Van life with a guinea pig has been an adjustment in ways I never expected. In this video, I share the real challenges of trying to make a small minivan camper work while traveling full time with my tiny companion. Space is becoming a major issue, and I’m seriously considering upgrading to a bigger van to make life on the road more comfortable for both of us. Below you will find ways to support my adventures, as well as an Amazon product list and Starlink referral code for new customers. 🌵 Merch: adventuringwithamanda.com 💕 Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.yantos/ Donation Links: ~ PayPal: paypal.me/dogmomdays ~ Venmo: @Amanda_Adventures ~ CashApp: $AmandaAdventures Starlink Referral Code: https://www.starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-3542443-53715-61&app_source=share By purchasing items from Amazon using the links below, I may earn a small commission to help with business expenses. Thank you! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amazon Links List & Starlink Referral Code: Starlink Referral Code: https://www.starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-3542443-53715-61&app_source=share Solar Panels & Power Stations: Renogy 200w Solar Panel: https://amzn.to/4qUxhfG Bluetti AC70 Power Station: https://amzn.to/4mHJJ1q Vtoman 1500 Power Station: https://amzn.to/4jyNjIR Vtoman 600 Power Station: https://amzn.to/4p24Kox 12ft Solar Extension Cord: https://amzn.to/3H1nWBm Misc Electronic Items: Bluetooth Lantern: https://amzn.to/3MMIVLo Onite USB Light Bulb: https://amzn.to/38z8s2I Anker Bluetooth Speaker: https://amzn.to/3SHt9QH Yesper Jump Starter: https://amzn.to/43T1P66 Trail Cam: https://amzn.to/4iTlA6u Weather Station: https://amzn.to/3CQZ8KC Food, Water and Cooking: Tea Kettle Collapsible: https://amzn.to/43E1hUz SetPower RF30 Fridge: https://amzn.to/44V6nNe Hot Logic Portable Oven: https://amzn.to/459L33y GasOne Butane Stove: https://amzn.to/3DRJRGO Pour Over Coffee Bags: https://amzn.to/3ZdD2b1 Electric Water Dispenser: https://amzn.to/3Z6f6an Camp Stove Windscreen: https://amzn.to/3N7sDdA Water Bags 1.3gal (4 pack): https://amzn.to/4kqhL8t Hygiene: Portable Shower: https://amzn.to/3Lq26E9 Folding Bucket: https://amzn.to/48ElKbz Scrubzz Rinse-free Bath Sponges: https://amzn.to/3KOIBVE Wolfwise Popup Toilet Tent: https://amzn.to/3n4fm5T Collapsible Toilet: https://amzn.to/48QiBXW Hygiene Caddy: https://amzn.to/3mXO440 Toilet Ottoman: https://amzn.to/3WRcE8z Toilet Bags: https://amzn.to/4u3Rfqe Window/Door Coverings: Mosquito Net Curtains: https://amzn.to/4qOxhgT Heatshields: Heatshieldstore.com Bed/Blankets: Heating Blanket: https://amzn.to/482iaL8 Trifold 4” Memory Foam Mattress: https://amzn.to/36z4q9o Get Out Gear Down Puffy Blanket/Poncho: https://amzn.to/40sa4aA Fitted Cot Sheet: https://amzn.to/3J4btva Miscellaneous: Headrest Organizer: https://amzn.to/4mhiudQ Vacuum: https://amzn.to/4g7VQSA Sticky Gel Pads: https://amzn.to/3no94xR Binder Clips: https://amzn.to/3TfUBnz Grandpa Gus’s Mouse Repellent: https://amzn.to/3NLAJpK CO2 Detector: https://amzn.to/3RIDHQV Broom: https://amzn.to/3RhQyYA Pop Up Trash Bin: https://amzn.to/48bqWTN Fire Blanket: https://amzn.to/41MAR0c Furniture: 3 Tier Slim Shelf: https://amzn.to/3sn6bzv Bamboo Lap Table: https://amzn.to/3WQb5FS Gray Storage Ottoman: https://amzn.to/3z2nI9i _ van, van life, nomad, van life community, minivan camper, minivan, van camping, car camping, minivan camper conversion, minivan camping, van life travel, nomad community, vans, van conversion, no build van, DIY van camper, tiny living, mobile living, boondocking, off grid, grand caravan, travel, van build, van camper, minivan camper living, Dodge Grand Caravan, boondock, camp, camping, minivan living, solo van life, solo camping, female van life, day in the life, car camping adventures, caravan, van life with pets, guinea pig, guinea pig vlog, camping with guinea pig, guinea pig van life #VanLife #GuineaPig #MinivanCamper #Boondocking #NomadLife #CampingVlog #SoloTravel #VanLifeReality #TinyLiving #TravelWithPets
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Hi Amanda, I think a bigger van would be great for both of you Being able to stand up and move around. You love the van life so you know this is how you want to live. So why not get a little more room and comfort? Jax will be happy as long as he’s with you Have fun stay safe
Damn Harold! Get it together Bud. Lol. I love seeing Jax running thru all the tunnels. What an active boy! Him & the cat priceless. I think the bigger van is worth some thought. I know you love your mini van but I totally understand having more room & Jax totally worth it if it makes you both happier. For me standing up would be amazing. It will be interesting to follow your journey this summer & see what you decide.
Who knew that Guinea pigs could have the zoomies, as well!?
I'd love to see you in a bigger van so you could stand up inside...and I'd also enjoy seeing how you put it all together as a living space. On the other hand, I suspect gas prices will remain high for at least the next 2-3 years with only a temporary price dip right before the midterms, so I'd probably stick with the minivan for the time being. As for Jax, if you could somehow make a caged tunnel around your ceiling perimeter, that would give you a quick and easy space to let him run. Or, even a "tower" type of cage situation in one corner of the van... with different levels inside...and ramps from one level to the next....would take up very little space. Not sure what you can do about all the accessories, though... That's a lot of extra stuff to deal with. I'm still confident you'll figure it out!
If you get a bigger van, put some tunnels up around the top towards the ceiling. Jax could race around and down into his ‘regular’ cage. 😊
A larger van allowing a running-around area for Jax sounds good. And it would provide a different area to decorate and re-arrange. Might be a nice change for the next five years.
I think that you would enjoy And do incredibly well with a little bit more space in a stand-up van. I would love to see that for you Amanda!🌿✌💓
Damn you Harold!!😂😂😂😂
Hi Amanda, wonderful video bless you for sharing all the excitement both you and Jax had in Phoenix, I'm still in awe over Jax and his new cat friend 😂 Jax doesn't realize he's tiny, his personality is large and in charge.
People be like, _"We love that you're in a minivan!"_ Then you mention something about getting a larger van and people be like, _"Yes, get a bigger van!"_ 😅
Hi Amanda and Jax , I've been thinking for a while is there away to put a platform at the top inside of the van to where it can b closed in like his tunnel to where he can run around while camping and have it to where it'll lead to an enclosed area going down to like his cage in the front seat ? I'm just throwing that out there he's so small it should work. He's such a cutey
What about something for Jax that is vertical or raised up toward the ceiling? You will figure it out! He is so adorable.
Amazon Links List & Starlink Referral Code: Starlink Referral Code: /residential?referral=RC-3542443-53715-61&app_source=share Solar Panels & Power Stations: Renogy 200w Solar Panel: /4qUxhfG Bluetti AC70 Power Station: /4mHJJ1q Vtoman 1500 Power Station: /4jyNjIR Vtoman 600 Power Station: /4p24Kox 12ft Solar Extension Cord: /3H1nWBm Misc Electronic Items: Bluetooth Lantern: /3MMIVLo Onite USB Light Bulb: /38z8s2I Anker Bluetooth Speaker: /3SHt9QH Yesper Jump Starter: /43T1P66 Trail Cam: /4iTlA6u Weather Station: /3CQZ8KC Food, Water and Cooking: Tea Kettle Collapsible: /43E1hUz SetPower RF30 Fridge: /44V6nNe Hot Logic Portable Oven: /459L33y GasOne Butane Stove: /3DRJRGO Pour Over Coffee Bags: /3ZdD2b1 Electric Water Dispenser: /3Z6f6an Camp Stove Windscreen: /3N7sDdA Water Bags 1.3gal (4 pack): /4kqhL8t Hygiene: Portable Shower: /3Lq26E9 Folding Bucket: /48ElKbz Scrubzz Rinse-free Bath Sponges: /3KOIBVE Wolfwise Popup Toilet Tent: /3n4fm5T Collapsible Toilet: /48QiBXW Hygiene Caddy: /3mXO440 Toilet Ottoman: /3WRcE8z Toilet Bags: /4u3Rfqe Window/Door Coverings: Mosquito Net Curtains: /4qOxhgT Heatshields: Heatshieldstore.com Bed/Blankets: Heating Blanket: /482iaL8 Trifold 4” Memory Foam Mattress: /36z4q9o Get Out Gear Down Puffy Blanket/Poncho: /40sa4aA Fitted Cot Sheet: /3J4btva Miscellaneous: Headrest Organizer: /4mhiudQ Vacuum: /4g7VQSA Sticky Gel Pads: /3no94xR Binder Clips: /3TfUBnz Grandpa Gus’s Mouse Repellent: /3NLAJpK CO2 Detector: /3RIDHQV Broom: /3RhQyYA Pop Up Trash Bin: /48bqWTN Fire Blanket: /41MAR0c Furniture: 3 Tier Slim Shelf: /3sn6bzv Bamboo Lap Table: /3WQb5FS Gray Storage Ottoman: /3z2nI9i
Cute
i like the wisdom part-a member love your videos. part time now-we will see what the future holds thx bc
Hi Amanda, congratulations to your brother for his graduation,.made me smile when I saw your childhood Barbie motor home thinking now your grown up & living in your own motor home, loved seeing Jax enjoying time with his new cat friend, safe travels.🙋♀️🇦🇺😮
That's so cool that the cat didn't attack Jax
Omg! I love his squeaks or whatever they are!😂 So precious!
I drive a 2012 Ford transit connect. I too have wondered about getting a bigger van. But not anytime soon in the next two years with the price of gasoline skyrocketing. I get anywhere from 25 to 30 miles per gallon by keeping my speed down. Would get only about half that with a full-size van.
Weighing in my two cents about a bigger van. I feel there are creative options to craft your interior space to accommodate Jax's needs without so many different enclosures . As some people suggested - go up. Harness training. Potty training. You know Guinea pigs better than most of us out here. Anyway, if you get a van that's a little bit bigger, the not needing to stand thing goes away. Right now, your minivan is of such size that standing is not needed. But if you go bigger, then standing will be needed and stooping over leads to back and neck issues. So you'll need to find a van in which you can stand. That's my two cents. You'll make the decision that's right for you!