8-months of city van life ruined me… (2-days of stealth van life in Seattle)

8-months of city van life ruined me… (2-days of stealth van life in Seattle)

8-months of city van life or stealth van life has been hard. There is constant pressure on you when you are living out of your van in a city. Where will you park? Where will you work? Where will you make your lunch?

Here is a glimpse into how I do my solo city van life.

00:00 city van life is hard
00:14 an honest glimpse into city van life
01:00 how to find a place to sleep every night
03:00 the perfect spot to park my van for the night
04:36 stumbling upon a perfect spot to sleep in the van
05:31 tips for city van life
07:54 why i’ve been stealth van living for 8-months…
09:13 twizzlers
13:10 getting back to the point, i want to leave the city asap
14:00 getting the goodies
14:49 recap on city van life after 8-months of sweaty naked bodies in a van
16:30 what you all came here for, lets be real

twizzlers: https://amzn.to/2TNDnF6

#cityvanlife #stealthcamping #stealthvanlife

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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremiahluke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahlukebarnett/

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I’m not going to run ads during my video because it crimps my style. Affiliate links are another way to support me (as an amazon associate I earn some money through these links).

My mobile work setup
Laptop stand: https://amzn.to/36PmE6X
Keyboard: https://amzn.to/3hSocUi
Mouse: https://amzn.to/3BvxqNO
Headphones: https://amzn.to/3kFelCT

My camera gear
Tripod: https://amzn.to/3eIhbTS
Camera clip: https://amzn.to/36SWXT6
Camera: https://amzn.to/3iDEJKX
Primary lens: https://amzn.to/3rvbSwf
Shotgun Mic: https://amzn.to/36PCAWW
GoPro: https://amzn.to/3hVeEbd
Mic: https://amzn.to/3x6teB3

THE BLENDER *trademarked Jeremiah moans not included*: https://blendjet.com/products/blendjet-2?variant=32478639718466

42 Comments

  1. HildaJoy ! on February 28, 2022 at 11:34 pm

    I just subcribed

  2. PNW 360 Pro Tours Photography on February 28, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    Nice to randomly meet you last weekend outside a Starbucks. I look forward to seeing more from your channel. 🙂

  3. Robert Fear on February 28, 2022 at 11:41 pm

    I think I’m calling bullshit.

  4. Jack Ryan on February 28, 2022 at 11:44 pm

    Shame your not in Melbourne. Perfect for stealth Van life.

  5. Allison Boston on February 28, 2022 at 11:45 pm

    What has your experience been like with apartment complexes? Do you think ones that aren’t gated and don’t have assigned parking would be ok to try?

  6. Corvus Strang on February 28, 2022 at 11:45 pm

    Each new episode is kind of like watching you slowly go crazy. Fascinating.

  7. Senick on February 28, 2022 at 11:45 pm

    +1 for the algo, this is gonna be good

  8. miguel intoexplore on February 28, 2022 at 11:47 pm

    This guy is amazing and entertaining 👏🤣

  9. Charles Moman on February 28, 2022 at 11:47 pm

    Jeremiah already knows me – so this is for other viewers.

    The purpose for our Ford 2018 Transit 250 conversion is traveling and camping – not living. We are not interested in "van life" – we love our long-ago-paid-for-home and small house on the other side of our driveway. I bought the small one-bedroom house for my mother to live in when she retired and she lived there for 20 years until her death. We now keep it for any of our grown kids if they come to visit. We may use it for Boondockers Welcome or AirBnB eventually.

    We camp at national parks, state parks, Harvest Host sites and Boondockers Welcome sites. And now and then we use a highway rest area – especially the I-70 Kansas rest areas that have a separate loop for RVs at night. I cannot see us doing city camping at all – ever. We will be back in the city in a few weeks at Colorado Springs – but it is a Boondockers Welcome site at a house in a nice neighborhood. We stayed there before earlier this summer. We go out on trips with destinations like RMNP or other places.

    Now that we have a self-contained vehicle, we will be doing more longer trips year round. Usually no longer than 3-4 weeks and then we happily return home.
    Our van is absolutely not stealth and I like it that way – it is not a work vehicle that might have tools in it. It is obviously an RV and we are parked almost all the time around other campers.
    I am a retired elementary music teacher – 70 soon – so we prepared for retirement and enjoying the freedom. Our van build tour – non-monetized – https://youtu.be/KzMCD3N78eY

    Be safe Jeremiah. No life coaching on this one! : )

  10. Aaron Jennings on February 28, 2022 at 11:48 pm

    I would like to see more of the city.

  11. Alex on February 28, 2022 at 11:49 pm

    How hard do you think it is to van life and work in downtown Seattle full time?

  12. Tammy Turbide on February 28, 2022 at 11:50 pm

    ☮️Love, Love, Love your videos..so funny!! I hope that’s the intention. 😃

  13. MR on February 28, 2022 at 11:52 pm

    Why don’t u drive to a nicer state?

  14. dilbot macguillacutty on February 28, 2022 at 11:53 pm

    Great job! Looking forward to the next interview….CUT!!!!

  15. BJJ Vanlifer on February 28, 2022 at 11:53 pm

    Is there overnight parking in Seattle? That makes things hard if you need a sticker

  16. SleepChop on February 28, 2022 at 11:55 pm

    Nice. I was doing this in my Prius. Cane up with pretty much the same strategy as you.

  17. Gifted Gringo on February 28, 2022 at 11:55 pm

    First mistake was going to Seattle.

  18. Van Gypsies on February 28, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    This is gold for people who are starting Vanlife .. I am still sketched out finding somewhere to park in a city and finding somewhere to park is the number one thing I hate about living in my van..
    “The knock” stresses me out so bad..shaking anxiety and everything..

    I tend to look for rest areas .. they usually have service and of coarse bathrooms & trash cans..

    Oh and you are hilarious 😆 I just left WA but want to go back so bad – how long you going to be there cuz it really is lonely 😩 and I haven’t met any other van dwellers in real life

  19. hcarpam1 on February 28, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    Great information. Working towards car camping first to see if I can do it and its my thing. Then ill investe in bigger rig. Appreciate your thoughts on loneliness.

  20. Mareh Smith on March 1, 2022 at 12:01 am

    Bro ur hilarious 😂. Subscribed

  21. Aco747lyte on March 1, 2022 at 12:01 am

    I’m glad you’ve been parking safe, Jeremiah. Again, watching and listening is making me feel better about myself. My friend is happy watching my reaction. She loves your vlogs, too. You are such a blessing. I am so grateful for finding you. I wish u were my brother. Honestly.

  22. jbaby007 on March 1, 2022 at 12:01 am

    I love your editing. How can I learn lol.

  23. Bill Nalen on March 1, 2022 at 12:07 am

    We just joined Harvest Hosts and really like it. Almost free stays, no stress and you run into other people doing the same thing.

  24. Nedra Sink on March 1, 2022 at 12:07 am

    Great episode, but now I can’t stop thinking about Twizzlers. I appreciate the honest take on solo life in a van, because I feel the way same way inside but haven’t started van life yet. I’m in the middle of an ambulance conversion. So I appreciate the head’s up that I need to build up a list of things I like to do (sans cell service).

  25. Ono T on March 1, 2022 at 12:09 am

    I only use neighborhood parking when absolutely necessary. People who walk their dogs at night are trouble, so I have been parking in and around a business/industrial area. There are signs referring to no sleeping in vehicles or camping, but I haven’t gotten a knock or a ticket…yet. I avoid parking near other vanlifers aka clumping. It’s a dead give away and draws attention.

  26. C Toth on March 1, 2022 at 12:11 am

    When you said “Amen”…. Hahaha that made me laugh so hard water came outta my nose. Sooo funny! I love all the clips you insert. And that canned kids voices of “yay”… you are very creative and your videos are so entertaining. Thank you for sharing yourself so authentically.

  27. Tess X on March 1, 2022 at 12:12 am

    I love your humor and editing. And your stealth van life logistics POV is really so helpful. Love your channel!

  28. Squid Trader on March 1, 2022 at 12:12 am

    Are there apartments that have street parking that don’t require a permit? People in home neighborhoods would know cars or vehicles that are not routinely there.

  29. Van Joy on March 1, 2022 at 12:13 am

    Dude…..duuuude

  30. jovany cuesta on March 1, 2022 at 12:16 am

    Twizlers are crack!!!

  31. NYCH FAN on March 1, 2022 at 12:16 am

    Another great video, had me laughing out loud at the end. The way you stealth camp is quiet and respectful. Where I live, it tends to be 2 old class c’s one night, and in about a week the spot starts looking like a homeless camp. It looks baaaaad. One reason I moved to a gated community. The only thing I’d say is be careful around apartments/condos/two stories. One look at your solar panels from above and they know it’s a home….or you’re a target for thieves. I guess not sleeping in the same spot helps….looks more like a visitor to a local resident. Plus your van doesn’t stand out with bright colors and all, could be a workvan for all folks know, lol! Thanks for the post, I always look forward to your stories. ✌❤🎶

  32. Imperfect Adventure on March 1, 2022 at 12:17 am

    Nice wine choice, one if my favs! Thanks for shedding light on this type of vanlife.

  33. bret easthouse on March 1, 2022 at 12:17 am

    It’s all about the edge of industrial areas that seep into residential zones. I always try to park amongst as many cars as possible. Never in parking lots. The way a lot of people’s vans look anyways people will be suspicious.

  34. Luke Borchardt on March 1, 2022 at 12:18 am

    It’s good you’re going into how you plan your parking. A LOT of people don’t take it into consideration. I did vanlife/carlife twice in Chicago and loved it. Thanks for sharing.

  35. White Phantom on March 1, 2022 at 12:18 am

    I ran away from my life 16 months ago and haven’t looked back. Only bought the van recently. Firstly, no one told me about that whole "white van" meme thing that happened some time ago. I don’t pay attention to that kind of thing. It is Pizza Gate level to me, but people seriously believe this stuff. So DO NOT buy a white van and think that you are in any way discreet. But thank you for the tips on finding parking spots. I’ve been getting seriously hassled lately…but partly my own fault. Mama told me not to talk to strangers.

  36. Hunter357magg on March 1, 2022 at 12:19 am

    I’m building my van rn, so this is invaluable info for me. Thanks so much! And the Discover pass-gold!

  37. Max Vax on March 1, 2022 at 12:24 am

    LOL, "Stealth camping" making Youtube Videos and having a Personal Spy device aka (Smartphone) on yourself. If someone would give a Fuck, they would stop you. Don´t be so Paranoid, nobody cares of you Park and Sleep in your Car.

  38. Van.Man.Cat on March 1, 2022 at 12:24 am

    So funny! 😂

  39. KathSlan on March 1, 2022 at 12:26 am

    great wine choice and info 👌

  40. Kevin Bemis on March 1, 2022 at 12:26 am

    Hi Jeremiah! Another good one! You asked what us non-Van Lifers would think about parking your van and, since I am one, I feel actually qualified to answer! After following you and a few others (yes, you are still my favorite – nobody else dances!) I would be less concerned now than probably ever before. However, we live in small town USA, in a country subdivision – basically described as no sidewalks and narrow road – which would mean the van would be on my grass in order to not block traffic <insert ‘get off my lawn’ meme here>. Still, I probably would not think twice for an overnight stop as I don’t pay much attention out front. Neighbors have visitors all the time and I would basically think you were visiting someone’s house. There is this troubling (to me) newer App called ‘Next Door’ where neighborhoods link up and report ‘suspicious’ activity. I am personally not a fan of how this App is used, I have even been ‘reported’ when I stopped my car to photograph a bird on a fencepost! They put out a cell photo of my vehicle, so who knows how long I will be considered an evil ‘murder suspect’! Bottom line is that it has to be tough on you to have to go through this so often just to get some rest.

  41. Thea Ouch on March 1, 2022 at 12:28 am

    Don’t be naked, put on spandex, legging, rash guard, or spat.

  42. Kiam Kuczynski on March 1, 2022 at 12:30 am

    What about truck stops

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