Is Vanlife a Weekend Getaway or a Full-Time Home?
The Road That Led to a Van
I had a goal to see all 50 states and capitals, and I started doing it in a Subaru Outback I had modified. After nine months in the Outback, I realized I needed something different. Don’t get me wrong—the Outback had its advantages. It was AWD, small enough to go almost anywhere, and I had outfitted it for a quasi-vanlife existence. I pulled the back seats out and built storage, then added a platform to hold six large boxes for food and supplies. I slept on a Hest Sleep System mattress that rolled up and had an inflatable layer for extra support. On the roof, I carried a mountain bike and a Thule box. It worked, but the comfort level was pretty low.
I was frozen in the Subaru in Northern Arkansa during an ice storm. I couldn’t get out of the car. That’s when I decided to upgrade to a van to truly experience “vanlife.” There were so many options that I spent months researching and documenting what I needed. In true project management style, I built a requirements document based on blogs, YouTube videos, and my own time on the road. I even went to the largest RV show in North America, held every September in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
I couldn’t find something that met all my wants and needs. So, I finally bought a brand-new 2023 Ford Transit with the dream of turning it into a high-end campervan. How hard can it be? Right? I thought it would take six months. Spoiler alert: it took three times as long. But the journey—filled with decision-making, problem-solving, and a ton of sawdust—was worth every minute.
Before you head down the vanlife rabbit hole, start with one question: what do you actually want your van for?
🔍 Step 1: Document Your Purpose and Needs.
Your purpose drives every decision—size, layout, power systems, storage, and comfort. Are you chasing weekend getaways? Planning to attend events like tailgates? Or will this be your full-time home on wheels?
Before you go look at van, alone or with a partner, be clear how you are going to use a van. Here are some common use cases that will give you a sense of what vans are built for:
Weekend Adventurer – Short getaways close to home: campgrounds, state parks, national forests.
Seasonal Traveler – Extended spring, summer, or fall road trips lasting weeks or months.
Full-Time Living – Your van is your home. Comfort, organization, and reliability matter.
Remote Worker / Digital Nomad – Needs workspace, power, and connectivity.
Event-Based Travel – Tailgating, festivals, or kids’ soccer weekends.
Off-Grid Explorer – Remote places far from hookups. Solar, extra water, rugged features.
Cycling / Outdoor Sports Basecamp – Bike storage, gear drying, post-ride shower, hearty meals.
Winter Sports Van – Insulation, heating, ski/snowboard storage, systems that work in the cold.
Family Adventure Van – Multi-person sleeping setups, food storage, flexible space for kids or pets.
Retirement Travel Vehicle – Comfortable, low-maintenance, and built for long-term enjoyment.
Step 2: Map Out Your Needs
Before you buy a single piece of gear or start sketching layouts, ask yourself one big question: what does my van actually need to do for me? Once you’re clear on that, everything else falls into place.
Think about it this way—if your plan is mostly summer weekends with the occasional weeklong vacation, do you really need a shower, a massive water tank, and a high-end electrical system? Probably not.
Taking the time to map out your needs will save you headaches down the road. It makes choosing or building a van easier, saves money, and ensures your van is built around how you’ll actually live in it—not somebody else’s Instagram feed. The goal is simple: you want exactly what meets your needs, and nothing more (or less).
Of course, every choice comes with a tradeoff. Bigger water tanks mean less storage. A fixed bed is comfortable but eats up valuable space. And sometimes the van you’ve been dreaming about doesn’t even fit in your garage—or your budget. I’ve met people who learned too late that their brand-new van was too tall for the “extra-large” garage they built for it.
To keep things manageable, here’s a list of key considerations, grouped into categories. This list is intentionally kept short—it’s a starting point, not a deep dive. Each category can and will be its own blog post, but for now, think of this as your checklist to start shaping the van that truly fits your life.
🛏️ Sleeping & Comfort
At the end of the day, how and where you sleep determines whether vanlife feels like an adventure or a grind.
Bed size and orientation
Fixed vs. convertible setup
Mattress quality and bedding storage
Privacy options (curtains, dividers)
🍳 Kitchen & Cooking
A good kitchen setup can make the difference between quick snacks and real meals that keep you fueled on the road.
Cooking method (propane, induction, microwave, or combo)
Countertop space, sink size, and hot water
Fridge/freezer size
Pantry and everyday kitchen storage
Cooking inside vs. outside the van
🚽 Bathroom Needs
Everyone avoids talking about it, but your bathroom setup will have a huge impact on your comfort and convenience.
Toilet type (cassette, composting, portable, flush)
Shower setup (indoor, outdoor, or none)
Grey/black water disposal and privacy options
No Toilet at all (Use campsites, Walmart, McDonald’s, etc.)
💦 Water System
Water is life—getting the right tanks, pumps, and heaters will shape how long you can stay off-grid.
Freshwater and grey tank sizes
Pump, heater type, drainage, and winterization
Filtration
⚡ Electrical & Power
Your electrical system is the backbone of vanlife, powering everything from lights and laptops to fridges and fans. How much power do you really need?
Battery type and capacity
Solar, alternator charging, shore power
Inverter, outlets, USB/12V plug locations
Lighting options and monitoring system
❄️🔥 Climate Control
If you plan to travel outside of perfect weather, heating, cooling, and insulation are what keep vanlife sustainable.
Heating system, insulation, and ventilation fans
Air conditioning and condensation management
Window coverings for heat, cold, and privacy
🧳 Storage & Layout
Every square inch counts in a van—your storage plan decides whether the space feels organized or chaotic.
Cabinet style and overhead storage
Garage space under the bed
Access from inside vs. outside
Dedicated space for hobbies or gear
🛰️ Connectivity & Communication
Staying connected—whether for work, maps, or streaming—comes down to the gear you choose for internet and charging.
WiFi boosters, mobile hotspots, or Starlink
Cell boosters
Charging stations for laptops, phones, and camera gear
Step 3: Buy, Renovate, or Build?
Once you’ve figured out how you want to use your van and identified the features that matter most, the next big decision is whether to buy, renovate, or build. This choice should be guided by the use case you’ve chosen—weekend trips, seasonal travel, or full-time living—and by the specific needs you’ve mapped out. A weekend adventurer might be fine with a simple used build, while a full-time traveler or remote worker may need a highly customized setup. The point is that your purpose and priorities should drive the decision, not just what’s available on the market.
Before committing thousands of dollars, it’s worth testing your assumptions. Renting a campervan that closely matches your needs—even if it isn’t perfect—gives you a chance to experience the tradeoffs in real life. You’ll quickly learn if that indoor shower is worth the space it takes up, or if a convertible bed drives you crazy after a week. A short-term rental is like a trial run for your vanlife dream: it confirms what’s essential, what’s nice to have, and what you can live without. This hands-on test can save you from expensive mistakes and give you confidence in the path you choose—buy, renovate, or build.
Buy (New or Used, Fully Built-Out)
If time is your biggest concern and you’d rather get on the road than spend months (or years) building, buying a van that’s already built out can be the simplest path. New vans from manufacturers or professional builders come with warranties, polished interiors, and systems designed to work together. Used campervans can save you money, but the layout and style may not match your exact needs. Either way, you’ll pay a premium for convenience and give up some flexibility on layout, materials, and long-term customization. This is a great option for those who value ease and speed over having every detail tailored. Also, be sure to read about quality issues. Not all vans are built equally.
Renovate
Renovating a pre-owned campervan can be a sweet spot between cost and customization. You get the benefit of an existing shell—insulation, windows, cabinetry, or even electrical systems—while still having room to make it your own. The challenge is that you’re often inheriting someone else’s decisions, which may not be the choices you would’ve made. Sometimes that means tearing out a bathroom you’ll never use, redoing poor wiring, or fixing water damage. Renovation is ideal if you enjoy problem-solving, want to save money on the base build, and are okay with investing sweat equity to transform the van into something that fits your lifestyle.
Build (DIY or Partial Pro Help)
Building your van from the ground up offers the ultimate freedom—and the steepest learning curve. You get to design every detail, from bed orientation to battery size, but you’ll also face the reality of countless decisions, inevitable mistakes, and long hours with power tools. For many, the pride of creating a completely personalized home on wheels makes the frustration worth it. A hybrid approach is common: handle the work you’re comfortable with, then outsource specialized tasks like electrical, plumbing, or cabinetry to professionals. This option is best for those with time, patience, and a clear vision for how they want to live on the road.Wrap-Up
Wrap-Up
Before you commit to a van, map out your life in it. This isn’t about building something that looks good on Instagram—it’s about building what works for you. Be honest with yourself, and the process will be smoother, less frustrating, and far more rewarding.