In this interview series, “5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Living on the Road”, I had the pleasure of speaking with Becky Haskell, adventure elopement photographer and full time vanlifer. We talk about the ups and downs of vanlife.
By Bekah Whitney
I live in a 2016 Mecedez Sprinter Van that my partner and I converted together last spring. We built out the whole van in about 1.5 months which feels insane to me 😂 prior to that we were living in a 2004 Sprinter Van that my partner had built by himself.
Honestly I hadn’t really ever thought about it. I moved to Thailand in 2015 and lived there for two years before moving to Australia for a year. Prior to me leaving the states, I met my now partner. When I moved back to the states in 2018 I wasn’t really sure what my next move was so I asked him if I could move into his van with him!
Luckily they have mostly been amazing! So many great sunsets while cooking dinner and looking out the door. The freedom it has provided is amazing.
Glacier National Park in Montana, North Cascades National Park in Washington, Arches National Park in Utah, and some random spots in the middle of nowhere Missouri that had amazing sunsets!
The little things become the big things … all that matters is how you handle them. Things like finding a place to sleep or getting a flat tire are pretty small in the grand scheme of things, but when it’s late or you’re in the middle of nowhere, it can feel really big. I think the most important thing is trying to stay calm and not let those things ruin your whole day.
Plans are good to have but make sure you have realistic expectations for them. My partner and I are not the type of people who plan ahead for much. We cover the basics, but leave the rest up in the air and it’s been good and bad. So many things come up unexpectedly (both good and bad) that having a super strict plan will most likely just bum you out. If you have places you want to go, spots you want to sleep at, by all means, plan ahead. But know that something else might come up that will deter those plans!
Double check your water/propane/gray water/bathroom before heading out into the middle of nowhere. Too many times have we gotten to a super rad campsite only to run out of water or propane. And let me tell you, that is such a bummer! So double checking before you drive out of town is a smart move!
There have been times where my partner and I arrived to a camp spot that was posted on iOverlander (or another app) and we just did not get a good feeling from it. No matter what time it is or where you are, ALWAYS trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel good, move on!
This is something I’ve definitely struggled with over the years of vanlife. We’re constantly on the move so it’s hard to connect with people when you’re just going to be leaving again soon. You see on social media how great the vanlife community is, but it can be intimidating to “break into” and I haven’t really met any other van people while on the road.
I’ve definitely become more of a conscious consumer, as far as clothing/shopping because I simply do not have the room. I also like to think I’ve gotten much better at just going with the flow and not letting those small things get to me as much as they did in the beginning.
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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.
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