I don’t want to be a smart ass but van life, if it’s going to be fun and less expensive than house life, is best done by do it yourselfers. Leaks, electrical, mechanical, remodeling, repairs, refits…….these things are do able. Even more so now with YouTube and Facebook. Otherwise it’s going to be very expensive and not exactly fun.
We live part time in our van, part time in our sailboat, and part time in Mexico where we are building a house. We could not afford a single one of these ways of life if it wasn’t for the fact my wife and I do 95 percent of the work ourselves. Our sailboat alone would break us. We’ve been living in our sailboat for about 5 months straight and there’s not a single day I don’t fix something. And half of those 150 days were spent working on it 6-8 hours a day. We have a simple ish boat. Simple systems. Ditto van. And I know them all because I either built them or fixed them. It would literally be impossible if I had to have others do it. Or diagnose it. Or depend on them to show me how to work it. Just impossible.
And agreed, bad weather sucks. There are days on our sailboat when we are as anchor we can’t go to shore and we are bobbing away. But of course then there are days of utter beauty that make up for those days. When we are anchored in paradise. And we aren’t worried about our house floating away.
All this not to toot my own horn, just to give you my perspective. The more you can fix, the more you can build, the more enjoyment you will have. The more money you will have. The more time you will have. Btw we’re in Florida right now on our boat. We had 34 degrees for a couple days. And spent a great amount of time hanging out under big blankets. We feel your pain. But now it’s back up to 70. It’s a roll with the punches lifestyle, for sure. But it does become easier. Good place to stop for the night if you’re stealth and have no where to go are hotel parking lots. We’ve never been thrown out. Certainly not our first pick, but. Residential neighborhoods are surprisingly good. As are metro areas. We’ve parked right down town is some great places.
Oh and solar on our boat is life changing. If we had it on our van it would be as well. We can be out on our sailboat for weeks without going to a marina. I can’t imagine doing it without it. Cheers.
Hey Robert! Appreciate you stopping by. You can't start off by saying you don't want to be a smart ass, but then be a smart ass. 😉 😜
While I think everyone should have basic maintenance knowledge and survival skills, which I do, I also don't believe van life or RV life should only be for DIYers. Some have more knowledge. Some will learn.
There are many things I have done and can do, but it doesn't always mean I want to. I can always make more money, but I can't make any more time. Having watched too many in my life die early makes me more protective of where I spend my time. And my biggest complaint is having issues only four months in.
Anyways ...
It's great that you have those skills. They are valuable. It's awesome to be self-reliant and save money by doing the work.
I think any part of life requires adaptability, and I agree that we have to roll with the punches. We've considered and even talked to a manager about the hotel parking lots. I'm sure most don't know or care. Solar is also what we use mostly and it's great.
You know, living on a boat really prepares you for living in a van. Thats what we did. We sailed firsr. When we built our van we already had a good idea about what we wanted and how to set up the systems. And problems with the van are nothing like problems on a boat. We are always happy to wake up in the same spot where we went to sleep!
At one time I thought it might be fun to have a van or RV. When I looked into it a bit, it became evident that there was a lot of risk when it comes to build quality. Since I wanted it for fun and, for me, “fun” doesn’t rhyme with “fix”, I decided to find another hobby.
I understand that! We met a guy who was doing maintenance on his Class C yesterday. I asked him if it ever stops, and he told me, "No, because it's like having a huge earthquake at home every day!" 😂
However, I think having something for fun would take less beating than the daily driver. But there are cheaper, fun hobbies.
We have a 1 ton Chevy van, the kind with three rows of seats in the back that we paid 8k for with 50k miles. We took the seats and seat belts out and sold for 1.5k. I welded up a bed frame with storage underneath. We have a very comfortable bed, a 12v cooler, it is very stealth as it just looks like an old van. It’s got a Chevy LS, as reliable as they come. We had to get a few things sorted out in the beginning.
But once you step up to a newer diesel and a 200k “van” you’re gonna get problems. It doesn’t matter what the build quality is. Our van is dead reliable. We’ve put 20k miles on it and it’s ready for another 150k very easily.
We’ve parked our Van in amazing amazing places. And in places just to lay our heads. Less is often more.
It’s none of my business what you do or don’t do. But you’d be best served, your family would be best served, by learning to be more DIY. That’s my point. There were more comments to the same point. Believe me that’s the biggest secret to this lifestyle. I certainly wasn’t implying you couldn’t learn. None of us came out of the womb with experience. Go look into people’s experiences with RVs and boats. Vans. It’s the same as yours. In most cases worse. It’s a house on wheels. It’s actually far more complicated than a house.
And if you’re into saving time, using your time to its best potential, you’ll really take my advice. Wait until you have problems in the 8 months people are really RVing. Impossible to get into a shop in a reasonable amount of time. I’ve lived it.
You’re right, it’s not, and also don’t assume I can’t do the work. I’m not going to fix something right now that’s under warranty and should’ve been done right in the first place. I think the biggest secret is contentment, but that’s another discussion.
We live in an area where "Van Lifers" frequent: The Oregon Coast. One of my favorite activities is watching bickering couples with their fancy van behind them try to get the perfect instagram shot LOL. Good luck out there!!
Love the Oregon Coast! Such a beautiful region and vibe.
Truth be told, I also watch people and laugh at them as they try to get the perfect IG photos. One day, I watched two girls for an hour - yes, an hour - do photos in the middle of the street while acting indignant at cars wanting to actually use the road they were on. Thankfully, we are NOT that way. But we do bicker in the van. 😂
Thanks.
If you don't mind me asking, what do you think about all the van lifers taking over the coast?
They’re not taking over the coast. Just another component of the tourists. We get some really interesting vans though. I forget the name, but they’re European (Poland, Germany mostly) and the vehicles look like military transport LOL
That's good. We've been in places like Sedona, where so many travelers and van lifers are congregating, that the locals we've made friends with tell us it's getting old. There are some amazing builds. I've seen some of those Earth Roamer vehicles! Awesome looks, bad gas mileage, and hard to park. LOL
Been there, done that… for 7 years, in increasingly larger rigs. If you keep doing this, you’ll move to increasingly larger rigs… if you’re smart. 😉 And here’s a tip. Do not buy brand new rigs. A few years old, and somebody has done the rounds of repairs. Seriously, it’s the only way to go. In the meantime, enjoy!
I started out in a Casita trailer. If you had told me I’d end up in an older motorhome, I absolutely would have scoffed and laughed at you. Medium ground: a class c with a slide out… and counter space in the kitchen. 😉 Hopefully the kinks will soon get smoothed out for you. Managing repairs while you’re on the road is not fun.
We did look at some Class Cs at the Fort Myers RV Show and wonder if we made the right choice. LOL They look easier to drive than I might think, but I definitely have no plans to have a fifth wheel or trailer. I don't mind working out the kinks and doing some maintenance, but I didn't want to get started that way. Good stuff here!
You made the right choice because it got you out there. And you’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to check out other people’s rigs. If you’re not a member of Xscapers, check them out. A lot of great people living the same life, and a great source of info and camaraderie. … (a class c drives pretty much like a big pickup truck, or maybe a U-Haul truck, and you can tow a small car if you like.)
We started five and a half years ago with a pickup truck and hotels (when we had more money and hotels were a LOT cheaper), but then added a rooftop tent, before getting the van 4 months ago. But you're right, we got out there and continue to learn every day!
We got Havest Host, which included Xscaopers and Boondockers. We also have Passport America, but there's no community with that. Need to meet more people, though.
I guess if I can drive a U-Haul, I can do a Class C then. WHEW. Good to know. Thanks.
I get it. We started out in 1962 vintage Scotty Serra. Not a camper van, but super small. We romanticized the hell out of it until we were camped in Vermont during a torrential rain storm. No where to go, to move; it felt a lot like tent camping. Long and short, we ended up selling Scotty and bought a 2019 Bambi Airstream (16') and we thought we were in heaven. We were for awhile, but all those things you wrote about, especially the jockeying for position at bedtime and beyond, persisted. So...we upgraded again to a 20-foot Caravel Airstream. Better, but the bed situation still sucked. Fast forward: last month we upgraded for the final time. A 27-foot Flying Cloud Airstream with room for us to spread out. Finally. BTW: our go-to are KOAs (Kampgournds of America)---not everyone's cup of tea, but for us---not full-time yet, but pretty close--convenient, clean and right off the highway.
Thanks for sharing, Carol. It sounds like you've learned and experienced a lot on your adventures!!! I don't know if there's ever a perfect rig or vehicle, but watching all the people with their Class As makes me a little jealous of their space. Then we'd haul more stuff, but I don't want to do that. LOL!
KOAs are great. We've stayed at a few, but they are always outside our budget. Worth it for what you get at most of them, though.
Notes showed me your post, FWIW. I’m 65, retired and we travel in a class C. I showed your story to my husband and he laughed. Your story is our story, except we’re not full time. We still have an off-grid cabin in Ohio we land at for the summer.
We paid $150K for our 2023 rolling domicile. Hubby says you guys probably paid a similar amount or close. I guess homes on wheels are destined to have their “issues”. Hubby was a homebuilder and says the manufacturers of these things are putting all the systems of a real home (but not really) into a tiny space and customers are expecting them to perform like a real home at a price people can afford. Not everybody can afford a Newmar! It snows when we go South, it was 29 degrees in South Georgia the other night. The RV fails when we’re heading out - we had the blackwater tank fall off, the levelers fail, the slides fail, the generator quit working…did I say it is a 2023? It was manufactured during the pandemic greedfest as fellow rvers called it. We’re on an online forum and they’ve been a lot of help, though sometimes they are quite curmudgeony.
We travel with 5 cats which is like traveling with 5 eight year old children - “he touched me” only eight year old children don’t hiss. I write about our adventures sometimes in my section “Grey Nomads”. There’s a bunch of us on the road, it is a fun way to go.
Howdy Collette! So this notes thing does work!? 😂 Glad you all liked the story and appreciate your input.
We like the idea of a Class C. How has it been for you? The cabin sounds awesome. We've got friends in NEO. Love that place!
Our travel van is a 2023 (https://www.roadlifeadventure.com/p/next-chapter-camper-van-review), and we paid $85K for it -- which is a great price compared to most of the vans I researched. Plus, our system lacks the bells and whistles, making it easier to maintain. I do agree with your hubby about the builds and expectations!
That RV luck of yours sounds horrible. Sorry!!! That's why having something larger sounds as fun as a frontal lobotomy. 😜
The cats ... that's hilarious. And it sounds like a lot of work. I mean, the one cat my daughter has often terrifies me. She's pissy but can show love when she wants. The outdoor cat Skittles (also a story about him here) was gifted to us by the Cat Distrubution System and is HIGHLY lovable and social for a feral cat. But I can't take him with us because of my cat allergies and a small van.
The class C is the perfect size for us and our cats. We’ve repaired, improved and upgraded it to where it’s better than when we bought it. We’re fortunate that we can DIY all of it, though hubby curses at it on a regular basis. We’re also lucky most of the tragedy has happened at home before we leave. We’ve only had to repair something on the road once, that was a water pump which was easy. But I wouldn’t trade the class C for anything. Neither would hubby but he likes to continue to be a hardass about it. Nothing makes both of us happier than to hit the road.
The cats are all rescues , each with their own set of issues. City people dump unwanted cats at our farm - we were farmers for farmers markets before the pandemic hit - which killed that business. All in all we’ve had 13 rescue cats, the 5 that travel with us are the ones that were able to be harness trained, and enjoy being indoor/outdoor (indoor only on the road). Most have passed on or are barn cats, we’re down to 7, 2 stay home. I write about the cats on the road too.
I read several of your posts, the one about Skittles too. I used to follow a couple doing something similar to what you’re doing. They hit the road in 2008. To be young again! https://www.goatsontheroad.com/
Sounds like a good deal for you all! I didn't want the DIY part because I curse and drink enough from the stress already, so I think I'd be drunk all day with a big rig that needed help. 😆 I do have some skills, but as I told others, I didn't want to start that way with a van that's only four months old.
That's wonderful about the cats. Love it! I hate seeing so many animals dumped off and forgotten. Breaks my heart. The sad thing is, we went to a flea market the other day where all these $3000 dogs were being sold by puppy mills. I'm like, there are so many amazing dogs waiting to be rescued for free. 😡 😢
Thanks for reading the other posts. I've seen the GOTR folks.
To be young again. Yep. I'm 55, which isn't "old" but starting to feel the years of abuse and adventures lived. That's why we're doing this all now. My 86-year-old mother said we won't feel like it down the road.
sounds like a few mistakes mixed with some bad luck. everything is an adjustment. you’ll become a systems mechanic, essentially, dealing with all that crap. as for the route planning, it is a major project, but i follow the weather ALWAYS and I’m looking at long range forecasts (2wks) a lot as well, however sometimes you just get screwed! rally on!
Van life definitely has its challenges, but the people who are drawn to it tend to be adaptable and independent—the kind who can plan ahead and still roll with the punches.
I’ve learned a lot from other van lifers and travel groups. Being solo makes some things easier—I don’t have to manage shared space. Van life keeps me close to what I love (water, nature, kayaking, biking trails, cozy cafés) and feeds my curiosity about new places.
The big suburban house I used to live in was a ton of work, and I collected so much stuff I didn’t even need. Van life feels so much simpler than homeownership ever did.
Love all this! 💯 I do think we need to be adaptable and independent to live this lifestyle. You never know what it’s going to be, day to day, and that’s also the beauty of it.
My $0.2 cents worth. Travel vans, travel trailers, 5th wheels are put together with spit and shit. I have a 23 ft travel trailer and in 10 years I’ve almost completely rebuilt and/or modified the whole thing. I love the trailer, but they are a lot of work and require a lot of maintenance, especially if you’re traveling full time. Hell, I have my whole shop of tools with me wherever I go. When I’m home it’s always repair or
maintenance to prepare for the next trip. When everything is working the trips are great. But there is always something to work on when you come back from fishing in the morning. It’s part of trailer ownership. Safe travels! Oh, did I mention all of my lower back pain, since acquiring the trailer? 🤣
I would agree that most vehicles are not built properly, especially for the intended use of driving and living in them. I guess maintenance is just the way of life for us on the road. Thanks!
My husband and I have been fulltime nomads for the last 14 years. We've had a sailboat, a van, and backpacked in South America for a year. Currently we are house sitting taking care of pets while we build a new van.
It has taken us 14 years to figure out how we want to travel. Backpacking was good but I miss having a home. And sailing is amazing but so much work.
We actually have a smaller van this time. It is AWD and hopefully will take us places where we had ti turn around in the past.
I know lots of people are saying, get a bigger rig. But really you should get the rig that meets your needs. If you never want to turn around, get something smaller with 4WD. If you don't care about getting off the beaten path, go bigger.
I'm in it for the adventure. So really I don't care about all the inconveniences- although our new rig will have some upgrades. A shower area, hot water, a bed we don't have to makeup every day.
I love living in a van and hope to do it for another ten years. I can't wait to be camped along the water again, taking in the view.
I can’t even imagine the adventures and stories you have! Would love to chat sometime. Amazing!!! I appreciate your advice, too. I like the idea of a bigger space, and that might happen down the road, but for now, we're making do with what we have and being happy with that. Though I'd love AWD or 4WD.
Would love to chat too. I love talking about this life. Once our van is finished - hopefully in 2 or 3 months we will do a little shakedown cruise to the Pacific Northwest and then into Mexico by fall. We will go all the way to Panama spending the maximum amount of time allowed in each country. And then we will ship our rig to Europe. I can't wait to be on the road again.
You are much braver than I am! We'd love to do Baja, but want to do it as a caravan first. The PCN is magic for sure. Such a gorgeous drive. And Panama .... yeah, that is incredible. We love Europe. I'm half Dutch (Nederlands) and there is so much to see and enjoy over that way.
I lived in a campervan with my dog for a year after my divorce. I love in Ireland. I was never on a campsite and relied completely on solar and split charge. Had to fix my diesel heater and water tap.
The weather was.... Well, it's Ireland, so what does one expect 😊
I love in a home now again. A small cottage in the west of Ireland. And am very glad I am. I don't know your age, but it's a bit harder when your older.
Anyways, it was a great experience and met some lovely people. Was moved on once and had the Gardaí (Irish police) knock on my door once, but only to check if I was ok 😃
So, I wish ye the best and keep at it as it will get easier! It took me 3 months to get a bit of a routine going.
Thanks, Stephen! Sorry you had to do van life under those circumstances, but being in Ireland would be a dream come true for us. At least you survived the weather and glad you have a home that hopefully keeps you warmer and happier. I’m 55 so I know age is affecting the lifestyle. It was much easier five years ago, but we still keep going for now. Down the road, probably not, unless we get a bigger vehicle that doesn’t require climbing into bed!
We ordered our van last month and are expecting delivery in April. I feel like we have been researching for a year now, especially the layout that would work best for how we intend to live in it. I do not, however, think that all the research will prepare us for the day-to-day struggles. For us, finding free and safe space to exist each day will be the test. Our budget would not allow for nightly campgrounds but we are joining Harvest Host so are hoping for a mix of that and perhaps state campgrounds or BLM land. I also think the weather this year has been super unpredictable and not typical. I am hoping this next year will calm down and make it easier to chase better conditions. Stay safe out there and fond joy where ever you can!
Well, hopefully I don’t scare you too much. HAHA! You are right, all the research in the world is useless, you have to live it.
Free and safe space is a challenge, depending on where you are at. We are the same in that we have a nightly budget of $30 for our stays. It’s not easy to do because so many RV parks are $40-75 night, BUT if you ask for the tent spots, many will let you park your van there and it’s cheaper.
Harvest Host (I’m camping and writing this at a brewery right now) is better if you do the Boondocker deal. Considering that it’s recommending to spend $30 for your host, and you typically get no amenities, it’s better to find state parks or RV parks at local municipalities. For the same price or less, you at least get toilets, showers, and power.
We have a Class C RV now, and have been avid summer campers since 2001 when we took a Pop Up Camper to Georgia for two weeks.
One thing that connects all 25 years of camping and all four campers we have used and owned (pop up, travel trailer, Class C and small Class A), they always have something going wrong.
Wires, fuses, leaks, you name and it has happened.
My wife, the mechanic in our family, fixes what she can and we make it to a service area, most of the time!
When we talk about our trips to our friends and family, those “breakdowns” are the heart and soul of every story!
Keep traveling and writing, it brought a smile to my face and my wife loved the weather stories!! Ours normally revolve around summer storms out west!!
Appreciate you reading and sharing! I certainly expect maintenance issues, but I didn't expect these problems on a new build. Apparently, that was foolish thinking! LOL You are right in that it makes the story more interesting.
Feel you! We did 2 weeks in a van as part of our life redesign experiment and I’m laughing so hard as ur describing the real life shimmying and discomfort of using the drivers seat as ur hang area!!
We ended up living in a 40 foot motorhome for a year and relate to everything. New vehicle so many repairs and travel to the homeland to get things fixed. No good places to stay. Moving a lot. The freedom thing is funny bc i felt less free living on the road then i did when i had a sticks and bricks house. That said it was one of my favorite years and it led to me writing a book that was published by a big five about what happened during that year!!! Carry on!!!!
The driver’s seat is definitely my safe space. Though I tend to get in trouble no matter where I’m at!!! 😜
40 foot motorhome? My gosh, how did you drive that beast? I’m puckering thinking about parking that alone. It is interesting how larger vehicles provide more space, but feel more limiting. Maybe that’s why so many people stay put in RV grounds for so long … the stress of getting there and parking was so much, why move for a few years?! LOL 😊
seriously, lol. my husband was a ninja parker and we actually argued mostly bc he didn’t want my help :) and he didn’t need it tbh. and yes, we didn’t want to stay put long. we saw nearly the entire country in 12 months and i think my favorite part of a motorhome is sitting in the drivers seat up high and watching the landscape change. truly incredible. PS. i never drove that thing ONCE!!! PSS we towed a jeep and thank heaven for that!
Ah, yes, the parking arguments. Hands down, one of our top 3 ongoing battles here. That's an impressive travel itinerary. Donetta's driving the van a few times, but she's a hell of a navigator -- most of the time, so it works well for us.
I think the van lifestyle has been marketed very well, much like the Overlander, Jeep, and other outdoor-focused brands have. It has created a romanticized ideal about it, but it’s not entirely true. There are those priceless moments, but there can be plenty of crap that comes with it.
It’s what you make of it. We love van life (with a motorcycle on back) and sailboat life (van on the water). It’s our jobs as consumers and humans to judge lifestyles for ourselves. The best trip my wife and I have ever had was in our van (no kitchen or bathroom) traveling halfway down Mexico, back up the west coast to WA and then back to TN. The best. 3 months of it.
Learn how your stuff works. Take responsibility for knowing how to use it. Be prepared with tools to fix it. Be creative. Roll with the punches. And have a blast.
Or don’t be prepared. Don’t understand systems. Believe problems aren’t gonna happen on your new fancy home on wheels. And blame someone else. Recipe for unhappiness.
I don’t want to be a smart ass but van life, if it’s going to be fun and less expensive than house life, is best done by do it yourselfers. Leaks, electrical, mechanical, remodeling, repairs, refits…….these things are do able. Even more so now with YouTube and Facebook. Otherwise it’s going to be very expensive and not exactly fun.
We live part time in our van, part time in our sailboat, and part time in Mexico where we are building a house. We could not afford a single one of these ways of life if it wasn’t for the fact my wife and I do 95 percent of the work ourselves. Our sailboat alone would break us. We’ve been living in our sailboat for about 5 months straight and there’s not a single day I don’t fix something. And half of those 150 days were spent working on it 6-8 hours a day. We have a simple ish boat. Simple systems. Ditto van. And I know them all because I either built them or fixed them. It would literally be impossible if I had to have others do it. Or diagnose it. Or depend on them to show me how to work it. Just impossible.
And agreed, bad weather sucks. There are days on our sailboat when we are as anchor we can’t go to shore and we are bobbing away. But of course then there are days of utter beauty that make up for those days. When we are anchored in paradise. And we aren’t worried about our house floating away.
All this not to toot my own horn, just to give you my perspective. The more you can fix, the more you can build, the more enjoyment you will have. The more money you will have. The more time you will have. Btw we’re in Florida right now on our boat. We had 34 degrees for a couple days. And spent a great amount of time hanging out under big blankets. We feel your pain. But now it’s back up to 70. It’s a roll with the punches lifestyle, for sure. But it does become easier. Good place to stop for the night if you’re stealth and have no where to go are hotel parking lots. We’ve never been thrown out. Certainly not our first pick, but. Residential neighborhoods are surprisingly good. As are metro areas. We’ve parked right down town is some great places.
Oh and solar on our boat is life changing. If we had it on our van it would be as well. We can be out on our sailboat for weeks without going to a marina. I can’t imagine doing it without it. Cheers.
Good luck!
Hey Robert! Appreciate you stopping by. You can't start off by saying you don't want to be a smart ass, but then be a smart ass. 😉 😜
While I think everyone should have basic maintenance knowledge and survival skills, which I do, I also don't believe van life or RV life should only be for DIYers. Some have more knowledge. Some will learn.
There are many things I have done and can do, but it doesn't always mean I want to. I can always make more money, but I can't make any more time. Having watched too many in my life die early makes me more protective of where I spend my time. And my biggest complaint is having issues only four months in.
Anyways ...
It's great that you have those skills. They are valuable. It's awesome to be self-reliant and save money by doing the work.
I think any part of life requires adaptability, and I agree that we have to roll with the punches. We've considered and even talked to a manager about the hotel parking lots. I'm sure most don't know or care. Solar is also what we use mostly and it's great.
Cheers!
You know, living on a boat really prepares you for living in a van. Thats what we did. We sailed firsr. When we built our van we already had a good idea about what we wanted and how to set up the systems. And problems with the van are nothing like problems on a boat. We are always happy to wake up in the same spot where we went to sleep!
Sounds epic! But living on a boat isn't the thing for me, unless it's a cruise ship. 😝 Appreciate you sharing.
At one time I thought it might be fun to have a van or RV. When I looked into it a bit, it became evident that there was a lot of risk when it comes to build quality. Since I wanted it for fun and, for me, “fun” doesn’t rhyme with “fix”, I decided to find another hobby.
I understand that! We met a guy who was doing maintenance on his Class C yesterday. I asked him if it ever stops, and he told me, "No, because it's like having a huge earthquake at home every day!" 😂
However, I think having something for fun would take less beating than the daily driver. But there are cheaper, fun hobbies.
We have a 1 ton Chevy van, the kind with three rows of seats in the back that we paid 8k for with 50k miles. We took the seats and seat belts out and sold for 1.5k. I welded up a bed frame with storage underneath. We have a very comfortable bed, a 12v cooler, it is very stealth as it just looks like an old van. It’s got a Chevy LS, as reliable as they come. We had to get a few things sorted out in the beginning.
But once you step up to a newer diesel and a 200k “van” you’re gonna get problems. It doesn’t matter what the build quality is. Our van is dead reliable. We’ve put 20k miles on it and it’s ready for another 150k very easily.
We’ve parked our Van in amazing amazing places. And in places just to lay our heads. Less is often more.
It’s none of my business what you do or don’t do. But you’d be best served, your family would be best served, by learning to be more DIY. That’s my point. There were more comments to the same point. Believe me that’s the biggest secret to this lifestyle. I certainly wasn’t implying you couldn’t learn. None of us came out of the womb with experience. Go look into people’s experiences with RVs and boats. Vans. It’s the same as yours. In most cases worse. It’s a house on wheels. It’s actually far more complicated than a house.
And if you’re into saving time, using your time to its best potential, you’ll really take my advice. Wait until you have problems in the 8 months people are really RVing. Impossible to get into a shop in a reasonable amount of time. I’ve lived it.
You’re right, it’s not, and also don’t assume I can’t do the work. I’m not going to fix something right now that’s under warranty and should’ve been done right in the first place. I think the biggest secret is contentment, but that’s another discussion.
I never assumed you couldn’t do the work. Take my advice or leave it. But it’s the truth. Maybe reread my last comment.
Best of luck
10-4. Thanks.
We live in an area where "Van Lifers" frequent: The Oregon Coast. One of my favorite activities is watching bickering couples with their fancy van behind them try to get the perfect instagram shot LOL. Good luck out there!!
Love the Oregon Coast! Such a beautiful region and vibe.
Truth be told, I also watch people and laugh at them as they try to get the perfect IG photos. One day, I watched two girls for an hour - yes, an hour - do photos in the middle of the street while acting indignant at cars wanting to actually use the road they were on. Thankfully, we are NOT that way. But we do bicker in the van. 😂
Thanks.
If you don't mind me asking, what do you think about all the van lifers taking over the coast?
They’re not taking over the coast. Just another component of the tourists. We get some really interesting vans though. I forget the name, but they’re European (Poland, Germany mostly) and the vehicles look like military transport LOL
That's good. We've been in places like Sedona, where so many travelers and van lifers are congregating, that the locals we've made friends with tell us it's getting old. There are some amazing builds. I've seen some of those Earth Roamer vehicles! Awesome looks, bad gas mileage, and hard to park. LOL
Been there, done that… for 7 years, in increasingly larger rigs. If you keep doing this, you’ll move to increasingly larger rigs… if you’re smart. 😉 And here’s a tip. Do not buy brand new rigs. A few years old, and somebody has done the rounds of repairs. Seriously, it’s the only way to go. In the meantime, enjoy!
Thanks for the advice Rich! I don’t think we have it in us to haul a big rig, but never say never. Haha. 🤣
I started out in a Casita trailer. If you had told me I’d end up in an older motorhome, I absolutely would have scoffed and laughed at you. Medium ground: a class c with a slide out… and counter space in the kitchen. 😉 Hopefully the kinks will soon get smoothed out for you. Managing repairs while you’re on the road is not fun.
We did look at some Class Cs at the Fort Myers RV Show and wonder if we made the right choice. LOL They look easier to drive than I might think, but I definitely have no plans to have a fifth wheel or trailer. I don't mind working out the kinks and doing some maintenance, but I didn't want to get started that way. Good stuff here!
You made the right choice because it got you out there. And you’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to check out other people’s rigs. If you’re not a member of Xscapers, check them out. A lot of great people living the same life, and a great source of info and camaraderie. … (a class c drives pretty much like a big pickup truck, or maybe a U-Haul truck, and you can tow a small car if you like.)
We started five and a half years ago with a pickup truck and hotels (when we had more money and hotels were a LOT cheaper), but then added a rooftop tent, before getting the van 4 months ago. But you're right, we got out there and continue to learn every day!
We got Havest Host, which included Xscaopers and Boondockers. We also have Passport America, but there's no community with that. Need to meet more people, though.
I guess if I can drive a U-Haul, I can do a Class C then. WHEW. Good to know. Thanks.
I get it. We started out in 1962 vintage Scotty Serra. Not a camper van, but super small. We romanticized the hell out of it until we were camped in Vermont during a torrential rain storm. No where to go, to move; it felt a lot like tent camping. Long and short, we ended up selling Scotty and bought a 2019 Bambi Airstream (16') and we thought we were in heaven. We were for awhile, but all those things you wrote about, especially the jockeying for position at bedtime and beyond, persisted. So...we upgraded again to a 20-foot Caravel Airstream. Better, but the bed situation still sucked. Fast forward: last month we upgraded for the final time. A 27-foot Flying Cloud Airstream with room for us to spread out. Finally. BTW: our go-to are KOAs (Kampgournds of America)---not everyone's cup of tea, but for us---not full-time yet, but pretty close--convenient, clean and right off the highway.
Thanks for sharing, Carol. It sounds like you've learned and experienced a lot on your adventures!!! I don't know if there's ever a perfect rig or vehicle, but watching all the people with their Class As makes me a little jealous of their space. Then we'd haul more stuff, but I don't want to do that. LOL!
KOAs are great. We've stayed at a few, but they are always outside our budget. Worth it for what you get at most of them, though.
We became members and I can’t tell you how much money we’ve saved at KOA‘s. It’s really been worthwhile for us. Safe travels.
We’re members, too. It does save money if you use it. Safe travels as well. 🚐
Notes showed me your post, FWIW. I’m 65, retired and we travel in a class C. I showed your story to my husband and he laughed. Your story is our story, except we’re not full time. We still have an off-grid cabin in Ohio we land at for the summer.
We paid $150K for our 2023 rolling domicile. Hubby says you guys probably paid a similar amount or close. I guess homes on wheels are destined to have their “issues”. Hubby was a homebuilder and says the manufacturers of these things are putting all the systems of a real home (but not really) into a tiny space and customers are expecting them to perform like a real home at a price people can afford. Not everybody can afford a Newmar! It snows when we go South, it was 29 degrees in South Georgia the other night. The RV fails when we’re heading out - we had the blackwater tank fall off, the levelers fail, the slides fail, the generator quit working…did I say it is a 2023? It was manufactured during the pandemic greedfest as fellow rvers called it. We’re on an online forum and they’ve been a lot of help, though sometimes they are quite curmudgeony.
We travel with 5 cats which is like traveling with 5 eight year old children - “he touched me” only eight year old children don’t hiss. I write about our adventures sometimes in my section “Grey Nomads”. There’s a bunch of us on the road, it is a fun way to go.
Howdy Collette! So this notes thing does work!? 😂 Glad you all liked the story and appreciate your input.
We like the idea of a Class C. How has it been for you? The cabin sounds awesome. We've got friends in NEO. Love that place!
Our travel van is a 2023 (https://www.roadlifeadventure.com/p/next-chapter-camper-van-review), and we paid $85K for it -- which is a great price compared to most of the vans I researched. Plus, our system lacks the bells and whistles, making it easier to maintain. I do agree with your hubby about the builds and expectations!
That RV luck of yours sounds horrible. Sorry!!! That's why having something larger sounds as fun as a frontal lobotomy. 😜
The cats ... that's hilarious. And it sounds like a lot of work. I mean, the one cat my daughter has often terrifies me. She's pissy but can show love when she wants. The outdoor cat Skittles (also a story about him here) was gifted to us by the Cat Distrubution System and is HIGHLY lovable and social for a feral cat. But I can't take him with us because of my cat allergies and a small van.
The class C is the perfect size for us and our cats. We’ve repaired, improved and upgraded it to where it’s better than when we bought it. We’re fortunate that we can DIY all of it, though hubby curses at it on a regular basis. We’re also lucky most of the tragedy has happened at home before we leave. We’ve only had to repair something on the road once, that was a water pump which was easy. But I wouldn’t trade the class C for anything. Neither would hubby but he likes to continue to be a hardass about it. Nothing makes both of us happier than to hit the road.
The cats are all rescues , each with their own set of issues. City people dump unwanted cats at our farm - we were farmers for farmers markets before the pandemic hit - which killed that business. All in all we’ve had 13 rescue cats, the 5 that travel with us are the ones that were able to be harness trained, and enjoy being indoor/outdoor (indoor only on the road). Most have passed on or are barn cats, we’re down to 7, 2 stay home. I write about the cats on the road too.
I read several of your posts, the one about Skittles too. I used to follow a couple doing something similar to what you’re doing. They hit the road in 2008. To be young again! https://www.goatsontheroad.com/
Sounds like a good deal for you all! I didn't want the DIY part because I curse and drink enough from the stress already, so I think I'd be drunk all day with a big rig that needed help. 😆 I do have some skills, but as I told others, I didn't want to start that way with a van that's only four months old.
That's wonderful about the cats. Love it! I hate seeing so many animals dumped off and forgotten. Breaks my heart. The sad thing is, we went to a flea market the other day where all these $3000 dogs were being sold by puppy mills. I'm like, there are so many amazing dogs waiting to be rescued for free. 😡 😢
Thanks for reading the other posts. I've seen the GOTR folks.
To be young again. Yep. I'm 55, which isn't "old" but starting to feel the years of abuse and adventures lived. That's why we're doing this all now. My 86-year-old mother said we won't feel like it down the road.
sounds like a few mistakes mixed with some bad luck. everything is an adjustment. you’ll become a systems mechanic, essentially, dealing with all that crap. as for the route planning, it is a major project, but i follow the weather ALWAYS and I’m looking at long range forecasts (2wks) a lot as well, however sometimes you just get screwed! rally on!
Hey Jim! Thanks for your input. I don’t “mind” maintaining things as long as I know what I’m doing. It’s the lack of knowledge that annoys me. 🤪
I’ve learned in the military and in life, even the best planning is no guarantee to success. But if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Van life definitely has its challenges, but the people who are drawn to it tend to be adaptable and independent—the kind who can plan ahead and still roll with the punches.
I’ve learned a lot from other van lifers and travel groups. Being solo makes some things easier—I don’t have to manage shared space. Van life keeps me close to what I love (water, nature, kayaking, biking trails, cozy cafés) and feeds my curiosity about new places.
The big suburban house I used to live in was a ton of work, and I collected so much stuff I didn’t even need. Van life feels so much simpler than homeownership ever did.
Love all this! 💯 I do think we need to be adaptable and independent to live this lifestyle. You never know what it’s going to be, day to day, and that’s also the beauty of it.
Lol
My $0.2 cents worth. Travel vans, travel trailers, 5th wheels are put together with spit and shit. I have a 23 ft travel trailer and in 10 years I’ve almost completely rebuilt and/or modified the whole thing. I love the trailer, but they are a lot of work and require a lot of maintenance, especially if you’re traveling full time. Hell, I have my whole shop of tools with me wherever I go. When I’m home it’s always repair or
maintenance to prepare for the next trip. When everything is working the trips are great. But there is always something to work on when you come back from fishing in the morning. It’s part of trailer ownership. Safe travels! Oh, did I mention all of my lower back pain, since acquiring the trailer? 🤣
I would agree that most vehicles are not built properly, especially for the intended use of driving and living in them. I guess maintenance is just the way of life for us on the road. Thanks!
My husband and I have been fulltime nomads for the last 14 years. We've had a sailboat, a van, and backpacked in South America for a year. Currently we are house sitting taking care of pets while we build a new van.
It has taken us 14 years to figure out how we want to travel. Backpacking was good but I miss having a home. And sailing is amazing but so much work.
We actually have a smaller van this time. It is AWD and hopefully will take us places where we had ti turn around in the past.
I know lots of people are saying, get a bigger rig. But really you should get the rig that meets your needs. If you never want to turn around, get something smaller with 4WD. If you don't care about getting off the beaten path, go bigger.
I'm in it for the adventure. So really I don't care about all the inconveniences- although our new rig will have some upgrades. A shower area, hot water, a bed we don't have to makeup every day.
I love living in a van and hope to do it for another ten years. I can't wait to be camped along the water again, taking in the view.
Good luck on your journey.
I can’t even imagine the adventures and stories you have! Would love to chat sometime. Amazing!!! I appreciate your advice, too. I like the idea of a bigger space, and that might happen down the road, but for now, we're making do with what we have and being happy with that. Though I'd love AWD or 4WD.
Where will you travel to?
Would love to chat too. I love talking about this life. Once our van is finished - hopefully in 2 or 3 months we will do a little shakedown cruise to the Pacific Northwest and then into Mexico by fall. We will go all the way to Panama spending the maximum amount of time allowed in each country. And then we will ship our rig to Europe. I can't wait to be on the road again.
You are much braver than I am! We'd love to do Baja, but want to do it as a caravan first. The PCN is magic for sure. Such a gorgeous drive. And Panama .... yeah, that is incredible. We love Europe. I'm half Dutch (Nederlands) and there is so much to see and enjoy over that way.
I'll message ya!
Yep. Did that. With a large dog. Three months and we were DONE.
Sorry it didn't work out, but you never know until you try!
Great realistic article!
I lived in a campervan with my dog for a year after my divorce. I love in Ireland. I was never on a campsite and relied completely on solar and split charge. Had to fix my diesel heater and water tap.
The weather was.... Well, it's Ireland, so what does one expect 😊
I love in a home now again. A small cottage in the west of Ireland. And am very glad I am. I don't know your age, but it's a bit harder when your older.
Anyways, it was a great experience and met some lovely people. Was moved on once and had the Gardaí (Irish police) knock on my door once, but only to check if I was ok 😃
So, I wish ye the best and keep at it as it will get easier! It took me 3 months to get a bit of a routine going.
Mind yourselves
Thanks, Stephen! Sorry you had to do van life under those circumstances, but being in Ireland would be a dream come true for us. At least you survived the weather and glad you have a home that hopefully keeps you warmer and happier. I’m 55 so I know age is affecting the lifestyle. It was much easier five years ago, but we still keep going for now. Down the road, probably not, unless we get a bigger vehicle that doesn’t require climbing into bed!
😊 I wouldn't recommend in the winter though
But to be honest, I enjoyed it while I was at it. I saw a bit of my own country I never got around to seeing
That's how I ended up in the west of Ireland. Coming from the south, I never imagined how beautiful it is in real life.
But anyways
What do they say where you are, keep on trucking😃
We spent some winter time in the Netherlands, where my mother was born, and it was too cold and wet for me at the time, but lived to enjoy it. 😂
We also feel the same way about the U.S. Some of the places we’ve been, we never expected the beauty.
We ordered our van last month and are expecting delivery in April. I feel like we have been researching for a year now, especially the layout that would work best for how we intend to live in it. I do not, however, think that all the research will prepare us for the day-to-day struggles. For us, finding free and safe space to exist each day will be the test. Our budget would not allow for nightly campgrounds but we are joining Harvest Host so are hoping for a mix of that and perhaps state campgrounds or BLM land. I also think the weather this year has been super unpredictable and not typical. I am hoping this next year will calm down and make it easier to chase better conditions. Stay safe out there and fond joy where ever you can!
Well, hopefully I don’t scare you too much. HAHA! You are right, all the research in the world is useless, you have to live it.
Free and safe space is a challenge, depending on where you are at. We are the same in that we have a nightly budget of $30 for our stays. It’s not easy to do because so many RV parks are $40-75 night, BUT if you ask for the tent spots, many will let you park your van there and it’s cheaper.
Harvest Host (I’m camping and writing this at a brewery right now) is better if you do the Boondocker deal. Considering that it’s recommending to spend $30 for your host, and you typically get no amenities, it’s better to find state parks or RV parks at local municipalities. For the same price or less, you at least get toilets, showers, and power.
If there’s anyway we can help, let us know.
We have a Class C RV now, and have been avid summer campers since 2001 when we took a Pop Up Camper to Georgia for two weeks.
One thing that connects all 25 years of camping and all four campers we have used and owned (pop up, travel trailer, Class C and small Class A), they always have something going wrong.
Wires, fuses, leaks, you name and it has happened.
My wife, the mechanic in our family, fixes what she can and we make it to a service area, most of the time!
When we talk about our trips to our friends and family, those “breakdowns” are the heart and soul of every story!
Loved the article, brought back so many memories!
Keep traveling and writing, it brought a smile to my face and my wife loved the weather stories!! Ours normally revolve around summer storms out west!!
Thank you and will do! Love those storms out west. As a guy who grew up watching tornadoes in Oklahoma, this fascination has never left me.
Appreciate you reading and sharing! I certainly expect maintenance issues, but I didn't expect these problems on a new build. Apparently, that was foolish thinking! LOL You are right in that it makes the story more interesting.
Feel you! We did 2 weeks in a van as part of our life redesign experiment and I’m laughing so hard as ur describing the real life shimmying and discomfort of using the drivers seat as ur hang area!!
We ended up living in a 40 foot motorhome for a year and relate to everything. New vehicle so many repairs and travel to the homeland to get things fixed. No good places to stay. Moving a lot. The freedom thing is funny bc i felt less free living on the road then i did when i had a sticks and bricks house. That said it was one of my favorite years and it led to me writing a book that was published by a big five about what happened during that year!!! Carry on!!!!
The driver’s seat is definitely my safe space. Though I tend to get in trouble no matter where I’m at!!! 😜
40 foot motorhome? My gosh, how did you drive that beast? I’m puckering thinking about parking that alone. It is interesting how larger vehicles provide more space, but feel more limiting. Maybe that’s why so many people stay put in RV grounds for so long … the stress of getting there and parking was so much, why move for a few years?! LOL 😊
seriously, lol. my husband was a ninja parker and we actually argued mostly bc he didn’t want my help :) and he didn’t need it tbh. and yes, we didn’t want to stay put long. we saw nearly the entire country in 12 months and i think my favorite part of a motorhome is sitting in the drivers seat up high and watching the landscape change. truly incredible. PS. i never drove that thing ONCE!!! PSS we towed a jeep and thank heaven for that!
Ah, yes, the parking arguments. Hands down, one of our top 3 ongoing battles here. That's an impressive travel itinerary. Donetta's driving the van a few times, but she's a hell of a navigator -- most of the time, so it works well for us.
Living in a van down by the river. 🤣
Damn right! Gotta have dreams.
Seems like “Van Life” was both oversold and over-bought—the perfect conditions for unrealistic reporting and rose tinted reading.
I think the van lifestyle has been marketed very well, much like the Overlander, Jeep, and other outdoor-focused brands have. It has created a romanticized ideal about it, but it’s not entirely true. There are those priceless moments, but there can be plenty of crap that comes with it.
It’s what you make of it. We love van life (with a motorcycle on back) and sailboat life (van on the water). It’s our jobs as consumers and humans to judge lifestyles for ourselves. The best trip my wife and I have ever had was in our van (no kitchen or bathroom) traveling halfway down Mexico, back up the west coast to WA and then back to TN. The best. 3 months of it.
Learn how your stuff works. Take responsibility for knowing how to use it. Be prepared with tools to fix it. Be creative. Roll with the punches. And have a blast.
Or don’t be prepared. Don’t understand systems. Believe problems aren’t gonna happen on your new fancy home on wheels. And blame someone else. Recipe for unhappiness.