How can I be a good van-life climber?

Where are the newest trolls when you need them?

Somebody pisses in my yard (besides me), and it’s gonna get real ugly, real fast.

Huh. Is this all pretend internet vitriol? I assumed that everyone has been housed and unhoused for at least some of their life. And had campable and non-campable cars. Are we forgetting that every “them” was an “us?” Or is this a generational thing, and we think “we” were different when we were “them?”

The big difference between when I was dirtbagging out of a honda civic and sleeping in the dirt and my current glamping in a sprinter is that in the Honda days I pissed on the side of the road. In sprinter I don't. 

I personally don't want a toilet next to the bed and the kitchen. An occasional piss jug is one thing, wrecking the place after a giant California burrito the night before is too much.

we have the potty in the van for emergencies. Never used it for #2 but knowing its there has helped peace of mind and the ability to hold it until you get to a gas station or a pit toilet.

Sep Mwrote:

Huh. Is this all pretend internet vitriol? I assumed that everyone has been housed and unhoused for at least some of their life. And had campable and non-campable cars. Are we forgetting that every “them” was an “us?” Or is this a generational thing, and we think “we” were different when we were “them?”

100% with you on this one. 

Where's the boulder? 

If a vehicle dweller isn’t leaving garbage or pirating a parking spot that should/would otherwise be going to a paying customer, then hating on them is just crab-in-a-bucket mentality. Working a 9-5 is a choice, it’s not hard to break into a well-paying, mobile career with lots of time off. Really, you can do it in under 5 years at your local community college 

Anthony Awrote:

Hey climbing (hopefully) friends, 

Here in the forums I've recently come across some negative comments about 'van-lifers', and it got me concerned. 

Question: What are some things I should think about in order to be a good climber citizen and make friends on my van travels?

Background: My kids are grown, I am newly single, and have a remote Internet job. I want to van-camp out in national land, climb and mountain bike more, and chill.

You’re right to think Van-life has it’s culture and class wars.  Tread lightly, be nice, don’t be entitled or defensive.  Enjoy.

It bares saying that Van-life can be a pretty lonely existence.  Take care you don’t isolate yourself into an unhappy perspective.  

Honestly, I recommend you cruise around for a while and live the van life with the intention of being landed again relatively soon.  You can find community, creativity and diversity on the road, but it’s harder.  Try to integrate into communities wherever possible.  Think about other life interests and stay engaged with those.  

In general, avoid places that feel inhospitable.  Nobody bats an eye if you’re in a campground or dispersed for a few days.  When you dive deeper into transient sub-culture you can end up with a tribal perspective that separates you from other more traditional folks.  Personally, I don’t like camping where there is controversy.  Just like I don’t want to live beside neighbors I don’t like.  

So be outgoing and avoid pushing the boundaries of acceptable behavior.  Cook outside where you can, keep the slider open, link up with other people and try to include the people around you.  Many will think you’re too friendly, but that’s so much better than being a troll.  If it’s clear that camping in an area is frowned upon, don’t do it.  You’ll feel better and be happier.  

If achievable, having a home AND a van is really the dream.  Is that extreme privilege?  Yeah, so don’t be a jerk.  Lead with empathy and appreciate what you’re doing.  

See you out there!

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

Where's the boulder? 

Gonna tell myself this is Ai slop. 

Carolinawrote:

Gonna tell myself this is Ai slop. 

Never been to Moab?

Calebwrote:

If achievable, having a home AND a van is really the dream.  Is that extreme privilege?  Yeah, so don’t be a jerk.  Lead with empathy and appreciate what you’re doing.  

See you out there!

Thanks! The potential social isolation is my main concern, hence not wanting to piss off the folks I want to hang out with. We'll see how it goes. It will be an adventure!

Anthony Awrote:

Thanks! The potential social isolation is my main concern, hence not wanting to piss off the folks I want to hang out with. We'll see how it goes. It will be an adventure!

I found staying for a few months instead of a few weeks helps a lot with this. 

My take is that it takes discipline and self-awareness to not become a jerk when driving a big expensive ride, and at least some research validates this. Money, power, and bling are corrupting if we aren't vigilant about our principles.

I say get that van and watch your actions. Are you suddenly inclined to take up 3 spaces instead of 1? Are you creating a new pullout at the Creek? Are you pulling up next to tents and blasting Netflix? Are you doing 20 mph on washboards and refusing to let the rest of us pass? Are you only associating with other Sprinter people? If your answer is consistently "no", you have a lot more character than most of us.

Logan Petersonwrote:

My take is that it takes discipline and self-awareness to not become a jerk when driving a big expensive ride, and at least some research validates this. Money, power, and bling are corrupting if we aren't vigilant about our principles.

I say get that van and watch your actions. Are you suddenly inclined to take up 3 spaces instead of 1? Are you creating a new pullout at the Creek? Are you pulling up next to tents and blasting Netflix? Are you doing 20 mph on washboards and refusing to let the rest of us pass? Are you only associating with other Sprinter people? If your answer is consistently "no", you have a lot more character than most of us.

(FYI, the people trying to floor it on dirt roads are the reason those washboards developed in the first place)

Always pull over and let folks pass on dirt roads. Always try to do a decent parking job and don't have TV in the van. Parking next to other campers is not a van specific thing. The tenter gets there in a vehicle as well. Anyone rolling in late with headlights hitting other folks is an equal annoyance. Still a bunch of whiny little jealous punks on this thread. 

Don't define yourself by what you buy, when you do you get made fun of, especially if you think buying stuff entitles you to special treatment. You aren't that special.

I own a van myself, mostly it holds tools and materials, occasionally it's an RV but typically when we travel we go in a car that gets 40mpg (and goes 80mph up hills) and just use campgrounds , cabins and motels. All my extra $ goes towards things that increase in value like the house . 

I actually enjoy sleeping on the dirt though, it's "grounding" , kinda like walking barefoot . 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

Always pull over and let folks pass on dirt roads. Always try to do a decent parking job and don't have TV in the van. Parking next to other campers is not a van specific thing. The tenter gets there in a vehicle as well. Anyone rolling in late with headlights hitting other folks is an equal annoyance. Still a bunch of whiny little jealous punks on this thread. 

Why can’t I have a tv

You can have a TV if you want. I don't. And no it's not a free country. Just try chilling in your van or being brown...