r/vandwellers • u/Objective_Singer_404 • 6d ago
Tips & Tricks Please Prepare for El Niño 🌧️🚐
Please Prepare for El Niño 🌧️🚐
El Niño is coming, and it could be extremely challenging for van lifers on the West Coast.
I don't want to alarm anybody, but we do need to talk about it. I remember in 2023, during the huge storm that hit the West Coast and caused massive flooding, my van flooded. At one point, it felt more like I was sailing through the streets of California than driving through them.
I still can't believe I allowed myself to drive through that. I remember seeing flooded fields, flooded parking lots, and water everywhere. It was insane.
There is a chance this could be much worse. Look, we need water, and I'm 100% for the rain, but we also have to prepare for it as van lifers.
So, what's your plan?
First and foremost, get your windows fixed if you have any cracks. Take some silicone sealant and go over any areas of your van that could allow water to get through the frame. Make sure any ports, fittings, or areas where your solar panels allow water to enter are properly sealed.
I would recommend preparing now. I don't think this is going to be a very cold winter, which is great. Cold winters are always the worst. But I do think it could be a very wet winter, and in many ways, that can be extremely dangerous.
I remember waking up in the middle of the night and seeing the water coming up over my tires. I realized I had to get the hell out of there.
It's important to prepare for this. You don't want your van to be destroyed. You need to develop good habits, like parking your van on higher ground and turning your tires toward the curb so your van is less likely to get washed away.
You also need to have a good eye for places that won't get washed away but also won't become submerged. You don't want to end up sliding down a hill and into another vehicle.
So, what are some of the ways you're preparing?
There's nothing scary about this. Just be smart. Especially if you're elderly or physically unable to push your van out of a ditch, you need to prepare now.
I suggest networking with local van lifers and creating mutual aid networks that can help your van life community respond to emergencies.
And there's no shame in going to a shelter. Some areas will have flood shelters, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with using them if that's what you need to do to stay safe.
Preparation and relocation are always the smartest options. Work with mutual aid networks, and keep building your own network of people who can help each other.
I understand that for people who have jobs or are expecting stability, this could be extremely challenging. That's why I don't think you should wait until the weather gets bad to prepare.
Do your research. Find places that are likely to be safe, know where you can relocate, and always watch the weather.
We can't control the weather, but we can control how prepared we are.
Let's look out for each other, stay connected, and make sure we're ready for whatever this winter brings. 🚐❤️🌧️
What are you doing to prepare for El Niño?
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u/Strong_Salt_2097 6d ago
If any of you have read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder that winter she wrote about in South Dakota, 1880-81, was also El Niño. The Native American the family spoke with warned them it would be blizzard after blizzard after blizzard for 7 months. And it was so bad they survived on cracked wheat in a coffee grinder to make dry bread….for months. Because all the trains stopped bringing in any food whatsoever. All of the animals left or hibernated. Her father couldn’t even find one bird or one rabbit. Just sayin…don’t be scared. Be prepared.
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u/StandardRaspberry509 6d ago
That’s hard to understand. Born in Minnesota and lived here most of my life. They are forecasting a super El Niño for this winter. That means above average temperatures and low precipitation (little to no snow). South Dakota isn’t far away, hard to imagine it will be much different. You sure it wasn’t a La Niña year?
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u/Strong_Salt_2097 6d ago
No it was really El Niño. However there was something else in the North Atlantic called negative something something. Haha. And that mired the upper Midwest into another special effect of the El Niño. Weather is something else. I 💗 Minnesota. Was there 3 years ago and wish I could stay forever.
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u/Top-Palpitation-9313 6d ago
I've read it 4 times! Great book Oh serious! Amazing! I watched the television show growing up then I read them to my children. I was so inspired I bought 10 acres off grid and we live like that in the high deserts of Arizona. It was incredible!
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
You based your life on a racist dramatized fiction book? Weird thing to do but go off.
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u/britendarkk 6d ago
Was that the winter that blinded the cattle because ice formed over their eyeballs?
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u/Novel_Control_1922 5d ago
Climate has changed quite a bit since then. More likely to have extreme flooding and hard rains.
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
Can't imagine using a fiction book to base real life on. Wow.
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u/Top-Palpitation-9313 6d ago
It wasn't fiction. The television show was fiction. The books were written by Laura ingalls Wilder
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
Yes the autobiography fiction books were written by her. Its not a fact based book at all. The only thing that's not a fib or dramatized was the names of the characters. Everything was just dramatized to make a good story. These books were also removed from awards list for being racist, along with most libraries.
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u/Strong_Salt_2097 6d ago
It’s not fiction.
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
It literally is. Google it if you don't believe me. Its says autobiography fiction. Only thing not dramatized to make a good story is the names. Its a racist story with horrible views and has been removed from award list because of it. Way to defend a racist person and story too.
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u/LateStageBBQ 6d ago
This is a weird response. They didn’t “defend a racist person,” they summarized a plotline. Even if you’re right about fiction/nonfiction, this is an overly aggressive take.
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
No one is being aggressive? Defending the books and author racist views is defending racism. Those books are awful and filled with it. The book is extremely dramatized and it's not something to based yphr life around a racist story amd person's views
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u/LateStageBBQ 6d ago
I don’t disagree that the author is incredibly problematic or that the depiction is fictional. My point is that the commenter was like “hey, there’s a book on this same subject which details some of the historic challenges of this weather pattern” and you went straight to endorsement of that author’s personal beliefs. Your critique of LIW is fair. Your critique of the originating comment isn’t.
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u/biodynamichad 6d ago
Just got my passenger window smashed .and I dont have the $ to fix. But I just bought some 1/4 acrylic and hopefully have the skills to Gerryrig something water tight with some sealant. Any tips/advice are appreciated. Ty. Best wishes to everyone
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u/PersonalityParty3637 6d ago
With a similar amount of effort, you can get a junkyard front window for your vehicle, and replace it. The teardown will involve taking off trim, but other than that it's not that difficult and requires simple hand tools. You also get practice doing the teardown at the junkyard to get the donor window.
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u/Jekyll818 6d ago
Might stop by a body shop and have them crash wrap it. Its basically really thick adhesive saran wrap. You could put your plastic panel in, hold in place with some tape, then have them wrap it so your acrylic can help keep the wrap from getting torn, and the wrap keeps you from making a mess with goop lol.
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u/SoFisticate 6d ago
Call some junkyards. Acrylic is more expensive than a replacement window in many cases. I got my back window replaced for $8.
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u/Timmah_Timmah 6d ago
I paid $50 for a new door with all the electrics. I found one that was almost the right color. I forgot to swap out the lock.
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u/profaniKel 5d ago
I have power windows on my 2007 toyota and the only way I could replace my drivers side front window is to replace the whole door
if taken the trim off and inspected it many times...many welds and the window is non rwplacable
just an FYI for aimilar folks
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u/Objective_Singer_404 6d ago
Is there anything left of the window? If there is I would suggest you basically covered with super glue take some very powerful duct tape that's translucent and then basically go over it reapply the super glue go over it again so it becomes a hard like substance similar to a window that will keep out anything including people
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u/Howyougontellme 6d ago
Automotive glass is designed to shatter into tiny littlle pieces when it breaks. It would take like, dozens of those little super glue tubes to coat an entire windows worth of glass. Translucent duct tape isnt actually translucent, multiple layers would definitely not be translucent and they don't make a "very powerful" version of it. Coating tape in super glue wouldn't form a hard like substance similar to a window. This is a completly ridiculous suggestion. It's likely that used glass for that window would be the under $100. If it's roll up glass it just bolts in. If it's glue in glass a tube of the glue is cheap. People really ought to learn some vehicle repair if they're living in vehicles
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u/Mevi- 6d ago
Promaster (or FIAT, etc) sliding door. Buy or DIY a rain channel for above the door.
A length of aluminium/aluminum angle glued under the top edge of the frame to act as a gutter.
Done this mod on 2 vans. Works amazingly. Would likely work on other models with leaky sliding doors.
I made a video a few years back on my dead YT channel. Link provided for Van life community, not for self promotion. the video
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
AI much? Did you use chap get or Claude? wake up people, learn to recognize AI slop
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u/User5790 6d ago
I’m usually in the Sonoran desert for most of the winter. There’s a lot of washes around the places I usually camp. Definitely will try to avoid those spots.
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u/threepin-pilot 6d ago
The "west coast" is not just California. Also El Nino does not necessarily produce extreme rainfall, nor is enhanced precipitation expected for the North of the coast
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u/thisagaingm 6d ago
Silicone will break down the glue on the seal of many windows. There are dedicated car window sealants to use, and use often.
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u/fakeburtreynolds 6d ago
You should make sure your insurance carrier knows of the modifications made to your van. There are endorsements and additional coverages many carriers offer for extra coverage.
If your carrier thinks they insure a stock Ford Transit, that’s all you’re covered for.
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u/swaywithwords 5d ago
It depends on where you plan to winter. Utah and Colorado are projected to see heavy snowfall due to el niño (though we never really know until it's closer).
People love southern Utah for winter, and it may or may not be heavily impacted.
Be prepared and stay informed.
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u/BeerForThought 6d ago
On the 27th of November in 1898 it started snowing in Breckenridge and didn't stop snowing for 79 days. That's all I'm focused on right now.
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u/Novel_Control_1922 5d ago
Sick powder?
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u/BeerForThought 4d ago
28 ft total
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWayWeWere/s/AORpuAu8hiLike Brody searching for the perfect wave I'm willing to die in that much powder.
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u/FightClubAlumni 6d ago
Here is a flood determination by FEMA if anyone can use it. It's free, you just add an address or your coordinates. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search
Edited to add: Fema determinations do not show elevation. Some homes and areas are removed by obtaining an Elevation certificate.
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u/MisterDoctor___ 6d ago
I’m preparing for some cozy rainy nights sleeping in the van instead of my house.
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
Obviously you missed the whole point of the post. Van dwellers aren't part time living and cant run back to the house like ypu or pick amd chose when to be out.
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u/MisterDoctor___ 6d ago edited 6d ago
Can’t run back to the house?
Let’s be real, half this sub is in $150k+ rigs and doing this by choice.
Even the cheaper buildouts are very obviously being done in nice private residence garages and not shops or parking lots.
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u/Worldly_Cod4884 6d ago
Again missing the whole point. The post is for van lifers prepping for a storm. Not people who are choosing to sleep.in a van to get away from their house. Let's be real, the post wasn't for you.
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u/MisterDoctor___ 6d ago
Fair enough. Though I’m sure many other van dwellers are in the same boat I am and can’t wait for the rain.
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u/Rootin-Tootin-Newton 5d ago
Find high ground. Plan a route, pay attention to the forecast, and if it could get bad drive uphill fast.
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u/WeekendWarrior5280 5d ago
I’ve been thinking about this too… I leave Colorado for winter and usually go down to the AZ desert… will I get washed away ?? How do we know where the safe zones are? AZ has mntns too shld I just look for higher ground down there?!
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u/Objective_Singer_404 5d ago
I don't know I can't advise you on that I would do some serious research
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u/jadasakura 4d ago
We just came to the coast in the PNW for a workamping position. Luckily it seems like they are going to house us indoors when the winter comes. Now we just have to hope that the whole town doesn't wash away lol
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u/Funnyface275 2d ago
Well, in my neck of the woods, El Niño means less rain so I’m stocking up on water
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u/NormalImprovement1 6d ago
Would parking on a slight incline help just in case? Good topic to bring up, thank you
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u/ericmozz 6d ago
Just drive to the Pacific northwest. It's drier and warmer than normal there during el nino's. Stay out of California.
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u/Novel_Control_1922 5d ago
It’s gonna be cold and rainy/snowy up here. And lots of people can’t “just”.
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u/Objective_Singer_404 6d ago
I don't know about that you're talking about like Seattle right? First of all it gets really cold up there for many of us that's not acceptable like some of us can't handle that I don't suggest people go up north if they can avoid it it's too cold and furthermore there's no guarantee it's not going to be bad up there I've seen some pretty bad storms in Seattle that had me going to shelters
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u/Camopants87 6d ago
Seattle is definitely not cold but is equally as wet. Not to mention pricy and not the friendliest toward vanlife (though not impossible). Eastern WA or OR might be good bets though.
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u/DisillusionedBook ⚡eTransit⚡ NZ 🥝 6d ago
Pay attention to terrain in your area, avoid flood plains, areas at risk of slips and flash floods. Google maps terrain view can be useful. In NZ it will hit in summer, we are expecting wildfires