Struggling with sweltering summer temperatures in your van? We've been there, and we're here to share our experiences and strategies for staying cool while living the nomadic life. Last summer in Oregon, we tried the Zero Breeze air conditioning unit, but it didn't quite hit the mark. So, we explored other options like rooftop air conditioners, but had to pass due to weight and space constraints.

Thankfully, we discovered the game-changing Eva Polar Portable Swamp Cooler! This small, personal unit saved us in the scorching heat last summer, and now, it's keeping us comfortable on our sailboat in the Sea of Cortez. We also discuss tactics like relocating to higher elevations, seeking shade, and finding air-conditioned escapes, all to help you beat the heat and stay cool in any nomadic living situation. Join us for this refreshing conversation on the Wayward Home Podcast!

Here are some of the links mentioned in this episode:

• EvaPolar Swamp Cooler
• VanMade Gear Campervan Window Shades
• MoonShade Portable Awning
• Zero Breeze Compressor AC Unit
• Trusted Housesitters
• The Best Campervan Air Conditioners for Summer
• MaxxAir vs Fantastic Fan: Which is Best for Van Life? 

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Navigating the sea of camping apps to find the best campsite can be a frustrating endeavor. I use just TWO APPS regularly to find campsites while traveling around in my Sprinter van during the summer months.

We spend time both camping in paid campgrounds and boondocking (dispersed camping). We boondock 80% of the time, but also like to mix things up and stay in campgrounds, mostly for the convenience and amenities like hot showers, weater and garbage. 

Here are my two favorite apps I use on the regular to find campsites:

• The Dyrt (Click here for a FREE 30-day trial of The Dyrt Pro)
• iOverlander

Grab my Boondocking 101 Guide and Logbook here!

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Are you captivated by the van life movement and eager to get your OWN campervan? In this episode of The Wayward Home podcast, we bring you an insightful conversation with the CEO of ExploreVanX, a company dedicated to connecting people like you with businesses in the van life community to help create the perfect adventure vehicles and get the van of your dreams.

You'll learn about finding trustworthy van builders and even get the lowdown on the growing demand for used vans like the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit Trail. Plus, we'll dive into the fun and diverse van life events popping up all over.

We talk about the difference between production line vans and custom builds and get a glimpse into ExploreVanX's future plans. 

This interview was first recorded for the Van Life Virtual Summit, by The Wayward Home and Project Van Life.

Follow ExploreVanX:

• www.Explorevanx.com 
• tiktok.com/@findyouroutside
• https://www.instagram.com/explorevanx/
• https://www.pinterest.com/Explorevanx

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Are you struggling with how to insure your DIY campervan? I've been through the process myself and have learned quite a bit about the options available for insuring a campervan, especially for DIY builds. 

So far, I've insured TWO vans with different insurance companies. 

In this podcast episode, we'll talk about all the ins and outs of campervan insurance, what types of records you need to keep, and why it can be so hard to insure a DIY Rig. I also speak with Austin Green of Roamly, which is my new favorite campervan insurance company which I use for my DIY Sprinter van.

Get a FREE QUOTE from Roamly here: www.thewaywardhome.com/roamly

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If you're planning on living in a van, at one point or another you're going to have to try stealth camping. Stealth camping is when you park in or near a city and you're trying not to be noticed. You don't want anybody to think there's someone sleeping in a van. Stealth camping can be a bit disconcerting because oftentimes, you're parked where overnight parking isn't allowed. Or, you're just parking in a neighborhood and hoping nobody notices.

Ryan Twomey specifically built his campervan for stealth camping, and he has a bunch of amazing tips and advice. He explains how he built his van to be as stealthy as possible and suggests ways to keep a van inconspicuous. Ryan also shares his safety tips for living in a van and emphasizes the importance of having a stealth van. 

This interview was first recorded for the Van Life Virtual Summit, by The Wayward Home and Project Van Life.

Follow Ryan:

• Ryan Twomey on TikTok
• Ryan's YouTube Channel
• Ryan Twomey on Instagram

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Connect with Kristin Hanes and The Wayward Home!

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Mental health used to be a taboo topic, but more and more young van lifers are bringing it to the forefront. In this episode of The Wayward Home podcast, Katie Larsen dives deep into her own struggles with mental health, her advice for others who might be dealing with mental health issues on the road, and her journey to a better self through discovery, therapy, and self-healing through van life.

What We Cover in Episode 31 of The Wayward Home Podcast

• Why Katie started living in a van in the first place, and the different types of vans she's lived in and built out
• Katie's journey of van life both solo and with a partner
• Katie's struggles with mental health throughout her life and how van life impacted her state of mind
• How Katie deals with mental health on the road
• Katie's advice for other people who might (or might not be) struggling with mental health
• Why it's so important to erase the stigma surrounding mental health

Follow Katie Larsen:

• So We Bought a Van on Instagram
• SoWeBoughtaVan.com

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Connect with Kristin Hanes and The Wayward Home!

• Send me a DM on Instagram
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When we’re out on our sailboat in Mexico I am often thinking about trash. We have to rinse out, crush,  compress and store our trash, sometimes for over a week - and then carry it to shore in a dinghy or on a paddleboard. 

It’s an annoying process that makes me seriously want to reduce the amount of trash I create both on the boat and in the van. And not only just GARBAGE, but food waste as well.

In fact, I recently read a startling article in the New York Times about food waste where I read these crazy statistics: 

• The average U.S. household wastes nearly a third of the food it buys. 
• Households account for 39 percent of food waste in the United States, more than restaurants, grocery stores or farms.
• In the United States, food waste is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as commercial aviation.

Let’s think about that again. Our rotting food waste in landfills creates MORE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS than commercial aviation. Incredible, right?

Behan Gifford of Sailing Totem is an expert in reducing both garbage and food waste on her sailboat. She has wonderful tips and advice and what WE can do RIGHT NOW to make a difference.

Here's Totem's blog post about trash creation on a sailboat: https://www.sailingtotem.com/blog/2020/10/how-do-you-deal-with-garbage.html

Links to Products Mentioned in this Episode

• Tattler Reusable Wide Mouth Canning Lids & Rubber Rings
• Harvest Guard Reusable Canning Lids 
• Canning Meat on Board Blog by Sailing Totem

Follow Behan and Sailing Totem: 

• SailingTotem.com
• Behan and Jamie's coaching business
• Sailing Totem on Instagram
• Sailing Totem on Facebook

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Connect with Kristin Hanes and The Wayward Home!

• Send me a DM on Instagram
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• Join The Wayward Home Facebook Group!

Lots of people wonder how to make money while living the van life. Sierra Eberly did just that by ditching the corporate 9-5 life and creating her own business on the road called Boondock Consulting. Sierra is the first to admit this wasn't an easy process, and she had to overcome fear to say goodbye to her steady paycheck and go out on her own.

In this podcast, Sierra gives tips and tricks for becoming a CEO from your campervan, and what she's learned along the way.

Find Sierra here: 

• https://www.instagram.com/boondockconsulting/
• https://www.boondockconsulting.com/

Join my BRAND NEW course on creating a profitable niche site from anywhere:

• Niche Sites Made Easy: The Nomad's Guide to Making Money Online

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Starting van life can be challenging. There's so much to learn! From where to park and sleep, to how to stock your kitchen, to dumping black tanks if you have a Class B RV that comes with those.

The learning curve can be pretty big, and we've all had those moments where we aren't sure what we're doing.

I interviewed Our Mixed Journey for this episode of The Wayward Home podcast, which is a rebroadcast from the Van Life Virtual Summit. You can still get an All Access Pass for the summit, which includes over 30 videos on so many aspects of van life, from solar and electrical, to how to make money on the road, to living out of a car instead of a van, etc.

Click here to grab your All Access Pass now.

Follow Our Mixed Journey:

• Instagram
• YouTube

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So, you want to get a van converted? Many companies will quote you EXTENSIVE wait times, dashing your hopes of getting a campervan in time for the summer months.

Brady Severt is trying to change all that with his new company Gravity Vans, which will get you a converted van in just SIX WEEKS.

Check out Gravity Vans here: https://www.gravityvans.com/

And go here to see the full show notes with pictures of Brady's tiny house on wheels: https://www.thewaywardhome.com/episode27

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Connect with Kristin Hanes and The Wayward Home!

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