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Van Life.
Brought to you by VanDweller
and vandweller.org
(Last Updated Feb. 18,
2004)
VanDweller is not an expert
in anything and doesn't claim to be one. To get the most out of this existence,
we must exchange what we know from our experiences and then take responsibility for our own actions. These discussions of van living, living in
a van, nomadicism, building a van to live in, van conversion and equipping a van
to live in are based on years of experience, but as with anything in this
world... your mileage may vary!
*******
After
much experience and even more thought, designing a van to live in and travel
extensively is a bit different than building one for weekend or road trips.
You'll need more interior & exterior storage and the mechanicals of the
vehicle and its systems should be even SIMPLER. I know this goes against the
grain of the entire "Load-it-full-of-gadgets" motorhome industry, but
living in a van is a whole different trip anyways. You want whatever goes
haywire to be easily fixable from available parts wherever it breaks down, preferably
by YOU.
I'd recommend as a basic vehicle a mid '70s to early '80s Ford 3/4 or 1-ton
rated cargo van with a 300 straight-six engine and C6 heavy-duty (or beefed-up
C4) automatic transmission. Aside from some quirks (which all makes have), this
is a bulletproof drivetrain and a VERY tough van built on a huge full frame like
the big rigs. My main van right now is a Dodge and it's a road trip machine, but
it's full of injectors and sensors and hoses and wires. Of course, that's how a
6000 pound extended van with a 360 V8 gets 17 1/2MPG at 60-65mph. Honestly,
though, I wish the '88 were ten years older. I'd sacrifice some mileage for some
more simplicity.
A live-in travelin' van should meet some basic criteria. It should be SIMPLE and
EASY TO WORK ON. It should be comfortable cruising at 60. It should pull 15mpg
on the highway. It should be cheap to insure, parts should be available (and
cheap), and it should be reasonably easy to maneuver and park. It should also be
viewed by opportunists and predators as a piece of crap not worth bothering with
to steal or scratch up or otherwise jack with. And it should be built NOT to
stick out like a sore thumb in parking lots and rest areas. there's a line
between customizing and becoming a rolling piece of performance art, and this
unfortunately doesn't always bring out the best in people so keep it subtle on
the outside.
ADDRESS YOUR NEEDS
A house should have storage for
food & water, a place to eat & drink, a place to sleep. It should be a viable
shelter with ventilation, light & heat. It should be reasonably comfortable and
inspiring. Optional but highly recommended would be a place where you can get
rid of that food & water when your body is done with it. I have a SANIPOTTIE
portable toilet and cannot speak highly enough about the ability to "take care
of business" without leaving the van. Self-containment is the name of the game.
So if your van can be built & equipped to provide these things, you've got
yourself a little wheeled house. As for it being a "home", that is more about
your headspace, worldview & attitude than anything you can bolt in or wire up.
BASIC SYSTEM #1: The dual battery setup.
THIS, after much experience, is a GODSEND. It truly allows you the
freedom to generate your own power needs without even thinking about how the
vehicle battery is doing. Without it, you run your fans and music and lights in
your little wheeled home until it goes dark and they all stop. Then you can't
start, because you've drained the vehicle battery. With a second battery and an
isolator that hooks to the alternator and the auxiliary or "house" battery, you
use your tuff 'til it dims, then take a drive and recharge your house. No
worries, and a properly set up system with careful use can last two or three
days on a full charge. I got my system from J.C. Whitney, though any camper
supply place should have the kit, and if you've got the budget, you can build
your own out of super-quality parts at a boat supply place. I say budget,
because stuff at boating places is expensive - they know it's not the "poor
folks" like us that have boats. But they do have some great stuff.
REMEMBER - Motor homes and boats have a LOT in common. DC (battery) systems, AC
household current systems for plugging in when they can, and the need to pack a
bunch of stuff into a small space and run it over rough terrain for years. So
MUCH of their systems INTERCHANGE. And we can learn a bunch from their design,
equipment and engineering.
COMING SOON:
MORE E-buildup of the ultimate small van...
AND the BIG NEWS: Blue Moon shall rise! Stay tuned & stay tuned up,
~VD
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