Welcome to Van Life
When you think of van life the first thing that comes to mind is likely someone traveling solo across the country. And while van life is great for single folks, it’s also great for families! It makes camping and traveling with kids so much easier and gives us the flexible to roam and explore! Some of my favorite memories my family has made has been campfires under the stars, or snuggling up in the van.
We built out our first adventure camper van when our oldest was a baby. It was great but after having our second child we decided it was a little too cramped. We sold that van, regretted it, and a few years later (after having our third baby) we decided to convert another van. We learned A LOT throughout the process and want to share that here to help other families who may be considering van life.
Why Van Life Is Perfect for Families
Van life is great for families because it gives the opportunity to explore new places together and create lasting memories, away from all the distractions of daily life.
It offers the flexibility and freedom to travel at your own pace, choose your destinations, and take spontaneous detours.
The van is definitely an investment, but does offer a cheaper way to travel since we don’t have to pay for hotels or airbnbs. We can usually find free places to camp!
How to Make Van Life Work for Your Family
Choosing the Right Van
Size matters: A family-friendly van should have enough space for everyone to sleep, cook, and store personal items. Consider a larger van or a converted bus if you have multiple kids. Having a van that you can stand up in is not to be underestimated, I would highly recommend.
Converted vs. Selfbuild: Buying a van that is already converted will be a lot more expensive. We self-converted two vans and found it a lot more cost effective. It did take ALOT of time thought. Converting it yourself gives you the flexibility to build it to suit your needs and customize it.
Newer van vs. used: Both of our vans were bought use. We got great deals on them but ended up spending tons on repairs. I wish we’d spend a little less money up front for a more reliable van.
Van Organization & Storage Tips
Decide what features are important to have in your van: It’s hard to have it all in a van and you will likely need to decide what features are non-negotiables and what things you could give up. For us, having a fridge was a must, and we opted for extra gear storage instead of a “bathroom”.
Maximize storage: Use every nook and cranny for storage. Staying organized in tiny spaces is key. Remember less is more, just have what you need in the van and nothing extra.
Kid-friendly zones: Create designated spaces for kids to keep toys, books, and games organized.
Staying Safe and Comfortable
Plan for safety: Discuss how to keep your family safe, including choosing secure camping spots, having a first aid kit, and knowing how to handle emergencies.
Challenges Families Might Face on the Road
Obviously space is tight inside the van, especially when kids have lots of energy, and there are times it feels cramped. Overall this hasn’t really bothered us though, when we are traveling we usually spend most of our time outside of the van exploring the van and only really hang out in there in the evenings.
Unexpected expenses. Vans, like all cars, will break down and have issues. You need to make sure you budget for unseen expenses.
Tips for Kids and Van Life
Keeping Kids Entertained
Have some special travel toys that they only get to play with on trips so that they stay new and exciting.
Stick to Regular Routines
Try to stick to home routines, such as naps/bedtime/meals/ect, as much as possible to make traveling easier for kids.
Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities
Van life offers unique educational experiences, from nature walks to visiting historical sites or science museums. Take advantage of all the learning moments.
OUR VAN DETAILS:
WHAT kind of van: 2016 Mercedes Sprinter Crew Cab 170 wheel base with an extended roof.
HOW long did it take to build out: My husband worked on it non-stop for 2 months straight to get the majority of the build done. Then we slowly spent the next year completing finishing touches.
COST: We bought our van for $20k and spent about $12k on the build out.
