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 seems to be fueled mainly by vloggers who share their van customizations and life routines. While the vlogs are entertaining, they also serve as a resource for people looking to start living in their own 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 show you several blogs, vlogs, and Reddit posts from people who've 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 gush about how van life lets you 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 a shower or toilet. Van lifers typically circumvent this by getting a gym membership and installing a composting toilet in their van.
If you can get your plumbing-related problems sorted, 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 don't have a great internet connection.
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 pick a van, you have to ensure you'll fit all your essentials and household items. An excellent solution to the lack of space is to become a minimalist.
You won't see many van lifers with a PC on their van since many opt for a travel-friendly laptop with specs that meet their basic work requirements.
You'll also have to think about how many clothes you'll 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 a storage facility. Unless you want to be coat-free during winter, you'll also have to plan a similar arrangement for yourself.
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 have started implementing policies that stop people from sleeping in a vehicle overnight.
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 try to solve this by parking their vans near a commercial establishment, but not all stores will allow overnight parking.
Truck stops and camping spots are better, more secure options as they'll usually be well-lit and relatively quiet. That said, van life won't be as secure as having a permanent address.
It's Dangerous — Especially If You're a Woman
There are inherent dangers in van living that you'll have to be prepared for whether you're a male or female traveler. You're automatically putting yourself at risk if you're ever 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 the 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 why you shouldn't 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.
Motor Homes
If you yearn for van life but want more space and amenities, motor home living might be the perfect alternative. Many motor homes on the market have a small kitchen, a serviceable bathroom, and even a bedroom.
There are three different types of motor homes. The first is Class A, which tends to have the most house-like features. Then, you have the slightly smaller Class Cs with more modest accommodations than Class A. Lastly, the Class B motor home will have just enough space for a toilet, a small kitchen, and a foldable 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 getting a space all to yourself, you might want to look at tiny houses. The tiny house movement is one of the many alternative living arrangements that have gone mainstream in recent years.
As the name suggests, you'll move into a smaller house requiring fewer materials, time, and 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 be the same as 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 McDonald's parking lot. 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 thinking about living in a van to save money, you might be better off simply moving to a cheaper 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 take care of 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 looking into van life does it to save money or go on an adventure. Some of you want to get in touch with nature and live in a more environmentally friendly way. If that's your goal, you might want to think about homesteading.
Homesteading is a form of sustainable living that puts you in charge of making food and building your 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 go through with van living or choose one of the home-free alternatives listed above, know that you'll have to adjust to a drastic lifestyle change. So, research and pick the one you see yourself living in for the next few years.
