Is My Van Still Stealth? Van Life Urban Camping in San Francisco
Is My Van Still Stealth? Van Life Urban Camping in San Francisco
Support This Channel: http://www.patreon.com/elementvanlife
Stickers: http://www.elementvanlife.com/shop
Instagram: @elementvanlife
Hey everyone! I’m Nate. I live the van life full time out of a Nissan NV200 self built camper conversion. In this video I discuss stealth camping and spend a night on the streets of downtown San Francisco. Please like, subscribe, and feel free to ask any questions below!
This video is sponsored by Ridge Wallets.
Shop All
Use Promo Code “ELEMENT” for 10% Discount
Pop Top by GTRV
http://www.gtrv.com
============================================
Kodiak Link: https://glnk.io/p5q/element-van-life
Use Promo Code “ELEMENT” for 20% Discount
VIDEO GEAR
Camera – https://amzn.to/2MfTKEl
Main Lens – https://amzn.to/2uPMnMC
E-EF Adapter – https://amzn.to/2MmryQe
New Drone – https://amzn.to/2DlvJrE
Old Drone – http://amzn.to/2qm1VQJ
Microphone – http://amzn.to/2rBBrPM
Mini Tripod – https://amzn.to/2AZWgu9
Laptop – https://amzn.to/2T0xdf9
VAN BUILD GEAR
Solar Panel – https://amzn.to/2TlYGMD
Solar Generator: https://inergytek.com/discount/element
Mattress – https://amzn.to/2Utni2k
Trunk Liner – https://amzn.to/2UmzuSh
Insulation – https://amzn.to/2UpSu2D (10′ x 5′ Roll)
500 lb Counter Hinges – https://amzn.to/2EIpdcH
12v Fridge – http://amzn.to/2rC2Wca
More Gear – http://www.elementvanlife.com/shop
Using my Amazon link is a great way to support Element Van Life without costing you anything!
AMAZON LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/?tag=elementvanlif-20
============================================
Yee-Gads Nate!……grow a country-member and git the heck outta da CITY!!!
We used to live in the East Bay in Contra Costa County in Concord, CA. Older house on a matchbook lot, 26 1/2 miles to downtown SF. Cost: $550,000 for a 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath. Van life is MUCH more affordable and makes a whole lot of sense! Walnut Creek, CA (near Concord, CA) is a neat East Bay community with really good restaurants and shopping areas. Free parking there would not be a problem either and there are some beautiful areas there. Love your videos and that includes this one. You hit upon the basic principles of stealth camping—great job!
Actually, every residential street is so packed with parked cars that no one will notice your rig. Even nice areas.
Have you ever tried the parking garages?
Clickbait title. There’s NOTHING stealth about that van.
How do you keep your surfboard from being stolen? Doesn’t that attract unwanted attention from thieves? As well as making you less stealth?
Sorry for the questions, planning my own build and have these worries!
Great video Nate All positive for city parking Love your attitude and outlook
Weird that’s odd I thought all Planet fitnesses were 24 hours
$1.50/hour =’practically free’… 🤔??? $36/day, $1080/month. That’s rent, if not a mortgage, in most parts of the country. $10/hour to park??? Sorry, nothing in San Francisco is that interesting.
There’s a saying in San Francisco.
Even if you do not move around too soon, people will not notice you sleeping in your car, they may think you are visiting a family or friends in the area.
Hey Nate I completely hear ya I couldn’t pay 3 or 6 thousand for an Apartment
I am looking into this as an alternative thanks for sharing this post
Have you tried Curbflip?
https://listings.curbflip.com/en?category=san-francisco&view=grid
be careful where you step so you don’t step on a homeless person , or human crap or piss, also watch out for all the drug used needles on the ground and best of all , hope that the druggies don’t break into your van to try to steal something to help pay for their drug use. and "never" bend over to pick up change in that city lol !!
For the solar panel vs stealth… I always wondered about some sort of cover for the panel, like a bonnet or sheet, make it look more like a work van, add a work magnet for a business as well
Wrap your pizza in aluminium foil and put it in your instant pot, not that I’ve tried it before. : )
How are the police and neighbors in San Francisco about harassment and tickets? I heard Southern California is a problem from other stealth camping channels
1st test run in my new Ford transit. Started in Mississippi went to land between the lakes in the Kentucky area. Got back on interstate heading to st. Louis and with less than 600 miles on the van it started giving me trouble. Made it to Vienna Illinois to a Ford dealership. Throttle body easy fast fix. 4hours later the computer in the new van is messed up. They will order one tomorrow get it on Thursday fixed by Friday hopefully. The fun is just beginning. Hope to meet up soon
Try the Dog Patch neighborhood
Is it just me or are you and most people that say they are from San Francisco ignoring the big elephant in the room? The huge drug, homeless, and crime problems there.
You slept outside my office! We love walking the embarcadero.
I also got the van travel bug and had the same dilemma for the best van to buy. I also considered getting the pop top for standing room and an extra bed. I have considered Nissan, but like you mentioned the quality is not what it used to be, but is the lesser of evils (Ford, Dodge Promaster). I have looked at the Mercedes Metris, because it was non-American, but I didn’t like the fact that needs premium octane. It’s too bad Toyota does not have a commercial van available in North America, but exists elsewhere.
As for parking, there are residential areas in the city, Richmond and Sunset that are quiet neighborhoods to park. There are areas of commercial zones on Irving St., Noreiga St., Taraval St. If you want peace and quiet, you can park on Wawona St. closest to the Stern Grove park, on the street where the Sava Pool meets 19th Ave.
Glad to see you’re in the SF Bay Area. I live by Colma and if you need a driveway to park, shower, and a clothes washer available if you need.
damn having to move every night and have to pay, sounds like a pain
That was Carmel by the sea wasn’t it were that happened at and didn’t he tell you a good spot to go to
How did you get the Maxxfan installed to the roof of your van?
Have you thought about getting a folding bike?
It does take up some space inside, but the benefit is that you’d be able to leave your van parked more often.
Our shop is at 7th and Market, a mile and a half from your first parking spot. From there to here takes less than seven minutes by bike, less time than you might spend just finding a parking space.
Drop by the shop some time while you’re in town and I can show you the advantages.
Living for free where people pay 5k a month
I worked and stayed in my van last yr. Bbq at the parks, fished and crabed after work.
Do you really need to be stealth in sf? You could literally have drug needles all across the hood of your van and nobody would care.
How about a SF poo alert?
I love cities but I’d be concerned about my exposure to pollution if I were spending the day and the night at the roadside in a van.
hey I’m about to buy a sprinter van its all white with no windows do you think its stealth?
Damn 10 bucks a mintue that’s crazy
I think PBS did a documentary that showed three people living in SF in RVs. One made 15$ in van, one was NASA employee 69$k in large RV, last was $175k soft eng living in box truck(his company fed him had gym w/showers. Might need some societal adjustment to provide for mobile citizens.
How much do you spend over all in van life for a month/every month?
Why didn’t you just stay parked in front of Planet Fitness?
Does that hard wallet have shielding? Nice vlog. UK London here. 👍
No remote to open your doors?
LEO is not your average person, nobody is stealth to them. If your vehicle is not junk they might leave you alone.
Thank you for sharing your trip to San Francisco, I am considering now to buy your kind of car instead of promaster . It’s is more stealthy💝
Hi Nate, I’m Koala. I enjoy watching your vlogs and am kind of living through your van life. I want to do van life like right now but I feel a bit trapped in this rat race life.
So I have a question for you though… What do you do when you live out of a van and there is a bad thunderstorm with lightning or some other kinda storm happening or about to happen? What are your tips for preparing for something like this when living out of a van?
Thanks so much! Enjoy the rest of your day😃 Peace.
can you park on the mile street up the other side of the hills by twin peaks
Good vlog Nate. Glad it is stealthy enough for ya.
You are an inspiration!
Quick question: Can you see out of your limo tinted windows very well? What’s the visibility like during the day, and at night? Thanks!
Any advice for a future SF camper?!
Can you visit MT. Hamilton in San Jose, CA? I’d very much appreciate your perspective. However, it is a drive, make sure your tank is full and the time of day, if you would like to visit the Observatory.
Cold left over pizza is the best
Glad you found a day without rain to video. 👌🏾😄🤞🏾😁👍🏾