Van Life Guide: Building Your Home On Wheels
A Mobile Living Conversion Walkthrough
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It is no secret that Van Life comes with its unique ups and downs — just as any other lifestyle does. I’m certainly no expert on life on the road, but through a combined two years of the lifestyle I’ve found myself learning through many a difficult experience. Running out of water and having a trip cut short — lucky to not get swallowed by sand on the way out. Being forced to live off snacks due to rotting food, and being stuck in a mud storm having no choice but to sleep in the driver’s seat — without access to my food supply. As with every challenge life brings, each of these experiences had helped me grow into a stronger road tripper, if not a stronger human.
Through moments of struggle from the nomad’s life, I have found that personal, emotional, and spiritual growth are the greatest rewards of this alternative lifestyle. Embracing the adventure is to carry yourself through tribulations — from my years of the road life, I’ve learned what works for me on the road — knowledge that I will dispense in this third chapter of my Van Life Guide.
As I discussed in my last piece, Boondocking is a valuable tool for Van Life… or to use a more appropriate phrase — mobile living. Not everyone can afford a van; many setups you see on social media cost well over $100,000. From Earth Roamers to Honda Elements, the road is a full spectrum of living situations. If you’re not ready to pay the same price as a beach house on your camper build — there are plenty of more reasonable options to consider.
The first step is to assess your needs as a road warrior. Are you planning on staying in town? Driving across the country? Do you need a permanent adventure wagon, or something more temporary? A setup that you can swap out for weekend warrior expeditions? You are stepping into a life of adventure, so take pride in your budget restrictions; look at yourself as a creative engineer, and don’t forget — less is more when you are living for the experience.
No matter where you find yourself on the build-complication spectrum, the keyword is…
