VAN TOUR | 5+ YEARS LIVING ON THE ROAD
As of January 2024, I’ve been living on the road full-time for five and a half years as a photographer and filmmaker. First in an SUV, and now this van. Here’s a tour of my current tiny home on wheels after four years of living in it full-time, including a complete rebuild of the lower half after a disastrous water leak that destroyed my original build. Lots of changes in this new build that I’m excited to share! Thanks for being here ♡ Maybe one day I'll see you out on that open road. #VanLife
Links to ALL my favorite photography, road life & camping essentials 🛒 I get a small kickback when you purchase using these links, thanks for your support :) christianschaffer.art/faq-gear
00:00 Five+ Years on the Road
01:30 Van Life Nightmare: Water Leak & Mold
03:00 Layout Changes, Toe Kick & Camera Gear Drawer
04:10 Maxxair Fan
04:54 Kitchen, Propane Stove, Fridge & Food Organization
06:44 Upgraded Electrical & Solar System
07:54 Composting Toilet
08:33 Sink, Water Storage & Grey Water Tank
09:45 Flooring Re-design
10:50 New Step Up Storage & Maximizing Space: Clothes & Toiletries
12:00 Bigger Bed! My Favorite Update
13:00 Bed to Table Conversion
14:00 Office on Wheels
15:38 Changes to the Back & a Storage Hack
17:54 Shower & Heater
20:00 Cost of Rebuild
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Brett McCarthy is the builder! You can find his info here: brettmccarthy.art/
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Hey :) I’m Christian Schaffer, and I’ve lived on the road full-time since May 2018. This journey began in 2013 when I left the corporate world to build my career as an outdoor adventure & travel photographer. After 14 months of SUV living - I bought the van I now call home. Van life enables me to experience and document the beauty of our natural world, while also having my home and office nearby. My hope is that by sharing my own personal highs and lows along this (sometimes) wild journey, you might be inspired to hit the road or spend more time outdoors. Maybe one day I'll see you out on that open road 🚐
*My van is a 2019 Ram ProMaster 1500 High Roof, 136" WB with 62K miles*
#solofemale #vantour #tinyhometour
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Every time I look at you when you talk about the van or this lifestyle, your eyes light up and I can see that you absolutely enjoy the freedom it gives you and all of the adventures and memories encountered along the way. There are definitely improvements that came with the rebuild, so you managed to transform a bad thing that happened to you into a great one. I'm happy for you! Take care, be safe and always have fun. Nice van tour! May it carry you in beautiful places like it did until now! Thank you for sharing, I'm glad to be here!
Thank you 🥹 I’m so happy to have her back, even stronger than before 🚐
Please do not sell your van.
@@ChristianSchaffer "Your name, my name" 😅 Your drone footage is impressive. Sorry if you've previously mentioned this, but what drone & camera setup do you use? 🤳
@@ChristianSchafferwhy not get starlink, its the same price as 5g each month and can get internet everywhere
You should be raising kids in a family. Our society is being screwed with this BS and they are replacing us with dependent foreigners.
You looked happier in this video than I've seen you in a long while. Keep going! Love from Wales x
I thought the same thing while watching. She seemed lighter, almost floating around the van...!ol. Good to see.
Watching from Wales too .. ...
🏴
Your channel is absolutely top notch - the storytelling, cinematography and editing is absolutely spectacular- have been following your content from the beginning. Keep up the great work
@5:30 Pro tip: the 1lb propane canisters can be easily refilled from your larger tank! It's really easy and a game changer. One $10 part and a simple technique.
it's the amount of space they take is the problem also sometimes hard to find a fill station.
You're right, Christian. It didn't appear all that different from your original build, until you shared all the changes. It's really quite stunning and ultra functional. Plus, we share the same sense of 'tickety boo-ness,' and it was pleasing to the eye which appreciates order. Happy trails in 2024~Cass P.S. I'm not a van lifer, but I vicariously am😉
Thank you! 😊🚐
Christian you may have thought of this but you can get really inexpensive water sensors that you could place in multiple locations in the van around your plumbing to maker sure that if another leak occurs you will find out really quick.
I'm just really amazed at your skills and talent. I was ready for another one of your videos, and this one MAXIMIZED my enjoyment! Stay safe and pleasant travels.
Her editing skills are just so good!!😎
As someone that traveled the world for six years with a backpack full of rock climbing and camping gear I can completely appreciate this. Currently about to start a Land Rover discovery camper build and very inspiring to watch your van rebuild tour as someone that follows your awesome channel.
Woah! That’s so cool - would love to build out an older Land Rover someday
Stay away from the LR Discovery - they look nice and have some nice features, but they have far too many electronics in them to be reliable for the long term. If you plan on going into remote isolated areas - i strongly recommend a Toyota Landcruiser/Prado. Reliability is the only thing that matters when going remote or rough.
@@David-cq4se ah, but life is about way more than just reliability and I've grown rather fond of this Discovery, despite it's leaky sunroof and a few other minor things. If I was going to do another round the world trip I would look at a Defender at very least, but in this case the Discovery makes for a nice daily driver and travel van.
@@David-cq4se💯
Gorgeous photography; great skill. But. How old r u? You can have a partner, too?! Stop Find a lover and learn how. I live in the Rockies and know what you love. I get that Find a love.
Love it! The tour of the rebuild satisfies the inner gadget and design geek in me. Plus the video is beautifully shot and edited. Your sense of humor also shines through. Great start to 2024 for you!
Love it. Well done christian!
Thank you Robert! 🤓🙏🏻
@@ChristianSchafferplease marry me QUEEN of beauty I'm ready to accept your religion
The ending scene, that's the LILAC that I L💖ve all so well.
Really complete, comfortable looking rebuild. Maybe the water damage was a blessing in the end. Nice job.😊
Nice!! 🎉 He did a great job! You made so many useful changes. I think it couldn’t be more perfect. One thing I’ve always loved about your build is how serene it is in terms of color and textures. It lets your environment steal the show in every image from inside your van. You seem very content with your van, which is so nice to see. Happy travels!
For sure
The van build this time is amazing and so many great improvements. Truly incredible all of the storage you have. Thanks for letting us live vicariously through your many adventures!
The most amazing quality about this channel is the rarest thing to find today, is her class.
🥲🙏🏻
What a great and pratical rebuild! So much space. For everything. Many happy miles in this new year!
So happy to see that you're back on the road with a much improved van. Keep safe and can't wait for your next update.
This is awesome I’m currently 24 in the military showing people how to budget I get out at the end of this year and this is my goal! I hope to get a very similar setup! Hope anyone who sees this follows my journey wether u want to save money or see my future van 😁
It's wonderful to see the little tweaks and hacks made during the rebuild! Definitely taking notes for my tiny house.😁
What a fantastic van tour!! TONS of info and done sooooo well. Interesting from start to finish. I watched it twice to take it all in. Love, love the new designs and so much storage area. Glad you have this “new” van and wish you many more happy years in it!!
Maximally brilliant Christian! Wonderful tour and changes are so thoughtful. Love it!
Brilliant! Just brilliant! If I were to build a van in the future, I would ask my builder to watch this video. The thoughtfulness and attention to detail is amazing. I previously was having trouble getting my head around a build, but no more. Thank you for sharing. Safe travels. 😊
Christian, you make me smile, another slick production from Schaffer inc. ! You are a breath of fresh air .
I can tell that you are super happy with the new build/renovations to your home! I’m still trying to convince my hubby to try the van life. 🤞🏼 Thanks for sharing! 😊
Beautiful way to start my Sunday. Happy new year and I wish you many more safe and adventurous miles ahead.
Loved the energy in this video, and thank you for maximising entertainment, information and humour 😊 Happy New Year !
So happy to see this video. I was thinking about you yesterday and today I see this new video. Your van is beautiful and I love the white / light look. It's very clean and fresh looking to me. Happy New Year! I hope your new year is filled with happiness, health and a dusting of wealth. ♥
I wish you and your van a wonderful year and a lit of adventures together ☺️
Beautiful van Christian! Glad to see you were able to rebuild after the water damage. Really enjoy your content!!
I haven’t watched one of your videos in a while. I am always amazed at the quality of your videos. Also, It always strikes me as unreal that you live in such an organized clean world. It’s like a JCrew catalog come to life. Congrats on year number 5 ! Happy New Year!
Happy new year Christian! this was great, thank you! Your Van is still the best build i've seen. The only thing i thought could be improved would be more (flexible) solar-panels on the roof.
Glad you're back...Happy new year, happy to see you and the van are ready for 2024. The artistry you capture is of the highest quality and your philosophical view on life...well...you get it. Be well and safe travels.
Like# 90 - I love the updates! It takes living in your space to appreciate the good and see where you can “maximize” other areas. I hope this rejuvenates you into continuing to live your dream on the road for as long as you’re happy!
Ain't nothing wrong with minimizing the word maximize. Great new build! 💓
I really like your rebuild Christian. I can't believe how much storage you have! The light colors are great for creating a roomier look also. I'm surprised at how many van lifers spend sooo much time driving. I think even though I enjoy driving, I wouldn't want to be pushing forward all the time. Seems stressful to me. Expensive too. I hope you are happy in your new build.❤
I’m often surprised by that, too! I’ve gotten to the point where if the drive is more than four hours, I’ll pass 😂 I mean, not always - but usually
When I get my van ready to travel this is the daily limit I'm thinking. Even if going a long distance, find somewhere to stop for the day after 4 hours or so driving. Sure, I can drive 12+ hours at a stretch, but I can also move slower and experience more, and take time to enjoy it.
glad to see this update. i hope you are finding your place. Happy to be of support to you in any way i can.
You Christian, you are the best! Very well thought out video. Thank you. Be safe! Have a great 2024!
You both did amazing job and love the subtle changes to MAXIMISE space and storage. A great tour episode and wonderful how you have made it into a beautiful home ❤
Awesome
For me, There is nothing more beautiful than a gorgeous sunset over the open Pacific. My spirit soars to the horizon and beyond.
Great vid as always! Excellent job of covering the rebuild and upgrades/changes. Ought to easily provide you with another 50,000 miles without any problems. Look forward to joining you on your journey. Thanks for allowing all of us the vicarious experience of van living! Kudos!
The new build looks amazing ♥️! I know how stressed you were about all of the water damage. Happy to see you up and taking us along with you again! Cheers 🥂
I thank the KZhead algorithms for sending me this video. I recently retired and am getting restless and want to hit the road. Your rebuild video has kicked the wanderlust into high gear. Thank you for your great videos and the explanations on why you made your choices in the rebuild. Keep on keeping on.
What a trip ! Not just a walk through, but a talk through, you could add another vocation to your extensive CV, stealth van designer, via the net. Couldn't help but notice, your persona nature and demure are " SO ON THE FRONT HOOF'S"🙏🤞🌬️✨✨✨
Congratulations! 👍 It's quite inspiring to see yourself exploring new and new places and overcoming obstacles of any kind... Enjoy and I look forward to more interesting reports from your travels 🚐🏔
Hi Christian, what a beautiful rebuild tour, so happy for you and always grateful for your vlog’s and amazing views, wishing you many many Blessings, until the next vlog❤
Nice editing! I always loved your van. It inspired my build in some details.
Your van is looking great. It seems like you have really dialed it in to meet your needs. You also seemed more happy and ready to take on the world than in some of your recent videos. Happy travels.
Thanks Paul 😊🙌🏻
What a vantastic video. You two did a great job on the rebuild and you did a great job on the tour. I love the way that you showed off everything.
Absolutely Amazing! Everything is so beautifully laid out! Thank you for the inspiration! So happy to have found your channel!
I loved how much in detail you described how lowering cabinets created extra space (even extra drawer). Love it. Most of us live in a house and half of the stuff inside cabinets is old stuff we never use. Great videos, let's us imagine for a second that we can leave everything like that and live on a road like you and see all that beauty.
It felt like I was playing a life size game of tetris 🤓 I kinda loved the challenge!
After seeing how much stuff you have before the rebuild started it's very impressive how you fit so much in there, yet it stays so sleek and organized. Your middle names must be Marie Kondo 🤣
Great tour of your rebuild. Absolutely love how organized everything is in your van. You and your builder put a lot of thought into your build which resulted in a van you can really be proud of for many years to come. Safe travels and thanks for your amazing and creative videos. Take care. 😀
Such an amazing, life journey, made even more so by your the gorgeous way you've documented it! Wishing you all the best in 2024!
Congratulations Christian! You're such a genuine goofball which is probably why we all love you. All the best to you out on the road. Always glad you take us along. Stay safe.
I love it Christian! This is definitely the van of my dreams. Thank you for being such an inspiration to many of us, to shine freedom and possibility where they are most needed. Can't wait to meet you on the road one day and say one of the happiest hi's of my life!
Glad to see you back in your favorite surroundings 😊. Thanks for covering the updates incorporated during your rebuild. I love the Lagun mount for the table. I have wanted to install one in my truck camper for a while (I think you have convinced me!) Enjoy your beautiful HOME! I have always loved you build but I think it's even better. Stay happy, we all love seeing you that way❤.
There's a sense of calmness to your videos. Watching you inspires me to keep on doing more of what I love. I can see and sense the genuine love you have for filming and van life..keep doing what you love. Stay safe. ❤
You are living my dream .... thank you for sharing your built-in details. I wish you safe travels for many more years to come.
Wow so much information very useful. Thank you Christian. I will look at everything again tomorrow, because there are some golden tips that I really want to remember. I love that you live so organized and tidy. Traveling slowly and enjoying a location for longer will probably also give you much more inner peace. Way to go ❤!
Wow what a beautiful and thorough video highlighting pros and cons. Thankyou
Wishing you good health and a good life in the coming year. Happy new year!
Thank you!!! I love the design of your van!!!!
It is truly amazing the amount of stuff you can fit in such a small space and still be beautiful as well as so functional!
Looks Amazing! Well done you! So happy for you! Hope 2024 brings you all that you hope and wish for! Thank you for sharing 😊
I’ve watched so many tiny house/van living docs but this one was really fantastic, everything about it ❤
Christian, I follow quite a few van life folks. But when I see that you posted a video I have to watch it immediately. Bravo... Bravo to the van rebuild. What a great job you and your friend did , it is so well thought out. And your presentation of it as absolutely fantastic, you maximized my enjoyment...lol. I am already researching the composting toilet. I did my first van build in the early 70s, it was a 1964 Chevy van....I wish I still had it... Thank you for the great video and I hope you have a Happy New Year,...Gaetano
Lovely summary. Rich content, and so pro assembled. You remain a master of capturing light. Thanks for sharing.
Love your rebuild…love your organizing/totes/etc. Have a blessed New Year 🇨🇦 ❤
I’m not sure I could do it, but this really inspired me to look more into the lifestyle itself. To get out there more and enjoy locations and environments more than I do. I felt so at ease watching you explain the upgrades and your process. Always enjoyable, and this one has some extra awesome sprinkled on it. Thank you.
Amazing how much you can store in there! I think there's more than in my longer ram van-great job! I'm always forgetting where I put things. Now that was a very thorough van tour and I loved it, thanks!
Your art inspires others to be better. Thank you for doing what you do, and for how you thoughtfully do it.
Beautiful scenery and I am glad your new build is working so well for you 😊
Every time I watch your video I fall in love. I love your style, your lifestyle and your freedom. May you have a beautiful 2024.
Love it! Love you! Love your life! Enjoy! Thanks for sharing your life with us so beautifully.
I love the layout - especially the back bench / day bed / half of the full bed - and table combo. Genius. I would absolutely would have the back doors open as much as I could and hang out with a book, movie, or whatever. You are so organized and I love your approach to maximize space, like rolling clothes. The color scheme and materials are lovely. Great job!
Wow amazing job on the build. Way to control the rebuild cost and timeline! Thanks for the tour.
Hey! I want one! 😅Great upgrades and use of space you didn’t have before and that’s always been there. Hidden gems! Thanks for being where you are! 🤘🏼🙏🏼😻
Beautiful van and upgrades. I travel vicariously thru your travels!
The re-build is well thought out and executed. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that you had to do this update because you were able to put in a lot of improvements. Thanks for sharing those great lessons learned.
I really enjoy your videos. Your videography is always stunning, your narrative calm, informative, interesting and you always have a thoughtful story/theme behind your video. I love how clean and simple your van design is and how well you've designed it to your needs and not just to show off on KZhead, and in doing so you have a beautiful van. You present yourself as a beautiful, hardworking, non pretentious young lady. You are a great inspiration for other young ladies and girls of how to just be you and how hard work, planning and being intentional works to your advantage. Thanks for sharing such worthwhile content. Continued Safe travels to you!
You are a great inspiration for many of us. Cheers from a finn in Sweden who lives in his van half the year and sometimes in the winter to.❤
🎉 Wonderful Vanlife rebuild tour, description and most of all ur positive and grateful attitude, Christian. I'm a lady 62 living Vanlife w my cat 10yo for 7 yrs. I'm still in my basic, simple no-build van but highly motivated by u and ur fantastically accomplished van! Ty🙏🏼
Christian, thank you so much for all of your sharing. I've been looking for the accurate Sprinter for awhile and your info has truly helped me hone in on what I'm looking for and how it will be built. Perhaps I'll see you on the road, Mark
Thank you for sharing Christian. Looking forward to my adventure.
It was great to see how you chose to change things after having been on the road for years. I feel like you have a pretty firm grasp on what van living is and what's really important. Thanks for sharing!
Christian, I'm going to echo the gang: you looked so much happier in this video, than many of the previous. I luv the rebuild, and I can't wait to "ride along" on your many adventures. It's nice to see you so happy!!! We'll be watching over your shoulder from Port Angeles, WA.! Hope we cross paths, lunch on me! Drive safe, take care.
I am very impressed with your build and the level of detail. The way you have everything laid out to meet your needs shows just how talented you are.😃
Thank you! ❤ We love you!
A very interesting video with great photography. Of all the 'van life' KZhead channels I see your van build looks the most well thought out and the best looking design. You have an overall colour palette that makes for a great overall van. Looking forward to more videos of the interesting places you are visiting. Thanks.
Thank you for the update tour. This is truly a labor of love. Safe travels. Looking forward to more travel vlogs.
Thank you!! 😊
Excellent video ..van rebuild! Everything has a purpose and it’s quite beautiful ! Keep doing you! ❤
Very beautiful, I’ve just found out people actually do live in their vehicles and really like it. You have the most beautiful, well organized one I’ve seen so far. Good job and thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the updated tour. All really good decisions and changes. Stay safe and TFS 🩵🧡
😊🙌🏻
Enjoyed seeing your rebuild! Another great video, many thanks!❤
That's an incredible rebuild! I honestly think that if I had to choose any van to live in myself, of all the vanlifers whose rigs I've seen here on KZhead, I'd choose yours. So comfy, pretty, and completely practical. Lots of storage too! You are also the most skilled photographer and storyteller out there. It's such a pleasure to watch whatever you do. Your videos always leave me happier and calmer than I was before I watched them. Thank you, Christian! Happy trails!
Love, love, love your rebuild. I'm always so inspired after watching your videos. Thank you!! Happy trails!
Aw thank you! Makes me so happy ☺️🤍
Lots of upgrades! One looked into a momad’s van and my comment was, “You have a lot of stuff.” Well, that came back to me when we moved and a professional mover to me the same thing after it took four guys all day to empty that load. I didn’t tell him we had more! Be safe out there and have fun. 🤩
Great Van rebuild and I so much love your cleanliness and that you are so organised. Have a wonderful and adventurous 2024! Greetings from Belgium, Europe.
Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Your cinematography is gorgeous!
This is beautiful to see. You are such a light in this world. I wish for you good health & lots of love & happiness in your life because at the end of the day……that’s what it is all about.
Another inspiring video! I agree, you are like a squerril simply amazing how you find all the nooks to store your necessities. Looking forward to 2024 with you! Be Safe.