I get asked is there any downside to van life? According to Instagram photos and YouTube van life is all about freedom to do what you want, travelling on the open road, having fun adventures and living a glamorous life. Don’t get me wrong, vanlife can be all of these and more BUT there are downsides to van life as well. I had to adapt my lifestyle and learn how to live with the downsides.
Where does Electricity come from?
In most traditional houses turning on a tap or light switch is an automatic thing we do all the time. Most of us never think of where it is coming from. In a van these two things can be huge downsides to van life. Having lights, heat, or just plugging in your phone can become a big problem without electricity.
I decided to have solar panels and batteries installed for electricity in my van, which was a great choice and am thankful everyday. It was expensive, about $7000 Canadian to install and then you need the sun! Southwestern Canada is often cloudy and rainy, so sunshine was at a premium when I was living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
This was the first time in my life that I had to consider how much and when I used electricity. I had to adapt to using my electricity frugally. Some days I turned off my fridge (which is electric) if my battery was low. I sometimes went to a coffee shop to charge my laptop, which costs money because coffee is not always cheap. The dashboard plug to charge my phone while driving is well used. I had to find ways other than my solar battery for my electricity. Now that I have the option to travel I enjoy sunny locations to keep my batteries fully charged.
How much water do I need?
Having enough water is a basic necessity. Living in a van you have to learn how to conserve your water use which can be another downside to van life. For my water I installed a 20 litre (5.28 gallon) tank with a tap, so I have running water. This is not a lot of water. An average 8 minute shower uses 17 gallons. This and space were the reasons I did not install a shower in my van.
Even without the shower my tank has to be filled regularly, which is not always easy especially in a city. Having friends with outside taps definitely helped when I was living stealth in Vancouver. When on the road it can be difficult finding accessible free water. When on a budget purchasing water can add up.
Van life can be stressful enough without having to worry about where to get water every day. I use spray bottles for washing my dishes, fill a small tub with just enough water to wash my feet and use wipes. I also carry a 5 gallon bottle for my drinking water, which is often easier to fill when on the road. This extends the number of times I have to fill up my water tank. I had to adapt to using less water.
Reduced Hygiene can be a Downside to Van Life
For me it was more of a change in my hygiene routine rather that reduced. When in a house you can just turn on the tap or jump into the shower without thinking about it. A lot of vans do not have showers or even running water.
I changed from showering every day to perhaps once every few weeks. From washing my hair every second day to every 10 days or so. Saying that, I still always feel clean. I shower at truck stops (that is another blog post), wash my hair in a basin in the sink and use baby wipes. A face cloth and baby wipes are my new friends. I had to adjust to finding new ways to staying clean.
Pee and Poo
Another common question I get is where do you go to the bathroom? This is one big consideration in van life as most vans do not have flush toilets, another downside to van life. Some people choose not to go to the bathroom in the van, buckets or plastic containers are used, however at my age and for comfort I wanted to have some kind of toilet situation. I chose a Sun-Bar Self-contained composter toilet.
A diverter toilet allows your pee and poo to go into separate containers. Another feat I had to perfect since moving into my van. I empty my pee bucket every few days (some people do it daily), either at a gas station toilet or on the ground if I am dispersed camping.
When travelling I will often try to poo at a gas station bathroom. If that does not work I bag it and find a dumpster to throw it into, usually everyday. I try to make sure I dispose of it in a container that a human person does not have to physically empty. If I am dispersed camping for a few days I have some wood shavings that I throw in with my poo to keep it from smelling then dispose of it later. I know some people dig a hole and poo outside but I have not done that. I cannot squat for very long and need some comfort even in a van!
Smells are a Downside to Van Life
In a small space cooking food, dirty laundry, smelly shoes, wet towels, dish rags, and general body odour can create a smelly environment. Airing out the van regularly helps. I rarely cook meat or fish in my van. Keeping the van clean. Changing bed sheets. Finding a way to contain dirty laundry. I make and use a room spray using eucalyptus oil to help with any odours. Just be aware if someone comes into your van they may smell things you do not!
Lack of Interior Space
I have always lived in small houses or apartments but living in a van is EXTRA small. My living space is about 55 square feet, the average size of a house bathroom, to give you an idea of the size. Downsizing my life was a bit daunting when I first decided to move into my van fulltime.
Everything I chose to bring into the van had to be useful or even have a dual purpose if possible. Everyone has their own idea of what is important and I know I had to downsize several times to get it right. My motto now is “everything I bring in has to have a space to go”. I definitely learned to live with less which to others could be a big downside to van life..
Easy to get Messy and Disorganized
When living in a very small place, just leaving a few things laying around can make it feel messy and disorganized. Finding ways to organize my belongings was very important and if you are not naturally an organized person this can be a downside to van life. I chose to have a hanging closet as I wear a lot of shirts and dresses and one upper cabinet for other clothes. I have no room to just throw my clothes down somewhere. The closet door allows me to have a place to hang things on the inside and outside for extra storage.
Where do I put my dirty laundry? This is one issue I hear from other van lifers. In a house you have a laundry basket, or a chair to drape clothes. In a van there has to be a specific spot for laundry, which is not always easy in a small space. Sweaty clothes can smell and it is surprising how much space they need if you are only doing laundry every few weeks. My designated spot is a crate under my bed.
When I decided to live in my van full-time I started planning what I wanted and needed in my kitchen. Pots with removable handles, Tupperware to store food stuff, baskets on the counter to help keep things organized. I have to do my dishes after each meal and put them away; there is no room to leave things out. If I am working, the computer and papers have to be put away in order to cook. Everything has to have a place and be put away after use.
Extreme Temperatures
When it is hot outside the inside of the van is hot, when it is cold the van is cold. Extreme temperature is something you have to think about when living in a van. Most van lifers have some kind of heat source. I had a propane heater installed and am so happy I did. When it gets near zero degrees it is a definite bonus.
Windows in a van have benefits and disadvantages. You can see outside but when it is hot or cold the windows have to be covered to keep the heat out or in. This is the reason I chose a van without any side windows. Having no side windows helps to regulate the inside temperature.
Two fans were installed in the roof of the van for ventilation. I also use another USB fan inside for extra air circulation when it is really hot. Whenever possible I park my van west to east so when I open my side door I get some shade from the van height. Finding ways to deal with this downside to van life is part of this lifestyle.
Excess Moisture
Mositure can be another big concern when living in a van. Cooking, sleeping, using water, changes in temperature and just breathing creates moisture. If there is no proper ventilation excess moisture can easily turn into mold. Windows and their coverings are also culprits for holding moisture. Removing the coverings daily can help with this.
My first experience of a moisture problem was under my mattress. I have my mattress built across the back of my van and it sits on a wooden base. After a few months of a west coast rainy winter I found moisture and some black mold growing on the wood under my bed. I spent a few hundred dollars to get a Den-dry mattress underlay. This raised the mattress an inch or so above the wood allowing for more air circulation. I also drilled holes in the wood so air could come from the storage area under my bed. It seems to have done the job! Checking for dampness in your van is essential.
Vanlife is a Solitary Life
You have to really like yourself to live solo in a van! On my long road trips I probably spent 95% of my time alone. You can meet people along the way but in my experience this is just fleeting coversations with other travellers. Occasionally I have made a new Facebook or Instagram friend.
Travelling alone has some huge advantages in my experience. I can travel where I want, see what I want to see and stop when I want. I just was not expecting to feel lonely at times, but that is okay too. I have very few complaints about my chosen lifestyle.
I chat with friends over zoom and belong to a few zoom vanlife groups but do miss physical hugs from family and friends. There are different membership groups you can join where different rendezvous spots are organized. Another thing I have been meaning to get more information on but haven’t yet. On my to do list.
Vanlife is NOT Free
Surprise, surprise vanlife costs money. Is it cheaper to live in a van? I get this question all the time. Generally it is cheaper to live this lifestyle but it totally depends on how you live. Cooking my own food is cheaper than eating out. Finding free camping is cheaper that staying at paid campsites. If I do not drive everyday, the gas bill is less. Buying only what I need saves me money.
When I calculate my expenses each month they are pretty close to what I was spending living in the city. I have a van payment and insurance, which is less than my rent was in Vancouver, so I save there. I spend a lot more on gas and van maintenance than when I was driving my car in the city, so the savings on rent is spent here.
I still need my phone and a data plan so that costs about the same. I pay for travel insurance when I go outside of Canada which can get expensive.
My grocery bill is somewhat similar. I shop every few days and do not buy in bulk as I have limited space. I could potentially save here. I eat out less when traveling as I have celiac disease so finding gluten free options is not always easy when in new places.
I had to adjust my lifestyle when I moved full-time into my van however for me the benefits definitely out way any downsides. I am loving the travel, exploring new places and all the adventures I am having.
Wow there is so much to consider that one does not realise until you point them out. Especially the moisture/ mold issue. You have done amazingly well. I love to see what you post. Sending you hugs and best wishes. Love yvonne nick and thomas ❤️
Yvonne, I am so happy you are enjoying my blog posts. There is so much info on vanlife but it is often only promoting the fun side of things. I love living in my van and travelling even with the few struggles along the way :).
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting. Take care. Btw dont u mean litres not gallons re water storage. I have a five gallon hot water tank and it is plenty for my cabin. Wouldnt 20 gallons be extremely heavy and hard on the engine? That sounds huge. Also, isnt safety a concern and finding a place to sleep that isnt expensive but safe?
Caroline, I appreciate your comments and yes the blog should read 20 litres of water (5.28 Gallons). Thank you for catching that :). I have always felt safe where I park. Check out my blog post https://sharingmyvanlife.com/great-insider-safety-tips-for-your-solo-van-life/ to see how I make sure I am at a safe place when parking for the night. Let me know what you think of that blog.