I have been traveling in my van for over 2 years now and I have to say that it has its ups and downs. But I think the most important thing to remember about van life is that it’s not as glamorous as you might think. It takes a lot of hard work and planning, especially if you are on budget. Here are some of the reasons why van life sucks.
1. Frustrating breakdowns and costly repairs.
A van is a vehicle and as such, it will have issues. The more you travel and live in your van, the more likely it is that something will break down.
I have had my fair share of frustrating breakdowns. There are different types of breakdowns, and you simply cannot be prepared for all of them. I’ve had a lot of electrical issues with my van which has been very frustrating (and expensive).
Some breakdowns can be fixed while others may require extensive repairs or even an entirely new part being installed which will simply jack up your van life expenses.
2. Long hours at the wheel and bad sleeps.
Long hours at the wheel can be boring.
Being on your own for long periods of time can be lonely, unless you’re traveling with someone. Even then there is someone it is highly probable that you will get bored.
You have to sleep, but there’s not always time to sleep well or at all. The van life means bad sleeps and lots of thinking about things.
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
3. Getting stuck in remote places.
The remote locations you can end up in are often full of things like no gas stations, no restaurants nearby and no cell phone service. In addition to that, there’s usually no Wi-Fi or power outlets around so you can’t use your laptop or smart device to check your social media accounts, which might be important to you as a blogger/vlogger who needs access to the internet for work. You may also not find any laundromat or grocery stores nearby so if you want clean clothes or food then it’s going to be hard for you.
If having all these problems sounds bad enough now just wait until winter comes around–then add snow into the mix!
4. Strangers asking nosy questions.
Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to talk about your van. It can be annoying when people ask nosy questions through your van window.
Some may think that living in a van is cool and that as soon as they see you in one, they should come up and start asking questions. While others might think that because you are traveling around the country or world in such a small space means that you must be a hippy or drug dealer (don’t worry I have been accused of both).
You simply need to ignore such people and drive away as soon as they start poking you with their stupid questions.
5. No home comforts.
Van life is often touted as a cheaper and more adventurous way of life that is just the ticket for those looking to escape their daily routines, but there are some serious downsides to this alternative lifestyle. The lack of home comforts can make van life seem less appealing, especially if you’re not prepared for it.
When living in a van or campervan, there are many things you miss out on due to the limitations imposed by your new surroundings. These include:
- No kitchen – No stove or oven means no cooking; no fridge means no storage space for food items such as fresh fruit and vegetables; no sink means limited cleanliness options; and no pots or pans mean limited cooking options (think hot dogs on sticks).
- Limited storage space – There’s simply not enough room to store everything in most campervans/vans because they’re small vehicles that were designed primarily as mode of transportation rather than accommodation vehicles with amenities like full-size refrigerators/freezers and washing machines/dryers built into them like motor homes do have.”
6. Dealing with bed bugs in your bedding and clothes.
Bed bugs are a common problem in vans. Like all pests, they’re drawn to warm places with plenty of food and water. They can hide anywhere: under your bed, between the cushions of your couch, etc. The best way to keep bed bugs at bay is by keeping your van clean and treating it regularly with insecticide spray before moving out of one place and into another. To avoid paying for any pest controlling services: always check for signs before moving into any new place; never leave food out overnight; wrap up any suitcases before storing them so that no critters can get inside them
7. Staying clean is a daily struggle (showers are a luxury).
One of the biggest challenges of van life is staying clean. Showers are a luxury, and you need to be creative about how you keep yourself clean on a daily basis. There’s no running water or nearby showers. You’ll be dirty for a long time, especially if your van has no shower or toilet.
The best way to stay clean while living in a van is to be creative. Here are some tips for how to stay clean during van life:
- Bring plenty of wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Wet wipes are great for quick cleanup, especially when there’s no shower around.
- Keep an extra set of clothes in your van. If you have no shower, this will help you stay clean.
- Find a public restroom or laundromat nearby and use it often.
- Invest in a portable toilet if possible. This can make life much easier when there’s no shower available at all!
8. Your friends don’t understand why you live in a van.
It can be difficult to explain why you’re living in a van. Your friends and family may think you are running away from your responsibilities, or that you are simply looking for another way to live an unconventional lifestyle. Explaining the concept of van life is relatively new for many people, so they may not understand it especially when because you need to sacrifice the comfort of your home.
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
9. A lack of social life (and sex).
You will have no social life as you are constantly moving. If you are the kind of person who loves social interactions, van life might not be for you.
You will have no sex life as well if you are travelling alone. Even if you are with your partner, it won’t feel ideal to have sex when there are infrequent showers, shaving, and sleeping in crowded parking lots, which certainly isn’t sexy.
Even when both of the partners feel like having sex they still may not get enough time since they will be driving all day long and so their energy levels would go down significantly after a few hours when compared with the usual 9-5 job where one gets breaks during lunchtime or after work hours.
10. Homesickness when you are thousands of miles from home.
Homesickness is a real thing that you will experience when living in a van. Homesickness is caused by the lack of familiarity that you are used to having every day, like your bed, your shower, and all of the other comforts of home.
It’s important to realize that homesickness can only be cured by going home!
The best way to combat homesickness is by going on excursions and adventures. If you are feeling a bit down, get out of your van and explore the area around you.
11. You’re Going to Eat the Same Meals Over & Over.
One of the downsides to van life is that you will find yourself eating the same meals over and over. The reason for this is because cooking in a van is not easy. Travelling all day in itself is hectic, so you try to avoid pulling out all your cooking supplies while on the road. However, this means that every meal becomes an effort in creativity.
You could eat out at restaurants but it’s going to be expensive and not necessarily healthy if you aren’t careful about where you eat!
12. Dysfunctional relationships (you will find out if your relationship can survive van life).
If you’re in a relationship, you will find out if your relationship can survive van life. If you don’t know each other very well, well then it will be an interesting journey for the both of you.
You will have to spend a lot of time together and that could either be a good thing or not so great depending on how compatible the two of you are. For example, if one person is an introvert while the other is an extrovert then it might be difficult for them to get along in such close quarters day after day on top of everything else that goes wrong when living in a van.
I personally think that being able to live with each other 24/7 without getting sick of each other is one of those tests where if both parties pass then there is something special about their bond; something worth preserving because it makes them stronger together than apart.
13. Problems with insurance and registration when crossing borders.
One of the biggest challenges of van life is dealing with border crossings. If you’re crossing a border, you need to have insurance and registration in your name. This means that every time you cross a border, you will have to be present. This can be very expensive depending on which countries are involved and how long it takes for them to process your paperwork.
14. Money is ALWAYS a concern!
To be fair, overlanding has never been for the faint of heart or for those who don’t know how to manage their finances. But as your trip grows longer, or if you have multiple vehicles in your fleet, managing money becomes even more of an issue. You will have to find ways to earn more money, cut back on things that you want but can live without and find ways to save some cash while spending more than half of your life living out of a van.
15. Van life is a lot of hard work.
Van life is a lot of hard work. You have to do everything yourself, from cooking, cleaning and maintaining the van, to being on the road all day while trying to make money. This can get pretty exhausting! Van life may not be as glamorous as it appears in social media. There are many challenges that come with living in a van that you might not be aware of before actually doing it yourself!
Van life isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If you don’t want to live in a van, then don’t! It doesn’t matter what your friends or family think about it. You are an individual and there is no right or wrong way of doing things.
16. Some days are downright boring.
The reality of van life is that you won’t always get to do what you want. Some days will be better than others, but there will be some days where all you want to do is go out and explore, but it’s too risky or illegal to do so.
Here are a few simple things that can keep boredom at bay:
- Explore your surroundings. If you’re in a city, find some parks or trails nearby and go for a walk around them. If there aren’t any parks nearby (or if the weather isn’t cooperative), try finding somewhere to sit down on your porch or balcony where there’s not much traffic coming by. You can also take pictures of anything interesting in front of your vehicle or at its sides—other vans/trucks driving by are good subjects for this activity! Just make sure not to obstruct traffic while taking these photos; if nothing else, this would mean being careful about how far into the road your vehicle might be parked!
- Catch up on podcasts or audiobooks while traveling (or when stuck waiting somewhere). This is one of the best ways to pass some time while still learning about things that you love.
17. You’re not allowed to park just anywhere
Another thing to consider is that there are places you can’t park. In many areas, the parking restrictions for RVs are just as difficult to navigate as those for cars. Some places aren’t suitable for parking at all—like a sidewalk or in front of someone’s home—and others limit how long you can stay parked there. And if you get caught in an area where it’s not okay to park, be prepared for fines and other costs that may come down on your head.
Conclusion
You might be thinking, “Well, I’m not going to live in a van! That sounds like such a terrible lifestyle.” And that’s fine. Living in your own home with your family and friends around you is totally worth it (and if you ask me, probably much more comfortable). But if you do decide to give van life a try, just remember that it can be an adventure – just make sure it’s the kind of adventure you want!
Related Link: Kev’s Vanlife and Travel Essentials
