What Are The Different Ways You Can Live in a Vehicle?

Van life wasn’t the first way to live in a vehicle. I’ve tried a few ways and there exist many different methods to hit the road in your home! What are the different ways one can live in a vehicle?

There are many different ways to live in a vehicle. Cars, trucks, vans, buses, RVs, towables, etc. can all be lived in while on the road. They can be heavily modified, to having minor modifications, to having no modifications at all and still be called a home!

Table Of Content

RVs and Campers
Heavy Modifications
(Campervans, Buses, Box Trucks)
Light Modifications
(Minivans, Truck Campers, Cars)
Conclusion

RVs And Campers

First on the list might be considered the most ubiquitous way of living on the road. Just think about the last time you were at a campground that allowed RVs (Recreational Vehicles).

You can usually spot hundreds of them on the highways in the summer. These types of domiciles are often purpose-built to allow you to bring all of your amenities with you. They often are considered a luxurious way to camp and be nomadic (glamping). They come in many different shapes and forms, but they all allow you to travel with your home!

This type of home on wheels is not used as extensively for full-time living as some others. Yet, it is possible to live, work, play, and sleep in these like any other type!

They are generally more expensive than some of the other options. They are sometimes a bit less maneuverable, thus limiting the areas you could go to.

RVs and campers are made with one purpose in mind - having a home when you're on the road. They come in many form factors from small RVs to sleep 1 or 2 people, to multi-million dollar vehicles that can even store another vehicle underneath.

Towable campers also come in many shapes and sizes with the added benefit of being able to leave it at a campsite, and taking the towing vehicle into town, or to a trailhead!

Lastly is a category that almost goes into the "heavy modification" category. These vehicles are often built out professionally with contracts with the auto manufacturer! Sometimes the vehicles go directly from the factory to a company's shop to build them (think Winnebago Revel).

There are also prebuilt vehicles that have sleeping as a second priority. Vehicles like the Mitsubishi Delicas are great and capable vehicles that come from the factory ready to get out there!

Heavy Modifications

There exist many reasons for one not wanting to go with a pre-built option. Perhaps it's financial, or because the vehicle doesn't have exactly what you're looking for. The great thing about vehicles with heavy modifications is that you can often save a lot of money while fine-tuning your home to be exactly the way you'd like!

Of all the vehicles that undergo heavy modifications, vans are the most prominent in this category. Buses, cargo trucks, and old ambulances are often in this category too, but they're significantly larger undertakings than vans.

This category consists of vehicles that undergo near-complete overhauls in the interior. Think typical van builds where people cut holes in the walls and roof for windows and fans, knock down the divider, install insulation, put up walls and even add electrical and solar! People even build showers into these things (That often become permanent storage)!

One way to approach this style of vehicle living is to have someone else do it for you. There exist many companies that specialize in this exact thing. They can have preset pieces and layouts for your specific van, or they can do it 100% custom-made to order with whatever you like.

Building a vehicle like this is an incredibly rewarding endeavour. It teaches you so much about general construction, plumbing, electrical, etc. Before I built my van, I did not consider myself to be handy in the slightest.

I was even anxious enough about some aspects that I reached out to electricians to see if I could get a professional to do it for me. I'm glad I didn't because I learned so much and gained the knowledge that I can honestly do anything if I set my mind to it (and try over and over to get it right).

Another bonus to going this route is the amount of money you save. While you are skipping on a professional build that can come with a warranty, you save a lot of money by doing it yourself.

When I built out my van, I did the math and shaved off 75% of the costs associated with having someone else build it for me. Of course, I traded my time for money, it took a lot longer, and there are some things I'd like to redo, but it was totally worth it to me.

The end result is something you can be proud of. You now know how most of it works, and know how to repair it if there are issues with what you installed. There's a reason Youtube is saturated with van-build video series, it's a fun and economical way to build a home on wheels.

Living this way allows you to bring along a lot of the comforts of a home, in a small mobile package. You can make adjustments to your home, just like any other type of housing. You can also save a lot of money living this way, vs buying a luxury vehicle that guzzles gas faster than a sinkhole takes in cars.

Light Modifications

This category is one of the most popular options for living in a vehicle! Oftentimes people take advantage of what they have available, add some creature comforts, and then hit the road. Cars, vans, and trucks can be lived in with only light modifications!

Having spent weeks at a time living out of my old car, I know the pros and cons of this lifestyle. While I was able to make it work, I wish I knew what I know now about living in your car. Admittedly, I did it all wrong and didn't enjoy it as much as some others do. I remember adding a piece of plywood that extended on top of the folded-down seats into the trunk to level out the threshold from the seats being folded down (Ford Fusions were not made for sleeping).

People have been living in cars for a long time. From station wagons to Toyota Prius, people are willing to make what they have work. It doesn't take much to make them livable either! times it's as simple as folding down some seats and adding a way to sleep.

Trucks are a utilitarian's dream vehicle when they want to be able to live on the road. You have the benefit of a capable vehicle that you can also live in! You can sometimes sleep in the cab of the vehicle, but a lot of builds are based out of the bed of the vehicle! Add a cap to the bed of your truck, and you could have yourself a camper. Oftentimes, people will not only add a cap for weather protection but also full-length pull-out drawers for a large amount of storage.

Lastly, this becomes a bit of a stretch since you're now not really sleeping IN your vehicle, are rooftop tents. I feel this should be included as it is an increasingly popular way to live alternatively with a small number of modifications. These tents often fold open to pop up a tent that is on the roof of your vehicle. These are often great for those who know they will have the space and ability to have a larger footprint.

The benefit of this category is that you are often using what you already have, versus buying something else. These types of vehicles are often more mobile and generally cheaper to operate than the aforementioned vehicles. An added bonus is their ability to blend into their surrounding a lot better. Barely anyone thinks twice about a normal-looking car parked on the side of the street overnight.

Conclusion

No one type of vehicle living is better than the other. They all have their own benefits and negative aspects. Depending on what you need or want, what you can afford, and what you're trying to accomplish will dictate which option is best for you. Regardless of the type of vehicle you choose to live in, you're sure to find adventure and enjoyment in living an alternative lifestyle!

Leave a comment below if you have any questions about the different types of builds. If you've got some tips for your fellow traveller, leave them below too!