Things to Consider If You’re Contemplating Living Life on the Road
The life of the nomad has always had a bit of a following in America, from the days of the cowboys and Conestoga wagons to the VW microbus and the Chevy van. In the 21st century, that’s gone a bit upscale, with the ubiquitous Mercedes Sprinter vans dotting the landscape. A bare-bones model, though, typically costs between $50,ooo and $60,000, and outfitting one for long-term travel can cost anywhere from $10,000 for DIY conversions to $100,000 (or more) for professional setups. There are slightly less expensive options that offer similar capacity and layout, including the Ford Transit, the Ram ProMaster and the Chevrolet Express.
Must Haves When You’re Living on the Road
If your vehicle is to be your home, there are certain essentials that you’ll need:
- A comfortable bed—You don’t want to simply throw a mattress on the floor. Living on the road can get old pretty quickly if you don’t get adequate rest. First and foremost, choose a mattress that is comfortable. Fortunately, there are many combination box springs and mattresses available that provide the support and cushion you need without using a lot of space. You’ll need a frame that’s anchored to the van. Remember that the weight of the bed and frame are all factored into the vehicle’s maximum weight-bearing capacity. The more weight in your bed and frame, the less capacity you’ll have for everything else.
- Kitchen—Preparing your own food will be far more economical and will typically be healthier. You’ll need room for food storage, a place to prepare meals and something to cook your food. A small refrigerator is ideal, as you’ll either need to store perishables in a cooler or incur a lot of waste. A cutting board can substitute as a counter for food prep
If you want to use some type of fossil fuel, you’ll need a way to ventilate while you cook. A better option may be an induction burner, which cools almost immediately, but typically requires electricity. There are portable induction burners that are reasonably priced, but you’ll also need the right cookware.
- Power source—There are a number of options for providing electrical power to your rig:
- Your alternator can provide power while the engine is running;
- You can use a “portable power station,” which uses a lithium battery and an inverter to make electricity available when the vehicle is turned off
- You can operate a “dual battery” system, with one battery that powers your vehicle and another that stores energy and powers appliances and accessories
- You can install solar panels on your vehicle;
- You can hook up to an external power source, such as an outlet in an RV park.
Also note that some refrigerators can run on propane, allowing you to keep things cold if you’re not connected to the grid.
