When we first bought our van it was a blank canvas. An empty cargo van waiting to be transformed which is exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. Sebastian had done tons of research on layouts, features and mechanics while I was in charge of the design….hello Pinterest! We watched countless YouTube videos on van builds and what people would do differently but in honesty, you dont know what’s going to work for you unless you try it out for yourself. If possible, do a trial run with your finished home. We traveled 2 months in the US and headed back to San Diego for one month before leaving on our big trip. This was a great opportunity, in that we had time to make adjustments before traveling in a foreign country. Remember, even though you have done hours of research on the perfect van build, you will most likely find something that you would’ve done differently once you start living in your converted home. Since living out of our van, here are our “Dos” and Don’ts”
Dos
1. Composting Toilet
When Sebastian and I were watching tiny homes and van life videos, we would see several channels that had a composting toilet and thought that was the most disgusting thing ever…haha! Cut to several years later and here we are with a composting toilet and couldn’t imagine traveling without one. For us, having a toilet was necessary. It was great for when we had to go to the bathroom at night and also came in clutch for a couple of emergencies. As gross as it may seem, it’s not as bad as you think and it saved us several times throughout our trip.
2. Outdoor Hose
Sebastian installed an outdoor hose which was initially going to be for our dog (who we ended up not bringing) but regardless, was a huge asset for us. It was great to be able to hose sand off before getting in the van, give Lucas a quick shower or spray things that needed cleaning. It was installed in a small cubby in the cabinet behind the sliding door and was easy to access in any of the mentioned situations.
3. Bug Screen
This is something we added after our US trip and is 1000% worth it. We bought one off Amazon (a premade screen for a house) and my mom and I tailored it to our van. For us, it was a lot of work and very time consuming but the screen only cost $20 and it was essential for our travels. In the US we would continuously be swarmed with bugs and flies. After the screen was installed, the bug invasions were minimal if ever. Our screen was just for the sliding door but having one for the back doors would be a great option too for those hot nights you want to leave the doors open to cool off.
4. Heater
We traveled in our van from August to October in the US and from November to August in Mexico and Central America and there were numerous times where we were glad we had a heater…especially in the highland areas. We initially put a heater in because we were planning on going all the way down to Argentina and we knew that some places in South America would be too cold without a heater, but in reality it was necessary all throughout Latin America.
Don’ts
1. Indoor Shower
This was my idea and I thought we would use it more than we did. Traveling throughout Mexico and Central America we ended up staying in more campgrounds because we felt safer doing so, and because of that, we had access to a shower (although…some were on the terrifying and freezing side but fresh water nonetheless). We also had our composting toilet in the shower which meant when you wanted to take a shower you had to take the toilet out. Looking back, we would have utilized an outdoor shower more, plus we would have had more space in the van. Again, each person is different because we met other travelers who loved their indoor shower but for us we could have done without it.
2. Convertible Bed
In our van, Sebastian created a seating area that converted into a bed. Since Sebastian and I were both doing some freelance work, we thought having a table was necessary…plus it was a place to eat. At one point, early on in our trip, we just got lazy and left the bed up full time and ate on the bed or standing up…haha. We would also work while Lucas napped, so majority of our work time was done outside either in front of the van or at a table at one of the campgrounds. For us a stationary bed would have been a better option.
3. Cabinet Handles
Handles are a tricky one because you need them to be able to withstand bumpy roads keeping all your drawers and cabinets shut. I bought push latches off Amazon specifically for RVs that I thought were for cabinets and drawers. However, looking back at the description, I see that they are not meant for drawers which makes sense because while driving through the US we quickly discovered that they weren’t strong enough to keep our drawers shut. By the end of the trip I was taping our drawers shut with packing tape. After our US trip we had a month to regroup and removed the knobs from the drawers and installed ball catches which worked great. These are installed on the inside of the drawer to keep shut. As for the front, you can use a regular handle, leather or rope loop…whatever goes with your aesthetic. After we installed the ball catches we had zero issues with our drawers.
4. Single Fan
Our van design has one ceiling fan. We only included one so we could add an additional solar panel and in hindsight two fans would have been more beneficial than the additional solar panel. Plus, the second fan would increase airflow. So, if you have an extended van and are thinking about one or the other…go with the fan. Your future self, in hot climates, will thank you.
These recommendations are solely based on our own experiences. Everyone, of course, is different but these are the things we personally would keep and ditch…happy converting!!