Author: Adam B
Life in general is a constant state of trial and error.
If you’re living right, you’re constantly learning.
Building out a van that you’re going to be living in is really no different. As soon as you start your build, you’re sorta just winging it.
Sure, there’s YouTube videos, there’s Facebook groups. There’s websites devoted to the process.
But I know I still made my fair share of mistakes along the way. I wish I would have started with a bigger fridge, with dual zones.
I like to cook. I like steak. I like chicken. I like cheese burgers. I like ice cream. The option to have a freezer is something I should have done.
I wish I would have waited for a van with a higher top. I’m 6’2. Chances are I would be pushing it in most vans, but come on! This is ridiculous.
I mean, once you’re in your van, you really start planning your next van.
I know I did.
I want an old retirement home shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift.
That’s a fold down deck.
A place to take a shower and keep your feet off the ground.
Heaven.
And I can stand up in it.
I put this question out on the socials and I asked it on the DNH website.
“What’s one thing you know now that you wish you new when you started your vanlife journey?”
I wish I’d known that most of the things I was anxious about would actually not be huge problems
–Jim Thill
That the nomadic community was a thing. More particularly that what Happens in southern Arizona in places like quartzsite were a thing. We truly had no idea when we got the road.
–Shane Camp
I wish I bought a van sooner before they hiked up in price. besides that we are loving the process (currently in build mode for another few months.)
–Brian Morgantini
I would’ve finished all my plumbing, water, shower, sink, electrical, solar, shore power and squared off the walls, framed out the windows, and finished the floors. Anything else can be upgraded, or moved and I wouldn’t have done a fixed bed. I do believe that you need to live in your van and take some trips to fully understand your living needs but it is extremely hard to convert a van and live in it at the same time. Oh, and I would not buy useless random shit that is a waste of time and money. I would make a chronological list of everything needed for the van and put it in order according to needs and put the cost. As you make more money, you buy something else or save for that particular item and you don’t get stuff that just takes up space. Necessities first. Minimize always.
–Nate McGlone
I wish I had understood the complications of insuring my van. I finally got insured and I explained everything about my van so i didn’t hide anything, but I still feel confused as to what’s actually covered in it. And I was really shocked how many van folk didn’t correctly insure their vans. If you don’t tell your ins co any changes, they can easily void your contract when you need it. I wish there was a site that talked about this more. And diff states, diff rules.
–Lara Scout
I wish I knew how many times people would say, “You live in a van down by the river.” I wish I knew how many van lifers want to be annoying youtube stars. I wish I knew how many people would tell me oh you NEED to go here… But in all honesty. It’s a fun run and you meet a ton of people. I just wish I started doing it ten years ago.
–Brian Morgantini
Living the life of a nomad isn’t always easy. Life isn’t easy.
But we learn and we adapt.
Once we settle into this new way of doing life, there’s a simplicity to it. We stripped all the bullshit away and we are left with what we can fit in our van, our RV, our bus or even a Prius.
No. Really. Elise, one of the contributing creators on DNH does this out of a Prius. Awesome.
Although it comes with a lot of “What ifs,” some “I should ofs,” and some “If I only knew thens,”
I don’t think any of us regret it.
Author: Adam B
