Life on the road is spontaneous by nature—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for adventure. Here are 5 van life essentials that you may not have considered in your van build.
1. Water and Waste Tanks
Living on the road means you’ll have water in your van. You’ll need some heavy-duty medium-sized containers to hold your freshwater, greywater, and wastewater (if you have a toilet). Dumping grey water onto the ground is harmful—whether you’re in civilization or a national park. Don’t do it. Dispose of your greywater properly.
2. Phone Plan with Unlimited Data and Roaming
Do some research into your phone plan. If you want to stay connected to family, friends, social media, and streaming services a good phone plan is essential. Make sure you don’t have limits. Getting cut off mid-episode is a fate no one wants. See if switching before your trip could be the right move.
3. Camping Stove
Even if you’ve got gas in your van, a camping stove could save the day if (and when) you ever encounter problems. It also means you can cook outside carefree which is essential if you ask me.
4.Toolbox
Fill your toolbox with any odds and ends you might need to fix your van—tape, zip ties, a pry bar. You’ll want all the basics, too—multibit screwdriver, plyers, cutter, wrench, drill. We also recommend bringing a roll mat to lay on if you have to get under the van and a can of gas leak detector spray.
5.Toilet
This much-debated van life feature is something you should seriously consider. Keeping a small portable toilet for emergencies is a great idea because you never know if you’ll be able to find a public restroom on the road. When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.