Van Life Community
The van life community is diverse and unique. There are so many wide-ranging nooks and crannies in this fantastic group of travelers, you are bound to find your tribe. Let’s go over the basics of bonding with your new crew.
DIRECTORY
HOW TO FIND GATHERINGS & EVENTS
ADDITIONAL PLACES YOU MAY RUN INTO A VANLIFER
HOW TO STAY SAFE
First things first, stay safe.
It is not recommended to post your van online, especially the license plate if you’d like to avoid being recognizable. Obviously, this is up to you. A lot of people post photos of their van, but understand that you don’t know who is seeing your content on these sites. If they see your van in person, they know your whole life is in it.
DON’T share your personal information or location with anyone you don’t know well.
DO share your location with trusted friends and keep in regular contact with them.
Stay alert. Pay attention to your surroundings and always be prepared. Trust your gut ALWAYS and don’t be afraid to offend someone by saying no or protecting yourself.
Fight or flight baby. Have your weapons of choice at the ready at all times. Have an escape plan. Never back yourself into a corner. Make it easy to turn your van on and peel out. Keep your keys safe and ready. Reverse into parking spots so you are able to pull out forward at all times.
Most important, not everyone is out to hurt you. A lot of people are genuinely kind and helpful. Allow yourself to make friendships online and in person. There are a lot of nomads that would love to help you on your journey, swap stories, and engage in common interests.
HOW TO MEET PEOPLE
The Van Life community is growing faster & closer than ever. There are always new opportunities to make connections whether through meetups, social media, coincidental run-ins, etc.
Hopefully, this page makes it easier for you to find the tribe you vibe with the most.
Survive Van Life Page: (Facebook)
Here you’ll find posts and updates on events, articles, and more.
Survive Van Life Group: (Facebook)
A Van Life Group dedicated to helping you Survive Van Life. Post questions and get real-time answers from others living this lifestyle, search for Frequently Asked Questions
ONLINE COMMUNITY
There are so many options when it comes to finding #vanlife information online.
The easiest way to find your online community is to search keywords/hashtags on sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit: Van Life / Van Dwellers, Forums: Cheap RV Living (insert your social media of choice).
It also helps to narrow the search your specific vehicle, there may be groups about them as well, a great reference for mechanic assistance.
Don’t forget to check out HOWA, the Homes On Wheels Alliance, as they are an incredible resource for those struggling to transition into this lifestyle as well as being a reputable cause to contribute to in this community.
Check them out at https://homesonwheelsalliance.org/
HOW TO FIND GATHERINGS & EVENTS
The biggest van life meetup of the year is RTR (Rubber Tramp Rendezvous)
You can find more information about gatherings at cheaprvliving.com/gatherings/
One great to place to find van life events is on meetup.com/
Search vanlife & vandwellers, to discover the largest van life groups on Meetup.
Additional sites to find gatherings
ADDITIONAL PLACES YOU MAY RUN INTO A VANLIFER
Outdoor Activities:
beach, hiking national or state parks, rock climbing, surfing, sports,
Hard Workers:
Coffee Shops, Cafés, Restaurants (generally charging or working for long periods of time)
Library or College
Home Bases:
BLM land, campsites, hostels, Walmart parking lots & other parking locations
SHOUTOUTS
Below are a few of my favorite bloggers or articles on van life & the community.
Cheap RV Living
Suanne Online: Living in a Prius
Chris Sawey: Hotel Prius