Hi Everyone! I am a single mom with an amazing 19 yr old daughter. I was in hotel management but was diagnosed with Lupus and now I’m living on a very tight budget. I started living in my Honda Odyssey a year ago. It’s really the only option. Then was hit by another driver so I had to find a different van with very little money. The van I found was already converted with paneled walls and insulation. It also has a built in electrical system with 2 large solar panels and 3 regular outlets. I’m hoping to get some ideas and tips from the more experienced van lifers on things like security, keeping food, how to make some interior changes and space saving. I’m hoping to be living in my van in the next couple of weeks. I’ll appreciate any insight y’all are willing to give me with gratitude😁
Welcome!
The first tip is to never rely on solar… Atlernator, generator, or shore power for the win.
Anything else, we’re here for you.
As Fulltimer says, you need to have some alternate power sources. A DC to DC MPPT charge controller is very important in van living. It charges when you are driving and allows the solar to charge on sunny days. Not sure a small generator would be necessary as still burns fuel and the vehicle will charge batteries. But I’m not sure as efficient as a separate generator. But keep in mind the extra space needed to carry it. The type of battery is important too as you will deplete it often and lead acid batteries won’t stand up to that for long. You must do lots of research on the subject as you may need to look at the system you have in view of upgrades.