Is Full Time Vanlife Worth It? Your Thoughts?

Hi everyone!

Lately I’ve been seriously thinking about living in a camper full-time. In my ideal scenario I’d build it myself by converting a big van or a mini-bus to fit my needs (most ready-made layouts don’t really work for me).

I’m writing this because I have zero real-life experience with this lifestyle, and I’d love to hear from people who actually know what it’s like.

Here are a few questions I’m really curious about:

1. How long have you been living in your camper, and what do you miss the most from living in a regular house or apartment?

2. How do you deal with internet on the road? (Especially Europeans) If you work from a laptop, do you usually rely on mobile data, or do you hunt for cafes with Wi-Fi?

3. How much energy do you really need day-to-day? Are solar panels enough? And what do you do in countries with little sun?

4. What about water? How fast do you go through your tanks?

5. Grey water and sewage, big hassle or manageable?

6. Is winter vanlife actually doable? Can you insulate a van well without losing too much space? And what about heating? Or is it better to just escape to warmer places?

7. How often do you have to move? How long can you stay in one spot? Where do you usually park? Campsites, wild camping? What does it roughly cost?

8. How common are break-ins or sketchy situations? Can you realistically make your van “secure”?

9. Any tech upgrades or new gadgets that totally improved your vanlife? Anything new worth checking out?

Overall, I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons. I really like the idea of mobility, freedom, and a lifestyle that feels a bit more flexible in uncertain times, plus the travel aspect is a big bonus. But I’m also worried about electricity, water, sewage, safety, and whether this lifestyle works well with earning money.

Looking forward to hearing your experiences. Thanks in advance!