The Van That Shook the Internet 7 Years Ago... It's Back and Better! MEGA Airstream B190 VanLife

Video Description

The Ultimate Airstream Van Tour - 7 Years Later, It's Still Going Strong The "Mega Airstream" is back! Seven years ago, I gave you a tour of my 1997 Airstream B190 camper van, and that video went viral with over 5 million views. It also brought a lot of comments—some loving, and some filled with hate. They said it was a waste of money, that it would break down, and that I'd regret my choices. Well, this van is still here, doing better than ever. In this full, updated tour, I'm addressing all the comments and showing you every upgrade and feature that makes this classic rig a modern, self-contained adventure vehicle. From the Ford V10 engine and a custom UJoint 4x4 conversion to the massive Lithionics lithium battery bank that replaced the old generator, this van is built for purpose-driven travel. I'll show you why I don't need a black tank, why I don't use a campsite, and how this van has truly changed my life. Join me, Patrick Botticelli, as I take you on a detailed journey through the evolution of the Mega Airstream. Core Vehicle & Powertrain: 1997 Airstream B190 camper van (Ford E-Series 350 extended chassis) Ford V10 gas engine UJoint Off-Road 4x4 conversion Dana 60 front axle and Fox shocks 24-gallon shortened fuel tank (due to conversion) 109,000 miles on the odometer Exterior & Safety Features: Original faded paint with no rust (lived in Arizona) Vantage Optics headlights and side lights Raptor-lined hood with added vents Custom Raptor-looking front grill Front camera for safety Aluminess front and rear bumpers Aluminess swing-arm spare tire carrier Pelican case storage box mounted on the rear Bright LED tail lights and backup lights Hitch receiver for towing (up to 5,000 lbs) OneUp bike rack Air suspension in the rear with manual inflation valves Interior & Living Features: Custom oak and poplar interior Removable and reconfigurable main bed that converts to a double bed Secondary upper loft bed with privacy curtains and insect screens Swivel front passenger seat Renovated kitchen area with double sink, propane cooktop, and oven NovaKool 12V compressor fridge (replaces old propane fridge) Enclosed bathroom with a porcelain black tank toilet and bidet Shower with new faucet and rain shower-style head Full-height roof with ability to stand inside Technical & Electrical Systems: 3 Lithionics lithium batteries (12,000 watt-hours of power) Victron Multiplus 3000-watt inverter Zamp Solar power (320 watts) Victron smart dongle for monitoring ARB dual compressor for airing up tires Houghton 9800 BTU air conditioner Propane furnace (18,000 BTU) 6-gallon DSI gas water heater 7-gallon black tank and 11-gallon gray tank 18-gallon heated freshwater tank 4G internet with a WeBoost antenna Garmin RV GPS for custom routing S-pod for managing exterior lights Nest Cam for security #vanlife #airstream #4x4van #rvlife Chapter Selections 0:00 - Intro & The Viral Video Story 1:09 - Why This Van Changed My Life 1:51 - Airstream B190 History & Ford V10 2:35 - Addressing the Haters: Awnings, Black Tanks, & Longevity 3:36 - Exterior Tour: Upgrades & Wear and Tear 5:31 - The UJoint 4x4 Conversion 6:37 - Upgrades Under the Hood & Exterior Lights 7:54 - Safety & Tech: Column Lock, Internet, & RV GPS 9:12 - The Generator Delete & The New Lithium Battery System 10:29 - Gear Storage & ARB Air Compressor 11:32 - Kitchen & Roof System Upgrades 12:19 - The Rooftop Systems: A/C, Solar, & Vents 14:55 - The Rear Bumper & Pelican Case Storage 16:09 - The Rear Compartment: Storage & Outside Shower 18:19 - Bike Rack & Rear Safety Features 22:00 - Welcome Inside the Mega Airstream 23:05 - Swivel Chair & The Fuse Panel Controversy 24:00 - The Upper Loft Bed & Privacy 26:08 - The Main Bed Conversion 29:05 - The Kitchen: Counter Space & Appliances 32:00 - Inside Storage & Organization 34:52 - The Bathroom: Toilet, Shower, & Privacy 37:59 - Tank Monitoring & Final Thoughts They Said My Van Was a Waste of Money... 7 Years Later, It's Still a Beast. The Van They HATED is BACK! 🚐 My Mega Airstream Tour, 7 Years Later. The Van That Got 5 Million Views: My Airstream B190 Tour (2025 Update) Can a Vintage Van Be a Modern Overlanding Rig? My Mega Airstream Proves It! The Camper Van that Shook the Internet - How is this 4x4 Airstream doing now? New videos every Saturday at 10am eastern. Please subscribe for more awesome video tours. https://www.youtube.com/newjerseyoutdooradventures?sub_confirmation=1 New Jersey Outdoor Adventures With Patrick Botticelli Website https://newjerseyoutdooradventures.com/ Follow New Jersey Outdoor Adventures on Social https://www.instagram.com/patrick_njoa https://www.facebook.com/newjerseyoutdooradventures/ NJOA Merchandise https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ4P6JaFzImeSWPAr3gGGCQ/store Thumbnail Art by http://www.motivedezign.com/ Music By Epidemic Sounds https://share.epidemicsound.com/7r0ua5 All content owned and distributed by NJO Rental Adventures LLC.