By Samantha Rupp.
We’ve all seen it: those posts on the “Gram” of people living their “best life” while traveling to beautiful destinations in a van. While it all looks good and well in theory, when the reality of making a living and paying bills (of any kind) comes to mind, your dream of traveling to incredible destinations may seem like just an unattainable dream.
However, there are many people living in vans and traveling the country, so we know it’s possible. Dreams turn into realities and there are ways for you to make this one come true, but how? We’ll give you some pointers! Keep reading for our top tips on how you can work remotely from your van or RV.
Contents
Getting Started
First of all, you’re going to need a vehicle. If you don’t already have a van or an RV sitting in your driveway, you can start browsing the web for options that could work for you. There are some options on the market that include everything you may need and then, there are other vehicles that will require you to buy “the bones,” and fix it up yourself. What’s great about the second option is that the van will be more affordable, and a DIY project will allow you to set up the van the way you want.
If you have an RV or want to buy one, they offer plenty of space and comfort for long hours of living the road-trip lifestyle. Keep in mind that because of their larger size, they’re more of a gas-guzzler than a van would be, yet the extra space may make up for it for you. One other important thing to keep in mind is whether you’ll be traveling alone or with a partner—that’ll be a big influence on how much space you need. We could go on about how to make your van the most comfortable van in town, but that’s not what we’re here for. There’s plenty of inspiration on Pinterest and other sites though!
How To Pay For Van Life
Now that you’ve thought about the where, it’s time to figure out the why, which is why you’re reading this, anyway. You may not pay rent or other big bills related to owning a home or apartment living, but there will still be things you’ll have to pay for.
This is where it can get tricky. Do you already have a job? If so, do you have to be present in-person for it? If yes, would you be willing to quit? Because van life is usually about travel, keeping a job that you have to stay put for would make that dream impossible.
If you already have a remote job that you love and enjoy being a team player in, and your employer can work with your quirky road-life schedule, you’re in luck. You’re the perfect fit for van life. If not, here are a couple of remote jobs you can consider applying for to get started with the van lifestyle:
- Content writer
- Translator
- Virtual assistant
- Graphic designer
- Influencer
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Some of these jobs pay better than others but all of them allow for a flexible schedule and can be done from just about anywhere. When searching for a job, make sure you aim to prove that you can handle working on the road. Did you know 73% of employers say the most important thing they’re looking for is a strong work ethic? Consider that and these other key employee qualities outlined by ShareAble for Hires so you can put yourself in the best possible position to be able to live the van life and make a stable income.
How to Work Remotely From Your Van
The burning question on your mind right now may be, but how? At home, you may have Google Fiber hooked up and it works wonderfully: fast, smooth, and effective. Yet on the road, you don’t have that same option. To help you plan for your future as a remote-working van traveler, here are a few ideas of how to get things done:
- Coffee shops: While the early stages of the pandemic saw many coffee shops closed, in 2021, many are opening back up. You can rely on a stable internet connection in most coffee shops, which can make it easy for you to get plenty of work done while sipping on your favorite brew. The only downside here could be that some coffee shops have “suggestions” of time-limits or are so popular, you can’t find a table to sit at.
- Parks and public spaces: You may not have realized until now, but many parks and open spaces actually have free WiFi. Who knew you could just sit at a park and enjoy nature while getting your work done? While this may take some research before just going to any park and won’t be ideal for bad-weather days, it’s an option when you really need it.
- Use your phone’s hotspot: This option works if you have an unlimited plan. With a reliable network and plenty of data, you can work for hours on end, all hooked up to your hotspot. The downside with this option is when you’re in a remote area with poor phone connection. A solution for this issue could be a signal booster for your phone. It’s a good idea to have one anyway, for the many adventures you’re going to be on during your travels.
- RV park: With the changes in modern living, many RV Parks now offer WiFi, so that means if you’re staying at campgrounds in various destinations, working from home (ahem, your van) can be easier than you would have thought. When preparing to take the trip, make sure to plan ahead and find the campgrounds that offer reliable WiFi service.
Final Tips
Being able to live and work remotely from your van while traveling requires discipline and time management, but it can allow you to see places you’ve only imagined being able to visit. Here are a few last tips to help ensure your success:
- Make sure you have a comfortable bed in every sense of the word, from a pillow that helps relieve soreness to the supportive mattress you can sleep peacefully on every night. After all, adventure + hours of work demand good sleep.
- Stock up everything you might need. This includes work supplies (ergonomic keyboard and mouse), the essentials for your daily routine, and anything else that will make traveling on the road alone safer and easier to adjust to.
- Set up a workstation in your van. While you may escape every now and then to a coffee shop, when it’s time to work in your RV and van, you want a workspace that will make it easy for you to get the job done. Clean, uncluttered, and with seating that allows for comfort is what you should be aiming for.
You only live once. Why not give van living and remote working a try? It could be the best decision you ever make.
What would be stopping you from making the plunge to the van life? Could this be the ideal lifestyle for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Samantha Rupp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is the managing editor for 365 Business Tips as well as runs a personal blog, Mixed Bits Media. She lives in San Diego, California and enjoys spending time on the beach, reading up on current industry trends, and traveling.
- Samantha Rupphttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/samantha-rupp/
- Samantha Rupphttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/samantha-rupp/
One day I want to start this. Work remotely in a van. These ideas are really great!
I’d love this. Right now I am still in private practice but I have this fantasy of becoming a full-time missionary. And that would take me to the field. I do a lot of freelance writing, but dentistry is still my bread and butter.
But I dream of actually hitting the road and doing writing full-time. I really don’t want to see myself confined to my practice all my life.
Oh I have to say that I have a guilty pleasure of watching all the #vanlife videos on youtube! I’d definitely be down for RV life over van life, and working from anywhere sounds bliss!
You have no idea how your post helped me. My husband and I plan on taking my parent’s van for a couple of weeks and travel around while still working our jobs (thankfully we both work remotely during the last 5 years or so). Van seems a great idea but I still had concerns with planning and general comfort. you had a lot of my fears softened and explained
I love travelling in a campervan, and I can see why the idea of ‘van life’ could be appealing, it’s definitely a very romantic thought! I have to admit though that, realistically, it’s not for me. I like to escape in my van, the idea of working while I do that kind of spoils things for me x
The carefree lifestyle is definitely appealing, to not have a schedule and let the open road bring you to some fantastic places. Great suggestions about finding working space in local coffee shops or parks as the extension of your space.
This is really practical and informative post for digital nomads. Traveling in a RV around the world surely sounds tempting but if only I didn’t hate driving like I do. “Did you know 73% of employers say the most important thing they’re looking for is a strong work ethic.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement!
A fascinating article. Life in a van has its pros and cons. Everything looks beautiful in the pictures, but reality can be difficult at times. And it’s not about earning money. Before you quit your job or everything to living in the van, you must carefully evaluate the risks. I write it from my experience. I lived, traveled, and worked from an RV for over a year. It was a great adventure. But there were also problems. Car malfunctions put a heavy strain on the budget. Bad weather, making it impossible to stick your nose out of the car. Weak internet. I agree that it is a great and beautiful adventure. Now I also combine work from a van and work from home, but I tell everyone who dreams of such a life that it is perfect only on photos 😉
That photo of the laptop with a mountain view is gold! I want to experience that! Exciting!
Great tips on working remotely from your RV! Yes, you need Wifi for doing anything online and so a coffee shop or RV park sounds good. It would be ideal if you could park next to a beautiful mountain or river and write your blogs in word-processor and then copy on to your blog from a coffee shop. I would love to experience this someday. 🙂
I seriously began to consider this over the past year, wish I had a dog instead of a cat! It’s great to know the parks and open spaces have free WiFi. I believe I would need to check into getting an unlimited hotspot to avoid frustration. Great tip to ensure the sleep space is comfortable
Working from a van or RV is very attractive, my biggest concerns would be having a good night’s rest, having hot showers and the need for a superfast broadband connection.
I would love to live this type of life. I’d be able to travel and still make a living while being on a budget living in a van or RV. It sounds like an amazing experience.
That is so so cool!!! I love the idea of working remotely from a cottage on a lake, that would be amazing!!!
I always see van lifers on social media and wonder “how the heck can they afford that??” so this is a great guide in answering that question! Especially with the new remote working world, van life seems much more accessible. Thanks for sharing!
I must admit that the lure of taking a camper or van and heading off is alluring these days. Good to know there are ways to make it work and still stay connected. Wifi is so accessible these days I would not worry about getting connected. Although bandwidth and speed may still not be what I am used to at home. Worth it to escape for a short or longer time.
Wonderful points compiled, it sounds so exciting to be working from a van or RV, parking it close to nature would be really awesome!
I would love to try this for a while. It’s true that we forget that many parks have free WiFi!
These are such great tips! I use my phone’s hotspot all of the time when we’re traveling. My husband drives, and I work in the car. It’s a great way to pass time and make it productive! I’m all for a great coffee shop, too, though. 🙂
Wow these are really good tips. I have been thinking of taking up remote work soon as I really want to be able to work from anywhere. And yes Wifi is the big issue. I usually use public wifi and hotspot. But it is great to know that RV parks also provide wifi these days. I hope someday I can live my dream of living in a van.
And now I just want to live like a nomad, sounds amazing!
Ah yes, a good pillow is definitely a must. Sometimes my back hurts and a good pillow is just the cure for it.
These are great and helpful points for those who have plans to work remotely from their van. I wish to do this someday.