9 Rules Of Van Life
So I’ve been doing van life for the past three months, and it has already been one of the most incredible times of my life. But living full-time out of a camper van is a big adjustment, and I have learned a lot during this journey. During this adventure, I learned many unspoken rules that go along with being a van lifer. So I figured I would share some of these rules of van life with you guys and will keep a running list in the article.
Rule #1 Don't Die.
This one is for you, mom. Your safety should be a top priority whenever you embark on a new adventure, making it our #1 rule of van life. Here are some quick tips for keeping yourself safe on the road:
- Avoid sketchy areas
- If parking in a city or town, do so in a well-lit space.
- Always lock your car door
- Use common sense
- Keep a weapon around for protection if needed
Rule #2 Be Respectful And Leave No Trace.
You will find in your travels that some areas are not very van life-friendly. This is usually a result of fellow van lifers being disrespectful, not following the local rules, or trashing a place.
So, be a good person and treat an area you are staying in with respect. Remember you are a guest, and your actions in a given area will make an impression on the van life community, so make it a positive one. As always, if you are camping, be sure to leave no trace.
Rule #3. Keep A Half Tank Of Gas At All Times
This rule of van life is especially important if you are like me and plan on visiting many remote national parks during your journey. The reason being is that in these secluded areas, you can find yourself going miles without access to any gas stations. So having a half tank of gas at all times gives you a good buffer if you are in a region with few facilities.
Rule #4. Keep Your Van Organized
When living in such a small space, organization becomes essential. I am not a particularly organized person, but after a couple of weeks of constantly misplacing and losing things in my tiny van, I started losing my mind and quickly realized the importance of keeping tidy.
A great way to keep organized is by having dedicated spaces for your everyday items. My keys are always on a hook above my bed when I am parked. Utensils are always in the cabinet under my stove. Toiletries are under my sink, etc. The better you keep your van organized, the smoother your day-to-day will go.
Rule #5. Your Van Floor Will Get Dirty And That's OKAY!
I know this rule sounds like the opposite of the previous one, but it has less to do with organization and more with actual dirt in your van. It sounds gross, but it will happen, which is OKAY. When living on the road, you are constantly tracking dirt and sand in and out of your van, so having a dirty floor is normal during van life.
A couple of ways to combat this is by getting a welcome mat inside your van so you can scrape off the dirt and debris from the bottom of your shoes or take your shoes off before entering your van. **PRO TIP** if you are going to leave your shoes outside of your van, I recommend putting them under it so that they can be kept dry in case it rains.
Rule #6. Be Flexible With Your Travel Plans
This one is for all you type A people who live and die by your travel itinerary. I am not saying there is a problem with planning, but I think by keeping your travel plans loose and flexible, you can have a better van life experience.
The reason is that when you have a bunch of reservations, you are more or less bound to the plans you created without having ever experienced the places you visit. By being flexible with your travel plans, you can adjust your travels and time spent in each area based on your experience.
For example, when I visited Escalante, Utah, I only planned on being there for two days. But after meeting a bunch of amazing people and seeing how much Escalante had to offer, I ended up staying a whole week to explore with my new friends! This turned out to be one of the best parts of my entire van life adventure so far, and this wouldn’t have been possible if I was not flexible with my travel plans.
Flexibility can be helpful on the other side of the spectrum as well. Say you visit a place where you planned to be for an extended period but then realized that you only needed a couple of days to do everything you wanted (this was me in Arches National Park). If your plans are open and flexible, you can easily hop over to your next destination. But if you made campsite reservations, you may be stuck staying there for unnecessary time or eating the cost of the reservation.
I LOVE THIS APP! It is a must for any van lifer. First off, it is free, works without an internet connection after you have the maps downloaded, and can direct you to free campsites, water, facilities, and wifi in whatever area you are visiting. This app helped me so much in planning and coordinating my stays during van living. And since this is my blog, I am dubbing it the 7th rule of van life.
By the way, I have no affiliation and don’t make any money for recommending them. I am just a huge fan.
Rule #8. Know Your Vehicles Clearance
I learned this one the hard way. I was staying in a motel with some friends, and a clearance sign said 9’2″ I have gone under 9-foot clearances in the past, so I figured I would have no problem with this, but I didn’t account for the incline leading to the overhang or the fact that I was approaching the low clearance from an angle as I moved closer to it BAM! I smacked the crap out of my solar panel ripping the screws out of my van roof, resulting in 4 tiny holes in my roof.
This oopsie required a trip to Home Depot to buy a bunch of power tools to seal the holes and reinstall the solar panel, not to mention taking five years off my life.
Know. Your. Vehicle’s. Clearance
Rule #9. Keep Your Van Well Maintained
Vehicle maintenance is essential whether you are van lifing or not. Keep track of when your van is due for its next oil change and inspection. The last thing you want is to have your van break down on the road! Read through my article “How To Take Care Of Your Van During Van Life And Avoid Breakdowns” to learn more about maintaining your vehicle when on the road
