We bought a van last month! You might be wondering, “Did you stop sailing to live in a van?”
No — we didn’t quit sailing, and we’re still very much enjoying our boat. In fact, we’re on the boat right now and couldn’t be happier. The van is simply an addition to our lifestyle, not a replacement.
So why a van?
Last hurricane season we mostly stayed aboard our boat with a few short sails. For the coming hurricane seasons, we wanted something different. After talking with many other sailors, we realized a lot of people spend several months away from their boats each year during hurricane season. That made sense to us.
To combine the best of both worlds — mountains and beaches — we decided a 4×4 van alongside our sailboat is exactly what we wanted. We plan to primarily live and cruise on the boat, but occasionally use the van so we can hike, bike, and rock climb more easily. We’d felt like something was missing, and the van has already made us feel refreshed and excited again.
We also have a lot of off-boat travel this summer for family visits, a wedding, and events. Having a van will make those trips more comfortable for us and for our two dogs. Another benefit is simplicity: van systems are straightforward, so major, time-consuming repairs are less likely. Since our sailboat has many complex systems, we wanted our van experience to be as carefree and low-maintenance as possible.
I’ll be honest — I hesitated sharing this until we actually drove the van off the lot because I worried about being judged. We sold our motorhome last year with the plan to try van life when we were off the boat, so this move was part of our long-term plan. The van actually makes us more excited about our future sailing plans.
We’re thrilled for what’s ahead and can’t wait to start exploring.
P.S. If you follow me on Instagram you already know this news.
Related content:
- Why I Love Living In A Vehicle
- How I’ve Paid Off $29,000 In Debt By Living In a Van
- How This Couple Does Van Life with A Baby (and a dog!)
- Welcome To Paradise – We’re Living On A Sailboat!
Below are answers to common questions about living in a van.
Was getting a van planned?
Yes. When we bought our boat we expected we’d likely get an RV or van so we could keep enjoying off-boat activities. For us, van life complements sailing by enabling more outdoor adventures while still keeping the boat as our primary home. We don’t have to wait until we stop boating to pursue hiking, climbing, and biking — now we can do both.
What kind of van did you get?
We chose a Winnebago Revel — a four-wheel-drive van equipped with:
- Solar panels on the roof
- A small rooftop air conditioner
- A very compact bathroom (you shower over the toilet)
- A convertible bed that raises to create extra space for our dogs
- A compact kitchen with a stove, fridge, and sink
It comfortably sleeps the two of us and our two dogs. The layout surprised us with how well it works; it’s an ideal setup for the kind of off-season living we plan to do. We also negotiated the purchase and paid just over 30% off MSRP, which is common for new RVs. We were fortunate to find a very good deal.
Where will you go in the van?
We don’t have strict plans — that’s part of the appeal. Van life makes spontaneous travel easy, often with minimal reservations and planning compared to the boat. We’ll be able to venture inland and follow routes as we feel like it.
Some places we hope to visit when living in the van include:
- Baja. We’d love to explore Baja by road; bringing the boat there with older dogs would be difficult, so the van makes this more realistic.
- Alaska. The vastness of Alaska lends itself well to a van-based trip.
- Canada. There are many Canadian regions we want to see.
- Up the East Coast. A drive to places like Maine appeals to us.
- Other favorite spots. We plan to revisit places like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest — and maybe South America someday.
We also want to visit friends and family; living in a van makes it easy to park in driveways and moochdock like we did with our first RV.
Why not keep your last RV?
We sold our previous RV right before buying the boat. We didn’t want to manage both a large boat and a large RV because of maintenance, cost, and the likelihood that a big RV would sit unused for months. We sold the RV for nearly what we paid for it, which made it sensible to replace it later with a smaller, more versatile van that fits our current needs. Since we’ll mainly live on the boat, a smaller van is perfect for a few months each year.
What will you do with the van when you’re on the boat?
We’ll most likely store the van while we’re away on the boat. We don’t plan to transport it everywhere with us and prefer to keep it stored during long stretches on the water.
How will you handle internet?
We use AT&T for our phones and internet. After previously using both Verizon and AT&T, we switched to just AT&T and have been satisfied overall, though connectivity can sometimes be spotty. I plan my work ahead to avoid stress from poor connections. I also purchased a WeBoost device to install on the van to improve cellular signal and allow me to work from more remote locations.
Will the dogs live in the van too?
Yes — the dogs are coming with us. They already handled a multi-week shakedown road trip in the van very well. They’re accustomed to RV life, so the transition to a van will be easy. There’s enough space for them to relax, and it’s much simpler to take them out for walks from a van when we’re at campgrounds or on public land.
How much does van life cost?
Costs vary widely. We paid for our van in cash, so our ongoing costs will mainly be fuel, insurance (we prepaid a year), food, and typical living expenses. One reason we chose a smaller van is that it can access free parking more easily — family driveways, boondocking spots, and other low-cost options — so we expect our van life expenses to be relatively low.
What other questions do you have? Would you live in a van?