Tag: travel
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I Planned the Perfect Road Trip, Then Everything Changed
I spent weeks planning the beginning of this road trip—researching trails, forest roads, campsites, overlooks, and all the places Blaze and I wanted to explore on our way to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Turns out, the trip had other plans. After days of delays and last-minute 4Runner prep, Blaze and I are finally on the road.…
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Ready or Not… We’re Leaving
I’ve been trying to leave for Michigan for days… and somehow, I’m still here. 😂 After months of planning, weeks of preparing the 4Runner, delayed parts, missing hardware, and one missed departure date, I’ve reached the point where I just need to GO. There are still a few hours of work to finish, groceries to…
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I Fixed Everything That Frustrated Me About My Car Camping Setup
In this video, I walk through every modification, why I made it, how much it cost, and whether I think it was actually worth the investment. Whether you’re building an overlanding rig, planning a long road trip, camping out of your SUV, or simply looking for practical 4Runner ideas, I hope my experience helps you…
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I Have No Idea What I’m Doing… So I Built This Anyway
I’ve never built a drawer before. During the van build, I helped my dad with cabinet building and woodworking projects, but I was always the assistant. This is the first piece of furniture I’ve ever built completely on my own… and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. After traveling out west last…
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Turning my 4Runner into an Adventure Vehicle
This video is part of my 4Runner build series as I prepare for longer adventures with Blaze. This isn’t really just about installing a roof rack. It’s about building toward something bigger. After spending a year traveling in my self-converted Ford Transit camper van, I learned that eventually you stop building for aesthetics and start…
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The Skills That Changed My Life | 4Runner Side Step Install
For years, I dreamed about building a van and living on the road full-time… but I almost didn’t do it because I didn’t think I had the skills, tools, or knowledge to make it happen. In this video, I’m installing side steps on the 2025 Toyota 4Runner while reflecting on everything my parents — especially…
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DIY 6th Gen 2025 4Runner Sleeping Platform
This is a throwback video to when I built the sleeping platform in my 2025 6th-generation Toyota 4Runner. My setup has changed multiple times since this video, but I thought it was still worth sharing. It is time to get this new rig set up. Because I leave in a month for a big trip…
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This Trip Felt Different… (And I finally know why)
This trip felt different. Not because I wanted it to… but because it had to be. I had a timeline, a few places I wanted to see, and two deadlines I couldn’t miss — which meant moving faster than I normally would. And somewhere along the way, I realized how much pace changes the way…
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I sold the van… and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Over a year ago, I set out to live full-time on the road in a van. In many ways, it gave me exactly what I was looking for — freedom, adventure, and a deeper sense of self-trust than I had ever experienced before. But over time, something shifted. In this video, I’m sharing where I’ve…
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21 mistakes and counting! | Ford Transit Van Build Debrief Part 2
I recorded this video back in June of 2025 and have sat on it ever since. I’m not sure why. But I’m finally editing it into two videos. Part 1 is all about what we got right on the van build, which I published last week. Part 2 (this video) is about what we got…
Michelle and Blaze 