Van life is becoming more and more coveted, and the excitement of being able to have a whole apartment in a van that you have kitted out yourself is pretty cool. RVs have always been around, and they are amazing. But people want to have something more personal and exciting.
So if you are ready to turn a regular van into a road trip beast then here is a guide for you.
Photo by Johannes Andersson on Unsplash
Van Types
There are a few types of van that are worth your consideration. The chances are you don’t have a van laying around ready to be turned into a travelling home. And with the number of possible options, it is no wonder that people can get easily overwhelmed with the options and information.
So to help out here is a list of things that you might like to think about when choosing the perfect van for your adventures.
Old or New? For the handy mechanic, an old van is no problem at all. In fact, it can be part of the fun to purchase something with a lot of potential, and put time and care into it. Although that is a little bit of a cash investment, so you could consider the fact that an older van will take a lot of work to get ready, replacement parts might be scarce, and potentially in the middle of a road trip, something could go wrong.
That said new vans can be pretty expensive. However, most have a warranty and are designed to last quite a while. So think about your budget and that should be your guide.
Windows – you might not have noticed, but not all vans come with windows. So you will do well to decide if you would like windows or if you purchase a van without them, do you have the skills and cash to put some in. Windows do you mean that the van is less dark, and is less likely to look like a strange van that’s just parked up in a pitch. The extra light is probably something you’re going to need on long trips.
Low top vs high top – You probably want to be as compact as possible. So when it comes to driving into things like low branches, bridges on country roads, they aren’t really built for hightops. So if you want something that can fit in most spaces and a low top is going to be ideal.
You will need to consider the fact that you will likely be standing up when you are cooking, and a few other activities to which will mean that a hightop might be better in that situation. You’ll just have to plan your routes working on your vehicle’s height.
4WD or 2DW – it depends on what kind of explorer you are. Four-wheel-drive is absolutely ideal if you want to head somewhere with a lot of seasonal changes, and perhaps somewhere that the roads might get a little bit bumpy. However, if you stay where the weather is more temperate, then 2WD is absolutely perfect. If you want to maximise your options, then all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive is typically worth investing in.
And then there is the greatest risk of all – the risk of not spending your life doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom later to do it — Randy Komisar.
Photo by Caleb George on Unsplash
Van Preparation
When you are taking a road trip that will be a few weeks or even a few months, the comfort of your van is going to mean everything to you. There are some adjustments that you can make to the interior of your van to make sure that it is as comfortable as possible. After all, this is not just about the driver. The people who will also be in the van sleeping, cooking, and enjoying the scenery need to be comfortable too.
Shower – you might find that many campsites don’t come with showers, and eventually, you are probably going to want to have the option with you at all times. The more places that you decide to explore The last time you were going to spend in cities and around campsites anyway. So fitting a camping solar shower bag is going to be the best solution here. Not only is it energy-friendly, but it’s incredibly compact too.
Protection – you are going to want to have some built-in protection for the floor and the walls of your van. There are so many options when it comes to this, most people up for a lightweight plywood interior. When you are having this ply fitted you can have shelved storage base cupboards and so much more plus underfloor storage built into.
You can buy full kits, or you can do this yourself.
Fans – when you are driving with the Aircon on, you might not notice the heat. But when you stop for a while, you are definitely going to be glad that you had a fan installed. Vans can get stuff incredibly quickly, especially if you have opted to have one that doesn’t have windows. This is where you can have fans in the back for the people who are travelling with you as well as on the front. Battery operated fans can be a very cheap option.
Couch or bed? – This is a serious one, you’re going to have to work out how you want your bed. Most people will choose to have a fold-out couch or permanent bed. If you’re not the kind of person he gets cranky with little sleep, and you aren’t going to get annoyed pulling your bed every night, and a great option which maximises the space is a fold-out couch bed.
Which gives you more living room area. For this, you’re going to have to think about your personal and energy levels. Will you feel like putting your bed out every evening after a long drive, how many people do you need to accommodate in the bed? All of these things are going to matter, but in the end, investing in a high-quality mattress is really going to pay off.
Fridge – The more research you do into Van life, the more you are going to see a small fridge is hooked up in the back of the van. This will be a personal choice between a small tabletop fridge, an under-counter fridge, or even a chest fridge. There is also a range of modifications that you can do to make sure that your fridge fits in the space you have available. Consider how much food you are likely to buy and bring with you, and prepare on the van that is purchasing meals on the go.
Stovetop – you may think that your small camping stove is going to be fine, but actually, that’s incredibly limited and just won’t be as good as having a permanent stovetop built into your van. You can have ones that are completely removable if you prefer. But when you are hungry and have had a long journey, you’re going to want to cook something nice and quickly.
Those extra minutes setting up a small camp stove might not be ideal. Think about making it as easy as possible to prepare something tasty for you and your family. There are many videos on YouTube that can teach you how to fit a soft top in a van. If you’re unsure where to start, you could look into specialists in van conversions—companies like rayneautomotive.co.uk or others in your area that offer custom solutions for camper setups. And there are plenty of companies that now specialise in van life modifications.
Batteries – you will be driving for incredibly long distances. Something you should think about having is at least two deep cycle batteries with you at all times. Every single amenity in your van will eat a lot of power. There is a range of different deep cycle batteries that you can buy, but it’s better to have something that is designed for vans and RVs.
When you are considering heading out on your big van life adventure, or you are just in the middle of prepping your van there are so many things you can take into consideration.
The great thing is there is a whole van life movement online that can give you incredible tips from what to pack, to the best places to park in every country. It won’t be long before you turn into a van like an enthusiast, and are sharing photos of sunsets in the middle of a free camping field in a brand-new country.
“Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. Ask me to go on one, anywhere. We’ll stop in every small town and learn the history and stories, feel the ground, and capture the spirit. Then we’ll turn it into our own story that will live inside our history to carry with us, always. because stories are more important than things.” – Victoria Erickson
Watch this great video to get even more inspiration:
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