In case you search the #vanlife hashtag on Instagram, you’ll be rewarded with greater than 7 million photos. Widespread themes embrace 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 canines reside it.
Van life appears to vow an expertise that’s concurrently stunning, liberating and reasonably priced — in spite of everything, in case you’re residing on the highway, you most likely aren’t paying lease or a mortgage.
However what goes on exterior these fastidiously framed footage? What does it actually price to stay life on 4 wheels?
How #VanLife Actually Works
Though there’s some fact to the footloose-and-fancy-free notion of van residing, there’s additionally a variety of work that goes into making the approach to life possible.
In case you’re contemplating hitting the highway your self, right here are some things it’s best to 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 every other life-style, with a purpose to make van life work, you’ll must create a funds.
Abigail and Natalie Rodriguez have been residing on the highway full-time since February 2019. Other than 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 automobile insurance coverage with roadside help
- Telephone invoice, together with web hotspot
- Web site area
- Adobe (to allow them to edit movies)
- Automobile upkeep — together with, finally, a brand new transmission since they bought an older automobile
These prices, together with their largest bills — meals and gasoline — run the Rodriguezes about $2,000 monthly.
That mentioned, one of many coolest issues about cellular residing is that it’s versatile: You possibly can select to spend much less on gasoline by not touring a lot for some time, and in case you don’t need to pay for a elaborate campground, you’ll be able to boondock on BLM land.
You too can 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 irrespective of how or the place you hold your hat, it’s nearly at all times potential to avoid wasting more cash on groceries.
You Can — and Most likely 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 may simply be taking a look at $100,000 or extra. Most of us don’t have that form of money mendacity round.
Constructing out your personal conversion can assist you save a boatload of cash whereas additionally supplying you with the chance to personalize your own home 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 avoid wasting up for his or her new nomadic life-style. (Extra on that in a minute.)
Jeff Chow, one other vanlifer who catalogs his gorgeous journey experiences on Instagram, hacked the system: He bought a reasonably new automobile — 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 a number of the #vanlife eye sweet. But it surely’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 anxious about main engine upkeep and restore prices.
By the way in which, in case you suppose it is advisable to be a DIY genius to drag it off, suppose once more. Many vanlifers, together with the Rodriguezes, have little in the way in which of prior development 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 pal,” wrote Natalie in an e-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’ll be able to’t seize in an Instagram submit: the passage of time. And it does take time to show a van right into a villa in case 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 in case 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 just’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 manner you’ll in a home.
You Don’t Need to Be Wealthy, However You Would possibly Need to 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 may get pleasure from 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 form of money is hard, and it takes some robust 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 adjustments 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 Price It
Make no mistake: #vanlife takes time, work, and cash. But when it’s the approach to life you need, it’s nicely definitely worth the effort.
“We get to always journey, see new issues, expertise new landscapes and cultures at any time when we would like,” wrote Natalie. “It’s absolute freedom and fixed training.”
Chow, who was motivated partially to tackle this life-style due to a persistent well being challenge, mentioned it’s modified the way in which he experiences his life. “I will be bedridden for months at a time,” he mentioned. “If I’m going to be bedridden, I’d slightly be bedridden with — proper now, I’ve a view of the Sierras,” he mentioned by cellphone.
All of which is to say: in case you really need #vanlife, go for it.
“Sit down, perform a little research, make a plan, make a purpose, and act on it,” Abigail mentioned in her YouTube video — chatting with the digicam from contained in the van she’d constructed alongside her companion with nothing however their 4 palms, a dream, and a variety of arduous work.
Jamie Cattanach is a full-time freelance author whose work has been featured at Fodor’s, Yahoo, SELF, The Huffington Publish, The Motley Idiot and different shops. Study extra at www.jamiecattanach.com.
Contributor Larissa Runkle contributed to this report.
