15+ Real Van Life Tips to Help You Get Started

Van life has exploded in popularity over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why.

Swapping commutes for coastlines, alarm clocks for mountain views, and rigid routines for freedom on the open road is the dream for many.

But before you go all in, it’s worth knowing that real van life isn’t always the effortless adventure social media makes it out to be.

That’s where these van life tips come in, the honest, experience-based advice we wish we’d had when we first hit the road.

After almost 10 years of travelling full-time in everything from tiny campers to motorhomes and self-built vans, we’ve learned what makes van life smoother (and what makes it harder than it needs to be).

So, here are our best van life tips to help you start your journey with confidence, avoid the rookie mistakes we made, and actually enjoy the freedom you’re chasing.

Preparing For Van Life

Before you make the decision to move into a van, there are a few things you need to consider if you want the transition to go smoothly.

Here are some of our favourite tips for van life before you even buy the van.

Rent A Camper To Make Sure It’s Right For You

In the last year or so, we’ve spoken to a lot of people who are considering van life that have never really travelled this way before – so they have absolutely no idea if they would be comfortable driving so much, or living in such a small space.

Of course, that’s totally ok! But our number one bit of advice if this is you, is to rent a camper before you commit to buying.

And I don’t mean to rent one for a week and have a holiday. I mean rent it for multiple weeks if the budget allows, and live in it exactly how you will once you have your own van.

If you plan to work online while living the van life, make sure to actually do at least a few work days to see how comfortable you are.

Then while you’re testing it out – make notes!

Be conscious of all the things you like or dislike about that specific layout, what things you could improve or copy!

This way, you’ll already have a good working knowledge to use as a base line.

Downsize Belongings. Sell Or Storage

This might feel obvious, but if you’re moving from a house or apartment you’re almost definitely going to need to downsize your stuff.

There are a couple of options for this: selling it, or putting it into storage.

For our move from the UK to Australia, where we bought our first camper, we sold literally everything in order to fund the adventure.

Since we knew we wouldn’t be back any time soon, it didn’t make sense for us to leave things at our parents or in storage… that was in 2017… we’ve only been back to the UK a handful of times since!

When downsizing, think about things you absolutely need with you on the road – including specific clothes – and more importantly what will fit within your limited van storage space!

Rent Out Your Home

If you own your own home, it’s a good idea to look into renting it out while you’re living in your van.

Not only does this mean you don’t lose an asset, but it will also provide you with a somewhat steady income stream.

You could rent it out full time, or if you’re in a popular tourist location Air BnB and short term lets with the help of someone to oversee it could work really well!

Sell Your Car

If you’re going full time with van life, and your car isn’t sentimental or extremely valuable then it makes sense to sell it rather than pay for safe storage and any fees associated with keeping a vehicle off road/road worthy while not in use.

Create A Monthly Budget

It took us longer than it should have to even think about planning our budget, but once we did… boy did it change the game for us!

Your expenses will change a lot when you move into a van, so being aware of what you currently spend before you make the change will help you see where you’re saving money and how you could make van life more affordable with just a few adjustments.

Our biggest expenses are fuel and food. To start your own budget, track one month of spending and estimate how each category might change once you’re in the van.

The Adventure Road Trip OS includes the exact budgeting sheet we use as well as tips for planning your trips!

Account For The Unexpected

This is as much a part of campervan life as it is ‘normal’ life, but a few things tend to get overlooked… like how many bin bags you’ll go through! Seriously, with a smaller bin and less ability to recycle, you’re going to rack up the rubbish quite quickly.

Also breakdowns, emergency accommodation, vet bills etc. 

Buying A Van For Van Life

If you’re figuring out how to start van life, choosing the right van is step one, and it’s probably the trickiest part of van life because there are seemingly so many pitfalls. If you get it wrong? Van life could be really uncomfortable, 

Choosing The Right One For You

Before you get swept up in dreamy Pinterest conversions and “van tour” videos, take a bit of time to think about how you’ll actually use your van.

• Are you planning short weekend trips, or are you going full-time?
• Will you need space to work, cook proper meals, or travel with pets?
• Do you want to stealth camp in cities, or chase remote park-ups in the mountains?
• Will you be living in extreme winter conditions, or chasing the sun?
• Do you want to go off road, or are you happy to stick to the tarmac?

Your answers to these questions will quickly narrow down what kind of van will actually fit your lifestyle.

Smaller vans (like a VW Transporter, Transit Custom or our old Mazda) are great for flexibility and easy parking, but space runs out fast if you’re travelling long-term or with more than one person.

Larger vans (like a Sprinter, Ducato or Crafter) give you space for a fixed bed, more cooking space, or even a workspace but they also come with higher costs for fuel, tolls, and maintenance.

If you’re not sure where you’ll fit best, start by thinking about your non-negotiables: the things you absolutely need to make daily life comfortable, and build your van choice around those.

And if you can, go and sit in a few vans before you buy (or rent one!). Walk around them. Pretend to cook. See if you can actually stand up straight. You’ll learn quickly what feels right and what doesn’t.

Getting the right van from the start will make all the difference once you’re living, cooking, and sleeping in it every single day.

Self Converting, Or Prebuilt?

Now, we will always be team self build but if you don’t have the time or simply aren’t interested in learning everything you need to know to do it: like how to fit van insulation and installing electric hookup in a camper, then there’s nothing wrong with buying a prebuilt campervan.

Some people argue it’s cheaper to do one vs the other, but to be honest I think it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.

By that I mean, whether you self build or buy prebuilt you can go as basic or as fancy as you want but prebuilt do tend to be pricey because it’s rare for them to not have all the bells and whistles.

Popular Van Life Options

While you can get smaller vans for van life, the most popular options are the bigger models. 

This was non-negotiable for us because after two years in a camper with a low roof we knew we needed to be able to stand up in it.

Surprisingly, with Dec being 6ft2, that really limited our options because once you add insulation and flooring you lose a lot of height, which is why we went with a 2019 VW Crafter.

The Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and MAN TGE are three of the most common choices for full-time van lifers, and for good reason.

The Sprinter is often seen as the “dream van” thanks to its reliability, tall roof, and smooth drive. They’re great for long-term travel and off-grid builds, but they do tend to come with a higher price tag (and maintenance costs to match).

The Ford Transit is a solid all-rounder, a bit more budget-friendly, easy to find parts for, and still spacious enough for a comfortable layout. They’re also less obvious as a camper, which helps if stealth camping is on your radar.

Then there’s the MAN TGE, which is basically a VW Crafter in disguise and is our choice for van number three. It offers a similar amount of space and comfort as the Sprinter but with a slightly different driving feel and often a lower price when buying used… and it looks bloody amazing too!

Where To Look For A Van

Once you know what kind of van you want, the hunt begins and it can take a bit of scrolling before you find the one.

In the UK, most people start on Facebook Marketplace, Auto Trader or eBay Motors.

Marketplaces can be great for deals, but it’s also where most of the scams happen, if a listing seems too cheap, or the seller’s avoiding calls or viewings, walk away. Always see the van in person before paying anything.

If you’re in Europe, Mobile.de and Autoscout24 are solid options with a wider range of ex-trade or well-maintained vehicles. We’ve also had good luck browsing Leboncoin in France and Milanuncios in Spain

Wherever you buy, take your time. Check for rust, leaks and service history and don’t be afraid to walk away.

The right van will turn up, and rushing into the wrong one can make van life a lot more stressful than it needs to be.

Things To Consider With Self Converting

If you’re planning to build your van yourself, amazing!

It’s one of the most rewarding projects you’ll ever take on… but it’s also probably one of the biggest.

The two biggest resources you’ll need are time and money and usually more of both than you first expect.

Even a simple build takes longer once you factor in learning new skills, waiting for parts, and fixing the inevitable mistakes (we’ve all made them!).

When it comes to buying tools and materials, don’t rush to get everything at once. Especially if it’s your first build because your ideas will change as you go. We’ve lost count of the times we tweaked our layout halfway through.

A good rule is to buy only what you need for the next step, it might add a little bit of extra time but it keeps costs down and gives you the flexibility to adapt.

For example, we originally planned to have three solar panels on our roof. Thankfully, we only bought two to start with and it turns out that’s been perfectly fine for our needs. That small decision saved us around €200 and a lot of unnecessary roof clutter.

Take your time, plan the layout carefully, and expect a few surprises along the way.

Building your own camper is a huge learning curve, but it’s worth it when you step back at the end and realise you built your home on wheels.

Van Living Tips

Once you’ve got your van built and ready to hit the road, these van living tips will make day-to-day life easier.

Van life is a constant balance between comfort, practicality and freedom, and finding what works best for you takes a bit of trial and error.

Here are some of the things we’ve learned after years of full-time travel to help make day-to-day van living a little easier.

Managing Water, Grey Water & Laundry

We chose not to install a huge water tank or running water because we knew we didn’t want an inbuilt shower so we didn’t need to worry about all that extra plumbing.

Instead, we use smaller jerry cans for drinking water and washing up, they’re easier to refill and move around, and we’ve never felt limited by them.

For grey water, we use a separate jerry can that can be easily emptied at the many dump stations you’ll find across Europe using apps like Park4Night or CampGuru.

Laundry is just as easy these days.

In Europe, many supermarkets have coin-operated laundry stations in their car parks, and laundrettes are surprisingly common in most towns.

For quick washes or smaller loads, a Scrubba bag or similar portable washer works great on the go.

Where To Find Toilets / Showers

If you have the space, we’ll always recommend having a toilet on board.

Short trips are manageable without one, but for full-time travel, it makes life so much easier.

We use the Cuddy Lite composting toilet and love it. It doesn’t smell, it’s easy to empty, and it’s far less hassle than the chemical ones.

If you don’t have a toilet, don’t stress: you’ll find them everywhere. Supermarkets, cafés, service stations, shopping centres, and public toilets are all fair game.

Showers can be trickier, but still very doable without paying campsite fees.

Many service areas, sports centres and beaches have public showers, and you can use Park4Night to find them.

A portable outdoor shower or solar shower bag is also handy for quick rinses.

How To Get Internet

Good internet in the van is a must for us since we work online, and we’ve tried it all, including Starlink, eSIMs, and mobile hotspots.

Starlink gives us reliable connection almost anywhere, while eSIMs are a great backup for lighter use or when you’re in urban areas.

If you plan on using public Wi-Fi, always connect through a VPN for safety, especially when managing banking or client work.

How To Find Electricity

If you want complete freedom, having a solid off-grid power setup is worth the investment.

It can be pricey to start, but solar panels, a good battery bank and an inverter mean you can stay off-grid indefinitely.

If that’s not in your budget yet, plenty of paid campsites and local motorhome stops offer hook-up points.

More and more small towns in Europe are also adding free or cheap electric points to encourage travellers to visit, just make sure to spend a little locally to support them.

We use Park4Night Premium (€19.99/year) so we can filter for places with electric, water or dumping stations.

Finding Free Campsites

Van Life Apps are your best friend here. Park4Night is our go-to, but WikiCamps, iOverlander, and Campermate are also great depending on where you’re travelling.

When in doubt, Google Maps can help you scout quiet areas, and knowing the local camping laws will make it much easier to find legal free spots.

We’ve written detailed guides for both Portugal and Australia to help you figure out where freedom camping is allowed.

Cooking In Your Van

Cooking in a van doesn’t need to be complicated.

We use a simple single-burner gas stove and mostly cook outside when the weather allows.

Keep meals simple, stock up on versatile ingredients (like rice, pasta, eggs, and wraps), have a good selection of spices and invest in a good quality pan that can do a bit of everything.

One-pot meals are your best friend when you’re short on space and less washing up means more time to enjoy the view!

Making Money On The Road

One of the biggest questions we get about van life is, “How do you actually afford it?”

The truth is, there’s no single answer for this.

Some people save up and travel until the money runs out. Others work seasonally or find remote jobs that fit around travel days.

If your current job can be done remotely, it’s worth having a chat with your boss about working from the road.

Just keep in mind that not every employer will be up for it. Some worry you won’t be as productive, so go in prepared with a plan to prove you can make it work.

Alternatively, you can create your own income stream using the skills you already have.

That’s exactly what we’ve done. Starting with this blog and then my business, Grow With Leah, which grew out of my skills in Pinterest management, email marketing and SEO.

It didn’t happen overnight, but it’s allowed us to build a flexible life around travel instead of trying to squeeze travel around work.

Here are a few ways other van lifers we’ve met make money on the road:

• Seasonal work (hostels, farms, campgrounds)
• Remote roles (VA, copywriting, customer support)
• Starting a blog or digital product (what we did!)

Whatever route you take, the key is being realistic about your expenses and consistent with your income.

Van life isn’t always cheap, but it does give you the freedom to choose how (and where) you make a living.

Van Life Essentials

Everyone knows about the big stuff, water tanks, gas bottles, bedding etc. but it’s the little things that really make van life easier.

If you’re wondering how to do van life more comfortably, these small upgrades make a big difference:

• A mini vacuum (because sand, dust, and dog hair multiply overnight)
• A carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm – absolutely non-negotiable
• Baby wipes – perfect for a quick wash or refresh between showers
• Battery or USB lights – for evenings when you don’t want to drain your main battery
• A diesel or portable heater for those cold winter mornings
• Window blackouts for stealth camping and better sleep
• A Dometic fridge – reliable, efficient, and our favourite van upgrade
• A power bank (we use the DJI Power 1000) to keep devices charged when off-grid
• And roof fans – they make a massive difference for cooler air flow in summer

You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with the basics and add as you go. You’ll quickly figure out what’s essential for your version of van life.

Van Life With Pets

We’ve lived in vans both with and without a dog, and it’s safe to say that living the campervan life with pets adds a few extra things to think about.

Before you hit the road full-time, make sure your pet is comfortable with travel.

Can they handle longer drives? Are they happy being left alone in the camper?

These are things worth practising before you move into the van, because there will be times when they can’t come with you, like doing the food shop or visiting attractions that aren’t pet-friendly.

For us, a few gadgets have made van life with Lilly so much easier:

• Our Tractive GPS gives us peace of mind on hikes.
• The Furbo mini dog camera helps us keep an eye on her when we’re out.
• And the anti-slip, no-spill water bowl has saved us from countless wet floor disasters. We leave it out 24/7 without worrying about mess.

Travelling with a pet takes a little more effort, but watching Lilly explore new places with us makes it completely worth it.

Staying Safe In Van Life

Van life is all about freedom but learning how to live in a van safely takes practice.

It’s something we take very seriously, especially after years of travelling through different countries and wild camping in some pretty remote spots.

The biggest rule we live by is to trust our instincts.

If somewhere doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

It doesn’t matter how late it is or how perfect the view might be, it’s always better to move on and find another spot than spend the night feeling uneasy.

We also make a habit of sharing our location with a family member or friend when heading somewhere off-grid, and we never leave valuables visible when camping in towns or cities. It just makes life easier and gives us one less thing to worry about.

When we’re wild camping, we tend to avoid motorway rest stops unless there’s no other option.

They’re convenient but can be noisy and don’t always feel secure.

Instead, we use apps like Park4Night to check reviews from other travellers before deciding where to stay.

Inside the van, we’ve added a few small touches that help us feel safer: a steering lock, an extra latch on the door, and the Furbo mini acts like a security camera when we’re not in.

Nothing fancy, just enough to give us peace of mind.

Above all, we try to keep a low profile and be respectful wherever we park.

No loud music, no mess, and no drawing attention to ourselves, it’s not just safer, it’s also part of being a good ambassador for van life.

Final Thoughts

Van life has its ups and downs, but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. You’ll learn something new with every drive, every repair, and every night spent parked somewhere unexpected. The key is to stay flexible, trust your instincts, and keep adjusting as you go.

After years on the road, we still make mistakes, still change our setup, and still find new ways to make life on wheels easier. That’s what keeps it interesting.

So take what works for you, leave what doesn’t, and remember — there’s no single right way to do van life. Just the way that makes you excited to wake up in your van tomorrow.