Biggest Mistakes as a New Van Dweller Traveler?

[GotSmart]

If you are planning on using a bag for your (human) waste, use a bottle / jug for the liquid.  It is so much easier to dispose of. 

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/toilet-options-van-living/

 

[Sameer]

Learn to manage your money and have a Emergency Fund.....with a Emergency Fund you will have peace of mind when you have to do repairs like brakes or tires. I only carry what I need on a regular basis....the more 'free' space the more comfortable you will be in inclement weather.....Good Mechanics Tools too!

 

[Wanderer]

I don't regret that I didn't run when I saw my van.

i regret I didn't run when I checked it out. There was a wet spot but it wasn't bad (So I thought) so I bought the van.

Now? I have a leak which I cannot stop, have checked the doors and windows. back area is soggy due to the long rain we've had.

Yes, looking for another now.

Another thing is that us guys have a prostate and it can get cranky. So getting up every 2 hours sucked. Got the meds, but found out that using a recliner made getting up and down easier. So now when I buy again, I'll be getting a recliner that fits or make sure the floor will stay dry and lay there.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

If at all possible, before you give up your house/apartment, take your setup camping at a nearby state park for a weekend.  Then go home and think about what worked and what didn't.  Make any needed changes.

Then take a week long trip somewhere.  Go home and again figure out what worked and what didn't.  Make changes.

By the time you've worked up to a month long trip, you'll pretty much have everything under control.

Regards
John

 

[Belinda2]

For the need for stealth: if I could get a comfortable bed and the layout to access items quick and simple, I knew I'd be O.k.

 

[BigT]

I'm not sure this qualifies as a "biggest mistake", but it's something I wish I'd done differently and will soon address.

When Put the plywood down on the floor of my van, I chose indoor/outdoor carpet to cover it because it felt so good on my bare, or stocking, feet.
The first time I spilled a liquid on the floor, however, I realized I'd made a mistake. Fortunately it was just a pot of clear water that spilled and not some stinky food that would later rot and smell up the place, though water will eventually turn to mildew and mold.

I plan to replace the carpet with a piece of linoleum. It won't be as comfortable as carpet, but it will allow me to simply wipe up any spills before they soak in.
I figure if I need a soft surface to place my feet on, I can alway throw a rug down. Something small enough to wash and store easily.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

my biggest regret was in the how to keep perishables good.  I tried it all.  of course I started with an ice chest because that's the way it's always been done.  well that only works for a few days or if you are close to snow.  as I started going further out into the backcountry for longer periods of time,  ice wasn't cutting it.  then I tried a few of those 12v coolers,  don't even waste your money.  then I tried a dorm refer,  power hog and not built for rough use didn't last a summer.  then I tried an RV refer,  well it worked good but now I needed to carry more propane and instead of making ice runs I was making propane runs.  I also tried dry ice,  it's too cold,  and would only last about a week.  so I finally bought a 12v refer,  dang why didn't I just do that to begin with.  would have saved a boat load of money.  I now have two 12v refers and will add a third to use as a freezer.  highdesertranger

Whynter has a um, I think it is 60 qt, that has a freezer side and a reefer side I'm looking at.

 

[highdesertranger]

I think all the manufactures have at one combo unit. I did look into them, the problem I found was the freezer portion is very small. but if it would work for you it would be the way to go. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Whynter has a um, I think it is 60 qt, that has a freezer side and a reefer side I'm looking at.

The easiest way to tell if one of the combo units will work for you is to take cardboard and make a mock up of the unit you're looking at - they all publish the inside dimensions!

Once you've made the mock up of the inside dimensions, head to the fridge and start placing items from the fridge inside the cardboard box. Start with the big stuff like milk and juice and then work your way down.

Some people are happy with really tiny cooler spaces and others need really large capacity.

My 65qt Wynter is barely adequate for my refridgeration needs. I'm forced to buy the smallest sizes of things like mustard, ketchup, mayo etc. and always have to take available space in the fridge in to consideration at shopping time. But then I live on fresh food instead of canned or packaged goods. The 65 qt one I have in use as a freezer is completely adequate for that.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Taking off, leaving a perfectly safe place to spend the night and driving on a rainy night, on a busy highway in the northeast....trusting that my gps would take me to the right place(it didn't....scary nightmare). Just to found out that my eye site was very bad on rainy nights. I don't know how I got away with it . I could have cause a serious accident. That was the stupidest, scary thing I've done. Do yourself a favor and never ever do that.

Nicole

 

[ilovemyvan]

Taking off, leaving a perfectly safe place to spend the night and driving on a rainy night, on a busy highway in the northeast....trusting that my gps would take me to the right place(it didn't....scary nightmare). Just to found out that my eye site was very bad on rainy nights. I don't know how I got away with it . I could have cause a serious accident. That was the stupidest, scary thing I've done. Do yourself a favor and never ever do that.

Nicole

Oops mistake, I met eyesight, not eye site