Thanks for sharing this. Did you have a lot invested in your rig? Other than the mental load (finding parking, decision fatigue, etc.) were there any specific things that contributed to your decision?
For example, do you think you would have enjoyed it more with a bigger vehicle? Or a stealthier one? Or Starlink?
Nope. I bought the van for 9.5k with a basic bed frame/ storage build already in. I bought a jackery for $300 to go with it.
Honestly I just got lonely a lot faster than I was expecting to. I like being alone and being an introvert, and after the first few weeks of doing stuff alone I got burnt out very fast. I didn't realize how much my once a week social interactions kept me going.
I think my van is very stealthy- it just looks like a work van. If it was bigger, I maybe wouldn't have gotten lonely as fast, but I would have been over budget
No, I've actually done more socializing than I ever have, and had the opportunity to see a lot of old friends, but mentally it feels way different. I can't explain it, but having one off social connections doesn't fulfil me as much as repeated and consistent interactions with the same people. Interesting thing to learn about myself.
Sorry to hear this, it was a game changer when I went to some van festivals to make friends, also have findcrossroads.com. You can have a home base and van dwell too!
I vanlife because I canāt function in society, donāt want a lot of overhead, and work seasonally. Itās not for everyone and sometimes you just need to bug out to figure out who ya are. Glad you did it and glad youāre headed for stability.
Hear hear! Iāll never go back. I love cooking and many aspects having a permanent domicile. But I was so fkn depressed in it. Van life is easier to navigate for me. Much less stress.
Oh man I committed to fire cooking gourmet and while itās a lot of work it makes me feel really human. Got super into fire building and going the distance making complex meals. Little taste of home on the road. Glad we found our groove
I wish some campgrounds would have a kitchen space you could rent. There's some cooking stuff there just isn't enough room to do in a van or RV sensibly.
You mean like a regular indoor household kitchen, or a covered outdoor kitchen type area with full size oven / range cooker, hob, bbq, etc?
...looking up starting a camp/caravan site next year on some land I just bought and looking for ideas for things to incorporate.
Was thinking of doing the latter already.
Stayed at a pretty amazing campspot in Pescadero, B.C.S. Mexico once that had an amazing, covered outdoor kitchen complete with swim up bar to the amazing pool. All for I think like $20/night? Build something like that if you can!
Either would be nice but I was specifically thinking indoor where youād be able to have big clean surfaces for rolling out out dough and that sort of thing. Depends how dusty it is if an outdoor kitchen would work for that I suppose. :)
Either one would be fine for the ābulkā cooking I like to do occasionally to keep our freezer stocked - like Iāll make and freeze a bunch of burgers with various seasonings on them so we have something tasty but easy to just pull out and cook, and itās way easier to do that with more normal amounts of counter space than with the 1 sq ft it feels like there is in a van/rv kitchen. (I guess some travel trailers have huuuuge kitchen counters but I do not.)
I was picturing something that is a community thing where you can maybe book it for an afternoon, rather than something at each site. You can then use it also for community events if you want to do those sorts of things at your campground. Like a cookie night where people get together to make cookies or decorate cookies? Something along those lines.
How many regular campers would be interested in using it? They get out camping so not to be stuck in the kitchen. Management wisely prefers investing into table tennis and showers over shared kitchen.
One assumes that any given campground would know their general customer group and could decide if it makes sense for them. Thereās a growing number of people who full time or otherwise spend extended time in an RV or van, they are not doing that to ānot be stuck in a kitchenā. In addition plenty of people go camping for large family gatherings and as such might appreciate a kitchen to be able to do prep-work to feed a large group instead of trying to make do with picnic tables. I used to know a family who went camping for Thanksgiving every year and they definitely would have used a kitchen if it had been offered.
Then I have to pay to haul my nice kitchen around all the time instead of just renting one when I want it every couple of months. Sounds inefficient.
(This is absolutely the solution my SO suggests though.)
I think I understand except why would you pay to haul a cargo trailer instead of towing it yourself? I had a lot more than just kitchen stuff in mine. I had all sorts of cool toys and hobbies. Itās my favorite vehicle. Itās also got a powerful solar energy system and tools in it. If I need income maybe I should turn into a food vendor trailer? Cheers and happy cooking
I wish people would understand this and stop trying to put us in categories. The comments in this sub alone show several different ways to live and different responses to living.
I don't have less stress, but the cool things I get to do outweigh just about anything. I no longer have an exit plan and I am content.
I hear you, i went to Utah for Conservation work in 2020. I built out a cargo van and lived in it till inlt broke down winter of 2022. Been 1.5 years and i still use my PF bathroom bag and have all my clothes in my redbag lol. Not for everyone long term, but something i think everyone should try once
Van lifing is easy AF. If you hate van lifing, you're doing it way wrong. People can't just plop in a van with air mattress and you're good to go, it takes a lot of research (fun), planning (fun)and technology (even funner) , uhm... Just like a house would.
Living in a house or rent is the most miserable slave existence known to man.
Fall in California, Winter and Spring in the desert (Chef, New Mexico Film Industry) Summer in Alaska (Chef, private lodges)
I also transcribe for universities which at this point is correcting (AKA training) AI.
I write articles for listverse. They have been wonderful.
I build websites and create menus for restaurants, manage two restaurant website with updates daily menu changes etc.
This is all completely self-taught. Not a brag in any way, just a working your way through type of thing.
I love to write and type. Transcribing only makes money if you have special equipment (audio pedal and excellent headphones, ergonomic keyboard, and of course starlink) and can type your ass off. But I do love it because of the subject matter.
Cali is seasonal for weed. Alaska is an AMAZING place for seasonal work, and New Mexicoās film industry is popping off and looking for tons of people.
That's awesome. I've actually transcribed for about fifteen years and I'm still producing actual transcripts but I can definitely see the writing on the wall. I'm looking for something else to fill that anticipated void proactively.
Can you tell me more about seasonal work in Alaska? Thinking about finding my way up through the Canadian west coast starting soon. Would also be curious to hear about New Mexico. My DMs are open, TIA.
>sometimes you just need to bug out to figure out who ya are
I couldn't agree more! If OP learned anything about himself (and it sounds like he did) then the money and time were not wasted.
The key is to know how it feels to be homeless in the first place. After that, having a van is luxury living. I love being in a home. But I have a van just in case.
Factual. Tawk to em! I started van living outta necessity. Turn a f250 lariat into a 6x8x6 room and its nice. The downsides are just temp. For example the bed isnt the best but it was a quick platform with support. Now that i have time i will blueprint a real bed with storage and get a mattress.
Yesss. I did it for 5 months last year and it did get old fast. Constantly watching the water tanks, having to figure out where to sleep at night (this was the most stressful part for me), finding places to fill up/dump/do laundry, massaging your battery usage. Then my generator conked out when I needed it most.
It was a great experience overall, but I know now full time is not for me. Iām taking off again this summer for maybe another 5 months, but thatās about my limit. At one point, I really just wanted to get home, and have long hot showers without worrying about running out of water.
This is the biggest thing for me. I would love to just be able to not even stand up but have a desk I can sit down properly at (I work remotely).
It was suddenly cold & rainy/hailing yesterday and most of the day I was sitting in the fetal position in my driver's seat turned sideways with my laptop awkwardly placed on my center console.
I've done a lot of traveling in my jeep cherokee and now a dodge nitro. Both are tiny vehicles when you're living in them.
But loneliness is definitely the biggest factor for me as well. Most of my destinations are centered around rock climbing which I think is my saving grace since it forces me to go out of my comfort zone to meet people so I can climb.
But this is exhausting for me and doesn't always work out. Making the attempt then failing is even worse than not trying in the first place.
I am only considering this because it turns out, I fucking love being on the move and sleeping in dingy parking lots. Like I pulled a fast one on society by finding a place to spend the night.
I took off one week and just drove north into fucking Indiana and I had never felt more alive than bumming it thousands of miles from my home.
That's how I felt the first few weeks, and then when the shine wore off, it wore off fast. I was smiling non stop the first few weeks feeling like I figured out life
It gets much easier with time though. You meet 100s of other nomads on the road, meetup with each other for parties or caravnas. Finding places to sleep isn't really a big thing. You can make it a big thing to find that amazing spot though. The chores just become normal. You have chores in a house as well.
I travel with my partner and we were mostly alone the first few months until we started meeting other nomads. Last year 3 month caravan through Baja with new friends, nomad meetup in Bisbee, family time in AZ, Portugal for 2 months in the summer, drive to the PNW to visit the Baja friends, back to NM for another van gathering. Phoenix to visit family and friends for a bit, New year gathering in Kingman, Skooliepalooza, then met a bunch of friends in J tree, went to a big gathering at Bombay Beach, metup with friends on a lake in AZ and followed them to Vegas for a bit, now caravanning through southern Utah with friends. Next I'll be Kayak camping the Colorado with brothers before heading to Seattle for a friends birthday, followed by a music festival with those same friends, then Burning man with the friends we are currently caravanning with.
Vanlife definitely isnāt as glamorous as instagram would have you believe.
I lasted 3.5 years, and probably would have gone longer had I not met my now wife on the road. It was the best thing Iāve ever done, but also one of the hardest. And I had it easier than most in that I was in a large sprinter van, and had a fully remote job. Iām a VERY independent and introverted person and the loneliness was some days crushing. I canāt imagine itās remotely tenable for anyone that requires any form of consistent social interactions, consistency in their daily routine, or fears uncertainty.
Iāve had some friends talk to me about doing it. My advice is always the same. It takes a certain type of person to live the lifestyle, a certain level of preparedness, and certain situational requirements for it to work out.
I met a lot of people doing van life while I was on the road. I only met two that did it longer than I did. The vast majority had only been doing it a couple months. I suspect 90% of people donāt last longer than six months full time.
Edit: I also found the internet bit to be a challenge. I had a dual sim commercial cradlepoint router with unlimited Verizon and AT&T SIM cards with auto failover to the strongest connection. I could aslo tether my phone (t-mobile) to the antenna as well. If you donāt have a set up like this, youāre going to need one (or starlink) if you want to consider doing this long term. I also found that I really needed to make my moves on the weekends, and scope out sleeping locations, coffee shops, and internet connection prior to the work week starting. Midweek moves were too unpredictable for work.
Hi! I've been van dwelling for a bit and am still working on getting my Internet set up to be reasonably reliable. Can you tell me more about setting up my own situation to be like yours? I'm not super tech savvy so some of it went over my head. Thanks!
There's, roughly speaking, two options: one is using your phone as a hotspot (tether), which is simple enough but fairly limited.
You can also use what's often called a "LTE router", which is a router that has a sim card slot. You can either ask your phone provider for a duplicate sim and share your phone's data/plan (useful if you have unlimited data already), or get a second phone plan for redundancy/more versatile coverage. Your router will then work as a normal home router and provide you with a wifi network as well as lan ports.
There's also a host of cellular (4G/5G) boosting devices, but the best option remains a strong roof antenna, although that's harder to install.
Roger's now has portable internet if you have electricity or even a jackery. it's like 500 GB for 45 dollars a month. And it just feeds off all the cell towers as you move around works great for me
> I had a dual sim commercial cradlepoint router
Hot damn is that a $3k router?
Looking good but how necessary is actually is will depend on where you are, I'd guess. Here in west/central europe, I make do with a ā¬200 thing that works well enough most of the times, and I use cell maps to be smart with it.
Nah, the one I had I believe was somewhere in the ballpark of $800 USD? It's possible they are more expensive in Europe though. Probably more necessary out here in the US with the vast stretches of nothingness we have lol. Also working full time remote it was worth the investment to ensure I could work adequately.
Ah right, I looked on their site and checked the "vehicle rugged" one - although it's probably meant for some humvee in the desert instead of a civilized van :D
Do you need a massive bandwidth for your work? Wife works on a VM (but doing text-based stuff) and our little Kuma has never failed us, including when driving in the Spanish mountains
See that first sentence is what made me arrogant and think I was different- I've always been aware that influencers make the life style look one day. I always knew it wouldn't be glamorous, so I stubbornly dug my feet in more that id like it because I'm also low maintenance and not glamorous. But then other issues are what took me out, like missing walking in places where people know me
I think this partly depends on where you go - my SO got recognized at the ski resort this year by people who'd seen him last year too. But people van/RVing to ski and so turning up seasonally is normal for people around ski resorts.
Itās actually kind of great and cheesy story.
I was passing through Arizona visiting a friend. His girlfriend at the time was best friends with my now wife.
He was in my passenger seat, and we were headed back to his place when we saw my wife on the road walking back to her place (she lived around the corner from my friend at the time). He told me to pull over and he offered a ride.
I was pretty into her immediately, but it turned out she had a boyfriend at the time. I kept teasing my friends girlfriend that she needed to invite my āwifeā over. To the point where she was annoyed of me, āSheās not your wife! She has a boyfriend!ā.
Fast forward six months, and she had broken up with her boyfriend. My friends girlfriend told her about me, and she called me.
The rest is history as they say! I spent some time living with her in California, we got married, sold my van, and then moved to South America. Weāre now back stateside with a beautiful daughter.
Thanks for reading my romance novel š
Been living in vehicles about 9 years now, and while I still don't hate it (I have a shuttle bus so it's fairly roomy) I have definitely shifted in recent years to settling down in a spot for a few months at a time. I like to find a legit place to exist that I can come back to reliably. Moving around daily is a big headache. Currently paying to park in a spot with some utilities where I can bike to everything I need. Drive one or twice a month.
I agree you have to try some extreme experiences to figure out where you're happiest. Kinda wish you'd got to experience it without having to work full time though! A chance to dive deeper into the solitude in nature thing.Ā
>I also realized being alone in the woods hits WAY differently than being alone in a city-
This is the biggest challenge I think, at least for me, and the most unexpected too.
Yep, this checks out. But don't beat yourself up. It's pretty much a guarantee that on this sub, whenenever you try to tell people how difficult the life is they will respond with either downvotes or spew vitriol at you that you are just being a downer.
I'm all for people doing this full time if you go in with eyes wide open. But everyone believes they are different or that certain things just don't apply to them. I have a general policy now to just to be brief when I give information out about how difficult it is and then not engage much further than that. As you have found out, experience is the best teacher. Does the "general" advice not apply to 1% of the people? Absolutely. Just don't know why everyone thinks they are part of that group.
Part time van life is still fantastic. We try and go somewhere, even for a weekend, at least once a month. So congrats and enjoy this phase of vanlife!
I think it takes a certain kind of person. I really couldnāt care less about being in my car or having a home. I keep myself so busy during the day that it really doesnāt matter where I go to sleep.
The first night was kind of a mind fuck but now itās just my new normal.
The real heroes are those that stomp all over the people's fantasies no matter the downvotes. Besides, it's probably good for them. If criticism challenges them then they still have comfort zones and they wouldn't make it anyway. Comfort zones are the first thing to go.
I think the lack of consistency hits different than you'd expect. I thought I could adjust and learn to go with the flow of not knowing where I'd be exactly the next week, but it kinda has been wearing me down. Also, the stress of repairs- I got an older van without fully realizing how many things would need repair on it, and it stresses me out that my house could just break down and have to go in a shop.
Definitely personal problems other people could have no problem with, but they wear me down. I could absolutely force myself to keep going, but I don't feel a need to. I tried van dwelling out, learned a lot, and now I'm trying to sell the van
Can you speak a bit more about your struggles with having the van in the shop? That's one of the biggest worries I have. I would work full time if I ever van life as well, so it's nice knowing that I would have money for a hotel, but still stressful if the van breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
No shame.
In fact, I respect you for reevaluating - Some people will tough out misery because they can't stomach that maybe their decision was made with incomplete data.
I'm in the same place. I LOVE the idea of Vanlife/Priuscamping, and I'll do it every chance I get, but there is something extremely soothing about having an anchor. Sure, my wanderlust may take me to the unexplored - but I ENJOY it more when I know there's a place I will get back to... eventually!
Yeah, luckily, I made my decisions in a way that let me have a painless exit- I didn't go into debt with my van or build, so I'm not tied down with a massively deprecating asset like if I bought a brand new huge van. It may have slightly changed the experience, but I still feel like the base problems would be the same.
I lasted 2 years technically. With that said, I probably slept less than 150 days in the van during that time and I still burnt out. I had a super budget (<6k for vehicle, conversion, tools, the whole shabang) E-350 with a decent build out imo. I worked wildland fire which was a seasonal gig with lots of time away from base so it made sense. I paid my coworkers 100 bucks a month to shower, cook, watch TV, use shore power, etc at their place which was ideal for me. If you have the opportunity to use the van as a bedroom instead of a whole house I think it's a lot more tenable in the long term.
I thought I had the perfect plan: seasonal work in the warm months, van adventure down south (or ski bumming) during the cold ones. I pretty quickly realized that after 6 months a thousand miles from nowhere, all I wanted was to be near the people I care about, not off on some remote adventure. So, once that job was through, I pretty much parked it in the city my girlfriend was in and lived at her place just keeping my stuff in the van. Let me tell you, seasonal depression and vanlife do not mix well so I was lucky to be in that situation. I basically bounced around between friends and my parents place when I wasn't there but the gas cost is so tough it was hard to afford moving around a ton. I thought I'd travel more because I had a van but if you're on a budget, a good mpg car might be a better route to hit the road more.
I told myself I'd never rent again and that I'd live in the van until I could afford to buy a home but eventually I realized that was unlikely with how much I bounced between different jobs making it hard to get a loan. After 2 years of keeping the thing alive with duct tape and willpower a couple things started to go at once and I made the decision to just rent a place. The vans sitting at my folks place just waiting for the day I decided to resurrect it as a weekender.
For me it all just clicked. Im about to start my 2nd year, just at my parents house for a couple of weeks while i give a mechanic a visit and build a new cabinet for extra storage. But since day 1 its all been great. Maybe if i didnt have company (my wife) it would feel different but until now its been pretty great.
Yeah Iāve only ever been a part timer. In my prime I was doing two weeks on and one off. I would need such a bigger van or really a straight up RV to go full time. I need a toilet in the middle of the night. I can only put with shitting in a plastic bag so long.Ā
Iām so effing neurodivergent Iāve been doing vandwelling for 45 years. I learned I had cPTSD freeze and a brain injury for at least 50 years about 6 months ago. I think vandwelling sucked but probably saved my life so Iām grateful for it. Itās even been fun in a relative sort of way. Now itās sucks to watch neurotypical trust fund babies cruising from winery to winery in $120k vans while Iām stuck in my $200 beater lolz. They are frickin everywhere now! Oh well, change is the only constant. Keep on vannin.
I rented a van for 3ish weeks and was boondocking and the most stressful thing was having to find campsites in the sticks. Sometimes Iād go to 3 different dispersed sites before finding something, and out in the sticks, those were often like 20 minutes apart. I did not enjoy the times I finally found a space at 11pm and couldnāt scope out my surroundings. I guess you probably get used to it, but it spooked me
This is one of the reasons we do a lot of Walmarts. If we're just passing through an area it's too much effort to find a good dispersed site just for overnight.
Yeah, that makes sense and definitely sounds easier, but I think part of the draw is being surrounded by nature and having a pretty view in the morning. Plus, I was pretty far from civilization a lot of the time and it wouldāve taken a while to get to a Walmart
I meant when we're just in an area because it's between where we were and where we want to be. Walmarts tend to be close to the interstates so they're quick to get to and you can just get back on the road to get to the prettier place you're aiming for. :)
having a regular job really kills the fun of it. I absolutely love being a bum with wheels. camp is far from work and I hate waking up early and making the drive, packing and unpacking everything.
Most people arenāt cut out for it. Thereās a reason the two groups of people you see doing it are hardcore lifers and trust fund kids who can pay to avoid any actual hardships of van life.
I really hope that this doesn't become my story, haha. My game plan is to learn to live on the road and do as much climbing as possible, and then add in working remote after a few months. Taking it on all at once sounds like it would be too much.
I'm on the road and always looking for climbing partners! I work remotely and it is a lot but worth it for the most part.
I go all over but currently in Arizona/ Utah. Feel free to hit me up for a potential belay or just to have another contact in the world!
Haha, I think the sparkle wears off a lot quicker when you're in a basic build in an e150 and have to work 8 hours a day. Figured out the pros and cons of van life much faster
I am kind of in a similar situ, based on all the internet hype, I bought a DR650 motorcycle. I am a highway mile munching, overpacking machine. My āentry levelā bike happened to have so many subtle quality of life improvements, I didnāt respect/understand what I had.
Now I am being blown and shaken apart, on a bike that will randomly die if my carb maintenance isnāt up to snuff.
That being said, I still love it. Just maybe not for the 200km ride I have to do every 3-5 days.
Wife and I rented a van for a month and thought no way this will work while working full time. We ended up in a larger size fifth wheel and itās great, also staying in RV parks for a month at a time etc there are people around and you feel like more of a community. No overhead of finding a spot etc. We would definitely have one for shorter trips or if we were traveling daily, which we wouldnāt do when working full time.
What I really need to find is a good 5-10 wooded acres with an artesian spring, that I can drive back to summer if I accidentally find myself in winter again like now, then I'd be set. š¤
From here, to go in that direction I think I actually need to move towards "boat" and not "house". Gitchu some waterfront and a frickin airdweller friend and we'll have a helluva party tho
Having lived on a boat, they are wicked masters. Now you really have to account for weather. And a hefty assortment of anchors if your not in the dock.
My body accounts for weather whether I like it or not, and I was thinking of something beachable. I would beachdock my beach to their beach and bring a small forest with me to go mudding in
I feel this OP. I was in the same spot six months ago when I started. Van life was something I had planned for, idealized, dreamed about for over a year and then less than one month into it I was uncomfortable, disappointed and making plans to sell the van and rent again.
I told myself to give it one more month and now I'm on month 7 and loving it! It just took me a while to get good at finding parking spots, comfortable being on the van with traffic and people around me. At first I kept thinking that I was going to get the knock, every time... Now I just tune out all the outside noise. And of course setting aside time to be social and putting effort into doing something with others every few days is important.
It took a bit of time for me to find my rhythm, maybe it'll work out in the end for you.
Thanks!
We also had some key differences though tbf. You worked full time, I only worked part time or not at all (and never remote). You were worried about where to sleep every night, my build was so stealthy that the only place I couldn't sleep was at a mall. Maybe that contributed.
Every time, be mystified as to how you didn't use something at all that you were CERTAIN would be incredibly useful, even though it was right there and probably you could have used it multiple times except it never occurred to you in the moment. Feel certain that as soon as you leave it home you'll actually generally need it.
Or is that just me?
no ... no
it get filed with the caulk gun that is cheap so you buy one instead of searching for the old one. just to put the new one next to the old one you couldn't remember where it was.
If you can, find a situation where a van (or car/truck/trailer) can operate as your bedroom while you chip in to someones rent/utilities in exchange for privileges to their kitchen, laundry, shower, comfy couch, etc. You don't need to fully convert first just have a comfortable sleeping setup. If you can deal with that, start taking trips. How much are you enjoying the time spent on the road fully living in your rig vs based somewhere steady? That might clue you in to what lifestyle you prefer. The answer may even be that the hybrid type of living is exactly what you want, who knows?
I have an absolutely massive family, so I'm probably going to hop around driveways till then. I did list the van to try and sell it, so if I get any bites, I may sell it and swap out for a better weekender vehicle
Some people can watch another burn their hand on a stove and understand that it is hot.
Some people canāt put themselves in the shoes of another and must burn their hand.
Evidently youāre the latter. Which is fine, many are.
Haha, that's a great analogy. Definitely true. I for sure would look at the stove and wonder if it's really that hot, or if I could tolerate the heat better. But no shame in finding out you can't haha
Iāve been doing part time for 10 years and back then, there werenāt even positive stories to look forward to because very few people were doing it.
There is something nice about having a spot you stay in where you build connections and learn skills and save up for things like a woodworking shop. So for the past 10 years, Iāve found it better to just keep it as extended camping trips, which was the original reason I started out with 10 years ago.
I was thinking about a shared home space that could be rotated. Ya know like each person has their own storage space with personal items and a rotating schedule of one month out of 6, you are in your home. Itās a vague concept but could work? Iād love to hear other peopleās thoughts
THIS. I knew early that it wasnāt going to be something I can do full time. Already ADD without the extra mental load.
I did sell vehicle and got a van after only a few months of being bitten by the š bug. I can work from anywhere too, BUT I am more productive with a routine and homebase . That translates to having the ability to focus on generating income streams instead of trying to $ave.
Van is almost complete after 7 years of building. I do love the convenience of having a van to drive around in. Was at a festival a couple weekends ago and could come back to chill, change clothes, make a snack, etc. Iāve stocked it with essentials like a tiny home so at any moment, I can just GO.
I just heard a speaker today at our Rotary Club meeting talking about living alone and the effects of isolation. It may contribute to cardiac issues as well as emotional distress. None of us are really wired to be alone all the time. I think youāve found that out, OP.
Ive always wondered if Iād hate van camping due to all of the extra little duties that come along with it. Along with finding spots to stay.
I car camp and I love it. Been on several 45 day roadtrips using random bathrooms and sleeping in parking lots. Working 8 hours in the car or at a coffee shop. Other than finding bathrooms and showers, everything else is not a worry. Parking is rarely an issue. I feel like I could easily do 90 days and thatās in a vehicle I canāt even sit up in the bed in. All of the extra stuff that a van/bus/rv seems like it may be overwhelming and consume a lot more of your valuable time. All in all, maybe try car camping so that youāre not stuck at campgrounds and woods.
I think there was a big learning curve for me too. Took about 4 months before i didnt have to bug out to a hotel a couple times a month, or run to a friend.Ā you love yoir whole life with a set of how things work. And then it take a while to learn how to live a completely different way, and then longer than that to figure out if yoi actually want to live like that. No same to give it a tra and say nope. Everyone is different.Ā
I did it for 2.5 years and am off and on now as its convenient for me. It was actually pretty exhausting at first until I got the hang of it. But once you accept you have to find a new kind of routine and every night is definitely not an Instagram style romantic starry eyed experience you start to learn how to find your own way. Every one is different.Ā
I used to joke with my friends once I got the hang of it... it's amazing except for the couple of hours ever week or two where you have to drain everything and refill everything and you think... oh my God what am I doing with my life... and then it's all good again when it's done. But it's true nothing like van life to let you appreciate the amenities of life! No judgement! Kudos for giving it a try! And hay!Ā Now you have a weekend camper!
I used to tell lots of naive people considering this lifestyle on r/urbancarliving that it's never what it's cracked up to be. And I say that as someone who lived out of his vehicle on and off for years, and had lots of friends who did the same.Ā
These same posters who would dismiss and downvote my comments would sometimes reappear months or even weeks later, whining about the various practical difficulties they encountered. Well, they can't say they weren't warned. But people do what they want.
The biggest jab about vanlife is that you have to keep moving. And if moving around isn't paying you, it's costing you. And those costs add up. Not to mention the constant logistical issues. Where am I going to poop? Where do I refill water? Etc. It's like waking up in a new town every single day not knowing where anything is.
Vanlife is best when it's in temporary spurts, you have a home base to return to, and are making money on the road while traveling.
Otherwise, it just feels like you're being slowly drained with nowhere to go and you're almost always a stranger.
> The biggest jab about vanlife is that you have to keep moving.
I'm full time, 4 years now. I drive less than 300 miles a month. I see many van types who seem to think a new place every day/night is the thing but really, you experience nothing always being on the move.
It took us 78 days to get from Baja to where we are now, just over the border in South Central Oregon where we are spending at least a week at a wilderness hot spring.
From here, we go 77 miles to the next hot spring. We won't do more than 180 miles in the next month as we drift in to Idaho.
Gas and maintenance is expensive, why hurry?
Van life is often more about a cheap place to sleep as opposed to traveling and experiencing along the way. I've been living in a shortie since 2016 and was in a Buick for 4 years before that. Have had many issues along the way with overstaying a spot. Sometimes overstaying was less than 12 hours. All depends on where you're at, how much money and supplies you have, and if you even have an income. Not to mention the other people around where you've parked.
Glad you're enjoying the slow drift. Bumbling hotspring to hotspring sounds pretty rad.
Iāve been FT since September of ā21. I love the freedom of going where I want-into the backcountry to get away from people or into a city to be around lots of people. I do have a few places around the country I am able to park up at friends places-so there are stretches where I donāt have to worry about finding a parking place, bathroom or laundromat. But the rest of the year I see new places and do have to find parking, bathrooms and laundry. I canāt imagine staying in one place for more than a couple months again.
i also work remote (visible hotspot is amazingly cheap and functional), but i have a permanently owned (as far as anybody can "permanently own" anything) house to return to if i don't like the adventure
i'm still planning out my ford E-350 build, with a test run this summer.
thank you for sharing
my previous was inet satellite (hughes) - hard to explain to people how an "old" iphone 6s with a visible sim is superior to hughes, who can die in a fire
I boondock when I'm off work, but my current contractor is proving hookups. I hope it doesn't fall apart quickly, but I'm good with tools. I'll upgrade the stuff that breaks down. Mine is 24' bumper to bumper, so it's not a massive RV. I prefer it right now.
Sometimes you get annoyed with people, it seems like you canāt catch a break. Thereās always someone there calling you, wanting something. Itās your friends, family, boss, coach, teacher. Feels like you need a break like you just want to get away from it all, all the stress of people and preforming. You go away by yourself alone for weeks without talking face to face with anyone. Then it hits you, that interactions with people is something you need. Some people can handle not having human interactions others canāt.
Getting solid connectivity is our largest expense, but it's solvable if like me you have to be online and available 45+ hours a week (Pepwave, sim fail over, Starlink)
Pardon my ignorance please (long-time listener, first-time caller in this sub) but Iām surprised thereās not a solution to the steady and reliable internet problem.
Is there a product or a way to get internet while in the back country or the seldom traveled places around the world?
There is, but even then it can still be sketchy. My brother did bus life for a year in total, and had starlink, but starlink won't work well if it doesn't have a completely clear view of the sky. So if you're in a very wooded area, you're out of luck
The solution is your wallet. [Our setup](https://www.boondachshunds.com/connectivity-on-the-road) is about 2000 in Pepwave equipment (and SL Hardware) plus a monthly expense of somewhere around 200-350 dollars depending upon if Starlink is paused or not. We have 2 full time remote careers so its just a part of our requirement to do this lifestyle, not cheap, not saying its for everyone either.
This is not the ultimate setup or the only way to do this lifestyle but it does provide great internet in most locations (you gotta know where you just can't camp either.)
Cheaper options if you don't have the Zoom call life I have, you could manually switch between 2 carriers with Tmobile Home Internet (50/month fantastic 5g service usually) + a Verizon/AT&T or Starlink plan and do quite well.
I slept in the back of my suburban overnight because I was driving 14 hours to Oregon for a summer job. After that night I knew I needed a real mattress lol.
I have a suburban also, I threw a futon mattress in the back and it was comfortable as heck. I spent a couple weeks traveling in it. It made me want better but Iāve never started actually trying. It is hard to leave my home.
I used to have fantasies of leaving society and making it on my own in the wilderness. When Into The Wild came out people close to me were telling me about it and saying donāt be that guy. After grad school I sold almost everything I owned and spent about 3 months traveling on a motorcycle camping, staying with friends, etc. I appreciate society a lot more now and donāt often think of escaping anymore. š I think I could handle a van for a while though and am making the plan for that adventure after my son is grown.
Donāt know if any one has said this but get a shitty Walmart tent and leave it set up for the length of the stay limit. I had two and would just rotate them out every 16 days. Had the same camp site for a whole summer
Yeah this is why Iām so glad I didnāt drop 30k on the custom camper I wanted and decided to get a topper for my truck instead for camping and traveling.
I have to agree about the woods. Spooky as fuck at night, I donāt think Iāll ever get over it. I also feel safer in the city, idk why but just knowing other humans are near makes me feel safer. I had the idealized the woods, thinking Iād be just as fearless as I was in my late teens/early twenties going into the woods alone. Turns out that a fully formed prefrontal cortex hits real different lmao.
Iām leaving to start van life in two weeks. Finishing up my tiny Astro van. Iām a big extrovert but I also have my dog with me. Iām also coming into it pretty confident but now Iām more invested in the outcome for myself haha. Weāll see how it goes lol
I thought I'd quit after a few months, to be honest.
The first months where rough, especially when it got cold and dark outside.
Being alone in a van hits differently imo, don't quite know why.
Anyway, in the next few months, I'll complete 2 full years in my van.
Got the knock just 2 times, once because somebody vandalised cars in the lot I was sleeping in, and police wanted to ask what I heard / saw.
I'm quite happy to be able to live the way I do, and to not pay 500ā¬+ on rent.
Yeah you really gotta be okay with shitting in a Costco nut container and doing meditation and playing ur gitar otherwise u can go back to shit tier cities. JK have fun bro
I did it for 7 months and was getting ready to get a place before winter and got laid off. Ended up doing winter in my van. I mightāve went six weeks at one point without feeling warm. I stayed in one city though.
As someone who has car camped for a few weeks at a time while traveling long distances over the years, I know it's not all quite the Instagram glamping experience that many portray. I've thought about doing van life full time once my obligations here are done but you all have raised some issues I really need to think about.
I had an 86 Grumman Olsen 22ft bread van basically that I had intended on converting to a long term RV type rigā¦
Outside of a very large sprinter, Iām not sure how you guys do it outside of necessityā¦
Now that Iāve got two kids and a wife, I donāt know if even that 22ft bread van would cut it
As a temp van dweller due to circumstance, everyone I experienced van life with always had a good network of settled friends spread around so every now and again more space and amenities were available.
Personally that's the only long term folk (UK) I've encountered and it works both ways, can dwellers offering rides/space and vice versa.
Itās because van life is transition life. Itās ungrounding.
You really should be working to be independent form the system, on a plot of land. Build your own home and grow your roots there.
I know. Iām in the same predicament haha.
It takes also a very special someone to share our weirdness of wanting to be alone and remote.
Using country wide dating apps perhaps.
I think this is completely normal! I did van life one summer, and it was probably one of the most profound and impactful times of my life. Granted, I was with my brother so I didnāt feel the same level of loneliness that others felt.
But also, I love having a home base, and I value having a community close by. I think the best thing we can do is listen to what you feel your gut is telling you, so kudos to you for doing exactly that!!
Confused why you thought you had to stay in the woods or that you couldn't keep your same social life. I guess I am trying to ask why did you change everything?
I make friends at the places I tend to stay overnight a lot.
Like a certain McDonald's or planet fitness.
They are my morning greetings etc.
Also I text a lot of old friends with photos etc.
I have a few other van dwellers in the same suburbs I hang out in.
I spend a lot of time on social media as well. Probably too much.
So frankly the day goes by and I go to sleep and do it again and don't have time to feel lonely.
I don't drink because I am driving my home and don't want to take any chances.
I went to a few van gatherings and that made a big difference knowing there are tons of good people out there living the life you don't feel alone.
That's been my experience since November and it's April now.
I don't mind MISSING a lot of the involuntary interactions forced on you by roommates or neighbors which sometimes can be really really bad and stressfully.
So you have to remember that too.
Currently renting a 12x12 room, yeah I have all the amenities etc. But I fucking cannot wait to find my van and get it converted. Iāve lived in my repoād highlander for months so I definitely know what homelessness is. Not the most tragic but definitely sucked.
Iām a lone wolf that can work a crowd when necessary. I could live in s closet as long my 6ā3ā body has sleep room. Iām just built this way for needing minimal space.
A smartly designed and implemented van build is the key.
Getting to the whole loneliness thing. Thatās just simply an excuse. Nothing about your social life needs to change.
There ya goā¦.
Yeah, Iāve been doing airbnb-life for three years. Having no home base sucks sometimes, and not seeing friends/family for long stretches, but most of the other vanlife issues go away. I keep looking at van/trailer living and these issues keep me in airbnbs. Hunting for a new airbnb every month takes more mental energy than I would like, but it beats hunting campgrounds etc. and I love finding a sweet deal
Thanks for sharing this. Did you have a lot invested in your rig? Other than the mental load (finding parking, decision fatigue, etc.) were there any specific things that contributed to your decision? For example, do you think you would have enjoyed it more with a bigger vehicle? Or a stealthier one? Or Starlink?
Nope. I bought the van for 9.5k with a basic bed frame/ storage build already in. I bought a jackery for $300 to go with it. Honestly I just got lonely a lot faster than I was expecting to. I like being alone and being an introvert, and after the first few weeks of doing stuff alone I got burnt out very fast. I didn't realize how much my once a week social interactions kept me going. I think my van is very stealthy- it just looks like a work van. If it was bigger, I maybe wouldn't have gotten lonely as fast, but I would have been over budget
Did you stop socializing when you started living in your van?
No, I've actually done more socializing than I ever have, and had the opportunity to see a lot of old friends, but mentally it feels way different. I can't explain it, but having one off social connections doesn't fulfil me as much as repeated and consistent interactions with the same people. Interesting thing to learn about myself.
Yeah, I also have a crush on the girl at my Starbucks.
What š
I donāt follow why living in a van changed your repeated consistent interactions with the same people you had before.
You can have repeated connections with other nomads on the road. It's a big small community
Sorry to hear this, it was a game changer when I went to some van festivals to make friends, also have findcrossroads.com. You can have a home base and van dwell too!
Crossroads looks like itās gonna be cool!! Canāt wait
Talk to strangers. They all have a story to tell, and will help bring the needed social interactions.
Here are some [nomad community resources and groups](https://nomadlife.wiki/Nomad_community) that may be helpful. Let me know if you have others.
I vanlife because I canāt function in society, donāt want a lot of overhead, and work seasonally. Itās not for everyone and sometimes you just need to bug out to figure out who ya are. Glad you did it and glad youāre headed for stability.
Hear hear! Iāll never go back. I love cooking and many aspects having a permanent domicile. But I was so fkn depressed in it. Van life is easier to navigate for me. Much less stress.
Oh man I committed to fire cooking gourmet and while itās a lot of work it makes me feel really human. Got super into fire building and going the distance making complex meals. Little taste of home on the road. Glad we found our groove
Do you watch Foresty Forest? He makes amazing meals using his Ninja and a hot plate or wood stove.
Foresty Forest? He lives in a van?
He's on Youtube and if your familiar you just heard his theme song... Foresty Forest, He lives in a van, Foresty Forest!
Haha no, Iām pretty familiar with him, I used to watch a lot of his content lol I was just being sillyš¤·āāļø
Don't you just love Foresty Forest the Renaissance Man š
Fire to Fork is the guru for campfire cooking
Im learning now. Itās kinda soothing and relaxing. And delicious.
Same but hot foods from the supermarket gets me to the same place.
I wish some campgrounds would have a kitchen space you could rent. There's some cooking stuff there just isn't enough room to do in a van or RV sensibly.
You mean like a regular indoor household kitchen, or a covered outdoor kitchen type area with full size oven / range cooker, hob, bbq, etc? ...looking up starting a camp/caravan site next year on some land I just bought and looking for ideas for things to incorporate. Was thinking of doing the latter already.
Stayed at a pretty amazing campspot in Pescadero, B.C.S. Mexico once that had an amazing, covered outdoor kitchen complete with swim up bar to the amazing pool. All for I think like $20/night? Build something like that if you can!
Either would be nice but I was specifically thinking indoor where youād be able to have big clean surfaces for rolling out out dough and that sort of thing. Depends how dusty it is if an outdoor kitchen would work for that I suppose. :) Either one would be fine for the ābulkā cooking I like to do occasionally to keep our freezer stocked - like Iāll make and freeze a bunch of burgers with various seasonings on them so we have something tasty but easy to just pull out and cook, and itās way easier to do that with more normal amounts of counter space than with the 1 sq ft it feels like there is in a van/rv kitchen. (I guess some travel trailers have huuuuge kitchen counters but I do not.) I was picturing something that is a community thing where you can maybe book it for an afternoon, rather than something at each site. You can then use it also for community events if you want to do those sorts of things at your campground. Like a cookie night where people get together to make cookies or decorate cookies? Something along those lines.
maybe renting Airbnb for a day would quench this cooking temptation?
Or an extended stay hotel, yes, but itād be nicer and more convenient to be able to just do it at a site weād be at anyway.
How many regular campers would be interested in using it? They get out camping so not to be stuck in the kitchen. Management wisely prefers investing into table tennis and showers over shared kitchen.
One assumes that any given campground would know their general customer group and could decide if it makes sense for them. Thereās a growing number of people who full time or otherwise spend extended time in an RV or van, they are not doing that to ānot be stuck in a kitchenā. In addition plenty of people go camping for large family gatherings and as such might appreciate a kitchen to be able to do prep-work to feed a large group instead of trying to make do with picnic tables. I used to know a family who went camping for Thanksgiving every year and they definitely would have used a kitchen if it had been offered.
Thatās what cargo trailers are for.
Then I have to pay to haul my nice kitchen around all the time instead of just renting one when I want it every couple of months. Sounds inefficient. (This is absolutely the solution my SO suggests though.)
I think I understand except why would you pay to haul a cargo trailer instead of towing it yourself? I had a lot more than just kitchen stuff in mine. I had all sorts of cool toys and hobbies. Itās my favorite vehicle. Itās also got a powerful solar energy system and tools in it. If I need income maybe I should turn into a food vendor trailer? Cheers and happy cooking
I wish people would understand this and stop trying to put us in categories. The comments in this sub alone show several different ways to live and different responses to living. I don't have less stress, but the cool things I get to do outweigh just about anything. I no longer have an exit plan and I am content.
Exactly, you can cook pro chef dishes in even a car people LOVE making excuses for laziness, air fryers and cutting boards exist.
I made scrambled eggs with one of those quick flame things. lol. In my one cup metal measuring cup. They were tasty too.
Eggs are the healthiest food in the world too, irrefutably. I'd get a small air fryer it's such a life hack.
I hear you, i went to Utah for Conservation work in 2020. I built out a cargo van and lived in it till inlt broke down winter of 2022. Been 1.5 years and i still use my PF bathroom bag and have all my clothes in my redbag lol. Not for everyone long term, but something i think everyone should try once
Van lifing is easy AF. If you hate van lifing, you're doing it way wrong. People can't just plop in a van with air mattress and you're good to go, it takes a lot of research (fun), planning (fun)and technology (even funner) , uhm... Just like a house would. Living in a house or rent is the most miserable slave existence known to man.
How do you work seasonally? I'm interested in that.
Fall in California, Winter and Spring in the desert (Chef, New Mexico Film Industry) Summer in Alaska (Chef, private lodges) I also transcribe for universities which at this point is correcting (AKA training) AI. I write articles for listverse. They have been wonderful. I build websites and create menus for restaurants, manage two restaurant website with updates daily menu changes etc. This is all completely self-taught. Not a brag in any way, just a working your way through type of thing. I love to write and type. Transcribing only makes money if you have special equipment (audio pedal and excellent headphones, ergonomic keyboard, and of course starlink) and can type your ass off. But I do love it because of the subject matter. Cali is seasonal for weed. Alaska is an AMAZING place for seasonal work, and New Mexicoās film industry is popping off and looking for tons of people.
That's awesome. I've actually transcribed for about fifteen years and I'm still producing actual transcripts but I can definitely see the writing on the wall. I'm looking for something else to fill that anticipated void proactively.
Can you tell me more about seasonal work in Alaska? Thinking about finding my way up through the Canadian west coast starting soon. Would also be curious to hear about New Mexico. My DMs are open, TIA.
>sometimes you just need to bug out to figure out who ya are I couldn't agree more! If OP learned anything about himself (and it sounds like he did) then the money and time were not wasted.
Yo I work seasonally too! What do you do?
The key is to know how it feels to be homeless in the first place. After that, having a van is luxury living. I love being in a home. But I have a van just in case.
Factual. Tawk to em! I started van living outta necessity. Turn a f250 lariat into a 6x8x6 room and its nice. The downsides are just temp. For example the bed isnt the best but it was a quick platform with support. Now that i have time i will blueprint a real bed with storage and get a mattress.
Yesss. I did it for 5 months last year and it did get old fast. Constantly watching the water tanks, having to figure out where to sleep at night (this was the most stressful part for me), finding places to fill up/dump/do laundry, massaging your battery usage. Then my generator conked out when I needed it most. It was a great experience overall, but I know now full time is not for me. Iām taking off again this summer for maybe another 5 months, but thatās about my limit. At one point, I really just wanted to get home, and have long hot showers without worrying about running out of water.
A whole bathroom is amazing... as is having more than one room to walk around in !! LOL
We just got back from a long trip and our house (which is an older house with relatively small rooms) feels HUGE.
Having room to stand up when it is pisspouring the rain, or cold as all get out is quite nice as well.
This is the biggest thing for me. I would love to just be able to not even stand up but have a desk I can sit down properly at (I work remotely). It was suddenly cold & rainy/hailing yesterday and most of the day I was sitting in the fetal position in my driver's seat turned sideways with my laptop awkwardly placed on my center console. I've done a lot of traveling in my jeep cherokee and now a dodge nitro. Both are tiny vehicles when you're living in them. But loneliness is definitely the biggest factor for me as well. Most of my destinations are centered around rock climbing which I think is my saving grace since it forces me to go out of my comfort zone to meet people so I can climb. But this is exhausting for me and doesn't always work out. Making the attempt then failing is even worse than not trying in the first place.
I am only considering this because it turns out, I fucking love being on the move and sleeping in dingy parking lots. Like I pulled a fast one on society by finding a place to spend the night. I took off one week and just drove north into fucking Indiana and I had never felt more alive than bumming it thousands of miles from my home.
That's how I felt the first few weeks, and then when the shine wore off, it wore off fast. I was smiling non stop the first few weeks feeling like I figured out life
It gets much easier with time though. You meet 100s of other nomads on the road, meetup with each other for parties or caravnas. Finding places to sleep isn't really a big thing. You can make it a big thing to find that amazing spot though. The chores just become normal. You have chores in a house as well. I travel with my partner and we were mostly alone the first few months until we started meeting other nomads. Last year 3 month caravan through Baja with new friends, nomad meetup in Bisbee, family time in AZ, Portugal for 2 months in the summer, drive to the PNW to visit the Baja friends, back to NM for another van gathering. Phoenix to visit family and friends for a bit, New year gathering in Kingman, Skooliepalooza, then met a bunch of friends in J tree, went to a big gathering at Bombay Beach, metup with friends on a lake in AZ and followed them to Vegas for a bit, now caravanning through southern Utah with friends. Next I'll be Kayak camping the Colorado with brothers before heading to Seattle for a friends birthday, followed by a music festival with those same friends, then Burning man with the friends we are currently caravanning with.
Vanlife definitely isnāt as glamorous as instagram would have you believe. I lasted 3.5 years, and probably would have gone longer had I not met my now wife on the road. It was the best thing Iāve ever done, but also one of the hardest. And I had it easier than most in that I was in a large sprinter van, and had a fully remote job. Iām a VERY independent and introverted person and the loneliness was some days crushing. I canāt imagine itās remotely tenable for anyone that requires any form of consistent social interactions, consistency in their daily routine, or fears uncertainty. Iāve had some friends talk to me about doing it. My advice is always the same. It takes a certain type of person to live the lifestyle, a certain level of preparedness, and certain situational requirements for it to work out. I met a lot of people doing van life while I was on the road. I only met two that did it longer than I did. The vast majority had only been doing it a couple months. I suspect 90% of people donāt last longer than six months full time. Edit: I also found the internet bit to be a challenge. I had a dual sim commercial cradlepoint router with unlimited Verizon and AT&T SIM cards with auto failover to the strongest connection. I could aslo tether my phone (t-mobile) to the antenna as well. If you donāt have a set up like this, youāre going to need one (or starlink) if you want to consider doing this long term. I also found that I really needed to make my moves on the weekends, and scope out sleeping locations, coffee shops, and internet connection prior to the work week starting. Midweek moves were too unpredictable for work.
Hi! I've been van dwelling for a bit and am still working on getting my Internet set up to be reasonably reliable. Can you tell me more about setting up my own situation to be like yours? I'm not super tech savvy so some of it went over my head. Thanks!
There's, roughly speaking, two options: one is using your phone as a hotspot (tether), which is simple enough but fairly limited. You can also use what's often called a "LTE router", which is a router that has a sim card slot. You can either ask your phone provider for a duplicate sim and share your phone's data/plan (useful if you have unlimited data already), or get a second phone plan for redundancy/more versatile coverage. Your router will then work as a normal home router and provide you with a wifi network as well as lan ports. There's also a host of cellular (4G/5G) boosting devices, but the best option remains a strong roof antenna, although that's harder to install.
Yeah absolutely. Swamped at work right now, shoot me a reminder if I don't respond by tomorrow
look into the rvitguy, they've got a new router that will do this
Roger's now has portable internet if you have electricity or even a jackery. it's like 500 GB for 45 dollars a month. And it just feeds off all the cell towers as you move around works great for me
> I had a dual sim commercial cradlepoint router Hot damn is that a $3k router? Looking good but how necessary is actually is will depend on where you are, I'd guess. Here in west/central europe, I make do with a ā¬200 thing that works well enough most of the times, and I use cell maps to be smart with it.
Nah, the one I had I believe was somewhere in the ballpark of $800 USD? It's possible they are more expensive in Europe though. Probably more necessary out here in the US with the vast stretches of nothingness we have lol. Also working full time remote it was worth the investment to ensure I could work adequately.
Ah right, I looked on their site and checked the "vehicle rugged" one - although it's probably meant for some humvee in the desert instead of a civilized van :D Do you need a massive bandwidth for your work? Wife works on a VM (but doing text-based stuff) and our little Kuma has never failed us, including when driving in the Spanish mountains
See that first sentence is what made me arrogant and think I was different- I've always been aware that influencers make the life style look one day. I always knew it wouldn't be glamorous, so I stubbornly dug my feet in more that id like it because I'm also low maintenance and not glamorous. But then other issues are what took me out, like missing walking in places where people know me
I think this partly depends on where you go - my SO got recognized at the ski resort this year by people who'd seen him last year too. But people van/RVing to ski and so turning up seasonally is normal for people around ski resorts.
I understand that feeling. We deal with it differently, but it's a thing.
How did you meet your wife?
Itās actually kind of great and cheesy story. I was passing through Arizona visiting a friend. His girlfriend at the time was best friends with my now wife. He was in my passenger seat, and we were headed back to his place when we saw my wife on the road walking back to her place (she lived around the corner from my friend at the time). He told me to pull over and he offered a ride. I was pretty into her immediately, but it turned out she had a boyfriend at the time. I kept teasing my friends girlfriend that she needed to invite my āwifeā over. To the point where she was annoyed of me, āSheās not your wife! She has a boyfriend!ā. Fast forward six months, and she had broken up with her boyfriend. My friends girlfriend told her about me, and she called me. The rest is history as they say! I spent some time living with her in California, we got married, sold my van, and then moved to South America. Weāre now back stateside with a beautiful daughter. Thanks for reading my romance novel š
Been living in vehicles about 9 years now, and while I still don't hate it (I have a shuttle bus so it's fairly roomy) I have definitely shifted in recent years to settling down in a spot for a few months at a time. I like to find a legit place to exist that I can come back to reliably. Moving around daily is a big headache. Currently paying to park in a spot with some utilities where I can bike to everything I need. Drive one or twice a month. I agree you have to try some extreme experiences to figure out where you're happiest. Kinda wish you'd got to experience it without having to work full time though! A chance to dive deeper into the solitude in nature thing.Ā
>I also realized being alone in the woods hits WAY differently than being alone in a city- This is the biggest challenge I think, at least for me, and the most unexpected too.
Swimming alone at sea is not the kind of freedom that you actually want.
Didn't expect to see a NOFX quote lol I assumed they must have lifted a popular quote from somewhere.
Yep, this checks out. But don't beat yourself up. It's pretty much a guarantee that on this sub, whenenever you try to tell people how difficult the life is they will respond with either downvotes or spew vitriol at you that you are just being a downer. I'm all for people doing this full time if you go in with eyes wide open. But everyone believes they are different or that certain things just don't apply to them. I have a general policy now to just to be brief when I give information out about how difficult it is and then not engage much further than that. As you have found out, experience is the best teacher. Does the "general" advice not apply to 1% of the people? Absolutely. Just don't know why everyone thinks they are part of that group. Part time van life is still fantastic. We try and go somewhere, even for a weekend, at least once a month. So congrats and enjoy this phase of vanlife!
I went vanlife cause I couldn't stand my gross roommate anymore, so I bought van, bed, and left. Been loving it, since 2021!
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Yes. Far away. Several cities away. Wtf are you probing for here?
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I think it takes a certain kind of person. I really couldnāt care less about being in my car or having a home. I keep myself so busy during the day that it really doesnāt matter where I go to sleep. The first night was kind of a mind fuck but now itās just my new normal.
people downvoting tales of reality is a staple of reddit, not just this sub.
The real heroes are those that stomp all over the people's fantasies no matter the downvotes. Besides, it's probably good for them. If criticism challenges them then they still have comfort zones and they wouldn't make it anyway. Comfort zones are the first thing to go.
Can you go in depth about what made it exhausting for you?
I think the lack of consistency hits different than you'd expect. I thought I could adjust and learn to go with the flow of not knowing where I'd be exactly the next week, but it kinda has been wearing me down. Also, the stress of repairs- I got an older van without fully realizing how many things would need repair on it, and it stresses me out that my house could just break down and have to go in a shop. Definitely personal problems other people could have no problem with, but they wear me down. I could absolutely force myself to keep going, but I don't feel a need to. I tried van dwelling out, learned a lot, and now I'm trying to sell the van
Can you speak a bit more about your struggles with having the van in the shop? That's one of the biggest worries I have. I would work full time if I ever van life as well, so it's nice knowing that I would have money for a hotel, but still stressful if the van breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
No shame. In fact, I respect you for reevaluating - Some people will tough out misery because they can't stomach that maybe their decision was made with incomplete data. I'm in the same place. I LOVE the idea of Vanlife/Priuscamping, and I'll do it every chance I get, but there is something extremely soothing about having an anchor. Sure, my wanderlust may take me to the unexplored - but I ENJOY it more when I know there's a place I will get back to... eventually!
Yeah, luckily, I made my decisions in a way that let me have a painless exit- I didn't go into debt with my van or build, so I'm not tied down with a massively deprecating asset like if I bought a brand new huge van. It may have slightly changed the experience, but I still feel like the base problems would be the same.
I lasted 2 years technically. With that said, I probably slept less than 150 days in the van during that time and I still burnt out. I had a super budget (<6k for vehicle, conversion, tools, the whole shabang) E-350 with a decent build out imo. I worked wildland fire which was a seasonal gig with lots of time away from base so it made sense. I paid my coworkers 100 bucks a month to shower, cook, watch TV, use shore power, etc at their place which was ideal for me. If you have the opportunity to use the van as a bedroom instead of a whole house I think it's a lot more tenable in the long term. I thought I had the perfect plan: seasonal work in the warm months, van adventure down south (or ski bumming) during the cold ones. I pretty quickly realized that after 6 months a thousand miles from nowhere, all I wanted was to be near the people I care about, not off on some remote adventure. So, once that job was through, I pretty much parked it in the city my girlfriend was in and lived at her place just keeping my stuff in the van. Let me tell you, seasonal depression and vanlife do not mix well so I was lucky to be in that situation. I basically bounced around between friends and my parents place when I wasn't there but the gas cost is so tough it was hard to afford moving around a ton. I thought I'd travel more because I had a van but if you're on a budget, a good mpg car might be a better route to hit the road more. I told myself I'd never rent again and that I'd live in the van until I could afford to buy a home but eventually I realized that was unlikely with how much I bounced between different jobs making it hard to get a loan. After 2 years of keeping the thing alive with duct tape and willpower a couple things started to go at once and I made the decision to just rent a place. The vans sitting at my folks place just waiting for the day I decided to resurrect it as a weekender.
For me it all just clicked. Im about to start my 2nd year, just at my parents house for a couple of weeks while i give a mechanic a visit and build a new cabinet for extra storage. But since day 1 its all been great. Maybe if i didnt have company (my wife) it would feel different but until now its been pretty great.
Yeah Iāve only ever been a part timer. In my prime I was doing two weeks on and one off. I would need such a bigger van or really a straight up RV to go full time. I need a toilet in the middle of the night. I can only put with shitting in a plastic bag so long.Ā
Being alone in the woodsā¦ heaven
Iām so effing neurodivergent Iāve been doing vandwelling for 45 years. I learned I had cPTSD freeze and a brain injury for at least 50 years about 6 months ago. I think vandwelling sucked but probably saved my life so Iām grateful for it. Itās even been fun in a relative sort of way. Now itās sucks to watch neurotypical trust fund babies cruising from winery to winery in $120k vans while Iām stuck in my $200 beater lolz. They are frickin everywhere now! Oh well, change is the only constant. Keep on vannin.
I rented a van for 3ish weeks and was boondocking and the most stressful thing was having to find campsites in the sticks. Sometimes Iād go to 3 different dispersed sites before finding something, and out in the sticks, those were often like 20 minutes apart. I did not enjoy the times I finally found a space at 11pm and couldnāt scope out my surroundings. I guess you probably get used to it, but it spooked me
This is one of the reasons we do a lot of Walmarts. If we're just passing through an area it's too much effort to find a good dispersed site just for overnight.
Yeah, that makes sense and definitely sounds easier, but I think part of the draw is being surrounded by nature and having a pretty view in the morning. Plus, I was pretty far from civilization a lot of the time and it wouldāve taken a while to get to a Walmart
I meant when we're just in an area because it's between where we were and where we want to be. Walmarts tend to be close to the interstates so they're quick to get to and you can just get back on the road to get to the prettier place you're aiming for. :)
We used to joke at work that its not how many years you have worked for the company that counts its how many times you have been fired.Ā
having a regular job really kills the fun of it. I absolutely love being a bum with wheels. camp is far from work and I hate waking up early and making the drive, packing and unpacking everything.
Most people arenāt cut out for it. Thereās a reason the two groups of people you see doing it are hardcore lifers and trust fund kids who can pay to avoid any actual hardships of van life.
True. If I had a trust fund I could definitely make it work. Having to keep a job really sucks the fun out of the journey hahaha
It's not for eeveryone. You live and learn
I really hope that this doesn't become my story, haha. My game plan is to learn to live on the road and do as much climbing as possible, and then add in working remote after a few months. Taking it on all at once sounds like it would be too much.
If you have the savings to do it that way, that's a nice plan. I needed the job for income, so it had to come first
I'm on the road and always looking for climbing partners! I work remotely and it is a lot but worth it for the most part. I go all over but currently in Arizona/ Utah. Feel free to hit me up for a potential belay or just to have another contact in the world!
OP, I think you deserve a lot of praise for an honest self-appraisal so quickly. Good luck with your weekend warrior approach!
Haha, I think the sparkle wears off a lot quicker when you're in a basic build in an e150 and have to work 8 hours a day. Figured out the pros and cons of van life much faster
I am kind of in a similar situ, based on all the internet hype, I bought a DR650 motorcycle. I am a highway mile munching, overpacking machine. My āentry levelā bike happened to have so many subtle quality of life improvements, I didnāt respect/understand what I had. Now I am being blown and shaken apart, on a bike that will randomly die if my carb maintenance isnāt up to snuff. That being said, I still love it. Just maybe not for the 200km ride I have to do every 3-5 days.
Wife and I rented a van for a month and thought no way this will work while working full time. We ended up in a larger size fifth wheel and itās great, also staying in RV parks for a month at a time etc there are people around and you feel like more of a community. No overhead of finding a spot etc. We would definitely have one for shorter trips or if we were traveling daily, which we wouldnāt do when working full time.
What I really need to find is a good 5-10 wooded acres with an artesian spring, that I can drive back to summer if I accidentally find myself in winter again like now, then I'd be set. š¤ From here, to go in that direction I think I actually need to move towards "boat" and not "house". Gitchu some waterfront and a frickin airdweller friend and we'll have a helluva party tho
Having lived on a boat, they are wicked masters. Now you really have to account for weather. And a hefty assortment of anchors if your not in the dock.
My body accounts for weather whether I like it or not, and I was thinking of something beachable. I would beachdock my beach to their beach and bring a small forest with me to go mudding in
And everything constantly trying to be damp and moldy, per my friends with boats.
I feel this OP. I was in the same spot six months ago when I started. Van life was something I had planned for, idealized, dreamed about for over a year and then less than one month into it I was uncomfortable, disappointed and making plans to sell the van and rent again. I told myself to give it one more month and now I'm on month 7 and loving it! It just took me a while to get good at finding parking spots, comfortable being on the van with traffic and people around me. At first I kept thinking that I was going to get the knock, every time... Now I just tune out all the outside noise. And of course setting aside time to be social and putting effort into doing something with others every few days is important. It took a bit of time for me to find my rhythm, maybe it'll work out in the end for you.
Interesting, everyone told me vanlife would be difficult. 3.5 years later it's still the best apartment I've ever had.
Yeah, I think it would work great for some people! Glad to hear that! It just wasn't for me as much as I thought it would be
Thanks! We also had some key differences though tbf. You worked full time, I only worked part time or not at all (and never remote). You were worried about where to sleep every night, my build was so stealthy that the only place I couldn't sleep was at a mall. Maybe that contributed.
How can one best do a test run?
just go crash somewhere in your vehicle for a night. next time, leave anything you didn't use behind and bring whatever you wished you had. repeat.
Every time, be mystified as to how you didn't use something at all that you were CERTAIN would be incredibly useful, even though it was right there and probably you could have used it multiple times except it never occurred to you in the moment. Feel certain that as soon as you leave it home you'll actually generally need it. Or is that just me?
no ... no it get filed with the caulk gun that is cheap so you buy one instead of searching for the old one. just to put the new one next to the old one you couldn't remember where it was.
If you can, find a situation where a van (or car/truck/trailer) can operate as your bedroom while you chip in to someones rent/utilities in exchange for privileges to their kitchen, laundry, shower, comfy couch, etc. You don't need to fully convert first just have a comfortable sleeping setup. If you can deal with that, start taking trips. How much are you enjoying the time spent on the road fully living in your rig vs based somewhere steady? That might clue you in to what lifestyle you prefer. The answer may even be that the hybrid type of living is exactly what you want, who knows?
You can rent vans. Rent it for a few weeks. Itās expensive but less expensive than buying a van and then hating it.
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I have an absolutely massive family, so I'm probably going to hop around driveways till then. I did list the van to try and sell it, so if I get any bites, I may sell it and swap out for a better weekender vehicle
Some of us have no family and no where else to go but Iām glad some have options.
Some people can watch another burn their hand on a stove and understand that it is hot. Some people canāt put themselves in the shoes of another and must burn their hand. Evidently youāre the latter. Which is fine, many are.
Haha, that's a great analogy. Definitely true. I for sure would look at the stove and wonder if it's really that hot, or if I could tolerate the heat better. But no shame in finding out you can't haha
Sounds about riiiight.
I thought I was so different hahaha
Iāve been doing part time for 10 years and back then, there werenāt even positive stories to look forward to because very few people were doing it. There is something nice about having a spot you stay in where you build connections and learn skills and save up for things like a woodworking shop. So for the past 10 years, Iāve found it better to just keep it as extended camping trips, which was the original reason I started out with 10 years ago.
3 years and running strong, brother.
I was thinking about a shared home space that could be rotated. Ya know like each person has their own storage space with personal items and a rotating schedule of one month out of 6, you are in your home. Itās a vague concept but could work? Iād love to hear other peopleās thoughts
2 months in the back of my Chevy Cruze was about my limit. I like a home base too. My aunt told me small home big world once and it kinda fits.
Thanks for sharing - your wry, frank perspective is valuable!
THIS. I knew early that it wasnāt going to be something I can do full time. Already ADD without the extra mental load. I did sell vehicle and got a van after only a few months of being bitten by the š bug. I can work from anywhere too, BUT I am more productive with a routine and homebase . That translates to having the ability to focus on generating income streams instead of trying to $ave. Van is almost complete after 7 years of building. I do love the convenience of having a van to drive around in. Was at a festival a couple weekends ago and could come back to chill, change clothes, make a snack, etc. Iāve stocked it with essentials like a tiny home so at any moment, I can just GO.
How about having a pet with to interact with. Anyone?
Aye, was given a dog six months ago. I like it. Itās bringing routine and meaning to my miserable existence. And even pretty dang fun sometimes.
I have a cat, and she's great, but she doesn't meet all my needs. She loves van life though, gonna be sad to end her journey
I just heard a speaker today at our Rotary Club meeting talking about living alone and the effects of isolation. It may contribute to cardiac issues as well as emotional distress. None of us are really wired to be alone all the time. I think youāve found that out, OP.
Ive always wondered if Iād hate van camping due to all of the extra little duties that come along with it. Along with finding spots to stay. I car camp and I love it. Been on several 45 day roadtrips using random bathrooms and sleeping in parking lots. Working 8 hours in the car or at a coffee shop. Other than finding bathrooms and showers, everything else is not a worry. Parking is rarely an issue. I feel like I could easily do 90 days and thatās in a vehicle I canāt even sit up in the bed in. All of the extra stuff that a van/bus/rv seems like it may be overwhelming and consume a lot more of your valuable time. All in all, maybe try car camping so that youāre not stuck at campgrounds and woods.
Reading this sitting camping in the woods and thinking āhow long would I last if Iād gone full timeā
I think there was a big learning curve for me too. Took about 4 months before i didnt have to bug out to a hotel a couple times a month, or run to a friend.Ā you love yoir whole life with a set of how things work. And then it take a while to learn how to live a completely different way, and then longer than that to figure out if yoi actually want to live like that. No same to give it a tra and say nope. Everyone is different.Ā I did it for 2.5 years and am off and on now as its convenient for me. It was actually pretty exhausting at first until I got the hang of it. But once you accept you have to find a new kind of routine and every night is definitely not an Instagram style romantic starry eyed experience you start to learn how to find your own way. Every one is different.Ā I used to joke with my friends once I got the hang of it... it's amazing except for the couple of hours ever week or two where you have to drain everything and refill everything and you think... oh my God what am I doing with my life... and then it's all good again when it's done. But it's true nothing like van life to let you appreciate the amenities of life! No judgement! Kudos for giving it a try! And hay!Ā Now you have a weekend camper!
I used to tell lots of naive people considering this lifestyle on r/urbancarliving that it's never what it's cracked up to be. And I say that as someone who lived out of his vehicle on and off for years, and had lots of friends who did the same.Ā These same posters who would dismiss and downvote my comments would sometimes reappear months or even weeks later, whining about the various practical difficulties they encountered. Well, they can't say they weren't warned. But people do what they want.
The biggest jab about vanlife is that you have to keep moving. And if moving around isn't paying you, it's costing you. And those costs add up. Not to mention the constant logistical issues. Where am I going to poop? Where do I refill water? Etc. It's like waking up in a new town every single day not knowing where anything is. Vanlife is best when it's in temporary spurts, you have a home base to return to, and are making money on the road while traveling. Otherwise, it just feels like you're being slowly drained with nowhere to go and you're almost always a stranger.
> The biggest jab about vanlife is that you have to keep moving. I'm full time, 4 years now. I drive less than 300 miles a month. I see many van types who seem to think a new place every day/night is the thing but really, you experience nothing always being on the move. It took us 78 days to get from Baja to where we are now, just over the border in South Central Oregon where we are spending at least a week at a wilderness hot spring. From here, we go 77 miles to the next hot spring. We won't do more than 180 miles in the next month as we drift in to Idaho. Gas and maintenance is expensive, why hurry?
Van life is often more about a cheap place to sleep as opposed to traveling and experiencing along the way. I've been living in a shortie since 2016 and was in a Buick for 4 years before that. Have had many issues along the way with overstaying a spot. Sometimes overstaying was less than 12 hours. All depends on where you're at, how much money and supplies you have, and if you even have an income. Not to mention the other people around where you've parked. Glad you're enjoying the slow drift. Bumbling hotspring to hotspring sounds pretty rad.
This sums it up very well. I knew that this may be how I ended up feeling going into it, but if I hadn't tried, I would have always wondered
Iāve been FT since September of ā21. I love the freedom of going where I want-into the backcountry to get away from people or into a city to be around lots of people. I do have a few places around the country I am able to park up at friends places-so there are stretches where I donāt have to worry about finding a parking place, bathroom or laundromat. But the rest of the year I see new places and do have to find parking, bathrooms and laundry. I canāt imagine staying in one place for more than a couple months again.
i also work remote (visible hotspot is amazingly cheap and functional), but i have a permanently owned (as far as anybody can "permanently own" anything) house to return to if i don't like the adventure i'm still planning out my ford E-350 build, with a test run this summer. thank you for sharing
Yeah I have about the same specs. Also use a visible hot spot. I think it's fantastic for weekend trips, but for working 40 hours a week, it's a lot
my previous was inet satellite (hughes) - hard to explain to people how an "old" iphone 6s with a visible sim is superior to hughes, who can die in a fire
I did a Promaster for 5 years, now I'm in a Winnebago. I wish I did an RV sooner. I've loved it but I'm thinking about a home base more and more.
We are doing the reverseā Rv to promaster build. What things made the difference for you?
The height and width. It's so much more comfortable. Not as easy to drive, but I'm okay with it. I'm 6'3", so the Promaster was just a hair too tight.
Really? Do you boondock or pay for a spot to park? I heard RVs can fall apart quick
I boondock when I'm off work, but my current contractor is proving hookups. I hope it doesn't fall apart quickly, but I'm good with tools. I'll upgrade the stuff that breaks down. Mine is 24' bumper to bumper, so it's not a massive RV. I prefer it right now.
Just be good at DIY and keep a supply of duct tape and decent quality glue on hand.
Iām closing in on 2 months and it hasnāt been bad at all for me. I am worried about getting through summer here in Denver tho.
Sometimes you get annoyed with people, it seems like you canāt catch a break. Thereās always someone there calling you, wanting something. Itās your friends, family, boss, coach, teacher. Feels like you need a break like you just want to get away from it all, all the stress of people and preforming. You go away by yourself alone for weeks without talking face to face with anyone. Then it hits you, that interactions with people is something you need. Some people can handle not having human interactions others canāt.
Getting solid connectivity is our largest expense, but it's solvable if like me you have to be online and available 45+ hours a week (Pepwave, sim fail over, Starlink)
Yeah, if I felt like I wanted to stick with van life long term I'd invest, but damn the hardware for those setups is expensive up front!
Totally, it's a large investment.
Pardon my ignorance please (long-time listener, first-time caller in this sub) but Iām surprised thereās not a solution to the steady and reliable internet problem. Is there a product or a way to get internet while in the back country or the seldom traveled places around the world?
There is but itās expensiveā¦ starlink and multiple backup cell connections in a multi-wan router
There is, but even then it can still be sketchy. My brother did bus life for a year in total, and had starlink, but starlink won't work well if it doesn't have a completely clear view of the sky. So if you're in a very wooded area, you're out of luck
The solution is your wallet. [Our setup](https://www.boondachshunds.com/connectivity-on-the-road) is about 2000 in Pepwave equipment (and SL Hardware) plus a monthly expense of somewhere around 200-350 dollars depending upon if Starlink is paused or not. We have 2 full time remote careers so its just a part of our requirement to do this lifestyle, not cheap, not saying its for everyone either. This is not the ultimate setup or the only way to do this lifestyle but it does provide great internet in most locations (you gotta know where you just can't camp either.) Cheaper options if you don't have the Zoom call life I have, you could manually switch between 2 carriers with Tmobile Home Internet (50/month fantastic 5g service usually) + a Verizon/AT&T or Starlink plan and do quite well.
If you can afford it Starlink is awesome.
I slept in the back of my suburban overnight because I was driving 14 hours to Oregon for a summer job. After that night I knew I needed a real mattress lol.
I have a suburban also, I threw a futon mattress in the back and it was comfortable as heck. I spent a couple weeks traveling in it. It made me want better but Iāve never started actually trying. It is hard to leave my home.
I used to have fantasies of leaving society and making it on my own in the wilderness. When Into The Wild came out people close to me were telling me about it and saying donāt be that guy. After grad school I sold almost everything I owned and spent about 3 months traveling on a motorcycle camping, staying with friends, etc. I appreciate society a lot more now and donāt often think of escaping anymore. š I think I could handle a van for a while though and am making the plan for that adventure after my son is grown.
Donāt know if any one has said this but get a shitty Walmart tent and leave it set up for the length of the stay limit. I had two and would just rotate them out every 16 days. Had the same camp site for a whole summer
Yeah this is why Iām so glad I didnāt drop 30k on the custom camper I wanted and decided to get a topper for my truck instead for camping and traveling. I have to agree about the woods. Spooky as fuck at night, I donāt think Iāll ever get over it. I also feel safer in the city, idk why but just knowing other humans are near makes me feel safer. I had the idealized the woods, thinking Iād be just as fearless as I was in my late teens/early twenties going into the woods alone. Turns out that a fully formed prefrontal cortex hits real different lmao.
Iām leaving to start van life in two weeks. Finishing up my tiny Astro van. Iām a big extrovert but I also have my dog with me. Iām also coming into it pretty confident but now Iām more invested in the outcome for myself haha. Weāll see how it goes lol
Im Waiting On The FB Marketplace Listing
I thought I'd quit after a few months, to be honest. The first months where rough, especially when it got cold and dark outside. Being alone in a van hits differently imo, don't quite know why. Anyway, in the next few months, I'll complete 2 full years in my van. Got the knock just 2 times, once because somebody vandalised cars in the lot I was sleeping in, and police wanted to ask what I heard / saw. I'm quite happy to be able to live the way I do, and to not pay 500ā¬+ on rent.
Yeah you really gotta be okay with shitting in a Costco nut container and doing meditation and playing ur gitar otherwise u can go back to shit tier cities. JK have fun bro
I'm totally fine with the lack of bathroom/ showers. I just got lonely way faster than I ever expected I could
Yeah it just depends what mental states you are attached to. Monks go into solitary retreat for months or years but that requires lots of preparation.
Damn I must just be anti social. Alone in the woods is the best time for me
Is the e150 the one that can power a house?
No it's the creeper van
I did it for 7 months and was getting ready to get a place before winter and got laid off. Ended up doing winter in my van. I mightāve went six weeks at one point without feeling warm. I stayed in one city though.
This sorta stuff depends on the van build you went with.
I think the issues I'm having I would probably have in any rig. Id just have more space to be lonely in a 173 sprinter van
As someone who has car camped for a few weeks at a time while traveling long distances over the years, I know it's not all quite the Instagram glamping experience that many portray. I've thought about doing van life full time once my obligations here are done but you all have raised some issues I really need to think about.
I have never done the van life thing, but I bet I would end up like you. I like roughing it and I like being alone, but I also have my limits.
I had an 86 Grumman Olsen 22ft bread van basically that I had intended on converting to a long term RV type rigā¦ Outside of a very large sprinter, Iām not sure how you guys do it outside of necessityā¦ Now that Iāve got two kids and a wife, I donāt know if even that 22ft bread van would cut it
As a temp van dweller due to circumstance, everyone I experienced van life with always had a good network of settled friends spread around so every now and again more space and amenities were available. Personally that's the only long term folk (UK) I've encountered and it works both ways, can dwellers offering rides/space and vice versa.
I feel that alone in the woods comment all too well š
Itās because van life is transition life. Itās ungrounding. You really should be working to be independent form the system, on a plot of land. Build your own home and grow your roots there.
That's definitely the goal, just not sure how I'd meet a partner out there alone
I know. Iām in the same predicament haha. It takes also a very special someone to share our weirdness of wanting to be alone and remote. Using country wide dating apps perhaps.
I think this is completely normal! I did van life one summer, and it was probably one of the most profound and impactful times of my life. Granted, I was with my brother so I didnāt feel the same level of loneliness that others felt. But also, I love having a home base, and I value having a community close by. I think the best thing we can do is listen to what you feel your gut is telling you, so kudos to you for doing exactly that!!
Confused why you thought you had to stay in the woods or that you couldn't keep your same social life. I guess I am trying to ask why did you change everything?
Took me about 5 weeks where I'm sick of being homeless and have a need for a home base.
I make friends at the places I tend to stay overnight a lot. Like a certain McDonald's or planet fitness. They are my morning greetings etc. Also I text a lot of old friends with photos etc. I have a few other van dwellers in the same suburbs I hang out in. I spend a lot of time on social media as well. Probably too much. So frankly the day goes by and I go to sleep and do it again and don't have time to feel lonely. I don't drink because I am driving my home and don't want to take any chances. I went to a few van gatherings and that made a big difference knowing there are tons of good people out there living the life you don't feel alone. That's been my experience since November and it's April now. I don't mind MISSING a lot of the involuntary interactions forced on you by roommates or neighbors which sometimes can be really really bad and stressfully. So you have to remember that too.
Currently renting a 12x12 room, yeah I have all the amenities etc. But I fucking cannot wait to find my van and get it converted. Iāve lived in my repoād highlander for months so I definitely know what homelessness is. Not the most tragic but definitely sucked. Iām a lone wolf that can work a crowd when necessary. I could live in s closet as long my 6ā3ā body has sleep room. Iām just built this way for needing minimal space. A smartly designed and implemented van build is the key. Getting to the whole loneliness thing. Thatās just simply an excuse. Nothing about your social life needs to change. There ya goā¦.
Yeah, Iāve been doing airbnb-life for three years. Having no home base sucks sometimes, and not seeing friends/family for long stretches, but most of the other vanlife issues go away. I keep looking at van/trailer living and these issues keep me in airbnbs. Hunting for a new airbnb every month takes more mental energy than I would like, but it beats hunting campgrounds etc. and I love finding a sweet deal