RT @AntonioSabatoJr: FYI: Rob Reiner is so obsessed with making sure Trump goes to jail that he forgot he made over 17 trips to Epstein Isl… 6 days ago
Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered. - Dalai Lama
I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. - Bill Hicks
The status quo sucks. - George Carlin
“If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise.” – William Blake
Attention my fellow Survival Bros: Check our my new vehicle for car camping! The old 2.1 Liter Volkswagen Vanagon has been sold to a hippie. This 1994 Chevrolet G-20 van cost $2,000, and has 136,000 miles on it. I’m hopeful that the Chevy will be much more reliable than the 1986 VW bus I lived in for nearly 2.5 years! I must have had AAA tow my last ride 13 times to a mechanic or home.
#SurvivalBros is creating a new video series on vandwelling in this RV. You’re gonna want to see every episode of my travels. I’m bursting with information, and tips to share about living on the road. Share this vlog and blog post with friends into #vandwelling Subscribe today on YouTube HERE!
Hanging out at “Surfer’s Parking Lot” near The Cove in Seaside, Oregon. Checking the wave conditions and people watching along the coast.
The 1986 VW Vanagon runs into a problem on the commute to a Lifeguard training program in #Oregon My car just won’t stop honking due to cold weather. So odd. Please comment if you know how this car trouble issue can be fixed! Thanks for visiting our preparedness blog #survivalbros Follow by entering your email address above on the left side of the page. You’ll get all of the articles sent directly to your inbox, no spam, and we won’t give away your info. Thanks.
Come back often for #vandwelling updates and adventures in the wild.
Screenshot from the video. My RPM gauge is the only instrument that works in the VW Vanagon! I can’t figure out how to reset the clock either. Plus, the odometer and speedometer are broken, so I go the the GPS unit for more information on my drive sometimes. The van needs some love. My heater fan went out last summer, but will require taking off the dash.
Please like, comment, and share this vlog post with your friends. The Survival Bros community is really growing, and taking off – because of your help and support.
Watch our new HD video production to get ideas of easy meals you can create while living in your vehicle. I’ve been sleeping in my 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL, or vandwelling for eight months straight now. Being out there, and doing IT, teaches you what it takes to plan for a long road trip. However, maybe this blog post will inspire you to do more car camping. It’s been an amazing experience, and my pleasure to share with you. I’m so glad I’ve been able to see more of the Pacific Northwest while I’m young, wild, and free. Now I just need to find more stickers to paste on my VW Bus.
Many food suggestions shown in the YouTube video are also ideal for backpacking, because they are ready instantly with hot water. Other dishes, or side meals are fully prepared for consumption as is, such as the individually wrapped granola bars. I also eat plenty of fresh organic fruit, and drink spring or distilled water. No tap.
Tip: Use different sizes of Ziploc bags to store food items in, and label each kit with a permanent pen. You can compact the plastic storage sacks, and take most of the air out of them, so they are almost vacuum sealed, and take up minimal space. Then put the locked baggies in larger bins, or the pockets of your Everyday Carry backpack for safekeeping.
1986 VW Vanagon getting it done
Please SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel HERE! I will follow back if you make similar videos. Like, comment, and share this blog post with friends. Let us know if you are vandweller, and what your setup looks like. Visit the Survival Bros HD Videos page above for all of the latest adventures.
Car camping is one of my favorite blog topics. I hope you find it interesting too. Here’s a checklist of my top foods to store in your vehicle. Many items instantly turn into grub by adding hot water. I got ideas for the perfect van dwelling foods by watching YouTube videos of Thru Hikers packing for their long distance trips. Search for Pacific Crest Trail aka PCT, or Appalachian Trail Backpackers online.
Ziplock bags are a trusted way to keep organized. You can even write on the outside with a permanent pen to label things. Plus, plastic sacks maintain some protection from water, rats, an other elements. Let me know if you have any questions about my setup. Add several gallons of distilled and spring water (not pictured), and I’m ready to go off the grid for weeks. I’m stocked up on:
Honey with ginseng, bee pollen, and royal jelly
Drinks: water, aloe water, coconut beverages, teas, fruit juices
Soups in cans to heat and serve, and powdered packets
Protein Powder, plus various green powders (wheat grass)
Pasta Sides, and Dishes like Top Ramen
Dehydrated Food such as Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals (Apple Crisp is my favorite)
Fruit: Fresh Produce like apples and bananas, also fruit strips, bottles, and cans
Nuts and Seeds like Almond and Hemp
Granola Bars, and Oatmeal
Instant Coffee, instant milk
Condiments: Packets of butter, salsa, pepper, salt, raw sugar, mayonnaise, ketchup, and everything else Free and Holy
Canned meats: Flavored tuna, Spam, Chicken Salad with crackers
Survival Bros followers know I’ve been on the road all summer in my 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL. It’s ran strong for months straight. I will do a big summer review blog soon, but here’s a van update shot recently on my travels around the Pacific Northwest. Scope out the rest area known as Dismal Nitch. This Washington State Park is a historic location, because The Lewis and Clark Expedition ran into trouble here, and were pinned against the rocks for six grueling days. Harsh winds, and brutal rain pounded The Corps. of Discovery along the mighty Columbia River over 200 years ago.
My overnight stay was much more pleasurable. I was sheltered in my VW bus, protected from the elements. I took advantage of the facilities by dumping my trash, washing my hands and teeth, and cooking on a covered picnic table in grass. Dismal Nitch in WA also features a trail, informative maps, plus plaques about Lewis and Clark. As mentioned in my HD video, you can stay parked for up to 8 hours, but overnight camping, and tenting are not allowed. So keep a low profile, and pick up after yourself. This is an excellent destination for car campers, and travelers on a budget, or just wanting to get away from the static of the city.
I’ve spent the night in my vehicle here maybe six times this summer, and each trip has been a positive experience, and memorable. So it’s Survival Bros tested, and approved. Visit, because it’s probably the only rest area you’ll ever want to take a picture at. Snap a selfie, and post it on Facebook, because I also got great cell phone reception out there. The view of Astoria, and the bountiful river is astonishing, and extremely relaxing. The only cons are lots of lighting in the parking lot, possibly affecting sleepers negatively. The road noise is also noticeable, but luckily the highway is not heavily used. Thanks for supporting my blog! Feel free to comment, like, and share on social networks. Peace and love from the road less traveled.
Lewis and Clark Bronze Sculpture at Dismal Nitch Park in Washington State
Recently I camped in a Walmart parking lot on West 11th in Eugene, Oregon. In this HD video you’ll get the scoop on what it’s like to do some urban stealth camping in my 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL. It was noisy, and the space is well lit, but in general, I got great rest. It feels good to be somewhere, and not have to pay for the experience. This was a fun experiment, and I’d recommend it to any Survival Bros. out there. Staying at Walmart for free beats dropping hundreds for a night in a hotel. Would you try this? Live simple my friends. More videos about my summer road trip coming soon. Thanks for visiting my blog! Peace and love.
Survival Bros gives you a tour of the 1986 Volkswagon Vanagon, and discusses van dwelling. I use the Coast Products TX100 LED flashlight to show you how dark the windows are now with tint and black vinyl covering them. Look at the other gear I use and how, including my Kelty Recluse 2.5 insulated sleeping pad. You have to have some kind of mat to lay on to be comfortable camping.
I’ve been doing a great job of staying clear of local police. I continue to camp on private property with permission from the owner, or legally at camp grounds. Plus, by staying at designated rest areas, the cops can’t charge me with overnight camping. The police have better things to do anyways, like uphold their oath to The Constitution, and keep the peace. We know law enforcement is big fans of our emergency preparedness blog, so thanks for visiting! More adventures from the road soon.
I bought myself a dirty hippy van. Last week I took a gamble on a vintage Volkswagon Vanagon. I was her knight in shining armor. Her my companion for the open road. The adventure is on.
Take a look at how I found her in Hammond, Oregon. Plopped in a mud puddle. Unloved. Covered in bright green duct tape. My baby started right up, and I went for a test drive. The seller had to move immediately, so I scored the van for less than it’s worth – just $1,300.
Don’t duct tape your car kids. It sounds cool, but it’s NOT. I’ve spent four plus hours peeling tape off of the paint, and getting the goo removed with citrus cleaner. There’s still disgusting residue on it. Plus, there was some water underneath.
Look at it! Cleaning this should be a form of torture. My finger tips hurt.
She broke down on day two. Blew a hose and a belt. It cost $65 cash to get her towed across town to a trusted mechanic.
Yesterday I had to introduce my baby to Seaside Oregon’s finest surfing destination, The Cove. I shot this HD video walk around, and filmed the interior. I have lots of work to do, but at least the VW is clean. I scrubbed the carpets and upholstery, and they came out fresh, exceeding my expectations. Thanks to my Dad for helping gut her. It was a big job, but now the Vanagon is in acceptable camping condition. What should I name the Volkswagon? Lots more soon. Comment if you like. Best wishes.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 