You’ve watched the YouTube videos and read the articles about how to live the van life lifestyle. But what about before you start on your full-time adventure? How do you prepare?
Much like planning for a backpacking trip or going to a foreign country, there are some things to consider before starting van life full-time. And we here at Explore VanX have all the info for you!
Since we’ve all lived van life full-time at one time or another, we have first-hand experience to share and give you the tips we wish we’d known before we headed out in our campervans.
Table of Contents
1. Start Downsizing Sooner Than Later
Downsizing is key! To truly understand your space limitations, try creating a mock van life experience within your home. Set up a sleeping area, storage solutions, and a cooking zone in a limited space. This practical exercise helps you refine your needs and packing list.
Letting go of possessions can be liberating. Start by ruthlessly decluttering, keeping only items you truly use and love.
2. Stop Using Household Amenities That Aren't in A Campervan
Yes, some campervans have a microwave, a full shower, an oven… all the bells and whistles of a regular home, just much smaller. Some larger RVs even have a washer and dryer and a dishwasher!
But the majority of campervan conversions don’t have all of the things you use in your daily life at home. If you decide to build your own campervan or buy one from a professional builder, clearly understand what amenities you will have available.
Stop using your oven and microwave if you won’t have one in your campervan. Planning on using a portable toilet? Bring it in your house or apartment and try using it there for a week.
Section off an area in the fridge that aligns with the space you’ll have in your new campervan refrigerator. Same for your freezer, or eliminate use completely.
Planning on making your coffee pour-over style instead of using a coffee maker? Give away that appliance now.
3. Shower Less Often
You don’t have to shower daily to stay clean. Try going a little longer than usual between showers, even if you have a shower in your campervan. Water is sometimes hard to refill, and there will be times when you will need to save every last drop.
Find body wipes you like and start using them between showers to get your skin used to a different routine. Try washing your hair in a sink. If you shave, figure out the best method to do
4. Minimize Your Outfit Options
Pick a few of your favorite outfits and start rotating them. You’ll learn quickly if you truly love them, and if they are functional for everyday use. You won’t have room for an entire closet of outerwear and bins of different shoes – plan your outfit options based on the activities you plan to do and what is the most comfortable.
5. Turn Off Your Thermostat
Even if you opt for a campervan with air conditioning and a heater, turn off your thermostat and only turn it on when you absolutely need it.
Air conditioning takes a lot of power, so if you have it, you’ll have to ration when you use it. A heater takes fuel and will also need to be monitored.
Your body will start adapting to the fluctuating temperatures that come with living in a campervan, and soon, you’ll love the crisp morning air and learn how to adapt to the heat of a summer afternoon.
6. Have a Sustainable Plan
We see people start van life full steam ahead and soon burn out. It’s easy to plan tons of driving and want to visit all the places while keeping a strict itinerary. Remember that unless you’re truly on a time constraint, there’s no rush, and traveling slowly is much more sustainable than going all-out every day.
We often hear that people quit van life because they get lonely on the road. Try going to a van life gathering to meet other nomads and make some friends!
7. Understand Laws Surrounding Living in a Vehicle
Research local regulations regarding overnight parking in the cities you visit. Many municipalities have laws making it illegal to sleep in a vehicle overnight.
Remember that not all Walmarts and Cracker Barrels allow overnight parking. Always call ahead to ask if you can park in their lots overnight.
There are different laws for camping in different areas. Obtaining proper permits and respecting local laws are crucial. We suggest asking for information about local camping at a visitor center or calling the local Forest Service or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) office to ask about dispersed camping or boondocking on nearby public lands.
8. Plan for Your Safety
If you are traveling solo, this piece is even more important. Have an ICE (in case of emergency) contact who checks in with you periodically. Share your location with your ICE contact or a few close friends. Let someone know your plans and what to do if you don’t check in for a while.
If you’re a solo female traveler, we highly recommend taking a self-defense course, more for your own piece of mind than with the expectation of anything bad happening. In our travels, we’ve never found ourselves in a sticky situation where we felt threatened by another person, but it is a very common question and concern.
Have a good first aid kit for yourself and any pets on board. Always keep a few shelf-stable food options as a backup meal in case your fresh veggies go bad sooner than expected.
Make sure you have good insurance for your campervan, and that you understand your insurance policy.
Join a van life community forum that you can use as a resource if needed. Download good van life apps and make sure you have offline maps available if you are somewhere without cell service.
9. Plan to Take a Break from Van Life
Yep, you heard us. Plan a break, whatever that means to you. Budget an Airbnb every few months, splurge for that bougie campground occasionally, or visit a friend or family for a few days.
Planning time off from long-term travel will help you avoid burnout, and you’ll enjoy the experience even more when you’re refreshed and ready to hit the road again!
10. Budget your Finances
This might seem like a no-brainer, but budgeting for van life is very different than budgeting for “normal” life. Whether you’re working a remote job while traveling, picking up seasonal work along the way, or living off of savings for a while, it’s important to have a comprehensive budget in place.
Remember that gas prices fluctuate drastically between states and the time of year, and if your campervan breaks down, you have to fix it. Now. You’ll have to account for accommodation costs if you need your campervan to stay at a mechanic overnight. Grocery prices are much higher in small towns. You might have to pay out-of-pocket for a medical emergency.
Budgeting when you’re in a stationary location all the time is easier because costs are typically predictable. But on the road, you might have a surprise expense based on location alone.
11. Have a Travel Plan and Be Adaptable to Change
If you have an itinerary in mind, write it out in detail. You might even consider putting it on a calendar to see how much driving you’ll be doing and how many days you actually have to explore the places you’re going to. Sometimes, it seems like a good idea, but when you write it all out, you realize the timeline just doesn’t quite work out.
There are many variables that can put a damper, or completely cancel, plans that you had your heart set on. Weather conditions can make roads impassable or points of interest no longer interesting. An accident on the interstate can delay you by hours or even days.
You might even end up somewhere you love so much you decide to stay for weeks instead of the two days you had planned – and that’s ok! Honestly, it’s the best part of van life. You have endless options and can remain adaptable since you always have your entire home with you.
12. Choose Your Campervan Wisely
And finally, make sure you choose a campervan that meets your needs. You’ll be surprised that after living van life for some time, you’ll find that what you thought you needed or wanted in a campervan changes drastically.
Before investing in a campervan, rent one (or two or three) for a weekend or longer. This “trial run” allows you to experience the realities of living in a confined space, the amenities included, managing resources like water and power, and adapting to a nomadic lifestyle.
Also, know that your needs might change. After years of living full-time in a campervan, we still had things we would change and update. You’ll learn as you go, so don’t feel tied into any van’s build style forever. That Sprinter Van might seem perfect, but finding a mechanic for one might be more of a challenge than you are up for.
Are You Ready for Van Life?
Preparing for van life is part of the adventure itself. And how you start van life will be different depending on your plans and goals.
When living van life full time, be prepared for challenges, embrace unexpected detours, and enjoy the unique experiences that come with living on the road. Remember, the journey is just as important (if not more!) as the destination.
By starting your journey before leaving the parking lot, you can be even more confident with your van life adventure. Now get out there and Find Your Outside™!
