Van Life Lab

This week we're back with 5 things that are easier in a house, along with 5 things that have been harder for us as we move into our new house and take up part time van life. 5 things that are easier 1. Grocery shopping and bulk food buying 2. Internet bill is much cheaper 3. Getting up and going to bed at different times 4. More space for cooking and cleaning.  Unlimited hot water 5. A daily routine 5 things that are harder 1. Lot's more things to buy or have.  Need to “fill whatever space you have” 2. Chore take longer.  4 hours to shovel our driveway and roof?! 3. More expensive.  Things to buy, utilities, etc.. 4. Going on trips.  Have to PACK now. 5. Adventure access - everything is a trip somewhere now 5+. Projects all the time.  Floors.  Painting.  Electrical outlets.  Old kitchen.  Old bathrooms.

Part 1 of 2 in this transitioning lifestyles mini-series! What are the hardest parts and unexpected small changes experienced when transitioning from house life to van life? We dive into all of that and more!

Shopping for vanlifers is tough! We don't have the luxury of space, so gifts have to be well thought out. That's why we put together a list of our top 21 gifts for your fellow vanlifers this season!

After having put in over 20,000 miles on our van in the last 5 months we have become well aquainted with long road trips! 48 hours up to Alaska and back? No problem! 2,500 mile weeks to visit family? EASY! We have become ROAD TRIP PROS and have our system dialed in! Don't forget that we also have an email subscriber list to sign up for! Okay - Here's the QUICK version of uur top tips for preparing for long road trips! 1. SNACKS! 2. Vehicle Safety! 3. Downloads! Maps, Podcasts, and More! 4. Plan Your Daily Mileage 5. Keep It Sustainable 6. Apps That Make Driving Better? GasBuddy! 7. Where To Stay When You're Just Passing Through 8. What to Avoid On Your Road Trip 9. Your Solo Drive Bag

What exactly is a BMS System? Confused between Internal Vs External BMS? What should a QUALITY BMS system include? Find out all these answers in this technical deep dive podcast! Key components discussed: Battle Born Batteries (Internal BMS) Victron Batteries (External BMS) (5% off w/ code 'engineers') Victron External BMS (5% off w/ code 'engineers') Wakespeed Regulator Nation's Alternator Our Calculator to Determine Power Usage 100 Amp Victron Buck Boost (5% off w/ code 'engineers')

Why are van walls so often an after though during a van build? Well no more! We discuss nearly all the possible options for constructing and finishing your walls, as well as WHEN to put your wall panels up! Topics discussed: -Wall panels Vs shiplap and tongue and groove. -Staining Vs painting Vs upholstering -How to make full wall panels. DIY templating vs DIY kits vs fully pre cut. Relevant Links -Nassimi Fabric (fabric in our build) -Marathon Tweed Fabric -DIY Wall Panel Kit -Full Wall Panel Kit

Full time vans should be EASY to use with storage in mind, while part time rigs should be VERSATILE! Outfitting your campervan for full time or part time vanlife? Hear about the different functions your van will serve and how you can properly size your systems and design your layout to best suit your adventure style! Electrical, water, general storage- we cover it all!

Highlights, lowlights, travel logistics, and everything you need to know about bringing your camper van and traveling to Nicaragua. Kayla from Collies Without Borders has lived on and off in Central America for over a decade and is extremely well versed with the ins and outs of living van life in Nicaragua. If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for one last episode in this mini series. Kayla will dedicate an entire episode to van life in each country in Central America. Podcast Website: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/ Follow Kayla: https://instagram.com/collies.without.borders

Final farewell to our amazing cohost Kayla! In this episode we reflect with Kayla - a full time vanlifer of nearly three years - on the lessons learned, experiences gained, and opportunities seized as she transitions from full time vanlife to part time van life to pursue her dream PhD. We dig deep into what makes vanlife so special and how it might just be more accessible than you think.

We are back from 2+ months of van life-ing up in Alaska and we are diving deep into everything you need to know to van life successfully up there.  In this episode we cover: A lay of the land: where to van life in Alaska What to expect about weather in Alaska The difference between seeing Alaska and experiencing Alaska Our absolute favorite parts about our van life summer in Alaska How we prepared our camper van for Alaska  How efficient was solar power in Alaska? Safety along the route to Alaska How bad were the mosquitoes? What are we most excited to do when we go back? Links Mentioned: - The Milepost (Alaska Planning Book) - Go Treads (Traction Boards) - Spare Fuel Cans  As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, we would love to hear in a review on Apple Pod, or rating on Spotify. Colby + Eric (IG@engineerswhovanlife)

Have you ever had to store your van for the winter? Just finish a big trip and need to couple month break from vanlife? In this episode we dive into all the things you should do to your van to prepare it SIT for an extended period of time. That's right - putting you van into STORAGE. Topics covered: 1. Ventilaiton, moisture, and mold/mildue 2. Rodents 3. Fresh and grey water systems 4. Batteries / solar / electrical **episode correction - store lithium batteries at 40% SOC** 5. How often you should drive your van 6. Protecting it from the elements

Highlights, lowlights, travel logistics, and everything you need to know about bringing your camper van and traveling to El Salvador. Kayla from Collies Without Borders has lived on and off in Central America for over a decade and is extremely well versed with the ins and outs of living van life in El Salvador. If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for further episodes in this mini series. Kayla will dedicate an entire episode to van life in each country in Central America. Podcast Website: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/ Follow Kayla: https://instagram.com/collies.without.borders

Winter vanlifers are a different breed. They're hearty, relish in the cold, and gobble up any adventure winter has to offer. Hear about what winter vanlife is, why it's so awesome, some unique challenges that come with the territory, and how both The Engineers Who Van Life and Kayla have tackled the problems to live life in the mountains.

Hot Takes! Is vanlife going to live up to your expectations once you hit the road? What should you ACTUALLY be prepared for? Well guess what - You're never going to use your rooftop deck! That bed conversion? It's going to stay in bed mode all the time! And all those fancy exterior upgrades? You probably won't use the half of them! Oh, and the hottest take of all? Van cats > van dogs. Hear about these controversial opinions and more when Eric, Colby, and Kayla all sit down this week to shoot the sh*t and tell you what it's really like to live life on the road.

[ Episode updated! Sorry for the mis-upload! ] Highlights, lowlights, travel logistics, and everything you need to know about bringing your camper van and traveling to Mexico. Kayla from Collies Without Borders has lived on and off in Central America for over a decade and is extremely well versed with the ins and outs of living van life in Mexico. If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for further episodes in this mini series. Kayla will dedicate an entire episode to van life in each country in Central America. Podcast Website: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/ Follow Kayla: https://instagram.com/collies.without.borders Kayla's In Depth MEXICO VAN LIFE Notes: Border tips: Southbound, get your FMM at the border rather than online. If you do it online, print and keep it AND receipt. TVIP will be paid at Banjercito, requires lots of back and forth. Pretty smooth, but DO NOT just go into the border zone without your TVIP unless you're staying in Baja or very close to the border. You'll need some cash in USD to cross, so have cash on hand and plan to change to pesos. Expect to see migrants stuck at the border, be kind.  General road info: Stick to the toll roads and you'll basically be ok. They're fast, but lots of cash needed on-hand. Off the toll roads, expect TONS of tumulos (speed bumps). At best they're smooth and marked, at worst they're completely hidden in shade and will WRECK your car. Also expect lots of street vendors and dogs, be careful. Overall I've found Mexican drivers pretty gracious, it looks like terrifying chaos but it works.  Highlights: Ixtaccihuatl, San Cristobal las Casas, Baja, Yucatan, Oaxaca/Puebla Lowlights: Nearly hitting a bridge in Mexico city, almost driving off a cliff in Baja Words of caution: Be extremely cautious with salads. My two bouts of food poisoning in Mexico were from salads at nice-looking restaurants. As with all central america - don't drive at night, park in safe spots, don't make yourself a target, keep it cool, try to speak Spanish. Favorite camp spot: canyon outside Monterrey https://www.ioverlander.com/places/145345-epic-gulley-campspot  Favorite hangout: San Cristobal las casas Misc tips: Look for Pueblos Magicos!  One Story: Ixtaccihuatl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8bvXeV5374

What are our biggest gripes about vanlife? From the silly to the serious, from the toilet to relationships, Eric, Colby, and Kayla all give a fast paced conversation this touching on every aspect of van life that they hate.

Were periods ever any fun? What about dealing with them without access to reliable clean running water? Colby and Kayla have a chat about how they deal with their periods while in the van and give you lots of actionable tips about what works and what doesn't!

So you just started vanlife. Now what? As much as we like to think of starting vanlife as "having made it," it's only the beginning. Buying and building your van can take such a toll on you that when you move in it feels like that's it. Life on pause for a while. But vanlife isn't the end all be all - it's just one step in your life journey. Your finances, relationships, further education, home ownership and retirement are all long term goals that you might still be working towards, and many in the vanlife community actually don't put these priorities on hold while living their vanlife journey. Eric, Colby, and Kayla are all back together this week to dive into how they're pursuing these long term traditional goals while living in their vans!

It's fourth of July so in the name of giving ourselves some sort of a true break we will be taking the week off from the podcast! But at least you can hear how our drive to Alaska went! Stay tuned for next week when we discuss whether or not you actually need to put your life on hold to move into a van and start your van life journey. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Eric and Kayla sit down to discuss Alaska and all the van preparations that are being made for the Engineers Who Van Life's upcoming summer adventures in Alaska! Specifically, hear about all the preparations that are being made to: -The van chassis -The build itself -And then the Alaska specific gear they are packing Kayla gives her input on what they missed and some of the realities of Alaska van life! Full Timestamps: Resources and Products Mentioned: The Milepost (A MUST BUY!!!) ViAir 300 Tire Inflator GoTread Traction Pads Camper Van Bug Screen

This week Eric and Colby take a step back and analyze the order in which things need to be build in your DIY camper van conversion. Phase 1 - The bones - AKA the happy and easy going build phase. Everything is going right and projects and very stand alone. Phase 2 - The Meat! AKA the "How the heck are all of these things going to fit together" phase. Phase 3 - The Finishing touches - AKA the "Do I really need this" phase Each of these phases has distinct project lists, and you can use these phases as guides to stagger your project days as well as purchasing of all your supplies to help manage your budget. Resources Mentioned: + COMPLETE LAYOUT PLANNING GUIDE + OUR WRITTEN STEP BY STEP GUIDE

In this episode, we are working through a real life scenario of raising a puppy in a van! Eric and Colby ask Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Kayla, all of their questions they have the first week the have their new 8 week old puppy, Juniper. We talk: Campsite safety for young puppies Camper van considerations Should your puppy jump into and out of the van? What should you focus on with a new puppy in a van? and more! If you liked this episode, let us know with a rating, review, or on Instagram, and we will be sure to do an another episode as our puppy gets older!

Eric and Colby sit down to bounce your biggest and best van build questions back and forth. From where it's worth splurging to which tools you might not actually need to buy, hear what the van build community as a whole is thinking and our opinions helping them out.

Cooking in your van is an act of deliberate planning, adaptation, and flexibility. Starting when you design your van you will either be cooking with a propane system or using electric with induction cooktops. Kayla shares her experience cooking with a propane system and how she stretches her 25 lb propane tank 9 months between fills. Eric and Colby give their hot tips for cooking via induction and how to design your van layout without needing to build in a permanent induction top. Items / guides mentioned: Our Favorite Portable Induction Hobs Collapsible Kettle NutriBullet Pro Blender (900W)  101 Guide to Campervan Electrical Systems We discuss: Propane vs Induction Stoves (van life considerations for both) What is the best size sink for van life? Drawer vs. Chest Style Fridges in a Camper Van Should you keep "emergency" or shelf stable food on hand? General tips for cooking in a camper van & more!

** Stick with us on the crumby audio, we ordered a new mic!! ** Ever visit the @MemesOfVanlife Instagram page? Honestly it's one of our favorite so we're just having a little fun with it. Colby and Eric break down five recent #vanlife memes and debunk how much truth is under the surface! Here are the basic memes we break down. 1. Does anyone ever use their driver swivel seat? 2. He's a 4, but he's got Starlink 3. Did you really need that full sized shower? 4. White shiplap! 5. Cleaning your van like a mad man/woman before you show it to anyone!

This is one you do NOT want to forget. Wether you're full timing or building a pleasure rig for long weekends you will need a bathroom solution all the same! One thing you may not realize is just how many bathrooms you will encounter on the road. So many that many times you might feel like you can get away without an on board composting or casette toilet. BUT! During the times you do need a toilet and don't have another one around you will fully realize the value of an on board toilet. Hear about how we deal with our toilet solutions on the road so you can enter van life prepared for whatever the road can throw at you! Resources Mentioned: CompoCloset Cuddy Nature's Head Laveo Dry Flush Pee Funnel Would you rather read this post? --> Complete Guide to Van Life Toilets

For us summertime is the hardest time to live in a van just because of the heat. Your cargo van is essentially a metal box that is very prone to heating up, so listen to see what you can do starting when you first place your new van order. Of course these will be the insulation factor that will help you stay cool, but then there are also many lifestyle factors that you can optimize once on the road to make the heat a little more bearable. Product Mentioned: Maxx Air Fans  Lizard Skin Ceramic Insulation Professional Window Shades Mini "Swamp" Cooler Small USB fans  

Join Eric and Kayla this week as they discuss the mindset you both need and will develop going through a van build that will ultimately prepare yourself for life on the road. DIY van builds are daunting tasks. There is so much self learning that happens that really tests you as a person. It tests your adaptiveness, ingenuity, flexibility, temper, patience, and more. If you can make it though your van build, you are ready for life on the road! Hear real life stories and experiences learned from two DIY van builds and over two years in living in a van!

In Episode 13 of The Van Life Lab Podcast we are so excited to dive into part two of the Van Life on the Pan-American Highway Series.  This time we are focusing on the Arctic portion of the Pan-Am including Canada and Alaska. We talk all about the route(s) specifically through the NW Territories portion of the Pan American Highway and what to be prepared for in terms of road conditions.  Kayla shares how she prepared for the driving portion including maintenance on her van and offline maps she made sure to download ahead of time.  Offline Maps you might find useful for driving along the Pan American Highway are: AllTrails Pro for hikes, Google Offline Maps (FREE), Gaia (FREE or PAID), and Nat Geo Adventure Maps (ALASKA and CANADA WEST). If you are planning to work as you drive up through Canada and Alaska, be prepared for little cell service unless you are in a town.  We talk about the importance of having a satellite device such as a GARMIN IN REACH beacon for communication. Kayla shares how she prepared to safely travel with her dogs through the Northwest Territories.  This includes visibility vests, GPS collars, bear bells, proper leashes, and of course bear spray. Throughout this episode, Kayla shares many tips, and nuggets of wisdom, that you won't want to miss if you are planning to head up to Alaska in your camper van, or take on the full Pan Am Highway!  Thanks for listening! We would love if you left a review with your honest thoughts as we continue to grow Van Life Lab.

Complete Guide To Campervan Water Filtration Campervan Water System Guide Water filtration is extremely important as a van lifer. Even if a water source is labelled as "potable", bacteria and viruses can still be picked up between the water source and entering your tank. In this episode of the Van Life Lab, we share the science behind water filtration methods & how you can pick the best method(s) for your campervan water system. We also address the basics of getting, and storing, water as a van lifer. What size water tank do you need? Where do you even find water? What do you need to plumb water through a campervan? And more! Recommended Water Pump Recommended Accumulator Pex A Piping Milwaukee Expansion Tool (for Pex A Install) Filtration methods mentioned: (For Off Grid Water Filtration): MRX+ Off Grid Water Filtration System (5% off with engineerswhovanlife) (For Point of Use UV Water Purification): Acuva UV Water Purifier (30% off with SPRINGSALE23) (For Fixed Mounting Water Filtration): Clear Source Thanks for listening!

In episode 11 of The Van Life Lab podcast, we talk we cat owner, biologist, and dog trainer, Kayla Fratt, about all things Van Life with a cat.  We start off by hearing her story about how she became the proud owner of “Ditch Cat”, a stray cat she found just weeks before embarking on the Pan American Highway.  Which of course leads us into discussing her van life journey along the PanAm with 2 dogs, and a cat.  Be sure to listen to episode 4 if you are interested in van life with dogs specifically.  After learning generally what living with a cat in a van is like, we learn what to look for if you are specifially selecting a cat for van life.  Kayla hones in on three cat characteristics: adaptable, confident, and optimistic, and why they are important for van life.   She also digs in to how you can prepare your cat for van life while sharing specific recommendations like a Tractive GPS collar, comfortable Harness/Leash combos, backpacks for adventure,and more. Before closing out, Kayla and the Engineers who Van Life do “quick” round of pros and cons of doing van life with cats. We are so excited to share this episode with you and hope that it equips you with the knowledge to conquer van life with a cat if you so desire! Thanks for listening to Van Life Lab, and we hope to see you next week.   If you found this episode of Van Life Lab helpful, don't forget to subscribe, and LEAVE US A REVIEW, it really helps us grow as a new podcast :) If you're just getting started to outfit your van for a cat, here are some of the products Kayla recommends for success on the road. Headliner Shelf as the cat's home. Vancillary makes great DIY headliner shelves and brackets and is definitely the way to go! USE CODE "EWVL" for 10% off your purchase! Tractive GPS collar - $20/month sub is a bummer, but it's lightest for the cat and works well off phone, the app lets you draw virtual fences and get notified if the cat wanders.  RC Pets harness/leash combo - honestly GREAT. Soft, adjustable, and Norbert happily wears it like 18 hours a day. For backpacking with your cat Kayla uses this collapsable and portable cat backpack. And it's mostly mesh so it's best for air flow, has no dumb plastic bits, and has pockets for phone/keys.

Resources Mentioned: Internet on the Road (the Ultimate Guide) Kayla's Laptop Shade Van Life Work Setup Guide Show Notes: Maintaining a job while pursuing van life is a must for the majority of us nomads. Contrary to popular belief, we're not actually all trust fund babies (although wouldn't that be nice?). So that means working from the road. Listen to Colby and Kayla share their perspectives on what works for them, their expectations vs reality, and tips for you whether that be a regular 9-5 corporate job like Colby or freelance writing while owning your own business as is Kayla's case. If you're just getting started with van life, think about your personal work situation, what sort of connectivity you will need, how many people will be living and working from your van, and the ergonomics of working in a confined space. Once you have those things figured out and are on the road you can fall into the routine that works for you. Among many other things, one thing both Colby and Kayla agree on is the importance of setting boundaries and carving both time and space out for your work. Maintaining focus, free from distracting, can be difficult while on the road, but leaving yourself margin at every step of the way can help ensure you create the productive work environment you need. Wether that be getting set up for work plenty early, or having redundant internet solutions so you are never left without a connection. Here are some of Colby's and Kayla's top tips, hacks, and products that make working on the road a little bit easier. 1. Make sure you are set up for work in a safe location at least 30 minutes before you start. This leaves time to find a parking spot, test your internet connection before you start and move if you need to before settling into your day. 2. Utilize coffee shops and public establishments to utilize their wifi and other amenities while also getting a break from being confined inside your van. 3. Make sure you have a robust internet solution. For Colby this means using a mobile router, exterior antenna, and multiple cellular carriers to get the most reliable internet possible. Then for those extreme cases she uses Starlink as a backup. For a full rundown on Internet On The Road, go back to Episode 9 where Eric and Colby talk all about this! 4. Working while on the road is necessary for maintaining life on the road, so don't compare yourself to the highlight reels others post to social media outlets. Not every day is going to be glamorous - embrace the days you shack up in the parking lot of a big box store and just grind. We all have those days, and they are absolutely necessary. 5. Swivel seats make great use of the ergonomics built into the driver and passenger seats your van already has! 6. A portable monitor is a great addition to your mobile work station! 7. A good set of noise cancelling headphones can really help your focus by tuning out the abundant amount of background noise you will experience on the road! Catch ya next week!

Another Solo Episode between Eric and Colby where they dive into one of their favorite topics: Building Vans with 80/20 Extruded Aluminum. Here is an outline of our discussion. 0. As a reminder, if you're looking to get your hands on some 80/20, if you purchase through our link then 5% will automatically be taken off your purchase price when you check out! Help support this new podcast and the work that we do and save yourself some money while you are at it! 1. Hear about why weight is so important to manage in a conversion van. 2. We define exactly what 80/20 is and talk a little bit about its general properties. Hint: 80/20 is just a brand name! 3. Then we dive into where you can use 80/20 in your van conversion. It's pretty much everywhere, but here are the things we move recommend building with 80/20. Your Bed Supports Your Upper Cabinets Your Main Kitchen Galley 4. Our absolutely biggest tip for working with 80/20? Loosely fit things together first, and when you are all done use blue Loctite 242 to lock things together! this isn't just recommended, it's imperative! 5. Is there anything we would NOT build with 80/20? Probably just a single thing in an entire conversion van. That's right - the headliner shelf. Vancillary (code: EWVL for 10% off) makes great brackets and a 3/8" plywood shelf will suit all your needs. Our Complete Guide to Building Your Campervan with 80/20!

Colby and Eric dive into how to get reliable internet in your van so you can keep your remote job and live nomadically. Read our Ultimate Guide to Internet on the Road here. Peplink Routers and MIMO Antennas: We'll jump right into what we have found to be the BEST solution for generating RELIABLE internet on the road. That is the combination of a mobile router, such as the Peplink Transit Duo Pro, and a MIMO antenna, such as the Parsec Husky Pro 7-in-1 antenna. All of these things can be sourced through Mobile Must Haves, as well as the high gigabyte data plans that accompany them. Hot Spots and Cell Boosters: We dispel a few myths about cell boosters and hot spots and describe why those solutions will not yield the best internet connection possible. Trust us. We tried. Life was HARD! Starlink: We go over what many vanlifers think is the golden bullet of internet on the road is: Starlink. But that's not the case yet - there is definitely a list of pros and cons, and we describe who Starlink might work for, and who it would NOT work for. Here is who Starlink work for. The person who is: -Using internet where AVERAGE download/upload speed is needed, but not LIVE speeds. Think blogging, browsing the internet, watching editing videos, emailing, etc. -Frequenting locations with wide open horizons and clear views of the sky -Doesn't mind daily set-up and take down -Has extra battery and power generation capacity to handle ~500 Wh per day (assumes 10 hours or daily "online" activity) Here is who Starlink will NOT work for. The person who: -Needs to be on video calls and needs CONSTANT connection speeds -Moves daily, through inclement weather, or otherwise might be annoyed by daily set-up -Frequents areas with moderate tree cover or mountain ranges -Has a power system strapped for extra capacity Read our Starlink deep dive here. There is a time and place for many different internet solutions, but while on the road it's important to never rely on a single solution. For most of us this mean never relying on only a single cell carrier, but this also includes Starlink. There will be times when AT&T is better and Verizon is non-existent, vice versa, other times when the only way to get a signal is with Starlink, but also times when Starlink can't see its satellites so the only internet you can get is through cell carriers. In many ways living life on the road is cheaper than stationary living, but keeping your internet connection is one of the things that definitely costs more and is certainly more complicated. Don't let yourself down by leaving your internet as a weak point in your van life journey!

In this episode Kayla and Colby dive into Solo and Solo female van life. Of course the obvious place to start is with van and travel security, but then they get into less frequently discussed topics like loneliness, finding community on the road, and handling the day to day chores on your own. Detailed Show Notes: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/solo-van-life Resources Mentioned: SimpliSafe Monitoring System Garmin In Reach Mini 2 - Satellite Beacon

Have you ever wanted to take your van life journey south of the border? Talk to Kayla as she travels along the Pan-American Highway from Alaska all the way to Patagonia. Hear about how she prepares for border crossings and what she does when she's asked for bribes. Learn about the general processes each country takes at their border and all the documents you need to be prepared. Kayla brings a wealth of knowledge to this topic in the van life space and is truly inspiring in pursuit of her goals. Detailed Show Notes: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/central-pan-american-highway

In this episode Eric and Colby dive into the theory of heat transfer and apply the concepts insulating your van for van life. At the end they reveal everything they did to ready their van Rover for the colder Colorado winters. Recap conductive, radiant, and convective heat transfers and how to control them with mass insulations and radiant barriers. Also learn the truth about vapor barriers and thermal bridging, including how Lizard Skins ceramic insulation is a game changer to preventing heat gain in the summer time! When it comes to vapor barriers, condensation in the walls is the enemy of every van lifer, but they're entirely unnecessary! Then learn about new innovations in the van conversion market including the all new Ranier subfloor system and how you can save weight, lower the profile of you subfloor, get total water protection, and an incredibly fast install! Check out the full specs of the Rainier system here! Here is how the Engineers Who Van Life chose to insulate their ultimate adventure rig Rover. 1. Lizard skin ceramic insulation (and sound deadener) 2. Rainer subfloor system serves as both their insulation and subfloor! 3. Havelock wool in all of the side wall cavities, nooks, and crannies 4. 3M Thinsulate on the ceiling because it holds itself up with spray adhesive very nicely. 5. More thermal bridge prevention with 3mm low-e insulation (not used as a radiant barrier - just a thermal break!) If you would rather go through this content with visuals, check out the complete insulation guide we have written on our blog!

Are you thinking of getting on the road with your pup? Already on the road and wondering what it might be like to get a dog? Hear what certified dog trainer Kayla Fratt has to say about selecting the right dog for van life, and in particular your unique van life journey. Hear how size, breed, activity level, age, and so much more come into play as well as your own personal habits on the road. Detailed Show Notes: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/dogs-and-van-life Want the full list of best dog breed for van life? Check out this article! https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-dog-breeds-for-van-life/ Want to full list of the 10 most important things you'll need for your dog in a van? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCXFKdV4_qM Important things to consider in outfitting your van for dogs. - Crash safety! See why Kayla recommends Variocage for crash safety. - Food storage! Do you ave enough room for a 50 lb bag of food? - Are your floors too slippery for your pup? - Most importantly, hear all the reasons why you SHOULD have your dog with you in your van!

In episode 3 of Van Life Lab, we dig into the three most common chassises people choose from vanlife.   We talk about their similarities, their differences, their pros, and their cons.  And, we provide you with a framework of questions you can ask yourself so that you can choose what is best for you! Resources Mentioned: How to Install Flares to Make Your Rig Wider Step by Step: How to Build a Camper Van Timestamps: 03:00: First questions to ask yourself Will you be full time or part time van life? How many people will be in your rig? How many pets will you travel with (and how big are they)? 04:56: New vs. Used Considerations 07:00: How much did we spend on our three conversions + rigs? 10:20: Drive Train + Roof Height Considerations 17:22 - end: Mercedes Sprinter vs. Ram Promaster vs. Ford Transit Wheelbases (WB)  Extended Wheelbases (EXT) Departure Angles Drive Train (2WD, AWD, 4WD) Gas vs. Diesel  Roof Heights (low, medium, high) Chassis Widths Costs (upfront + continual) Curvatures and ease of van building  Serviceability and cost of maintenance 

Welcome back to the Van Life Lab podcast! This week we are Introducing co-host Kayla Fratt. Kayla has lived in her van for almost three years now and is a professional dog trainer, conservationist, freelance writer, and much more! Learn how Kayla fell into van life, what she loves about it, and where she is headed!

Welcome to the Van Life Lab Podcast! Meet Eric and Colby - two of the three co-hosts to this brand new podcast! Collectively know as the Engineers Who Van Life, they built their ultimate adventure van rig and now work and travel full time all over the US. Passionate about all things self built DIY vans, they love helping other like minded people build the professional level DIY van of their dreams to enable more adventures and a more fulfilling life.

Join Eric and Colby (Engineers Who Vanlife) and Kayla (Collies Without Borders) for a new podcast. We'll share technical expertise and tips for the trials and joys of vanlife, from building your own van to winter vanlife to battery questions to international vanlife. We're so excited to have you along for the ride! New episodes will drop each Monday starting January 30.