Honest Van Life Adventures and Reviews
Van life presents its fair share of challenges, and one of the most daunting is the ongoing quest for a suitable place to park for the night. Often, you may stumble upon the perfect spot, only to realize you lack the app needed to pay for it—and to make matters worse, your mobile signal is weak. To ease your journey, here’s a list of apps designed to help you find and pay for parking with ease.
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In this blog post I’ll share common beginner misconceptions and simple lessons about what I’ve learned starting out in Van life at a the age of 48 including expectations vs. reality, managing daily routines, plus unexpected benefits and challenges.
When I first started van life, one of the biggest challenges was finding safe, legal, and quiet places to park up for the night. I relied heavily on just one app Park4Night.—until I realised there were plenty of options and other smart techniques to make overnight stays a breeze. Here’s what I wish I’d known:
Read moreEver been stuck with a dead phone during a camping trip? Or lost power at home during a storm? The iAllPowers S2000 Pro power station might just be the solution you need. This compact power box packs enough juice to keep your essential devices running when traditional power isn’t an option.
Read moreBack in January 2023, my old Ex Rac, T5.1 van was crashed into, writing it off completely. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt apart from the van and, you can say, a bit of my mental sanity. It took over a year to release this for a few reasons, mainly because I’m poor at editing and ADHD-riddled, jumping from project to project, but mainly, well, this was the tipping point in life where things seemed to keep going downhill from here on in.
If you’ve ever dreamed of converting a van into a camper, let me tell you—it’s not all sunshine, neatly organized toolboxes, and smooth progress. No, it’s a battlefield filled with stubborn screws, mystery leaks, and a whole lot of “why did I think this was a good idea?” moments.
Welcome to my latest adventure, where I attempt to transform a Mercedes Sprinter 313 into a cozy camper. The video takes you through the first major step: ripping up the floor to see what horrors lie beneath. Spoiler alert—there are plenty.
Living the van life is all about freedom, adventure, and the occasional DIY fix. If you’re like me, your Chinese diesel heater is one of your most prized possessions—keeping you warm during those chilly nights in the mountains or frosty mornings by the lake. But let’s face it, even the most reliable gear can throw a curveball now and then. Chinese diesel heaters, while affordable and efficient, are notorious for a few common faults that can leave you scratching your head (or shivering in your van).
Fear not, fellow van lifer! I’ve put together this handy guide to help you troubleshoot the most common Chinese diesel heater errors. Whether you’re a seasoned mechanic or a total newbie, these tips will have you back to cozy vibes in no time.
Read moreFinally the floor is up in my Mercedes Sprinter Conversion and that leads to the inevitable question, how best to fill the holes left over from ripping up the floor.
Read moreSitting back with a drink in your van after a long day sounds like the perfect end to a road trip. But before you crack open that bottle, let’s address the question: can you legally drink in your van in the UK?
Read moreFair to say it’s been a bit of a weekend in the UK with Storm Darragh making its presence known and it’s a time where I’m grateful to have a battery power bank in the form of the AllPowers R600, and yes one day I’ll have that video edited.
Read moreIn this video I’m attempting the “simple” task of taking out the bulkhead. Thwarted yet again by the battery guard 3000.
