Alex was the last person her friends and family thought would jump into nomadic life, since she was never a very outdoorsy type. That said, when her mother passed away from cancer, she wanted to do something different and got a job opportunity with Tiny Home Tours that allowed her to live in one of [...]
Van Dwelling
Van dwelling seems to be gaining in popularity lately. More and more people are hitting the road in converted vans, RVs, or even just tents or cars. And there are lots of reasons why people are choosing this lifestyle. Maybe they want to downsize and simplify their lives. Maybe they want to travel and see more of the world. Or maybe they just want to be closer to nature.
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But van dwelling isn’t for everyone. It can be challenging, and it’s definitely not the same as living in a traditional home. So if you’re considering van dwelling, here are some things to think about.
Pros:
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* You can go wherever you want
* You can live a simpler life
* You can be closer to nature
* It can be cheaper than traditional living
Cons:
* It can be challenging
* You have to give up some conveniences
* You have to be prepared for bad weather
* You might have trouble finding a place to park
* Your van could break down
So, what do you think? Is van dwelling right for you? If you’re still not sure, why not check out some of the resources below. You can read stories from people who are already living the van life and find out more about how to buy or build your own van conversion below.
What is van life?
Van life is a popular way of living among young people and digital nomads. It’s a great way to save money on rent and travel costs while still having the freedom to live your life the way you want to. If you’re considering van life, here are some things to think about:
* Are you ok with living in a small space?
* Can you live without a lot of stuff?
* Are you comfortable with minimal amenities?
* Do you mind being away from civilization for long periods of time?
If you answered yes to all of the above, then van life might be right for you!
Why People Choose Van Life
For many people, van life is the epitome of freedom. You can live and many even find ways to work from almost anywhere, making it the perfect way to see the world and experience new things.
Common Van Life Challenges
Van dwelling has become a popular way to travel and live minimally. But, it’s not without its challenges. If you’re considering van life, here are some things to keep in mind:
* You have to find the right balance in planning and letting the adventure unfold.
* You need to keep your van and belongings secure.
* You have to figure out where to park and sleep every day.
* You have to maintain all of the moving parts of the van.
* You have to adjust to very limited space.
* You have to overcome any of the constant obstacles that may come your way.
If you’re still interested in van dwelling after considering these challenges, then you might want to start considering what your dream van looks like.
Types of Van Conversions
There are several different types of van conversions if you’re considering van life.
* There are cargo van conversions.
* Class B motorhomes.
* Minivan conversions.
* Shuttle bus conversions.
* Short school bus conversions.
* You can hire a builder to customize a new van for you, or convert one yourself.
Van dwelling is a great way to explore the world and live an adventure, even if you start out by just doing it on weekends and vacation periods. There are lots of resources available to help you figure out what sort of van to build or buy.
Buy or build a van
For anyone considering van dwelling, reading stories of others who have made the lifestyle switch can really help you figure out if it’s right for you. Van dwelling can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s not for everybody. So weigh the pros and cons of van dwelling before making a big decision, and don’t hesitate to ask others who are van dwelling for advice.
There are pros and cons to both buying a van conversion and building one yourself.
If you buy a van conversion, the main pro is that someone else has already done the work for you. All you have to do is move in and start living your life. The main con of buying a van conversion is that they can be expensive, and you may not get exactly what you want.
If you build a van conversion yourself, the main pro is that you can customize it to your exact specifications. The main con is that it will take time and effort to do the work yourself. You will also need to be comfortable with tools and have some experience working with them.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to buy or build a van conversion is up to you. Consider your needs and wants, and go from there.
Conclusion
If you’re considering van life, weigh the pros and cons carefully. It’s a great way to see the world and live an adventure, but it’s not without its challenges. There are many resources available to help you buy or build your own van conversion. So, what are you waiting for? Start your van life adventure today by exploring the stories and resources below! And if you like what you see, join our Free Tiny House Newsletter for more stuff like this in your inbox!

Safe and Sonder Vans: NORTH Family Van
We’re excited to introduce you to a new-to-us van-building company called Safe + Sonder Vans. This is their latest conversion which is for sale, called the “North.” Besides the incredible craftsmanship, what makes this van so unique is that it’s a true family vehicle! It features two swivel seats for adults and a bench seat [...]

Tattoo Artist’s Van Life Funded by Social Media
Elen was struggling with too much space and a not-so-great landlord in her Glasgow apartment. So when she went on a 2-week European tour in her van and saw how amazing nomadic life could be, she finally took the plunge into full-time van life! She spent six months making the van livable and might purchase [...]

Her Stealthy and Affordable Box Truck Home Built for $8.5K
Heather loved her successful career in the Bay Area — until she didn’t. Between 2020 and the wildfires, she found herself feeling trapped. So she found an old army van/box truck and converted it into her home on wheels with her dad’s help. She intentionally left the exterior simple and “masculine” to offer her protection [...]

This Lawyer Lives in a DIY Van Conversion
Favian is a civil rights lawyer who enjoys a nomadic life from his van! He can even do Zoom hearings from the comfort of just about anywhere because of his office setup and Starlink connection. He purchased the van as an empty shell and converted it over the course of about 10 months. He had [...]

Their Van Life and Van Fest Festival
Lance and Jess were homeowners with steady jobs who went to a van festival and fell in love with what they saw. Soon afterward, they sold their home, quit their jobs, and found a van to convert. The results are gorgeous! They have found new remote positions, but also head up “VanFest” as a way to [...]

DIY Van Life in South Africa for 2 Years
Michael and Acacia have been living in their self-converted van in South Africa for the past two years. While van life is not particularly popular in South Africa, they’ve had lots of success and enjoy staying at campgrounds for very little money. Their conversion only cost them about $10K, which is the average cost of [...]

Her Amazing Professional Van Conversion: Bowie
Cat had wanted to live on the road for a while, but decided getting a professional conversion was the way to go! She designed the interior and made sure to include everything that would make full-time life comfortable — then she paid Shane at Dogwood Conversions to bring it to life. Her conversion includes amazing [...]

Her $25K Ambulance Conversion with a Bathroom
Rachel had been wanting to try nomadic life for a while and finally decided to just go for it. While her dad originally said he wanted nothing to do with the project, when Rachel found herself in too deep, he came to her rescue and helped her finish the conversion. With his help, she was [...]

Amazing Transit Boho Vans Conversion with Huge Pantry
This is the Encore Transit, a stunning van that was a custom Boho Vans build completed for a client back in 2020. It’s built like a cabin inside! Unfortunately, her health complications are preventing her from enjoying the van, and she’s selling it. It’s a lovely 2019 Ford Transit with a fixed bed, a Dometic [...]

Aloha 2021 Ram Promaster 2500 High Roof Conversion Van
The Aloha is a 2021 Ram Promaster 2500 with a high roof that was a former rental van of Boho Vans. After a couple of years in the rental business, it’s ready for a new permanent owner! This beautiful professional conversion includes a handy closet for hanging clothing and comes with a brand-new cassette toilet. [...]

Georgie by Boho Vans: Ram ProMaster 2500 High Roof
Meet Georgie! This former van rental from Boho Vans is now for sale and could be yours permanently for $81.5K. It’s a Ram Promaster 2500 with a high roof, so you’ll have plenty of headroom. Georgie features a fixed bed with a spacious garage underneath. There’s a lovely pull-out pantry for canned/dry goods and the [...]

Vandalf: 2008 Ford E-350 Shuttle Bus Conversion For Sale: Built Like a Cabin!
Meet Vandalf! This tiny house was built for a self-proclaimed nerd, and it’s for sale and built by Boho Life looking for a new nerd to make it home sweet home. It’s a 2008 Ford E-350 and costs $70,000. This van is lined with beautiful red cedar which I’m sure smells amazing! There’s a fixed [...]

Cozy Cabin-Like Van Conversion
Karol and Austin are the bubbly and awesome couple who built this beautiful Ram Promaster in 2020. On the cusp of buying a home, they hose to jump into van life instead. Now they’re on to a new adventure and selling this incredible cabin-like rig. Karol had wanted a closet and bathroom, and they managed [...]

His Revel Van Life with Lift Bed & Customizations
Adam’s father had always wanted to convert a school bus and homeschool Adam and a potential second child while traveling the country. Tragically, his life was cut short. But Adam — and his Winnebago named “Eve” — are making that dream a reality! Originally, Adam thought he would only be on the road for a [...]

From CrossFit Instructors to Van Life
Trey and Addie were working as Crossfit instructors when they realized they were eager for “more” out of life. It didn’t take much convincing for them to start looking for a van to convert. Once they got the rig, they spent two years building it out, since they had no prior building experience (and very [...]

She Rented a Boho Van for Work and Travel
Simone jumped into van life a few years ago and built out her own rig while working as a photographer. She and her husband, however, recently bought a home and are selling the van, but her work still requires some travel. Enter Boho Vans! She rented this great rig to attend a van gathering. This [...]

Her $20K Minimalist Van Build
Tori graduated from college and spent 10 months traveling abroad. Her friends were coming home to settle into 9 to 5 jobs, but she wasn’t ready to settle down quite yet. So she bought a van and converted it! When she started, she didn’t even know a drill could go in reverse, but she taught [...]

Her Stealthy Van Inspired by Taylor Swift
Tory has always loved Taylor Swift, but going to her Reputation tour set her life on a whole new path! She was inspired by Taylor’s resilience and honesty and ended up starting a jacket-painting business that raised awareness for self-defense and ultimately funded her van conversion. While Tory is proud of the van she converted [...]

Digital Nomad’s Second Van Conversion
Brittany had all the normal stuff — a spouse, a house, and a business she was successfully running. But she got divorced and later met a couch surfer whose life she was envious of. He called her out, saying she could do what he was doing and travel the world. So she sold her house, [...]

Couple’s Incredible Retirement Van Life in their Luxury Conversion
Ray had always been fascinated by the concept of van life, so when it started gaining popularity on YouTube, he started showing his wife Nancy videos to see if she was interested. When she fully retired, she jumped on board with the idea. While they have two stationary homes (one in Hawaii and one in [...]

Their Original 1986 Westfalia Van Life
Cora and Tyler were looking for a more cost-effective way to travel and ended up stumbling upon a 1986 Volkswagen Westfalia in excellent condition. It saved them the trouble of doing a whole conversion, and while Cora didn’t love the Westy at first, it grew on her. Having a van has allowed Cora, who has [...]

Ford E-150 Cargo Camper Van (Auction)
Are you ready for an adventure on the open road? We have something special to share with our fellow tiny house enthusiasts and nomadic dreamers. Imagine embarking on a journey in a versatile and fully equipped camper van that combines the reliability of a Ford E-150 with the comforts of a cozy home on wheels. [...]

Jumping into Van Life with No Building Experience
Zak and Fal had just sold 90% of their belongings and were planning on moving to a new state for a fresh start when one of them joked about jumping into van life instead of moving. But it didn’t stay as a joke for long! Suddenly they were flying to purchase a Ram Promaster, and [...]

Their No-Experience Van Build w/ Hidden Bathroom
Tiff really wanted to get into vanlife, but it took a while to convince Eddy into it. Eventually, they agreed on the plan and spent a year converting their van with zero prior experience. They love that now they know how to fix anything that goes wrong with the rig. While there are definitely some [...]

From 3-Bedroom House to Van Life in their 99 Dodge Van
Magnum, Kelsey, and their dog Ashe enjoy full-time van life in their 1999 Dodge Ram campervan with an aftermarket high top. It started out as a summer escape, but when they returned to their 3-bedroom home after their first big trip, something felt wrong! So they decided to quit their brick-and-mortar education jobs and find [...]