User Tools
Table of Contents
Information for new vandwellers
This wiki collects and organizes information to help full-timers get the best out of the lifestyle. As such, it chiefly concerns vandwelling as a voluntary lifestyle (“houseless-ness”).
This is not intended to be an authoritative guide to everything van-life. Rather, it is a collection of links to other resources and guides put together by outside sources. It is by no means complete. Want to help make it so? See Edit and contribute.
If you are facing involuntary vandwelling (homelessness) start with this emergency quick start.
FAQ for Newbies and the van-curious
the van
- What is the best van?
- Should I buy a pre-built campervan or build my own?
- Why a van and not something else?
- what do I need to get started?
power, including solar
- Is there a basic guide to solar?
- How much solar do I need to run an air conditioner?
- How will I charge my laptop?
- Should I get a “solar generator” like a Goal Zero?
- How do I know if my solar is working?
- How can I get solar power in my car?
living in a van
- What are some avoidable beginner mistakes? (rant)
- will it be just like instagram?
- won't my friends and family freak out?
- How will I make coffee?
- What do vandwellers and FTers wish they had known beforehand?
- how will I use the bathroom?
- how will I stay clean?
- How much does it cost to live on the road?
- How can I earn money on the road?
- How will I do my laundry?
- How do I get Internet?
- How will I find things to see and do?
living in a car
While the basic principles apply, some things are different in a car
Going full time
- is there a checklist for going full time?
- How will I get my mail?
- What do I put as my address?
- living out of the van vs living in the van
misc
- What does that acronym mean?
More advanced topics are listed below, or you can use the search box in the upper right of each page.
Major sections
Note: there is a site map available
The RV proper
- Types of RV - class A, class B, class C, travel trailers, cargo vans, cars, box trucks, step vans, slide-ins, cargo trailers, etc
- Van-Specific Articles
- Getting your own van or RV
- How to find your desired van or RV for sale somewhere
- How to assess a van or RV you have found. Is it a good one?
- keeping your van or RV running
- Be aware of any known issues with your vehicle
- Rust - The cancer that kills vans
Building out your RV
- Choosing your type of build: minimal, luxurious, or otherwise
-
- Solar - Solar charge controllers, Solar panels, Shallow-cycling microsolar for cardwellers and minimalists
-
-
-
-
- plumbed with black tank
- being "self-contained"
- Food
- dehydration
- canning
-
Living the Good Life
- checklist for hitting the road
- collected words of wisdom
- Camping - snowbirding, boondocking (dispersed/free camping), private campgrounds, public campgrounds, truck stops, walmart, stealth, LVTA, rest areas, safety, camping in Canada
- hobbies - sewing, geocaching, reading, writing
Further reading
Learning from others - websites, forums, mailing lists, books, blogs, youtube channels, podcasts.
unoffical reddit /r/vandwellers FAQ
Synopses:
- Cruisers and Sailing forum LiFePO4 batteries thread
Meta
NEW SITE TEST
