====== Information for Van Dwellers and Nomads ====== **This wiki will help you __live your best life__ if you want (//or need//) to live in a vehicle.** * Learn what to expect from "the van life" * Learn how to choose and modify a vehicle to fit your unique needs * Find tips for a great experience in an unconventional home * Dig deeper for lots of ideas to incorporate into your own vehicle * Read about common mistakes to avoid ===== FAQ for Beginners ===== **Start here for a quick intro to life on the road.** (The [[#Van Life in Detail|next section]] gets into more detail, or use the search box to find specific information. Check out [[meta:acronyms|acronyms we use]] if you run into an unfamiliar one.) If you need to quickly move into a vehicle for financial or other reasons (homeless, etc.) start with [[lifestyle:involuntary|this emergency quick start]]. ==== Why? ==== * **[[lifestyle:why|Why would anyone live in a van?]]** * [[lifestyle:why a van|Why a van]] and not [[rv:intro|an RV or something else]]? ==== How? ==== * How will I [[toilet:intro|use the bathroom]]? * How will I [[hygiene:bathing|stay clean]] and [[lifestyle:faq_laundry|do my laundry]]? * How will I [[food:cooking|cook food]] or [[food:coffee|make coffee]]? * How can I [[food:refrigeration|refrigerate my food]]? * How do I [[hvac:start|keep my van at a decent temperature]]? Can I [[hvac:solar ac|run an air conditioner]] while parked? * Is there a [[electrical:solar:gentle_intro|basic guide to solar power]]? What about a "[[lifestyle:faq_solar_generator|solar generator]]"? * How do I [[communication:internet|get internet access]] and [[electrical:12v:laptop|charge my laptop]]? * How will I [[lifestyle:residencedomicileforwarding|get mail]], and what address do I use for my taxes and accounts? * How can I [[lifestyle:work|earn money on the road?]] * How will I find [[lifestyle:guides|things to see and do]]? ==== What will it be like? ==== * Will it be [[lifestyle:faq instagram|just like Instagram]]? #vanlife #vandwellers * [[rv:build:bed|Where will I sleep?]] * Can I just [[camping:banned|park wherever I want]]? Or go [[camping:dispersed|camping for free]]? * [[lifestyle:expenses|How much does it cost]] to live on the road? * [[lifestyle:living out of the van|Living out of the van]] vs. living in the van? * Won't my friends and family [[lifestyle:faq objections|freak out]]? * What [[lifestyle:core_skills|core skills]] do I need? * What do vandwellers [[lifestyle:foreknowledge|wish they had known beforehand?]] * What are some [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes|avoidable beginner mistakes]]? * Is there [[lifestyle:hitting_the_road|a checklist]] for going full time? ==== The Vehicle ==== * Is it possible to [[rv:car|live in my car]]? * Should I buy a [[lifestyle:faq_prebuilt_camper|pre-built campervan or build my own]]? * What is [[rv:intro|the best van]] to get? * [[rv:build:minimal|How to I get started building out my van?]] ------- ===== Van Life in Detail ===== Check the **[[https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=start&do=index|site map]]** for a list of all pages. Since this site is a wiki, you can help us make it better! [[meta:contribute|Learn how to become an editor.]] ==== The Vehicle ==== * **[[RV:intro|Overview of Vehicle Options]]** * **Vans** - [[RV:cargo van|Cargo vans]] and [[RV:passenger van|passenger vans]]. Read [[rv:cargo_van:comparo|Van comparisons]] and learn [[rv:van_issues|model-specific weak points]]. * **Trucks** - [[RV:skoolie|Skoolies]], [[RV:box truck|box trucks]], [[RV:step van|step vans]], and [[RV:ambulance|ambulances]] * **Motorhomes** - [[RV:Class A|Class A]], [[RV:Class B|Class B]], and [[RV:Class C|Class C]] * **Trailers** - [[RV:travel trailer|Travel trailers]] and [[rv:travel_trailer#cargo_trailers|cargo trailers]] * **Smaller vehicles** - [[RV:minivan|Minivans]], [[RV:car|cars]], and [[RV:pickup|pickup trucks]] * [[RV:AWD|I need AWD!]] * Getting your own van or RV - [[RV:finding|How to find]] your desired van or RV for sale somewhere - How to [[RV:assessment|assess a van or RV]] you have found. Is it a good one? - [[RV:purchasing|Purchasing the van or RV]] * Keeping your van or RV running * [[RV:maintenance:intro|maintenance]] * [[troubleshooting:intro|Troubleshooting]] - [[troubleshooting:electrical|electrical]], [[troubleshooting:engine|engine]], leaks * Be aware of any [[rv:van_issues|known issues]] with your vehicle * [[rv:rust|Rust]] - The cancer that kills vans ==== Building Out Your Vehicle ==== * Choosing your [[rv:build|type of build]]: minimal, luxurious, or otherwise * [[tools:intro|Tools]] * [[electrical:12v:intro|Electricity]] - * [[electrical:solar|Solar]] - [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|Solar charge controllers]], [[electrical:solar:panels|Solar panels]], [[electrical:solar:shallow cycling|Shallow-cycling microsolar]] for cardwellers and minimalists * [[electrical:shore power|Shore power]] - [[electrical:converter|Converters]] * [[electrical:12v:alternator|Alternator Charging]] * [[electrical:generator|Generators]] * [[electrical:12v:intro|House DC (12v) power]] * [[electrical:12v:batteries|Battery Overview]] * [[electrical:12v:deep cycle battery|Deep cycle batteries]] * [[electrical:inverter|inverters]] * [[electrical:solar:sizing#voltage|24v]] * [[electrical:solar:frugal|conservation]] * [[communication:intro|Communication]] * [[communication:internet|Internet]] * [[communication:devices|Mobile devices]] * [[communication:mobile phone|Phone]] * [[communication:emergency devices|PLBs/Satellite trackers]] * [[communication:zello|Zello]] * [[electrical:lighting|lighting]] - [[electrical:lighting:led|LED]], solar (LUCI) * [[water:start|Water]] * [[water:hookup|hookup]] * [[water:drinking|drinking water]] * [[water:fresh|fresh water]] * [[water:gray|gray water]] * [[water:black|black water]] * [[water:purification|purification]] * [[water:conservation|conservation]] * [[water:shower|showers]] * [[toilet:intro|toilet]] * [[toilet:plumbed|plumbed]] with black tank * [[toilet:cassette|cassette]] * [[toilet:bucket|bucket]] * [[toilet:composting|composting]] * [[toilet:cat hole|hole in the ground]] * being [[toilet:self contained|"self-contained"]] * Food * [[food:cooking|cooking]] * [[food:coffee|Making coffee]] * [[food:refrigeration|refrigeration]] * [[food:cooking:stoves|stoves]] * [[food:cooking:ovens|ovens]] * [[food:microwave|microwaves]] * dehydration * canning * [[food:sprouting|sprouting]] * [[HVAC:|climate control|Climate Control]] * [[HVAC:heating|heating]] * [[hvac:roof_vent|roof vents]] * [[HVAC:cooling|cooling]] * [[HVAC:insulation|insulation]] * [[awnings|Awnings]] * [[entertainment:television|TV]] ==== Living the Good Life ==== * checklist for [[lifestyle:hitting the road|hitting the road]] * [[lifestyle:core_skills|core skills]] * collected [[lifestyle:words of wisdom|words of wisdom]] * [[lifestyle:retirement|Nomadic retirement]] * [[lifestyle:traction|not getting stuck]] * [[camping:intro|Camping]] - [[camping:snowbirding|snowbirding]], [[camping:dispersed|boondocking]] (dispersed/free camping), [[camping:private campground|private campgrounds]], [[camping:public campground|public campgrounds]], [[camping:truck stop|truck stops]], [[camping:walmart|walmart]], [[camping:stealth camping|stealth]], [[camping:lvta|LVTA]], [[camping:rest area|rest areas]], [[camping:safety|safety]], [[camping:canada|camping in Canada]] * hobbies - [[http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Is-it-possible-to-Boondock-with-an-electric-sewing-machine?pid=165956#pid165956|sewing]], geocaching, reading, writing * [[lifestyle:involuntary|involuntary vandwelling]] ==== Further reading ==== [[https://nomadlife.wiki/Main_Page|Nomad Life Wiki]] project [[learning:intro|Learning from others]] - [[learning:website|websites]], [[learning:forum|forums]], [[learning:mailing list|mailing lists]], [[learning:book|books]], [[learning:blog|blogs]], [[learning:youtube|youtube channels]], [[learning:podcast|podcasts]]. unoffical [[lifestyle:forumfaq|reddit /r/vandwellers FAQ]] **Synopses** * [[electrical:solar:synopsis_puzzle2|HandyBob's RV battery charging puzzle]] * Cruisers and Sailing forum [[electrical:12v:lifepo4_batteries_thread|LiFePO4 batteries thread]] ===== Meta ===== * [[meta:about|About this wiki]] * [[meta:credits|Credits]] * [[meta:contribute|edit this wiki!]] * [[meta:disclosure|affiliate info]]