The Cons of Van Life
Space – The size of the van can make for constant reorganization of things, and a lot of bumping elbows.
Regularly finding water – This might be the number one thing people take for granted in their everyday lives that becomes a bit of a shock for van lifers. This not only makes quenching your thirst difficult, but cooking certain foods, cleaning your clothes and dishes, and taking showers become a bigger challenge.
Temperature changes – In the summer, as you know, a vehicle can get really hot and uncomfortable, and in the winter, a van can get really cold. Having a heater and AC will certainly help, but a van’s insulation is not like a house, which can cause temperatures to rise and fall much quicker.
Homesickness – This will come and go. You will certainly make some new friends along the way, but not seeing your closest friends and family on a regular basis can be a struggle for some.
Hygiene – If you absolutely can’t deal with public restrooms, van life might not be for you. If your van has a toilet, you’re golden (pun intended). But, if you don’t have a toilet, you will be getting very close with nature, porta-potties, and if you’re lucky, a well-maintained public restroom. Most vans also don’t have a shower, which makes it a bit more difficult to stay clean.
Reliability – If you need to bring your van to a mechanic because of a breakdown, you could be without a home for a couple days.
Stable income – If you work as a freelancer, income will not be much of an issue. The only difficulty in that is finding reliable WiFi on a regular basis. If you’re not a freelancer, finding stable work can certainly be challenging.
Insurance –Â Vehicle insurance can be challenging for a converted vehicle and getting an appraisal done.
Finding where to sleep – If you don’t sleep well at home, it will only be more difficult in a van. You will often be looking for a new place to sleep every night, which can get very stressful. Some places are illegal to sleep at night, so you may be woken up in the middle of the night by authorities.
Difficulty Driving – If you consider yourself a sub-par driver, a large van will take some time getting accustomed to.
The Impression – In some cities, RVs and vans are really not well seen. In some big cities such as LA, you may feel judged and unwanted since many poor-homeless people in those big cities buy RVs or vans to squat in neighborhoods.