Have you always dreamed of converting and then travelling in your much-loved van? Living on the road sounds amazing, but we know there are several things to consider before taking the plunge. We've got some questions to answer first, to see if van life really is for you...

Are you a real homebody? 

This is a great question to ask yourself first and one that if the answer is YES, you may need to seriously consider your van life future. While living in a van is your home for the duration, it's constantly moving, and you will find yourself outdoors a lot of the time. But if you are a spontaneous person who loves the outdoors then van life might be for you.  

Are you happy wearing the same clothes repeatedly?

If your answer to this one is NO, then we think packing for a life on the road may be a near impossible task for you. Limited space and a minimal lifestyle are exactly what comes with van, or Nomad, life and storage will be limited. However, if downsizing is what you’re looking to do then it may be the perfect opportunity to do this, as you’ll often find yourself rotating the same four or five t-shirts and pairs of trousers.

Do you have a pet?

This is a big one. Everyone believes their pet is the greatest and most well-behaved animal on the planet, until it comes to being confined to the small space of a campervan. However, it can be difficult, even with the most chilled of dogs. You’ve got to consider their life, just as much as your own, right?

Some places while on the road may not allow pets, and in this case what if your van is too hot or cold to be comfortable? If your dog can’t be trusted off the lead, that could also prove difficult. The same applied for the size of your pet and how much exercise they need; some journeys can be long. These are sacrifices along the way that would have to be made if you choose to bring your furry friend along for the ride.

If you have considered these things and still thing van life is for you and your pet, then we say go for it!

Can your income be made remotely?

Making money is of course a necessity if you want to live in any way comfortably. And on the road, this is no exception. If you have a job that can be done completely from a computer like Graphic Design, Web Development, Social Media or Freelance Writing then you’re all set, and your van can also become a mobile office. This is providing you have wifi, which may be limited in some areas. Factor this is and ensure you get everything done when you're in a good wifi area. 

However, if your job involves manual labor or selling products for example, you may need to work for a few months to save and then travel. Or rethinking van life may be the other alternative.

Are you cool with small spaces?

Living in a van can be a real adventure, but at the end of the day it is living in the confines of what can be a very small space. While you do spend a lot of time outdoors while on the road, if weather is terrible or it’s the evenings you will be inside your van and it can get quite cosy. If you’re good with small spaces then great, if not, maybe consider carefully the van you choose, or if van life is actually for you. Smaller vans like the VW Camper are great looking but can prove to be less roomy than say a Transporter T5.1. 

How comfortable are you with dirt?

By this, we’re not referring to personal hygiene as this isn’t the problem at all. You may not be able to shower every day but there are still plenty of ways to keep up the hygiene aspect of things. What we instead are referring to is how comfortable are you with dirt, dust and all sorts ending up in your home away from home.

Wind will blow dirt and dust into your van, it’s inevitable. However, if you just keep a brush on hand and sweep up regularly, you may be able to overcome this and enjoy the trip instead.

So what’s the verdict? Is van life for you? If you can happily overcome all of these questions, we think life on the road will be a breeze for you.