Top 10 Vanlife Tips For Adventure Lovers

Did the term Vanlife stop in your tracks? Well, the #Vanlife movement has been growing steadily on social media with over a million followers already. Vanlife meaning partially or fully making your van your home. Some choose van life for 2-3 months on the road while others become vanlifers for life! If you haven’t yet given it a thought, then you should, if you love being on the road. If you are already the cat on the wall or the one who has made up your mind to take the plunge, continue reading to find out the top 10 Vanlife tips for adventure lovers! It’s time to trade your traditional home for one on wheels and start exploring the world!

Vanlife  Starts with Choosing the Right Van

While RVs have been around for a long time, living in a van is slightly different. Well to start with, vans are smaller in size, which means that you are no longer confined to RV parks or easy-to-access areas. In fact, you have more freedom to go where your heart (and your van) takes you! Vans come in different sizes and shapes, Minivans, Cargo vans, Fixed-Roof Campervans, Pop-Top Campervans, and plenty more. It is up to you to decide which one fits your requirements and your budget. If you prefer to have a more luxurious stay in your home on wheels, the Class B RV may be a better choice. Or better yet, if you already own a van, all you need to do is opt for conversion and you are all set to go! A van conversion involves converting your van into a more habitable option. For example, installing ceiling vents, insulation, solar panels, a raised bed, and so on. However, buying a fully equipped van with pre-installed living facilities works out cheaper. 

Van Life Essentials – Your Must-Haves 

In order to make the best of your adventure, you need to ensure that your van is equipped with the right vanlife accessories. Some of it includes bed or couch, water system, solar system, hooking up a fridge, a tabletop stove, ceiling vent, and so on. You can try to combine a sink and a stove to save some space as well. It is also a good idea to invest in deep-cycle batteries as a backup plan since your amenities will require a lot of power. Making a plan ahead of your van conversion will enable you to tinker around and find ways to keep your van uncluttered, yet equipped with everything you will need while you are on the road. 

Your Vanlife Wardrobe

Well, you might have already guessed that minimalism is the theme when it comes to living on the road. You need to make a list of all the basic clothes you’d need. While deciding which clothes pack, do a bit of research to find out the type of clothing you may require. Weather plays a role and so would the places you intend to visit. Do not overpack but ensure you cover the essentials. This can prevent you either from being stuck with loads of clothing or be found wanting. Do proper research well ahead of your big move. This way, you don’t have to go looking for comfortable clothing while on the go.

Planning For The Unexpected in Your Vanlife Adventure

Murphy’s Law states that “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. This is especially true when you are on the road. It is a fact of life! So let’s stay ahead of the curve and make sure that you are prepared for the unexpected. Keep your basic tools and other essential things in your emergency kit. Most tool kits include tools that you will require on the road. However, it is a good idea to include additional headlamps, duct tape, wire strippers, fuses, and spare electrical connectors. The laws differ from place to place about the required emergency items to be included in your vehicle. It is a good idea to check the local laws of the places you will be visiting to ensure that you comply with them.  

Ensure Your Water System is as Good as it Gets

A water system needs to go on the top of your list of essential things. In fact, a working water system has a huge say in whether your Vanlife is successful or not! Since water plays an important role in almost every aspect of your life, it is a good idea to ensure that you have a top-notch water system in place. This includes figuring out where you will be storing water and how it will be accessible.

Keeping Up With Personal Hygiene for Vanlife

The first thing that may cross your mind while you prepare for your Vanlife adventure might be, “How do I take a shower in my van?” Thankfully, there’s an answer for you! Just because you opt for the soulful Vanlife doesn’t mean your hygiene needs to take a back seat. Relying solely on campsite showers is not a good idea in the long run. Long-time Vanlife adventurers recommend investing in a solar shower. In desperate times you can always turn to wet wipes to clean up. While doing laundry might not sound appealing while you are enjoying your freedom on the road,  it’s better to do it periodically rather than end up with a huge pile of dirty laundry and nothing to wear!

Getting And Staying Organized

If you plan to turn your van into your home, you need to take decluttering to heart. Every bit of space counts. Some hidden away spots that can come in handy for storage include the space under your front seats, behind the driver’s seat, behind the sink, behind the work surface, and so on. Door organizers can come in handy in keeping clutter at bay. If you aren’t travelling solo, split up tasks with your travelling partner to get the clutter under control.

Clothes Storage Tips For Vanlife 

Since you can’t travel across the country without your trusty wardrobe, it’s time to find appropriate storage space. Storage pouches are a great way to keep your clothes organized and within reach. Vanlifers suggest keeping a separate pouch for each type of clothing item. This way you don’t have to spend too much time looking for your outfits.

Food Storage Tips for Vanlife

The first and last word in food storage while living in your van, is to invest in plenty of storage containers. They can come in handy to store your staples. In fact, the top 10 Vanlife tips for adventure lovers include getting stackable containers. They are a lifesaver! Allotting different boxes for different food categories, like cans and jars, sauces, fruit and vegetables, seeds and nuts, etc can help too.

 Shelves to the Rescue

Although we have gotten clothes and food out of the way, there are still a few tricks to storing a couple of extra stuff. The cheapest way would be to install a couple of shelves. This can be used to hold whisky bottles or can be used as a bookshelf, coffee shelf or a spice rack. This is a way better idea than getting wall-mounted cupboards, which take up a lot of space and can also be a bit heavier on the pocket.

Regardless of how you plan your journey, remember to make the best of it! Vanlife is going to be an out of the world experience where you get to explore and immerse yourself in different cultures, meet new people, sample new cuisines, and plenty more!