Do you want to live the off-grid life yet still want to travel to different places? Don’t fret because there is such a thing as van life. Simply put, van life is living and travelling in a vehicle. But there is more to it than just that. According to people who have experienced the van life, living in a mobile homestead is, first and foremost, liberating. Ironically, living in a cramped space gives them more flexibility and freedom in their lives.
This movement or lifestyle is all about a change in thinking. Nowadays people believe that, to have the perfect life, one should have a dream home, a well-paying job, and all the material things their money can buy.
Van life is more about accepting minimalism. It lessens one’s carbon footprint and dependence on possessions. It also promotes a more balanced way of life.
Choosing A Van for Your Mobile Homestead
Living the van life is impossible without your own van. You don’t necessarily have to buy a new one. If you’re skimping out a bit, second-hand vans are available at rather low prices. Some people brought their mobile homestead using money from selling their possessions. It’s common for those pursuing the van life to sell their homes and other assets to live their dream.
It’s necessary to do some research first before shelling out money for your future mobile homestead. Determine your budget and look around for the best van your money can buy. Don’t limit your search to your local vicinity. There’s a chance you can find cheaper ones in other areas.
Consider the clearance, mileage, age of the van, condition of the tires and brake pads and other stuff before finalizing your purchase.
Aside from the van itself, you’ll also need to purchase materials such as wood and insulation. You also need tools though you can rent the ones you won’t need when you’re on the road. A set of basic hand and power tools may come in handy when you want to earn some cash doing repairs.
You’ll also need a little elbow grease and lots of time (a week at least) on your hands to convert your van into a mobile homestead.
Converting A Van to A Mobile Homestead
The first step is to visualize your mobile homestead. Think about the design, lighting, ventilation, storage spaces, and the bed. Include the heater, kitchen set-up, toilet and other stuff in your layout. Use your plan to figure out what materials you’ll need. It’s wise to get everything at one go so you wouldn’t waste time making trips to the hardware or ordering online numerous times.
Prepping the Van
You have to empty the back of your van. Take everything out including the floor and the interior side panels. If the van is rusty, you’ll need to do some stripping, scrubbing, and rust-proofing. Clean thoroughly, repaint and apply a rust inhibitor.
Soundproofing and Sound Deadening
Once the paint has cured, apply sound deadening mat or flash bond tape for soundproofing and, well, sound deadening. Place directly on the cab floor to lessen road noise. Install on the wall and ceiling to keep outside noise, such as the sound of heavy rain, to a minimum.
This is rather expensive but it’ll be all worth it especially if you’re the kind who can’t stand noise. You can also use wool insulation instead. It will insulate the van and minimize noise at the same time.
Insulating
Insulating your mobile homestead is an important part of your van conversion. Proper insulation, as well as ventilation, will make your van life a lot more comfortable.
You’ll need insulation foam, foam boards for the floor, foil moisture barrier to keep moisture out, foil tape, and expanding foam to fill gaps.
Before installing the floor insulation, you may want to measure and cut the plywood first. Once you’re done with the floor, install the moisture barrier. Make sure there’s no space between the barrier and the van to avoid condensation.
Install the wiring (discussed further below) before filling the side and roof of your mobile homestead with wool insulation. Follow this up with the insulation foam and then the moisture barrier.
Wooden Floor
Some off-gridders attach the plywood floor immediately after installing the insulation. Others prefer using wooden battens first. This depends on whether you want to maximize the space or if you plan on building storage under your bed.
You can either use strong adhesive to glue the wood or drill holes and screw them directly to the cab floor.
Wall and Roof
It gets a bit more laborious yet simpler at this point. You just have to screw on the battens and wood planks or panels onto the side and roof of your van. Whatever you do at this point will depend mainly on your design. Don’t forget to make the necessary holes for your fixtures before installing the wood. You will likely need to do a lot of sanding and painting and staining to make your interior smooth and pretty.
Wiring and Electronics
You may require some assistance with this step. It’s best to seek help from a professional or someone who knows a thing or two about building a solar electrical system if you’re not familiar with the craft.
Ventilation
Some vans have little too offer when it comes to ventilation. If you’re not converting one that has side doors and windows, you can add a roof vent to keep things cool and comfortable inside. Proper ventilation will also prevent condensation build-up.
You can also use wind deflectors on your windows. This way, you can open your windows a bit while still preventing people from reaching in.
Fixtures and Finishing Touches
Things get more exciting when it’s time to build and install your fixtures. Your woodworking skills will come in handy in building the bed frame, cabinets, shelves, and tables. You can also add a sink, a mini-fridge, and a cubby hole for your mini-toilet depending on how large your van is.
Since you already have your electrical wiring set, you just have to install the light bulbs, set up your sound system, add solar panels, and buy a lithium battery.
Pros and Cons of A Mobile Homestead
Everyone who’s ever held a desk job probably dreamt or is still dreaming of having the flexibility to go anywhere anytime. That’s exactly what having a mobile homestead is about. Imagine waking up in a different place every day, or having a dip in different beaches all over the country. Better yet, consider the many people you’ll meet and friends you’ll make along the way.
While the van life seems like a great endeavor, it can be trying at times. Once you hit the road, you’re on your own. You should be able to care for yourself and your van. Perhaps the hardest part of van life is finding a spot to park when you need to stop for the day.
It’s also quite difficult to maintain this lifestyle since you don’t have a stable job. You can blog about your adventure and earn money while doing it. Another option is to take different jobs, such as mowing lawns, bussing tables, and the like.
You also face a number of risks while on your mobile homestead. Fuel costs and road accidents are just two of the major issues you may face. There’s also the possibility of bad people taking interest on your van while you sleep at night. Be on the side of caution and include a first aid kit and weapons among your possessions. You can find a list of self defense gear you can take with you on your mobile homestead here.
The van life is not for everyone, particularly for people suffering from claustrophobia. But if you want to experience a different kind of adventure and way of life and prefer to get your hands dirty, building your own mobile homestead out of an old van may be for you.
Whether you’re driving to work or driving cross-country in your own mobile homestead, you must have the proper survival gear with you. Ape Survival offers free survival kit including 15 must have items. Get yours now!
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