Andrea and Jacob lost their field of work in 2020, and were feeling isolated with all the travel bans. The Swedish couple decided a van would be a great way to save on rent and be able to see more of Europe. Their original plan was to do a quick budget build, but they ultimately [...]
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.
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:
* 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!
They Turned An Amazon Van into a Tiny Home
Remember Hope and Manny who built two micro bike trailers for homeless people? Well, here’s a look at their personal van conversion! They spent about two months converting a former Amazon van into an awesome little home. Before this, they lived in a bus conversion. They have a bench that converts into a child bed, [...]
Building a Box Truck Tiny House in 90 Days
These scuba divers were working in Honduras when they met and wanted to spend more time together. Polly had always dreamed of #vanlife and Isaac had already built out one rig, so they decided to build something together. They only had 90 days, though, because that’s the longest Isaac’s Visa would let him stay in [...]
Game Changer in Electric Camper Vans: The ePro by Maxwell Vehicles
Here at our Tiny House Talk, we love celebrating innovative designs that blend comfort, functionality, and eco-friendliness. Today we’re talking about something truly exciting – a vehicle that might revolutionize the way we approach camping, road trips, and van life. Introducing the Maxwell Vehicles ePro Vanacea Electric Camper Vans, a fusion of modern technology and [...]
1997 GMC Savanna Boho Camper Van by Florida Van Life Co.
Get ready for a thrilling journey with a newly renovated boho dream conversion van! This 1997 GMC Savanna 2WD by Florida Van Life Co. could be the perfect companion for creating lifelong memories on the road and it is available for $24,850. From its off-grid capabilities to its cozy interior, this camper van might have [...]
Her Stealth Cargo Van Life
Pamela wanted to travel but didn’t know how to afford it or how to bring her pets along. When she discovered van life, it was the solution to her problems! She even added a unique built-in screen door to keep her cats inside the van as well as the fresh air. This is actually her [...]
Life Coach and her Beautiful Van Life
Abigail works as mystic guide/life coach, leading others to a phenomenal life while living her own amazing life in her gorgeously-designed Ford Transit. She loves the shape of these vans, which allowed for more overhead storage and even a closet area to hang nicer clothing. She chose a slightly moody color scheme, with white ceilings [...]
Seven Years of Van Life with No Stop in Sight
Patrick was in college, but it wasn’t working for him. When he saw a video about #vanlife on YouTube, he decided to drop out and chase his dreams! Seven years and six rigs later, he’s living in his dream van with no plans of ever stopping. “Gadget” the van is bursting with innovative features, including [...]
His Awesome Professionally Built Van w/ Toaster Oven
Josh lost his beloved dog in 2020, and started reevaluating his life and goals. He found out about vanlife on TikTok and within four months he had sold his house and gone to pick up the van he had built by a professional to meet his needs. Since then, he’s been traveling with a group [...]
Van Baja Has a Fleet of Van Rentals! Look At This One
Van Baja offers tourists an adventurous and affordable way to see all the ins and outs of Baja, Mexico by renting one of their awesome vans! There’s a special cabinet designed to fit carry-on luggage, an optional portable toilet that hides under the dinette, and swivel seats, so you can sit and socialize or eat [...]
DIY Ram Promaster with Oven & Round Table
Elizabeth suggested vanlife to Destiny as a joke, but before they knew it, the couple was leaving regular 9-5 city life behind and jumping into converting a van. Neither of them had a lot of experience, but you’d never know looking at their gorgeous home on wheels. I love that they chose a round table-top [...]
Try Van Life: Rent this 2022 Ram ProMaster Off-Grid Campervan
Are you curious about the van life experience but hesitant to commit to a full-time lifestyle change? Well, we have fantastic news for you! Imagine having the opportunity to hit the open road and explore the beauty of nature in a fully-equipped campervan without a long-term commitment or huge financial risk. Today, we’re excited to [...]
From a VW Bus to a Ford Transit Van Conversion
Johnny’s van life began in 2019 in a VW Bus which he loved, but ultimately he wanted some more space. So he upgraded to a Ford Transit with an incredible convertible system that can be set up in a number of wild combinations (bed, desk, dinette, and more!). He does have a storage unit where [...]
His Awesome Turquoise Renovated VW Camper Van
Guillermo has lived all over the world. Born in Argentina, he spent a few years in Florida before doing most of his growing up in Spain. As an adult, he moved to the US where he’s lived for 26 years in a number of states including Pennsylvania, Texas, and California. Bus life had always been [...]
Former Police Vehicle Turned Van Vacation Home
Meet Betty, Jens, Coco (their dog), and their beautiful police-vehicle-turned-tiny-home! Betty & Jens have been using their VW T4 conversion as a vacation home on wheels for the past three years. Because this is a smaller van, it’s so impressive how functional they were able to make it! We had the chance to interview Betty [...]
Linda & Bill Retire in A Self-Built ProMaster Van
Linda and Bill got to the point where their children and even their grandkids were growing up and had busy lives of their own, so they wanted to get out and explore the world at last! They liquidated their assets and converted the van, which includes a convertible bed, bathroom with a shower and toilet, [...]
Upgrading Their Camping Lifestyle with a Van Build
Bekah & Bryce discovered they loved everything outdoorsy when they moved to Seattle and found themselves spending too much time setting up their campsite every week. A van was a way to enjoy their weekend excursions because it gave them more time for adventure sports! But as the world shut down in 2020, the van [...]
Four Years Converting Her Dream Van
Goldie has such a fun vibe and she loves her ever-evolving sense of style. While her work in the cannabis industry kept her traveling frequently for work, she was a little hesitant to jump into full-time vanlife because of her hat collection and expansive wardrobe. She purchased her van about four years ago and slowly [...]
Quebec Man Retires in His Self-Built Campervan
Serge worked hard his entire life, but when it was time to retire, he was ready to start living for himself! After converting his campervan, he’s found a wonderful community and passion for the arts, including dancing and joining a band. He has an outdoor shower, hidden toilet-under-a-bench and a fixed bed he can crawl [...]
Two Years of Van Life Now with Upgraded Security
Brenda and her dog Ranger have been on the road for 2 years. While this is their second tour with Tiny Home Tours, a lot has changed in her van since she first jumped into nomadic life. One of the biggest changes was that her cab was broken into while she was asleep. After that, [...]
They Have a Tiny House and a Camper Van
Natalie and Lucas are a super cool couple who own a tiny house, a sailboat, and a van! They primarily live out of the tiny house and van conversion, and Jenna at Tiny House Giant Journey did a great tour of their Sprinter. They prioritized a fixed bed that runs longways in the van to [...]
They Jumped into Vanlife without a Second Thought!
Dylan had been looking at vans and tiny homes for a while, wanting to design something himself one day but thinking it’d probably never happen. He casually commented to Lita that #vanlife would be fun, and they started looking for a van the very next day! Amazingly, this couple sped through their tour of the [...]
Sharing Free Tea with Strangers in His DIY Van
James hasn’t had it easy growing up. His father and a number of his aunts and uncles died before the age of 45, reminding James that we don’t all have forever to live. Inspired by the Air Nomads from “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” James is determined to live a life not attached to material things, [...]
Life with 3 Dogs in her 4×4 Camper Van
The “Megalodon” is an incredible rig both inside and out. Meg is a “wholistic” nutritionist & fitness coach and practices what she preaches in her amazing 4×4 van conversion that she shares with her four — big — dogs. She got into van life because she loved traveling and changing things up, but hated leaving [...]
Photography & Mountain Biking in His Awesome Van Build
Ryan had the house and the 9-5, but felt like he never had the time to travel the way he wanted to. So he hopped into van-life instead. His rig has a cool kitchen that’s built across the cab of the vehicle and adds a lot of space to the interior. Besides photography, Ryan enjoys [...]
2021 ProMaster Van Life with Three Dogs
Life doesn’t always go the way we plan, and that was the case for Nick and Shannon. An exciting business opportunity didn’t go as well as they hoped, and their choices were to either move in with Shannon’s parents or jump into vanlife. They chose the van. The 2021 ProMaster conversion makes plenty of space [...]
