Written by: Lisa Petrarca
Choosing a life of adventure can feel overwhelming, especially with so much to learn before hitting the road. Here are the tips, tricks, and lessons we’ve learned along the way in our 2015 Pleasure-Way Lexor.
1. Preparing Your Van
We won’t go into the basics, such as oil changes, tire checks, dumping/filling tanks as this is pretty standard. But we definitely want to share some insights into the things that have improved our travel experience and hope you find it useful too.
Record the Walk-Through
When we picked up our “new to us” van, @PetraTheVentureVan we recorded the entire walk-through. These vans are packed with features, and having a video guide made the transition smoother.
Secure Items While Driving
Items rattling in the cabinet can drive you crazy! Here’s how we organize:
- Food/Coffee/Mugs: We purchased large woven baskets from IKEA that work great/securing everything and stopping the rattle.
- Silverware: Tupperware containers with lids.
- Cleaning Products: Fabric baskets below the sink.
- Dishes: Felt dividers between plates/bowls to prevent rattling.
- Clothes: A handy way to organize/secure undergarments and socks…IKEA foldable “drawers” with a velcro flap for easy access. Fits perfect in the large cabinet above the back doors.
Weather Proofing
Below are temperature regulating tips.
- Backdoor All-Weather Curtains: Purchase all-weather curtains and a shower curtain tension rod to hang up across the back door. This is a *must have* item for us. It keeps the van cool in summer/warm in winter. They may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the whimsical curtains a lot of people have, but functionality is more important while traveling.
- Skirting: This is something we learned on the fly and a cheap way to keep the van protected. We got caught in an unexpected spring snow storms and needed to keep our pipes/tanks from freezing. We went to the local hardware store and purchased rolls of silver reflective window insulation. We cut and duck taped it all together, then covered the entire exposed underside of the van (cutting around the doors to get in and out.) We pushed our outdoor rug under the tanks and it worked perfectly. No freezing or issues. Then we just rolled it back up still taped together, and it was ready for the next night. This isn’t a normal occurrence but a useful tip to keep in mind if it happens to you too.
2. Finding Free Campsites
Camping off-grid is one of our absolute favorite ways to enjoy nature. Our first attempt, however, didn’t go as planned—we weren’t sure if we could camp in a certain area and ended up panic-booking a last-minute HipCamp site. Stressing out in unfamiliar situations in the beginning is normal. Give yourself some grace during the learning process, and don’t be afraid to try again if at first you don’t succeed. We’re currently five years into our traveling and feel we’ve mastered free/off-grid camping and want to share some knowledge we’ve gained over the years. Finding hidden gems to camp is now part of the fun, allowing more carefree travel since booking campsites usually requires 6 months advance reservations.
APPS ARE YOUR FRIEND!
Apps to Use
- iOverlander: Our favorite app for finding free camping/detailed reviews/gas stations/dump stations/water/propane…pretty much everything you need!
- Campendium: Great for paid and free campgrounds
- FreeCampsites.Net: You have to Google this one (not an App) but it’s an excellent resource for free campsites with spot-on reviews. We only used this in the beginning before discovering IOverlander. It’s still our favorite cross-reference site.
- HipCamp: Perfect for last-minute bookings when free options don’t work out.
- Last Minute Reservations: If you’re really interested in staying at a particular campground, we have some tricks that’s served us well (even snagging a last minute coveted spot for Yosemite’s Firefall two years in a row.) Log into Recreation.gov/your local booking site every morning at 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Then again at 10:00 p.m. Do this every day during the week leading up to the dates you’re interested in. Try putting in just one day (easier to find cancellations,) then continue searching for each additional days. You may have to move sites but the beauty of vanlife…it’s easy to be flexible. We’ve always been able to book a site using this strategy.
- AllTrails: Great app for finding hiking and nature trails (it keeps you on-course.)
Wild Camping Tips: National Forests/Bureau of Land Management (BLM/Public Land)
- Be sure to research and save at least three separate campsites (coordinates) in case one doesn’t work out. Always have a backup plan.
- Walk the road before driving in—narrow, steep roads can become a nightmare, as well as soft sand.
- Use a “generator spotter” someone to make sure the generator is safe while backing up/turning around in tight spaces to avoid damage. We ruined/had to replace ours by backing into a dirt pile because we thought we had it.
3. Stealth Camping
Sometimes you just need a quick, safe place to sleep. We’ve only had the dreaded “knock on the door” happen once during a storm evacuation. Here are our stealth camping essentials.
Tips for Stealth Camping
- Park late, leave early, and avoid staying in one place too long (IOverlander app works great for finding safe/legal locations.)
- Use blackout curtains or window covers for privacy
- Be respectful—don’t leave trash or make noise
4. Plan for Emergencies
Being prepared is key to staying safe and stress-free on the road:
- Keep a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and emergency tools (like a tire repair kit).
- Have backup maps in case GPS fails. Invest in off-grid communication devices, (ie. Garmin inReach Mini 2, Satellite phone or Personal Locator Beacon.)
- Share your travel plans with a friend or family member.
5. Staying Safe
- Park in well-lit, busy areas when possible.
- Lock your doors and consider extra security like a steering wheel lock/cameras.
- Trust your gut—if an area feels unsafe, move on…this one is important! We’ve had to do this a few times when something didn’t feel right.
6. Embrace the Journey!
Flat tires, bad weather, and detours will happen. Stay flexible, stay positive…travel has many ups and downs along the way. Vanlife is a very rewarding, fulfilling life-experience. Don’t forget to “get to living” by embracing the adventure and learning as you go.
We hope our tips will help make your journey easier. And we hope to one day meet you down the road less traveled.
Happy travels friends!
