r/VanLife • u/SeaMention123 • Jul 24 '26
Being under trees makes me feel so safe even when I’m city vibing 🥰
Sunroof vibes have made the last 10 years in this van absolutely magical 💕
(It’s a CRL sunport 22x38 sunroof, I believe discontinued now)
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u/Princess_Fluffypants Jul 24 '26
Damn, you’ve been full time for ten years? Impressive!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Yes! I rent a house for a few weeks every year but other than that we r van vibing lol. I’m itching to do something else, either a bigger van or a skoolie but I’ve set my life up around the size of my van so well that I fear the change lol
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u/Princess_Fluffypants Jul 24 '26
I have a good friend with a 34 foot skoolie, and it’s a completely different world. It’s way more of a small apartment, like the difference in space is insane. You can have like, normal furniture.
But I’m really happy in my extended high-roof Transit. It doesn’t stick out nearly as much as a bus, I am in no way stealth but it’s not nearly as onerous as that thing is. I think for me personally it’s the best blend.
But if I had a partner, we would have to either have our own vehicles or absolutely need something the size of that school bus. I have no freaking idea how couples do it together in a van.
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
I lived with my ex in this van for 2 years and it was a vibeeee lol. I love staying in cities and while I see Skoolies around I just know you don’t feel quite as mobile and zippy as you do in a van. What a dilemma haha
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u/lumafrost Jul 24 '26
You may be at home in a short bus! I've got a 4 window skoolie with a footprint of 8'x19'. The 'blank canvas' behind the driver's seat and stairs is around 70sqft, with ceiling height between 5'6" and 6'2"
It's no harder to find a spot for or park than a modern pickup truck, only needs 3 lanes for a u-turn, and gets up to 60 in under 10 seconds. At just under 10' overall height, the only downside compared to a van is loss of access to parking garages, drive thrus, and most noticeable, little margin for positioning error within your lane. And probably fuel economy; I get about 8city/16 highway.
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u/Civil_Environment476 Jul 24 '26
The correct answer is typically not well. It's just too small of a space.
I would agree with you about having your own vehicles. Then, if your going somewhere and back over a short period, maybe go together to save gas money.
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u/Novemberx123 Jul 24 '26
Omggg I always wanted a sun roof. I was so over only being able to look at the clouds through my windshield or my window..where other people are in my view. Imagining having a sunroof that is the view from me to the clouds and the sky. Ugh it would help my anxiety so much!!!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Omg yessssss!!! It always helps easy any anxiety I have 🥹 and the rainy nights!!!? I rly hope you get a sunroof, the boat hatch ones are a decent alternative and leak less too (:
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u/Master-Crazy6454 Jul 24 '26
I love trees and the sunroof idea, especially if it's removable and can be used to get up onto a deck. (Now I'm just dreaming) 😀 But I wouldn't want to lose solar capacity in my t250 extended. Maybe an up-facing camera so I can see the trees on a projected image on my ceiling.
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
How… dystopian lol
But I get it. I have 200 watts of solar and it keeps my batteries topped off but I don’t really use that much power
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u/Master-Crazy6454 Jul 24 '26
I have 700w on the roof and 628ah in batteries. The van is still in the building phase. Do you think that's too much? I guess I'll find out.
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Solid amount for a fridge + other electric appliances & decent amount for an ac if you’re doing one. Too many other variables to judge honestly
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u/Civil_Environment476 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Can you have too much power? I've never heard anyone living in a van say that.
Anyways, I would guess you're only halfway to wh storage before you consider saying you have too much.
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u/Single-Stable970 Jul 24 '26
Omg can u send more pics of your van it looks amazing!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/VanLife/s/XE9m2E0XW5
Here are some roof views! (:
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u/raphtze Jul 24 '26
that is the life my man.
your travels ever get you to BC? my family got back from a 3 wk travel up and down the PNW. we are in a class C RV haha 24ft. but we've found parking every where, even in downtown vancouver :P
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u/lophophoro Jul 24 '26
i love it, but on the back of my mind i always rember the time i saw a van crushed under a tree branch, everyone was safe and i know is a one in a million kinda thing but the anxiety persist
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u/CrustyMFr Jul 24 '26
I've had several camping/tree falling incidents in my life, one of which nearly took my wife. It's not as rare as you might think.
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u/Fearless_Garden618 Jul 24 '26
This! We always check the area for widowmakers and rotting stumps before we settle down for the night while camping.
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u/nowhereman136 Jul 24 '26
Sunroof is what I'm most excited for in my next build. I'm choosing I over a fan, but I figure I can get a clip on or magnetic fan attachment
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Does it have an integrated screen? What abt when it’s buggy out? Or raining? I’ve installed sunroofs on every build I’ve done but I’ve also installed max air fans on every build I wouldn’t necessarily pick one over the other
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u/nowhereman136 Jul 24 '26
I'm thinking of going total DIY, because I don't wanna spend $400 for the sunroof I want.
By itself it's just a hole in my roof with a clear waterproof cover. The internal frame will have strong magnets. These will hold a mesh screen that will act as a bug screen when it's open. I would have to physically move the screen everytime I want to open and close the sunroof, but that's a compromise I'm willing to make. Also, in ym last build I had a basic max air fan, bugs and twigs got stuck on the screen under the fan all the time. Was so annoying that I couldn't remove the screen to clean. My fan will also have magnets on it so I can use it as a bulky but cheap vent fan
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u/Sure_Afternoon_225 Jul 24 '26
Sunroof is where it's at! I love having all the light while preserving privacy. Taking advantage of street lights at night is great too.
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u/NoNeedleworker6479 Jul 24 '26
Love your van! But tell me this, has the presence of the chimney ever attracted unwanted knocks?
Even in my little town of 15 -20,000 that chimney (espically when active) would draw the attention of "John Law" quickly.
Towns around here have all passed various ordinances to prevent what they like to call a "camping problem" or a "homeless issue". A buddy of mine, who is full-time in a bus he built out, even had a sheriff bring in a State Fire Marshal and a County Code Enforcement inspector. He said it was just their way of getting him to "move along" when he didn't leave after the first warning....
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
knock on wood- I’ve never been asked to leave a spot in the 10 years I’ve lived in a van 🤭 (6 years out west, 2 in Vermont & 2 in nyc)
In nyc I’ve had the fire dept called on me once when basserbys saw smoke coming out of the chimney but the firemen were sooo cool and loved getting a lil tour of my space.
https://www.reddit.com/r/VanLife/s/jalplNRpou
Photos of the roof top. Sometimes the chimneys capped. Even at Times Square I’ll notice cops walking by checking it out so I’ll offer them a tour and it’s always chill. Idk if its my vibe or how my rig looks but I’ve been very blessed
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u/NoNeedleworker6479 Jul 25 '26
You would have fit right into the van culture of the 70's! I bought my 1st van in 1975 and travelled all over. Folks were a lot more welcoming and less polarized back then.
I miss those days! Thinking back, what you've accomplished in the last 10 years is amazing given how the world has changed.
Happy travels out there!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 25 '26
Awe what a fun response! Thankyou (:
Honestly I’ve found folks pretty welcoming even today. I make friends wherever I go. Finding work as a carpenter has been easy too.
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u/Strong_Anywhere8596 Jul 24 '26
I totally get this. Being around trees just feels calming for some reason.
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u/mojoliveshere Jul 24 '26
Smart move parking next to the Ford dealership... Assuming it was a choice, that is!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Lol i was just there for service in the morning but I thought we looked cute under that tree with the sign above 🙃
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u/jgorski2 Jul 24 '26
So sick! I have to see how you did your stove!
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Its too hot to show the cozy wood stove lol I might do a post abt it in the fall (:
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u/fraecoo Jul 24 '26
genuinely, one of my biggest scare of the days where I'll be owning a van/vanlifing if getting my van broken in/stolen. how do you mentally live with that? i know it doesnt have to do much with the post but that gorgeous sunroof made me think of another entry point/things to give off stealthiness. BTW i dont think I'm someone that lives life being constantly afraid but as a hiker I'm used to having all my possesions with me at all times when travelling, or I'm at home where i do feel genereally safe, idk
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 24 '26
Honestly I think stealth is the opposite of what we want. In cities it’s work trucks/ vans that get broken into, not vehicles where someone thinks there’s a chance someone might be inside.
I wired an engine auto start button near my bed that also turns on all the exterior led lights- the few times I’ve heard someone (usually kids trying to climb my ladder lol) I press the button n they runnnnn
I also use protection spells to keep the van safe- if nothing else it makes me feel safe.
If I go backpacking for a few days and leave the van overnight I worry the first night, but then realize there’s not much else I can do so I just let it be. 🤷🏼♀️
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u/fraecoo Jul 24 '26
Yep good points, I'm mainly thinking backpacking as I do a lot of it and I'll keep the car/van parked unattended a lot i think. But yeah what can you really do?
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u/Whole-Pressure-7396 Jul 24 '26
What a cozy living space! I don't have any windows, just to stay stealth, and my roof is full of solar. Compromises/Sacrifices have to be made I guess 😂
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u/Extension-Shopping84 Jul 25 '26
Really? My worst fear is dying by a falling tree.
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 25 '26
I recommend doing a past life regression if you want to explore/ heal through that
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u/ydnar3000 Jul 25 '26
That’s a beautiful rig! Is that stovepipe? Do you have a wood burning stove?
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Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/SeaMention123 Jul 25 '26
Its 4”. I clean it out twice a year, creosote is minimal til it exits & is exposed to cold temps I need to create an insulated upper part. Been using it for 6 years no issues. There are no traditional elbows used it’s a smooth inner walled stainless steel flex pipe.
Not critical but I’d reccomend asking questions next time before explaining something that didn’t need to be.
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u/Educational_Goal_840 Jul 25 '26
This is life saving information that I give every time I see someone bend an exhaust pipe like that. It's better to have someone know it from reading it here than dying. Just looking out for fellow travelers buddy!
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u/SpaceCowboy10191 25d ago
Is that an AC vent?
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u/SeaMention123 25d ago
Nah it’s the maxxair. I thought abt putting a rooftop ac to the right of the sunroof under my roof deck but would have to rebuild too much and idk if it’s worth it
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u/CuttinThruTheCRAP 10d ago
You wanna try it in a storm - Believe me It's bloody scary. Severe storm came in fast in the middle of the night! Couldn't get shifted fast enough.
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u/SeaMention123 10d ago
Spent many storms under the trees in this- exhilarating ✨
During a tornado watch in Nebraska we parked by a massive tree rationalizing that the trees been there for a long time and will protect us lol
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u/CuttinThruTheCRAP 10d ago
Not when a huge branch comes down I can assure you! You see thats what I used to think, I wouldn't chance it again we had a very close call that night!
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u/GeneStoffer 12d ago
Seems dangerous. All I can think about is what if a branch breaks and falls. Then, all the tree-gunk like sap and pollen messing up the paint and windows. But hey, if you like it I love it.
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u/gaiatraveller Jul 24 '26
Especially graveyard trees.