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    • Climber / Ray Diez
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    • Climber / Will Butierez
    • Dancer / Leah Drew
    • Fisherman / San Juanico
    • Mapmaker / Aleisha Nelson
    • Muralist / Ian Ross
    • Shaper / Ashley Llyod
    • Shaper / Ryan Lynch
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    • Skater / Ricky Conway
    • Surfer / Austin Smith Ford
    • Woodworker / Casey Chandler
    • Yogi / Ciara
    • Yogi / Hailey
    • Yogi / Rebecca
  • ▸ Brandwork
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    • Chums / 23
    • Chums / 24
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    • Swiftwick / Holiday 22
    • Swiftwick / Hike Spring 23
    • Swiftwick / Hike Fall 23
    • Tamron / Egypt
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    • Tamron / Venice
  • ▸ Expeditions & Adventures
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    • Expedition / Sawatch 14ers
    • Road Trip / Alaska
    • Road Trip / Arizona
    • Road Trip / HWY 1
    • Road Trip / HWY 395
    • Road Trip / Idaho
    • Road Trip / Wyoming
    • Surfing / Baja
    • Surfing / Mavericks
    • Surfing / Santa Cruz
  • ▸ Tourism & Hospitality
    • Aurora Expeditions / Kayaking Antarctica
    • Castle Hot Springs / 23
    • Experience Scottsdale / Spring 25
    • Frontier's North x Visit Manitoba / Northern Lights
    • Rancho Santana Nicaragua
    • Star Clippers / Greece & Turkey
    • Stillpoint Lodge Alaska
    • Turneffe Island Resort / Belize
  • Books & Prints
  • The Travel Journal
  • Northern Colorado Road Trip
  • Media Kit
  • About Dalton
  • Contact
  • Menu

Dalton Johnson

  • Overview
  • ▸ Artisans at Work
    • Climber / Bryce Bozovich
    • Climber / Ray Diez
    • Climber / Sam Stroh
    • Climber / Victoria Flanagan
    • Climber / Will Butierez
    • Dancer / Leah Drew
    • Fisherman / San Juanico
    • Mapmaker / Aleisha Nelson
    • Muralist / Ian Ross
    • Shaper / Ashley Llyod
    • Shaper / Ryan Lynch
    • Shaper / Tyler Locus
    • Skater / Ricky Conway
    • Surfer / Austin Smith Ford
    • Woodworker / Casey Chandler
    • Yogi / Ciara
    • Yogi / Hailey
    • Yogi / Rebecca
  • ▸ Brandwork
    • BF Goodrich / 21
    • Buff / Surfrider Foundation Collab 25
    • Chums / 23
    • Chums / 24
    • Dermatone / Glacial Kayak
    • Dermatone / Surf
    • Ford Bronco / Andrew Muse
    • Ford Bronco / Outward Bound Baltimore
    • Ford Bronco / Outward Bound California
    • Gregory Mountain Product
    • MiiR / San Francisco
    • MiiR / Seltzer Coozie
    • MiiR / Sustainable Surfing
    • Oru Kayak / Beach Sport
    • Oru Kayak / Lake
    • Polaris Adventures
    • Rivian Motors / Fall 24
    • Rocky Talkie
    • Swiftwick / Hike 22
    • Swiftwick / Holiday 22
    • Swiftwick / Hike Spring 23
    • Swiftwick / Hike Fall 23
    • Tamron / Egypt
    • Tamron / Lake Tahoe
    • Tamron / Venice
  • ▸ Expeditions & Adventures
    • Expedition / Climbing Denali
    • Expedition / Sawatch 14ers
    • Road Trip / Alaska
    • Road Trip / Arizona
    • Road Trip / HWY 1
    • Road Trip / HWY 395
    • Road Trip / Idaho
    • Road Trip / Wyoming
    • Surfing / Baja
    • Surfing / Mavericks
    • Surfing / Santa Cruz
  • ▸ Tourism & Hospitality
    • Aurora Expeditions / Kayaking Antarctica
    • Castle Hot Springs / 23
    • Experience Scottsdale / Spring 25
    • Frontier's North x Visit Manitoba / Northern Lights
    • Rancho Santana Nicaragua
    • Star Clippers / Greece & Turkey
    • Stillpoint Lodge Alaska
    • Turneffe Island Resort / Belize
  • Books & Prints
  • The Travel Journal
  • Northern Colorado Road Trip
  • Media Kit
  • About Dalton
  • Contact

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46 Vanlife Tips for the Newbie to the Expert

January 10, 2022 in Adventure Travel

How to have the most fun:

1) Do the things you love!

2) Push yourself outside of your comfort zone

3) Talk with strangers who are in your community

4) Make friends and travel together

5) Make a list of reasons you want to live in a van

6) Picnic often

7) Avoid cities

8) Level set your expectations


How to maintain comfort of a home:

9) Give yourself a few convinces you REALLY enjoy, like coffee or tea in the morning

10) Incorporate personal touches like a rug, photos on the wall, a candle/incense, a fuzzy blanket.

11) Get a HOT shower every now and then

12) Treat yourself and rent an room from time to time


How to stay fit:

13) Create a stretch/yoga routine

14) Eat mostly plants, avoid sugar

15) Do something outdoorsy, like; running, hiking, swimming, surfing, climbing, skiing…

16) Walk to your errands, save gas along the way

17) Have resistance bands for working out, this can easy be done inside of the van

18) Don’t be afraid to stretch in your bed! This might be your largest area


How to meet people:

19) Online groups like Facebook, meetups, etc.

20) Go to the places your community hangs out

21) Go to Cafes

22) Campsites/BLM land where fires are permitted


How to make money on the road:

23) Be a creative

24) Freelance

25) Digital Nomad

26) Seasonal Work

27) Consulting


How to find parking:

28) Walmart parking lots

29) Street parking in residential housing (controversial)

30) BLM land

31) Paid Campgrounds

32) iOverlander

33) Grocery Store parking lots


How to avoid being a total vanlife newbie:

34) Propping the back doors open to watch the view

35) Leaving the door open in cities

36) Know how to park your van

37) Gawking at every other van build… just come say hi!

38) Either stick out, or blend in. Avoid that awkward middle ground


Vanlife hacks!

39) Heat water once, put your extra in an insulated water bottle

40) Starbucks and libraries have free wifi

41) Use window coverings

42) Have a broom!

43) Be ready for rainy days inside the van

44) Have a heater and a fan

45) Download movies/tv shows ahead of time

46) Learn how to do everything while laying in bed

Tags: Travel, Vanlife Tips
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