I Tried Van Life... Here's Why I Would NOT Buy One
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
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Waysides ?
Other than the tree branch 😂did you have any other issues with the height of the van?
This is a great deal thank you! You must be a very nice person! btw nice name, it sounds kinda southern
You can always make a videos explaining how to use your van and send them to whomever rents your van.😁
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
Honestly, I think Vanlife is just not for you - which is okay!!! We do vanlife for the experiences, and the freedom it gives us. We don’t need to stay in one place if we don’t want to. For people doing this based off all of the 135k sprinters and Instagram photos people post - that is not 100% of the time. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but it isn’t everyday. It’s a more difficult way to live, but like with any lifestyle, it comes with challenges. It is just weighing which one brings you more joy! :)
well said
I agree! No offence but she was just so negative imo.
Right I can’t wait to get on the road with my put. This is great for introverts…that’s me. I honestly enjoy my own self
@@Ralondat it’s hard to really feel all that the world has to offer when you aren’t alone
I'm glad you tried it out before buying one for sure! I will say, most people who live van life, or aspire to, enjoy the process of researching trips and where to stay. Planning trips is half the fun. If you aren't someone who enjoys that then I agree - not for you!
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Hey Shelby - Here's where you went wrong from someone who travels like this part-time with a RUclips channel (but in a Tesla Model Y)... I have friends who do this full-time as well in a van and have met hundreds of others while on the road.
1. I wouldn't buy and then rent out a van as a business unless you already have been doing #vanlife for a while and love it. You need to know the vehicle backwards and forwards and also have a passion to use it when it's not being rented out or it won't be worth it. This goes for your boat idea or pretty much anything similar.
2. Ask others more experienced for their best tips before going even for a weekend as you made quite a few mistakes that if avoided would have made your trip quite a bit more enjoyable. (For instance many people shower at nationwide gyms like Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness or Snap Fitness for under $35/mo or have portable showers their vehicle isn't already equipped.)
3. Don't ever go to a KOA. Nobody who does #vanlife would go to one for the exact reasons you stated. Instead, use apps like Compendium & The Dyrt to find great campsites (many for free) with reviews/pics/prices etc from thousands of other campers. Use the built in filters to find exactly what you're looking for. The best campsites I've ever stayed at were when I was doing dispersed camping which is completely free. That's where you'll find the most beautiful scenery and can relax and enjoy yourselves in privacy with plenty of space. That's also where you'll meet cool and interesting people doing this for a living. They won't be at a KOA.
The whole point of this lifestyle is to enjoy the great outdoors while experiencing new adventures daily. This includes hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, nature photography, cooking/grilling etc... You won't find that at a KOA.
As for places to stay... those apps also will tell you what parking lots are available and safe with reviews, but if you're just renting a van (expensive) for a few days, don't ever stay at a parking lot unless it's absolutely necessary because you're too tired to keep driving. Some Walmarts & Cracker Barrels allow it, but like you said... they can be sketchy. My suggestion is to use those apps as well as watch others who have visited those areas previously and take down notes on where to stay. For instance if I was planning to rent a van and go to Yellowstone National Park, I would watch some videos of people who have already been there to see where the best places to stay are.
I'm sure there's more, but this is already getting too long. Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out with any questions. (We actually have mutual friends/acquaintances.)
This is exactly what Shelby said. For a busy professional Van Life is too much effort.
I read your comment quickly so I might be repeating something you already said but... I believe you should do research daily on where you're going to sleep way before you actually need it in case you have some trouble... in the video you kind of just drove until you were ready to stop which seems nice but the reality is that you can't be that flexible and you have to at least plan in advance how far you'll go and where you'll stay
well said. it's too bad she was unprepared for this and is portraying van life so negatively. With such a huge platform you'd think she'd have some self awareness....
Great advice
Not enough research or prepping before heading out on the road. This was on-the-job training van life. A lot of problems could have been avoided with research and networking with experienced nomads.
We currently live in our van and have for a year now! Don't know if you'll even see this because this video was six months ago but you're right it's not always not always glamorous or easy but it is a huge learning curve! But once you get the hang of it it's 1000% worth it. I would say I don't think the east coast was the best first place to try van life however your first campsite did seem pretty amazing and $20 is really cheap, most campsites are like $50-60 dollars per night but most of us that live on the road stay in blm land which is free, national forest which is also free and worth it, and we us different apps that help us find these free places. One huge one is called ioverlander, If you ever reconsider trying it out again I would recommended checking out the west coast! We've been to all 10 states on the west coast and the all have so much to offer and so much beauty! I hope you see this so you can try vanlife again on the west coast and see the realistic, but not everyday, dream life of van life!!!!
Didn't you know that KOA stand for Kamping On Asphalt?? I would say the only reliable, non-sketchy places to stop for free would be rest stops. You can always find those. If you stay at Walrmart, check with customer service if they allow it. Generally, the closer to the city you are, the less likely it is allowed. The main problem with camping is that they are all on reservation system and they are all booked months in advance. But when you get there find that half the campground is empty because people just don't show up or cancel. I have "squatted" on these unused but reserved campsites. If you want to do some "nice" camping on public lands for free near Seatte, I would suggest Mountain Loop Highway past Granite Falls, WA. You can stop along the river where they have many pullouts.
When you have kids the KOA's are great but they have gotten to expensive so we rarely stay at them. There is a Really awesome KOA in Temecula California though
We have been living in our van for two years. Interesting to hear your thoughts - and you can just park wherever, you just have to be a bit more ballsy (waffle house actually seemed like a good option lmao) or know where to go on public land (we never pay for campgrounds). Hope you had fun!
my first response to the waffle house joke was "why not just sleep there?" haha you get used to it quick when you live in a van
Do you have a Class B or just a van conversion? I personally wouldn't want to do the van conversion as it's much easier to boondock via Class B and then make it to a campground every so often...I'd love to have a Class B outfitted with the solar so I could hang out somewhere for a week and then take care of the tanks once a week. So far seems like FL was the spot to hang out as they are RV friendly...when we made it back to my city in L.A. it's not really friendly as even Ralph's or some Walmarts won't even allow you to hang out in the parking lot for a long time (some even had signs of no longer than 2 hrs)....
Yes! I was wondering why they didn’t just sleep in the Waffle House parking lot? I’ve done it in my car on road trips.
I love your videos. I love your personality. I will say that your lack of camping experience is pretty obvious here. I love how you said, ‘ it’s what’s called a KOA. ‘ all people who camp know what a KOA is.
With that said a lot of KOAs are VERY, VERY nice.
I think … maybe … if you linked up with a more experienced camper you might like it more? But maybe not! It’s not for everyone.
Happy to see you are willing to try new things! ❤❤❤
Okay, yeah I used to stay in nice ones as a kid. I wondered if the nice ones are still around. They are family owned, so I guess they vary.
Nomadic Introvert stayed at a KOA in Michigan recently, and it was very nice.
I live in NC about an hour and a half from Wrightsville beach.. but the fire ants are so bad here & they are jerks lol. But I appreciate the realness of this video. I have a couple of friends who started doing van life & am glad they love it. My husband jokes that he would like to do this someday in the future, but after watching your video, I can tell it’s not for me 😂
Try a van sized motor home. You get loads more features than the van you tried usually there’s a toilet etc. They’re great 😊
We used to camp at KOA’s when I was a kid and I remember them being so much fun! They usually had a pool and playground, but this was out west in and around Colorado. The location of the one you went to was horrible!! Glad you had an eye opening experience in the van!
Truck stops are actually your friend on a road trip. You can sleep and move on in the morning. They have bathrooms, pay per use showers. Food you can buy not to mention gas and services.
Plenty of people have been told a lot of places vanlifers visit are day use only and not campsties, but most people don’t listen.
The thing about people who vanlife fulltime is they embrace the adventure of it. So that means a lot of public land that’s not a paid campsite. Many people boondock and reduce (paid) campsites to a luxury splurge. And you can prob park that van more places to stop and sleep then you think. I have lived in a built out boxvan in an urban enviorment working for over a year, street parking without issue. And there are a bunch of ways to have access to showers, most vanlifers adjust to the best option. In town it might be a gym membership, in the middle of a campsite it might be your personal solar shower.
Some campsites are for literally a stop over and not for the scenic elements of the campsite itself. Like you might grab a KOA spot to have a place while you visit a town not too far away.
😱OMG I could hug you for making this video. My experience was with a tiny house and my build fell apart when were we wanted to park it fell apart. My spouse wants vanlife instead but I don't like to travel and I'm also high maintenance☺ BUT yeah we're going to keep renting our 300sqfoot studio until we figure things out more.
When I’m on the road I’d we’re going 12-16 hours I’ll just knock it out my self, straight shot. The more you stop the longer it takes. Only stop for fuel, use the bathroom there
My buddy from University always had this saying when we'd be out partying and some SC song girl would be complaining about mosquitos or bugs, plastic cups or utensils...."POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL"
you can park it almost wherever, but you need to black out your windows and make sure you aren't leaking light. Tinted windows with a pop in mylar shield works best.
Thank you so much. I have watched all the fun of van life but I’m like you don’t think it would be fun for long.
Enjoyed this video. I enjoy watching videos of people living the nomad life. Living out of their converted vans, buses, and of course campers. Not the life for me but it is still interesting to watch others manage this lifestyle 😊
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Good thing you tried it out first. I’ve been watching nomadic lifestyle for 5 years now, I’ve learned enough through watching others live this lifestyle. It definitely has some advantages to it but not enough. I think the biggest thing for me is finding places to stay and your right I’ve driven to Walmart parking lots at night and they can be sketchy at times. Camping cost to experience if your having to do that often and the gas. It all adds up. It’s not really cheap and overall you can end up spending more money than just renting. I think I’ll stick to a rental unit and take mini day trips or overnight camping trips. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I'm with you, GF! I think people who live in and/or travel in/vacation in vans are incredibly patient/resourceful/brave. I personally couldn't do it either. I really wanted to buy a Meerkat but my husband talked me out of it. I dont do roughing it well and I would NEVER rent out my home/van/anything! No one will care for your stuff like you do. Btw - KOAs have been around a LOOOOONG time. I think they have a steady following with people who love them and I can understand why. We stayed in one with our Highlander and while it was in a residential area and not that picturesque, it was a great place to stay for one night. A lot of the places to stay along the interstate are great for getting from point A to point B but next time we would prolly stay in a rest stop. Ps - I will check out some of your other vlogs too.
I think many vanlifers are more scrappy, adaptive to challenging situations and enjoy the autonomy, freedom. Shelby is Da bomb, I love her to death, but she’s a rich chic who can stay anywhere she wants.
Shelby definitely had issues that full time vanlifers don’t have. It takes lots of research and/or experience to work out the expected kinks that Shelby had to deal with as an inexperienced renter.
Although more expensive but worth it, you would have a much better time in a fully equipped RV. You want one with AC, shower, decent toilet, refrigerator, BBQ grill, and maybe a TV to watch movies.
You stop at a RV park that has electricity, water, possibly WiFi, and some have washer/dryers. The problem with public showers is private parts are not cleaned and that may be the most important area to clean.
im from asheville and ive been watching you since you guys started!! so crazy
Try Van life in the Rockies, or Arizona in the winter. Free sites are everywhere.
Van life is a decision between comfort and freedom. A house has a lot of comfort but you're not free to go wherever you want without worrying about your house being robbed.
I think all the points at the end are valid conclusions but the price $
~$1400 is not too bad if you think about the fact that the van works as your hotel and a transportation method.
Me and my gf went to about 8 national parks and drove about 1,500 mi so for that use case I think is well worth, as having a car, gas and hotels adds up. We used escape campervan which I believe are cheaper.
Staying at hotels and AirBnB's is way better and cheaper too. You are so right Shelby.
I read somewhere that you can park at some places like wineries, antique malls, etc. Not sure?
OMG .... thank you for letting people know of the cost. WOW especially that you only could drive 100 miles a day and any extra miles you pay extra… That is insane. thank you again
Very truthful video. The owners of the van should have had a binder with information about "how to" do things in the van. Not all people know the ins and ours of vsn life.
Which is weird because if you're going to make a big decision like getting the van life. You would think people will be smart enough to do the research beforehand? It's like she set herself up for failure!?🤣
@@jellyfish_bubbles Yeah she don't really need to research that much. Just binge an hour or two of van life video you'll learn a lot and minimize the mistakes and preconception she had.
You at least picked a great new build, that is way better than most. So many told me horror stories of being stuck in the woods with a cheap van that broke, so I never risked it.
Expecting a campsite to be $8? What? I'm 37 years old and I camped when I was 16-19 years old and it was never $8 for a night. We'd camp for 2 weeks, 1 week, or just a weekend and I never recall paying anything that low. Yes, I'm aware you're estimating but my goodness. It just feels a bit disconnected to me. Also $22 for a night is still cheap. It's not a hotel room cost.
I agree that in this vanlife youtube you can clearly see certain class differences between those who live full time in the van with limited alternate home bases/income (land home ,family base, $ saved) and those who took mom and dads money to fund this new “van life venture” investment on a college break.
Vanlife is just rv or mobile home living souped up. Just like the tiny home craze is. Started with folks with limited means and options making the best of a the situation. Now it is being co-opted and rebranded. I am happy though it keeps people from feeling they have to be in the shadows because we have a society where for many people this is the ONLY living option. I hope it doesn’t inflate the market too much and drive out the folks who created the market. All people deserve to live in dignified housing. Cities need to create safe areas for people to thrive in these situation and fund teaching folks how to build this so more people can have this an affordable housing alternative. I have been considering purchasing as a nice option for occasional travel and emergency housing when the zombie apocalypse or a natural disaster comes.But would rent first and see if I could hang.
Where is that campground and the name please? A creek and animals seems so peaceful.
I love your video. I can't wait to see this van life craze end. To be honest, the reason these campsites are so expensive is because of the van life thing. Camping used to be something people who didn't have a lot of money could do to have a good time and now they have been priced out of this activity because people with overflowing bank accounts that could do anything they want to do will pay any outrageous price for a camp spot and the campgrounds know this. It reminds me of hot wings. Poor people couldn't afford the good cuts of chicken. Monied people wouldn't eat the wings so they were low in price. Being poor doesn't mean your a bad cook so poor folks came up with hot wings. People with money discover our recipe and now we can't afford to eat what we created. Now there is just one more thing that we used to rely on that we can no longer afford and there is a very long list of things exactly like this.. Pretty soon, due to people with money that will spend any outrageous amount to get what they want there won't be anything left for those with very modest incomes.I wish that people with money knew and cared about the power over the lives of others that their spending habits hold.
Excellent video. Good job !
Water is a priority for me: showers, toilets, drinking.
Wow there so many campsite where I'm. From some places you don't have to pay. But with all the homeless taking over going ruin it for everyone. But being out in nature beautiful. On the Jetta you can walk on the beach. Thank you for sharing.
15:44 hair is “beach chic” it’s natural and fresh!
KOAs are really for travelers to stop quickly or to use to go see what is around.
I lived in a van almost 3 years. I worked full time and it was not remote either. I lived off 400 a month and saved the rest. It was a very frugal experience. I saved enough money to buy a townhouse with cash. The townhouse has quadrupled in 7 years. Don’t believe her. It can be a very smart step to financial freedom. I never paid for a campground and showered after work at the business employee shower room 4 times a week. You can do it. I was broke and as you see 3 years of sacrificing paid in the long run. I have never paid interes on a mortgage
Also I sold my van for 2000 dollars more than I paid for it.
The parking issue is real, and it takes a lot away from the van life experience. Campgrounds aren't cheap, some aren't even nice to stay at, and you risk getting kicked out if you're parking virtually anywhere else.
ive not been moved once in 6 years of van living and haven't paid for a single night camping. The longer you do it, the better you get at finding good spots and trusting your guts on whether or not to stay. It takes practice
My issue would be lack of space. I'd have to have a double decker bus and a storage unit.
You should try renting a van on the west coast. You will have such a different experience. 100 miles per day seems really low.
My Dear ... we call a company like that a SCAM ... do diligence... 100 miles.. plus THEIR insurance???
We rented a 4 person Camper (with shower) in NZ for five full weeks, covered both Islands, and the only restrictions was no off road tracks ... we (my cousin and his wife from Sacramento and I (now live in Sydney) had a great trip and paid about 40% of what you did... sorry
Kudos to you guys for trying! Although the built up vans are so cute, my cat & I get carsick too often to live on the road. I can barely live on my feet... 💙
Seems like like of understanding of what you was getting into. I am glad you enjoyed your self but know if you look up free campsites you will find a lot KOA is one of the oldest and most expensive and keep in mind they are paying for the power you are consuming as well as water and waste so perspective goes a long ways
$8 for a campsite! In 1975 hihi! KOA campgrounds even in the 1970s were right next to highways and you were always on top of each other. WA state parks campgrounds are dubious. You will pay a premium price and smell the sewage leach field all night as you sleep. Or sleep next to a burned car carcass. Oregon State Parks campgrounds are paradise, always a "free" hot shower but you must reserve 9 months, not days, months, in advance and you lose your first night if you do not show up 9 months later.
Shelby Church probably wasn't born rich but at least she's 'noveu riche'.
Vanlife living is for the NOT luxurious class to be able to enjoy the luxuries only afforded the wealthy. Shelby will enjoy nature's wonders But she'll fly there, book a hotel room for a $100 and eat her three meals in a restaurant 😋
It does seem like camping has gotten a lot more expensive. Popular places you have to book super far in advance too
The graveyard at the $60/night campsite next to the basketball court is sending me. 💀
Those owners should’ve oriented you to the van And given you a full notebook of instructions. And, YIKES! Too damn expensive to rent. Now what….
I really didn't know it is so hard to find a cheap place to stop for the night.
It seems to be that the best way to live in a van would be to stealth camp for free wherever you want. If people bother you, just drive away and park somewhere else. I don’t understand why anyone would pay to park at a camp when they literally have a stealth camping van?
You really made me laugh, you clearly weren't going into a car park. Should have interviewed people living 'in the car parks' and that would have opened your eyes.
Van life is uncomfortable at times but you're experience is not proof of that. The experience in this video is just your experience with renting a van. You can take that as a warm up run for buying or building your own van, but that's not necessarily it. Van Life is really more about building your own van than buying one a ready made, because it's about the creative making new ways of doing things. It's not a rigid thing where you can have certain expectations. Why didn't it interest you more to upfit a van not necessarily from scratch but to your liking with all of the amenities that you know you would need? For instance a van that's as quiet and comfy as you need it, maybe with A/C, heat, a shower, or tight seals so that ant's don't get in. Here you have this new thing, and it's still evolving, and you stomp on it before it can even gets it's legs? It's not about showing people what it is, it's about showing people what it could be. It's actually a proving ground because everybody knows that it's "not sustainable" anyway. Nobody sees it as being realistic, but it's still an evolving market. Everyone is still trying to grasp it including renters. You partook in the renters industry, where they are trying to get what money they can out of the moniker of van life. There's nothing wrong with money, but I believe in fair exchange. Renters don't even know what they're selling, because it's not properly defined. You can't say that it's van life. The van you rented was a mean. It's not for you. It might make anyone's day. I also believe in hobbies and simple pleasures. I don't believe that van life has to make you money to be worthwhile. For what you spent, I can't say you can say it was worth it, depending on your goals and expectations, but it will be more than $1,500 to buy, or build one to your specs, and if you're not renting, it will be less to stay in per night, and less at the pump, depending on your build. And yeah there's time and research going into that, but when you're passionate, ambitious, and produce the quality that you demand and expect despite road blocks on the way, then it becomes worth it. I don't think that you gave it a good enough effort to say that you have any reason not to buy one.
Shelby, if you think $40 are a lot don’t EVER do that in CA. They are more than twice as much there, in Malibu there is one that is OVER $200 a night, more on holidays with a 2 (and holidays) 3 day minimum stay. There are public ones like the state and county ones, already booked six months ahead.
Definately hadn’t pegged you as a van life girly and it for sure rang true 🙈
I'm quite surprised. People who live in this vans make out like you can park anywhere at anytime.
As a vanlifer, I'm sorry to say you tried this on the wrong coast 😂. There are tons of free places to camp in the west!
Well, it's funny because there is a young lady called Monica that has just invested 100k in a van for renting 😀
😂
1. Decide to do van life. 2. Have no idea what you are doing. 3. Complain about it and make a YT video. 4. Now you're an expert.
This lifestyle isn't for everyone. If that's the case then why bother. I would love to consider living this lifestyle, but with my disabilities &lack of funds it's not possible.
If i stay at a luxury hotel for $400/night in a fun city, like nyc. I would never get bored.
Living inside Metal Wall gives me the 🥶
Super helpful and realistic. Appreciated !
Awesome video
i’m sure it wasn’t your intention, but this comes across as very privileged. as someone who lives in rural NC surrounded by KOAs and places like it that “aren’t the vibe,” it’s just obvious you haven’t experienced much outside the upper class bubble
At one time Walmart was very camper friendly.
I'd hate to be the one who rented that van to you 😂
"What do you mean how do you open the drawer?" 🤦🏻♂️
To be fair the owner of each of these should make a video and go through all the quirks of their van on the website.
love this review, thanks!
Hahaha! I mean, you tried. No offense but I think you might be a little more high maintenance than your average non-lifer. Maybe try again, now that you have an idea, and plan accordingly. There's workarounds for every inconvenience you experienced.
Like, like, literallllllly, like…
And just A weekend? 🤣
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Physically high maintenance haha hey at least you tried I give you props for the experience. It is sad America is just one giant money pit and most can’t even offer a free safe parking space anywhere. Everything is financially predatory
I love an AirBnB host complaining about $22 campsites all alone on a farm. I love that this is a way for farmers to make a little extra cash.
Is she an AirBnB host?
@@swaters5127 yes
Yeah, I mean this was clearly a click bait video. It costs money to maintain campsites. But people are also not being forced purchase the sites either. I prefer paying the campsite fee because the locations are prime, beautiful and safe.
Lmaooo.....I think the irony CLEARLYYY went RIGHT over her head 🤦🏽♀️
the 22 was not bad at all. it was the total cost of everything together that is ridiculous
Love your videos! Harvest host is always a great resource for van lifers! It’s $100 a year and you get access to thousands of farms, breweries, wineries, ect that you can stay at as long as you purchase sometimes at the business. We have always had great experiences doing that.
Well, the problem is the reservation ahead of time. Harvest hosts don't like guests showing up at the last minute. I like RV van life because I like freedom. I've recently spent between $40 and $65 a night at campgrounds.
With Harvest Hopes you have to be fully self contained, you don’t have any hookups, showers or toilets and can only stay one night.
@@evangewho56 It's easy that I need to add another ten miles to look for the Harvest host site. After arriving, I need to go out to talk to the host even though I'm tired and want to nap. For me, it's not worth my time, energy, and additional fuel cost for a couple of hours of stay.
@@jasonlucas2328 I was actually siding with you not against you, if one does not have a fully self contained vehicle it’s not viable, for full timers a membership at Thousand Trails is probably worth it, but it’s like KOA or commercial campgrounds it’s a parking lot with not much privacy, better to use public (federal, state, county) ones (some on honor system) not all the amenities but much cheaper.
that sounds like a whole lot of dealing with people...Id be in a constant state of dread knowing i was always going to have to barter to get permission to park each nite, screw that.
As someone who got really into the online vanlife community for years before buying and self-converting one, there is so much you’re missing lol I have yet to pay for parking (harvest hosts is a GREAT backup to finding free places) and we usually stay in beautiful spots
Same here. Been full time since last march and have yet to pay a dime to sleep. Granted, the vast majority of my sleeping in urban stealth camping since I spend a ton of my time in cities. But I get out into national forests and BLM land from time to time.
this girl is obviously rich. she doesn't worry about paying for parking
@@Kevinschart i mean true but she’s making it sound like a unavoidable big deal to the audience that’s all
@@Yoga_With_Amy i agree. i'm saying she didn't put the work in to research properly because she knows she has plenty of money to throw at a parking problem. She probably parks the van and sleeps in hotels off camera lol
@@Kevinschart lol oh yeah totally!
After having owned a class B van for over three years, I can say that it has completely changed the way I travel. No more hotels, I have my favorite bedding and food ,drinks and snacks wherever I am. I have a clean bathroom four steps away. And parking is never a problem. When set up properly, it’s like having your home with you anywhere you go. There are endless free places to stop each night and you don’t have to keep to anyone else’s schedule. Learning the tech of the van makes it fun.
I've never heard anyone say there are endless free places to stay. It seems to me that there would be, but never heard anyone say they didn't have to search & plan ahead. Do you plan ahead? Thanks
But how do you shower or make emergency stops to a bathroom? There are so many problems with "van life" that I wouldn't do it and even in big open Texas, parking is difficult. The LAST thing I would want to deal with is finding a parking spot when 50 other van "campers" are looking for one and I'm too tired to drive.
Yes--we love it too! We spent a month out west this spring and only stayed in hotels for two days. We stayed in some stunning places (on BLM land) for free.
I love the life, but "endless places to park"? Not happening. Not legally anyway.
@@bugout1895 "if u buy something you get to stay the night"
As someone who's lived out of his car, rest stops along the highway are your friend, and they're FREE. The one near Fargo/Moorhead along 94 was "home" for me for a whole summer. You can find decent stops that accomodate cars and trucks/RVS. At least along 94 MN through 76 into PA, but I'd think 40, 80, etc. would also have them. They might have a ten hour stop rule, which is more than enough to do your thing. And they're usually quiet.
Trucks stops are also good, and they have showers and everything. I just finished a trip across country actually and slept in my car in Minnesota and Indiana because it got too late for a motel to be worthwhile. Not comfortable in a coupe, for sure. In a van, you'd be fine. Personally, I've had some of my best nights sleeps in my car, even cramped up. The brain adapts, I guess.
I'd avoid Wal-Mart, but sometimes you can find empty streets right behind that are good to park at. I did just that in ND a couple of times when I moved there years ago. I definitely wouldn't be spending $60 to stay at a campsite. But then again, I wouldn't bother with a van. The toilet set-up is a NOPE for me on its own. Just make bathroom stops along the way.
An SUV is good enough to fit a sleeping bag for two adults in the back if you lay down the seats. And you wouldn't have to worry about about all the maintenance stuff. I mean, truck drivers do this stuff everyday and they've got smaller living space than a van.
Commenting from Fargo!
Commenting from Spearfish, South Dakota :) Such good points though! I moved here two years ago and I didn’t know much about truckers and how AMAZING some truck stops can be before moving here. Some people make it much more complicated than it needs to be, probably because they just don’t know about the less bougie options lol.
You're also a man so you don't have to worry about stopping on the side of a road or a truck stop and being harassed and potentially assaulted by men. This might just be a stereotype but I think some truckers are sketchy and have heard that it's a place where prostitution happens because the men have been trucking all day and haven't seen their families or are starved of physical touch
@@sophieminter0 I’ve slept at truck stops and I prefer them over sketchy hotels! Most of the truckers are in a completely different section of the truck stop, they have showers, and the employees are nicer/better trained for different situations. Pilot and Flying J are everywhere and always have cameras and decent lighting for safety!
To actually have a good experience, you have to plan ahead of time. Kind of like with any travel, you would plan ahead of time where you're going to be sleeping.
Thing about vanlife is that it has a high learning curve.
So either you have a high adaptability personality or your build is beginner friendly.
Its still a new lifestyle (yes, despite the fact that this was widely popular 50-60 years ago). The infrastructure is still bare, parts are highly specialized so either fabricate it yourself or pay a premium.
Builds are becoming more and more intricate but because it is still in experimental stages, convenience builds are still rare and/expensive.
To each their own! Haha! I love van life.. Or in my case, Prius Life! I spent almost all of august and part of September camping around. There’s apps you can use to find cheap or free parking spots. There’s a lot of cons and a LOTTT of pros! I did it as a single female and LOVED it! Cannot wait to travel again to do it! Next month taking two weeks and am SO excited! It’s not for everyone! Great video though! ❤️
One thing I struggle with is that people don't realise that sometimes van life isn't a choice, its the only option. I live in a bus, and if I wasn't poor and was travelling in it, I would be an influencer. As a poor person, there's some things that anger me a little.
Why can’t you be an influencer if you’re poor?
I agree with Christian! Help teach other people of low income how to do it! It's a heck of a lot better than being homeless!
I was kinda in the same boat. I came to the same conclusion about the Van Life etc lifestyle to save $ and be able to travel.
Start your channel! I think there are lots of people who would appreciate it! :)
@@dontworrydehappy7104 all I have is a phone, my bus also doesn’t have wheels and I’m disabled so I rarely leave the house for anything apart from doctors. I’d love to see poor people on RUclips, but I also couldn’t mentally deal with being shamed by anyone else in the stage in my life since people are so mean.
I have a RUclips channel but I made booktube videos when I was younger and wanted to try and decide if I wanted to get back into videos but I also don’t know since quality of videos are amazing these days, I can’t go out and buy anything (apart from the mattress and extension of the bed I desperately need since we are still finishing it up) 😅
You’re both lovely humans! Oh and @Christian the reason I said that is I meant the clear divide of “influencers” who make a choice and can create insanely beautiful spaces, but people that scrap together and really work their asses off and have struggled, I’ve been looked down on by everyone for ‘letting yourself end up in this position’ when our country has no public housing available so it was either a tent in my friends yard or building out her dads old bus.
Just FYI, even poor people can do RUclips. You’ve got a smart phone, that’s all one needs
@@jamesfv1 Friend, I do agree that a cell phone is all you need to do videos if that is what you choose to do. I merely wish to say that you don't need to do anything fancy.
And quite frankly, Van Life type people are pretty cool - whether you spend $1000 on your entire build over the course of a long time or drop $100,000+ on a factory build, they're all pretty enthused and encouraging. Watch some of the Van Life videos by different channels.
And these Van Life people (several channels) who go around and interview the owners and tour rigs also do interviews with people who are poor and live out of their cars etc. People are very understanding, kind and supportive.
And I do remember seeing a video of a woman, living in a permanently placed school bus, who was also very low income. It's been a while and I don't remember her channel.
Anyways, you do what you need to do. If you do decide on this route, please remember that YOU are the boss - there's no pressure to do glossy edits, output videos every day etc. Just be yourself and not some fake prima donna, who fakes a perfect life in an attempt to get viewers.
And yeah, I get what you're saying about critics. It's hard when you're already depressed. But I honestly don't think you're going to encounter such problems in this area. If anything, perhaps contact one of the channels to come interview you to get you started?
Good luck and I hope things are getting better!
great vid Shelby!! loved the perspective
Thanks for your honesty and being curious. 😊 I’m more like you regarding van life. Nah, not for me. Didn’t think these types of vans are rentable; good to know.
I lived in a car for financial necessity, not by choice or doing any glamorous camping. But iOverlander is an excellent resource for cheap camping spots. The US Forest Service has what we call “BLM land” which is free public access land to park and camp. I wish you would have featured an interview with a full-time van lifer (not social media stars) with more knowledge about the community. I guess there are a lot of RUclipsrs that glamorize the lifestyle. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart or high-maintenance. Also Walmart parking lots were some of my worst nights of sleep, I found that stores like Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop also offer free overnight parking for RVs, and they’re generally in safer areas. These were definitely still last resort spots for me. It does wear on you after months or years of feeling like you’re constantly searching for a safe place to sleep at night, so I feel like your concerns were valid. But there are definitely cheaper ways to go about vanlife.
BLM land on the east of Denver is SIGNIFICANTLY rarer than west of denver. And ioverlander reflects this. Whereas west of denver is just chock full of places to pull off and sleep, east of denver tends to be limited to walmarts and rest areas and urban stealth camping (though I digress on some people's ideas of 'stealth'). And even the ones available in the national forests and what little BLM land there is are generally few and far between.
And if you look at their likely path that they took via ioverlander, there is ZERO convenient spots to stop at that wasn't a campground or some park parking lot or walmart or rest area. That's how barren east of Denver can get.
Its why I learned to urban stealth camp so well. Cities tend to be close enough that I can just hop from city to city in a matter of hours and always have a place to sleep regardless of what local or state ordinances may be in place.
I’m an older woman, traveling alone, and just completed a 10 week trip around the country in my Toyota Highlander.
I stayed in Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Cabela’s and casino parking lots. In Yonkers, I parked at a metered parking space next to an apartment building. (Near apartments are great for stealth camping) In Rhode Island I parked in visitor parking at an apartment complex. You get creative and use apps like Free Roam to help find safe places.
This lifestyle isn’t for everyone. The longer you’re out the more you learn. You meet a lot of people that give you ideas to make living on the road easier and cheaper.
VanLife is a great way to take the time to travel and really experience what this kind of life has to offer. To me it’s worth it!
Generally speaking KOAs suck. They are full of super patriotic people in gigantic RVs with a million kids. Now you know better for next time!
Let me start with, camping is NOT for me. Been there, tried it (with AC) and still, NOT for me. So now my version of camping is TownePlace Suites or Fairfield Inn. Yeah. Anyways, I totally agree there Shelby....some "vanlifer's" don't tell/show you everything...and you didn't even mention the emptying of the tanks, which most times you have to do before returning, or there is an extra charge for that. It "could" be cheap if you do everything yourself...and know/enjoy doing that stuff. Sure it's great to take your home/hotel with you cause there are some great places to stop. Maybe I'll try this one day, probably because the future wife/girlfriend wants to. LOL Good on you for trying it and ouch on that price.
The author already stated how she felt about the experience so my intention is to offer the public a different point of view.
I rented a van for about 10 days and didn’t spend a cent outside of gas and groceries. I didn’t eat at restaurants or rent campsites.
I bought local foods, cooked inside and outside the van with a Coleman propane stove. I used the composting toilet, used some feminine wipes and/or sponge bathed, and used a bit of dry shampoo. I may have wandered into a cool bar here and there but I ultimately disconnected and went off grid.
If I had to be out longer, I’d shower at a beach or a gym. Also, you’re safe locked up inside a huge metal box as long as you know how to use blackout curtains for “stealth camping” and get the instinct to drive away when needed. Fortunately, nothing bad or sketchy happened to me. I did notice when I was in a sketchy area but that’s part of the anthropology of traversing over hundreds of miles through diverse communities. If you feel unsure of an area, just keep driving. You’d be surprised how quickly those little pockets disappear. To be honest, I only felt uncomfortable in bourgeois suburban cities (mainly in SoCal) where its inhabitants were nosey af.
I was touring up the Pacific Northwest from San Diego and had several epic opportunities to sleep in the woods or in front of beaches without a soul in sight. It was life changing.
I loved the experience so much that I’m willing to back out of nursing school and sell my house to live off grid for at least a year to see cool sights and experience what life has to offer.
*However, if you’re doing vanlife for Instagram content then it probably isn’t for you because having those intentions might cloud your gratitude for the unstaged experiences.
I also highly recommend using “free and dispersed camping” apps like Sēkr or the Dyrt. The point of vanlife is a tad anti-establishmentarian despite the irony of the van being worth about 100k or more.
At the end of the day, I say live and let live. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, etc. There’s nothing wrong with not loving vanlife or hating Hagrid hair :)
Very well said!
I know this wasnt on purpose but this video was hilarious! Ive always wanted to go camping and also wanted a van but I know I just wouldnt make it. The strength and courage you had to one drive that thing back and sweep the ants away! God bless you sister. I wouldve fainted and caught a flight. Thank you for doing this so that I wouldnt have to! I enjoyed living vicariously through you
I agree. I will stick to hotels..LOL
"Strength and courage"? I hope you're being sarcastic. If not, you gave me a good laugh.
I thought about doing this recently but when I researched the actual cost (rental+mileage+gas+campsite+insurance) I realized it was ridiculously expensive. Enough to go on a really nice vacation to a beach resort somewhere. The van life boom has caused van conversions and campsites to have become really over priced and I think there will soon be a crash next year when people try to dump their overpriced vans and stop renting camping locations. I’m waiting for that to happen before I think of buying a van.
I don’t know if they’ll ever be a total crash I mean a lot of people do buy really expensive vans and then realize I’d say well within six months to a year that it’s not for them but then they really do try to resell it way too high and you usually find people that will buy it because there’s a lot of people that are doing it but you really have to have a mindset for it I mean I don’t know Shelby personally but just from what I see I don’t think she would be the type of person that would really do that very long term and that’s not good or bad it’s just you know how it is. It’s not for everybody in fact a snowfall out of people even and also I think the way it’s portrayed on RUclips a lot of time does way more glamorous not really is
@@roguewavecreative so van life is here to stay, itll never stop no matter what and eventually the whole nation will live in vans?
@@joejones9520 i thnk it’s here to stay. That said it will level off and the ppl that really want to do for the right reasons will and others will not. It’s a personal choice and I think also alot of ppl watch these heavily produced videos of vanlifers that do not show you what is really going on. You do not know until you try it
Are they dumping the vans because the economy gets better and inflation gets under control or are they dumping the vans when the cost of living decides to increase again? With the future of the world teetering on the brink of WW3, I highly doubt people are going to be dumping vans. If anything, I have seen an increase in van conversion companies and more people living out of a van.
@@marklambert2712 I think the van life craze has died down a bit now that Covid is basically over. That being said it seems like the market has stabilized with most decent Sprinter van builds not dropping below $50K. At the top end manufacturers are discounting off MSRP but it’s still at least $130k for a new conversion. I ended up buying a used Sprinter and converting it myself 6 months ago. Probably saved $40k by doing my own conversion. Best thing I’ve ever done, been to many incredible places.
Crappy van with small batteries, no shower, no proper water filtration, no added security features, no external lighting, not properly sealed against bugs, No AC or proper roof fan. Cheaper to go by car and stay in an airbnb or motel than renting it for that price.
Not for me, but my wife wants to do that full time. NYET!!!
God bless camping people. I’m not knocking them, but it’s just not my thing at all. 😂 And I honestly just don’t see the appeal if you have other options and aren’t in a bind. I mean, if you’re about to be homeless, this van is an absolute palace. But again, if you have options, I don’t get why anyone would do this, save for maybe a month out of the year for vacation. They only usually show the good and highlights of this on RUclips and social media. That’s the problem. Most of van life is nothing but a hassle and being very uncomfortable.
Great video but it seems like a failure to plan was your biggest issue followed by not really being an outdoorsy kind of person.
We used ioverlander app for free spots to camp overnight! I think you could've done more research on this haha!:)
Also, I think most people don't use the toilet in the van, unless for emergency!
I learned 20 yrs ago camping with the family during the summers, yes we had a trailer, is difficult to get used to the everyday chores.
you guys are over here trying to correct her, but she’s coming from the perspective of where a lot of people look at van life glamorously because of what is portrayed on social media. She showing what it really is like to someone who knows nothing about van life but is interested and also considering that over having an apartment or house, and you guys who are significantly more experience or acting like she supposed to know how to go about her first rental like an expert. Literally calm down I’m glad she shared this video and I think all of her perspective and commentary is incredibly valuable.