Our Must Have Items for Van Life

After almost two years of living in our van full-time, we’ve really been able to narrow down a solid list of must haves. These things just make life a little easier, and are worth the precious real estate they take up in our small space. This list is unique to our set-up, so you might find that you do or don’t need some of the items we mention. We separated it into must haves (things we couldn’t imagine going without), favorites (things we really really like, but aren’t necessities) and other (things we don’t have but think would be helpful).

Must Haves

a c c e s s o r i e s

• Leveling Blocks

  These come in super handy when we have to park on hills or uneven surfaces. They go underneath your tires and help level out your vehicle.

• Fan Cover

  We got an insulated cover to try and help cut down on road noise coming from our exhaust fan. It’s mounted towards the front of the van just behind the cab so it gets pretty noisy. If you mount your fan up front, we would highly recommend using one of these covers.

• Expanding Hose

  We use this hose to fill our water tank. It’s lightweight and super compact. It expands to 50 feet when you run water through it making it perfect for van life.

• Sumo springs

  Adding all that weight to the back can significantly alter the way your van drives. We highly recommend upgrading the helper springs in your van conversion. They really increase ride stability and cushion the suspension. Plus, they’re super easy to install.

• Gray Water Hose & Storage container

  If you use a gray water tank with a full 3 inch drain, we recommend the RhinoFlex hose. It’s flexible but very sturdy and holds its shape making the job easier. The 15ft hose and accessories fit perfectly in the standard EZ Hose Carrier. We mounted ours under the side of our van.

• Window Covers

  You’ll want something to cover each of your windows for privacy and insulation. Towards the end of our build we ran out of money and didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on them, ( insulated window covers can be super expensive), so we made a DIY version with a roll of reflectix, duct tape and magnets. They aren’t the best, but they get the job done. We would eventually like to invest in some nice ones from this brand.

• extension cord

  We keep a 50 foot extension cord in the van at all times just in case we need to plug into shore power.

• Compact Chairs

  We got the small foldable chairs from REI. They hardly take up any space and are perfect for sitting around a campfire!

• Charging Block

  It’s always nice to have a back up charging option just in case your van is running low on battery.

• Basic Tool Kit

  Always good to have, especially when your home is on wheels.

c l e a n i n g

• Dyson Car & Boat Vacuum

  This was an investment, but so worth it. This vacuum is small, compact and comes with attachments that make it super easy to clean up dirt, debris and dog hair from all the hard to reach places in our van. It’s car seat attachment works great on our cushions. It also comes with a 12V charger. We use it daily!

• reusable dish TOWELS

  In an attempt to be more low waste, we replaced disposable paper towels with reusable towels (bamboo and recycled cotton are a great option). We use them for EVERYTHING. Wiping Tonkins’ paws, cleaning our cabinets, drying dishes, cleaning the floor, etc. I’d say these are probably our most used items in the van.

• Small broom & Dust Pan

  We tried keeping a full size broom in the van but quickly realized it was taking up too much space, so we unscrewed the handle and now we love our new mini broom 😁👍🏻

• Dish drying mat

  We have a very simple drying mat that we pull out when we do dishes. We like this one because it is very easy to store and you can throw it in the wash when it gets dirty.

• Laundry bag

  We use a large cotton laundry bag to transport our clothes to and from the laundromat.

• Entry Rug

  Having a place to wipe feet/paws is essential for keeping our floor tidy.

s a f e t y

• Fire Extinguisher

  It’s essential to keep one of these handy in an easy to reach place to protect yourself and your investment in the unfortunate event of a fire.

• Carbon Monoxide Detector

  You’ll definitely want to install a carbon monoxide detector, as well as a propane detector if you have a propane system in your van.

• First Aid Kit

  Safety First!

• aaa membership

  Our AAA membership SAVED us when our van broke down. We have the premier membership which allowed us to get the van towed 200 miles back to my dad’s house free of charge. It’s definitely a good idea to have some kind of roadside assistance option in the event that you break down, get your van stuck in sand, run out of gas etc.

b u i l d e s s e n t i a l s

• BERKEY WATER FILTER

  We love our Berkey! It is secured to the wall and sits on our countertop right next to the sink. Initially we weren’t sure if we wanted to keep it in the van as it does take up a good amount of space, but we’ve come to find that it is SO worth it. Having it on hand ensures that we can always filter the water from our water tank no matter where we fill up. We use it for drinking, brushing our teeth and washing our faces. It also yields the cleanest and most delicious water.

• COMPOSTING TOILET

  The Nature’s Head composting toilet is certainly an investment, but we highly recommend it. We use it daily and can’t imagine going without it. Not having to rely on public restrooms or going outside makes the van experience a lot more comfortable (in our opinion). Using a composting toilet comes with a slight learning curve. I found the experience to be a bit uncomfortable at first, but now it just feels normal haha. Also, there really is no smell whatsoever.

• outdoor shower setup

  Since we decided against putting a shower inside of our van, we knew we wanted an outdoor shower hookup option that we could use when we are away from the city. The faucet is connected to our main plumbing which provides hot and cold water. We also set up a little make-shift curtain using magnets, hooks and cable to hang it. Our cute shower curtain is from Society6 (they have TONS of patterns).

• Extra Door Handle

  We found that our slider door was difficult to close with the factory handle without slamming it, so we added another one on the back end which has been a great help.

• two burner drop-in cooktop

  We are super happy with our Dometic cooktop. Since we cook a ton, we knew we wanted a permanent & easy to use burner situation.

• Propex Heater

  We love our heater! It works really well at keeping the van warm in colder temps + we’ve found propane to be pretty cost effective.

• Hooks

  We have hooks all around the van which helps maximize space and also make a great place to hang wet jackets, towels and our shower curtain. We have a few that our permanent fixtures in the van, and we also have a few of these magnetic ones that we move around to different areas when we need them.

• drawer and cabinet locks

  You’ll definitely want a way to secure your cabinet doors and drawers from flying open while driving. We use these RV catches.

• FOLD-DOWN outdoor table

  We installed this little fold down table a few months back. We wanted a space to set our drinks down or have snacks while hanging outside.

• SLIDING CURTAIN TRACKS + CURTAINS

  Having curtains in the front and back of the van makes it super easy to quickly get privacy without having to put our window covers on! We installed sliding tracks in the front and back which makes it super easy to open and close them. We are constantly using our curtains throughout the day.

o r g a n i z a t i o n

• bins, Baskets & dividers

  Keeping things separated in bins and baskets in each of our cabinets and drawers has made it much easier to keep things organized. It also helps keep items more secure and prevents them from moving while we drive.

• velcro strips and mounting putty

  We use strong velcro strips and mounting putty to secure things like plant holders, our mirror and vases that stay on our countertops permanently.

• Rubber Mats

  We lined all of our cabinets and drawers with rubber drawer liner material to prevent things from sliding around. We also use them in between all of our breakable dishes. We bought a big roll and cut it to fit.

• dog food canister

  We built a little platform behind our drivers seat as a small storage cubby to fill the space. We bought this storage bin for Tonkins food and it fit great. It keeps things looking a little more tidy and we also store shoes underneath it.

• Stasher bags

  We replaced single-use plastic bags with these reusable Stasher bags!

Favorites

• String Lights

  I love these string lights from amazon. We use them most nights when we want softer light in the van. I love that they come with a little remote so we can turn them on and off without having to unplug them they’re also dimmable which is great.

• Dr Bronner’s

  We use Dr. Bronner’s soap for everything! A great non-toxic, biodegradable soap option.

• Ice Molds

  I love ice in my drinks, so we invested in a refrigerator that has a small freezer section so that we can make ice. I have a couple different silicon molds. This one makes large ice cubes and this one makes mini cubes. I’m obsessed with the mini cubes, but I must warn you, they are a bit challenging to remove from the mold.

• Signal Booster

  We invested in the weBoost Drive X signal booster somewhat recently. I wouldn’t say that it’s a must have, but it’s worth it in our opinion. Keep in mind that these are signal repeaters/amplifiers so they need some signal to boost. If there’s no signal, there’s no signal.. enjoy it.

• Nespresso Milk Frother

  We use our milk frother almost everyday. This one from Nespresso has a hot and cold setting which I love for making iced drinks.

• Handheld milk frother

  This handheld frother is a cheaper and super effective alternative to the Nespresso frother. We use it to whisk matcha and coffee.
  

• nebula capsule Projector

  This projector is amazing! It’s the size of a soda can and there are no cords required. We initially went with something cheaper, but the quality wasn’t great, and it was hard to set up. We find the Capsule to be well worth the investment.

  • Ceiling/wall mount

  • Projector screen

Other Helpful Items

• Collapsible Kettle

  We use our kettle almost everyday. The one we have is metal, but these ones are made from silicone and are collapsible! Collapsible items are your space-saving best friend in a van.

• collapsible bowl/pot set

  More space having kitchen items.

• Maxtrax Vehicle Recovery Board

  If you ever find yourself stuck, these boards can offer the traction to pull you out of a sticky situation. We don’t have a pair yet, but they would certainly be a good investment. Especially if you see a lot of off-roading in your future.

• Collapsible Silicone Food Storage Container

  We use stackable glass tupperware, but these silicone ones are a great space saving option.

• bamboo dishware

  We opted for ceramic dishware in our van, but if you are looking for a more practical/ less breakable option, this brand makes sustainably sourced bamboo dishware that is super lightweight and stackable.

• Battery Jumper

  This compact battery jumper would be great to have in the event your van battery dies while off the grid