I see a lot of pictures of fancy van/trailer/ RV builds. They’re so nice! So pretty. So flawless.
But they also seem so unachievable. Hard to build. Expensive. Just... “How?”
If any of you are interested in a nomadic and/or minimalist lifestyle, please please please don’t let that stop you.
What you see on social media is not reflective of everyone out there. There are people with functional yet not aesthetic builds. Function for you is what’s important.
I have seen people with...
Completely bare, metal walls.
A sleeping bag. No cushioning whatsoever.
No sink, toilet, or running water.
Old, old beat-up vehicles.
Low vans, not standable ones.
Rust all over the inside and outside.
Wear and tear because that happens over the years.
Part of this lifestyle is learning what you need and what you actually don’t.
If you don’t know where to start... start with deciding on a home you think is the right size for you, and go from there.
If you need some help, well, here’s what I did.
I made a list with everything I thought I needed. This means, I started big. Big in size and big in dollar signs. It’s what I thought I needed.
Then I started thinking about all the things that come with that truck/trailer combo I wanted. I thought about the pros and cons of everything and decided what I personally thought wasnt the trouble or money.
Trailer? Need two things - truck and trailer. Expensive. Hitching. Jack-knifing. Less camping spot options because less mobility. Need better/wider roads.
RV? Again with wider roads, less power. More stucky- stuck. Less options.
Van? Less space. But cheaper. Can go down more roads. Stealth options for the city.
SUV/Truck? Least spacious, price varies. Can go down the most roads. Stealth iffy.
You know what helped me pick? I thought about my stuff. I started selling everything I didn’t think I needed on the road and then some. I figured out exactly how much I needed and then still kept narrowing down the list. The stuff I own is...
80% things I use on at least a weekly basis. This includes clothes. Toiletries. Entertainment.
10% things I use on a seasonal basis. Swimsuits. Snow coat. Certain hobbies.
8% things I use once or twice a year. First aid kit. Tarp for rain/shade.
2% sentimental/ necessary things. Important documents. Some gems/stones. Letters. These all fit in a shoe box.
Now that I’m in the van... I still think I have somethings to get rid of.
Not everyone can go as small as a van. They’re iffy for more than one person, especially if you’re stealthing in the city. At least on the road you’re not in the van most of the time.
Even if you pick an RV or trailer, the next list is still important.
Consider bathroom options. Better to have a real-ish toilet that you have to clean out? Or stick to public bathrooms and the woods? Or maybe both but one is for emergencies.
Consider power. You want things that run on electricity? Consider how much time you want, give yourself a buffer, and go from there.
Consider temperature. What climates are you going to be in? Chasing summer and avoiding the cold? How will you cool down? Hitting all types? Consider insulation and heating.
And when you think you know what you want to get... Force yourself to imagine what the step below is. Whether it’s cheaper/takes up less space/lower maintenance. Force yourself to imagine doing this. Living that reality. Really dig deep and pretend. Consider if it’s really just not for you or if it’s not that bad. Do this until you hit the point where you find that you’re as small and simple as you can go, without making yourself uncomfortable.
And then... even then... you’ll realize that you will make changes even once you start. I didn’t start with a heater. I didn’t have my Celtic tapestry. I didn’t have the white fleece to make the walls look nicer. I had different drawers. I didn’t have a built bed. But I added that stuff in later for their reasons. I over estimated on some things, and under estimated on others.
You’re going to change things around. Change your mind. Add things. Get rid of things. Go bigger or go smaller.
Don’t try to achieve perfection.
