Who hasn’t thought of selling their home and traveling the country? When it’s cold in the Midwest, you can drive to the South. If you need a change of scenery, get on the road and drive. After all, living this lifestyle is easier than ever now because the pandemic made remote working so accessible. Romanticizing working anywhere while touring the United States is appealing, but before you sell your home for a camper van, consider the long-term ramifications.
How Many Americans Live in RVs?
If you’re considering this lifestyle, know that you are not alone. In 2018, according to The Washington Post, one million American families live full-time in their RVs. Included in that number is a fair share of retirees and families with children.
However, how many people live in camper vans full time is difficult to say because camper vans aren’t technically considered RVs. Why? Some camper vans don’t have bathrooms, so they’re not technically Class B RVs.
Regardless of what type of vehicle you live in, for some, living this lifestyle is a dream come true. For others, the lifestyle comes with more pitfalls than positives.
9 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Home for a Camper Van
A camper van is a fabulous way to try out living on the road. Unlike large, bulky RVs, you won’t need to take special classes to learn how to drive a camper van. Plus, vans usually require less money upfront to purchase than many RVs. In addition, they’re easy to park, and you have more options for where to stay overnight than RV owners.
However, despite all of the pros, you’ll also need to understand the negatives.
You’ll Become a Minimalist
Most camper vans are small for one person and tight for two. You’ll have extremely limited quarters, so you’ll only be able to keep the necessities. Even then, you’ll need to be creative and find ways to store items you need while also giving yourself room to move around your new home.
Maintenance
You’ll need to properly maintain your vehicle and get regular oil changes and servicing. However, even if you do that, your camper van will break down sometimes. When that happens, not only are you out of a vehicle, but you’re out of your home. You’ll need to find somewhere else to stay while your vehicle gets repaired, which is one more added expense.
Gas Expenses
Camper vans are more fuel-efficient than most RVs. Many average 18 to 25 miles per gallon. However, you’ll be driving a lot in your camper van, and filling up can be expensive. This is especially true now when gas is over $4.50 per gallon and over $5 per gallon in some areas.
Chores Are Monotonous
Camper van life makes everyday chores more challenging. If you want to do the laundry, you can’t just throw a load in the washing machine as you could at home. Instead, you have to find a laundromat.
If your camper van doesn’t have a bathroom, you must camp close to one. You also may need to shower in public facilities, which are often dirty and grimy.
Your camper van won’t have much storage, so you need to grocery shop frequently.
Gourmet meals or even meals that require two or more pots will be a memory because you’ll likely be cooking over a one-pot burner.
Living this way may be exciting at first, but you will likely quickly tire of it.
Health Insurance
Health insurance coverage can be tricky. Many policies charge more for out-of-network providers. If you’re traveling regularly and have a medical issue on the road, any medical help you get will be considered out-of-network. You’ll face much bigger medical bills than if you could have gone to a provider who was in-network.
Some camper van nomads report having to return to their home state to get medical care, but not all situations allow you to do this. In the case of a sudden illness or a medical emergency like appendicitis, you have to get care immediately, whether the provider is in-network or not.
Money Woes
If you have a remote job, you may be able to live on the road indefinitely. However, many people quit their jobs and hit the road with a savings account, but that money doesn’t last forever. Finding a job to earn more funds on the road is difficult, and not many can do so. This is one of the reasons why people have to quit camper van life.
Loneliness
Even the most introverted person will likely get lonely on the road. You’ll be away from family and friends for months at a time. Meeting new friends on the road can be challenging. Even if you make new friends, they’ll also likely be traveling, so you’re only with one another for a short amount of time.
No Solitude
On the other hand, if you’re traveling with a partner, you may get on one another’s nerves. A camper van is a small space, and there’s no place to go for privacy or to get away from one another. For some couples, this strengthens their relationship because they learn to get along. For others, this destroys their relationship.
Most Don’t Live the Lifestyle Long Term
Many people who live in a camper van do so only temporarily. They may be taking a gap year before college, or they may want to travel the country for a while. However, most people only do this for a few months up to a year or two. For most people, the space is too small to live comfortably in a van for years.
Final Thoughts
Before you sell your home for a camper van, consider all the positives and negatives. Living in a camper van can be adventurous and freeing, but doing so also has significant downsides. Before you sell your home, perhaps first try out the lifestyle for a few vacations to see if this way of life is for you.
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Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York where she loves the natural beauty of the area.