Your perfect van to start your #vanlife adventure
As you all know, being the proud owner of a van is something I have dreamed of for many years: having my little house on wheels with me, sleeping on the beach and peeking at the waves from my bed. Sharing with the VanLife Community and meeting like-minded people as I go.
And though this past full lockdown in Spain had many downsides, I´ve never been able to save so much in a couple of months (no eating out, no coffees and no gas, ha).
I´ve been thinking, reading, researching and looking at blogs on vans for quite some time so I knew exactly what I wanted when it was time to look for one for real.
So, time to share some of the things I have learned along the way, as they might be useful to you as well and within no time you will be on your way to find your perfect van to start your #vanlife adventure!
Where to start searching?
When looking for a second-hand van, there are several ways. A first option might be car dealers that are specialized in vans. Though the buying price will be a bit higher, they often come with a warranty in case something is wrong with your van (I have several friends that opted for this option and are very happy they did so).
Another option are all the second-hand websites where cars, vans and other products are being sold. I found my van on Facebook Marketplace, but for Spain, there are other options like Wallapop, Milanuncios, etc. Just google second-hand van and your country, and scout some of these websites. In general, the really good deals will be gone quickly, so it might even be good to set an alert, so you will get a notification when something interesting has been published. Always ask the owner for more details, such as the year, amount of kilometers and any failures, as well as why he/she is selling the van, and ask for some more photos, before going to visit. While I was searching last spring, most of the good vans were sold without 3 days, so it´s good to act quickly!
How do you know the van is of good quality when buying it second hand from an individual, without warranty?
I had been recommended to look at other advertisements that the person has published: if he/she seemed to have multiple cars and/or other products for sale, this might be a middle (wo)man or even have a small garage him/herself, and generally speaking, it´s better to find an individual that is selling the van.
Best is to have a good look yourself. I found my van in Madrid, which is 550km away. Before making my way up there, I asked a dear friend with mechanical knowledge (gracias Santi!!!) to check the van and see if it was, at all, worth it to make my way up there. Then, on the day itself, another friend (gracias Lu!!) joined as well and helped me check again (more on what to check for later in this blog). I have very little mechanical knowledge, so it´s a good idea to ask someone to accompany you that knows about these things. Also, I had basically fallen in love with my van over pictures only, so I wasn´t totally able to be very objective either 😉
However, in the end, it´s a lottery. You really never know 100% sure. If you want the 100%, buying a new van from a garage is really your best option.
What kind of van should I look for?
It´s a little bit about the size…
This is the main thing to decide on before even starting to look at different vans. It fully depends on how many of you will be living in the van, how long your adventures tend to be, what you want to take with you when going on a trip and where you want to go (will you mostly be living outside, or will you spend good amounts of time inside as well).
In my case, I knew I would go on trips that could take several months (or at least 1 month), as well as shorter 1-week trips in between.
One thing I had very clear: I wanted a van high enough so that I could stand up tall (I am 1.75m tall). I knew that this would make it more difficult to park in certain places (in cities, garages tend to have 2-meter limits), but this was an absolute necessity for me.
I also knew I wanted to be able to store my surfboard(s) and bicycle in my van, I wanted to be able to cook inside and above all, I needed a place that I could work rather comfortable.
However, it would just be me, and I am planning to spend most of the time somewhere relatively nice weather, so I can spend a lot of time outside.
I ended up buying an Opel Movano, with a total height of 2.30m and a total length of a bit over 6 meters. It´s perfect for 1 or 2 people, I can work and cook inside.
Empty or furnished
This fully and entirely depends on how much time you have, your budget and how handy you are (or how many handy friends you have).
Empty vans are (of course) a lot cheaper to buy, or at least, for the same money you get a van with fewer years or fewer kilometers. Also, you can then fully customize the van as you wish, distribute it as works for you and you know everything is done well.
However, it will take some time to do this, especially if you´ve got two left hands (like me).
Though I was open to both, the van that I ended up buying was already relatively furnished as it had exactly the distribution I was looking for: I only had to paint, put curtains and some details and with just a couple of days of adjustments, I was ready to hit the road!
You can also find an empty van, and then work together with a small company that then customizes the van for you. Vanscraft Campers (in Rincón de la Victoria, close to Malaga, Spain) and Yo Camper (in Almería, Spain) are two examples that I know of, but there are many, many of this little companies that do amazing jobs!
Electricity and other supplies
I knew I would be working on the road, and I knew I would need to be able to charge my computer and phone every once in a while. Since I would not be staying at campsites too often, the best solution for this is solar panels on the roof. Amazing surprise when my van already came with panels installed and everything. Especially when on the road for longer periods of time, this might be an investment to consider.
When driving, you can use this power converter, which connects to your cigarette plug charger, that doesn´t only allow for USB but actually has a real electricity outlet.
My little fridge and stove work on gas (you can buy gas cans in Spain at every petrol station where you swap your empty one for a full one. I pay 13,- and it has lasted me for 3 months).
Fixed bed or not?
Something else that totally depends on what you want to use the van for. If you decide for a fixed bed, you save the time and effort to have to ´make´ your bed every evening, but you´ll probably end up with a lot smaller seating area (or a bigger van).
I decided I did still want that fixed bed though. Again, because I will be traveling for longer periods of time in my van, I wanted a fairly comfortable mattress that would just be there fixed, and I didn´t want to have to make the bed every morning and evening. I still managed to squeeze in a little table and bench that I can use to work and/or eat from (when it´s bad weather outside).
But, my bed is just 1.80 tall and 1.20 wide though, so it´s a bed for small people (or me, as tall Dutchie, I have to maneuver myself in there a little horizontally).
Showers or potties
For me, having a shower inside my van was not a necessity. I knew that this would take up quite some space and I knew I would be spending most of my days close to a beach, where I could use the beach showers to rinse off the salt.
Then, I also have a little portable shower with a shower head in the back of my van (mine was a little gift from a friend, Gracias José!) but you can easily find them online or via Decathlon.
Using this to rinse off, and every once in a while with a little organic soap I can also get a quick clean, but for the real thorough showering, a gas station with paid showers, a hostel, a friends´ house (or well.. Tinder, does the works as well ;))
Then, for the numbers 1´s and 2´s. I have a little chemical toilet (with organic ´chemical´ liquid) which I tend to use as little as possible (because I hate the task of finding a place to empty it), but it´s great to have. In case of emergencies.
If you decide to go out in nature, just one thing: DON´T leave your toilet paper (are you crazy??!!) and make sure you will not turn your free camping spot into a public toilet. This is nature people, come on!
Things to look for when you go see your perfect van to start your #vanlife adventure
The number of kilometers! Mine had 228.000 marked when I bought it, let´s say that a standard van will be able to make 500.000 before it might be time to swap it for a newer model. If you buy a van that already has 450.000 marked, there is not much left for you and your trips. Of course, the number of kilometers doesn´t say all: 150.000 ridden only off road damages the van a lot more than 300.000 on the highway, of course.
So it´s wise to always do a little more inspection
You should always ask for proof of maintenance: when was the last time the distribution belt was changed (this way you know if you have this cost coming up any time soon), has the oil and filters been changed regularly, did anything come up at the last inspections, etc.
How does the van look on the outside: Have any parts been painted over? If there any rust forming? How are the tires looking? And of course, how does the motor sound and look.
Another very important aspect, especially for me: how does the vendor come across (I might not have very useable mechanical skills, but I do have good people skills). How does the vendor come across, does it seem like he/she is hiding something, is he/she a bit too much of a smooth talker, etc.
When you are really interested, ask the owner if you can take the van up to an independent mechanic (find one yourself, and make the appointment). This is a good investment to be sure that you are aware of the current state of the vehicle you are buying. In my case, the mechanic told me I´d have to change the two back wheels and the braking pads as soon as possible. Knowing this, I negotiate this in the price.
Of course it´s never a great sign when the owner refuses that you take it to an independent mechanic.
So, these are some first ideas on what to look for when searching for your van. I will write more follow-up blogs in the weeks to come, including a small list of essentials to make more of your perfect van to start your #vanlife adventure.
Meanwhile, take a quick look at this blog on the best apps out there to guide you in your next Vanlife adventure!
