Full-Time Teachers Choose Vanlife for Weekend Getaways and Build a Business
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Lacy and Brianne decided to move into a self converted van, Flipper, full time. They were at a crossroads in their lives. They both had full-time jobs and were like, "Okay, well the next step is to get a bigger place and set themselves up for a kid." but that choice wasn’t really sitting well with them "Well, we can either start paying $1,000 extra a month to have a bigger place, or we can get an RV and or a van and start traveling." They decided to stick with their small apartment and guest house. It's 400 square feet, and instead of upsizing that they got a van. They’re both teachers, so they get holidays, summer break and winter break, so they’re able to go travel a couple months at a time.
Flipper is a 2016 Ford Transit. It has a 148 inch wheelbase, and it’s the high roof model. They have two 100w solar panels on top, as well as a fantastic fan. They have a 420ah battery bank, which works out to 210ah of usable capacity with the chemistry they’re using. This is charged with the solar panels as well as from the alternator on the van. For the water they have a 15 gallon freshwater tank, which lasts them four to five days, and a five gallon gray water tank which they don't use very often. Since they don’t use any harmful soaps or detergents they’re usually able to just let the water go out on the ground, but their six inch PVC pipe turned grey tank is available if they need it.
They decided to put their dining area on top of a platform because they wanted storage underneath. They have about 13 inches of storage space underneath it. They also installed a window in the otherwise bare cargo van exterior. They ended up installing it on the drivers side, but if they could do it over they would put it on the passenger side as it is a better spot for looking at the views when going down the road, instead of just looking at the passing traffic.
In the kitchen, they use a truck fridge which comes with a little mini freezer. It's perfect for a pint ice cream, you just have to eat a little bit and then smush it in. In their upper cabinets they have all of their dishes and their cookware, and then they have their spice rack right right over the kitchen backsplash. They like the backsplash touch because it makes it a little bit more homey.
They have a built in propane cooktop, their sink for running water and then more storage under the counter. That’s where they keep their propane tank and cleaning supplies. The propane tank they use is five gallons and it lasted them for a two month road trip, on which they only used half.
Their dining area, which can comfortably seat six people, turns into a bed very easily. All of these benches are storage, except at the very front of one of them which stores their electrical system. Under the raised floor in the dining area they have a drawer to keep all of their clothes, which is easily accessible even when there are people sitting down. To turn the dinette into a bed, they unlatch the center column of the table, which is spring-loaded, and push down.
Since they aren’t very tall they can sleep widthways in the van which gives them a lot more interior living space. The window actually gives them two more inches, which makes a big difference. They have a Porta Potti which is very easy to use. The holding tank detaches like a suitcase and can be easily emptied and cleaned at truck stops. They also have plenty of outlets where they can charge their phones or laptops. For additional privacy they made reflectix window covers that they painted black on one side and are easily attached with magnets.
They enjoyed the conversion process so much that they’ve made additional campers as rentals. The first van they’ve made specifically as a rental has the same wattage electrical setup as Flipper. It does have lithium ion batteries, so it’s a little bit better there. It has a full twenty gallon water tank, and they call it the Adventure Model because you can fit your bikes and your climbing gear or whatever you need in the back with its fixed platform bed.
Their whole mission is to make van life more accessible, and this is a perfect way to help people try it out because these rentals start from as low as $80 a night. They're small, and they're not stealthy because they're bright orange, but there's five of them. They're really just basic builds that give curious individuals a taste of what van life is like. They have storage, a bed that converts to a couch, a Dometic fridge, and a propane or butane little stove that you can use, and that’s it. The nice thing about these is if you have friends they can sit in the back because there's four seat belts.
Their advice is to follow your dreams, and start your adventure now. They’re both teachers, so they’re in an industry that institutionalizes people. It teaches them how to be part of society and I think that that narrative of go to school your entire life, get a job, work, start a family, doesn't necessarily work for everyone. They think that they need to popularize other means of living and be an example of not just the status quo, but also the more unconventional alternatives. Van life has changed their lives, and that it shows them that money and work isn't life. We have to change our priorities because life is more important than how much money you're making. Do what you love, and if you think long and hard about it, you probably don’t need a ton of stuff to do so.
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