Living Your Best Life in a Van
Living Your Best Life in a Van
“How Bob Wells Lives His Best Life in a Van.” Bob Wells lives in a refurbished van. After hitting a new low in the wake of a divorce, with no money to lean on, Bob found a new lease on life when he hit the road in his van for the last ten years, reaching celebrity status from his popular YouTube channel where he shares how-toβs and inspiration for the van-dwelling set.
How Bob Wells Lives His Best Life in a Van | American Nomads, Ep. 1
Learn more about “Independent Lens”:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/independentlens
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndependentLens
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentlens/
Bob Wells’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/cheaprvliving
Executive Producers
Sally Jo Fifer
Lois Vossen
Director & Producer
Ben Wu
David Usui
Cinematography
Ben Wu
David Usui
Editor
David Usui
Sound Mix
Dan McHugh
VP of Production
Royd Chung
Senior Manager, Short-Form Content
Pamela Torno
Supervising Producer
Clare Chambers
Consulting Producer
David Casey
Associate Producer
Susan Cohen
Legal Counsel
Kathleen Conkey, Law Offices of Kathleen Conkey
Production Accountant
Ameena Din
Special thanks to:
KC Colter
Carolyn Merriman
Bob Wells
Cheap RV Living (www.cheaprvliving.com)
ITVS Contributing Staff
Senior VP of Content
Jim Sommers
VP of Content
Noland Walker
VP of Marketing & Communication
Lisa Tawil
Senior Counsel Business & Legal Affairs
Noah Wald
Senior Creative Director
Louise Cousins
Senior Director of Marketing
Daniel Ross
Senior Content Manager
Aldo Mora-Blanco
Post Production Supervisor
Joanna Goldfarb
Art Director
Michael Silva
Assistant Editor
Michael Steve
AMERICAN NOMADS is a co-production of LOST & FOUND FILMS and INDEPENDENT TELEVISION SERVICE (ITVS), with funding provided by the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (CPB)
This program was produced by LOST & FOUND FILMS, which is solely responsible for its content.
Β© 2019 Lost & Found Films, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We all know Bob is the human-form of Wikipedia for the Van Life community.
Bob this is your podcast that has inspired so many of us to become a nomad! In my belief it’s your best one! This is what gets us started.
Great Video!!! I was just talking about this on my latest vlog. Awesome stuff
Please and thank you
"Hey Google, what is Bob Wells Estimated Net Worth?" … "$540,000" π€
Iβve observed that a lot of homelessness derives from family breakdown and atomisation. Case in point. Bob is making the best of it and making lemonade from those lemons.
I relate to you and this life screams home to me. Nature is all I ever want to be in I don’t belong doing the city society thing. You are amazing Bob!!! Thank you for being you and also for now giving all of us the opportunity to be apart of vanlifeπ
He was amazing in Nomadland
Now with Biden in office, gas is more than rent ..lol.
#10th10thEveryear also world π homelessness day as well as world π mental health day #MHintoSDG3 #MHintoEducation
Any recommendations if traveling with 4 Huskies? We like away from crowds but have a Chevy van not 4×4
Love this man!
King Bob πππππ
I am joining the tribe.. thanks for the the information that you provide
Bud hope to meet you soon. I am from new York State. NOW retired.
Bob are you driving home later ? Nope, I’m home driving.
I have got to share… I have been camping/living out of a Prius V and got those screens you recommend a long time ago. They fit most all vehicles, and we’re really cheap, like 5 bucks for a pair. They are still working after 3 years. Their great. I just had to buy some velcro tape after the first year, which was also only 5 something
I wish I could find one 0f those American Nomads driving through my area, who until American Nomads have that whole big gathering event in Arizona they may be always alone in their RV or whatever else in that order that they travel in, and might want to have somebody in whatever they travel in for company. When I watched that video of them all at that big gathering, I felt they seemed like my kind of people I’d like to be with.
Bull shit
What a great service Bob provides for down and outers.
Real peace β
I retired one year ago from trucking, bought a Ford Transit van and moved into it. I recently gave up my storage unit. Now I’m complete!
Yes, home is where my heart is.
Love the tremendous support he has gotten,I love this life wish I was there
How can you keep your water from freezing if you don’t have the diesel heat to keep it warm
He talks a lot about nature but what about the environment from a van…
its dangerous to live alone and get hurt or very sick
im alone in a house cant get out much , bloods suckers want 1,200 a month to care for me
This lifestyle is not for everyone just like a Semi Truck Driver,,,being and feeling disconnected takes a little time,,hardest thing for me,,,missing that hot shower every morning,,,but that to will pass.
Bob, thks for your personal story. I admire your determination and your willingness to live your way. You are an inspiration.
maraming ganyan sa pinas nakakariton nga langβ¦ sila ang mga pinoy nomadsβ¦ πππ
I’m so glad too, that you make all these videos. You make me less scared of the future. And, now that I’m getting older was so scared. I’m not anymore. I’ve realized I have always lived by a lot of your principles. I too can do this, and make a difference in people’s lives. Thank you.
How do you live in a Van with no job?
Wow you have a second channel cool π
I did 30 years as an over the road truck driver. I hitched across this country for years before that, back in the late 70’s/early 80’s. In the truck I only fueled up at truck stops and stayed at either rest areas or Walmarts or find me a spot out in the middle of nowhere if I could. I carried food and water with me. I had two Burton one burner stoves. And this was long before Coleman or Igloo started making the coolers that plugged in the cigarette lighter. The old cooler with the ice…lol. I loved it. I am going to be on a semi retirement in one month, but I plan on spending a lot of time off in the woods here in Illinois camping. I enjoy the freedom, the traveling and the outdoors of the nomad life. Right now, I am unable to do the traveling because of my wife’s health issues, but the camping gets me outdoors. So, all of you….stay free.
Bob, I see you van is licensed as commerical. does it require a cdl?
living in a van…….down by the river……..Matt Foley
Amazing man!
But what is to do … when your know … a lot ….. acteurs, will follow you Even in a used cheap van, and deliver you with there stupidness and a lot more. Year … After year … After year … even without any Welcome sign.
Iβm very happy and proud of you mr. wells
I absolutely understand youβ£οΈ
Absolute truth. I was told that it was abnormal to live in a tent or van. I would rather be abnormal!
I’m living in a van down by the river!
If only I was an American Citizen. Canada doesn’t have anywhere to be in the winter. Hoping the borders open up soon!
Im in dire need of a van. Bradenton fl . My frriend said you help people.
Great film too ππ
"$3000 mini vans are a dime a dozen" Hmmm…. I guess you are better off buying them by the dozen!! This made me laugh.
I just turned 67 and now have my van. Finally. I first found Bob’s videos when I lived Hawai’i about 10 years ago give or take. As you all know Hawai’i is very expensive and I longed to have a better life. My wife passed away 4 years ago in Hawai’i and that set me free as I was her caregiver overworked underpaid not that mattered much so I moved to the mainland and to Pahrump, NV where I got to meet Bob at a HOWA Van Build. I got my van a 1995 Ford Conversion and now live full time in it. Thank You Bob for all the advice. I do run into him from time to time in town and he is always friendly and willing to say Hey How’s It Going? Bob from the bottom of my heart I Thank You for everything you have taught me.
Does anyone know what kind of AC he was reviewing? I couldn’t find it on his channel haha
Hey Bob, a lot of people in Canada could really use your help. I’m just starting and I have a minibus π I’m good but many others are not. Homelessness is an epidemic in Canada. Be safe ππ¦
Here after researching & writing Nomadland review