Van Life Lab

This is one you do NOT want to forget. Wether you're full timing or building a pleasure rig for long weekends you will need a bathroom solution all the same! One thing you may not realize is just how many bathrooms you will encounter on the road. So many that many times you might feel like you can get away without an on board composting or casette toilet. BUT! During the times you do need a to...

For us summertime is the hardest time to live in a van just because of the heat. Your cargo van is essentially a metal box that is very prone to heating up, so listen to see what you can do starting when you first place your new van order. Of course these will be the insulation factor that will help you stay cool, but then there are also many lifestyle factors that you can optimize once on the roa...

Join Eric and Kayla this week as they discuss the mindset you both need and will develop going through a van build that will ultimately prepare yourself for life on the road. DIY van builds are daunting tasks. There is so much self learning that happens that really tests you as a person. It tests your adaptiveness, ingenuity, flexibility, temper, patience, and more. If you can make it though your...

In Episode 13 of The Van Life Lab Podcast we are so excited to dive into part two of the Van Life on the Pan-American Highway Series.  This time we are focusing on the Arctic portion of the Pan-Am including Canada and Alaska. We talk all about the route(s) specifically through the NW Territories portion of the Pan American Highway and what to be prepared for in terms of road conditions.  Kayla sha...

Complete Guide To Campervan Water Filtration Campervan Water System Guide Water filtration is extremely important as a van lifer. Even if a water source is labelled as "potable", bacteria and viruses can still be picked up between the water source and entering your tank. In this episode of the Van Life Lab, we share the science behind water filtration methods & how you can pick the b...

In episode 11 of The Van Life Lab podcast, we talk we cat owner, biologist, and dog trainer, Kayla Fratt, about all things Van Life with a cat.  We start off by hearing her story about how she became the proud owner of “Ditch Cat”, a stray cat she found just weeks before embarking on the Pan American Highway.  Which of course leads us into discussing her van life journey along the PanAm with 2 dog...

Resources Mentioned: Internet on the Road (the Ultimate Guide) Kayla's Laptop Shade Van Life Work Setup Guide Show Notes: Maintaining a job while pursuing van life is a must for the majority of us nomads. Contrary to popular belief, we're not actually all trust fund babies (although wouldn't that be nice?). So that means working from the road. Listen to Colby and Kayla share their pers...

Another Solo Episode between Eric and Colby where they dive into one of their favorite topics: Building Vans with 80/20 Extruded Aluminum. Here is an outline of our discussion. 0. As a reminder, if you're looking to get your hands on some 80/20, if you purchase through our link then 5% will automatically be taken off your purchase price when you check out! Help support this new podcast and the...

Colby and Eric dive into how to get reliable internet in your van so you can keep your remote job and live nomadically. Read our Ultimate Guide to Internet on the Road here. Peplink Routers and MIMO Antennas : We'll jump right into what we have found to be the BEST solution for generating RELIABLE internet on the road. That is the combination of a mobile router, such as the Peplink Transit Duo...

In this episode Kayla and Colby dive into Solo and Solo female van life.  Of course the obvious place to start is with van and travel security, but then they get into less frequently discussed topics like loneliness, finding community on the road, and handling the day to day chores on your own. Detailed Show Notes: https://vanlifelab.engineerswhovanlife.com/solo-van-life Resources Mentioned:...

Have you ever wanted to take your van life journey south of the border?  Talk to Kayla as she travels along the Pan-American Highway from Alaska all the way to Patagonia.  Hear about how she prepares for border crossings and what she does when she's asked for bribes.  Learn about the general processes each country takes at their border and all the documents you need to be prepared....

In this episode Eric and Colby dive into the theory of heat transfer and apply the concepts insulating your van for van life.  At the end they reveal everything they did to ready their van Rover for the colder Colorado winters. Recap conductive, radiant, and convective heat transfers and how to control them with mass insulations and radiant barriers.  Also learn the truth about vapor bar...

Are you thinking of getting on the road with your pup?  Already on the road and wondering what it might be like to get a dog?  Hear what certified dog trainer Kayla Fratt has to say about selecting the right dog for van life, and in particular your unique van life journey.  Hear how size, breed, activity level, age, and so much more come into play as well as your own personal habits...

In episode 3 of Van Life Lab, we dig into the three most common chassises people choose from vanlife.   We talk about their similarities, their differences, their pros, and their cons.  And, we provide you with a framework of questions you can ask yourself so that you can choose what is best for you! Resources Mentioned: How to Install Flares  to Make Your Rig Wider Step by Step: How to Build a Ca...

Welcome back to the Van Life Lab podcast!  This week we are Introducing co-host Kayla Fratt.  Kayla has lived in her van for almost three years now and is a professional dog trainer, conservationist, freelance writer, and much more!  Learn how Kayla fell into van life, what she loves about it, and where she is headed!

Welcome to the Van Life Lab Podcast!   Meet Eric and Colby - two of the three co-hosts to this brand new podcast!  Collectively know as the Engineers Who Van Life, they built their ultimate adventure van rig and now work and travel full time all over the US.  Passionate about all things self built DIY vans, they love helping other like minded people build the professional level DIY...

Join Eric and Colby (Engineers Who Vanlife) and Kayla (Collies Without Borders) for a new podcast. We'll share technical expertise and tips for the trials and joys of vanlife, from building your own van to winter vanlife to battery questions to international vanlife. We're so excited to have you along for the ride! New episodes will drop each Monday starting January 30.