Cons of Vanlife: What No One Will Tell You, Per a Full-Time Vanlifer

Vanlife requires a lot of tradeoffs that you should know about before you make the jump. Cover photo by Amanda Capritto.

I’ve been living in a van for 18 months. There’s a lot not to like about it—that you won’t see on TikTok.

If you’re researching vanlife, it’s probably because the internet influenced you. It’s hard not to be influenced by romantic videos of couples waking up to a beachfront view, friends sipping coffee on a rooftop deck, and dogs running wild and free across open deserts. It’s true; there’s a lot to love about vanlife. If you do it right, it’s your ticket to freedom from the constraints of regular society. You’re unbound from office walls, free from paying rent or a mortgage, and you have the ability to go anywhere, any time. 

The full truth, however, isn’t so shiny. There’s also a lot not to love about vanlife, and you’re not going to find that information from most people who make a living on social media from sharing their vanlife adventures. (No shade; just sayin’.)

You Have to Poop in a Bucket

Vanlife provides a lot of freedom, but you need a “poop plan,” especially in crowded sites with no maintenanced restrooms. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

First and foremost: If you’re not down to do number two in some sort of bucket—or in a hole in the woods—vanlife probably isn’t for you. In my van, I have a cassette toilet, which is basically a fancy bucket with some components and a design that keeps odors out of the van. But it’s still a bucket at its core, and it has to be emptied. The other primary option is a composting toilet, which still involves doing your business in a glorified bucket and finding someplace to dispose of the waste. Otherwise, you can utilize public bathrooms (not always an option) or dig a hole (the right way) in the woods. 

You’re At the Mercy of the Weather

Theoretically, living in a van allows you to go wherever, whenever you want. Realistically, it’s not always that easy. When the weather brings bitter cold, nonstop rain, howling wind, or high humidity, living in a van is not so fun. I usually find myself scrolling Redfin and Zillow on such days. 

If Your Van Needs Work, You Don’t Have a Home

Receiving mail domestically is challenging; internationally, nearly impossible (and not really worth the hurdles). It’s another thing you need a plan for. Photo by Amanda Capritto

I’m writing this from the lobby of a Mercedes dealership in Oregon because my van needed to be serviced, and my van is my house. I could get a hotel, but that’s expensive; I could request a loaner car, but they don’t allow pets. So here I am, in the lobby supervising two dogs and two cats (in a carrier)! As of this writing, I’ve been here for seven hours. This inconvenience is an often-overlooked con of vanlife. 

Getting Mail Is Annoying At Best

Receiving mail is an ongoing battle. I typically utilize the U.S. Post Office’s General Delivery service, which allows U.S. residents and citizens to receive mail for free at any participating post office in the country. However, those locations don’t always line up with my travel plans, and they only hold the mail for 14 to 30 days. I also send things to the homes of friends and family when I’m passing through, but it’s often hard to get the timing right. 

Winters Can Be Painful(ly Cold) 

Winter adds more challenges onto the usual vanlife issues. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

Living in a van during winter is not for the weak. You need a four-season rig with excellent insulation and heating capabilities, and even then, you won’t experience optimal comfort. With the right winter vanlife gear, it’s doable, but don’t expect a cozy winter free from inconveniences. 

Everything Is Dirty, All the Time 

If you’re not comfortable with grains of sand in your bed and “showering” with body wipes, vanlife probably isn’t for you. (Though I’d encourage you to try it anyway, because you’ll get used to those things.) Mentally prepare yourself to feel a little grimy on most days—and to be okay with that—and plan to sweep out your van at least once daily, more frequently if you’re bringing along a pet.

Extra Space Is Nonexistent 

I’ve had to save and budget for significant investments to increase storage capacity on the van. Space is a hot commodity. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

Your mileage may vary, but in my van, every millimeter of space matters. I share my van with two dogs, two cats, and my husband, so space is almost incomprehensibly limited. We make it work, but it hasn’t been without trial and error (and near-constant rearrangement of our belongings to see if a different configuration works better). 

Balancing Work and Travel Is Challenging

I work full-time from the road. Managing my workload with travel is a constant challenge, even with the flexible schedule I have as a freelancer. I often find myself sneaking in a bit of work between errands, working late at night after a long day of driving, and planning deadlines around cell service dead zones. Of course, these are choices I make. It can be done differently, but this works for me, though it can get hectic at times. And no matter how you choose to work, it’ll take some getting used to the balance. 

You Have to Plan Ahead for Basic Chores 

You never want to get to a spot like this only to realize you forgot an essential during your errands run. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

Living in a van may be glamorous, but it is not as carefree as Instagram and TikTok videos make it seem. I’ve driven around for hours trying to find a place to fill up my water tank; my husband has dumped our cassette toilet tank into a public park toilet because there was no RV dump station within a three-hour drive; I’ve had to subsist on “groceries” from gas stations because I failed to research amenities on my route. You get the picture. If you don’t plan ahead, you waste a lot of time and money in this life. That’s why having a strong RV internet plan is so critical, so you can stay on top of route planning. 

Establishing a Routine Feels Impossible 

If you thrive on structure and routine, know that you will likely not be able to cultivate that on the road—at least not in the ways you’re used to. Living in a van is undeniably frenzied. Priorities frequently change at the last minute and simple tasks take an unexpectedly long time. Again, your mileage may vary, but I’ve personally found it incredibly tough to have a routine on the road. I’ve just decided to be okay with that for now. 

It’s Not as Cheap as You Think 

Unexpected (and expected) costs can add up quickly, especially when traveling in expensive regions. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

Remember how I said I’m writing this from a Mercedes dealership waiting on my van to be serviced? Well, it’s time for the “break-in” service for my diesel engine, and it’s running me four figures. Depending on your van build and its needs, maintenance costs can be sky-high, not to mention unexpected repairs. (I’ve already had to get a full set of new tires, replace an alternator, and repair three broken windows.) So, yeah, even though I don’t pay rent or a mortgage, costs add up quickly when you’re constantly on the go. And depending on how fast you plan on traveling, fuel costs can easily add up to a month’s worth of rent. 

You’ll Feel Unwelcome Sometimes 

Vanlifers aren’t welcome everywhere, and existing in those places—even when you don’t plan on spending a single night—is uncomfortable to a palpable degree. Once, my husband and I were enjoying the beach in San Diego. We returned to our van to find a warning slip from local vigilantes saying that we were not welcome and they would turn our license plate into the authorities if they saw our van there again. This was in spite of it being the middle of the day and a public parking lot we’d only parked in for three hours. 

But… It’s All Worth It

Living in a van is the only reason I’m able to afford spending extended time in places like this. And for that, all the struggles are worthwhile. Photo by Amanda Capritto.

Clearly, there are plenty of reasons not to love vanlife. And those reasons are enough for a lot of people to quit or to never try in the first place. To me, though, all of the downsides can’t outweigh the freedom and fun this life provides me. 

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of campervans?

Campervans are nimble and smaller than most RVs, so they can take you places that larger rigs cannot. Additionally, they tend to have better gas mileage and can fit in normal parking spots, so it’s easier to maneuver them around cities. All of that comes at the expense of storage space, which some travelers aren’t willing to give up. 

Why are people quitting vanlife? 

People quit vanlife for all sorts of reasons, but if I had to take a stab at why most people quit, it’s due to unexpected costs that no one warned them about. Vanlife can deliver financial blow after financial blow due to repairs, fuel, and maintenance, so if you don’t plan and prepare for that, you may be forced out of the lifestyle quickly.

Is it actually cheaper to live in a van?

No, not necessarily. It can be just as expensive to live in a van as it is to live in traditional housing, like an apartment or single-family home. It depends on the type of rig you buy, whether or not you have a vehicle payment, your insurance plan, and other variable costs, like groceries, campground stays, and personal luxuries. Your speed of travel and geographic region also dictate your fuel costs, which can easily amount to the cost of rent if you travel quickly in expensive areas. 

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