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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Fachliteratur
- Sprache: Englisch
Give in to the lure of the untethered life as a van lifer Thousands of people around the world live nomadic lifestyles from the comfort of their vans or campers, free from the worries of having a permanent residence. If this growing alternative lifestyle appeals to you, Van Life For Dummies is your go-to guide for becoming a van lifer. You'll learn to customize your vehicle, adapt to life on the road, and find the peace and adventure you're seeking. This book makes the transition easy, helping you decide what parts of rooted life you need to take with you and what to leave behind. * Follow the call of the open road and get started living in your van or camper * Choose and customize a vehicle that meets your needs * Get answers to the very important question: "where do I use the bathroom?" * Build or carry on a career while travelling Why enjoy life only on your vacation days? Take to the road and enjoy a simplified way of living. Van Life For Dummies demystifies the process and initiates you into the vibrant community of van lifers. Your adventure awaits!
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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Van Life For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2022 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022943422
ISBN 978-1-119-88623-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-88625-9 (epdf); ISBN 978-1-119-88624-2 (epub)
Van Life For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Van Life For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting into Van Life
Chapter 1: What Is Van Life?
Introducing Van Life
Why Van Life Is Such a Popular Movement in Today’s World
Joining a Global Community
Becoming a Vanlifer
Chapter 2: Knowing Whether Van Life Is for You
Getting into the Mindset of a Tiny Home Dweller
Deciding How Long You Want to Be on the Road
A Global Movement for Everyone
Bringing Your Pet Along for the Adventure
Figuring Out How to Make Van Life Work for Your Family
Is Van Life Expensive?
Part 2: Building the Perfect Camper
Chapter 3: Buying the Right Van
Knowing What You’ll Spend on a Four-Wheeled Home
Saving for Your Van
Buying Outright versus Financing
Deciding What You Need from Your Camper
Van Life Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Picking the Right-Sized Camper for You
Knowing What to Look for When Buying a Used Van
Seven-Point Foolproof Checklist for Viewing Used Vans
Chapter 4: A Beginner’s Guide to Fiberglassing
Figuring Out Fiberglass
Using Caution When Working with Fiberglass
Repairing Holes or Cracks with Fiberglass
Chapter 5: Finding Your Footing with Flooring
Insulating Your Floor
Installing Insulation and a Plywood Subfloor
Deciding What Flooring Is Best for You
Laying Your Flooring
Adding Finishing Touches to Protect Your Flooring
Chapter 6: Building Your Internal Structure
Getting the Right Tools
Picking and Sizing Wood for Your Ribcage
Adding General-Purpose Insulation
Creating the Ribcage
Building a False Wall
Chapter 7: Getting Some Air: Windows and Skylights
Getting the Right Tools
Looking at the Different Types of Camper Window
Marking Out Windows
Installing Windows
Adding Skylights and Rooflight Vents
Chapter 8: Getting to Grips with Electrics
Don’t Perform Surgery Blindfolded: Install Electrics Before Insulation
Getting the Right Equipment
Looking at Essential Safety Devices
Understanding Watts, Volts, and Amps
Determining Your Energy Needs
Fuse Sizes and Wire Gauges
A Beginner’s Guide to Circuits
Earthing
Drawing a Wiring Diagram
Chapter 9: Putting Your Electrical System Together
Laying Everything Out
Wiring Techniques and Tips
Installing Batteries
Wiring Up Solar Panels
Wiring and Soldering Your Lights
Connecting Your Inverter
Installing Plug Sockets and USB Ports
Wiring up to one socket (single or double)
Wiring Up a Shore Power Inlet
Wiring Up Your Split Charge Relay
Installing Your 12-volt Fridge
Chapter 10: Adding Insulation and Cladding
Investigating the Types of Insulation
Choosing the Best Insulation
Deciding How to Add Insulation
Knowing How Much Insulation to Use
Installing Cladding and Adding Insulation
Installing Lights in the Roof
Using Cladding to Build a Cupboard Door
Chapter 11: Creating Storage and Sleeping Quarters
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Deciding on a Static or Foldaway Bed
Picking a Mattress
Building a Bed in Your Camper
Creating Garage Storage
Drawers, Cupboards, and Savvy Storage Solutions
Building a Toilet Cupboard
Chapter 12: Useful Utilities: Gas, Water, and Heating
Connecting a Gas Bottle
Installing a Gas Drop-Out Vent
Deciding on a Water Solution
Crank Up the A/C!
Getting a Handle on Heating
Adding a Wood-Burning Stove
Part 3: Living Your Best Van Life
Chapter 13: Changing Your V5 Form and Insurance
What’s a V5 Form?
Why It’s Important to Change a Vehicle’s Classification
Is It a Legal Requirement to Change My Panel Van to a Camper?
The Benefits of Declaring Your Van as a Camper
How to Legally Change the Vehicle Type from Van to Camper Van
Chapter 14: Bringing Along the Comforts of Home
Internet, TV, and the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Other Things You Can Do in a Van That You Can Do in a House
Thinking of Your Van as a Tiny Home
Chapter 15: Managing Life’s Essentials: Cooking, Showering, and Going to the Bathroom
Cooking in a Van
Figuring Out Bathroom Activities
Coping with Common Van Life Problems
Chapter 16: Enjoying the Great Outdoors
Complementing an Ad-van-turous Lifestyle
Boondocking and Wild Camping
Picking the Perfect Park-Up Spot
Staying Safe While Off-Grid
Being Self-Sufficient on the Road
Chapter 17: Working Remotely from a Tiny Traveling Home
A Beginner’s Guide to Working Remotely
Turning a Passion into a Career
Creating a Business That Travels with You
Taking Your Existing Job on the Road
Part 4: The Part of Tens
Chapter 18: Ten Van Life Kitchen Hacks
Use an Omnia Oven
Use a Fruit Hammock to Keep Your Workspace Clear
Glue Jam Jar Lids to the Bottom of Your Spice Rack or Cupboard
Create Hidden Undercounter Storage
Create a Cutting Block with the Extra Worktop Cut Out for Your Sink
Use an Expandable Draining Board to Dry Dishes
Wipe Dishes Before Washing
Use the Cab Area to Prove Bread Dough
Use a RidgeMonkey to Make Pancakes, Yorkshire Puddings, and More
Make a Meal Plan Before Shopping
Chapter 19: Ten Essential Items for the Perfect Road Trip
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Camping Chairs and Beach Towels
Dustpan and Brush
Omnia Oven
Scrubba Wash Bag and a Clothes Line
Battery Power Pack
Water Flask
Portable Solar Shower
Board Games and Cards
GoPro Camera
Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Budgeting While on the Road
Food, Glorious Food
Fuel
Tolls
Everyday Bills
Washing Clothes and Showering
Gas (Propane, Butane, LPG)
Specialized Health Insurance and Breakdown Coverage
Social Activities
Nonessential Items
Tourist Attractions
Index
About the Author
Supplemental Images
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 8
TABLE 8-1 Expected Summer and Winter Electricity Usage
TABLE 8-2 Expected Solar Energy Generated by Season
TABLE 8-3 AWG Wiring Gauges
TABLE 8-4 Metric Wiring Gauges
List of Illustrations
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: My Class B camper, hanging out near a hot spring in Spain.
FIGURE 3-2: The traditional Class C camper spotted in the wild.
FIGURE 3-3: A truck camper with over-cab sleeping quarters.
FIGURE 3-4: The quintessential all-American RV — the classic road trip vehicle ...
FIGURE 3-5: There is no vehicle more iconic and eye-catching than the VW T2 Spl...
FIGURE 3-6: The Ford Transit Connect camper with pop-top and awning may be the ...
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Level your floor out a little by placing soundproofing tape in the ...
FIGURE 5-2: After adding insulation, I screwed the subfloor back down and seale...
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: Adding wooden beams to the metal ribs on your van wall.
FIGURE 6-2: The roof beam I fashioned out of offcuts so that I had something to...
FIGURE 6-3: My false wall halfway through construction complete with prep for i...
FIGURE 6-4: This is my false wall under construction with space for my bulkhead...
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: The relationship between power, voltage, and current.
FIGURE 8-2: Three categories of electrical components.
FIGURE 8-3: The relationship between watt hours, voltage, and amp hours.
FIGURE 8-4: Diagram of a series circuit with four lights.
FIGURE 8-5: Diagram of a parallel circuit with four lights.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Here’s a hole I prepared for earthing my leisure batteries with the...
FIGURE 9-2: One of my red-colored positive battery clip connectors attached to ...
FIGURE 9-3: The power hub of my camper: two LiFePo
4
batteries hooked up to midi...
FIGURE 9-4: Two solar panels bolted to the roof of my van. Goodbye electric bil...
FIGURE 9-5: A rough sketch of a typical camper van fuse box.
FIGURE 9-6: My inverter fully installed and accessible from inside my toilet cu...
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: My raised sleeping platform was a cozy place to snooze with storag...
FIGURE 11-2: This time, thinking inside the box is what the job calls for!
FIGURE 11-3: Finished drawer compartments ready for drawers to slide into place...
FIGURE 11-4: Never leave home without plenty of spices, but don’t try cooking w...
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: My wastewater jerrycan is on the left, my freshwater jerrycan is o...
FIGURE 12-2: Prepping the area for my baby Belfast sink.
FIGURE 12-3: My twin-insulated flue and elbow piece attached to the back of the...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: I like to think that Kermit the Frog was playing his banjo alongsi...
FIGURE 14-2: A place for everything, and everything in its place.
FIGURE 14-3: There’s no place like home!
FIGURE 14-4: Check out how crowded the top of that spice rack is. Eric the egg ...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: They wanted me to be Aquaman in the Warner Bros. movie, but I let ...
FIGURE 16-2: Boondocking with friends at the edge of Lake Como, Italy.
Chapter 17
FIGURE 17-1: Working from home is even better when you’ve got a fantastic view ...
FIGURE 17-2: Working on a novel, one of the rare times you’ll see me concentrat...
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
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Introduction
Are you ready to pack up your life into a tiny home and travel the world? Perhaps you’re watching the clock eagerly in anticipation of heading out on the road, or maybe you’re just excited to convert your very own camper van and are already wearing your protective goggles. The notion of traveling and exploring is, for many of us, a craving that can’t be ignored. I for one get itchy feet quite often, and I imagine if you’re holding this book in your hands and reading this introduction, you’re already keen to flip through to Chapter 1 to discover how you too can live and travel in a van full time.
But what is van life? How do I live in a van? How do I wire up a USB socket, and what is the best method for insulating a camper van? If those are the questions that are currently flitting around your brain like a loose ping-pong ball, then you’ve come to the right place.
Now, you may be thinking that there’s no way you can learn how to build and live in a camper van with zero knowledge of DIY or any idea about parking up in remote locations. Don’t worry; that was me a few years ago, and now here I am, giving you all the tools, hindsight, tips, tricks, and hacks that I’ve picked up along the way (along with a lot of laughs at my expense) to help you get started on your van life adventure.
About This Book
I’ve been lucky enough to have spent many years documenting the van life movement over the globe, getting up close and personal with the digital nomads, weekend warriors, and thrill-seeking wanderers who make this movement what it is. Not only that, I have both lived and traveled in a van during this time, calling my tiny house on wheels my full-time home and the entire world my front garden.
In my time working as a writer and van life journalist, I’ve read a lot of books and articles about how to convert a camper van, all of which have had a rather convoluted view about building a camper. What you hold in your hands is a simple and effective guide on how to choose a van and turn it into a camper from scratch. Not only that, but this is one of the only books I’ve come across that tells you how to then go on and live your best van life, covering everything from how to stealth camp, cook on a tiny stovetop, and take your job on the road to how to empty your portable toilet.
I designed this book as the ultimate van life guide — a one-stop-shop for all the information you need to both build your camper van and live off grid. While this book is designed to be read from start to finish and followed a little like a manual, there’s no reason why you can’t skip ahead or back to previous chapters if you’re keen to learn about certain elements of your build first. (I get it; I’m impatient too!)
I also made sure that no matter whether you live in the United States or the United Kingdom, you’ll find the relevant measurements, costs, and equipment names for you to use when making your build. There might be the odd bit of Yorkshire slang thrown in here or there from time to time to help you brush up on your Britishisms, but for the most part, I made sure to use vocabulary you’ll understand no matter from which side of the pond you’re reading.
Foolish Assumptions
While writing this book, I worked on the assumption that you, dear reader, know nothing about camper van conversions. Not only that, I assumed that you’ve never held a soldering iron or a drill in your hands either. I know; it’s a sweeping generalization, but it’s not as if I’m calling you a dummy or anything. I was in the exact same spot as you when I embarked on my camper-building journey, which is why I tried to lay everything out in as simple a way as possible.
Don’t worry though; if you do know your midi fuses from your blade fuses and have a good grasp of how to use a jigsaw, then the following information is laid out in a way that you can skip straight to the instructions and follow my easy-to-use guides on how to fit everything from false walls to 12-volt refrigerators.
I also worked on the assumption that you’ve never spent a night in the wild in a camper van either. As you discover throughout this book, living in a converted camper van is my favorite way to travel and the best way to see everything the world has to offer. Again, if you have spent some time in campers thus far, there’s still a plethora of information that I’ve picked up from living life on the road full time that you may find useful for your future travels!
Icons Used in This Book
Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight certain types of valuable information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you’ll encounter and a brief description of each.
Whenever you see the Tip icon, it’s more than likely going to be a piece of useful information related to something that I learned the hard way while building my camper. That’s the beauty of hindsight; you benefit from all the mistakes I made along the way. These tips will definitely make your life easier in the long run, so don’t skip past them!
They say an elephant never forgets, but humans do quite a lot. When you see the Remember icon, it means I’m hammering home a point that you really need to keep in mind.
The Technical Stuff icon sounds like something you should initially switch off from, but don’t be fooled. When you see this icon, there’s usually a little fact or juicy piece of information that will both help your van build and impress your friends at parties. You’re welcome.
When you see the Warning icon, I want you to pay full attention. You’re going to use lots of sharp tools and electrical items as you go through the steps in this book, so stay focused and proceed with caution whenever it arrives. I want you to have all your fingers intact when you finish your van build, so pay attention!
Beyond the Book
In addition to the abundance of information and guidance related to van life that I provide in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies.com. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet. Just go to www.dummies.com and search for “Van Life For Dummies Cheat Sheet.”
Where to Go from Here
Ideally, from here you’ll either go straight on to purchase a van after reading Chapter 3 or head out on the open road. As I said earlier, this is a book that you’ll able to take with you after you finish building your camper van. It’s not just a conversion guide; it’s a guide to living van life, a mysterious scroll of great importance that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren.
In other words, it’s a great value for the money.
While I clearly want you to start with Chapter 1 and read my comical quips about the birth of van life, Chapter 3 is a great place to dive into if you’re desperate to discover some tips and tricks when it comes to purchasing the right van. Already living in your van? Head to Chapter 14 and get swotting up on how to prepare you and your tiny home for the adventure of a lifetime!
For now, I want to give you a warm welcome to Van Life For Dummies and thank you for buying this book. Now, go and make a cup of coffee; things are about to get deep very quickly!
Part 1
Getting into Van Life
IN THIS PART …
Discover why van life has become such a popular movement and what brings the vibrant and bustling van life community together.
Understand how to think like a vanlifer and what you need to do to start downsizing and adopt a minimalistic state of mind.
Determine how long you want to be on the road: as a weekend warrior or as a full- or part-time vanlifer.
Explore the options for traveling solo or with a partner, and how you can bring your pet along for the adventure.
Figure out how to make van life work for your family and discover how expensive (or not) this lifestyle can be.
Chapter 1
What Is Van Life?
IN THIS CHAPTER
Discovering why van life is so popular
Becoming a vanlifer
Downsizing your life
All good adventures start somewhere, and yours is about to begin right here, right now, in the very first chapter. You’ve seen all the pictures and dreamed about opening that sliding van door onto an ever-changing paradise, and now you’ve taken the plunge and officially embarked on your van life journey.
In this chapter, you explore the origins of van life and how this global phenomenon has captured the hearts and minds of people everywhere. I show you how to begin thinking like a vanlifer and — most important of all — how to begin downsizing for your new minimalistic way of life.
Introducing Van Life
Van life might be all over your social media feed and spread out across your desktop screensaver like an ode to wanderlust, but the concept of living in a vehicle equipped with basic amenities full or part time has been around a lot longer than you might have originally guessed.
Many think the pinnacle of van life occurred during the Swinging Sixties and the Summer of Love, with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys wishing for California Girls while cruising down Big Sur toward the golden sands and twinkling ocean. Still, you have to go even further back to find the roots of this movement, back even before the illustrious 1950s when the camper van was widely believed to have been invented.
So who do we have to thank for sparking this unique movement?
Back in 1855, a certain traveling medic from Scotland called Dr. William Stables designed the first-ever touring caravan. He named it “The Wanderer,” and while they say that not all of those who wander are lost, the two horses that pulled The Wanderer probably spent most of their time trying help it out of a ditch rather than finding great spots to boondock along the glorious sights of the North Coast 500. (I’ve thrown a wrench in the works already by mentioning boondocking in the very first chapter, but stick with me; in Chapter 16 all is revealed!)
Fast-forward to today, and Dr. Stables’s Wanderer has paved the way to a world of exciting adventures in all manners of different vehicles from off-grid truck campers to beautifully converted panel vans, Volkswagen busses, travel trailers, and many more. One thing is for certain, however; the concept of van life and the freedom it brings has forever remained the same.
Van life is more than just a means of exploring the planet we call home. It’s that feeling you get when heading out on the type of expeditions you just can’t buy from a travel agency, hitting the open road in search of excitement and adventure, and searching the unknown for unique memories that will last a lifetime. It’s more than just grabbing the ultimate picture by the beach or the obligatory forest campfire; van life is that all-encompassing feeling that grabs young and old, rich and poor alike, those who are seeking a life that doesn’t revolve around Black Friday sales or the latest air fryer with added egg-cup holder. It’s a call to the explorers, the curious, those who strive for more.
That’s van life in a nutshell.
Of course, if you want a more literal explanation of van life, you don’t have to delve too far into the name itself for an answer. Moving your life into a van is an incredibly rewarding experience, whether you plan on just heading out to your local campsite for the weekend, driving into the mountains for a month-long retreat in the summer, or exploring the world full time after leaving the daily grind behind.
More time spent outdoors; what’s not to love?
If you’re anything like me (and the fact that you’re holding this book in your hands suggests you are), then I imagine you’re already bursting with questions about solar panels (Chapter 9) and window placements (Chapter 7). Perhaps some of you have just gulped incredibly loudly and are now finding the whole concept of living in such a small space a little daunting and confusing, but don’t worry. I guide you through the whole process from start to finish and get you on your way to fulfilling your true travel potential.
Why Van Life Is Such a Popular Movement in Today’s World
Van life, and “vandwelling” in general, are more than just movements that have been ticking away in the background since The Wanderer clunked over its very first pothole. It’s safe to say that van life is a cultural phenomenon, and one that isn’t showing signs of slowing down any time soon.
No matter where you live around the world, the general idea of “the dream life” is changing. Whereas at one time getting a perfect job with the local firm and securing a mortgage would have been the ultimate goal for many people, the concept of working to live rather than truly living is slowly dying out. People are sitting up and realizing that there is more to life than waiting patiently for the next paycheck to arrive.
There is a whole world out there to discover, and for many, the idea of being tied down by mortgages and contracts just doesn’t sit true. For many of the people I’ve met on my van life journey, living in a van has allowed them to call any country or state home, waking up to oceans or deserts outside their front room without the worries and stresses of a “conventional life.”
Sounds pretty good, right?
Joining a Global Community
Okay, I know what you’re probably thinking: “This is just a phase that lazy hippie kids go through, isn’t it?” And while I admit it’s true that there is an element of “rebelling against the norm” with van life, there are so many different reasons that bring this vibrant and bustling community together.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting vanlifers of all ages and from all walks of life, and I have chatted with them at length about their stories and reasons for taking the road less traveled. For some, van life is a means of living a more self-sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle once the workweek ends, while for others, van life means having the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream now that their kids have flown the nest, leaving all their possessions and their nosey neighbors behind for a slower pace of life.
And speaking of community, the van life community is made up of some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. What bond could be greater than one forged with people with whom you share the same ideals and life plans? We help each other on the road, recommend places to camp and eat, look out for one another when the going gets tough, and always have supplies hidden away in the back of our vans to fix everything from a leaky roof to a squeaking hinge. In essence, van life is like having the whole world as your neighborhood!
Alternative living isn’t just something your grandpa will tell you layabouts used to do “back in the day” anymore. House prices are skyrocketing all over the world, and unlike during the 1970s when buying a house was a plausible notion, today many people struggle to get the funds together to buy a home of their own.
I spent £3,000 (around $3,600) buying my first van and around the same amount doing it up. It was my full-time home for four and a half glorious years, which makes it the longest-occupied abode I’ve lived in since leaving my parents’ house all those years before. Getting on the property ladder is incredibly tough, but buying a school bus and converting it into a tiny home … now that’s much more achievable!
Becoming a Vanlifer
Do you just wake up one morning and decide to become a vanlifer? Can you catch the wanderlust bug like you would the number 52 bus into town?
For me, it was less of a eureka moment than you might think. I was working at a music venue in Yorkshire, U.K., not entirely sure about my current career and feeling a little lost. I’d spend hours scrolling through pictures of people embarking on van life adventures on Instagram, just wishing that I could work from the cusp of a beautiful forest or on the edge of a glistening lake like the smiling people staring back at me.
You might not believe it, but I couldn’t even drive when the idea of van life first hit me, which I think we can all agree was a major flaw in this potential new life plan. I’d spent my life thus far taking trains, taxis, and busses everywhere I needed to go, and I was more comfortable behind a pair of rubber-coated handlebars than behind the wheel of a car.
So at the age of 27, I found myself purchasing my first ever vehicle: the long-wheelbase panel van that I would end up converting and driving all over Europe. Most people buy a rickety, old Ford Fiesta or something small like a Mini Cooper as their first vehicle, but not me. Try doing your first ever three-point-turn without your instructor sitting beside you in something that most people rent when moving house. Might as well jump straight in at the deep end, right?
Still, becoming a vanlifer isn’t just as easy as rolling out of bed and straight into a brand-new way of life. Van life is as much about changing your mindset and opening yourself up to new possibilities as it is parking up in beautiful locations with the wind in your hair.
This lifestyle can be challenging and is often demanding. You’ve got to make sacrifices and give up certain home comforts; get used to sleeping, bathing, and going to the toilet all in one room; and, if you’re traveling as a couple, learning to work together while living in a tiny space.
If you’re planning on living off-grid, then there might be cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t charging your batteries as quickly, and without a constant water supply, you’ll need to plan visits to filling-up spots while on the move. Don’t worry though; there’s always a solution at hand, and I go over many of them in Chapters 14, 15, and 16, but it’s important to remember that being a vanlifer involves a certain amount of forward-thinking.
But trust me; it’s worth it.
Now, I don’t want you to get disheartened so early on; I just want you to be fully prepared for what’s about to come. The initial journey might well be tough, and yes, your toilet might overflow at 1 a.m. while you are miles away from the nearest town. But you know what people say; nothing worth having is ever easy. Though those people didn’t have this book to help them, did they?
Downsizing
But how is it possible to take your entire life and squish it into 80 square feet of living space? That’s smaller than most people’s bathrooms, which means you’re going to have to start being a little picky about what you take with you on your next trip away or on your new lifelong adventure. Do you really need to keep your DVD collection or the singing fish that Auntie Mabel bought you eight years ago? What about that signed picture of Michael Caine? And is it necessary to have 15 variations of the same coat?
We accumulate so much stuff over the course of our lives that we quite often forget what we’ve even got in the first place, carting belongings from house to house and adding to the ever-growing in the understairs cupboard. I gathered 13 bags of belongings to take to the local charity shop before moving into my van, sold my TV and games consoles to put money toward my travels, and gave other bits and bobs away to friends on permanent loan. Although if you visit Adara Tattoo Collective in York, U.K., the mirror on the wall was only supposed to be on temporary loan until my friend Josh painted it black. Never leave your possessions with a goth, kids.
Looking back, I think the last shower I took in my rented house was the longest on record and caused the whole street to lose water pressure; sometimes you’ve got to make the most of the little things, and I’ll never forget that shower.
To start the process of downsizing, first consider what are the most important things to you in life, and then think about what you want to get out of your van life experience.
Okay, so you enjoyed watching soap operas and asking your SmartHub to dim the lights on in the evening, but are they worth giving up for a brand-new life of adventure? I think we all know the answer here, but just in case you’re confused, it’s yes.
I know a lot of people who travel with a TV in their van, but would using a laptop suffice instead? How vital is it to have a shower on board when there are hot springs and freshwater lakes aplenty on the open road? These are all things you’ll need to consider when drawing up plans for your trundling tiny home.
Next, I want you to consider what things bring you joy, and I mean really bring you happiness, things that you can’t ever possibly imagine living without. Now, if those things are essential for life on the road or are memorable items that are small enough to implement into your build like a figurine of Bob Ross or a special item of furniture, then put them to one side. If they’re too big or have no use right now, then consider putting them into storage or passing them on to a family member or friend. Your new space will soon feel incredibly cluttered with lots of excess items inside, so choose wisely.
There’s also the factor of weight to consider as well. In many countries around the world, if a camper van weighs over the allotted weight classification that you’re allowed to drive as stated on your license, then authorities can ask you to remove items until you are back under the legal weight limit. In short, you don’t want to have to hand over a singing fish to a policeman to try and save on weight. Plus you’d need to learn how to say “singing fish” in a dozen languages, and that’s the sort of pointless information that would push something else useful out of your brain.
Adopting a minimalistic state of mind
That’s right; I’m already using the M word and it’s only Chapter 1.
More than thinking about where you’ll put stuff in your camper or calculating the weight of every DVD in the collection that you still can’t whittle down, this process of downsizing is a chance to declutter your mind. I know I’m on the verge of sounding what your grandparents might call “new age,” but it’s true. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing it was the first time I sat in my van with only the things I actually needed rather than tons of useless bric-a-brac that served zero purpose.
Rather than having 18 plates, I now had 2. Instead of multiple drawers and cupboard space for clothes I never wore, I now had one drawer with the essentials in it. You start to realize what you really need to feel comfortable and content, and that happiness isn’t a slicing-and-dicing food processor or a reclining leather sofa. Happiness is a Bialetti moka pot and a Nintendo Switch, however; I’m a minimalist, not a savage!
In Chapter 2, I get more into what it means to get into the mindset of a tiny home dweller and talk about how to mentally prepare yourself for this change, but hopefully you’ve already started to think about what it means to live small and benefits it can bring.
Chapter 2
Knowing Whether Van Life Is for You
IN THIS CHAPTER
Tuning into a tiny home mindset
Deciding how long to stay on the road
Bringing a pet along for the ride
Taking a peek at what van life costs
What does it mean to be a tiny home dweller, and can everyone make the change from living in a house to living in a converted panel van? Speaking from experience, getting into the mindset of a tiny home dweller isn’t something that happens overnight; it takes a lot of thought, compromise, and self-evaluation about what you want to get out of your new lifestyle before you can fully commit to this way of life.
Luckily, I’ve already done all that thought-provoking soul-searching and got the T-shirt to prove it, and while you can’t physically borrow said T-shirt as it isn’t real, I can help you kickstart the process with some useful advice about what it takes to become a vanlifer. Over the course of this chapter, you discover how to think like a tiny homeowner, decide how long you want to travel, and most important, whether you think van life could be the lifestyle for you.
Getting into the Mindset of a Tiny Home Dweller
Don’t worry; I’m not going to ask you to sit down and meditate or chant some mantras (though by all means, feel free if you’ve had a busy week so far). Getting into the mindset of a tiny home dweller does, however, take a little bit of inner reflection and a willingness to change your outlook on the world.
Living in any kind of tiny home takes a little bit of adjusting time. To go from a house with two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room, to a house with one room and a toilet cupboard (in the case of a van), is a massive change. You’re about to give up a lot of the things you rely on daily, things that have become commonplace like a dishwasher, a flushing toilet, your guitar amplifiers, a flushing toilet, your shower … oh, and a flushing toilet.
Why did I mention the toilet three times? It’s the one thing people most often tell me that stops them from living the van life. Giving up the luxury of a flushing toilet is too much of a change from their normal routine. When I first started building my tiny home, I had a lot of these same reservations. Would I be able to manage? How would I feel in such a small space? Could I really give up the TV? Honestly, and I genuinely mean every word here, I did not miss any part of living in a house. Sure, emptying the toilet down another toilet while I lived in a van in Yorkshire and the new routine of showering at the gym took some getting used to, but after a few weeks it just became the new normal.
Now, I’m going to get a little deep here, so you might want to make yourself comfortable for this next bit … .
What is the most important thing to you in life? Is it working hard and saving up for a house or a big trip? Is it getting out into the open and spending time with your family? Is it living within your means in order to have more time to spend working on a passion project that you might want to turn into a career? In some respects, tiny home living can help with all three of those choices.
I worked full time while living in a van for over a year, saving my wages every month for my European travels. Equally, I know people who have done the same thing and put their money toward buying land in a different country. Living small certainly gives you more time to spend doing the things you love too, whether that’s heading out on a trip with your loved ones, or working less and putting your energy into writing a book or honing your photography skills.
I can best summarize the feeling that made me want to live in a tiny house as “wanting more.” You’ve got to want that change more than anything else, to be prepared for things to get a little bit tough at times, to live a life that can be uncertain but with infinite rewards and exciting discoveries every day.
Life in the slow lane
I think one of the best parts of living the van life — and this is a theme I come back to throughout this book — is the lack of rushing around or the need to do anything to a timescale. There’s no should in the van life vocabulary; you do what you want, when you want, making your own hours if you work on the road or just enjoying life on your own terms.
Say goodbye to the stressful morning commute or eating your breakfast while watching mind-numbing morning television shows if you’re taking your job with you. Say goodbye to waking up listening to the next door neighbor’s toilet cistern rumbling through the wall or the sound of the garbage truck reversing down your street. Every day feels more relaxed when you wake up in a new place, listening to the ever-changing sounds of nature or sometimes no sounds whatsoever.
For a lot of people, this lack of structure and routine can feel a little like freefalling. Again, it’s no real surprise; since around the age of 4, most of us have gone to school at a certain time, eaten meals at set times, gone to university and eventually to work in a preplanned structure laid out for us. To go from this to a life where you make the rules can be freeing for some, but make others feel lost.
A motto to live by
Here’s something I want you to think about, and this is something I tell people who are thinking about living the van life on a daily basis: There is no dress rehearsal for life, so don’t waste time dreaming about your perfect life when you could be out there living the dream. Admittedly, I’m not a philosopher and I haven’t had many public speaking gigs thus far in my career, but I think you get the general idea.
If you’re reading this from the office instead of sending emails, then don’t wait until you’re retired to give travel a go. If you’re retired but thinking about waiting for the right time, throw caution to the wind and get out there and give van life a go. I know too many people, young and old, who have sadly passed away before getting to live their traveling dreams. Don’t wait for tomorrow; make that decision to live a different life today.
I’ll now wait 30 seconds for your applause before carrying on with the next section.
Deciding How Long You Want to Be on the Road
I think we can all agree that you’re now fully committed to giving van life a try, what with buying this book and my rousing speech earlier. The next question you need to ask yourself is: How long would you like to be on the road away from home? Or, and here’s the million-dollar question: Do you want to take your home on the road with you?
Before I go any further, I know that while it’s physically possible to “up sticks” and live the van life full time, not everyone can or wants to give up the life they have built to live on the road. For some, it’s just not viable due to work locations, while others might love their jobs and not fancy the thought of giving up the empire they have built. That’s why, almost as if I had preplanned that little paragraph earlier, I describe three categories of van life travel in the following sections to help you figure out what kind of van life lifestyle you might want.
Weekend warriors
Weekend warriors lead a secret life. You might have one in your office but not even know it, a person who clock-watches every Friday while sitting in a Rab jacket or who stirs their coffee with a miniature kayak paddle–shaped spoon. These wanderlust aficionados work through the week and head out on the open road every weekend, putting the pedal to the metal as the clock hits 5 p.m. on a Friday and making the most of every second of their weekend until it’s time to punch back in again on Monday morning.
The beauty of van life and being the owner of a camper van is that you can keep your vehicle stocked up and ready for adventure at a moment’s notice. And, as you get further through this book, you discover some of the different outdoor activities that complement the lifestyle.
As the name suggests, weekend warriors simply travel over a weekend. Whether frequenting campsites or wild camping in the hills, scheduled short trips away give you something to look forward to, a chance to live as free as a bird on the weekend while still maintaining a steady work/life balance through the week.
I’ve spoken to lots of people over the years who have used weekend trips away in their vans as a starting point to determine whether they can manage full-time van life. Twelve months of weekend camping should give you an idea of what living on the road is like and what parts of your conversion might need adapting or changing for longer trips away.
If you’re thinking of joining the ranks of the weekend warriors, then don’t wait until 4:30 p.m. on a Friday to decide where you might want to go that weekend. When the clock hits 5 p.m., the only thing you want to think about is following that satnav arrow to your destination. Do the planning through the week and pack the night before to make the most out of your time away.
One way to make sure you’re always ready is to draft a list of essential items that you know you’ll need every time. Pack a kit bag with everything on a Thursday evening and make sure all your gadgets and power banks are charged up in advance. Do your food shopping the night before too so you have everything ready for that first Friday night park-up.
Short-term: One to six months
Planning a short-term adventure of one to six months could be a more manageable way of fitting van life into your current life. So many people buy a van and convert it as a cheap way to see the world, always knowing that it won’t be with them forever. Some countries, such as Australia, have systems set up for people driving North to South in a camper and then selling the camper to someone else so that that person can drive it back up North again, continuing the cycle.
Perhaps you could chat with your employer about a sabbatical or career break. It’s a surefire way of discovering if you’re a valued employee or not, and if the answer isn’t to your liking, you might as well take a little break and have some fun before finding a new job!
Maybe you’re about to hit your gap year before university or your first job, or perhaps you’re a little disillusioned with your career. Maybe you’re up for a promotion at the end of the year that is going to be much more demanding and leave you with less time, or perhaps you know you’re going to be made redundant and fancy getting away and rebooting your brain before changing jobs. Short-term travel can provide the reset your body and brain need. All you need to do is decide how long you want to be away and if you actually want to come back!
Six months is a long time to take in a big chunk of your country or continent. Traveling in a van is also the cheapest and most convenient way of traveling too as your accommodation goes everywhere with you and you don’t have to carry it around on your back. Ticking off countries has never been easier, and with a place to dry clothes and make a cup of tea after a long, wet hike, it’s never been more comfortable too.
Of course, there’s nothing to say that building a van for short-term travels can’t lead to weekend excursions later down the line or a potential move to full-time travel if you decide to take your job on the road with you, something that could be highly probable after reading Chapter 17.
Don’t be too hasty to get rid of your van when you get back from a short-term trip. I know you might need the money or initially think that you don’t have room to park it anywhere. Don’t make any rash decisions; give yourself a little time to think about it before making that sale. Camper vans are incredibly useful when it comes to heading out to see friends, going on impromptu trips, or even having a place for your parents to stay when they visit and you don’t want them snoring in the spare bedroom. Their snores on the street may attract wild animals, but at least you can sleep in peace.
Full-time travel
Making the jump to full-time travel was something I had in the cards from the very beginning of my camper conversion. This was the dream that drove me to convert my van every evening after work and wake up at 7 a.m. on weekends for six months.
Obviously, if you’re thinking about traveling full time, then you need to either be in a position where you are financially stable or plan on working on the road. I managed to travel full time working two days a week writing articles, and budgeting costs accordingly along the way. You can find out more about how much I spent per month and some of the things that you’ll need to account for along the way in Chapter 20.
Believe me, full-time travel becomes normal incredibly quickly, so much so that when you do find yourself having to stop for any length of time due to a breakdown, you’ll be itching to set off again!
The information you’ll glean throughout the rest of this book comes from a perspective of living in a van and traveling full time. I’m not saying I’m biased (okay, maybe I am a little), but this is my main reference point as I jumped straight in at the deep end and dedicated my life to full-time travel.
A Global Movement for Everyone
As I sit here writing this chapter right now, the van life movement is growing. From narrowboat marina-style living arrangements designed for vans to park full time to companies that solely exist from a traveling Volkswagen bus, more and more people are discovering van life in one of its many guises and finding out that travel doesn’t have to be an expensive pipe dream.
Van life isn’t always what you see on social media. This topic, and indeed this fact, crops up a lot throughout this book because it’s important for you to be given the truth before we crack on with planning your conversion and later planning your van life adventures.
Unfortunately, the main bulk of the van life hashtag content on Instagram shows a very small minority of people who are in fact part of a global movement built for everyone. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to vanlifers from all different backgrounds and cultures while covering the movement in my wider work. I’ve spoken to members of the BIPOC nomadic community striving to make a change in diversifying van life, LGBTQ+ vanlifers championing safe spaces for all in mobile meetups over the globe, and people from all walks of life breaking away from cultural traditions in order to pursue a life they choose rather than one that is expected of them.
Van life is a movement that does not discriminate; it’s not a members only club, and it’s certainly not something that you have to prove your worth to be a part of. I’ve never known a collective group of people to be as caring and considerate, who always look out for one another and switch from strangers to neighbors to lifelong friends over the space of a couple of hours as the van life community.
Who knows? You might meet your new best friend, partner, or hopefully both combined when setting off on your van life adventures.
Enjoying van life when you have a disability
Adventure doesn’t stop when you live with a disability. If anything, van life is one of the easiest ways to plan adventures based on your specific needs, enabling you to create a conversion that works with you rather than trying to make a pre-existing camper fit your lifestyle.
How many of you are thinking, “But I’m in a wheelchair, I can’t possibly travel around the world.” If that’s you, then stop right away. There are countless ramps and lifts available that can be implemented into your van build to accommodate entry in and out of the vehicle, and while the industry needs to do more to accommodate accessible users on the whole, changes are being made for the better.
I’ve interviewed a wheelchair user with a pull-out living room that slides out the back of their van, and another who built all of their worktop spaces lower down to accommodate cooking and opening cupboards from their chair. The beauty of building and designing your own conversion is that it can be to whatever specifications you need, with multiple options to suit couples if they are traveling together and both the driver’s seat and living quarters.
