If you're new to the channel. My name is Mitch Asser.
I've been living in my van for 12 months now.
I'm also a digital nomad running multiple digital businesses from my laptop in
the van today I'm going to be diving into seven things I would change if I was
to build a van again, so let's go.
I honestly can't believe it's taken me 12 months to figure out that I could
actually have an amazing outdoor seating place for my to work from and feed from
and to be out from sitting in the van virtually the whole time.
Over the last few months,
sweating balls are finally occurred to me to get outside more.
So I'm excited to be here outside coming to you today and today we're going to
be diving into some of the changes that I would make to the van if I was to to
build my own again or so.
Many people don't really know what they need or one when they're getting
started.
I know I definitely didn't and my philosophy was I like this and it looks pretty
cool.
I'm going to get in there and now and I'll sort of figure it out as I go and
it's taken me 12 months and I'm getting to the point where I really wish I made
some different changes or bill my own dance. I had it the right way. I have a,
don't get me wrong, I love my van and it's definitely served me well right now.
Let's dive into today's video. Definitely without a single doubt.
The number one thing I would change is more power.
So many people budget this option and causes so many issues,
especially if you are wanting to be a digital nomad or to work online or to
start a business or any of that type of stuff.
Trying to find power all of the time when you haven't got a reliable system is,
is not ideal at all. So if you haven't seen yet,
you can see under the back under the seats is where I keep the deep cycle
batteries or where the person and built this van kept deep cycle batteries,
which means I can't even really update the system because there's so limited in
that space that if I, if I was to update to some lithium batteries for example,
and completely redid build the system,
I'd have to relocate those batteries and put them somewhere else.
It's a big job if I do want to go down that way.
As you can see in this video that I created earlier in the year,
I talked about the power options that I'm now using with some external batteries
and things like that.
So what I would change is I would build it in a brand new location right down
there where there's a bit of a seat at the front of the them and I'll put it,
make that as the battery place where, where all my batteries hanging out.
It's where the inverter is and all of that type of stuff.
So the other thing is behind that wall there,
the inverter is kept right behind the passenger seat. If you own a van,
you'll know how hot that can get in summer because it's not insulated.
If you don't own van, you'll know very quickly,
especially when you've got a wall like that,
that protects this insulate a bit from the actual cab itself.
It gets super hot in there.
So that means the inverter is in there trying to cool down,
especially in the entire day running,
which means it's chewing up the battery very quickly.
By keeping everything inside the cab where it's all insulated,
then you've going to be more efficient as well. So that's what I definitely do.
I'll build a box down there, I'll keep all my battery staff,
all that electrical stuff that runs into their feeds through them that I can,
you know, attract through there and all of those types of things. Pause to avid,
buy a new then, um, and deck it out. And [inaudible] I would absolutely spend,
you know,
upwards of somewhere between five to $10,000 getting the power right because
there's nothing worse than trying to find power.
When you're trying to build a business.
You ought to think about things in terms of time, not just money, right?
If you can save yourself time by spending an extra two or three or $4,000, um,
that's worth so much more to you in the long run,
then the initial outlay of those funds.
That's definitely what I'll do is definitely what I recommend.
If you ever have any,
those are considerations about building a digital business or working online
remotely for anybody else. Definitely go overboard with your outline. You can,
I don't think you can ever have too much. Definitely number one,
without a doubt. Now the second thing I would change is I would add more thin.
So as you can see right above me there, do I have a max air fan? However,
it's just not enough.
Especially when you don't have any windows inside and you've got the doors
closed. It gets very stuffy in here and very quickly.
And having that airflow some order. So if I was to build this again,
I would move this fan back this way a bit. So it's directly above the bed,
like right up here. And I've, I've even seen another band that has a really big,
it's more of a like a skylight in the back that can open up and it's much bigger
than, than the max app man.
I would also have like the max air up and down the front,
so right where and where you come into the back of the van just from the
driver's cab. Um,
I'd put a fan there as well and then leave space in between at the top,
put your solar panels that fit in,
but that's just going to create a bit of a drop by the end and coming in and out
and um, rather than just remain stagnant. So I definitely do that.
The other thing that I would do is I would actually build in some fans.
So I've just got some 12 volt or open or USB fans right now that I use works
okay. But I've got to plug them into a, our source, right.
And the 12 volt ones getting plugged into my Xcel battery, which isn't ideal.
And my six volt one goes into the USB bug,
which it works okay. But, um,
I mean having cords and stuff around while you're sleeping is not not the best.
So I'd actually built it into the van itself and screw it into the wall so that
it's pointing, you know, on top of the bed.
So you can have that going throughout the night and probably have like a really
decent one that has a timer on it so you can set at the time off in like five
hours or something like that. So number three, I would make a full size bed,
probably about a King size bed and have a proper mattress in here.
As you can see behind me, the natural state,
the normal state of that bed is sleeping across ways.
I did that for Tim for about nine months and it was, it worked okay.
I had to sleep dangly but it wasn't super comfortable.
So as you can see in this video, I talked about how we made some
changes to that and that the bed now extends out the [inaudible].
The only thing is I have to put it up and down each night,
which isn't a huge problem. It takes maybe 60 to 90 seconds,
however it would be better for bed was just built in to the full size so that
you have plenty of room and you don't really need that much space in the van
anyway or in the kitchen area. So that's the third thing that I would change.
Number four is storage up there above the driver's car, well above the cabin,
the van. So many people don't take advantage of that space.
When you actually in the van,
I can reach my hands directly up into the air while I'm sitting in the driver's
seat and still not even touch the roof.
Like there's just so much space up there that you can be utilising that comes
into this part of the dam.
So I'd actually build out a little custom shelf in there and have the inland
just on this side just above the door there and make that door just a little bit
smaller so that you can have all of that extra space, especially in a,
in a band that's designed like mine,
there's nothing above hip height in terms of storage,
which I think is a really great idea because it makes a damn feel like it has so
much more space.
However you are not getting as much storage as you could have and by just having
that little space up there can can contain all of the things that are sort of
hard to hide or hard to find a place for and just make it so much easier.
Just having that little extra bit,
especially if you are going to be living with someone else in here.
I think just having that space for your,
all of your clothes for both of you would, would be super important.
And you know, you're having,
it's not really taking up any of the space in the back of the van that you,
that you will actually live in. So it's just a really good space to, to use. Um,
that doesn't really get used at all.
So I'd definitely recommend that the five is, I would have draws no cupboards.
Trying to get something from the back of a cupboard that has very little room to
move around is quite a pain. And I think that can be quickly alleviated.
Withdrawal is now draws might be a little bit heavier. Sure. But,
but I'm sure there's a lot of other things in the sand that could have been done
in a much wider way to allow a little bit more white in the drawers,
but it's just going to make life so much easier. Not only that,
but I find with the drawer you can store things in there that will actually stay
in place and rather than move around a lot,
trying to figure out ways to stop things moving around in the cupboard and
falling over and potentially breaking was something I had to think about and I
had to put down like a rubber mat at the bottom so it doesn't slide around and,
but yeah, just getting in there every single day is a big hassle.
I've also had those cupboard doors fall off because they weren't actually,
didn't have a proper latch that was fitted properly.
So when I was going on with really bumpy road, I was in the cab driving,
didn't really know that the door flung open and because it was so bumpy that
just ripped off the hinges and then yeah, pulled up at the next place,
got in the back of the van. I was like, Oh, all right. Um,
looks like I've got something big right now so you're not going to get that
problem that you thought.
If you drawers I guess withdraws though they can become heavy and if they do
slide out they could probably slide all the way out and break.
So you'd definitely want to make sure you're latching anything very well in the
van because they move around way more than a house does. Um, but yeah,
I'll trade a lot of the cupboards withdraws,
especially with all of the food stuff and you can talking stuff and things like
that. They just make life so much easier.
Number six is filtered tap water.
Something that's really important for me is good quality water and drinking tap
water is just not going to serve you long term for your health for many
different reasons that I'm not going to go into today because that moment I
drive around and find fresh Springs and fill up my big water bottles.
If I can't do that, then I'll try and use alkaline water filling stations or um,
you know,
and just trying to find a filling station that doesn't require me to continue to
buy plastic bottles because that's just not great for the environment.
Just taking the time to think about these things beforehand. Um,
and investing early rather than, you know,
having to pay time and time again afterwards is so important.
And filter Bora is one about having good quality water is, is something for us,
a Bible. It's like something that we desperately need for four hours.
The Bible without water, we die very quickly.
Such an important part and absolutely pay for a filter to go straight in.
If I were to build this fan again and the final one is the hot water heating
system, I simply just don't need it or use it.
So I think it's probably a bit of a waste of effort and money.
It's something that you don't really need. Firstly,
cold shower is a great point yet in terms of your health and
and your immunity. Secondly,
like the only time that I would use it is in the shower.
It's not even connected to the sink to wash up and I,
and I barely even use a shower. So it's just doesn't make sense.
When you're in a van,
you're not going to have massive long hot shower anyway or you've only done in
getting there and you're kind of what yourself soap pop and then wet it all back
down and wash it a whole lot and then you're basically done. So.
So having that hot water system probably isn't the best way to spend your money.
So having it in there,
I'd probably get rid of it next time and there's no use for it.
I'd stick with cold water. You can get so much done with that anyway.
So they have it.
Seven things I would change about the van if I was to build this again,
I hope you take some inspiration from this and learn from my experiences.
I guess the intention for me moving into this van quickly was to sort of figure
it out as I was going. And don't get me wrong, I still love this.
Then I think it's amazing. There's,
I'm still going to be travelling and living in it for at least another 12 months
before I'd make any changes.
But these are the things that I'll do that make my life so much easier.
I would say me time,
it would save me money long term and it would just help lift a lot of stress off
my shoulders when travelling around. So I'd love to hear from you down below.
What did you take away from this?
Is there anything different than you would do based on your experiences living
in a band or other?
Is there something in here that you've had some insight about?
I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to do that or follow me on Instagram at Mitch Asser and send me a damn
more than happy to hear from you and always get back to everybody,
so can't wait to see you next time.
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channel throughout the rest of the year. Thanks for being here.
Appreciate you so much, and I'll see you in the next video.
[inaudible].