Living the Vanlife lifestyle can seem like it’s full of exciting adventures and new opportunities, but it’s important to remember that there are both risks and dangers involved with this type of lifestyle choice. Vanlife camping is not for everyone, but if you’re up for the challenge,
Bring water, snacks, and a light source
When you’re living in a vanlife, you can’t exactly just go to the store and buy a case of water. The sun dehydrates the human body, and your next stop could be an emergency room. That means that you’ll need to be self-reliant for all your water needs. Luckily, you can easily refill your water supply by bringing a water purification system with you.
Make sure that you have extra water jugs, and have a plan for refilling empty ones. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and have no water, you can become seriously ill and die. So, while you can’t refill water at the store, you can be sure that you have enough on hand to stay hydrated and healthy.
You can also keep a few snacks and granola bars on hand to keep you energized and help you stay strong. If you don’t have access to electricity, you can boil water using a stove, solar water purification system, or by placing a pot of water in the sun.
Stay on maintained roads and trails
While it might be tempting to take the back roads and explore the great outdoors, most outdoor areas will have maintained trails or roads that can be used for traveling. When traveling off-trail, make sure that you don’t damage the land, stay on the trail and limit your travel speed. If you damage the land, the government may have to pay for the damage you caused.
This can be costly. On maintained roads, be respectful of other users, even if you’re trying to go as fast as possible. You may also want to consider installing a roof rack on your van to help you keep your gear safely on the roof. Higher-clearance vehicles can easily add up to 2 or more feet of clearance.
Protect your electronics
Electronics like your phone, laptop, camera, and outdoor equipment can be damaged by the elements, wildlife, or even the size of the vehicle. If you’re trying to save weight, you might not have a satellite dish or a roof rack on your vehicle.
If you don’t have these protection methods, you could damage your electronics while off-roading or while traveling. To protect your electronics, try keeping them in a dry bag or in a waterproof bag. Bring a car charger to keep your electronics juiced up, and keep them in a dry bag when not in use.
Be sure to keep software up to date, and don’t download unnecessary apps. Make sure that your phone has adequate protection against water, dust, and drops with a case or waterproof seal.
Watch for wildlife and stay alert
Wildlife will be moving around while you’re off-roading and while you’re exploring new areas. You may come across animals like deer or coyotes that are either curious or looking for food. If you see an animal, stay calm and try to scare it away by making noise or waving your arms. Don’t approach an animal that is acting aggressively.
If you do notice an animal on your property, stay alert and don’t approach. If you do need to go on a short trip and return quickly, don’t leave your animals unlocked. Make sure that you secure your animals before leaving. If you do encounter wildlife while you’re off-roading, slowly back off and avoid making sudden moves. If you need to stop, find a safe place and make sure that you don’t get too close to the animal while parked.
Stay warm- keep an emergency kit handy
Even though you’re exploring new areas and experiencing new things, it’s important to remember that you’re still in the wilderness. You may experience temperatures that are colder than what you’re used to. This can make you feel cold, wet, or both. You may even encounter intense and sudden rainstorms.
Even though you’re off-grid and out in nature, you may have a hard time staying warm and staying safe. To stay warm and safe, you can keep a small emergency kit in your vanlife. This kit can include a warm blanket, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and other essentials.
Make sure that you keep the kit in a dry place, and remember to use the items when needed. You can also keep an umbrella in the van for a quick and easy way to stay dry when needed.
Don’t ignore your health while vanlife camping
While exploring new areas and experiencing new things, it’s easy to get caught up in the adventure. When you’re off-grid and out in nature, you may experience illnesses and injuries that are uncommon in urban areas. You may want to keep a small first aid kit in your vanlife, or in your emergency supplies kit.
This kit can include things like Benadryl, mouthwash, and antibacterial wipes, as well as bandages and antiseptic ointment. If you come across an injury or illness while off-grid and out in nature, you can clean and care for the wound or injury in the wilderness.
Safety at the end of the day
Living the vanlife takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is truly worth it when you look back on it. The lifestyle can be difficult and challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. When you consider all the positives of this lifestyle choice, it makes a lot more sense.
Living the vanlife can be difficult, but it is also exciting, rewarding, and rewarding. The best part about living the vanlife is that you can make your own rules and create your own rules. It’s up to you to decide if this lifestyle is for you.
The only way to find out is to go for it! Living the van life is a great adventure, but it’s important to remember that there are both risks and dangers involved with this type of lifestyle choice.
