Great idea! Happy travels. Look forward to seeing more of your adventures.

@ADKOverlandNY

22 күн бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! I wish my editing skills were better lol, but it is what it is. I'm making progress on things, but the desire to take off is driving me nuts then I realize I need to take the time to do things what I perceive as "right" so I don't have issues later! Take Care!

I'm female, 66 to be 67 in July. I have been considering van life for a few years now. I've got a truck and a Casita trailer but I'd rather have a van. I have a home too but I'm tired of being tied down by chores etc. We'll see.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Happy Birthday - although I'm a month ahead (mine is June 8th). I love my Jeep and love to ride the trails and such with my son (he has a JK Wrangler like mine) and I'll continue to keep it. The van not only brings back many fond memories of 41+ years ago, but I found my Jeep and a tent might not provide the security from the elements and idiots. My van is newer, and I purchased a bumper-to-bumper maintenance agreement to cover me for 60k additional miles and I also have AAA. We try to do what we can and plan but also be prepared for what may pop up along the way. Also - I'm bored to death and needed a project lol. I hate sitting and doing "nothing" and just find the drive to get out and explore! Thanks so much for watching!!

I'm 59. I want to get into Van Life. I don't have good credit and I am disabled plus I was just discharged from the hospital, Saturday May 25 after having spinal stenosis surgery. Trying to catch up on my KZread videos. I love watching van life videos. Unfortunately, I only survive on a little over $1,000 a month disability and can't afford to purchase a van of any kind. After I fully recover from this surgery I am going to try and rent a U-Haul van and do some stealth camping here in NYC. I saw NY in your videos and your age and decided to watch your video about your van. 67 soon, Fantastic! I will subscribe and vicariously live through you! Good Luck on your journey and I hope to join you through your videos.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Believe it or not I receive the same amount of social security, but I also have some retirement that provides an additional support each month. That amount covers my van payment. When I retired, I bought a class A motorhome - then covid hit and every place I planned to go was closed. As covid eased, the gas prices shot through the roof, and I decided to sell the RV without going anywhere. I was fortunate enough to come across this van with low enough miles to where I feel confident in traveling. Keep positive - it took some time for me to get this and I'm sure with your positive attitude - you'll make something happen for YOU! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

Glad to hear you are home from the hospital. Suggestion: look up camping clubs in your area. See if you find a group that you can go with maybe even assist you. Anyway, do what you can and don’t let handicap stop you. I really admire your courage. Have fun maybe start a KZread channel so we can follow your adventure.

@Prius.Glamping

22 күн бұрын

How about an SUV ? I get the hospitalization I am still healing and dealing with a raging incision infection and also being given an ostomy. Oh joy. I bought the Prius V 2012 had it all set up to go and then boom in the hospital and now just trying to heal enough to be able to actually get on the road. I will go. I have seen even an VW bug turned into a camper it can be done. We have to be creative. I am 74 and am determined to get back out on the road for adventures.

I retired at 63 4 years ago! 43 years an electronics engineer. When you get to your solar system I will have some suggestions as to what to use and safety tips! I'll be watching.. Have fun!!!!

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Happy retirement! I took an early retirement at 62 and I'm still trying to "find my way" sort of to speak. I bought a class A motorhome initially, then covid hit. That RV sat on a friend's property for 2 years. As covid started to ease up, gas prices shot through the roof, and I decided to sell. I bought my Jeep and love going into the back country with it and I used a 100 watt solar panel suitcase to feed a 500 watt solar generator. It worked out well for what I was using and I still have them. Thanks for watching!!

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNYyeah that sound good as long as it does what you need you don’t waist money on fancy

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNY I’m a big fan of the box type solar stations. They are pretty safe

@matthoward1174

21 күн бұрын

@@mjrootz And the new ones are really coming down in price, while going up in capability. Oupes, Pecron, and Bluetti are some good brands to check out. Hobotech has some good reviews of solar stuff on his channel.

@ADKOverlandNY

14 күн бұрын

Ok now I'm going to take you up on your offer and pick your brain on solar lol! I have a 200-watt Renogy solar panel that will feed to a Renogy 50amp MPPT charge controller (with DC to DC charging). The batteries are 2 - 100AH LiTime LifePO4 batteries and I have a 1000-watt Renogy invertor. My plan is to take the positive lead from the solar panel and first run it to a power disconnect switch then to a circuit breaker then to the charge controller (if that sounds correct). I know the invertor comes with cables and the battery manufacturer recommended 2awg to connect the batteries together (I'm running them in parallel). My head is spinning a bit as to all of the wire sizes and what/where to use my circuit breakers. I do have a 2nd power disconnect that I was going to use to cut power to the batteries, but I don't know what size breaker to use. I have ordered positive and ground bus bars as well. That charge controller also will allow my van's alternator to charge the batteries while I'm driving. What size wire do I run and do I just connect it to the positive terminal of my starting battery? Sorry for all of the questions!

You're about my age, & you remember the shagging wagons of the 70's. I went to pickup truck camping. Been doing it since the 80's. You're going to have a lot of fun. Install splash guards to help keep your rig from getting dirty. They work, I know. Drive safe & thanks for sharing the video. 🤠

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

I'll always remember that one sticker "if this van's a rockin' don't come a knockin' lol. Are you a firefighter? I went up through the ranks from 1st LT, to Captain, 3rd Asst Chief and finally 1st Asst Chief before I left. My other KZread channel is entitled: Hot Shots Fire Videos! Thanks for watching!

@fire58372001

11 күн бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNY Yes I was, my pinnacle was I got selected to be a combat FF in sector Sarajevo in the Balkans war for the U.N. Then I went to "The Pile" after 9-11 to help dig people out. After all that the thrill was gone & I became a Merchant Marine. I made 26 trips around the world before I retired from that. Drive safe. 🤠

@ADKOverlandNY

11 күн бұрын

@@fire58372001 Wow - what an exciting life you've lived! I'll never forget the day all of our pagers throughout the county alerted us as I was watching the attacks on our country unfold on tv. We had to contact the county fire coordinator with lists of any specialized equipment we had, and we eagerly awaited word that we were going to NY City to help. We stayed upstate because there was such an outpouring of help from across the country, we were told officials were afraid that many areas were going to be depleted of fire protection & we had no idea if further attacks were coming. Something I will never forget - and - we shouldn't. Thank you for your service!

Im also 66 and have been into vans and vanning for the last 43 years..im in vt and have 2 custom vans..a 92 ford hightop that i stripped out and made into a camper,and a full custom 73 ford van that is a showvan..i still love vans and vanning..

@ADKOverlandNY

25 күн бұрын

Thank you for watching! I should've started this earlier, but I guess now is better than never! My son lives a little bit of a distance from me, but I try to get together with him and we'll do some work together. I like that best! Stay safe out there.

Van looks great. Hope you have a great time with your projects and future camping. I am now a full-time van nomad. After my divorce ten years ago and selling my business and home, I finished raising my four kids and retired at 62 after 40+ years as an ASE Master Automotive Technician and shop owner. At first, I was using my new truck with a 12x6 trailer but got tired of the towing so sold it all and found a 2000 Ford Econoline for $3500 with 195K miles I have rebuilt the van and it only cost me the parts so after repairs and doing the RV conversion I only have about $10K invested. I have everything my home did just less space and now doing all the things I didn't have time for in the past. In Oregon right now but going to Quartzsite, AZ for the winter and the next RTR and tent show. Good luck and have fun.

@ADKOverlandNY

28 күн бұрын

Thanks! That's awesome that you have the knowledge to perform the repairs yourself! My son and I have jeeps and we try and do everything ourselves. It not only saves the labor cost, but there's that sense of satisfaction of doing it yourself - even if it's just an oil change! I thought we were out of the supply chain deadlines, but stuff that I've ordered is just trickling in! My 200-watt solar panel came in as well as my 2 LifePO4 batteries and new roof racks. I can only work on things as my orders arrive. My van is a 3/4 ton and I guess it can tow 10k but I'm really not interested in dealing with something trailing behind me. Who knows - maybe this year I can chase warmer weather and get away from the cold & snow of upstate NY lol. Stay safe!

Good luck, you’re gonna need it…

@ADKOverlandNY

21 күн бұрын

It has been a fun process. I've planned this for a bit and pretty much had a lot of the stuff for my jeep wrangler such as the 100-watt solar suitcase, solar generator, fridge, etc to get me started. It will probably be like my jeep - keep adding and modifying until you either run out of money or decide enough is enough lol. Thanks for watching!

Awesome Van. Cant Wait to See What You Do.. 👍👍

@ADKOverlandNY

23 күн бұрын

Thanks again! Land has been so terribly priced here in upstate NY - more so since Covid. But it's been equally bad for buying vehicles. I've scoured through more auto ads than I have hair on my head and this one just popped up in my search. It really hit everything that I was looking for and I'm surprised at how long things are still taking to ship to me. But, it's all good - stuff is trickling in and I'm doing a little at a time until my son can give a hand! Stay safe!

The dream life for me, too. Godspeed!

@ADKOverlandNY

11 күн бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching! I hope one day the opportunity to fulfill your dream arrives! Take care!

I’m 66 and my wife is 70 ( our dog is eleven) and we’re in Colombia South America in a Promaster. Planning is one thing but doing is what counts. Make sure you do. Best of luck.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! I am so excited to get my build completed; just experiencing a little delay on parts & pieces but I'll get there! Stay safe & enjoy!

Good work brother. Stay safe out on the road.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Thanks very much! I've got the ideas and a little pocket money from the sale of those cabinets yesterday. Can't wait to get started! Thanks for watching!

Let's go!! Love the van and love what you've got planned.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Thank you! I'm very excited to get into it but was slowed by the removal and sale of those metal storage cabinets. They sold yesterday, so now I can move forward! Thanks for watching!

Beautiful van ! Looking forward to seeing how you upfit it.

@ADKOverlandNY

21 күн бұрын

Thanks! Things have changed so much from my first van build 41 years ago lol. We didn't have solar then, but I did use a solid-state battery isolator and had a 2nd battery for the stereo, lights, etc. Luckily my van came equipped with metal cabinets and ladder racks that I was able to sell and use that cash towards my purchases! Thanks for watching!

Just found ur channel. I too have just started planning my van life adventure. Rolling over to 62 on the odometer tomorrow. I'm a ole school van lover myself. Found myself a 83 Chev G20. Had it completely overhauled mechanically. Working on the interior now. Trying to keep everything utilitarian & basic. Also have a homemade utility trailer to carry my extra gear & support.. it takes lots of planning & rethinking space saving hacks. But I'm getting there with a little at a time. Good luck on your build. And I'll follow watching yours. Someday we may cross paths on this journey.

@ADKOverlandNY

21 күн бұрын

Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching. When I ran across the photos of my van build 41 years ago, I remembered how much fun that was. It just so happened that this van never came up on my searches although it had been at a local dealership for a few months. I caught it when they knocked $7200 off the price and were going to wholesale it & with it being 3 years old with 50k miles, I had to look at it. Everything worthwhile takes time. I don't want to rush stuff, but inside I really want to get my butt out on the road lol. Stay safe & who knows - maybe our paths will cross one day!

Beautiful van.

@ADKOverlandNY

3 күн бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching!

I had a 1981 ford van just like yours except mine was red inside and silver and red outside man I miss it

@ADKOverlandNY

8 күн бұрын

I bet your van looked sharp! When I ran across the photos of my old build it brought back many good memories which inspired me to do this build! Take care - thanks for watching!

Amazing Chev van ❤❤

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Thanks! I did a ton of searching and was willing to travel to other parts of the country if I found one that I liked. What surprised me was this had been on a local dealer's lot and advertised for months but it never showed in my internet searches - local or nation-wide. As soon as I saw it, I drove there the next day to check it out and left a deposit before I left. Thanks for watching!!

Seniors need to stop thinking about age, instead exercise and stay active, also eat heathy foods. Walk, ride your bike, go kayaking, jog, play golf, etc. basically stay active. I do sit ups and wall push ups everyday to build strength. It feels good to feel your body tightening up. Dwelling on age is depressing.

@ADKOverlandNY

6 күн бұрын

I agree! I hate sitting around. I kayak, take hikes and try to eat less junk and more healthy foods. Thanks for watching!

Hello, I have the 3500 passenger version of this van with the 6 liter engine. we use it to pull our camper and all of our stuff. I can tell you from experience this is a great van.. it can pull anything. This is also one of the least expensive options if you want real pulling power. I remove all the seats and it has lots of space so I'm sure you will be able to make a great camper. We purchased ours during COVID and we stored enough supplies in the van to do an 11 week trip without the need to go shopping. Suggestion: spend the cash and get the best, heavy duty tires and spare designed for this van and don't use cheap passenger or truck tires. Remember, you get what you pay for.. Have fun and I'm looking foreword to watching your progress!

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

I've been looking it seems like forever when I found this van. The 8 cylinder didn't phase me. I just figured it would have the power and towing capacity should I ever need it. I touched on the covid issue in my other response to you and I was the same way. I have plastic bins broken down into cooking supplies, cleaning supplies, food, etc to make it easier to "grab & go". I agree on the "you get what you pay for". I don't always buy brand names, but I do research things and read reviews before I purchase. For my jeep - I replaced the tires with Goodyear Wrangler Dura Tracs and they ride great and have an aggressive tread for winter & off-road use! Thank you for your offer on the solar install. I don't have any high draw appliances but was going to go with a roof mounted 200-watt panel to start, feeding to an MPPT controller (Renogy) with a DC to DC charger then maybe a 1000 watt invertor and two 100 AH LifePO4 batteries. Thanks again for your suggestions and thanks for watching!!

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNY sounds really good ADK, couple of safety tips for your future solar system: use good quality DC breakers to isolate your solar panel, going to your solar controller and to isolate your battery going to your inverter. This way you can isolate your inverter and your solar panels when you need to work on them. I see a lot of people who don’t do this. The other thing is to, use the heaviest wire you can going from your battery bank to your inverter. You have to keep in mind that 1000 W being drawn from your inverter will draw close to 200 A DC so use it good quality, pure copper wire I would say at least one or two gauge wire. Also keep your length of wire short as possible, especially on the wire that goes from your battery to your inverter. They make some really good flexible solar panels now that are literally bulletproof check out Bouge RV. They have some really nice solar panels up until now flexible solar panels were not a good idea because they, go bad after a few years but they’re better now. Have a great day. Text me if you need anything.

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

@@mjrootz Thank you for the tips. I hate the CCA wire that people think is a good buy, but I try to make sure I'm ordering pure copper. I was trying to decide between a 1k or 2k watt inverter but figured the 1k would be sufficient for my needs. I'm not running an induction cooktop so probably the largest draw is my fridge. I also looked at the flex panels you were talking about because I'd really to hate to drill holes in the roof. Everywhere I looked, I haven't been able to find even a pair of crossbars other than Rhino or such that sell for hundreds. Recently I looked at a 200 watt solid panel from Renogy, but that will require drilling if I can't find crossbars so who knows which way I'll go. I initially steered clear of the flex because of the same reason you mentioned.

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNY hello Adk, BOUGE_RV sells a new technology panel called the SIGS. You can drive over it and I saw one guy shooting through it with a 10mm. It has two ways to mount one being adhesive tape. Which is a good way to mount them. These are the only solar paddles I would even consider, but they are expensive but again you get what you pay for.

@mjrootz

Ай бұрын

@@ADKOverlandNY if you don’t need the higher wattage on an inverter, don’t do it. The reason being is the idol current draw is usually more on a higher power inverter. When it’s idle, it’ll draw considerably more power.

I'm 66. Grew up with the muscle Cars.

@ADKOverlandNY

28 күн бұрын

Rebecca if we only knew then what we know now. My son sadly sold his 1970 Pontiac LeMans Sport and we have regretted it ever since! What a gorgeous car - the rumbling coming out of the exhaust. For many of us, sadly it's just memories! Thanks for watching!

Looking forward to following your van project!

@ADKOverlandNY

Ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!!

Black is a terrible color for vehicles. It shows dirt.

@ADKOverlandNY

20 күн бұрын

oh don't I know it - scratches show, every dirt particle and boy is it hot lol. But - I still love my black vehicles! Thanks for watching!