▲
1
0
▼

Live a little, be a gypsy, get around.


 invite response                
2022 Jun 2, 5:11am   564 views  20 comments

by Al_Sharpton_for_President   ➕follow (5)   💰tip   ignore  

What is the #vanlife movement?

Thousands of people live and vans, and the movement is growing every year.
Of people polled in a recent Outbound Living survey, about 51% of people live in their van full-time and 49% part-time.
Most of the people that live in their van live with just 1 other person.
A search of #vanlife on Instagram turns up over 7 million posts, up 312% from 2017.What are the travel trends of vanlifers?

Most vanlifers live in California, Colorado and Florida.
60% of people surveyed travel without their pets.
For most, a good night’s rest happens in a National Park, but for some, a parking lot works just fine.
Bathing habits vary due to the fact that most don’t have a shower in their van.How do vanlifers make and spend their money?

For a majority of vanlifers, making money to be able to spend on the road is an absolute necessity but how do they make their money, and what do they spend it on?

Almost 50% of people said they have a job that does not fit into a specific category, like being an influencer.
Only 4% of vanlifers surveyed report that they’re retired.
A good majority of people spend less than $100 per person per week while they are on the road.
Gas makes up a massive amount of monthly spending, often between $100-$300 a month.
The great thing is that a reported 38% of vanlifers don’t spend a dime on campsites!

https://whereyoumakeit.com/converted-vehicles/stats/



Comments 1 - 20 of 20        Search these comments

1   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 5:34am  

What a miserable existence. I've never understood the influencers that do it that actually make money doing it. I'd only do it for 1-3 years if I was making 7 figures a year. Most don't make anything after gas and food. And again it would be miserable.

I get you get to see a bunch of cool things, but it would be rough. I've done a 3 week road trip when I was younger. We had a blast getting high and drunk, but the hours in the car absolutely sucked ass. Just sitting there. 2 of my buddies didn't even drive.... pussies though I'm still friends with them and make fun of them to this day for that trip.

If I was single I still wouldn't do it. I'm too big to live in a van. Need a normal mattress. Like to cook so oven, stovetop, grill, etc. take up space. I also like beer so I don't know how that would look as most people that live that life probably drink hard stuff. Even one case of beer would take up a lot of space in a van.

The logistic of trying to do it are retarded if you want a semi normal life. Put this way, how many long haul truck drivers do you see that are happy? The few I've personally met can't stand the job, but it's what they know and pays the bills. And some of those trucks are substantially nicer than these vans.
2   clambo   2022 Jun 2, 6:09am  

I saw a lot of them in Baja.
Many have Mercedes Sprinters.
Some of the rigs are nice, 4x4, diesel, paddle boards on top, solar panels, etc.
The attraction is the beauty of the spots they can stay, like Playa Tecolote, Playa El Requeson, etc.
Some have YouTube channels and maybe they make a few bucks.
Having an interesting life is attractive for a while.
A few of my friends have had little fun and a life of drudgery.
3   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 6:44am  

clambo says
Some of the rigs are nice, 4x4, diesel, paddle boards on top, solar panels, etc.

I get some of the vans are cool for sure. It's the lifestyle and driving that I find problematic. I can see cool places for cheaper than pimping out a work truck.

I liken it to owning a boat. You constantly have to maintain it and it frankly is a shit space to live in. Also a similar thing is a pool. They're fun, but it's work or you pay someone. And yes houses can be a pain in the ass, but mine has been mostly maintainace free. So I travel by plane and stay at resorts and other peoples properties that I could give zero shits about.

I'd rather rent things is my point and not own a liability besides the roof over my head. Might get a condo in the Caribbean, but that's it. Has to make me money if I'm going to buy it. You can always rent vans and campers. Most people don't have the ability to travel full time anyway, so why invest in something that 100% of the time depreciates?
4   clambo   2022 Jun 2, 7:14am  

I don’t think they have apartments or houses and have quit the rat race for a while at least.
I’m guessing that the Sprinter is sometimes their only vehicle; the guy I knew in Santa Cruz just had one, and a bicycle.
Personally I prefer staying in hotels, some are very inexpensive down here, like $16/night.
I can see why a guy would like the lifestyle if he could get by financially, but eventually reality might require a job and all that entails.
5   Bd6r   2022 Jun 2, 7:20am  

This lifestyle will work if you are 20. If you are 50, not so much.
6   BayArea   2022 Jun 2, 7:34am  

That lifestyle doesn’t work for 20 or 50.

It’s fun to write an article about it and create discussion. Not showering and confined spaces are not fun.
7   clambo   2022 Jun 2, 7:49am  

I have lived in spaces not much bigger than the Sprinters.
I felt cramped in a VW van however, that’s not big enough for me.
Ever live in a one bedroom apartment with a girlfriend?
That’s pretty confining, in several ways 😉
.
8   NDrLoR   2022 Jun 2, 7:51am  

WookieMan says
What a miserable existence
It's like 1971 all over again. I guess these cycles repeat themselves every 50 years.
9   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 7:52am  

BayArea says
It’s fun to write an article about it and create discussion. Not showering and confined spaces are not fun.

Bingo. I don't know if you're a tall guy, but living in even the most decked out van would totally blow. Showering thing would be a big issue too. I have shortish hair (like an inch maybe 2 if longer) and it gets greasy and nasty looking quick. And even in an AC controlled environment I get swamp ass pretty easily. I shower twice a day sometimes to keep fresh for the wifey. Most I'll skip is a day if she's out of town. Plus basic hygiene and all that.

I could see it being fun if you had mommy and daddy money and work wasn't an issue. I just couldn't do it without having a lot of money as I'd have to hit up hotels frequently as I'm not gonna do most truck stop showers and campground showers are totally hit or miss. Though some actually are nice from what I've been told. Did the "glamping" thing on Bear Lake in Utah, those public showers were boss. Actually was a cool experience and lake. Rented a boat though and we couldn't boat into Idaho for some reason. Really cool lake though as it's somewhat close to users here, probably still would need to fly though to SLC.
10   clambo   2022 Jun 2, 8:07am  

You don’t need much money if you’re able to make a few bucks on YouTube or do odd jobs.

Particularly in the last couple of years Uncle Sam has been paying people to not work for a couple of years; I bet a few of these “nomads” have been enjoying the free money.

I just remembered I know a girl in Florida who said she got a lump sum of $30 grand from unemployment.

I’m unable to imagine how I would do it myself, but evidently it’s possible with YouTube and other stuff like Amazon reviews, etc.
11   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 8:46am  

clambo says
You don’t need much money if you’re able to make a few bucks on YouTube or do odd jobs.

YouTube you need a ton of views, subs, likes, comments, etc. It's why so many people cross promote with other channels with what in theory should be competitors. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours. Especially van life type shit. Most are lucky to get 5k subs and even big ones are 500k which is about where you start making good money and it's a job. Also, edit video. Let me know how fun that is. I'd rather work at a fast food place.

I don't think the average person comprehends the amount of time it takes to edit good video. Audio and video is a painstakingly long process. I've recorded 3 albums. The 2nd one was legit in a Chicago studio with a producer/mixer. Beside recording, we spent five 12 hours days mixing the fucker. This was maybe $10k budget at the time. This was just audio mind you.

And when you say odd jobs, most popular youtube channels have an attractive female. We all know what's going on even if it "seems" like they have a boyfriend or spouse. They're blowing their way to get money to keep the channel going until they hit profitability. It's basically a form of prostitution, which I take no issue with, but it's a dirty game to get popular on youtube.
12   clambo   2022 Jun 2, 9:02am  

I wonder if they are actually traveling all year or do they go couch surfing and work for a while somewhere.
13   Bd6r   2022 Jun 2, 9:43am  

When I was 25, used to go with my friends on a 3-4 week hiking trips. Drove all around Southwest of USA, lived in tents all the time even though it was 100F, and it was a blast. If we'd have more money, we'd probably drive around in a trailer as these people do and may be do it for more than a couple weeks at a time.

Now even though we still like hiking, I want a warm bath after I am done hiking, heat in winter and AC in summer. Also cant find more than a week I can take off ag a time.
14   HeadSet   2022 Jun 2, 9:43am  

Note that in the OP pic of the babe in the van, it has an Aussie license plate.
15   GNL   2022 Jun 2, 12:04pm  

I "think" I could/would do it depending on the size of the van and how often I could stay at a hotel. 2-3 times a month at a hotel would be a requirement for me. If the van is big enough to sleep, eat and lounge in, yeah, I could do it for an extended period of time...but only if I had cash flow I didn't need to work for.
16   Tenpoundbass   2022 Jun 2, 1:39pm  

I once believed the lyrics were "Weedle Weelde Beatle Gypsy Get around."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8
17   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 1:51pm  

clambo says

I wonder if they are actually traveling all year or do they go couch surfing and work for a while somewhere.

Couch surfing is how they keep the gig going (blowing) if you catch my drift. Dudes meeting them probably knowing the youtube channel and they have leverage because living in a van is retarded. Any channel with even an average chick is known by many younger dudes. It's implied if they "sleep on the couch" that something is expected in return.

HeadSet says

Note that in the OP pic of the babe in the van, it has an Aussie license plate.

Noticed, but you got the "babe" part wrong. That's not a babe. That gal is 45+ or a heroin addict. Look closer at her skin. She's aged through drug usage or is just older and didn't take care of her skin. That stomach is a wave pool. I like some meat, but that's dead weight. Do a fucking sit up.
19   AmericanKulak   2022 Jun 2, 4:24pm  

clambo says
I don’t think they have apartments or houses and have quit the rat race for a while at least.

They're trust fund babies.

Most of these 25-35 chicks have never saved a dollar. Daddy or Trust fund buys them the sprinter. They don't work to begin with, or work some BS job a few hours a day so they can claim to be employed or fight boredom.

Those Beamer Sprinters aren't cheap. And gas ain't cheap.
20   WookieMan   2022 Jun 2, 5:05pm  

clambo says





Love JT, but that looks miserable. Beating a dead horse, I get it. Some tart living in a van is one thing, but my head would be hitting the ceiling in the first photo.

Please register to comment:

api   best comments   contact   latest images   memes   one year ago   random   suggestions