Since I’ve made link dumps for other topics, I figure I should make one here too.
This is a work in progress. As I do more research this page will grow!
This is My Vanlife Sites
Sites that are mostly “this is my life, this is my van” or stories from the road, that kind of stuff.
- Always the Road
- Authentic Asheville
- The Boltine Project – Linking directly to one post because I can’t find more about their van!
- Demeter.Global – I couldn’t leave myself off the list!
- Divine on the Road
- DogCatManVan – This is his, quite empty, YouTube page
- Dynamo Ultima – Note that their website is mostly setup for them to sell you services but they do also occasionally blog about their own adventures…. but… their link to all vanlife/travel posts doesn’t actually work so you kind of have to pick one then click “older” to get through the others. Doesn’t bode well for a company trying to sell website design services…..
- Enjoy the Journey
- Ford Van Conversion
- Fun Life Crisis
- Go! Big Emma
- Hippie in Heels – the author has passed away in May 2019 so I recommend saving the most important pages from this site in case it gets pulled down
- North to South this is one I struggle with putting here or one category down
- Project Van Life
- The Road is Our Home
- That Adventurer
- Two Wandering Soles – Mostly a travel blog but this link takes you straight to thier blog posts about vanlife
- Vacay Vans
- Van Adventures by House Love
- Van Clan
- Van Dog Traveler
- Vanessa and Adam
- Vanholio!
- VanLife VCC
- Wanderlust
- XtremeAdVANture
How-To / Education Focused Sites
These might overlap with just plain vanlifer blogs or with the sites to buy stuff, but in general most posts are educational. Most of the above blogs include how-to pages too but I wanted to differentiate a little bit.
Ignore the <> notations. Those are for my own notes. Just open all of them and know that there’s definitely overlap….
- Backroads Vanner
- Build a Camper Van
- Build a Green RV
- Build It Solar
- Buy it for Van Life
- Camperize
- Cheap RV Living
- Do It Yourself RV
- Enigmatic Nomads Website and a YouTube Channel
- Explorist Life
- Far Out Ride
- Gnomad Home
- KombiLife
- Our Karavan <>
- Outbound Living
- Mowgli Adventures
- Parked in Paradise
- Sara and Alex James Blog – this blog oozes “we’re just doing this for the money” which slightly bothers me
- Saying Yes – Digital Nomad Posts
- The Vanual
- Two Wandering Soles How-To Full Conversion – I have this listed under VanLifer blogs but this page was too nice not to list here separately
- Vanlife Academy
- VanLife Customs Blog
- Vanlife Outfitters
- Vanspiration – Links to a ton of individual’s van builds including build details!
- VanX
- The Wayward Home
Forums
- AmbulanceRV
- Promaster Forum
- The Samba
- eLightBars
- Expedition Portal – they have cool website articles too but I’m putting them here because it’s their forum that’s the real value
- Ford Transit USA Forum
- Sportsmobile Forum
- Powerstroke.Org – for Ford Powerstroke Diesel Engines
- Project Vanlife
- Van Dog
Companies At Which You Can Throw Money
These are just a few parts I bookmarked as ideas, not necessarily the best nor places I recommend. I’ll tell you if I’ve actually bought something from one of them.
Companies That Do Things For You
- Blue Ridge Adventure Vehicles – Asheville, Colorado – “Full Custom Conversions”
- Bridge Bound Campers – Fayetteville, WV – “Converting Vans and Other Small Vehicles into Adventure Travel Dream Rigs”
- Colorado Camper Van – Loveland, Colorado – “Van Build-outs for Differeing Lifestyles and Budgets”
- Contra Vans – Denver, Colorado – “Innovative and Practical Conversion Systems”
- Custom Connection – Roselle, Illinois – “For the Ultimate in Van Conversion”
- Heartwood Custom Vans – Nova Scotia, Canada
- Outside Van – Portland, Oregon – “Custom Purpose-Built Vehicles That Enable The Freedom To Adventure Off-Grid”
- Sara and Alex James – Custom Vans
- Sportsmobile – Note that they say they’ll do partial systems but Econolines can only be worked at the TX location. I emailed them about doing just my electrical and they said that they would have to rip out my perfectly functional $1,300 inverter and install a new one because they won’t touch existing systems. They also said they have a minimum of $10,000 for all installs.
- U Joint OffRoad helps convert Ford Econolines into 4x4s, requires a 4” lift minimum
- Vanlife Customs – Denver, Colorado – “One of a Kind Camper Vans to Fit a Variety of Lifestyles”
- Wandervans – Boise, Idaho – “Experience a New Way to Buy a Campervan”
- Wayfarer Vans – Colorado Springs, Colorado – “Plug-N-Play Camper Van Kits”
VanX has a whole list here too of more that is sortable by location, van type, and area of focus.
Places to Buy Parts or Information
- AllDataDIY – factory vehicle diagnostic and repair manuals – aka liquid gold!! They’re missing my van which is miserable, but hey, maybe you can find yours!
- Amazon. I’m not linking to this, because duh. I put it here as a reminder for you to always use smile.amazon.com when making purchases so you give back a little!
- AT Overland Equipment
- American VanSide Ladder $316
- EAutoRepair – provides online access to auto repair information
- Full Force: Diesel Performance
- GoWesty
- Inlad – Specifically has a Ford Econoline section!
- Ford Econoline Cargo Van Ladder $146.19, Goes on the back door
- Class IV Hitch $246.34
- Wire windows screen kit $167.26
- Inlad Products Hitch $446
- Isotherm Parts
- Our Karavan on KIT
- NorCold
- RV Custom Screen
- Sportsmobile
- TruckFridge – If I have to tell you what this place sells then we have bigger issues
- Vanessa and Adam – This is really just their personal list of affiliate links from Amazon, but it’s nice for brainstorming
- Vantech
- Vitrofrigo
- Wallas – Boat products which work well in vanlife btw
Instagrams to Follow
Okay so I could make this list a million items long. Soooo I threw them all in a Google Sheet. Contact me here or via Instagram if you want to be added to the list!
Apps To Download
- iOverlander app
- Gas prices
- Free camping
- Public toilets
- Overnight parking
ALMOST EVERY LINK BELOW THIS LINE COMES FROM ONE OF THE WEBSITES UP ABOVE!!!
I haven’t gone through every site above and categorized them below, these are just the few specific links I happened to have bookmarked / wanted to remember.
Links from sites NOT above will have a (**) after them.
Fixing up the Body
- Van Dog Traveller
Insulation for Vans
- My Post About Insulation
- Gnomad Home
- Parked in Paradise
- The Road is Our Home
- Vacay Vans on Natural Insulation
- The Vanual
- Outbound Living
- Cheap RV Living
- Build it Solar
- Promaster Forum Boards
- Build a Green RV (who used Spray Foam… eesh!)
- Explorist Life
- The Road is Our Home Insulation: How to insulate your van conversion
- Our Karavan – Insulation
Flooring
- Van Dog Traveller – Fitting the Floor to My Campervan (note, I’m not a fan of vinyl in a van)
Walls
- Van Dog Traveller
Layouts & Plans
- Fun Life Crisis bought a 20k van and spent 3k in conversion AND their layout includes a litter box that can be scooped and changed from the rear of the van!
- Google Sketchup of someone’s Ford E-250 Plans
Internet / WiFi / SmartVan
- Get a WiFi booster antennea
- WiFi Map App
- Far Out Ride – Vanlife Internet
Cooking & Food Storage
- Fun Life Crisis Stovetop recommendation
- The Wayward Home – The Best 12 Volt Refrigerators in 2019
- Gnomad Home – Refrigeration on the Road
- Enigmatic Nomads – Are YOU Still Using an ICE CHEST in your VAN? (YouTube Video)
- Far Out Ride – Fridge Guide
- Parked in Paradise
- Mr Heater Fridge (**)
- Camp Chef Stovetop (**)
- Butane and Propane Camp Stove $50 with other options at $28-$100 for the two-burner with griddle and on Amazon without the griddle for $85 (**)
Power Systems & Electrical
- KombiLife “A List of Recommended Equipment for Off Grid Solar & Mobile Electrical Systems“
- Build It Solar – ProMaster DIY Camper Van Conersion — Electrical and Solar
- Cheap RV Living – How to Have Electricity
- Do It Yourself RV – We Installed a 30-Amp SmartPlug – Here’s What We Thought
- Far Our Ride – DIY Van Electrical Guide
- Gnomad Home – Epic Guide to DIY Van Build Electrical
- Reddit – Van Dwellling Without Solar Capacity??
- Reddit – Anybody here have an ambulance? I’m looking for some information on the wiring.
- Goal Zero Yeti System $1800 (**)
- VanLife Customs Lithium Battery v Lead
- Our Karavan
- Van Dog Traveller – 12V electrics and wiring for my campervan conversion
- On the Trail with Bart – YouTube Video on Solar Wiring (**)
Miscellaneous Electric System Information
- Battery University – What’s the Best Battery? (**)
- 12 Volt Planet – Auxiliary Battery Charging In Vehicles With ‘Smart’ Alternators (**)
- Blue Sea Systems Circuit Wizard
Small Electronics
- Parked in Paradise
- Van Dog Traveller – Cheap Van GPS Tracker
Windows
- Fun Life Crisis – Tips to DIY
- Our Karavan
Sink / Shower / Washing Up
- Vanlife Customs 101: Camper Van DIY Sink and Water System
- KombiLife “DIY Road Shower for Van Life“
- KombiLife “7 Ways to Stay Fresh On The Road“
- Parked in Paradise
- Planet Fitness membership for all across the US
- Truck stops
- Campgrounds
- Helio Pressure Shower $100, Pair with mat to stand on – Helio Clover Mat $20 (**)
- Our Karavan – Simple Sink System
Toilet Needs
- Parked in Paradise
Cooling
- Our Karavan – Installing a Vent Fan
Bed / Bedding
- Parked in Paradise
- Van Dog Traveller – Expanding Bed for Van
Gear & Organization
- KombiLife “Van Life Gear”
- Organized Dobie Clothing Hangers (**)
- Our Karavan – Building Aluminum Cabinet Frames
Skylights & Roof Racks
- Vantech Roof Racks
- Reddit – Huge Skylight
- Louisville Toppers (**)
- Reddit – High Top Roof Racks
- Reddit – Another
- Reddit – Yes, This
- Reddit – Fitting to Fiberglass
- Thule 420 Roof Rack (**)
- Roof Tray (**)
- Rack Attack
Lists of Things to Buy
- Our Karavan – Tools for Building a Van
Cost of VanLife / Budgeting
- Always the Road’s Budget
- Money Under 30 Van Living (**)
- Parked in Paradise Van Life Costs
- Dynamo Ultima How Much They’re Saving
- Spin the Globe Project $3500 Build (**)
Parking
- KombiLife “Free Camping”
- Walmart
- RV Parks
- Rest Stops
- iOverlander app
Mechanic Stuff
- How to Read Automotive Wiring Diagrams (**)
- Powerstroke.Org – Common 7.3 Problems
Upgrading a 7.3L Diesel
- Full Force – Performance Injectors
- Full Force – HOW & WHY – 7.3L POWERSTROKE VALVE TRAIN UPGRADES
- Full Force – 7.3 HYDRA CHIP VS 7.3 TS CHIP
Work / Jobs / Career (**)
- Workamper (**)
- Rover.com for dog-sitting jobs
