The Story Behind Camp Van Life
How $200 and a camper shell turned into years of van life across three continents
It Started With a Truck and $200
In 2018, I left home with all my possessions in a backpack and $200 in my pocket. My plan was to drive around the United States, build websites for small businesses along the way, and figure out the rest.
That plan lasted about two weeks. I quickly discovered I was better at playing music on street corners and picking up odd jobs than cold-calling businesses. The important part is that I kept moving — and I kept the truck.
Camp Van Life started as a way to document what I was learning: how to find free camping, how to set up power systems, how to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. What started as personal notes became a blog with over 200 articles, read by hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide.
What You'll Actually Find Here
Honest Gear Reviews
I review gear I've actually used in the field — not press samples. If something broke on a cold…
Real Destinations
I've driven through the American Southwest, across Europe, around South America, and through…
Vehicle Living
From truck camping to shuttle bus conversions to proper campervan builds — I've done it all and…
Life on the Road
The practical stuff: staying connected, making money, staying healthy, finding community. Van life…
2018
Started Van Life
5+
Vehicles Lived In
30+
Countries Covered
200+
Articles Written
Van Life Without the Gloss
There's a version of van life that looks like a Patagonia ad — immaculate Mercedes sprinters, ring light setups, perfectly filtered sunsets. That's not what this blog is about.
Camp Van Life covers the real version: the duct-taped repairs, the nights when the heater died, the border crossings that didn't go as planned, the campsite that looked perfect on iOverlander but smelled like diesel. And also the mornings that made everything worth it.
If you want advice from someone who's actually been there — in the truck, on the road, making it work — you're in the right place.
Have a Question?
Whether you're planning your first van life trip or troubleshooting your solar setup at 10pm in a Walmart parking lot — reach out. I read every…