When it comes to purchasing your vehicle, there’s so many different options and things you can go for. Of course, if you have a budget to work within (definitely the case for us!) you may not have all of the amenities that a higher end build would have. However, not having a super high-end build doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on comfort while on the road. Here’s a highlight of some of the best van life purchases we made, either for the van itself, or for ourselves while being on the road. (Learn why we decided on van life to begin with!)
Camp Slippers/Shoes
It sounds silly, but buying camp slippers has been a game changer. We use them all the time when we are in the van, driving, or going on dog walks. They’re super comfortable, and less hassle to get on and deal with than a normal shoe. That extra comfort and quick grab and go shoes has been wonderful for those late night or early morning dog walks when we just want to get in and out of the van while keeping it warm inside. (I love Chacos – you can buy them here)
Lithium Ion Batteries
When we first got our van, we had some issues with our batteries. This is likely because they were not only lead acid batteries, but they also had a lot of wear and tear from both the previous owners and from us when we weren’t entirely sure how they operate. It got to the point where we had less freedom than we’d like during our work week. We would have to go to anywhere with an outlet to plug in during the workday because we both couldn’t plug in our laptops to charge at the same time in the van. This meant less remote areas, which we prefer to spend our time. We also couldn’t run the fridge overnight without the shutoff alarm going off. After 8 months on the road, we had finally made the decision to just bite the bullet and get Lithium Ion batteries. We’ve had them for a few months now and it’s been amazing. We no longer have to worry about food going bad, alarms going off, or not having enough power. They were a bit pricy, but definitely one of the best van life purchases.
USB Chargeable Clip On Fans
Our van build doesn’t have air conditioning (besides the one that goes when the car is operating). Sometimes it gets really hot in the van at night, and buying two of these have been a life saver. They not only help provide some air flow and movement, it definitely helps keep things cool during warm nights. For reference, it’s about 10 degrees hotter in the van then it is outside, so keeping cool during the summer can be tricky at times. This has helped us immensely.
An Awning
We bought an awning to put on the side of our van during the first few months of our trip. It was one of the best decisions we’ve made for certain. Since we have to park in the sun for our solar panels to keep our power supply, we don’t get a lot of shade being near the van. The awning has allowed us to stay in the shade and keep cool. It also helps by giving Travis and I some more space to spread out. Sometimes, he’ll be outside and I’ll be in the van or vice versa, depending on who has meetings/calls. It essentially doubles our living space and that definitely helps us during work hours. We got ours from Thule.
Our Memory Foam Mattress
When we first bought the van and were talking to the previous owners, they mentioned to us that we could keep their mattress or buy a new one from a certain company. We absolutely didn’t want their mattress, and when looking online for a new mattress, it was decently thin. While we probably could have dealt with a thinner mattress, we decided to simply cut down the memory foam mattress that we were using in our bedroom in our condo and make it fit. Having our own bed that we were used to is amazing for comfort and support. While the thicker mattress made us unable to have the doors on our closet that’s next to the bed, we were able to find a solution that worked for keeping everything in.
All of these purchases have one thing in common: comfort. They allow us to be comfortable on the road, no matter the environment we may be in. That was our main thing we wanted to have and focus on and we are so glad we did.
Let’s Discuss! Comment Below:
Any questions you have about van life purchases
The best practical purchase you’ve made for your van (or house!)
Your favorite purchase you’ve made
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