Van Life

Back in the 90’s I found myself living alone on an estate close to where I grew up and somewhere that I knew quite well, for a time at least. Having spent most of my childhood playing in the fields and cycling around the local area, much of the area had since changed, as had it’s residents. I no longer felt the connection that I once had, admittedly working nights can play havoc with day to day activities, noise levels and crime on the increase, I needed a calmer place to be.

I played with the idea of buying a camper van, something I could spend time away from the town, even just for the day, or night off at the weekend.

I seized the opportunity to “treat” myself on my birthday and I drove 50 miles in my old car in order to part exchange it for the van. I’d never driven anything bigger than a car before, so it was a little nerve racking, especially when stopped a few miles from home, with my old car tax disc on display! Thankfully the officer was understanding as everything else checked out okay, so it was just a friendly warning … whatever happened to those!?

It already had a sink, so I installed a single bed (with hinges attached), making it ideal for storage beneath. Lighting was already taken care of, as well as plenty of 12 volt supplies fitted throughout.

I was keen to go out in it, so the next night off, I stocked up with some snacks and a sleeping bag and drove a few miles out into the countryside.

Finding a suitable pull-in on a back road, far from the nearest village, I was immediately struck by the quiet of the night and proceeded to have the best night’s sleep I’d had in years!

I didn’t class myself as any kind of “Van lifer” back then. It was just a choice I made to get away from the noise, and what seemed like chaos of the town.

Whilst I think most of my friends and family thought me a little strange for buying a rusty old ambulance, I was enjoying the experience of doing something out of the norm, and perhaps more so, out of my comfort zone.

I had many memorable outings in the old bus until the chassis rot got too much and it was towed away to its final resting place. I knew it was the start to more adventures further down the line …

Having also given up both of our jobs, and leaving family and friends behind, we had decided to travel around Wales, starting in the North and then travelling down through South Wales, and finally returning back to the North to settle down in a quiet village close to the sea.

The sites we visited throughout the 6 months we were full-timing held many special memories. A different kind of memory you just don’t get from living “in bricks”, perhaps on a holiday maybe, and this was some holiday!

Like the time my partner shouted me to stop because of a "bird in the grass", whilst crossing a field that was frozen solid the night before. Walking away from the van buried up to the axles in mud, i set out to find the local farmer to pull us out with his tractor, I soon realized that this would be a holiday with a difference!

Laying under the van in sub zero temperatures, trying to thaw out the water tank(s) with a hair drier … I soon realized that my practical skills were going to be put to the test.

In hindsight, in my years of spending time on the road, in lay-bys and pub car parks, you do get to share some great experiences. Nothing really prepares you for the kinds of situations or the people that you get to meet on the road.

I spent about 4 months fitting the van out with flexible solar panels and 6 volt golf kart batteries and a mains inverter for a microwave and induction hob. In hindsight these were totally unnecessary. Having partially left the rat race, I was hardly in a rush to rustle up a quick snack between shifts … but then I guess it’s difficult for some of us to let go of our comforts so easily.

There’s a lot you see when you’re parked up with no particular plan or route to take. Cars pulling up at a beauty spot, getting out for a selfie, then piling back in and driving off. This was quite strange to me, but it’s actually the norm. The man sitting in a van in his pajamas, sipping coffee is probably a much stranger sight I'd say!

Once again, selling my van around 10 months later and living for perhaps a couple of months with my (then) partner in her Peugeot Boxer van, it was quite tricky as it was smaller than my Transit, with a low roof (ouch!) but we managed reasonably well.

Eventually, finding myself jobless and homeless, I was thrown a life-line by friends and family and returned to North Wales again.

As I had very little money (again) I "rescued" an old plasterer's van from the scrap yard, for just £1000. It had been parked on a housing estate for several years and had many dents and a leaking swimming pool for a roof, where kids had obviously been jumping up and down. I had my work set out for me, that's for sure!

Fish tanks for headlights meant a replacement all round. No reverse or first gear was the only major problem surprisingly, and obviously a duff battery. After a chug and a smoke she started pretty easily and I started planning the new conversion.

Thankfully, I was able to sleep at work, which meant i was able to save enough to complete the conversion within around 2-3 months.

As I was on quite a tight budget, I focused mainly on insulation and a comfortable bed. I'd learnt in the past that getting a comfortable nights sleep was paramount to maintaining a healthy van life. Fitting a 2 ring gas burner with sink, a cheap £80 diesel heater (which I ran on heating oil for half-price fuel and cleaner burn) and refillable GasLo bottle, again it worked out half price of conventional Calor Gas bottles, things finally started to come together.

I lived in "Silver" for about 2 years, in which time it more than paid for itself. This was my last and final (?) van and I moved to a warmer climate, which would actually be a great place to travel round in a van .... hmmm ....

I guess the last part of my Van life would be best spent reflecting on “Why would anybody want to live in a van?” and any lessons I’ve learned along the way.

I guess we live in an age where we do have a choice, more so than our parents probably had. If we get bored or feel unfulfilled in anything, we can make a change. Van life offers people the chance to do something out of the ordinary. There are plenty of people doing it that it’s now socially acceptable to do so. Although actual full timers, as opposed to “weekenders” are perhaps not as common as they used to be, forced to move back to bricks due to the lack of park ups , certainly in the UK, as well as pressures from local communities and councils, usually caused by the few that are just plain selfish and inconsiderate … enough said!

Whilst most councils are against people living on the road, there are some, like Gwynedd council, that are taking steps to meet the needs of people wanting to spend the night in their vans. There’s a strategy to finding good park ups and the rule of thumb is generally to be less of a burden to others as possible. The attitude of thinking that you can do just as you like just doesn’t work, and it won’t be long before you experience problems, either from land owners, the police or the general public. Forget about overnighting in beauty spots, some are okay but the majority will have signs or barriers.

A smaller low roof van will of course have less of a problem. If you choose to ignore the signs, and I have, then just expect trouble, but often if you arrive late and leave early, you’ll be okay. The ability to pack up quickly is a must as you just never know what will happen during the night. Park facing the exit, keep a flash light handy and van keys somewhere safe and easily accessible.

Depending on the area you live, you will likely “grade” park ups by the amenities and access to water. You can buy a key on Ebay for a fiver for using disabled toilets, to top up with water and empty the loos at night. Park close by and check times of the cleaners before doing so though. You tend to develop a sporadic “limp” at times, if it convinces you it’s good enough for others. Always clean up well afterwards. Often I would leave a toilet much cleaner than I’d found it.

Small amounts of rubbish can be disposed of before leaving the supermarket. Most packaging is unnecessary, so keep food in containers and bin the packaging before leaving the car park, then there’s less problems later on. Resealable silicon bags are cheap, compared to using plastic bags for storing food. Churches are also a good place for replenishing water if you’re stuck, later the better so as not to interfere with visitors. Staying in a van, you develop an impeccable sense of timing and will rely on your senses more over time. If something doesn’t feel right, always have a plan B. Parking overnight on industrial estates can be a little risky. Park close by to lorry drivers. Again, there may be patterns that you’ll see over time, certain nights when they are there. Police generally won’t bother you unless they are following up on a call from the public. I was visited once while I was cooking dinner. There had been a burglary in one of the local units and I was asked whether I’d seen anything. I took the officer’s number and said that I would let them know if I saw anything, obviously they checked my van just in case, but they were generally okay and never bothered me again. If you stay in the same area, once initial contact has been made, they will usually leave you alone. Remember, it could be them that you call in an emergency. Most of this is from my own perspective, so would differ from that of a female on her own living in a van. Another rule is to respect other people’s privacy at all times, unless of course they are in need of help.

You just don’t know other peoples stories living on the road. It may be very different to your own. Like I said earlier, we all have a choice in what we do, although for some it’s an absolute necessity and the only option available to them. Another point worth making is to be careful of people being “too friendly”. If it feels odd in any way, just leave. I have quite high anxiety levels so I’m sure there have been times I’ve been wrong in situations, but plan B is often a safer option to plan A.

Overall, I’ve gained a lot of insight into who I am and what my needs are as a person. Whilst you shed a lot of “things” when you move into a van, you also simplify your life to basic needs. The patterns you develop in society, do this at this time and that on that day, all seem quite absurd. You have more control of your life, less of a need for money and more aware of each moment. You find yourself reflecting back to your “previous life”, as it has now changed into something very different. Of course there are many types of van life, depending on the type of individual and reasons for wanting a van.

Check YouTube for real, less fake people, and you’ll find their stories. Each very different, but with some similarities. Many van lifers don’t use social media, for the same reason that they live in a van. To be as far away from the norm, although once you observe life from the inside of a van, the norm is actually quite strange, and mildly entertaining. My main take on Van life is that once you enter it, not just dip a toe, but fully embrace it, you experience life through completely different lenses. The tagline “one life … live it” you see stickered on people’s vans, is actually quite apt. Although each version is perhaps a little different, it still signifies a need to find a balance in life, taking back control and choosing how you spend your time, perhaps returning back to society or living on the fringe of it, making change happen both inside and out.

Thank you for reading.

As I hadn’t a great deal of money, I saw an advert for an old (G reg) ambulance, an Iveco Turbo Daily with twin back wheels for carrying more weight. Ambulances are ideal vehicles for a basic first camper. Although usually high mileage, they are always serviced regularly by the health service.

Several years later, my partner and I traded both of our vehicles in for a 1989 Ford Transit Travelhome II motorhome and set off for North Wales.

My first job was to demolish half of the front garden wall to fit the van in, at least to make it easier to work on and would perhaps upset the neighbors a little less.

Around 15 years or so later, I again revisited full time Van life and bought a Ford Transit ex-MOD van, which had been dry stored and had only 20k miles on the clock.

This time I wanted to make it as comfortable as possible, and although fitted with insulation and furniture, I chose to strip it out and start from scratch.

I lived in a house in the Welsh mountains for maybe a year (?) but came to the conclusion again that living in a van was better for me, both financially and mentally.

It was a 1993 Fiat Ducato (same as the Peugeot Boxer) 2 liter diesel and I called her "Silver".

Here's a "tribute" video I did of Silver, showing a little more detail of the "fixes" and the fitting out process.