Vanlife – Essentials. Making Life A Little More Comfy/Easy

Items can vary from person to person when it comes to living it rough.

Some enjoy the comforts that come from home, like pyjamas, a toilet, ample lighting, enough space to stand up straight in, being able to keep out the creepy crawlies, having all these kinds of utensils from the kitchen that you just couldnt do without.

And that’s perfectly acceptable. If you have the room/budget for it.

For myself after many years of camping, I can definitely say its taught me to be a little more open to the natural world and not to fear it as some people do. I dont have the space to have my own private it toilet but that’s cool I’m fine with using public toilets or ducking out into the scrub. I’m okay with wearing the same pair of pants for a couple days in a row. Letting loose on some of your riturals can be hard and a little uncomfortable but it can lead to less worries and more focus on what you’re really out here to enjoy.

” there’s nothing better than sitting around a fire, with a beer, with people you love and just enjoying what’s around you.”

From as young as I can remember my family have always been the adventurous type and would be out in the Australian bushland every other weekend; whether thats all of us together or one of us.

I believe its safe to say that from the years of camping next to/on riverbeds, lakes, beaches, on mountains where puddles would freeze over night, places only 4WD vehicles can acess, deserts, dense bushland; you just name a place on the east coast of this country and there’s a high chance that I’ve been through it at least once. I don’t mind getting a bit dirty, or finding a few critters next to my seat.

My family has gone through fazes of different tents, different cooking methods, trying out some form of ‘glamping’ with a camper trailer that fully set up; looked like we we were building the next skyscraper. There was a point where it took a boat to get to specific spots.

I’m not fussed if it’s pouring down with rain and I’m stuck under a tarpaulin with some friends. It’s always felt like a learning experince or just an experince in itself that I will forever remember

To me there’s nothing better than sitting around a fire, with a beer, with people you love and just enjoying what’s around you. Hanging out, having the occasional deep conversations, it feels like it really brings a group of people very close.

Starting with the kitchen.

Starting in my ‘oh so small’ cabinet kitchen you would think that there is just not enough storage. But here is what I can fit and what I find useful for two people:

2 heat resistant cups *perfect for any drink at camp from wine to tea
Heat safe plastic plates and bowls – 2 of each
Cutlery for 2 *knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons
1 small and large knife that come with a slip on cover
Paint scraper *sounds odd but it’s perfect for cleaning hot plate BBQ’s
Tongs both long and short *long is great for getting things out of the fire
Bottle and can opener *try and find a tool that does both
Wooden spoon
Silicone spatula/scraper
Large serving spoon
Collapsable bowls * one for mixing and one that it sized well for dish washing
First Aid Box *doesnt need to be in the kitchen area but thats where it easily accessible
Scrubbing brush
Steel wool
Space saver measuring
cups
Re-usable shopping bags for those who are trying to be eco friendly
Paper towel and tin foil *wouldn’t reccomend tea-towels as they require washing and drying which isnt ideal if you’re constantly on the move
Portable Butane Gas Stove with replacement gas cartridges
Non-stick 26cm frying pan with high walls and a lid
Fire safe Billy Can or Camping Pot for Non-Australians
Dish detergent
Baby wipes/ Wet Ones

From observing what my family has used in the past and what I’ve used for myself, these items seem to do the job well and are very practical.

The smaller AND larger extras.

For items that are used on the regular like hand soap, shower toiletries, flashlights/torches, pencils, books, water bottles, sunscreen, hair ties, dog leads, quick fix tape; from doing a little research it was found that clipping a multipocket organiser on the back of car seats makes really efficient storage for these types of things.

I also have two flat fold-out chairs, these are great chair for saving space inside. A folding table can be really usefull when you’ve set yourself up to stay for a few days and allows

you to expand your space outside of your home on wheels. Now while this isnt necessary,

but since I had the spot for it; a beach umbrella is perfect for those days on the coast or at a lake to enjoy sitting out of the sun next to the water *even in it!*. A roll of Paracord, a

tarpauline, tent pegs, two or three tent poles are also great for making a covered outdoor spot from the doors of your van. Other people would just get an awning but my challenge is to not look like a Camper Van from the outside.

But when it comes to clothes and enterainment stuff like fishing/hiking/whatever outdoor activity gear. It’s really up to the user and what they plan on doing while on their trip. For me I still have storage under the bed where I would keep clothes, miscellaneous items like bluetooth speaker, dog water bowl, dog food, dog cooling mat, shoes, straps, vest for paddleboarding, water. You can have endless possiblities when it comes to these things.

However unlike the people who travel in their Sprinter Vans; my storage space is very limited so I’m reduced to carrying items that can lay flat.

Now for my bed, a handy note I learned from a fellow Vanlifer was that a combination of regular medium density foam matress with a 5-7cm thick memory foam layer makes up for a very comfy bed *and I’m a side sleeper*.

What you can see in above is that for the design of the bed I’ve cut the matress into two pieces. This allows for the two pieces to make an L-shape which replicates that couch feel.

But keep in mind like i mentioned eariler if your budget it tight all these items will add up in weight. This will then add up to how much fuel you put in your tank in a week.

I’d just like to mention these true words of Edwin Way Teale –

“Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.”

The main focus when it comes to picking out your tools and utensils, is to really think how practical each item is.

In the famous words of my father –

“Lay out all the things you think you might need.
Now… leave half of that behind at home.
You likely wont use it anyway”

So for anyone who’s new to the whole outdoor experince and is new to the Van Life, I hope that my shared experience of useful tools in the van help shed some light in the darkness. I’m sure some of these thing may change for me in my future but for now that is what I need.

I’m aware that the interior may not look aesthetically pleasing like all those other vans you find on intstagram, but what mine is – is practical and I’m quite content with that.

Cheers!

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Continue to follow this blog to learn more about how I make life a bit easier when I’m out in my Camper.

My Van Conversion Journey

It’s on the rise, you hear every person that has that inner nomad in them talk about it. All those gorgeous Instagram photos that are accompanied with #Vanlife.

I have become one of those people…

My journey on the road may not have started yet but I wanted to share how my dad and I completed the conversion in what once was his tradie work *pedo* Toyota HiAce Van to a vehicle that suits one person but can form to fit 2 comfortably.

The process simplified:

Clear out everything and start with an empty space
Set up structural flooring and wall
Flooring/insulation
Building other components such as bed frame and kitchen with adequate storage
Paint… EVERYTHING
Install wiring and electronics
Quick test on electrics to make sure nothing will go up in flames
Kit out space with what you think are the necessities to living life on the road
Ensure that it stays looking like a tradie vehicle for safe suburban camping
Be Dog approved 😀

Now between Dad and I with Dad doing pretty much majority of the hands on work, it took us about 3-4 months *and several sheets of plywood later* that the structural completion of this project was finished.

To start with, this Van was completely filled to the brim with tools that we all knew that dad only touched about 1/3 of. So with some persuasion, negotiation and a deal I was ecstatic that I could fulfill my current dream of having a campervan and properly travel the country I’ve lived in my whole life.

Pulling out, sorting through and finding a new home for all these tools, took about 2 days, pulling out the old Ply flooring deciding it was too water damaged to reuse it was time to start the official fit out.

For the floor we used 12mm plywood sourced from Bunnings; which would then later be covered with aprox 3 x 1.5m faux wood vinyl. Kept the original ply on the lower half of the side walls since we discovered that some sanding and paint would fix them up just fine, plus! we discovered there was already decent insulation behind them anyway.

I should mention that during this process we wanted to keep the weight of everything combined in our minds since weight = more fuel consumption.

For the upper half of the side walls we used 3 layers of 10mm foam sheeting then opaque white Corflute *again from Bunnings* over the top of that to give a smoother wall finish with little effort. With the basic flooring, insulation and walls done, next came constructing the main larger objects such as the kitchen cabinet and bed frame.

The Bed and the Cabinet

I did a little research to find efficient ways to use space in smaller Vans such as the Hiace but found it that most of the world seemed to avoid this size in the first place and go straight for something bigger. I needed something that could convert into something else that didn’t need to be set up every night.
A woah behold an image of a sliding slat bed appears on my screen. I showed it to the builder man and with more plywood, a mix of 12mm and 15mm Dad and I designed, then he built the infamous double that converts to a single but at the same time acts as a couch
SLIDE OUT SLAT BED!!
Not only does in create freedom to move from front to end of the Van, you’d discover that there’s ample storage for an experienced simple camper.

The kitchen cabinet also was designed with the ability to free-up the tiny space. The vision we took on was a spot for the car fridge, a fold out table and open air storage that didn’t need doors to keep everything in *coz yknow…. that extra weight yo*. So as the final result we got 3 pigeon holes; where we added an aluminium lip so things don’t fall out. Crafted 2 shelves where the door that secures these, then opens out to a table with some support from a pole that was made to hold up a shower curtain *thank you Bunnings

After all of dads hard work and my moral support and great effort of sweeping up all the plywood dust, next came PAINTING. So with a trip to Bunnings…. again…. picked out some sand paper, ZINZER and a mid gloss finish water-based paint in grey *creative I know*. Over the next 4 days I Coated the bed, cabinet and the lower half of the walls. Then later decided to do the MDF panels on the doors because brown wasn’t looking to great.

Electrics Time!

Now while Bunnings had become our second home for this process, JAYCAR electronics became the next. All the components that needed to be connected was: solar panel, solar panel controller, red arc box, 2x 12V batteries, 2x cigarette lighter sockets, 2x strips of LED plus switches and a car fridge.

The simple run down of all these is essentially – the red arc box helps make a connection to the engine ignition and battery while the car engine is on, solar panel helps when the car is stationary for a long period *say a few days*. These are connected to the extra 2 12V batteries which then power the USB ports on the solar panel controller, the cigarette lighter sockets, the car fridge, LED lighting for inside and out and then the amazing mini double fan that plugs in to the sockets.

After all the major fit out, all that was needed was to fill it with stuff. It’s basically the essentials since there’s no space for many items. *will be further detail in later post*

So to all the people that have been following this process with me on my Instagram, I hope this can inspire you to take on any challenge that excites/inspires you in this life and fulfill it to the most of what you’ve dreamt.

Hope you enjoyed this, let me know your thought and talk to me about any more information you want to know about this.

Biggest thank you and sincere gratitude to my Dad for letting me borrow(steal) his original work vehicle and being onboard with the whole transformation.

Cheers.