Safety Tips for Solo Van Life
I always make sure I have cell service in the place where I park.
In solo van life, cell reception is a must for me. There are lots of beautiful places throughout Canada and USA however if there is no cell service I do not spend any length of time in those areas. First is for safety and second I do some remote work so I need access to my hotspot. I read reviews on vanlife apps for other’s experiences with cell reception before deciding on a spot to spend a few days.
I always ask myself “how does this feel”.
When I arrive at my night spot I have already done a bit of planning. I have checked ioverlander and if I can I google to find out what the area is like. With a rest stop or truck stop I make sure I am not in a busy area or in the way for any trucks coming or going. Depending on where I am I will sometimes check in with the store to see if it is okay to spend the night. I always check in with myself, does this feel safe? If I have any gut concerns or worries I move to another place. I always trust my gut feeling.
Knowing where I am in solo van life travel
I always make sure I know where I am on my google map.
When I am in a new area especially off the beaten track I always double check on google maps as to where I am. If I need help it is important for me to know exactly what the area is called. If there is an issue I can let others know where I am.
When it gets dark...
I never leave my van after dark if parked in a Walmart, truck stop or rest stop.
Once I have found my night parking spot I do not leave the van after dark. I usually arrive at this spot early to late evening depending on where I am. Having access to the back of my van without going outside is great. I park in a safe area and crawl into back and settle in for the night. If I am going to watch a show I usually put in earbuds that way no one can tell if there is someone inside or not.
I am aware of who and what is around me when I park for the night.
When parking for the night especially at a public area like a rest stop or Walmart I check to see who is parked near me and what is around me. I always back into a spot or know I have easy access if I need to drive out in a hurry. If I am in a dispersed camping area I choose a spot some distance away from other campers so we all have space. I have to say in the two years I have been living and travelling this solo van life I have never felt unsafe. Neither have I had to leave my spot.
Locking up and Keys
I always lock my van at night.
This may seem like a common sense thing but I wanted to put it on my safety list. I always make sure when I stop all my doors are locked and windows closed. I can easily fall asleep after a long drive and forget to do this especially if it is warm and I am airing out the van. My van only has back windows and they do not open so I utilize my fans to get airflow when it is warm. I have a wall behind my front seats which definitely helps keep the back of my van cooler so I do not need to keep front windows cracked.
Keep my keys in the same spot and near where I sleep.
I have a spot where I place my keys so they are accessible if I need them in a hurry. This way if I have to move quickly due to an emergency I can grab my keys. My spot is a hook by my bed.
Keeping in Touch
I post on FB everyday so my family and friends know I am okay.
I never post where I am at in the moment. Taking photographs and posting them daily is my way of letting my family and friends know I am okay.
I believe in putting out safe and loving vibes.
Some may think this is an airy fairy thing but I believe that what I put out is what I receive back. I see life in a positive safe light and I get that coming back to me. Being polite and respectful to others is a good way to live life in my opinion. One benefit of vanlife is I can always drive away if I do not feel safe or not liking what is going on around me.
Choosing to be a solo female traveller I use these safety tips and have had fantastic experiences on my roadtrips.
Great article.