Execs and Cons of Full-Time Van Life – Bearfoot Idea

In case you are thinking about van life, within the technique of buying a camper van, or in the course of a van conversion, you may be grappling with the query of whether or not you need to surrender your property and stay indefinitely in a van full-time. 

In 2016, I obtained my first Sprinter Van, moved out of my house, and spent almost two years rent-free. It was a liberating time stuffed with journey, self-realization, and development, however it additionally got here with challenges. I liked the liberty of not having lease and stuff holding me again, however there have been positively issues I didn’t take into account – like what occurs when your van wants repairs or if you could spend prolonged time in a metropolis the place there isn’t considerable free camping. 

On this weblog publish, I share the professionals and cons of full-time van life that you simply’ll need to take into account earlier than you make the leap. Evaluating the advantages of van life and the difficulties that generally come up will allow you to to determine whether or not you might be prepared to surrender a standard life (a minimum of for a bit) for the unknown.

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My Full-Time Van Life Expertise

Again in 2016, after I obtained my Sprinter Van, I used to be assured that I needed to be a full-time van lifer. I had simply gotten again to the US from three solo months in New Zealand the place I explored the nation in a camper van. Upon returning house, I needed to be bill-free, rent-free, and have the liberty that got here with that. My weblog was already two years previous and dealing remotely from my van was my final purpose. I bought the vast majority of my stuff, together with my automotive, put the remainder of my belongings in a small storage unit, and moved out of my Salt Lake Metropolis house.

Once I moved into my van that summer season, I used to be thrilled for the unknown and the adventures forward of me. That first yr, I traveled primarily solo round Southern Utah, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, California, and the Canadian Rockies.

The highway was stuffed with ups and downs as I slowly obtained into my groove with van life. I liked with the ability to get up within the locations I used to be writing about on this weblog. Having so few obligations and obligations (aside from my job) and minimizing the muddle in my life was extremely liberating. Sleeping in my very own mattress, cooking my very own meals, and with the ability to do what I needed, after I needed have been luxuries that no different type of journey had offered. 

On the identical time, I skilled points with my van construct that required me to remain an prolonged interval in LA the place I needed to substitute my photo voltaic panels, restore my bathe, and repair a bunch of different small issues. With no house to return to or one other automotive to drive, I ended up staying with my mother and father whereas my dad helped me handle the problems I used to be having.

I additionally obtained a style of what van life could be like within the winter. I used to be decided to learn to ski that winter, so I deliberate to be in a snowy local weather. After just a few December nights outdoors of the mountains in Salt Lake Metropolis, I spotted what that may entail (which I’ll go into beneath). 

Again in 2016, working from the highway was not as simple as I predicted. Web for van lifers has come a great distance since then, however on the time, I discovered myself planning my days round discovering Wi-Fi so I might work, ship emails, or plan out my day.

Ultimately, I did two years of full-time van life with no house base earlier than I made a decision that I needed to be a part-time full-time van lifer; in different phrases, I needed to stay in my van full-time in the summertime and have a homebase to return again to within the winter. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.

This permits me to expertise most of the advantages of residing in a van like the liberty to journey spontaneously and having the comforts of house on the highway, whereas additionally having a comfy, heat house base the place I can get massive work initiatives performed within the colder months. I’m additionally a mother now, so we want to have the ability to take a break from touring because it will get fairly tight in there with two adults, a child, and two canine.

Whereas that is the setup that works for my household and me now, I’m so grateful for the time I spent as a full-time van lifer. I’m undecided I’ll ever really feel so free once more. 

In the event you’re questioning if van life is the precise selection for you, right here I share the professionals and cons of residing in a van that will help you determine.

Execs of Full-Time Van Life

With infinite adventures and locations to discover, residing in a van definitely has its perks. There’s nothing fairly like the peace of mind of getting every thing you want with you always and the liberty of an open highway in entrance of you. Listed below are eleven advantages of residing in a van to contemplate.

1) Dwelling in a van provides you the liberty to journey spontaneously

Though it could be apparent, one of many greatest perks of residing in a van is the capability to journey wherever you need, everytime you need to go. It’s an reasonably priced and sensible method to see as a lot of the nation as doable.

With a house on wheels, you don’t have to fret about making resort reservations or planning out an enormous itinerary. Even in fashionable locations, you may sometimes discover someplace to park in a single day. It may not be your splendid campsite, however wherever can work for an evening, which suggests there isn’t an excessive amount of of a necessity for planning. 

As a substitute of residing for the weekends, residing on the highway in your van lets you journey and journey at any time when it really works in your schedule. You can too go to fashionable locations or do crowded hikes throughout much less busy instances.

You possibly can even change plans on a dime with out dropping deposits on rooms, airplane tickets, and rental automobiles. If the climate turns ugly, you may hop within the van and escape to sunnier skies. Or, in the event you determine you need to attend a enjoyable occasion or competition on the final minute, you might be able to go at a second’s discover.

2) You possibly can scope out a possible future house base

One of many greatest advantages of van life is the chance to suss out locations you may need to stay at some point. Dwelling in a van means you may spend so long as you need in a location, which is a handy method to get a really feel for the vibe earlier than committing to a lease or mortgage!

You possibly can begin to really feel like a neighborhood whereas residing in or close to the identical city for a few weeks. You could even have the ability to visualize your self residing there completely. Some locations find yourself stunning you, whereas others you’ll have the ability to rule out after spending time there.

3) You don’t pay lease or utilities

Among the best issues about residing in a van full-time is the lack of lease or mortgage and utilities that should be paid. These prices add up considerably every month.

In a van, you don’t want to pay a month-to-month payment for electrical energy, warmth, air-con, or trash service. After you have your solar and electrical system put in, you may stay off the grid at no cost indefinitely.

As lease rises and the housing market turns into much less reasonably priced, van life is an much more engaging choice.

Somewhat than paying extraordinarily excessive costs to stay, a house on wheels lets you keep in stunning locations for much less. Even when you’ve got a mortgage in your van otherwise you pay for infrequent tenting, your month-to-month cost must be considerably cheaper than lease in a fascinating location.

Whereas not each city is as welcoming to van lifers (that is very true alongside the coasts), most cities within the Mountain West have some type of free or cheap tenting close by, permitting you to get pleasure from the fantastic thing about states like Colorado with out paying the hefty worth.

4) Van life *can* be an reasonably priced method to journey

Van life isn’t inherently low cost, however it may be if you’re aware about your spending. First, you don’t need to pay for lodging, and in the event you make the most of sources to search out free campsites, tenting might be free. Additionally, with a kitchen or outside range, you may prepare dinner your personal meals. You don’t need to depend on eating places which is usually a enormous expense whereas touring. 

I discover that full-time van lifers usually tend to follow a finances than part-timers who are inclined to deal with van life like a short-term trip. As a full-time van lifer, I had a finances, and I caught to it. I didn’t deal with van life like a trip, as a result of it was in reality day by day life. Now as a part-time van lifer on the highway for shorter stints, I’m extra prone to splurge.

5) Van lifers spend extra time in nature

As a lover of the outside, my favourite factor about van life is it permits me to spend a good portion of my day in nature. Relying on the climate, I can sit outdoors to drink my tea, work, and chill out with a guide on the finish of the day.

However what I’m actually right here is for the journey. In the event you’re like me and also you like to hike, bike, or paddle, residing in a van lets you get pleasure from these hobbies in a wide range of places frequently. As a substitute of doing the identical native hikes on repeat or the identical loop round your neighborhood every morning, full-time van life lets you simply combine up the surroundings and expertise a wide range of stunning landscapes.

6) You be taught to stay with much less

When you’ve fewer possessions, there’s much less to fret about. You don’t have as a lot to scrub, to take care of, or to arrange.

Whereas some might even see minimizing as a con, the van lifers on my workforce and I all agree there’s happiness to be discovered within the simplicity. 

BFT Contributor Kaylin vividly remembers going via every room of her previous house and deciding what to maintain vs. let go when she was shifting into her van. As somebody who loves garments and footwear, she says it was not simple at first; nevertheless, over time she grew to become much less hooked up to every merchandise that she donated or bought. She has discovered that having fewer objects is liberating.

Do not forget that you don’t essentially need to promote or donate all the objects you don’t carry with you within the van as storage is also an option. It is very important take into account the worth and attachment you are feeling in direction of your possessions. When you’ve got lots of helpful stuff you with private that means, then storage might be the best way to go.

In case your stuff is cheap and also you suppose you’ll ultimately need to substitute it, then by all means, promote what you may. This gives you somewhat additional money if you end up beginning out, and also you gained’t be held again by your stuff that’s sitting in a storage unit in a metropolis you may not need to come again to.

Now that I’m doing part-time van life and have a home and a storage with extra stuff than I’d wish to admit, I miss the times of residing in my van when my life was so clutter-free. I had every thing I wanted to get pleasure from life with me and nothing extra. If I purchased something new, one thing needed to go to create space for it. The dearth of accumulation meant that I by no means felt slowed down by or needed to take into account my stuff when planning for my future.

7) Chores are easier

Whereas van life comes with its distinctive chores, the total technique of cleansing and sustaining your property on wheels is fast and simple.

You don’t want to fret about caring for a garden, eradicating snow, or dusting and vacuuming a big residing house. This protects valuable time and stress, permitting you to have the choice to get outdoors extra and journey.

Nevertheless, you should have just a few new chores akin to refilling your water tank, emptying your pee jug or rest room waste (when you’ve got one), sweeping out the sand and rocks that appear to rapidly accumulate on the ground, and winterizing your van as wanted. Additionally, you will have to make time to go to laundromats now and again.

I’ve discovered that if you perform a little little bit of primary cleansing and organizing of your van for a couple of minutes earlier than you go to mattress or proper once you get up, you may preserve your house feeling tidy the vast majority of the time.

8) You have got the comforts of house wherever you go

Once you stay full-time in a van, house really turns into wherever you park it. In case you are having a campfire and all of a sudden crave the heat of your favourite blanket, you may rapidly seize it out of your van. Or, if you wish to watch a film on Netflix one night whereas consuming a sizzling beverage out of your favourite mug with the heater on, that is doable in your van.

It’s handy to have the ability to benefit from the comforts of house regardless of the place you go. You even have entry to your whole belongings always whereas touring and not have to remorse not packing your raincoat or favourite hat once you unexpectedly want it. As a substitute, you may merely seize it out of your van and proceed along with your adventures.

9) You get to fulfill every kind of recent folks

Among the best elements of residing on the highway is connecting with different vacationers and building a van life community on the road. You meet folks from all types of backgrounds and walks of life. Since you often aren’t in a rush to get wherever, you’re extra prone to chat with folks on the path, your campground neighbors, or locals that you simply meet on the town.

There are additionally quite a few van festivals and gatherings everywhere in the nation, just like the competition I organized in Idaho in 2019 and 2022 known as Open Roads Fest. Many of those gatherings are designed round particular pursuits, serving to you join with different like-minded vacationers. It’s not unusual for van lifers to hyperlink up at these occasions and to caravan to new locations afterward.

10) You get an workplace with a view

As a substitute of spending your days in a cubicle or workplace, residing on the highway lets you work wherever you are feeling like. You possibly can work from a cute espresso store or select to have an inspiring view of nature outdoors of your window every day.

Some days you may need a view of the ocean, whereas others could possibly be spent working among the many pine timber. When you will not be parked in an epic location all the time, one of many joys of van life is with the ability to combine it up relying on how you are feeling.

There’s nothing fairly like working to the sound of a close-by creek. Maybe not surprisingly, I’ve discovered that working from my van typically fuels extra inspiration and creativity than working in a standard workplace setting ever did.

11) Van life helps you develop

In case you are on the lookout for methods to push your self out of your consolation zone and develop as an individual, full-time van life is a good alternative for this.

I’ve change into an total extra assured particular person by proving to myself that I can care for myself independently on the highway and navigate difficult conditions. Though there are occasional moments after I might really feel anxious or burdened, van life has taught me how one can rely on myself as an alternative of relying on another person to assist or rescue me.

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Cons of Full-Time Van Life

Simply as there are quite a few benefits to residing on the highway, there are additionally cons of full-time van life. Social media tends to painting the glamorous elements of van life, however there are necessary factors to contemplate when deciding if this life-style is sensible for you. This part addresses eight of the downfalls.

1) Discovering jobs and dealing from the highway might be difficult

Full-time van life might be very totally different relying on if it’s important to work. Though this will not be a con for some who have already got a distant place or seasonal job, it may be tough for others to find a remote job that permits them the liberty and suppleness to journey. Nevertheless, distant positions are far more widespread these days.

This weblog has been my full-time job since 2014. I’ve three contractors who assist me behind the scenes, and it’s not unusual for me to place in 60-hour work weeks. Reliable Wi-Fi for van lifers who’re working remotely is essential.

Luckily I love being an outdoor blogger, however this implies after I’m residing in my van, there are lots of days sitting in espresso retailers and staying in cities as an alternative of being off-the-grid. Many days I’ve to skip mountaineering and doing different enjoyable issues so I can get issues performed. My expertise as a full-time van lifer may be very totally different than somebody who can stop their job altogether and stay off of their financial savings for a yr or two, fully on their very own phrases.

Over time, my workforce members – a few of whom additionally occur to be van lifers – have come from a wide range of backgrounds, together with instructing, therapeutic massage remedy, and e-commerce. All of them used van life as a possibility to pursue a brand new profession path as freelancers. So whereas I gained’t sugarcoat the difficulties that include freelancing, it may be performed in the event you’re devoted to creating it work.

Engaged on the highway takes a complete totally different degree of diligence in comparison with working in an workplace and even from house. When an journey is staring you within the face each morning, it takes dedication to sit down on the pc fairly than lacing up your mountaineering boots. You’ll need to take into account the way you may set up routines and programs to help yourself be productive on the road.

Whereas distant jobs permit you to have the flexibleness to journey all yr lengthy, some vacationers desire to remain in a single spot for a season to make sufficient cash to final them the remainder of the yr. There are numerous methods you may go about discovering each kinds of work, however simply know that it could take time to land the precise place for you. I like to recommend having a plan for making money on the road earlier than you begin full-time van life.

2) Van life might be tough on relationships

In the event you plan to journey along with your romantic accomplice, you’ll need to be taught how to live in a van with your significant other. You may go from spending nights and weekends collectively at house to spending each waking second collectively within the van. This has the potential to have an effect on your relationship in each constructive and unfavourable methods.

For the primary two years of van life, I used to be largely solo. My accomplice Ryan and I have been courting, however he couldn’t include me for longer than fast journeys attributable to his work. Finally, I used to be making sufficient from my weblog to help each of us on the highway, so he took six months off from work so he might journey with me. 

Going from solo van life to being with somebody 24/7 was an enormous adjustment. General, I’d say van life has helped us develop collectively and strengthened our relationship. Dwelling in such a small house is a chance to find out about your accomplice and join extra deeply, however it requires lots of work, too. 

With the day by day selections of what to do, the place to camp, what to prepare dinner, and whether or not the van is degree for sleeping (our most typical argument), it’s important to decide your battles and be taught to compromise. You’ll additionally have to forgive and neglect rapidly after arguments and keep away from blaming one another when issues don’t go in response to plan. In the event you can’t do this stuff, your relationship will certainly undergo. 

For Ryan and I, it has additionally been useful to cut up up chores and set up routines so there’s no arguing about who has to do what. Once we’re getting the van able to drive, Ryan takes care of packing up the gear within the storage, whereas I take care of tidying up the within of the van. Ryan cooks whereas I work on my pc. I make the mattress each morning, whereas Ryan takes the canine out. With clear expectations, it seems like each of us are contributing equally to our life on the highway.

3) Van lifers have a scarcity of primary facilities

You don’t notice what number of facets of day by day life you’re taking without any consideration till you not have them. A con of van life is your van absolutely gained’t have a washer, dishwasher, or infinite sizzling water. It could not also have a van toilet, shower, or ample electrical energy.

On the flip aspect, van life teaches you to make due. You begin to see issues just like the occasional sizzling bathe as a luxurious. You learn to prepare dinner a meal utilizing fewer dishes so that you don’t need to waste water. You make your garments final a number of weeks earlier than you suck it up and go to a laundromat. You make certain to show off the lights and different electronics so that you don’t waste your valuable electrical energy. You’ll change into an knowledgeable on how to find public amenities like dump stations, showers, and extra.

If these sacrifices sound depressing, van life might be not for you. You possibly can work round a few of them by designing your van construct round your particular wants, besides, there are some belongings you simply can’t have in a van. 

4) It’s important to continuously plan

That is most likely my least favourite factor about van life. Whereas some might thrive on the method of planning journeys and creating itineraries, it may be exhausting to do that for therefore many little selections each single day. As a full-time van lifer, you should discover locations to park every evening (and sometimes make backup plans), locations to bathe, laundromats, grocery shops, and water hookups. 

Earlier than visiting vacationer points of interest and mountaineering places, you additionally have to analysis these locations forward of time and buy the mandatory tickets and permits. This implies you’ll be spending much more time in your telephone than you may anticipate.

Even with all the campsite finder apps, discovering locations to park every evening might be some of the annoying elements of van life. Locations could also be closed, full, or tougher to entry than the outline leads you to consider.

Studying van life blogs akin to this one will help prevent time and stress in your planning. I additionally counsel reaching out to associates for his or her suggestions in areas you might be much less conversant in and using apps to help you find free campsites.

5) Winter might be robust

If you wish to do van life in winter and go to totally different ski resorts, an important factor is that your van is constructed for 4-seasons. Meaning your water programs should be fully contained in the van, you could have good insulation and a high quality heater that can forestall you (and your pipes) from freezing, and {an electrical} system that may sustain with winter’s calls for. You’ll additionally want warm blankets and lots of warm layers, particularly if one thing goes improper along with your heater. 

Even when your van is able to take care of the local weather, there are some issues to bear in mind in the event you plan to do van life in winter. The fact is you’ll be spending as much as 15 hours a day inside your car attributable to it getting darkish and chilly so early. This may be particularly robust when you’ve got pets in your van that thrive on getting outdoors. 

You’ll have to make a plan for a way you’ll entertain your self at evening. Going to bars and eating places to replenish your time will get costly rapidly, so that you’ll have to embrace a passion and be okay with sitting contained in the van for prolonged hours within the evenings. Take into account cooking, studying, journaling, playing games, or knitting – the sorts of hobbies that don’t take up lots of house. There’s additionally Netflix or getting work performed within the evenings in the event you’re working remotely. 

The challenges are compounded by the truth that a majority of ski areas usually are not very van-friendly. Many have no-overnight parking guidelines attributable to snow plows, avalanche hazard, or making an attempt to drive folks to pay for inns. After all, there are some exceptions, however you could do your homework. In any other case, you’ll be pressured to stealth camp, which might be tough in small mountain cities with strict guidelines. 

For that cause, many van lifers flock south within the winter to locations like Southern California, Arizona, Baja, and Florida.

6) It’s important to take into consideration your security extra typically

Though I hardly ever really feel unsafe in my van, it’s one thing that’s all the time on the forefront of my thoughts. Whether or not you might be touring with a accomplice or solo as a female van lifer, you may take steps to really feel assured in stopping your self from moving into susceptible conditions. 

Some precautions I take are selecting my campsites fastidiously, protecting my doorways locked after I’m contained in the van, and utilizing privateness curtains to maintain folks from seeing inside my van. I additionally preserve my driver’s seat clear and know the place my keys are always.

If worse involves worse, be ready to defend your self. Have a plan for a way you’ll self-protect within the face of hazard. Above all, belief your intestine. When you’ve got a nasty feeling, observe your instinct. If I get a nasty vibe in a spot or don’t really feel comfy leaving my van parked someplace, I modify course and create a brand new plan.

Along with defending your self, you additionally need to take into account defending your valuables. Since you’ve your whole belongings on you always, residing full-time in a van presents its distinctive set of dangers. Take into account investing in protecting lock bins for costly objects or safety cameras.

All of those precautions are particularly necessary to contemplate once you’re staying in areas with out cellphone reception. Be sure you have a plan for a way you’ll deal with an emergency or security scenario wherever you go.

7) You want a backup plan in case one thing occurs to your van

An inevitable a part of proudly owning a car like a van is accepting that it’ll possible want repairs in your time of proudly owning it. Since your car can also be your property, you will need to have a backup plan of the place you’ll go in case your van finally ends up needing repairs otherwise you get into an accident.

Some full-time van lifers stick with associates or household if they’re residing in an space the place they’ve this selection. Others might have to get a resort on the final minute. I like to recommend having cash reserved for this in your emergency fund simply in case. Typically insurance coverage will cowl this relying in your coverage.

Sadly, you don’t have complete management over what occurs to your van. In the event you go into this life-style figuring out that the day might (and certain will) come that you will want to make different preparations, it gained’t be as annoying or stunning when a breakdown or accident occurs to you.

8) You could really feel judged or stigmatized

Though van life is gaining popularity and acceptable, there’s nonetheless a stigma related to residing in your car and never working a standard 9-5 workplace job. Some folks will likely be excited for you once you inform them the information, and others will suppose you might be loopy and probably decide you.

My workforce and I all bear in mind telling our household and associates about our selections to do full-time van life. It appears all of us obtained a really comparable response. Just a few folks shared our pleasure, despatched journey suggestions, and wished us the perfect. Others didn’t know how one can reply and questioned how we might make it work. Then there are the involved ones who ship you articles concerning the risks of journey and why you need to rethink your determination to stay on the highway full-time.

Be ready to know your “why” behind van life and really feel assured in explaining your determination to others. Whereas the vast majority of persons are curious and imply properly, some additionally are inclined to push again or really feel threatened by a nontraditional way of life.

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Is full-time van life best for you?

When contemplating the professionals and cons of residing in a van and whether or not you might be prepared to surrender your house or house altogether, take time to mirror and consider if full-time van life is best for you. In case you are planning to stay in your van along with your accomplice, you’ll want to you should definitely focus on these factors collectively. Do not forget that part-time van life can also be an choice, so in the event you aren’t able to take a everlasting dive, you may all the time use the van as an escape on the weekends and for trip.

Earlier than diving into van life, I extremely suggest renting a van for a road trip so you may attempt it out first. That approach you may expertise the professionals and cons of residing in a van earlier than going all in.

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What advantages and challenges are you making ready for as you take into account full-time van life? What questions do you’ve? Let me know within the remark part beneath!

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