the side of the van as a screen for a projector 😊

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Great idea, that would be so fun! Thank you so much for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Your van is the first I have seen with a safe. Something I thought is a necessary for full time travel.

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

The safe is great for peace of mind for sure! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!

Great video! Looking forward to the measuring session. I think I’ve suggested before you should get it drawn up. It’s a great design! I’ve started pointing people in the uk looking for van build ideas to your videos. Take care as always

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Yes you did 😊 Thank you so much for the suggestion/idea, we really appreciate it and your support! It means a lot to us!

Really well done video. First time I've seen a solar electrical set up with six volt batteries. Interesting. I'll have to watch more of your videos.

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

We are really fortunate to have two electricians in the family that set it up for us 😊 Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!

Great job and very efficient!

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Great job !

@mikeandheather

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Very nice for a Small van!💓💖 Love it😍

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We love it too 🥰 Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

Hi Mike & Heather I stumbled across your channel today. I love the Micro camper its awesome. I travel the UK and love Micro Van Life Thanks for Sharing. How brilliant you created a back to the beginning playlist I guess thats my next click. I have a diesel heater in mine too cold in the UK to do winter without. --------> Goes to watch the beginning.

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

We are so happy you have found our channel 😊 Fair warning, the earlier you go back in our videos, the more cringey and dodgy the camera work is haha But in all seriousness, your support really does mean a lot to us! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it and you! We would love to travel the UK one day, happy travels!

I like the side mirrors. I’m looking at doing the same. Happy travels.

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the well wishes, we really appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your van build 😊

Thanks!

Love your content!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it 😊

This is way too cool

hey I have the same van this has gave me loads of ideas thanks guys !

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

That's awesome! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it. Best of luck in your van build and safe travels!

Wow, what a great video , and a great fit out of the Transit connection , Thank you for a very informative video i would love to do something like that ,if only i had the knowledge Greetings from Ireland 😊

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND?! Too cool! We really do appreciate it and you 😊 Don't let the lack of knowledge stop you from trying if you are interested in building out a van! We had 0% experience/knowledge which is very evident if you watch back our van build videos! Fair warning those videos are a bit cringy but they may give you some confidence after seeing how little we knew 😂

Crazy to see how far you guys have grown I remember when you hit 1k subs

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Right?! Some days it feels like we just bought the van but when we look back on all we did, it feels like it has been more than 2 years! Time flies when you are having fun 😊 Thank you so much for watching, especially those super cringy early vlogs 😂

Hi Mike at Heather 👋🏽 This is my first video watching your micro camper setup .. your setup is wonderful 👏🏽👏🏽 I will be watching more of your videos .. Take care and be safe 👍🏾

@mikeandheather

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!

Great Video - Thanks!

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Never heard of transmission problems. It’s a solid van

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

You are right, it is a very solid van! Thank you for watching, we really do appreciate it!

good job guys

@mikeandheather

Ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!

Love the wheels

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!

Smart with the big cushions to hide things in, I'll follow suit

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

It really does help with storage! Thank you for watching, we appreciate it :)

Mary Poppins Van, love it

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Love that you described it that way 😊 Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!

It’s a great van! 😊

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching!

Very nice ❣

@mikeandheather

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! We really appreciate the kind words and you watching 😊

Thank you so much for the van tour! My husband, who is 6’3”, has been leery of van life. Once again, I got to show him he was wrong! 😉 Would love to know the dimensions of the bed when it’s in “sleep mode” and how you added the extender for Mike. We love watching your videos and appreciate you taking us along on your adventures!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Let him know that ours is probably one of the smallest vans for van life so it only gets better/more room from there lol The bed is about the size of a twin XL mattress. (3ft x 7 ft) We purchased a twin XL mattress from Target and cut it into the cushions we needed. It is on the small size for sure but definitely doable :) Shameless plug- here is a link to our bed build video that goes in a lot more depth: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mHmupc6teajRmag.html Hope that helps! Thank you for watching!

@greeneyesandfreckles

9 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather Thank you so much for the information. I’ll definitely show him the video and let him know that it can be done, even by someone taller! 😂 Thank you again!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

@@greeneyesandfreckles Good luck! 😆

@davidstorm555

6 ай бұрын

I’m 5’8” and it’s hard at times but I’ve done the van life 3 years now

Hi, love the video, just wondered what make the detachable cooking utensils were? The one with the single handle and the different attachments in a case. Thanks

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Sorry we can't be more help with the utensils, we bought the set second hand from a garage sale and it doesn't have any branding to look up the company that sells them. Best of luck finding a utensil set that works for you 😊

Thank you I really have less worries but more mindfully inserts and usable important things to consider when planning this out. Bc in real life for some of us cannot pay 50 million bucks for a luxury home on wheels and afford food, gas, insurance, maintenance, doctor visits, and whatever else comes with that. My plate is filled already with an autistic son.

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

You are so right! We originally looked into converting a larger van but quickly learned they were out of our budget. But, where there is a will there is a way 😊 We have even seen people travel extensively out of small cars like a Prius! Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it and you! Best of luck in your van search!

woohoo it's Mike and Heather. Why am I always 😮 when y'all say Mike is 6'5, I'm aware but always shocked. Love the build. You guys managed to include everything in this small space. Also love the two extra "table" spaces at the backdoors. Can't wait for your next video. 💕

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We quickly learned we brought too much stuff on our first road trip. Every time we have gone out since, we leave more stuff behind haha Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!

That is a nice van 😁

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!

Oh forgot to ask would you be adding extra lights to the roof it looks like there's space in the front of the roof rack. I know showing up at camp after dark is well dark. 😁

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

You are right, there is a little bit of space still! Thank you for the suggestion, that is a great idea 😊 We really appreciate it!

First video I've watched of yalls, and loved it! Subscribed :) I didn't read through all the comments, but where do you guys store food? And do you ever use a cooler? We car camp right now in an Outback & Forester and we've been going back & forth between the transit connect & pro master. Thank you for sharing!

@mikeandheather

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching! We stored our food in the yellow cabinet and sometimes under the bed if we needed extra space. We used our little refrigerator often but never felt the need to have an additional cooler. You can't really go wrong with either vans! Both the Transit Connect and Pro Master are great choices. In another video we talk a lot about the pros and cons to the Transit Connect: kzread.info/dash/bejne/enWEudB9nLyYhZs.html Hopefully that helps in your decision making 😀 Best of luck in your van search!

@explored.and.conquered2017

2 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather Thank you! We'll watch it tonight!

One of the things are the mirrors. I'm so glad my Connect hast these mirrors as standard. If one do not have it, buy it.

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We much prefer these mirror too! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

You both did a great job on the van's fitout. I love your little airfryer its so cute and perfect size. I am putting together a itinerary for our road trip next month. Did you see any strange things in your travels?

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

The air fryer is one of our absolute favorite things we have in our van! We don't know how we traveled without it for so long at the beginning lol We hope you have an amazing time on your road trip, that is so exciting! What do you mean by strange? Like Big Foot strange? Or, sketchy people strange? lol

@MICHELLE-gu2qc

9 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheatherThank you for your wishes. anything. Bigfoot strange mostly. The first stop we are staying at is a Yowie hot spot ( Australian Bigfoot). So hopefully we will get some good footage 🤣. Might be a idea for a video strange things and bloopers

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

@@MICHELLE-gu2qc Sadly we did not see anything that cool on our travels, but not for lack of trying! Especially in California in the Redwoods, that is where Big Foot supposedly lives lol I (Heather) really wanted to drive the Big Foot highway, it is a road in California that has the most sightings in the country! I also wanted to drive the extraterrestrial highway in Nevada to search for aliens lol But both were way out of the way- still on the bucket list for sure though! haha You will have to keep us updated if you spot anything! We love urban legends! If you are successful finding the Yowie, we may have to add that to the bucket list when we eventually make it to Australia 🤣

I just really love your van set up. I think it was well thought over and constructed really nice. You guys did an amazing job. Do you have a cost total on that? I understand if you don't want to share that.

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! We love our van too 😊 We purchased the van for $6,700. We sold one of our cars to pay for it and used the van as a commuter car until we found remote work. We put an additional $5,000 into the build/supplies. We built it out during the pandemic when costs were high, especially the wood so you could probably do it for less now. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!

@beesavvy6798

8 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather❤

Love your layout. Searched comments but can't find how you did the orange/white design on your cabinet. It really pulls things together.

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! The orange/white design is actually peel and stick wallpaper that we purchased from Amazon. It looks like the wallpaper isn't available on Amazon anymore but it is on etsy. Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out: www.etsy.com/listing/927743702/golden-wallpaper-navajo-by-kimsa-gold?gpla=1&gao=1& Hope that helps! Thanks again for watching 😊

Hi Heather & Mike-congrats on all 50 states! I have followed from the beginning!!! Can you tell me where to get the bug thingys that pull over the front windows to keep bugs out and also what you use on the side front and other windows to keep people from seeing light in the van when its dark out. Or send me which video has links to these items! Thansk so much! I am borrowing my 90 yr old dad's transit connect for camping through September!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

That is so exciting! You are going to have an amazing time! You will have to let us know how your trip goes, we would love to hear all about it! Sorry, we do not have mosquito net recommendations for the front windows! That was one thing we never purchased- definitely something that would come in handy though. Not sure if you have gone down the KZread rabbit hole like we did when we were first researching how to travel out of a Ford Transit Connect, but there is another channel we watched a lot of before our first trip and I (Heather) know that she uses the type of mosquito nets you are talking about! (Because I almost bought them after I saw her use them lol) The channel name is Lady Bugout. She owns and travels out of a Ford Transit Connect too. I'm not sure which video specifically she mentions them in, but her channel may be worth checking out if you are interested in seeing how they would work with our type of van 😊 Honestly, we didn't purchase them for more of a safety thing. We never left our doors or windows unlocked when we were sleeping unless staying in an established campground. But we could have definitely used them when we were just hanging out in the van and wanted a little bit more ventilation. We used a car windshield sunshade to cover both our front windshield and the side windows like this one here: amzn.to/47FiJb1 We bought 2, one for the front and another to cut up to fit in the side windows. We first used wrapping paper to make the template of the side windows and then cut the windshield sunshade to match. If you do this, make sure you cut just a little bit bigger than your wrapping paper template so you can shove/stick them in each spot. If they fit perfectly they will not stay up, we learned that the hard way lol Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching! It really means a lot to us 🥰 We wish you all the best in your van life journey!

@user-vu1ud2fc8m

9 ай бұрын

Thanks Heather I will check lady buyouts recommendations!! She has good tips and definitely lives in her van! Luckily I just camp in my dads and need windows open at night due to my dog. Dad can’t put a maxair fan in as it won’t fit in his garage. I will make side windows silver thingys like you suggested! My dad had a front window one which keeps the heat out really well. We’re heading to camp at Rincon Campground just for one night tonight so we can’t wait! Hurricane Hilary brought rain and wind but it wasn’t as bad as expected here. Our 5.5 earthquake though got our attention!

Amazing woohoo ❤

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!

Glad i found you guys just bought a 2010 with a transmission rebuilt with 200000km debating of building it out. Did you do a video about building the bed and where to get the mattress from.

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

We are glad you found us too 😊 Congratulations on your purchase, that is so exciting! We did document our bed build a little bit, we will include the link to the video down below for you to check out. It was an early vlog and the bed build itself was a lot of trial and error but hopefully you find the process/video helpful still haha Here you go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/i2x-0sF8qL2wf5M.htmlsi=pYrTCNN5nW2jGUDm&t=1098 We purchased the mattress from Target. It is a Twin mattress that we cut up with an electric kitchen knife. Then we purchased fabric from Walmart to sew around the cushions. Here is the link to the mattress in case you are interested in checking it out: www.target.com/p/6-gel-memory-foam-mattress-with-microban-antimicrobial-fabric-cover-room-essentials/-/A-82021635?preselect=81644471#lnk=sametab Hope that helps! Best of luck in your van build!

Great video!! I’m in Dawson Creek, Bc. Mile zero for your Alaska trip😊

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

You have a beautiful home 😊 Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!

Beautiful young people 👍🇨🇦

@mikeandheather

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!

I would love more info in the mirrors that you got!!! I fear getting into accidents using the mirrors that are provided with my van!!!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Before purchasing our van, we never drove anything without rear windows so we totally understand where you are coming from, we had the same fear! Which is why when people started commenting that they had different mirrors on their Ford Transit Connects in the UK, we looked into seeing how to purchase them. We ended up buying the two mirrors off of eBay from someone selling them in Great Britain! We also made a video that shows us installing them, here is the link in case you are wanting to see the whole process of us installing the mirrors: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hoJ42LeRgbKXfJM.html Hope this helps! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

Thank you, for your update room tour. Now tested by travelling in 49 states. I have now TWO small Powerstations from Bluetti. (EB3A) I got it with huge discount. The first with 33 % Discount. The second with 60 % Discount, this month. (Both new.) The only little problem: It runs not so long by AC power. But in the US it will run longer, because 110 Volt AC only. I think, the marketplace for Powerstations becomes bigger. So old modells with huge discount ? By Transit connect automatic drive: Take care of your temperature at your gear box. A burnout costs $ 5.500,- Greetings from sw Germany (middle europe) Now Autumn, but not so cold as expected.

@mikeandheather

7 ай бұрын

You are right! There is a large market for Power Stations and some great deals to be found out there 😊 Wow, $5,500 is a lot of money, that is almost as much as we paid for our entire van! Thank you for the advise on taking care of our gear box, we really appreciate it. We are sad to hear that you had to repair yours. Thank you so much for watching all the way from Germany! We hope you have a beautiful Autumn season 🍂🍁

@sunnymas2656

7 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather An US Vanlifer got his automatic gear box broken = $ 5.500 With a Transit connect. So he mounted a temperature sensor at his new gearbox. And his display for the driver to see the amount of temperature. I am European, and most drive stick shift. me too Because the cars are cheaper. And his gear box is more reliable. Or the model is made only by stick shift. My car costs only $ 600,- icl. dirt and garbage. But no rust ! And some issues to fix.

@sunnymas2656

7 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather We have now a mild autumn. Not so cold and less rain. But all christmas cookies, cakes etc. in the shops now. Halloween is also here, but not so much as in the US. And less, as in the last years. I have my winter tyres ready. Bought all cheaper in the summer. And half price, because minor miles used. But to find cheap used rims needed five months.

Nice build! Do you know the exterior height from ground to roof including the rack and accessories?

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! We really appreciate it and you watching! Yes, we do know the exterior height, it is 7 ft from the ground up including the roof rack and accessories 😊 Shameless plug- if you are interested in more dimensions we actually made an entire video with every dimension in our van, including the exterior height. Here is the link: kzread.info/dash/bejne/rG2jl9adlcXVp7g.htmlsi=xdDIiuyjHE0XaD4R Hope that helps!

Thanks for the video. I’m looking into something similar but curious how these are insured since cargo vans are categorized as commercial vehicles. Were you able to insure it as a personal vehicle rather than commercial?

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

You are right! In New York State we had to register the van as a commercial vehicle because it did not have back windows which was the criteria. But, through Geico, we were able to insure the van as a personal vehicle since we were not using it for business purposes. (We called and talked to an agent who was helpful in making sure it was insured properly. They said that a lot of pick-up trucks also have to be registered as commercial due to the size but that doesn't necessarily mean they are commercial vehicles on the insurance side of things.) Not sure which insurance company you have but our suggestion would be to reach out to them to inquire further 😊 Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!

What did you put on the walls to cover the metal? And is it insulated? I love it!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Yes, the walls are insulated, after insulating them we added a masonite board over them to smooth out the wall before covering up everything with carpet. We did show the process a little bit in this video here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/o3qpmsSQj9GvlKw.html Fair warning, this was one of our first videos and is a bit cringy but it shows the insulation and board we are talking about 😂

With your water container, do you take it out to fill or do you have a remote connection to refill it?

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

We usually take the water container out to fill it. Sometimes, when we are lazy and don't want to take the container out, we use a hose or the smaller water jug to fill it. You can kind of see the process here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dKyBy7iIZbe6fsY.html Hope that helps! Thank you for watching 😊

I love your bed set up! I was wondering how it does on dirt roads?

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! We have taken the van down a lot of dirt roads. It doesn't have a lot of clearance but does well if you navigate around some of the larger bumps. Here is an example of us driving down a dirt road: kzread.info/dash/bejne/h6Gcyqdyksq9pMY.htmlsi=lzbjGixrWRHbgPEl&t=562 Hope that helps!

@spiritualawakening7373

3 ай бұрын

@@mikeandheather Thanks yes!

Know what you know now, would you have gotten the AC unit instead of something else (like the awning for example)?

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Absolutely! If we could go back, we would have saved some money in areas and upgraded our fan to an AC unit. We recently made a video on things we would change about our van build and that was one of them 😊 Shameless plug, here is the video if you are interested in checking it out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/f6F6rI-xnLSuhM4.html Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

One of the things I always wonder is how you handle the gap between the cushions. Don’t you tend to fall down into them when sleeping?

@mikeandheather

6 ай бұрын

You are right! We did have some issues with our cushions splitting in the middle when we were sleeping with our original bed build. To solve that issue (or at least improve it) we adjusted how far our bed slides out to make it a tighter fit for the cushions. Now we basically have to shove the cushions down to make them fit in the space but it is a whole lot better as the cushions no longer split apart. If we could go back and redesign our bed, we probably would opt for a more futon style with a single mattress to avoid the issue altogether. Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!

Would you guys recommend your portable speaker? That's one of those things I've been debating on!

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, we would recommend it! Honestly, we have never had another portable speaker to compare it to but we like it and it works well for us. We liked that it was small and waterproof 😊 Here is the link to it if you are interested in reading more on it: amzn.to/48r8W8W Hope that helps!

I have a created a no-build camper with my 2023 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van. How do you guys control for condensation in your video? I see you got a max air fan, how much energy does that pull? Do you run it all night?

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

That is awesome! Honestly, we think having a no-build camper would be even harder to design a layout for so we are incredibly impressed! The short answer is we don't really control the condensation. In the morning we just use a condensation windshield sponge to wipe if off. (Here is the link to the one we use in case you are interested: amzn.to/46leX5i) We also have a small towel for the days it is really bad but normally it isn't. The worst time we have condensation is during the winter time. We do usually have our fan running every night. If it is a cooler night, we may not run the fan but still crack it open to get some fresh air in. When having it run all night, it doesn't take up too much power. It has never drained our solar batteries 😊 Hope that helps! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!

super curious about that upgreaded blindspot mirror, where can I get one?

@mikeandheather

3 ай бұрын

We purchased the mirrors through eBay but this was the shop that was listed as the seller: ultimatestyling.co.uk/car-parts/wing-door-mirrors/ford-transit-connect-2009-2013-van-1800-diesel-front-wheel-drive-108bhp-parts?year=2013 Here is the video of us installing them: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hoJ42LeRgbKXfJM.html Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😀

My husband are looking at a Ford Transit Connect XLT. What is the wheel base of your vehiucle?

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

To be honest, we aren't sure! We assume the van is just the standard wheel base as it doesn't say otherwise- it doesn't say short or long wheel base anywhere... Hope that helps! Sorry we don't have an exact answer for you. Best of luck in your van search & thanks for watching 😊

Hello :)- New to your channel and looking to transition to the van life style and looking for a vehicle that will fit my lifestyle!!!! :)-

Any links for the seat and steering wheel covers? Can't see them anywhere! Thanks :D

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

Here you go! We purchased the seat covers from Walmart: www.walmart.com/ip/Auto-Drive-2-Piece-High-Back-Seat-Covers-Bohemian-Dreams-Polyester-Colorful-Universal-Fit-SC3116/812906844?athbdg=L1600&from=/search We purchased the steering wheel cover from Amazon: amzn.to/3KEuoNM Hope that helps! Thank you for watching 😊

@Jacoooify

9 ай бұрын

amazing thank you! much love @@mikeandheather

Appa!!!!

What are the wheels off of?

Hi I am 66 years old. I have only had the Amish build me a bench bed so far. I have a 2018 with low mileage. It has a hatch door. I recently bought an electric bike. Do you have any idea where I would mount a bike rake? I’m thinking the only type that would work is a swing to the side rack. TY. I describe Van Scoder as my hard shell tent. Stay safe!

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

That is so exciting! The Amish do great work, your bed must be really good quality! We do not have a bike rack on our van so unfortunately we don't have any experience with where to put one on a van. However, we did consider putting a hitch on our van at one point to have a little bit more cargo space. When we were researching, we were also looking at the swing to side rack so we didn't lose the ability to open the back doors. Not sure if you are a solo traveler, but we have also seen people remove the front seat for more storage too! Sorry we couldn't be more help- best of luck in your van build! It sounds like it is going to be the perfect "hard shell tent" once it is finished 😊 Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!

Im just 6 foot. That van is good. I rather get a bigger cargo van. Not planning on going too far anyway. Cheverlet express at least.

@mikeandheather

5 ай бұрын

Best of luck in your van search! We wish you all the best with your van build and travels! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it 😊

You and I have the same length hair. You can get rid of the hair dryer by just idling the car for a short time and using your vents. It's How I've dried my hair many times quickly

@mikeandheather

9 ай бұрын

So smart! I usually let it air dry with the windows down but on cold days that is not an option haha I will have to give that trick a try next time :) Thank you for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!

I really want one of these vans but because of the popularity they are almost unaffordable, at least in my area, wah wah.....😉👍

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

We are sorry to hear that! The reason we went with this van was the exact opposite, it was the only one we could afford! We purchased our van for just over $6,000 and actually sold Heather's car to put the money towards it 😂 Hopefully they will come down in price for you soon. Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your van search 😊

What rims are those?

Just think! if you didn't need to charge multiple batteries and just wanted to experience everything for yourselves! Welcome to my world. Its a simpler world and I went to a real job to earn real money in between my travels. :)

@mikeandheather

8 ай бұрын

That would be the dream! We are currently not traveling, working to save up money for our next adventure too 😊