Hi all,
I have spent many months pondering the question about doing this, but cannot seem to be 100% that its the right thing to do.
The idea sounds great, but I’m worried about the future.
So here is my situation:
Should I go ahead and do it?
!!!
Steve
This may vary by location, but here in the USA, the best bang for the buck is an older move in ready, road worthy motor home which can be purchased cheaper than an unreliable used car.
Over the years I’ve had many camper vans, motor homes, buses, and more. Many that I converted into campers myself. Over the years my philosophy has changed. Today, I prefer more space, comfort, & convenience for living, and a gas saving grocery getter for ease of parking in busy towns or parking lots. I want something that will pay for itself in months, not years, if ever.
I started out with cheap used factory camper vans, the smaller footprint was good for my lifestyle at that time. If I couldn’t find one when needed, I’d build my own with a cheap used van, and a cheap, quick build, since I was always working full time. Still a good value money wise. Pre-computerized and preferably pre-smog control, meant cheap, reliable, and easily repaired, as well as better driving than newer models. Vehicles from the 1960’s-1970’s quickly became my favorites even though I was often driving newer ones for work. The Dodge drivetrains were the best.
There are a lot of things to consider. If you are getting out of house ownership, is it likely that you can get back in if you don’t like van life or can’t continue in it. What is the weather conditions like where you plan to travel if you will be travelling summer and winter? Be sure that these are acceptable to you before taking the plunge.
That being said, many love the life. I only do it for a week at a time due to other commitments, but love the outdoors and independence it offers, although campgrounds are getting expensive and more rule-bound every year. I seek free spots but these are getting few and far between as well. But if all the above are doable in your situation …
Heating, cooling, & proper ventilation is the best answer for weather related problems, since it can be so unpredictable.
Cold weather bedding & clothing in case the heater fails.
How long have you been traveling part time?
Start part time if you didn’t yet then you can decide.
More and more states are banning these spending the night, these days if your not stealth your future in van life is bleak, so stay away from RV, motorhomes.
We have a minivan, perfect for the 2 of us, 1 person would be even better, get a good low mileage minivan and strip everything in the back & build from the bottom up, if you need ideas message me, I have a free discord channel where I put up everything I’ve done to mine and links to where I bought things.
I have found that most of these laws are selectively enforced. Needed to deal with bad actors, but unenforced against respectable people.
Over the years I’ve street camped in camper vans & motorhomes, where it was technically illegal, but never had problems. I don’t expect, nor have I experienced, any of these no sleeping in public laws to affect anybody but the bad actors. Nobody wants to run off tourists or workers.
That might depend. I recently ran into a tent parked directly behind a hotel. 
Management very quickly put up a fence (a barbed wire fence??) between the hotel and the tent. And I bet it is more likely to be enforced in locations with hotels or motels - and if you snore or move around at night, that would be very obvious. Also, maybe overnight sleeping in a vehicle might be more likely to be enforced than daytime sleeping?