I've lived in a van full time for 3 years. Here are the 5 biggest downsides no one talks about. (2024)

A seed that was planted in our heads. I knew we wanted to pursue this idea when we came home, so we began renovating our van after returning to Canada.

We loved the idea of being able to travel, and we knew it would allow us to cut down on living expenses.

To do it, we began to pick up seasonal jobs, including working in an office, house-sitting, and working for a brick-and-mortar business. Then, when we had enough money saved up, we left our jobs and hit the road.

We've learned a lot from living out of our van for the past three years. Although we wouldn't trade van life for anything, here are five things you should know before trying it yourself.

1. Everyday tasks can be exhausting

If you're in a house, you can just use a tap to get a glass of water. If you want to take a shower, you might do it without thinking. But, when you live in a van, you have to be more intentional.

You're always thinking about what you're doing next. For example, if your water tank is getting low, you have to think about where you're going to refill it.

This also all changes by the geographic location you're in. Are you off-grid? Are you close to the city? Can you fill up your water tank right away? Or do you have to wait? This all changes your consumption habits.

Things that are in the background for others aren't in the background for us. You have to always think about how you're going to live, including how often you flush your toilet.

2. People often ask about how we use the toilet

Our van doesn't have a compost toilet, which can cost $1200. But, we do have a Dometic Portable Toilet.

It's basically a toilet with a holding tank. It holds everything in a small tank, but you have to dump it at sanitation stations manually. You can find those at rest stops and gas stations.

If you're considering van life, you need to think about using the toilet.

3. There are expenses when it comes to van life

It might be a cheaper way to live, but there are still costs. First, you have to pay for your gas — and the cost is determined by how much you drive.

But then, you have your car insurance, oil changes, and gym membership. While the gym might seem optional, that's where most van lifers shower. Our breakdown looks like this:

• RV insurance: $133 a month
• Gym memberships: $45 a month
• Laundromat: $15 a month
• Gas: $800 a month
• Groceries: $520 a month

Then there's the biggest expense, van breakdowns. Once, when we were on a trip through the US, our van broke down in San Diego. It was stressful because we were quoted $3,000, or about 4,500 Canadian dollars. It was a huge loss because it used up our emergency fund.

It's never fun when your van breaks down. On top of that expense, you have to think about where you're staying. Getting a hotel unexpectedly definitely adds to your expenses.

You also have to consider breakdowns when purchasing a van. While you might want a unique van, getting one with an easy-to-fix engine that any mechanic can fix is better.

We are lucky with ours. Since it's an ambulance conversion, it has the typical Chevy engine. It's cheap to source, and most mechanics can work on it.

4. There are a lot of social stigmas

There's a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to sustaining van life.

We don't all have the same income, and we don't all have the same story. Some of us work remotely, some work a regular 9-to-5 job, and some live out of a van out of necessity.

Nick and I do seasonal work. We mainly take on house-sitting assignments and other summer jobs. I work a normal 9-to-5 office job until we save enough to begin our travels. It's a process that we do again and again.

Many think that people who participate in van life don't work or that we don't have real jobs. While some who live in their vans might be rich or have trust funds, that's not true for all of us. The social stigmas are very loud, but the truth is that we're all different, just like everyone else.

5. We miss moments with our family

You have to put in a lot of work to maintain friendships and relationships. You have to make the time and the calls to stay in touch with people.

Our nomadic lifestyle means missing birthdays or being away from our families can be hard. We've missed big moments like our niece's first steps.

It's really important for us to stay connected by messaging them or FaceTiming them.

Thankfully, we have also made many friends on the road who live a very similar lifestyle. Since we're all on wheels, we often meet up with each other, and we can usually do it within a matter of days.

It's not all bad

Although van life has downsides, there are many positives, too. We love being part of the van-life community and wouldn't trade van life for Vancouver's high cost of living.

We have location freedom, but we also have financial freedom. We don't have to make much money — our summer jobs and house-sitting gigs pay for our travel. The best part is that we don't drown in bills trying to pay rent. Instead, we get to go wherever we want to go, whenever we want to go.

We always tell people they should try it if they feel the urge to do it. The experience is challenging, but it's also a rewarding one.

If you have a fun, unique home and would like to share your story, email Alyshia Hull at [email protected].

Correction: July 19, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated the relationship between Rachel Reimer and Nick. Nick is Reimer's husband, not her boyfriend.