Indie Folk Duo Fort Vine's Cozy Van Life Build & Full-Time Music Career

Fort Vine's Van Conversion

• 🚐 Trevor and Nina, an indie folk duo named Fort Vine, travel full-time in their self-converted van, which they built over one summer.
• 🪵 The interior features a live-edge basswood kitchen counter found in Montana, bamboo floors, and cedar ceilings, designed to evoke a cozy cabin feel.
• 💧 Their kitchen sink system uses a silent, budget-friendly marine foot pump connected to a clean water tank and a gray tank, allowing them to conserve water.
• 🛠️ The build cost approximately $7,000-$8,000 for supplies, with additional maintenance and upgrades over six years of full-time living.

Multi-Functional Living Space

• 🍽️ A versatile dining table can slide in or out, be removed, or combined with cushions to create an extra guest bed.
• 🎶 The dining area also serves as their recording studio, where they use the van's wooden floor as an instrument for kick drum sounds.
• 🚽 A composting toilet is hidden beneath the bed, accessed by a table leg that doubles as a support.
• 📦 Storage solutions include bench seats with open compartments (wishing for drawers), cabinets for toiletries and clothing, and a dedicated battery cabinet.

Power, Storage, and Pets

• ⚡ Their power system utilizes an all-in-one Energy Kodiak unit, charged by 350 watts of solar panels on the roof, running lights, fans, heaters, and refrigerators.
• 🎸 The "garage" area under the bed is dedicated to music gear, including amps, speakers, guitars, and merchandise.
• 🐾 They travel with their cat, Oklahoma, and dog, Barracuda, finding it manageable despite occasional moments of the cat disappearing.

Music Career and Lifestyle

• 🎤 Fort Vine's primary occupation is touring as musicians, playing festivals, wineries, brew pubs, and restaurants.
• 🏡 Their favorite gigs are intimate backyard shows and private living room concerts, where they share stories and play original music.
• 💸 They embraced van life to pursue their music full-time, viewing vehicle maintenance as an alternative to rent, having purchased the van for $17,000.
• 🌐 They can be followed on social media as "Fortvine" and found on their website, fortvine.com, where inquiries for house shows can also be made.