Jackery Explorer 1000 Review: Is This a Legit Option for Vanlife?
Jackery portable power stations have made quite the splash. But can the Jackery Explorer 1000 stand up to life on the road? We test one to find out!
Our Adventure Becoming South Dakota Residents
Some of the biggest logistical problems that full-time nomads face revolve around not having a permanent residence. When you don’t have a fixed address, it can be very difficult to do many things that you need to do in today’s society, such as: Get a driver’s license Register your van Apply for insurance (auto, medical,…
Domicile for Nomads: Establishing a Legal Residence on the Road
If you’re a vanlifer, RVer, or backpacker, you live out on the open road, free from the restrictions of a fixed location. But when you live wherever you choose, that also means that you don’t actually live anywhere – or at least, not how society wants you to. Unfortunately for people like us, the legal…
Mail and Packages on the Road: A Guide for Vanlife Nomads
How do you get mail and packages when you’re traveling long term and you don’t have a fixed address? This is one of the challenges of life on the road, but it’s not an insurmountable one. No matter what you need to have shipped to you – a letter, a package, an important piece of…
Mounting an ARB Awning on a High Top Van (Without a Roof Rack)
We didn’t install a roof rack when we built our van. At the time, we didn’t see the need for one. “Our roof is going to be taken over by solar panels and a vent fan,” we thought. “There’s no reason for us to get a roof rack.” How wrong we were. We know now…
The Best 12V Power Inverters for DIY Campervans and RVs
It’s tough to live without electricity in today’s world, even when you’re traveling in a van. And if you want to keep your laptop charged, or if you like to make super healthy smoothies for breakfast, or if you prefer to freshly grind your coffee every morning – you need an inverter. An inverter is…
Vanlife Mold Prevention and Redoing Our Floor: Tips and Lessons
It’s every vanlifer’s worst nightmare. There’s a leak somewhere, and a good rainstorm brings a steady drip of water that might not seem like a big deal at first. But that water ends up leaching into some dark, unventilated corner of your van, and before you know it you’ve got a mold problem. This is…
Refrigeration on the Road: The Best 12V Portable Fridges for Vanlife
There’s nothing like having a refrigerator in your van to really bring the comforts of home on the road. Refrigeration means you can store fresh food and other cold items – like vegetables, dairy, meat, “booch,” and beer. It means you don’t have to fuss with a cooler full of ice and water-logged food. And…
Epic Guide to DIY Van Build Electrical: How to Install a Campervan Solar Electrical System
When we first started thinking about our vanlife electrical system and buying our components, we had a lot of questions. We researched online, read other van build blogs and forum posts, and watched Youtube videos. Some were very helpful, but many left us with a swirl of even more questions. We were learning a lot…
Insulating Your Van: Everything You Need to Know for Your DIY Van Build
If you want to stay comfortable in your van no matter the weather, you need to insulate. Insulation is one of the most important steps of any van build, and it pays to take the time to do it right. There’s also a lot of confusion and debate over the best way to insulate a…
5 Things We’d Change About Our Van Build (and 5 We Wouldn’t)
It’s officially November, and for us that means it’s time for some anniversary celebrations! A year ago we launched this blog, quit our jobs, and jumped full steam into our van build. We’re also well past six months on the road, and we thought it would be helpful to reflect on what we’ve learned about…
Vanlife Essentials: Installing a Smart Battery Isolator
Having solar power in your van is just plain awesome. It means you can live completely off the grid with lights, a fridge, phones and computers – all while not worrying about electric bills or power outages. But sometimes solar power just isn’t enough, especially if your budget doesn’t allow you to throw down for…
Installing Our Water System: DIY Van Build Plumbing Made Easy
If you plan on going off grid for any length of time, you need water in your van. And if you like to cook as much as we do, you’ll also want a sink for washing dishes and a way to catch waste water. But how do you go about setting all of this up?…
On the Road with Our Fan-Tastic Vent: Would We Buy it Again?
It’s now been over four months since we left our old lives behind and hit the road in our van. Since then we’ve learned a lot about what features we do and don’t need, and what actually works best when you live in a vehicle full time. As soon as we hit the road, we…
How to Build an Easy Portable Solar Panel Mount Out of PVC
It gets hot in the summer. Even hotter inside of a van – no matter how good your insulation and ventilation are. And when the sun’s beating down and making that temperature rise, sometimes you just need to park your van in the shade to help keep it cool. The problem with that, though, is…
How to Build a Plywood Battery Box for a DIY Van Conversion
Where do we house all of the electrical components in our van build? We have two big AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries in our van, and we decided to build our own battery box out of plywood. With a sealed battery like AGM or LiFePO4, a battery box isn’t required. If charged and discharged properly,…
How to Fit a Queen-sized Bed in Your Van: Badass Pullout Bed Frame Design
How do you live in a van and make it comfortable at the same time? Especially if you’re traveling with another person, it’s vital to maximize every inch and make sure there’s plenty of available space for stretching out. Even more so if you have dogs (or cats) in the van with you. In our…
How to Make Your DIY Van Build Easier with Pocket Holes
You’ve got your van insulated, you’ve installed walls, a floor, and a ceiling. Now you need a bed, a kitchen unit, maybe a bench to sit on. But how, exactly, do you put all of this together? Whether you’re building furniture or building a custom van interior, there’s always more than one way to do just about…
Installing a Vent Fan on Our High Top Conversion Van
The next step in our van build was installing a roof vent exhaust fan, which means cutting a hole in the roof. Fun! A vent fan is an essential part of creating a comfortable living environment inside of a van. It keeps the van cool by sucking out hot air and creating airflow, and it…
Focus on Today: Achieving Big Goals by Taking Small Actions
When you’re working towards a big goal, whether it’s building a van, learning an instrument, losing weight, training for a marathon, writing a novel, or [insert your goal here], it’s easy to get overwhelmed thinking about all the things that need to happen for you to achieve your goal. Focusing on the endgame alone has…