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Is van life as glorious as Instagram lets you believe? Yes, yes, it is. Case closed, stop reading here, let’s all go home!
I’m kidding – but really, every time you go on Instagram and TikTok you see them young kids livin’ their best life in a van down by the river! The worst part is that you can’t escape this content, because it’s all so appealing. Of course it sounds amazing to buy a kitted-out van, decorate it hella cute, and slap your Instagram handle on the outside. Trust me, I get it … we are currently living that life right now!
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Yes, #vanlife looks AMAZING! But …
Starting out on a strong note, I hope that you like the smell of poop in the morning. When you go to pack up your campsite and leave in the morning, you’ll have to stand out by the lovely “dump station.” What’s that you might ask? Well, it’s exactly how it sounds – your RV takes a dump. You have to connect a hose to your black and grey tanks (black being toilet waste, grey being sink and shower waste). Then you pull a valve, and hear the lovely sound of water rushing through. Oh, and it smells great! Just like a wonderful sewer sanitation facility. Welcome to van life, my friend.
Much like being a parent to a newborn, expect to have poop all over you at some point. Well, it’s not always that bad, but sometimes it can be. If your waste hose decides to throw a tantrum, expect poop on you. Did you forget to weigh down your hose connection to where it connects to the ground sewer connection? As the waste water is rushing out, the hose could jump off of the connection and hit you in the face. At any single time. Hah – what a life. Even better, if you’re camping in below freezing temperatures, you may be greeted with a “shit-sicle” – where your tanks and/or hoses are frozen solid. The joy.
Not all campsites are created equal. Camping life can often be compared to “roughing it in the woods” as the good old phrase goes. If you’re lucky enough to have a shower in your house on wheels, they’re incredibly small and difficult to use especially if you’re boondocking (no power, no extra water, no waste connection hook-ups to your rig; you are completely self-contained & self-sufficient).
Basically, you’re living primal-style out in the woods like our ancestor cavemen and cavewomen and surviving off the land. Sometimes you only end up showering once every week or two, because you’re traveling so much. And guess what, while some campgrounds have showers – not all do in the wilderness!
Occasionally, you’ll find a nicer shower to use if you pay for the very expensive RV resorts and KOAs. Honestly, most of your cheaper campsites do have a shower – albeit not very luxurious. Picture crouching low enough to fit under the midget-sized shower head, avoiding touching any of the ick of the walls, keeping an eye on that spider’s web & spider staring at you from the corner – all in an ill-lit (non-heated) “outhouse” for lack of a better term. Camp showers can be a real treat.
The majority of RVs, campers, and motorhomes are just made to fall apart. No, I’m not joking … it’s a pretty common thing. Many, many, MANY of the campers and motorhomes of today are built so quickly that they just simply don’t have the same quality of most houses, or even the cars of today. Even if you spend a crap-ton of money on buying a brand new rig, expect it to have problems.
This doesn’t mean buying used is necessarily the better option. The previous owner may not have taken the best care of their vehicle, or fixed the problems that it had when it came off the lot. What’s worse is if you are full-time traveling and every few weeks you’re in a new state and not able to return to your original dealership to get work done – no one wants to do “free” warranty work if they don’t have to. It’s a whole complicated process sometimes. Be prepared to get very handy yourself! An emergency fund is a MUST.
I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to laugh about things in life … like when your radio literally blows up and catches on fire in a 6-month old RV. It leaves you questioning the workmanship of these rigs. Oh – and since warranty work takes forever to get done with most dealerships (think at least a six week waiting list) it’s just a whole hassle and headache.
So, $2,000 later, we skipped the warranty work and opted for a high-end radio with Apple Car Play capability in place of our original toxic waste of explosion that was installed by Ford and misleadingly called “a radio.” Plus, not to mention that we are full-time traveling so we can’t easily abandon our home on wheels for it to sit in a dealership’s lot waiting for work to be done – we love the outdoors but certainly prefer our bed over sleeping on the street.
Van life can be expensive. Can it also be cheap and a cost effective way to live? Sure, that’s possible too. There are some options for FREE camping like boondocking on BLM land, Harvest Host (click our link here to get 15% off your membership with Harvest Hosts – they offer unique stays at wineries, farms, museums, and more!) or the good ole’ Walmart parking lot if you’re not picky.
Yes, there are ways to literally park your 1987 Chevrolet van down by the river (BLM land offers this frequently out West) and live for next to free if that’s what you want to do. Mad respect, no hate here my brother.
But, if you go the traditional route and stay at average run-of-the-mill state park campgrounds and the like, expect to pay $30-$45 per night of camping. Not too bad, right? But if you find yourself in a place like Arizona, California, or staying at KOAs and RV “resorts,” you can expect to pay more like $60-$80 per night on average. We’ve seen campgrounds charging over $120 per night for premium spots in highly sought after locations. If you’ve opted for a larger rig, expect to pay even more at every place you stay to accommodate the sheer size of your land yacht.
Camping fees alone can be expensive, not to mention that while you travel you will have to consider the cost to fill up with gas and propane as well. If you end up with a monthly payment on your rig, it can sometimes be close to a mortgage payment. Then, you’ll need insurance, of course. And let’s not forget about all of the maintenance items (remember RVs don’t typically have the highest build quality). Then factor in groceries, internet connectivity, cell phone bills, clothing, and all the other necessities you need – the dollars stack up QUICK. You need a budget!
Van life is truly a “choose your own adventure” experience though; and there are, literally, thousands of different ways to camp and enjoy time outdoors. Whether you’re in a tent, million-dollar Prevost, a Subaru, or a travel trailer – we’re all here to camp, just in different boxes.
♫ Let’s talk about SPACE, baby. ♫
Are you absolutely in love with the HGTV-inspired DIY project that is your house now? The sprawling 2,000 square feet? Extra bedrooms you hardly ever use? How about the reading nook, loft, great master bedroom, hot tub, backyard, and all of the other spaces that you currently have? How about that three car garage that’s stacked to the ceiling with “yard sale” items and Christmas decorations from your childhood? Well, if you’re considering RV life, say goodbye to it all.
Hey, I’m not hating – just stating facts. Your average house on wheels will not be much larger than 250 square feet. Yes, you heard me right – 2-5-0. This is probably the size of your current master bedroom if you’re an average American. Most campers are microscopic compared to our luxurious “mansions” of today. And they have to be this way in order to be safely driven down the highway and maneuver under bridges. Having a slide-out (or multiple slide-outs) can help greatly expand your living area but these come with a whole other can of worms worth of issues – and don’t expect more than 400 square feet, even with this addition.
Again, RV stands for RECREATIONAL Vehicle. RVs, motorhomes, and campers were never intended to be lived in and traveled with full-time. Sure, with the right perspective, you can live in just about anything.
While some models are insulated and more suited for forever living, they still aren’t a sticks-and-bricks home. Often campers are made with cheaper, lighter-weight materials, with the intention of decreasing your towing payload and gas mileage. Longevity is typically an afterthought, if considered at all. For example, our toilet, sink, and shower (things we use every day) are all made out of cheap plastic and have already had issues – oooohhh the luxury. Don’t just believe my opinion – here’s the same sentiment from another RV and travel blog.
Out of Touch with Reality – a Van Life Nightmare
Here’s another fun reality for you millennials & Gen Zs: imagine not having internet or cell phone reception. Oh. my. God. That’s possible? Yes, there are still plenty of places that you can drive to and camp that will not have a speck of signal. Wi-Fi is most certainly out of the question a lot of the time as well.
Surely in 2023, they have something to help, right? Sorta. We’ve been in spots where even with our fancy (and expensive!) cell signal booster and Wi-Fi ranger you still can’t connect to the outside world. Sometimes it’s just you, your travel partner (if you have one), and your dog. Imagine this – no internet, no TikTok, no Instagram, no Google maps, no texting or calls. You may be (forced) to connect with the nature around you or to have to talk to your camping companions via real face-to-face human interactions. Oh, the misery.
Wrapping It Up:
Is Van Life as Glorious as Instagram Lets You Believe?
The short answer is – well, sorta. Just like anything, there is good and bad. Can it be incredibly enjoyable and look as pretty and glamorous as Instagram shows? Sometimes; but be prepared for plenty of “fun” along the way! You can’t have flowers without any rain – such is life.
Overall, selling my house, our cars, every piece of furniture, lawn equipment, and almost every worldly possession we had, was the best decision of our lives. This has been a meaningful stepping stone in my life, that has morphed into much, much more than just traveling the United States. We have learned how to live more simply, to appreciate the small things. We are experiencing all kinds of different cultures. We’ve eaten more than our fair share of new foods. We’ve seen some of the most incredible vistas and unique landscapes on the planet. And, we’ve grown closer together as a couple along the way – especially when the black tank sprayed its wonderful goop on us both. The memories, experiences, and joys of RV life do not have a monetary value. They’re priceless.
Would we recommend that everyone experience the world through travel like van life? Absolutely yes! Every single time. It’s worth it, even if you don’t think the lifestyle fits you – you’ll customize it to allow you to experience the world in new shades of beautiful. We hope to see you on our next adventure.
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