If you've heard of van life before, you might have considered it. The digital nomad lifestyle appeals to anyone fantasizing about living near the beach.
For years, backpacking has been one of the most popular ways to live the digital nomad lifestyle. However, a new wave of travelers has taken up van life instead. Why is everyone suddenly interested in van life?
The trend appears to be driven primarily by vloggers who share their van customizations and daily routines. While the vlogs are entertaining, they also serve as a resource for people looking to start living in their vans.
The availability of information and inspiration has increased van sales all over the U.S. That said, a quick search for "van life" will reveal several blogs, vlogs, and Reddit posts from people who have decided to quit the #vanlife.
Their reason? Van life isn't as idyllic as it seems. Here are just a few things that newbie digital nomads fail to consider when they start living home-free.
Table of Contents
Van Life Isn't All It's Hacked Up to Be
You'll Be Sacrificing A Lot of "Basic Amenities"
Many vlogs rave about how van life allows you to open your doors and enjoy majestic views of the Great Lakes. However, they fail to mention that you'll be worrying about where you'll shower half the time.
If you travel in your van, you may find yourself in places without easy access to showers or toilets. Van lifers typically circumvent this by getting a gym membership and installing a composting toilet in their van.
If you can resolve your plumbing-related problems, the next thing to worry about is how you will work. While being a remote worker is a no-brainer for anyone looking to live on the road, some areas in the U.S., and especially abroad, lack reliable internet.
You'll have to rely on eSims for the internet. However, their usability will depend on signals even more vulnerable to weather changes than your typical Wi-Fi or LAN connection.
You Won't Have Much Space
This may sound obvious, but people new to van life tend to underestimate it. Let's clarify: you will always need more space than you think. When you choose a van, ensure you can fit all your essentials and household items. An excellent solution to the lack of space is to adopt a minimalist approach.
You won't often see van lifers with a PC in their van, as many opt for a travel-friendly laptop with specs that meet their basic work requirements.
You'll also need to consider how much clothing to bring. Even if you tend to pack light, winter clothes can be bulky and take up a lot of space. This is why some digital nomads leave their seasonal items with family members or put them in a storage facility.
Unless you want to be coat-free during winter, you'll also need to plan a similar arrangement.
Van Life Isn't As Free As You Think
You'll have to deal with the law no matter where you go. While it's typically not illegal to sleep in your van, some states are implementing policies that prohibit overnight vehicle sleeping.
Even if you find yourself in a state where sleeping in a vehicle is legal, you must ensure you aren't parking on private property. Some nomads attempt to resolve this issue by parking their vans near a commercial establishment, but not all stores permit overnight parking.
Truck stops and camping spots are better, more secure options, as they are usually well-lit and relatively quiet. That said, van life won't be as safe as having a permanent address.
It's Dangerous - Especially If You're a Woman
There are inherent dangers associated with van living that you'll need to be prepared for, regardless of whether you're a male or female traveler. You're automatically putting yourself at risk if you ever find yourself in a remote location.
While cities provide more stability and lessen the likelihood of you suffering from an accident or medical emergency alone, parking your van in the wrong area could mean getting robbed or worse.
Female solo travelers have it especially tough since criminals tend to think of them as easy targets. If you choose van life, you must learn to be a light sleeper.
Alternatives to Van Life
After reading all that, you might have second thoughts about living in a van. It's only natural, after being given many reasons not to live on the open road.
However, other options might suit you better if you want to experience something different than suburban life or apartment living.
Motorhomes
If you yearn for van life but crave more space and amenities, motorhome living might be the perfect alternative. Many motorhomes on the market feature a small kitchen, a serviceable bathroom, and even a bedroom.
There are three distinct types of motorhomes. The first is Class A, which tends to have the most house-like features.
Then, you have the slightly smaller Class Cs, which offer more modest accommodations than Class A. Lastly, the Class B motorhome will have just enough space for a toilet, a small kitchen, and a fold-down bed.
Of course, this tends to be a bit more expensive than living in a van on average, which is why people choose van life in the first place. But if you can scrounge up the difference, the massive improvements in comfort are more than worth it.
Tiny House Living
If your reason for considering van life isn't the travel aspect, but the promise of having a space all to yourself, you might want to look into tiny houses. The small-house movement is one of many alternative living arrangements that have gone mainstream in recent years.
As the name suggests, you'll move into a smaller house that requires fewer materials, less time, and less real estate to build. Some tiny homes are as small as 107 square feet - small enough to put the house on wheels.
Tiny houses have the advantage of feeling more homelike than motor homes and vans. They're designed to resemble a home, but on a smaller scale. If you plan on long-term alternative living, that kind of environment brings a sense of comfort that's difficult to quantify until you've experienced the difference.
However, you will have a more challenging time finding a place to put your tiny home. Unlike vans and RVs, tiny houses can be conspicuous in a parking lot, such as a McDonald's.
But if you decide to make your tiny home more permanent, you'll have an easier time setting up electricity, water, and internet connections for your home.
Move to a Cheaper Area
If you want to travel, this might seem less appealing, but if you've been considering living in a van to save money, you might be better off simply relocating to a more affordable area. If you decide to move into a van to travel, you'll have to look for a job that allows you to work remotely.
In that case, you won't miss out on many opportunities by moving into an area with low property and rent prices. You'll have to manage a lot more paperwork if you buy a house, but if you're at a point where you're looking to settle, the sense of security, peace, and privacy you get with a home might be worth it.
Try Homesteading
Not everyone who looks into van life does so to save money or go on an adventure. Some of you want to connect with nature and live more sustainably. If that's your goal, you may want to consider homesteading.
Homesteading is a form of sustainable living that puts you in charge of growing your own food and building your own home in the wilderness. Believe it or not, there are still places in the U.S. where you can homestead without buying land.
Whether you opt for van living or choose one of the home-free alternatives listed above, be aware that you'll need to adjust to a significant lifestyle change. So, research and pick the one you see yourself living in for the next few years.
