Van life has a lot of little everyday inconveniences that you might not have thought about or thought wouldn’t bother you. In this article I go over the top 10 reasons why van life sucks and the one reason why we are still on the road.
By Bekah Whitney
It’s no secret that there are a ton of articles out there talking about how #vanlife is a glorified homelessness. My biggest problem with these articles is they don’t get into the nitty gritty of what is really challenging about vanlife. The articles are usually authors’ complaints that are simply them being unprepared to deal with the obvious things. My two favorites to date have been, “You cannot sleep next to the beach” and “All you can eat is gas station food”. It might be a surprise to some that you cannot sleep in a vehicle wherever you want and that to eat healthy food, you have to have some sort of cooking setup as well as a place to store your food. These articles seem to come from someone’s point of view who hasn’t really camped much before, which leads me to my list of the real unspoken challenges of living on the road.
We once ran into someone who had a small travel trailer. He told us that his first rig was a huge fifth wheel, that they took cross country for the summer. As soon as they came home, they sold it for something much smaller and lighter. Why? Because they spent so much money on gas pulling it. Unless you are living out of the back of your small car, nothing you drive will get great gas mileage. Many people who live on the road think of their gas as their rent money and that number is nowhere close to $0.
This one might seem a little more obvious, but until you are literally stuck somewhere it doesn’t quite sink in. I have many friends who have stories about the garage pushing out their van at the end of the work day so they can sleep in it and then waking up and having to find someplace else to go while it got worked on, or worse, just living in the parking lot waiting for a part to be delivered. Our home is not attached to our vehicle, but if the vehicle breaks down we are still stuck, just not as horribly.
Sawyer and I have been so lucky to have a healthy relationship and strong friendships to fall back on, but when you stop and think about how you haven’t made a new, good friend in 3 years it can feel very lonely. We only started searching for a nomadic community in 2022 and we wish we started much sooner! The easiest way to create a road community is by going to gatherings and/or events. Some of these cost money and some are free. Here is a short list of some you can join/attend.
I know I made fun of the author who was upset they couldn’t sleep at the beach, but don’t get me wrong, finding places to sleep can be a pain. In my interview with Veggie, 5 Things She Wish She Knew Before Starting Vanlife, she talks about pulling up to a campsite that had a dead rotting cow in the middle of it. You’ll also hear a lot of vanlifers talk about the “2 am knock”, which is basically when you find somewhere cozy to park, fall asleep, and then get a knock from security to move along. For us, driving down dirt roads in the dark and pulling a trailer past spot after spot until you can find an unoccupied little turnout or just have to turn around altogether and find another road is the worst of the worst. Google satellite is a good friend to have when checking out the pull-off situation on a particular road. Any time you see tents or RV’s on satellite, you’re probably golden. Van life apps are also incredibly helpful when it comes to finding a place to sleep.
The government, and other agencies, really want you to have an address. This is true for registering your vehicles, signing up for insurance, remembering which ZIP code your credit card or insurance is linked to, and obviously receiving official mail. Some people just use their old address where they don’t actually live anymore, their parents’ place, or a home owning friend, but it’s not always flawless. Before you set off on your adventures, I recommend having a PO Box for your “in-state” documents, and ask a friend/parent if you can use their address for other miscellaneous items that can’t be sent to General Delivery.
To preface this next point, I am not a medical professional and you should always check with your doctor about any medical advice. What I have been told is that doctors must be licensed to practice in the state where they physically are and where their patient physically is at the time of the appointment. That means if you are traveling you might not be able to talk to your main doctor and your insurance may not cover doctors out of state. This makes getting medical care expensive. Note: Most insurances will always cover ER visits, even out of state, so if you are in an accident please seek medical attention.
Even if it doesn’t have wheels, it’s difficult to keep a tiny space perfectly clean. If you have a cutting board, some vegetables, and a dirty pan on the counter, it already looks messy. Once it is messy, it’s tempting just to take your socks off and throw them on the ground, and the mess just gets worse. Getting in the habit of cleaning the house every night has been a huge help for us, but we are not always perfect. Everything, generally speaking, has its place in our house, so putting things where they belong is an easy process. However, because everything is so neatly tucked away, it looks like Taz ripped through the house when you take things out of their drawers and cabinets.
Unplugging from technology and social media for a week or weekend during a camping trip can feel liberating. Of course, it’s a little more annoying when you are unplugging by circumstance instead of choice, like when you have to be on a Zoom call the next morning at 6 a.m. and need to drive from your campsite into town just to get some service.
Think about yourself daydreaming and making plans for van life. Electricity? No problem, get solar. Water? You’ll fill your tank at the gas station! Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. The beautiful campsite you saw on Instagram has too many trees or maybe it’s super cloudy, so your solar keeps running too low to run everything you need. Maybe your spot looked super close on the map, but driving down the dirt road takes forever and your water tank just ran out. Even the best planners get caught off guard with the lack of constant utilities, all you can do is take a deep breath and realize your day is not going to go as planned. Many days on the road don’t.
I love living a minimalist life, but sometimes you really want to purchase hiking shoes, backpacking shoes, and adventure sandals or the cute mirror, throw pillows, and decorations for the upcoming holiday, or just take advantage of the amazing sale they are having on your favorite shampoo. Just as you are getting in line with a basket full of fun new things the thought starts to creep in, “But where the heck will I store this?” and back it all goes.
I could easily come up with an article about the 10 reasons I love the van life lifestyle (and probably will!), but it really comes down to one reason: the ability to wake up somewhere completely new in my own home. Think about it for a minute. One day I woke up in Florida where I can paddle to a beautiful natural spring and one month later I’m waking up in California where I’m camped next to these incredible hot springs that people drive hours to get to and guess what? Both times I had my whole house that is exactly the same, slept in my own bed, and all of our things are with us, including our kitchen! This way of traveling is really quite incredible and at this point in my life, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
No one chooses to continue to live on the road because it’s easy. People created physical non-moving structures called homes a long time ago because it makes life simpler. Sawyer and I choose to live on the road not because it’s easy, but because of the freedom we gain from this lifestyle. Even though it’s not always pretty or fun, we are living exactly how we want to live. I do know I want to trade in the full-timer badge at some point for a weekend warrior badge, but that time hasn’t come quite yet!
Leave a comment below and let us know if you found any of these items surprising or obvious! We want to know why you love and hate van life or what you are nervous about if you are still thinking about starting your journey. Remember to share with your friends and family who want to learn more about life on the road!
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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We wanted a watercraft for a long time, but didn’t quite know what to pull the trigger on. We wanted something that was durable and folded up nice and small. After watching videos of a jeep driving over the kayak and hit it with a hammer, we knew it was the one for us!
If you don’t already have a hammock, you really need to get on it! The Eno is a lightweight, packable, and durable hammock perfect for anyone living on the road. We have a single nest because neither of us seem to want to be in the hammock at the same time, but they do make a Double Nest if you are looking to cuddle up with your significant other in it.
Listen, everyone with photos of their van door wide open has flies. Adding a screen door was an absolute game-changer for us, plus it is attached through velcro so that you can easily remove it when you are ready to take those idyllic photos. If you haven’t hit the road yet, just get one. If you already have, this is the answer to your fly problem, you’re welcome.
9 Comments on Beyond The Glamour: 10 Reasons Why Van Life Sucks And Why We’re Still Hooked
I love reading about your adventures on the road and seeing your beautiful pictures!
So glad you enjoy it!
I’ve dreamt of van life but didn’t think about some of these things haha. I think the pros outweigh the cons! That freedom must be amazing <3
Thanks for reading!
I'm little old for van life, but would be willing to do a summer trip in a van or RV. Out of all the issues you suggest, becoming a true nomad and having no address would be my biggest concern. I guess using parents' or relatives address would be my preference over a PO box.
So many people do RV travel or just trips for a couple months. You don't have to fully commit to being full-time be part of this wonderful community!
You make so many practical points. The cost of gas seems like a huge one right now. Hopefully those prices will keep coming down. It sounds like an amazing adventure though. Thanks for the advice!
Especially if you have plans of driving up the California coast!
I love this article. So clever and seems so spot on. And, I agree, your reason it's great (waking up somewhere new) would outweigh all negative.