Beginners guide to Van Life – 10 steps to plan a road trip

Van Life is becoming increasingly popular for the adventurous nomad, but before you get behind the wheel, check out this beginners guide for help planning your first road trip.

While Van Life is not quite camping, it’s a lot more rustic than a hotel room. The allure of being able to stop “anywhere” to catch a sunset or wake up to a magnificent view adds to its popularity. Driving a Class B camper van offers more mobility and freedom than a traditional RV and can be driven by nearly anyone — and it’s often more economical.

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Beginners guide to Van Life – 10 steps to plan a van life road trip

Here are a few tips for investing in a camper van and starting your first van life road trip.

Buying a camper van is a big investment

If you are going to buy a vehicle, take your time. Sign up for as many local “Camper Vans For Sale” online sites as possible and see as many different vans as you can before making your decision. The more options you see, the more questions you ask, the more informed you will become before you make your big purchase.

Viewing a variety of vehicles for sale will give you a good idea of what is available and a general price range. Once you know what you are looking for, you’ll have a good sense of what to budget and whether you’ll need financing.

Start with a list of what you will need while travelling in your van. Here are some important factors to consider.

• How many people will live in the van, and for how long?
• Will you work in the van?
• Do you need a 4 x 4 and all the bells and whistles, which will add to the cost, but aren’t necessary?
• Do you want a bathroom and toilet, or are you OK with a cassette toilet, a compostable campervan toilet, and an outdoor shower?

Only buy a vehicle that will be expensive or hard to repair if you have automotive repair experience. Many people fall in love with the charm of older models, such as Westfalias or Delicos, but unless prepared to spend time on repairs and maintenance, this is probably not for you.

Shop local. If you plan to travel around North America, think twice about buying a European or Japanese brand. You may find yourself stuck in a hotel for a week or two while you wait for an expensive part to arrive in some remote and dreary town instead of rolling on down the road toward the next distant horizon.

Rent before you purchase

Buying a camper van is not for everyone, so consider renting. Canada has a wide range of camper vans to rent. Shop for the right price and vehicle: Roadsurfer, Outdoorsy, Indie Campers, Escape Camper Vans, and Karma Campervans.

Budgeting for a road trip

The six things you need to budget for before embarking on your road trip are:

• Gas
• Campsites
• Food
• Entertainment
• Breakdowns and repairs
• Wifi and mobile phone

Fuel Costs

Although camper vans are cheaper at the pump than RVs, as they are lighter and have better fuel economy, gas is a significant cost. When planning your road trip, do a rough calculation of where and how far you want to travel and estimate the mileage/kilometre cost.

Lifestyle Choice of Van Life

Travelling in a camper van is a lifestyle choice. The temptation is to drive. Avoid the beginner’s mistake of driving long distances every day. Rule of thumb – as many hours you drive is as many days as you stay in one place. Drive for two hours and stay for two days. Stay awhile and enjoy each unique place you visit.

Campsite Costs

You may save on hotel costs, but campgrounds cost per day, and the price goes up with full hookups. Mix up your stays with boondocking, stealth parking, Crown Land in Canada or BLM land in the U.S., campsites, and a full hook-up to replenish your spirits, batteries, and water supply and do your laundry.

Crown land allows free camping for up to 21 days per site once a year. BLM has different restrictions at different sites, but most sites allow up to 14 days.

What is Boondocking?

Boondocking is choosing to stay outdoors on land in a vehicle or tent with no services available of any kind.

If you are boondocking, be sure to plan well for:

• Water usage
• Freshwater for drinking and cooking
• Gray and black tank capacity
• Battery power
• Food
• Leaving no trace. Carry out what you carry in.

Battery power

My battery power is adequate for my needs. I have a converter for my electronics, which I use sparingly. My battery lasts up to three days, recharging from my roof-top solar panels when I am stationary. I have considered converting or adding a lithium battery but have yet to pay the extra expense. My water heater and heater run on propane, which lasts forever.

Medical Insurance

Don’t leave home without it! Shop around, but remember to do this before stepping outside Canada. Get competitive quotes. A few reputable companies include, but are not limited to, Manulife, BCAA, and Blue Cross.

Roadside assistance

Are you a BCAA member? As they say — shit happens. Make sure your BCAA coverage includes your camper van. For any road traveller, this is an “essential.” The Automobile Association (AA) is an international association and is valid in the U.S. as well as Europe.

Telephone and Wifi

There are many reliable apps for making telephone calls and staying in touch with family and friends. Buying a local SIM card (prepaid or pay-as-you-go) is a simple solution. Using a local account for data gives affordable access to valuable information like directions, banking, travel information, event tickets, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other platforms that are now part of everyday life.

Most telecommunications companies will suspend an account for a short period of time, which can help reduce your mobile phone costs.

There is much online debate about which WiFi provider to use. Airalo is a favourite of many users and very reasonable. Rates start at $4.50 USD for 1 GB for seven days. For the most part, a local telecommunications company can solve this problem without great expense and will give you enough capacity to work on the road, send emails, download photos, and watch Netflix.

WiFi

In the six months that I worked and travelled in 2023, my WiFi setup was more than adequate for my work: writing, answering emails, making video calls, and editing photos. I also have enough capacity for unlimited streaming to watch Netflix or other entertainment platforms in the evening. I met nomads on the way who had paid, at tremendous cost, to connect to Starlink and set up exterior surplus solar power panels. I do not need to go this route and found a simple, cost-effective solution for my needs. There are many online debates about the best wifi setup, as there are about batteries and solar power, and more on this topic in a later article.

How to pack for Van Life

Vans are compact, and elaborate meal preparation can be awkward. You won’t be throwing dinner parties from your van, so there’s no need for extras. Unless you are boondocking or in a remote area, there is no need to stock up on food, rather, replenish as you go. Always carry portable water for drinking and cooking, as the water from van tanks is not palatable.

Pack weather-appropriate clothes for where you plan to go and the activities you plan to do.  Although you don’t want to spend time in a laundry, one is always available. Choose comfortable, easy-to-wear clothes, slip on shoes and leave space in the tiny pacing space for a few fun purchases on the way.

Always travel with some cash tucked away for any other unplanned expenses.

Here is how I pack in order to take less on my road trip. I put aside two days to pack the van.

Day 1: Pack the van
Day 2: Repack the van and discard a third of what you have packed.

Trip Planning for Van Life

1. Familiarize yourself with local laws

Knowing about local laws is essential when looking for parking for your van or camper. It should be safe, legal, and, if you’re lucky, will have a beautiful view. Social media is full of influencers posting the best pictures of amazing posts. You’ll find those, too, but don’t have unrealistic expectations. You will find beautiful spots when you mix it up between boondocking camping and stealth parking, and each stay over will be unique.

2. Plan with your comfort level in mind

Going on a road trip means letting go of normalcy and routine. Each road is new.
Everyone is different — some people plan meticulously, while others prefer flexibility. On your first road trip, having some of your stops planned and booked will give you a certain level of comfort.

3. Use apps to help smooth your journey

• iOverlander is a database of places for overlanders and travellers. It includes camping, hotels, restaurants, mechanics, water, propane filling, and many other categories. It’s also handy if you search for BLM and Crown Land or free overnight parking spots.
• Waze is a subsidiary company of Google that provides satellite navigation software on smartphones and other computers.
• Campendium offers RV Park reviews, free camping, dump station locations, campsite photos and RV travel blogs.
• Harvest Hosts is a membership program for self-contained roadtrippers, such as RVers, camper vans, and trailers. It provides access to a network of 5,000-plus wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and other unique attractions that invite self-contained vehicles to visit and stay overnight, and is well worth the annual subscription.
• Road Trippers is a website and mobile app that offers a route planner, fuel cost estimates, and the ability to explore places within a set distance of a route.

Harvest Host

In my travels, I mix up BLM land, stealth camping, campsites, and full-hookup RV sites. The most social are Havevest Host and BLM land, and I highly recommend Harvest Host. I visited and stayed at more than 30 Harvest Host sites, some of which I returned to more than once. Every experience was an enjoyable and warm encounter. I loved the company, the ease of conversation, the hospitality of the hosts, and the feeling of safety they offered.  Everybody is different, and we all have our preferences.

Why do you want to go on a camper van trip?

Are you choosing a lifestyle, going on holiday or being a tourist?

If you plan to work on the road, you’re more likely to choose a lifestyle. Establish a routine, slow the pace down, and enjoy the luxury of stopping and staying in a beautiful spot before moving on again.

If you’re a tourist or on holiday, have fun.

If you plan to do both, choose your schedule wisely. Plan to visit attractions during the week when fewer families are out and about. But separate the days you are chasing a destination and the days you are “at home” in your van, doing work and regular chores.

Van Life is not for everyone. It’s living with constantly moving parts, and it can test your adaptability. But if you have a little courage, turn the keys in the ignition and trundle off on an adventure. You will never regret the places you visit, the sites you see, and the people you meet. Life is rich on the road, and you will be creating a lifetime of memories.

Discover incredible destinations:

The Best Nova Scotia Road Trip Adventure – 14 Day Itinerary, Road Trip: Best route from Tucson to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Top 10 scenic drives in Canada that will leave you in awe If you’re planning your next big adventure, don’t miss out on exploring some of the top road trips and scenic drives across North America. For those heading west, there are plenty of things to do in Metro Vancouver, from exploring lush parks and waterfront vistas to indulging in diverse cuisines. Whether you’re trekking through the rugged coastlines of Nova Scotia or taking in the vibrant cultures of western Canada, every destination offers something unique.

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