Why You Should Rent a Van
Our first time renting a van was with Native Campervans traveling around Idaho/Montana. We rented one of the smallest vans, which had a bed and a pull-out kitchen. We fell in love with van life right off the bat.
Our first time testing out the pull-out kitchen
Our second time around, we rented a bigger Ram Promaster van from KukuCampers and traveled around western Colorado. We learned even more from our second time renting a van that we wanted to share our experience! Thinking about van life? Or just curious on what van life is all about? Read on to hear why you should rent a van.
Renting a van is cheaper than renting a hotel and car
If you’re already interested in van life and want to travel to a new area, the price difference between renting a van vs. a hotel and car each day isn’t far apart. A small van is around $90 a night while the bigger van is $190 a night. If you think about the cost of a nice hotel/Airbnb and a car rental, it lines up. As a bonus, you’ll probably find yourself waking up to views that no hotel could dream of matching.
You get to try out van life without the commitment
There are good and bad things about everything, van life included. We loved the fact that we could test things out for a week. We learned that we LOVED the convenience of van life. Need to change real quick before exploring? The big van allows you to do that. Hungry for a quick yet healthy meal? Make a stop to whip up a meal with your grill.
We also learned the downsides. If you don’t have a bathroom in your van, you need to be comfortable to go outside, at a public restroom, or late at night when it’s cold out. We also realized how important the build quality is. We learned that it is possible for a mouse friend to join you in the van (and somehow squeeze through a tight space just to get to your bag of trail mix).
All in all, renting a van will teach you a ton about your preferences and help you decide if this is something you truly want to go forward with.
You learn what your musts are if you end up deciding to buy/convert a van
After renting a small van, we knew we had to test out the bigger size. We knew long-term if we bought a van, we’d buy a high roof. What we didn’t know was would we prefer a fixed vs. non-fixed bed? How important was a toilet to us? Did we crave more kitchen space to cook? Essentially what were our priorities?
Both of these trips provided answers to those questions. We learned we like the idea of a non-fixed bed to give us more of an open layout. We would also prioritize buying a composting toilet. We would prefer more kitchen space, but it wouldn’t be the top priority. These insights will help us if we do end up buying and converting a van.
Our favorite reason why you should rent a van… THE FREEDOM
If you’re thinking about renting a van even a tiny little bit… do it. Everyone should experience the feeling of being free, roaming around, stopping where you please, and enjoying nature. It’s a lively feeling and a place where we felt ourselves.
Enjoying cooking a delicious dinner outdoors with zero neighbors.
We’re SO thankful for our two van trips, and know that it’s something that still interests us. If you’re also intrigued by van life but don’t feel quite ready to make a purchase, rent first! It opens up your eyes to a whole new type of living.
