For those who search the #vanlife hashtag on Instagram, you’ll be rewarded with greater than 7 million photos. Frequent themes embody sunsets over the sea, cozy-looking campfires, and interior van designs that would make you drool with longing.
Oh, and dogs. If one factor’s sure about #vanlife, it’s that lots and lots of canine live it.
Van life appears to vow an expertise that’s concurrently stunning, liberating and reasonably priced — in any case, should you’re residing on the highway, you in all probability aren’t paying hire or a mortgage.
However what goes on exterior these rigorously framed footage? What does it actually value to dwell life on 4 wheels?
How #VanLife Actually Works
Though there’s some reality to the footloose-and-fancy-free notion of van residing, there’s additionally a variety of work that goes into making the life-style possible.
For those who’re contemplating hitting the highway your self, right here are some things you must know concerning the realities of van life, each monetary and in any other case.
Even on the Highway, You Nonetheless Have Bills
Simply since you received’t be paying for housing doesn’t imply you received’t have bills. Identical to another way of life, to be able to make van life work, you’ll have to create a price range.
Abigail and Natalie Rodriguez have been residing on the highway full-time since February 2019. Aside from the acquisition and conversion of their 2004 Dodge Sprinter van — a challenge they dealt with themselves — they’ve loads of different common payments to pay.
Amongst different issues, the couple budgets for:
- Prime-notch car insurance coverage with roadside help
- Cellphone invoice, together with web hotspot
- Web site area
- Adobe (to allow them to edit movies)
- Car upkeep — together with, finally, a brand new transmission since they bought an older car
These prices, together with their largest bills — meals and gasoline — run the Rodriguezes about $2,000 per thirty days.
That stated, one of many coolest issues about cell residing is that it’s versatile: You may select to spend much less on gasoline by not touring a lot for some time, and should you don’t need to pay for a flowery campground, you possibly can boondock on BLM land.
You may as well curb your funds by spending your time in one of many best states for van lifers — ie. those the place life is reasonable, the climate is sweet, and free tenting is ample.
And regardless of how or the place you hold your hat, it’s virtually at all times potential to save lots of more cash on groceries.
You Can — and In all probability Ought to — DIY It, Even when You Don’t Know How
Together with the month-to-month prices of residing, there’s additionally the van itself to contemplate. If you are going to buy a custom van brand new, you could possibly simply be taking a look at $100,000 or extra. Most of us don’t have that type of money mendacity round.
Constructing out your personal conversion may help you save a boatload of cash whereas additionally supplying you with the chance to personalize your house on wheels. That’s why the Rodriguezes spent a yr and a half constructing out their early-aughts Sprinter — which additionally afforded them time to save lots of up for his or her new nomadic way of life. (Extra on that in a minute.)
Jeff Chow, one other vanlifer who catalogs his beautiful journey experiences on Instagram, hacked the system: He bought a reasonably new car — a 2017 Ram ProMaster — after which constructed out the inside himself.
With its detachable insulation, photo voltaic wiring and dual-zone fridge, his van has a “fairly minimal construct.” That’s to say, it isn’t as fancy as among the #vanlife eye sweet. However it’s dependable and well-suited to his wants.
Chow spent $28,000 on the van buy, however solely $2,500 or so on upgrades. And since the van is a more moderen mannequin, he isn’t as fearful about main engine upkeep and restore prices.
By the best way, should you suppose it’s worthwhile to be a DIY genius to tug it off, suppose once more. Many vanlifers, together with the Rodriguezes, have little in the best way of prior building expertise. They determine it out as they go, contemplating it a part of the journey.
How do you work it out?
“YouTube College is your buddy,” wrote Natalie in an electronic mail. “Belief me.”
There are additionally a number of notable web sites like Parked in Paradise providing DIY-guides galore.
It’s Not Gonna Occur In a single day
One factor you possibly can’t seize in an Instagram publish: the passage of time. And it does take time to show a van right into a villa should you do it your self.
In contrast to the Rodriguezes, who did most of their construct earlier than leaving their hometown of Charleston, S.C., Chow started residing in his van earlier than making any upgrades, slowly turning it into the house he needed over the course of his time on the highway.
And even should you do get a custom-made van recent from the producer, if there’s one factor that’s sure about life on the highway, it’s that you simply’re going to run into a number of surprises. Constructing and rebuilding is an ongoing actuality for many vanlifers, so don’t count on an effort-free fortunately ever after. Count on some upkeep prices the identical approach you’ll in a home.
You Don’t Should Be Wealthy, However You May Should Sacrifice
There’s a notion that almost all of vanlifers are digital nomads, making their residing on-line — or that they’re younger retirees who’re independently rich.
However that isn’t at all times the case. The Rodriguezes, for example, saved up about $25,000 forward of time so they might take pleasure in their first yr on the highway with out worrying about working. Since starting their travels, they’ve began to earn model ambassador revenue by way of their social media channels.
In fact, saving up that type of money is hard, and it takes some powerful decision-making. Natalie, who had labored as a sous chef, and Abigail, who owned her personal pictures studio in Charleston, needed to make some fairly radical modifications to construct their nest egg.
The couple downsized from a 1,500-square-foot home to a small studio, which allowed Natalie to place away half of every paycheck. Additionally they gave up their Comcast web subscription, restaurant eating behavior, and even — gasp — Netflix.
It’s Value It
Make no mistake: #vanlife takes time, work, and cash. But when it’s the life-style you need, it’s properly definitely worth the effort.
“We get to continually journey, see new issues, expertise new landscapes and cultures every time we would like,” wrote Natalie. “It’s absolute freedom and fixed training.”
Chow, who was motivated partly to tackle this way of life due to a continual well being difficulty, stated it’s modified the best way he experiences his life. “I will be bedridden for months at a time,” he stated. “If I’m going to be bedridden, I’d quite be bedridden with — proper now, I’ve a view of the Sierras,” he stated by cellphone.
All of which is to say: should you really need #vanlife, go for it.
“Sit down, perform a little research, make a plan, make a aim, and act on it,” Abigail stated in her YouTube video — talking to the digicam from contained in the van she’d constructed alongside her accomplice with nothing however their 4 arms, a dream, and a variety of exhausting work.
Jamie Cattanach is a full-time freelance author whose work has been featured at Fodor’s, Yahoo, SELF, The Huffington Put up, The Motley Idiot and different shops. Study extra at www.jamiecattanach.com.
Contributor Larissa Runkle contributed to this report.