Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
Over the last five years, social media platforms have been flooded with people telling stories of how they quit their jobs, converted a van into an Instagram-worthy photo vector and attempted to tour the world in their newly created, poorly tested leisure vehicle.
For the seasoned traveller, caravanner or motorhomer, that might seem inspirational. However, it’s actually not helping our industry at all. Many of these people create large followings and fame, before giving #vanlife up because their vehicle breaks, they lose money or simply realise it’s just not their cup of tea.
These influencers inspire plenty of viewers who potentially don’t have the money, time and, most importantly, the expertise to convert their own van. When done by a pro, it’s an excellent idea. But there are so many poorly fitted, half-finished project conversions out there – it’s just a crime!
#Vanlife is still a great idea
So, what are things to really think about if you’re interested in joining #vanlife? Firstly, try before you buy. We’re talking about a massive change in lifestyle here, so get the feel of a touring caravan, a conventional motorhome or a van conversion before committing your entire life to an inappropriate vehicle.
Secondly, substance trumps style. Yes, it’s great to have tiled floors and log burners in your Instagram pictures, but they’re not particularly practical. Usually very heavy, they’re also fire and carbon monoxide risks if not installed properly. Consider what you really need from your vehicle – are you living in it full time and, if so, where? Will you have access to electric and gas facilities? Spec your vehicle out appropriately for the time you’re planning to spend, not just how it looks in photos.
Finally, build up to the adventure. You might have spent a week in your caravan, but living in it for months is an entirely different experience. The longer you spend inside it, the higher the demands will be, including additional strain on the fixtures and fittings, which are much easier to repair at home than when you suddenly need to get them working on your trip.
Personally, I’d love to quit my job and tour the world in a leisure vehicle non-stop. However, I think that people who do it on a whim – possibly for the wrong reasons – harm our industry. They build a large following only to let them down with why it doesn’t work. But, in most cases, it’s because they haven’t done it properly when in reality there are plenty of success stories from those who know what they’re doing.
Photo credit: Thirdman / Pexels
