7 Ways To Take Care Of Your Van During Van Life And Avoid Breakdowns (2022)
During van life, your van is quite literally your everything. Your car, your home, your kitchen, your bedroom, your garbage, and in some cases your bathroom. So it goes without saying that taking care of your home on wheels is of the utmost importance, but as a newbie you may be asking yourself how to take care of your van during van life?
A van breakdown is something I have worried about constantly when preparing for my trip and I still do now that I am out on the road. But I found by taking good care of your van and having the right tools, resources and knowledge you can greatly reduce your risk of a nightmare breakdown. Below are 7 great ways to take care of your van during vanlife.
Have Your Van Inspected And Serviced Before Embarking On Your Adventure
This is important. About a week before I embarked on my van life adventure, I brought my vehicle in for an inspection, and thank god I did! My van needed new brakes, tires, and an oil change! Although this costed a pretty penny, I was thrilled to address these issues before heading out on the road, where if never addressed, they could have led to significant problems.
Before heading out on a long-term van life voyage, you must get a full inspection and servicing of your vehicle. This way, you can identify any significant issues well before your departure and can fix those issues in a timely fashion or push back your adventure. Having your van inspected and serviced gives your automobile a clean bill of health before heading out on the road.
Keep Up With Van Maintence When On The Road:
Now that you have your van inspected and serviced, you must keep up with the regular maintenance of your van. This includes:
- Routine oil changes: check your vehicle’s owners manual for recommended mileage in between oil changes
- Checking tire pressure regularly: some automobiles have tire pressure on the dash. It’s always a good idea to check and make sure your tire pressure is within the recommended range.
- Having your van inspected annually is crucial to keep your van up to date on maintenance and prevent breakdowns.
Refill At A Half Tank Every Time.
Refilling your tank sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how few and far between gas stations are in more rural areas in the United States. Particularly near national parks, you will realize how difficult it is to find a spot to fill your tank. By staying vigilant and refilling your gas once you hit halfway, you can avoid getting stuck on the side of the road!
Keep An Automotive Tool Box:
I highly recommend keeping a basic automotive tool box to help you address common malfunctions that may occur in your van that you can fix on your own. Some things to keep in your automotive toolbox include:
- Antifreeze
- Windshield wiper fluid
- Car fuse kit
- Equipment to change your tire.
Know How To Change A Tire:
A life lesson every van lifer must know. There may be situations where you are out of cell service with a flat tire. If you find yourself in one of these nightmares, your way out is to roll up those sleeves and change that tire! Or scream for help, but fixing it yourself is way cooler.
I recommend familiarizing yourself with your van and how to access your spare and change it in a controlled environment like your driveway. Below is a helpful video on changing a tire on the Ford Transit, one of the common van life vehicles. But if you have a different kind of van, don’t worry; you are only a youtube search away!
Have AAA
Say your worst nightmare is upon you. Your van breaks down on the side of the road, and you have no idea what is wrong. Having a AAA membership can save your butt by towing you to the nearest approved auto repair facility.
For those who don’t already know, AAA stands for American Automobile Organization and provides emergency roadside assistance. For an annual fee, you will gain not only the invaluable benefit of their roadside assistance but also discounts on entertainment, lodging, and other automotive services.
Van life or not, if you have a car or like to travel, you should have a AAA membership. Check out prices for membership on their website!
Drive Safely And Stay On Roads Suitable For Your Vehicle
Looking for free campgrounds is just a part of van life. Unfortunately, many of these campgrounds are located on unpaved BLM lands, some of which may be unsuitable for your vehicle. Before attempting to enter an offroad area, you should check the site for signage regarding recommended drivetrain (four-wheel drive / two-wheel drive) and clearance (lowest part of your vehicle) required to navigate the road safely.
Suppose you don’t see any signage at the physical location. In that case, another option is to check the app you found the campsite on, such as iOverlander or The Dyrt, to verify the vehicle requirements for the campground you want to drive to.
Driving on a terrain that requires high clearance and four-wheel drive when driving a vehicle with only two-wheel drive and low clearance is a sure way to get stuck or damage your car!
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