Successful van life will mean something different for every traveller. After living in my van for over 2 years what are necessities now is a little different than what I thought they would be when researching and planning for this lifestyle.
What can you live without when living in a van? What are the necessities for van travel? This topic is a popular one and the answers are diverse. It depends on who you are, why you are living in a van, the weather you are living or travelling in, the length of travel, age can be a factor, personality and general life circumstances all influence what we need and want.
When I was still working and living stealth in Vancouver BC Canada I needed fashionable clothes and grooming was more important. Now I rotate the same 5 outfits and some days just run my fingers through my hair.
When I was vanliving in the city I was near restaurants and could easily shop so storing food and cooking was not really top of my necessity list. I was near family and friends for showers, charging my phone, and entertainment. Now I find a truck stop every few weeks to shower and catch the sun for my solar panels. Travelling solo and entertaining myself is a whole other article.
I have been travelling full-time for the last year and my successful van life list of necessities has changed somewhat.
Count down to my Surprise Neccesites
10. Blackout curtains for my back windows and Skylight are a must. This has not really changed just the why I need them has. In the city it was for privacy, now it is so I can sleep in! I chose not to have windows in my van except for the back. This allows me to be more stealth, I feel safer and the van stays cooler in the heat. I chose to have a skylight installed which was a perfect choice, allowing lots of daylight to come in when the side door is closed.
9. Netting for my side door. When I am in the wilderness or sometimes even in the city, the flies, mosquitos and noseeams are out to get me. A netting for my side door is a must to keep them out of the van and still have access to the outdoors. The bug situation depends a lot on where I am staying. Northern Canada has BUGS, winter in the desert is lovely and bug free.
8. My Heater. My heater/furnace is run on propane. I have the tanks secured outside so they are easy to fill when necessary. The heater has definitely come in handy for the rainy and cold west coast of Canada, the fall in North Carolina and winter in New Mexico.
7. My -5 degree Celsius (23F) Sleeping bag. Even in the desert it can get cold at night. I love the ease of having one cover that keeps me warm at night. I can make it into a mummy bag for those freezing nights, it is easy to clean, just throw it into the washing machine, and it rolls up small to put away in the hot weather.
The Countdown Continues
6. Good mattress/pillow. This may be an age thing but when I am in the van for hours at a time on the rainy days or because I live in my van and just want to do a bit of binge TV watching, a good mattress is a necessity. When I am travelling and stay at a truck stop or a Cracker Barrel I am closed up at dark. Resting, reading and sleeping comfortably are my favourite evening activities when on the road.
5. My computer. I am retired but want a little extra money to cover travel expenses my computer allows me to work remotely as a bookkeeper. Not terribly exciting, but for me, is it high on my need list.
4. My aeropress and collaspable kettle. I like my morning coffee! The kettle boils the water quickly and is easy to store. The Aeropress makes a great cup of coffee and with very little mess. A must have.
3. My phone. I am old enough to remember party lines, home phones and voice mail machines. Now my phone is my lifeline to family and friends, google searches, posting on Facebook, Instagram and tiktok, and keeps me entertained by downloading shows and ebooks. My hotspot allows me to work on my computer. Ahh technology is a wonderful thing.
One of my criteria when looking for a place to stay is having decent cell service. This is for safety as a solo female traveller and for the hotspot!
Top 2 Must Haves for My Successful Van Life
2. Compost Toilet. Some people feel they do not need a bathroom in their van. I am not one of them! I decided not to have a shower (with no regrets) but am ever so grateful for my compost toilet. As I age I definitely need one of these. Also as a solo women traveller I don’t want to be getting out of my van at night. I need one for ease and comfort.
1. Solar system. My number one necessity is my solar system. I have 2 – 150 watt solar panels on my roof, 4 AGM batteries and a 3000 watt invertor. It allows me to cook, make my coffee, run my fridge, charge my phone and computer all from the sun. I have the freedom to boondock, explore, stay in beautiful settings, save money by not paying for campsites and I don’t have a loud generator outside my window. I do have to make some allowances for those cloudy and rainy days but I have my work rounds for that. The joy of vanlife is the ability to move on to sunnier places.
I feel blessed that I have chosen this lifestyle and know that some things on my list are a privilege that others may not have. These things make my successful van life more comfortable and hopefully may help someone who is doing their own vanlife research. Let me know in the comments what you would consider a necessity for yourself when travelling and living the vanlife..