ROADDUDE

Longtime Off-Grid/Vanlife Adventurer - On the Road In North America

  • Blog
    • Blog: All Posts
  • Gear
    • Bunduawn 360 Awning
    • Cargo Boxes & Cases
    • E-Bike: Sondors X
    • Spare Tire Bag (Storage, Garbage and Recycling)
  • Vanlife
    • DIY Composting Toilet
    • Install A Roof Vent
    • Stay Clean On the Road
  • Off-Grid
    • Adding Solar Power
    • Solar Panels: To Move Or Not?
  • Portfolio
    • Nightscapes
    • Landscapes
    • Story Portraits
    • Head Shots
    • Overland Gear
  • About
    • Site Map
    • Kudos: What Folks Say
  • Contact
    • Newsletter
  • Face Masks

Tips and Tales On Vanlife

Vanlife seems to be all the rage the last few years on social media. Here are my tips and tales on vanlife, drawn from decades of experience on the road in North America in a variety of vehicles.

van interior with fridge/freezer, ebike, bed, and hanging gear
Clean & Cozy, Simple & Easy, and Very Multi-Purpose

I’ve played and experimented with, and lived out of, a variety of vans over the years. Many years. Longer than most #vanlifers have been alive.

This part of ROADDUDE.COM will include various things I’ve learned about vanliving over those years, how I’ve rigged up my vans in the past, and why I’ve settled on “simple and flexible” as best for the way I work and travel these days.

Clean and easy is the way to go. The more you live and work out of a van, I mean, if you use the van for work as well as living in, the more you’ll realize not to restrict yourself with too much in the way of built-ins. Vanlife in general is a lifestyle change, and many seem to think they need all the accoutrements of home like cabinets and shelves to be comfortable.

Through several different interior layouts, some with overhead cabinets and a pull-out desk and built-in bunks, my needs have encouraged me to have an interior I can empty out quickly if I want, so I can haul cargo like building and landscape materials, or help someone move.

Organizing oneself for vanlife, for me, is all about living light, making better sense of what you use regularly, and letting your stuff tell you where it wants to live. Then everything knows where to go.

Really. It works. I’ll show you 😎

First up:
  • How To Install A Roof Vent – I installed a Fantastic Roof Vent in my GMC Savana in May of 2013. As of this writing, six and a half years later, I haven’t had a single problem, leak, or any issues at all with the installation. Read the article to find out how to install your own.
  • Keeping Clean – Tips on keeping you and your camp clean, with links to the products I’ve tested over the years and now use daily.
  • Composting Toilet – How to make a simple composting toilet.

I’ll be writing and posting images about other aspects of vanlife, too:

  • SUV = Stealthy Urban Van: How to keep a low profile when urban camping
  • APPS: What apps I use on a regular basis, and which ones I use for finding campsites
  • Maintenance & Upkeep
  • Van Interior: Keeping It Simple and Flexible

Sign up for the Roaddude Newsletter to be notified of new articles and reviews, tips and tales on vanlife, and potential routes as I wander North America.

  • Want to know more?
  • Have specific questions about vanlife?
  • Want to meet up when I’m in your part of the world?

Leave word below.

~Road


If you believe in what I’m doing, want me to keep doing it, and would like to see me expand to publishing and prints, you can help by buying me a couple cups of coffee!

Buy Me A Coffee


On the Road in America

THE BIG PAUSE of 2020-21

ROADDUDE.COM is usually about one man’s travels and photography around North America.

During The Big Pause of 2020-21, however, it is about making quality cloth & fabric face masks and face coverings for the public. Every mask purchased enables more to be made for donation.

I have made, sold, and donated thousands, as far away as Sudan.

Stay safe, stay clean, stay healthy!

Thank you for your orders and support!


Kudos from Customers for Face Masks I make, sell, and donate throughout the pandemic:

“The best design I’ve seen.” ~ Richard F, California

“We love your masks and use them all the time! They are the best fit from different types we tried. I was actually thinking of ordering more :)” ~BW, Cambridge MA

“We really love them. The quality is amazing and they are comfortable. Will be great for hiking and work.” ~ Beckie G, SW Harbor

“Both my husband and I love the masks. Fit very well and stay in place when talking.” ~ Susan W, Livermore Falls

“The masks arrived today! Thanks so much. They are terrific! Best fit, most comfortable, most stylish of any I have worn or seen.“ ~ Elaine J, SW Harbor

“Excellent mask! Highest quality and fit. Find it very comfortable and breathable. Much better design than the pleated style. If you care, please wear!” ~ Jane W, Scarborough

“Outstanding quality comfort and fit. These are as good if not better than pictured on the web. Worth the wait and cost. I would buy again. Have recommended you already. Five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating!” ~Janet, Rockport

“Got ‘em!!! Arrived today and they are impressive.” ~ Bob B, Maine

“Thank you so much for the quality masks. The fit is great. Good work!” ~Lynn B, Maine

“Really quite nice and much needed!” ~Kathy H, Maine

“That’s nice, dear.” ~Ma


Where is Road?

Back Cove, Maine, working on:
– making masks
– portfolio & prints
– prep for painting desert art mural
– improving storage functionality in van
– helping folks haul and deliver items
– South of I-10, Another America
– Roaddude Food Cookbook
– website improvements
– my tan

I hear it’s summer. Is that true?

Help Roaddude Tell More Stories & Write More Blog Posts About Adventuring


Roaddude.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to sites like Amazon.com and Adorama Photo.

Recent Posts

  • It’s Mask Time In America
  • Adventure Rig: Coming Into Its Own . . .
  • Morning Breakfast Muffins
  • DARK SKY BONANZA
  • RED CURRY LENTILS w/ SWEET POTATOES & SPINACH

Links

Links to various things I mention in posts and on insta: linktr.ee/roaddude

…

Tags

adventure atchafalaya atchalafaya basin bayou big bend borderlands boudin cactus capital cajun country camp cooking camp food charenton chihuahuan desert cincinnati tradition curry delcambre desert life four way greek healthy food Justin Boots kaplan kenwood skyline lake fausse pointe landscape photography levee louisiana map nomd life off-grid off-road photography recipes right life sanderson south of I-10 spillway swamp texas travel travel photography vanlife western boots western wear xventurefamily

…

Advert: Recovery Gear | Digital Cameras
  • email
  • insta
  • tumblr

Content & Images © Roaddude, All Rights Reserved 2016 –2023