This week, we're focussing on safety tips that DON'T involve someone messing with you and your van. You know, the ones that are much more likely to kill you. We'll also try to keep mouse rats out of our rigs, visit Atlas Obscura, take a look at door steps for roof access, discuss 12v kettles and hear some more on how the penis-free can urinate in comfort. 

Is your load secure? (Photo by Ildar Sagdejev)

• AD: Team Rubicon

I've been a volunteer with Team Rubicon for years now. If you're looking for a way to travel and do REAL good for communities around the world, this organization can help you get there. 

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!
  

• Some love them, some hate them.

• A comprehensive guide to the world's most interesting places
  

• A quick and easy way to gain access to your roof for solar panel cleaning, packing, or whatever.

• Before you buy a kettle, figure out how you're going to power it and how you're going to recharge your battery.

Moving in to the new place has taught me some realities of vanlife, especially regarding cube vans. We'll visit some amazing biology, review hand crank radios, talk about upgrading alternators, a tool for figuring out bolt sizes, and a monster in Salem Woods.

• AD: Robinhood

I’ve found an app that makes it dead simple to buy and sell stocks, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. And that app, is Robinhood.

I’ve used it for years without a hitch. No contracts, no hidden fees, no gotchas.

When you open your account, they’ll give you a free stock. That’s right, one share of a publicly traded company will be yours. It could be a big name like Apple or Google, but more likely it will be a smaller stock, like Zynga or Sirius.

You will have to enter your bank’s information. But if you’re willing to do that, there’s literally a free stock waiting for you. And for me - and that helps keep the show going.

Give it a try is join.robinhood.com/jeffw118 If you decide it’s not for you, sell the stock, keep the money and close your account. Easy peasy.

I promise to only promote products that I use and trust, and Robinhood is one. If you have a different experience, please let me know. And thanks for giving it a look.

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!
  

• Home to the only Dismalites in North America

• A must-have for anyone spending time in areas subject to severe weather.

• Lithium Battery

Yep, it's time to talk about Insulation. Flames accepted. We'll also discuss tapping into fuse blocks, review a USB monitor, visit a famous movie site, plug FarOutRide.com and hear a "hot" tale. 

• AD: Robinhood

I’ve found an app that makes it dead simple to buy and sell stocks, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. And that app, is Robinhood.

I’ve used it for years without a hitch. No contracts, no hidden fees, no gotchas.

When you open your account, they’ll give you a free stock. That’s right, one share of a publicly traded company will be yours. It could be a big name like Apple or Google, but more likely it will be a smaller stock, like Zynga or Sirius.

You will have to enter your bank’s information. But if you’re willing to do that, there’s literally a free stock waiting for you. And for me - and that helps keep the show going.

Give it a try is join.robinhood.com/jeffw118 If you decide it’s not for you, sell the stock, keep the money and close your account. Easy peasy.

I promise to only promote products that I use and trust, and Robinhood is one. If you have a different experience, please let me know. And thanks for giving it a look.

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!
  

• Route 66's crossing of the Mississippi River

• Far Out Ride

• A great resource of all things #vanlife 

You've got your empty van. Now what? We're here to help - here's a method for getting things going and staying the course. We'll also visit Saguaro National Park, check out UCO Candles, learn how to charge laptop computers, figure out which octane to use, and hear a scary story. 

• AD: Robinhood

I’ve found an app that makes it dead simple to buy and sell stocks, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. And that app, is Robinhood.

You will have to enter your bank’s information. But if you’re willing to do that, there’s literally a free stock waiting for you. And for me - and that helps keep the show going.

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!
  

• An overlooked and otherworldly wonderland near Tucson.

• UCO Candle Lanterns

Thanks for helping us get to 50 episodes! This time, we're taking a break from our normal format and presenting you with 50 #vanlife tips, and some news. Thanks for listening, and here's to another 50! 

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!

Which full-size van should you choose? Let's take a look... We'll also review 4-way stretch fabric, ride on the Possum 2, visit Coral Castle, explore HMDB.org, and invite folks to send their own Tales From the Road. And we'll explain the difference between starter batteries and leisure batteries.

• Send us your Tales From the Road and if we use the on the air, you'll receive a College of Curiosity SWAG bag, including some things appropriate for #vanlife. We'd prefer audio, but text could work and we'll help get it done for you. Send it to: [email protected]. Thanks!

• A crowd-sourced list of historic markers across the country. There is a corresponding app as well.

• A Place to Visit

• Coral Castle

• Just south of Miami in Homestead, this historic structure was constructed out of enormous coral blocks that were carved and placed by one small man. 

Why not get a School Bus? Or an Ambulance? Step Van? RV???!!! We take a look at the pros and cons. Also, a fix for melting Velcro, magnetic phone holders, adventures in ZimZam, and how much solar should you have?

• The space between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Victoria Falls Bridge

• 100 watts of solar for 100ah of AGM battery.

• Velcro is great, but the adhesive melts in high temperatures

• Staple it on or...

We have 5 ways to check to see if you're ready for vanlife. We also explore alternate uses for Frisbees, talk about FastCaps, visit the Oriental Institute and talk about air bag issues.

You hope it will never happen, but what if it does? You have to plan for a crash, and maybe having knives on a magnetic strip isn't a great idea. Also, we'll visit the Drive-In, talk about Command Strips, stay warm without heat, and catch up some news as well. 

Not my actual rig, but pretty close

• Crashing your Rig

• Watch this video to gain understanding of what happens during a crash

• Drive-Ins are a thing you can do in your van! If you're heading to Florida for the cold season, check out this gem!

• There's a junk yard or RV salvage yard near you. How do you know? Because you clicked below.

• Command hooks are a great temporary (or maybe permanent!) solution for van life. 

• BBC: Traveller families win court battle over living on land they own

• Q&A:

• How can you stay warm in winter without heat?

• Remember that the rating isn't for comfort, it's for survivability. 

Some links (Amazon) are affiliate links, and the podcast will receive a small payment if you order from them. Anything provided by a manufacturer for review will be fully disclosed. All reviews are the opinion of the Podcast Host. 

An article claims there are 20 Reasons to NOT do Van Life, but are there really? Let's take a look. We'll also explore some new electric vans, talk about condiment packets, visit Arco, Idaho, and use Wikipedia to learn about our vans. And some gift ideas!

• A Place to Visit

• Arco, Idaho
  

• EBR-1 - First Nuclear Reactor

• Wikipedia

• Restaurant condiments may seem like a good idea for #vanlife, but make sure you rotate the stock.

• Gift ideas for vanners?

• Redbox Gift Cards - https://www.redbox.com/gifts

Some links (Amazon) are affiliate links, and the podcast will receive a small payment if you order from them. Anything provided by a manufacturer for review will be fully disclosed. All reviews are the opinion of the Podcast Host.