TIPS & STORIES FOR #VANLIFE

Living in 60-70 square feet with another person sounds romantic until you're three weeks in and one of you needs space that doesn't exist. Van life with a partner is one of the best or worst things you'll do together. The difference comes down to three things: how the van is built, how you manage routines, and whether you talked about the hard stuff before you left. We've built vans for dozens of couples at Brooklyn Camper Vans. The couples who thrive in van life aren't the o

Heating is the system that separates a three-season van from a four-season home. Get it wrong, and you'll be sleeping in a sleeping bag at 40°F, wondering why you spent six figures on a van. Get it right, and January in Colorado feels the same as October. We've tested every major heating option across 80+ builds at Brooklyn Camper Vans. Here's what works, what doesn't, and why we chose the system we did. Camper Van Heating Options 1. Diesel Air Heaters (What We Install) A die

These are the three vans that dominate the conversion market. Every other vehicle is either smaller (minivans), larger (RVs), or less practical for a full build. We build exclusively on the Sprinter platform at Brooklyn Camper Vans, so our preference is clear. But we've researched all three extensively, talked to owners of each, and seen clients arrive at our shop after builds on Transits and ProMasters. Here's the honest comparison. Specs Side by Side Note: Interior dimensio

A camper van is a vehicle and a home running simultaneously. Both need maintenance. Ignore either one, and you'll pay for it - in repair bills, in lost travel days, or in systems that fail when you're 200 miles from the nearest mechanic. We've built 80+ vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans and seen what happens when maintenance gets deferred. The van that gets regular attention runs for years. The one that doesn't ends up on a flatbed. Here's the complete maintenance schedule - vehic

This comparison gets argued endlessly in online forums. Van people swear by vans. RV people swear by RVs. Neither side is wrong - they're optimizing for different things. We build custom vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans, so our bias is obvious. But we've also talked to hundreds of people considering both options, and the honest answer is that the right choice depends on how you plan to travel, how much space you need, and what trade-offs you're willing to make. Here's the real co

Most van lifers pay more in taxes than they need to. Not because the deductions don't exist - they do - but because nobody tells you what qualifies until it's too late to document it. If you work remotely from your van, freelance, or run a business on the road, significant portions of your van expenses may be tax-deductible. The keyword is "may" - because the rules depend on how your van is classified, how you use it, and whether you keep the right records. We're not tax prof

The monthly cost of van life gets all the attention, but it's the upfront cost that determines whether you can actually start. And the upfront number has a wider range than almost any other lifestyle decision you'll make - from $15,000 to $270,000+, depending on your platform, build quality, and gear. We've built 80+ vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans and walked clients through budgets at every price point. Here's what the startup actually costs, line by line. Van Life Startup Cost

The total cost of van life gets thrown around as one number, but what people really want to know is: what am I spending every month once I'm on the road? That number varies more than people expect - not because van life is unpredictable, but because the variables are controllable. How much you drive, where you sleep, and how you eat determine 70% of your monthly budget. We've talked to hundreds of people at Brooklyn Camper Vans about their real monthly spending. Here's what t

A custom camper van isn't a $30,000 impulse buy. A new Sprinter with a full conversion runs $200,000-$270,000 - and most people don't have that sitting in a savings account. The good news is that van financing exists and is more accessible than most people think. The tricky part is understanding which type of financing makes sense for your situation, what the monthly payment will actually be, and whether financing a van erodes the cost savings that make van life attractive in

Insurance is one of those van life topics nobody wants to think about until they need it. And by then, it's too late to fix what you got wrong. We've talked to hundreds of van lifers at Brooklyn Camper Vans, and insurance confusion comes up constantly. People either over-insure, under-insure, or - worst case - have a policy that won't cover their custom build at all. Here's what you actually need, what it costs, and how to avoid the gaps that leave you exposed. The Insurance

Solar is what makes off-grid van life possible. Without it, you're either running your engine to charge your batteries, paying for campgrounds with hookups, or carrying a loud, heavy generator that burns fuel. We've installed solar on 80+ van builds at Brooklyn Camper Vans and tested nearly every available panel, charge controller, and mounting configuration. Here's what actually works, what's overkill, and how to size a system for your specific power needs. How Van Life Sola

Choosing the wrong van is the most expensive mistake in van life. You can fix a bad solar setup or swap out a heater. You can't easily undo a base vehicle that doesn't fit your build, your body, or your travel plans. We've built 80+ custom vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans - almost exclusively on the Mercedes Sprinter platform - and we've seen clients come to us after struggling with other platforms. We're upfront that we're a Sprinter shop, but the reasons we chose that platform

The shower question comes up in every single van consultation we do at Brooklyn Camper Vans. It's usually the first concern from people who love the idea of van life but aren't sure they can live without a real bathroom. The answer depends entirely on your build. You can absolutely have a daily hot shower in a van - with the right water system, the right showerhead, and a layout that doesn't treat the bathroom as an afterthought. Here's every option, what it costs, and what a

Winter separates van lifers who planned from those who didn't. We've built 80+ vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans, and a growing number of our clients specifically request four-season builds. They want to ski in Colorado in January, work from a trailhead in Vermont in November, and not rearrange their entire life around the weather. That requires a van that's actually built for it. Here's what winter van life demands - and where most people get it wrong. Can You Really Do Van Life

Most "van life cost" posts throw you a vague range and call it a day. This one doesn't. We've built 80+ vans at Brooklyn Camper Vans and spoken with hundreds of people planning to switch. We know exactly where the money goes - and where people consistently underestimate. Here's the real breakdown. How Much Does Van Life Cost? The Short Answer Monthly van life costs typically range from $1,200 to $3,000 for most full-timers, with budget minimalists squeezing it under $1,000 an

At Brooklyn Camper Vans, we're constantly testing new tech and pushing what's possible in van conversions. Every build teaches us something new. That's how we stay ahead. Our latest Mercedes Sprinter showcases five innovations that each bring daily conveniences to #VanLife . Below we talk about what makes this build special, and feel free to reach out about a custom build. Email: sales@brooklyncampervans.com 1. XPEL Stealth PPF: Self-Healing Paint Protection We wrapped this e

A New Era of Mobility and Control Just a few years ago, mobile command units were loud, generator powered boxes on wheels. They required constant idling, manual setup, and limited connectivity. For some businesses it was not feasible, and for some that had a command center, it was far from ideal. That era is over. In 2026 mobile units are the new way to get things done! In 2025 alone we saw: New upgrades to Starlink for FAST & RELIABLE satellite internet Upgraded battery syst

Across the country, mobile health services are changing how people get access to care. From mobile consultation units that offer checkups and screenings, to outreach vans that provide addiction treatment right on the street. At Brooklyn Campervans, along with our commercial fleet branch, Next Gen Vans, we build mobile offices, outreach vans, and mobile clinic vans for nonprofits, government programs, and healthcare providers. A question we hear over and over, especially from

In 2024 Brooklyn Campervans created its new sister company Next Gen Vans dedicated to the growing demand for Mobile Offices. New technology has made this a great option compared to paying rent at a fixed location. You can now go about business as usual without the engine on. Enjoy the comforts of climate control, high speed internet, modular design, while taking your business to the next level. If you want to build your own, check out our Mobile Office page or just email us a

In 2019, statistics show that roughly 9 million Americans worked from home but in 2024, that number has nearly quadrupled to 35 million people working remotely. Camper vans also saw a huge boom the past few years during the pandemic, and now it looks like Van Life is here to stay. Not only due to the rise of remote work, but also thanks to new technology making van life easier. We won't cover Mobile Offices here, but there's a whole new niche of exponential growth there. In 2