Van Life: Traveling And Working Remotely As A Digital Nomad
Van Life: Traveling And Working Remotely As A Digital Nomad
If you’re looking to move your life into a van, figuring out what exactly you are going to bring with you can be tricky.
Living out of a van can already be uncomfortable, no matter how well built out it is — so you want to make sure all the other aspects that you do have control over like warmth, food, and hygiene are taken care of for the most comfortable experience.
Are you looking into how to work remotely so that you can live life to its fullest and travel fulltime?
Many people who are considering van life and want to make money on the road or current van lifers who want to be able to work remotely so they don’t have to stay in one place or constantly look for side gigs.
Van life remote work is a great opportunity for that but it can be difficult to know where to start. Below we have listed my favorite resources for starting van life remote work from courses to websites.
The wonderful thing about trying to find work online is that there are so many entrepreneurs that have already done it and are now creating courses to help you get remote jobs faster and easier than they did.
Take a look at the different van life work jobs there are and then decide from there if you need to expand your skills which will land you in your dream remote job or build your own online business.
In this article we are going to discuss about absolutely essential for the van life one by one.
“Van life” has amassed huge followings on both Instagram and Pinterest, endearing the lifestyle to young professionals and adventure seekers. But like many other types of alternative lifestyles, campervan life has its rockstar side as well as its drawbacks. Before you set out on the road, here’s everything you wanted to know about working and living in a campervan.
What Are The Best Van life Jobs for Making Money Living on the Road?
Virtual Assistant
Being a virtual assistant is a broad term that it can be almost anything in the online world. This can be as simple as answering emails, managing clients, or a calendar and as difficult as Tech, website development, or web design.
Graphic Designer
If you are already a graphic designer then consider asking your company to go remote or even begin building your own business! It’s a great job as you can do it as long as you have wifi.
Blogger
Blogging is not quick nor is it an easy way to make money living on the road. However, it is completely possible. There are many success stories to prove that you can make money through your blogging website.
Website Designer
You will be surprised at the number of people that need a website but have no idea how to put one together.
Social Media Manager
You would be surprised how many businesses lose out on potential sales because they aren’t marketing to their online customers. Their customers are online looking for them but they aren’t reaching out.
Writer or editor
Websites are always looking for freelance writers to contribute to their site AND they pay! There are also companies hiring full-time writers as well as editors.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a platform where you can find someone to do almost anything digitally. The prices do go up but it’s a great place to start and you can put yourself out there to see what skills you enjoy
Remote Work
Remote work is another super broad term but here I am referring to working remotely for a company. So you are a full-time employee with benefits and everything but you don’t work in the office.
Seasonal Work
Many van lifers and travelers alike only work seasonally and then travel full-time the rest of the year.
Service Jobs
Being a bartender, waiter, or any wait staff position is one of the mort vanlife jobs
Click Here: 17 Best and Highly Paid Jobs for Digital Nomad
Internet Connection(Hotspot Which Is Essential )
Internet is a must in any camper van, but how to get a strong signal is another ordeal. Fortunately, the extensive network of providers offers 4G to many locations around the country. Find a data plan that works for you and make certain that it also offers tethering or hot-spot capabilities.
Here are most recommended hotspot brands:
T-mobile Alcatel LINKZONE Hotspot
Click Here: 5 Best Virtual Meeting Resources for Digital Nomad
How to choose the right van(RV) for digital nomads?
Must-Have Features for Your Campervan
Living Features
High Roof or Low Roof
The roof height may seem inconsequential, but it’s all part of your overall comfort. A high roof or pop-top allows you to stand in the vehicle, making it easier to prepare meals or stretch out.
Food Prep Area
A food prep area is something you may not have thought about, but it’s a virtual necessity nevertheless.
Refrigerator
It’s not a total necessity, but a refrigerator sure comes in handy for leftovers, meat, and ice-cold beverages. In most instances, a mini-fridge will do.
Sink
Again, a sink isn’t a total necessity, but being able to do the dishes and wash veggies while you’re inside the van is a nice luxury.
Entertainment Options
Soaking in the scenery is one of the best aspects of van life. you should consider a small television with an HDMI cable to run Netflix or watch movies off your computer. It’s the best option to defeat boredom or enjoy a lazy day away from “the office”.
Working Features
Second Battery
A second battery is a must for the nomadic worker living in a camper van. While you can charge your electronics on the starter battery of the vehicle, leaving them plugged in while the van is off can discharge the battery
Working Area
You may want to consider a camper van that has a proper workstation. Many prefab campers have a small desk, while smaller vans and retrofitted options have a bed that converts to a table. Whatever van you choose, make certain that you can separate work from sleepy time.
Solar Panel
If you aren’t running your vehicle for a few days, your second battery might run all the way down. A solar panel can give you the juice you need to complete work on time.
Van life Essentials
Perhaps the most essential thing to have on your van life journey. Having a propane stove gives you the freedom to cook all of your meals from your van. All you have to do is make sure to always have enough propane on hand to power it.
Maxx fans are great to have for proper ventilation in your van while you are cooking or if you are in the desert sun on a hot days.
During the brutally cold winter nights or a chilly night on the beach, you’ll be wishing you had a buddy heater. These little heaters can keep your van warm and toasty even in the coldest weather.
When the sun goes down, so does your main source of light. You’ll want to avoid running your car battery to use your stock lights to see after sundown.
These solar chargers are great to have on your off grid adventures. With two USB ports, you can keep all of your electronics charged up and ready for use.
Whether you are cooking over a fire or a propane stove, a cast iron is the way to go when cooking your camp meals.
Living out of a van, you may find yourself cooking a lot more and eating a lot more produce than usual.
It’s important to have a good cutting board on hand to make life in your tiny kitchen a whole lot manageable.
Wool blankets are amazing to have in a van. These will keep you warm on those cold winter nights and they are great to fold up and store on those hot beach days.
If you picture yourself as an off-grid van life explorer, a compost toilet would be a great thing to have. Even if you are the stealthy sprinter type– these toilets are great those emergencies where you just don’t have time to make it to a public restroom.
When you set up camp, some camp chairs are great to have so you can enjoy more time outdoors around a fire.
An awning is the perfect way to extend your living room into the great outdoors. These awnings are super easy to install and use.
Finding ways to shower on the road is tricky. Unless you are in a big city or popular camp site, you may not be able to find access to them easily.
Having a solar shower is a great way to keep a warm shower with you anywhere you go. These solar showers hold up to 5 gallons of water.
These are great to have while camping. These sturdy tables are great to set up at your campsite so you can cook on it, eat on it, play board games on it and fold laundry on them.
They collapse into small carrying cases for easy storage.
Refillable 20–25l water container
While we had fitted fresh water tanks, we came to rely on refillable water bottles in Morocco when we had to use our tanks at only 50% capacity.
Along with these essentials the most important piece of gear for any backpacker is their backpack. See our guide to help you choose the right one.
Click Here: 34 Ergonomics And Essentials For Digital Nomad Virtual Office Packing List with most recommended brands.
Do’s and Don’ts of Camping on Public Land, Parking Lot and Urban Stealth areas
DO’s
DO follow Leave No Trace principles at all times.
DO pay attention to any fire restrictions in the area.
DO clean up after yourself and pack out any other trash you find.
DO call ahead to ask if they allow overnight parking, and where they prefer you to park — they may want you to keep to a specific area.
DO go in and buy something if possible (luckily most of these places sell things that you might need anyway — like gas, groceries, or camping supplies).
DO be respectful and clean up after yourself.
DO choose a van that won’t be noticed (windowless work vans are best).
DO be respectful and polite, stay under the radar, and keep your van and yourself presentable.
DO arrive late, leave early, and change camp spots often.
DON’Ts
DON’T trash your site or behave irresponsibly.
DON’T drive your van off pre-established trails.
DON’T poop straight on the ground — always poop in a hole at least 200 feet from a water source, and pack out your toilet paper.
DON’T set up your awning, tables, and chairs and have a party in the parking lot.
DON’T throw trash on the ground, pee outside, walk around with your shirt off, or otherwise act disrespectfully toward the business and the people around you.
DON’T overstay your welcome. A night or two is probably fine, but posting up for a week is likely to get you kicked out and jeopardize the overnight parking for everyone else.
DON’T blast music, throw a party, or otherwise cause a ruckus.
DON’T walk around half naked or go to the bathroom outside.
DON’T be rude or argue if asked to move.
In Conclusion
It’s important to remember to try and make your van as comfortable as possible for you and your other passengers on board.
Try to be as simple and minimal as possible when it comes to deciding what goes in the van.
Most importantly, have fun with the process. It can get tiring at times, but just remember an open road awaits your four wheels.
So go make your van life dreams into reality today, you won’t regret it.
