With 12 million posts and counting on Instagram, the hashtag #vanlife — and its lifestyle — has become its own thing.
Making your home out on the road isn’t just for snowbirds at retirement age and restless wanderers anymore. With the rise of the gig economy, the desire for smaller living arrangements, and the availability of equipped vehicles, life on the road is possible and easily attainable.
Oscar-winning movies like “Free Solo” and “Nomadland” have also popularized life on the road. In those movies, a van was used for traveling the country. But that’s not the only option, so what is the best vehicle to live in?
The answer to that question comes as you determine what your needs are. For example, are you looking for the best vehicle to live and travel in? Or are you searching for the best vehicle for off-grid living?
Whatever your desire, we’ll describe five of the best vehicles to live in as you contemplate your new life on the road in the following article.
- RV Class A and C
These vehicles are luxury on wheels. Meant for long hauls or extended stays, the Class A and C RVs cost anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000. In addition, class A is longer at 37 feet than the smaller Class Cs. The Cs usually have a boxy truck chassis about 25 feet in length.
These vehicles are made for the open road with standup bathrooms, full kitchens, dining room tables, and full bedrooms. In addition, these campers come with plenty of custom add-ons and are great for people that want to explore rural areas but are not looking to off-road.
Read more about these vehicles here.
- Class B RVs
The Class B RV is shorter in length than both Class A and C. These vehicles look like suped-up vans and are about 20-feet long. They will have taller roofs than conventional vans so that you can stand up straight and, in many cases, still have a bathroom inside.
However, these vehicles are smaller than the other RVs on this list, so your shower may be outside, and you may need to skimp on some creature comforts.
- Cargo Vans
Panel vans are popular to convert into campers because of their raised roof (you don’t have to stoop), reasonable price, and parts and service availability.
However, these vans have to be built entirely from scratch or bought customized, increasing the price. Lastly, the lack of back windows is excellent for privacy but limits your trip’s natural light and views.
- Camper Van
There are a lot of these types of vans out on the road. Picture the iconic Volkswagon Westfalia with the pop-up top. The upside is that these vans come with many features, including stoves, beds, and kitchen sinks. The downside is that they usually have high mileage, are third or fourth hand, and need constant repairs and fixes.
- Pickup Bed Camper
Smaller in size but with a lot of extras, these camper units fit in the bed of a pickup truck and allow the user to go off-road or camp in a site for tents or RVs. You can also detach these units easily to use the truck and leave the camper at the campground.
The Best Vehicle to Live in Is Out There
If you are thinking of hitting the road in a camper, the best vehicle to live in depends on what you can afford and how much space you can live in. Some people need more convenience and space than others.
Before you make any final decisions, you might want to try living in a small space before deciding what size camper you need.
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