VandemoniumBefore I picked up my rental campervan and headed off around New Zealand's North Island, I took the chance to visit the Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor show in Auckland. It was very interesting to see the range of RVs in NZ compared to what we have in the UK - and to see so many of them oriented towards outdoor living and cooking whereas we just know it's going to rain...
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
41. The Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor Show, Auckland 2020Vandemonium2020-04-09 | Before I picked up my rental campervan and headed off around New Zealand's North Island, I took the chance to visit the Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor show in Auckland. It was very interesting to see the range of RVs in NZ compared to what we have in the UK - and to see so many of them oriented towards outdoor living and cooking whereas we just know it's going to rain...
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Merry Christmas from VandemoniumVandemonium2023-12-25 | A quick message wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2024, with apologies for not having posted any videos lately.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.86. Is a 6-person living space any use with the campervan?Vandemonium2023-09-12 | I recently bought a "6 person living space" tent-like thing from Tesco which was on clearance at just £15. This is the video of me putting it up and testing it for the first time, to use as a cheap awning substitute.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.85. A field full of self-built campervans!Vandemonium2023-07-31 | Willow Fields campsite at Haxey near Doncaster held a weekend for self-build campervanners and it was great fun.
The YouTuber I was watching was Tom Buck: youtube.com/TomBuck (@tombuck) who does excellent videos about filming and sound gear. Yes, I was watching at 1.75x speed, I watch most YT like this!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.84. Help! Your advice is needed.Vandemonium2023-06-18 | I'm looking for suggestions and help with reworking the legs for my campervan bed and this video explains the issue.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.83: A weekend at the VanLife Festival at Shrewsbury 2023!Vandemonium2023-06-07 | I spent a weekend at the VanLife Festival in Shrewsbury along with hundreds of other vans, motorhomes, tents etc.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.82. I review the Viofo 4K Dashcam (A139 Pro)Vandemonium2023-05-13 | Viofo sent me their latest 4K dashcam, the A139Pro to have a look at and as I was considering getting a dashcam anyway, I thought I'd have a look.
DISCOUNT CODE (UK and US) Viofo say to enter "Vandemonium" at checkout to get 5% off at Amazon or $20 off at their website.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.81. I have Famous Visitors from overseas and I get my electrics checkedVandemonium2023-05-03 | Once again the campervan was pressed into service for my filming on Cruising The Cut, resulting in two car park stays, one in North Wales - where I introduced some Very Important Guests to the joys of narrowboating - and one in Milton Keynes. Plus I went to have my new lithium / inverter etc electrical system checked over by the professionals at Bluefix who are qualified and authorised Victron installers.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, here's the link: ko-fi.com/davidjohns Or if you're in very generous mood, you can chip something my way monthly at patreon.com/cruisingthecut
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.80. Battle stations! Inverter vs electric kettleVandemonium2023-04-10 | Continuing from the cliffhanger of the last video, this one sees me debug the problem which switched off the induction hob and go on to test the new inverter & battery setup with both the hob and an electric kettle.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.79. Oh no! Did I blow up my inverter with an induction hob?Vandemonium2023-04-05 | An episode in which I complete (almost) the wiring on the new lithium battery / bigger inverter setup in my campervan and begin to test it whereupon disaster apparently strikes!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.78. How should I arrange the new campervan electricals?Vandemonium2023-03-08 | A very long and quite possibly riveting video in which I ponder the possible locations for the new Ecotree Lithium battery and the Renogy 2kW inverter in the campervan along with the associated other bits and pieces.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.77. Visiting the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2023Vandemonium2023-02-26 | As so many people seemed to like peering round different campervans in the last video, and as the CCM show was on again at the NEC, I bought a last-minute ticket and went along on the Friday to see if anything caught my eye.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, here's the link: ko-fi.com/davidjohns and thank you!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.76. Peering around campervans in NottinghamVandemonium2023-02-22 | I've been given a lithium (LiFEPO4) battery for my campervan by EcoTree Lithium, a brand from Nottingham-based motorhome dealer Oaktree Motorhomes. In this video, I go to collect that battery but spend most of my time nosing around their stock of vans for sale.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.75. Sorting the plumbing in the campervanVandemonium2023-02-10 | Having replaced the sink in the new worktop, I needed to sort out the sink outlet for waste water and the supply pipe from the main tank. This proved irritatingly troublesome, as you will see!
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, here's the link: ko-fi.com/davidjohns and thank you!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.74. Wrangling the new campervan worktop to stay in placeVandemonium2023-01-31 | Another classic case of frustration and banging my head against the wall as I try to fix the new campervan worktop in place whilst also making it removable in case I need to do so in future.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, here's the link: ko-fi.com/davidjohns and thank you!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.73. Cutting the campervan worktop for the new sinkVandemonium2023-01-21 | While the new diesel heater ran for two hours as per the installation instructions, I didn't want to leave it unattended so I turned my attention to cutting the new worktop including holes for the sink and tap (faucet).
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, here's the link: ko-fi.com/davidjohns and thank you!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.72. First test of my campervan diesel heater (Planar / Autoterm)Vandemonium2023-01-12 | In what is arguably my dullest video yet - and that really is saying something - I present a few minutes of me touching my hand to an exhaust pipe and saying "yes, it's hot" as I do the first test run of the newly-installed Planar / Autoterm diesel heater in the campervan, as well as CO checks and making sure the van isn't about to be set alight.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.71. Finishing the diesel heater installation in my campervanVandemonium2023-01-04 | In which I show you what further installation I did over Christmas and then do the final bit needed to get the heater ready for its first test run.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Christmas Day message to my viewersVandemonium2022-12-25 | Just a quickie to say merry Christmas and thanks for continuing to watch the videos. Best wishes for all of us in 2023!
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.70. A chat about safety issues with my campervan diesel heater installationVandemonium2022-12-07 | Bit of a chat explaining my choices on the diesel heater install which, while not optimal "by the book" are still OK, I believe, and if not I only have myself to blame.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.69. Replacing my campervan propane heater with a diesel one (Part 1)Vandemonium2022-12-01 | Continuing the recent series of videos where I dismantle much of what I built before and replace it with a completely different system, here's Part 1 of me taking out the Propex HS2000 LPG (propane) air heater and replacing it with an Autoterm (Planar) diesel unit. Be warned, I don't get very far and the keen-eyed viewer will spot I end up with it the wrong way around, which will be fixed later!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.68. Continuing to demolish the inside of my campervanVandemonium2022-11-07 | This is part 2 of a project to remove all gas (propane) from my self-built campervan and replace it with a lithium battery system with induction cooktop and diesel heater. In this part, I take out the gas pipes and remove the hob & sink as well as the Propex heater unit.
It's very long and is, like the last one, mostly me getting annoyed at things not coming apart. You have been warned.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.67. Removing the LPG (Propane) Gaslow cylinder from my campervanVandemonium2022-10-16 | Best watched at double speed unless you're some kind of masochist, this is largely half an hour of my legs sticking out from under the van while I grumble about why I can't remove bits. But the gist is that I was taking out the filler pipe for the Gaslow tank, along with the tank itself. This is Part 1 of the process, part 2 will come when I've done it.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.66. Briefly visiting Carmarthen (ish) in the campervanVandemonium2022-09-02 | This is a very quick little vlog in which nothing happens but it documents my recent trip to Ferryside near Carmarthen in south Wales, where I was doing some filming for my Cruising the Cut channel. I also meet some old friends.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.65. Classic cars by campervanVandemonium2022-07-26 | I went down to Henley-on-Thames for the annual Thames Traditional Boat Festival (that video is over on my Cruising the Cut channel) and stayed in the campervan so I made this vlog of the trip from the van perspective. The Festival includes a decent display of classic cars too, so that's what I've focused on here.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.64. Party time in Stratford-upon-Avon (International Campervan Show)Vandemonium2022-06-09 | Early June saw the early summer appearance of the International Campervan / Adventure Overland Show at Stratford racecourse. I was there in the YouTuber section, along with loads of others. There was cake and tea and lithium batteries galore.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.63. A quick blast up to Scotland in the campervanVandemonium2022-05-31 | I went up to Scotland to film a two-day canal procession for my Cruising the Cut channel, so I recorded this vlog of the campervan side of the trip.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.62. The hills are alive, to the sound of wheezingVandemonium2022-05-15 | With a lovely, sunny day forecast I took the opportunity to drive to Malvern in the campervan and spend a pleasant morning and afternoon walking up to the top of the hill. Later there was a sandwich.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.61. Getting toasty & making a McDonalds McBreakfast McBagelVandemonium2022-04-29 | This is part 2 of my long weekend away in Retford in the campervan, in which I try out a toasting gizmo sent to me by a viewer, and try to recreate a recreation of a McDonald's breakfast bagel, as seen on the AdzVentures channel.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.60. At last! My cheese sandwich recipe is revealed!Vandemonium2022-04-16 | This is Part 1 of 2 of a weekend trip I took to Retford in Nottinghamshire, purely for the fun of some time away in the van. Includes a tour of the campsite and me making a cheese sandwich.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.59. Hunting for a compact motorhomeVandemonium2022-02-25 | The Camping, Caravanning and Motorhome show is up and running again (and was packed) and I went along with a mission to find a compact motorhome or large campervan, with a shower, fixed bed, and comfy lounge area.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.58. What I bought my campervan for ChristmasVandemonium2022-01-21 | A very quick video looking at some very simple improvements to the campervan with some bits I bought it for Christmas.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Merry Christmas!Vandemonium2021-12-25 | A quick message at Christmas to all my subscribers. Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2022! Cheers, David
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.57B. Van Vloggers at the International Campervan Show at Stratford, 2021Vandemonium2021-11-10 | This is purely a bonus video, not a proper vlog, comprising very brief interviews with some of the vanlife vloggers and Instagrammers that I met at the International Campervan Show at Stratford upon Avon in September 2021. They each mention who they are and a few seconds about their van.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.57. The International Campervan Show / Adventure Overland Show 2021Vandemonium2021-11-01 | In September 2021 I was kindly invited to join an array of van vloggers and Instagrammers at the International Campervan Show / Adventure Overland Show at Stratford-upon-Avon. I spent just over 3 days there and this is my record of the event.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.56. The Late Brake Show in Leicestershire, 2021Vandemonium2021-10-21 | Filmed a few weeks ago (11 September 2021) so apologies for the tardiness in editing, here's a quick overview of my day trip in the campervan to Jonny Smith's "Late Brake Show" Live event near Leicester.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.55. A one-night campervan trip in LondonVandemonium2021-10-04 | A few weeks ago, I popped down to London in the campervan for a very quick meet with Lorna of @lornajaneadventures and this is the account of that trip.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.54C The Mega-Q&A Finally Finishes (Pt 3 of 3)Vandemonium2021-09-15 | At last, it's the third and final part in the trilogy of Q&A videos, prompted by your excellent queries submitted recently.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
Timestamps 00:00 Video begins 00:32 Would you ever do full time van life? 01:34 Do you enjoy boat living more than the van? 02:08 Which is more cosy, van or boat? 03:08 Would you leave the boat for the van? 03:20 Will you move to a house? 04:02 Any difference between van and boat people? 04:28 Pros & cons of van life vs boat 05:20 What do you miss about the boat when in the van? 05:38 Favourite van styles? 05:49 Types of cheese 06:16 Will you make a branded cheese? 07:14 Which Scooby Doo character are you? 07:31 Noodle choices 07:38 Van Morrison or Van Halen? 07:43 Do you like squirrels? 07:58 Dealing with hot days in the van 08:16 Do you use the van loo? 09:34 Do you use the shower tent still? 10:16 Did you replace the tent pegs? 10:26 Did you buy a toaster? 11:04 Best gadget ever bought? 11:58 Did you ever think of building a TV reporter van? 13:15 How did you build your water system? 13:28 Do you use water purifiers? 13:59 What did you expect van life to be like? 14:15 Does the van wobble when you ... "live" in it? 14:51 Where do you store the window covers? 15:06 How difficult is full time van life? 15:12 How much more does it cost to have a camper over a car? 16:16 Has your life improved since leaving employment? 17:26 Favourite hidden thing in the van? 17:33 What do you forget to bring to the van? 17:49 How does your van cope with wet ground? 18:42 Do you have a job? 19:49 Would you include a partner in your videos? 21:01 Favourite van vloggers? 21:18 Did the conversion affect the van's handling? 22:00 Favourite / longest trips 23:17 Will you rent your van? 23:29 Are you claustrophobic in the van? 23:53 Best and worst aspects of having a van vs boat 24:42 Benefits of campervan over caravan? 26:28 Ever had any critters in the van? 26:48 Mould and damp 27:46 Have you named the van? 28:04 Van mileage when bought? 28:09 How long before the engine breaks?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.54B. Campervan Q&A Part 2 (of 3)Vandemonium2021-09-08 | "Good grief, will the Q&A never end?", you may be asking yourself! Well, you asked so many questions 😀 So here is part two of what is now a three part series.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
Questions & timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:43 Have you considered an awning? 02:08 Did you learn from your NZ camper? 02:52 Any further improvements needed? 06:35 Conversion cost? 06:48 Will you build another van? 07:11 What next for Vandemonium? 08:27 Describe your ideal van 09:23 Is the van affordable and reliable? 10:52 Would you fit out a narrowboat? 11:53 Any plans to return to land? 12:57 Is the van a necessity for boat life? 13:20 How do you move between van and boat? 15:26 How do you store the van? 17:02 Do you SORN the van? 17:34 Do you have a land residence? 18:49 Van insurance 19:52 How did you manage to reclassify the van as a camper? 20:34 Does the van save you money on trips? 21:06 Do marinas charge you for parking? 22:08 Fuel consumption? 23:02 How many miles have you done in the van? 23:20 Does filming enhance or spoil your trips? 25:10 Will you make more van vlogs? 26:30 Is the van just for videos? 27:15 Is running 2 YouTube channels difficult? 29:13 What do you do when not filming?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.54. My Campervan; Question and Answer Part 1 (of 3)Vandemonium2021-08-23 | It's the first of a mega 3-part Q&A! Dare you watch all the way to the end?
Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:05 Adventure Overland Show announcement 02:18 Q&A begins 03:25 UK campsites 16:19 Travel plans 19:15 Looking back at the build
Tools & Parts used for the campervan build: Portable toilet: geni.us/Van_Toilet
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.53. Visiting Stroud and Gloucester in the campervanVandemonium2021-07-07 | The van had to go for its annual MoT safety check and immediately afterwards I needed to visit Stroud to look at a roundabout, then onto Gloucester for some canal filming. So I made this vlog of the journey.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.52. Film CrewVandemonium2021-06-06 | In the last couple of weeks, I've used the campervan as a mobile base for filming narrowboat videos, including trips to Boston in Lincolnshire and Tring in Hertfordshire. So I also filmed the van bits to make this hotch-potch of a vlog.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.51. Carpark Campervanning - Part Two!Vandemonium2021-04-08 | The thrilling sequel to "carpark campervanning part 1", this episode sees me drink more tea, eat more food, and sit on hold for almost an hour as I try to complete the UK census.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.50. A weekend in the campervan - in a car park! (Part 1 of 2)Vandemonium2021-03-27 | Being unable to stay away from home overnight at present due to lockdown restrictions, I decided to have a weekend "away" in the van in the car park. This is part 1 of that exciting tale.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.49. Campervan toilet: revised versionVandemonium2021-03-02 | At long last, I made an upgrade to the site of the portable Dometic toilet in the campervan, giving it a dedicated space which is easily accessible both for use and for taking the toilet out for emptying. This finally frees up the space next to it for permanent storage too.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.48. Campervan cupboards: finished!Vandemonium2021-01-13 | #campervan #vanlife #selfbuild #DIY This is Part 3 of this project to replace the poor original overhead shelf and corner cupboard with a much better overhead cupboard and new corner unit.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.47. Re-routing the campervan lights & fan wiring Part 2Vandemonium2020-11-27 | #campervan #vanlife #selfbuild #DIY Part 2 of the project to re-route the wiring to the ceiling lights and ventilator fan so that I can remove some plastic ducting which is in the way of my new shelf/cupboard/cabinet thing.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.46. Re-making the cabinets in my DIY campervan (and rewiring too) Part 1Vandemonium2020-11-05 | I never liked the corner unit at the back of the van - it was badly made (by me), looked grotty and didn't hold much in when going round corners. Plus the shelf over the kitchen wasn't much better. So, I'm re-making them but in order to do this, the job ends up much bigger than planned as I need to re-route some of the ceiling wiring.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#campervan #vanlife #selfbuild #DIY45. Replacing the sink tap in my campervan because the supply pipe leakedVandemonium2020-08-14 | #campervan #vanlife #selfbuild #DIY The tap that came with the sink unit in the campervan turns out to be rubbish as the pipe junction from the supply tank is just held in with fresh air and hope - in other words, not held in at all, so recently it began spraying water all around the tank area instead of sending it up to the sink. Thus I bought a new tap and fitted that, as shown in this video.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.44. Overnight campervan trip! Plus test of a pop-up shower tent and portable showerVandemonium2020-08-04 | I went for a one-night campervan trip to Billing Aquadrome in the Northamptonshire countryside, meeting up with another van enthusiast as well, whose video is linked below. There I tried out my new pop-up shower tent, with water coming from a collapsible bucket via a battery-operated pump. Did it work? Watch and find out.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#campervan #vanlife #selfbuild #DIY43: New Zealand campervan holiday Part 4: dolphins!Vandemonium2020-05-04 | The final few days of my New Zealand holiday - before it was cut short due to the pandemic - were spent on a superb trip around with Bay of Islands with Travelling K, as well as exploring the Coromandel Peninsula.
If you liked the video and wish to leave me a tip, thank you! ko-fi.com/davidjohns