How our DIY camper van got it’s name [Van Life Q & A]

In this week’s episode of van talk, we discuss how our camper van got its name, how we met, and some of the best experiences we’ve had up to now in our campervan. We really hope you enjoy our discussion, please leave your questions in the comments for next week’s episode.

VAN GEAR

We use an EcoFlow Delta Max 2 with solar panels for our electricity on the road. We never have to plug into campsite electricity supplies during the summer months. You can find them here https://amzn.to/43Mm8CQ

We use these lights in the van https://amzn.to/42WVXbq – they are USB powered, last ages on a charge and they are detachable so you can take them to the toilet block at night time.

This is our trusty diesel heater which we’ve had zero issues with https://amzn.to/46fVG6i – it is very warm and extremely economical. We upgraded some of the parts which can be found here –

Fuel line https://amzn.to/3PDxTr5
Exhaust https://amzn.to/46cammI
Turret https://amzn.to/3PmLrH9
Drill bit for Turret fitting https://amzn.to/3NEEPCT
Hole Saw for Turret fitting https://amzn.to/3NjmR7i
Heat Proof Sealant https://amzn.to/3Nb40eG

Claire uses the heater in combination with this oversized hoodie which keeps her warm even in the Alps in winter https://amzn.to/42JG6Nf

Our water tap is USB powered, lasts ages and doesn’t let us down https://amzn.to/46aamDN

Our sink is just a sink but works well https://amzn.to/445I2kb

We use 2 Jerry Cans for fresh and waste water https://amzn.to/3PlSQGv

These are our blackout curtains that are light weight and block the light brilliantly https://amzn.to/3XcCpyp

Our windows have this stuff across them https://amzn.to/3NDn0Uv – we keep them closed with these press studs – https://amzn.to/3qRqUAm

This handy humidity and temperature monitor is good for keeping an eye on the interior https://amzn.to/3CDw5Xi

These are hands down the best travel towels. They are small to pack and work like magic at drying us off https://amzn.to/3JmDjCH

When we cook in the van we use our beloved Ridge Monkey which can be found here https://amzn.to/3PDxa9l and my old Trangia Stove which is bullet proof. They can be found here https://amzn.to/3PkRRX6

We use an iPad for navigation which is awesome. We mount this over our existing radio with these mounts https://amzn.to/46qcYxF – they are really good and we haven’t had any accidents.

The van is insulated with this insulation https://amzn.to/3XiVFKM – Claire is usually cold in the house but finds that she is always warm in the van.

We used this for sound deadening the van which has made it so much quieter on the road https://amzn.to/3Jm8EFr

CAMERA GEAR

Our footage is shot on a GoPro which we highly recommend for travel as they fit into your pocket and your footage is stabilised. These are well worth having and are way better than your phone camera. You can find these here https://amzn.to/3pl9pb3 – because we use external microphones we use a media mod that allows this. You can find this here https://amzn.to/3NCxR13

You may notice that we have really good low-light footage in our recent videos. This has been made possible with the Sony ZV-E10 camera. It’s a vlogging camera with a swing-out screen and gives excellent quality images without being too big and heavy. You can find these here https://amzn.to/448TED2 and the lens that we use here https://amzn.to/3Nj1brU – the lens is extremely important for low light.

One of the problems with the Sony camera is it is stabilised as well as the GoPro so we use this gimbal when out to smooth out the shots.

We use a lot of batteries when out and about so we have added these extra batteries with chargers to our collection https://amzn.to/3NDVtm4

This is our tripod which is great as it doubles as a monopod https://amzn.to/3p3IGzW – it’s lightweight and easy to carry around.

I love our camera bag, it’s easy to arrange things how you want to with individual compartments, it’s got a waterproof cover and you can strap the tripod to it https://amzn.to/3qRa0Si

We use Comica C3 wireless microphones so that you can all hear us clearly. They are a budget mic but really good for capturing dialogue as we are out and about. You can find these here https://amzn.to/3Nh32xF

These memory cards work really well for our 4K footage https://amzn.to/3Jmkj7e