LIVING the VANLIFE as DIGITAL NOMADS in a VW Westfalia (Utilitarian Vehicle)
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Emily and Cory have been on the road for five years. They were in Nicaragua on a surf trip when they ran into Foster Huntington. He mentioned at one point, "You guys should check out this van life thing. they guys would probably enjoy it." At that point Emily was a website developer, so they already had that ability to take work on the road. They were really inspired by the simplicity of the lifestyle down there. Going with the flow and being immersed in nature, being more disconnected from technology. It began as like an experiment really. Can they work nine to five and merge that with this nomadic, adventurous lifestyle that they envisioned? They soon learned that it was definitely possible.
They kind of look at work in two forms. they can be a Digital Nomad where you're working constantly, always checking in. Or they get to compartmentalize your work and your travel, where they get to work for a bit of time and then slowly focus on travel. That was one of their largest challenges for the first three years. They had to be connected all the time. As a web manager, anything can happen, so they have to always be available for your client. At this point they prefer being able to compartmentalize. It's a balance, to work really hard and then be able to go.
This is their 1987 VW Vanagon named Basha. It's a Westfalia, full camper, pop-top, full kitchen inside and it sleeps four people comfortably. Basha is a fairly modified two wheel drive Vanagon. They have been working with GoWesty to make this older vehicle remain reliable; they upgraded their engine, which was a huge thing. When they did that, they redid the cooling system. The exhaust is stainless steel now, with upgraded cooling pipes.
They have bigger wheels and tires with fox suspension up on front. It has a two inch receiver hitch, which allows them to carry their hi-lift jack and hopefully some sort of small dirt bike in the near future. To give them a little shelter from sun and rain they have an ARB awning, which bolts right on to the van. They make rooms for these and screen rooms too so they can really outfit yourself for some serious glamping. The pop top is one of the key things that makes the Westfalia so noticeable and so amazing. Gives they essentially an 8-foot ceiling for the cooking area. They’ve added a couple strut systems that allows them to carry a full roof box. They can push it up and down super easy with just one person.
David Harrison, also known as Vanagon Life on social media, makes these vents that include additional power ports that allow them to plug in different devices to get power out of their battery. The other side of the van has the same vent which has an entry point for charging their battery off solar. They have a 50 foot cord attached to these 100 watt flexible solar panels that are also sold by Gowesty. The GoWesty bumper setup was a pretty big game-changer for them. It allows them to carry three bikes. On one side they have their drinking water, so they have four gallons outside, four gallons inside. They also have a spare wheel, and beside the wheel they actually carry snow chains.
Another Vanagon Life product is this panel that replaces the glass window and allows them to carry tools. They can also put Max Tracks or a hi-lift jack on this. They choose to have a shovel and an ax stored there for the moment. Emily also found out it's the perfect spot for a hula hoop. They also have a shower that runs off their propane tank and off their 12-volt auxiliary battery. This whole like shower unit fits in a little box, so it’s easy to store. Since they bought the van, they’ve given it a complete makeover, with the last relic from the previous owner being a PA system and plays like animal sounds and sirens.
The downstairs bed folds up into a couch which acts as the primary seat in the living room. They can swivel the table out, which then becomes the office. It's a really beautiful table that was made by a friend at San Diego Urban Timber. When trees are taken down by the city or they fall due to a storm, the company comes in and they take it. This diverts the trees from the landfill, which they then use to make functional art. The couch table combo is definitely a central hub of the small living space. They eat and work there a lot so having a table they loved was really important to them. They have a Bose speaker and they have been using instead of the van’s original sound system, as it sounds a lot better.
They have a closet in the back drivers corner, but they don't actually access it through the original door, they had an upgrade and got a door installed in the side which makes a space a lot more accessible. They have a Propex heater to keep the space warm which runs off of propane and is vented to the outside to keep condensation down. They didn't have heat for the first three or four years on the road, so the addition has been a real treat for them. For food storage, they have an Engel 12-volt Fridge
Anything is possible when they put your mind to it, and nothing is guaranteed. They would say that you can’t wait around for stuff to happen, you have to take charge of what you want to do in your life. They are creating this lifestyle for themselves, and that’s an intentional effort. They really just have to be proactive and get out there and make it happen if they want to live this lifestyle because there's really no template, and there’s no Rule Book. They can have a lot of freedom and a lot of fun, but it definitely takes preparedness and hard work. You're always gonna have doubts that pop into your mind and that's being human. So just keep moving and hold your vision and step forward.
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