Going on the road in an adventure van can be a great time! Of course no build is the same, no person is the same, and every environment is different.
Though, some similarities do cross over and this article shall share some of the “Life Hacks” I have learned while doing van life on the road!
1) Storage Containers
Storage containers will make or break the ability to A) not have items rolling around every sharp corner and bump, plus B) they increase your ability to find what you are looking for quickly!
I chose to make use of a select few styles that stack and have lids. Nice to have large ones for big items and medium ones with dividers for smaller items. I found the basic grey tote from Home Depot to be great as well as the SIDIO Crates with their dividers.
2) Modularity
Modularity can be expressed in many facets of organization as well as core architecture. I took this to the max in the core structure of the van. I observed a climbing gym with plywood walls where threaded inserts were installed in a grid so handholds could be placed all over. I extended this idea to the van walls.
I was unsure of many positions of different items in the van and overall abhor permanent installations as better ideas will come down the road.
By ensuring everything bolted to the walls in a 4” spacing I cold easily remove, add, shift, and otherwise adjust the layout of cabinets, sinks, and other items in a modular fashion.
3) Keep Meals Simple & Once a Day
When in van life mode a majority of us do not have the full amenities of a standard American kitchen. Garbage, sure. Sink, maybe. Dishwasher, probably not.
With that in mind messes can grow out of hand and each task from prepping food, to cooking, to the clean up takes an order of magnitude more energy and thinking.
To keep all of this as easy as possible I found that keeping meals simple and once a day was the way. Let me explain.
Simple. We aren’t going to make the cover of Sunset Magazine by competing directly with Martha Stewart’s kitchen in the Hamptons. Keep the ingredient list simple. I routinely went with steak, cheese, and vegetables for lunch/dinner. So easy. Very nutritious. Not a lot of prep. Able to cook in one pan such as a cast iron. If you play your cards right you can eat out of the cast iron and clean up with water and a steel scrubber.
Once a Day. Even if the game plan is simple, cooking 3 times a day is going to add up. Each session can easily take 45 minutes or more and let’s be honest we are not here to just cook! By adopting what some trendsters might call “intermittent fasting” we can cook once, eat once, clean once, and have tons of food for later. Not sure if you want to eat it all at once? Grab a ziplock and store the rest in the fridge for later!
4) Never go Below 1/2 Tank
This van life hack applies to both gas, water, as well as propane.
Every time you get to half a tank in any of the above it’s time to fill up. When in adventure mode you can get waaaay out there and there is simply not a Chevron for these amenities every 1/4 mile.
For instance, I had a maximum holding of 21 gallons of water, 2 gallons of propane, and strapped a backup 12 gallons of gas to the roof rack.
Adopting a similar strategy of always topping off at 1/2 a tank will keep the stress monsters away so you can concentrate on having a good time.
5) Download Music, Maps, and Podcasts in Advance
You’d be surprised how many places outside of major cities have very limited service. Planning on each location you visit having zero service will help keep your expectations in check.
Preparing for this potentiality by downloading map data, music, and podcasts in advance will also keep the good times rolling in lieu of connection to the great oracle in the sky.
Most major apps like Google Maps, Spotify, and the like will offer these services. I found that ensuring the downloads work, while in service, by turning off cellular data and checking functionality will also help reduce headaches when it comes down to it.
A great backup to this is of course to have proper paper maps (preferably laminated) with a compass too. Not a bad move to have a harmonica and conversational skills in case things get really rough!
6) Have All the Tools
Just like our bodies have all the methods to repair themselves from simple inputs like food and water there is virtue to ensuring your vehicle has all the enzymatic wrenches, jumper cables, and gadgets to survive a breakdown in the middle of nowhere.
Obviously there is a prepper element to a lot of these van life hacks but that is because you are basically your own spaceship and cosmic cowboys/cowgirls need to be able to fix their flux capacitor from time to time. If nothing else, once you are prepared you are able to help others, make friends, and be a good samaritan.
Some truly basics include:
200+ Wrench and Tool Set (Metric & Standard)
Flares
Jumper Cables
Cordless Drill, Battery, and Charger
Extra USB Cables
Car Inverter for AC Power
Paper Maps and Compass
Blankets
Warm Clothes
Extra Food (3 Days at least)
Extra Water (3 days at least)
Real Shoes
Winter Chains for Tires
Properly Rated Tow Rope with Shackles
$100 Cash in $20’s
Much much more but this will be a great addition!