Tips and tricks

Practical advice about life on the road, conversions and regulations.

Solar panels on your van: how many watts are enough in Belgium?: The right question is not just how many watts fit on your roof. Above all, you need to know how many watt-hours you use each day, which…
Tidy your van in 10 minutes: a realistic routine: In a small van, it does not take much for things to look messy. One jacket over the seat, two bags on the floor, a cooking pot on the…
Storage with a dog or children in the van: With a dog or children in the van, you do not just bring more things. You also need to think differently about where everything goes. An…
Small items that always go missing: how to stay organised: A charging cable, torch, lighter, parking disc, roll of tape or the right adapter: it is rarely the big items that cause chaos in a van.…
How do you create fixed places for everything in your van?: A small van rarely becomes messy because you bring one large item too many. The chaos usually starts with dozens of small things that have…
Storage crates, drawers or cabinets: what works best on the road?: When converting a van for the first time, most people mainly think about the bed, the kitchen and perhaps the electrical system. Storage…
Organising clothes in your van: pack less, choose smarter: Clothes seem harmless when you start packing. A few T-shirts, two pairs of trousers, some underwear, a warm jumper, rain jacket, sleepwear…
What do you really take with you, and what is better left at home?: A van seems big when it is empty. Once you start packing, that changes quickly. A few boxes of clothes, a cooking set, food, water, tools,…
Using second-hand materials in your conversion: smart or regret later?: Using second-hand materials in your van conversion can be a very smart choice. You save money, give decent parts a second life, and…
Setting up a stealth van without making it impractical: A stealth van is a bus that, from the outside, looks as little like a campervan as possible. No striking stickers, no large awning, no…
Lightweight building: how to avoid your van becoming too heavy?: A van conversion rarely becomes too heavy due to one giant mistake. Usually, it's dozens of small choices that accumulate. A slightly…
Ventilation in your van: why airflow is more important than you think: Ventilation is one of those things that beginners often think about too late. Insulation gets a lot of attention. A nice layout too.…
Insulation in your van: what really helps and what is overrated?: Insulation is one of those topics where beginners quickly get lost. One person swears by Armaflex, another by sheep's wool, yet another…
Choosing a practical layout: fixed bed, bench, or pull-out bed?: The layout of your van determines much more than where you sleep. It dictates how you enter, where you cook, how much gear you can bring,…
The biggest mistakes in a first van conversion: A first van conversion usually starts with a lot of enthusiasm. You've saved photos, watched videos, drawn layouts, and perhaps already…
The essential toolkit for every vanlifer: You don't need to drag a full garage with you to solve small problems on the road. But leaving completely unprepared isn't smart either. A…
The basic check before you leave with your van: Leaving with your van always feels a bit like freedom. You throw in the last few items, slide the door shut, turn the key, and off you go.…
Vanlife with children: what do you need to realistically consider beforehand?: Vanlife with children sounds wonderful. Waking up together in a quiet place, having breakfast outside, hiking, cycling, playing, making up…
Vanlife with a dog: what should you consider beforehand?: Vanlife with a dog sounds like a dream to many. Waking up together in a quiet place, walking in nature, making coffee by the sliding door,…
Your first night in the van: what you should know beforehand: Your first night in the van is special. A little exciting, a little unfamiliar, and often less perfect than you might have imagined…
Working from your van: what do you really need?: Working from your van sounds like the ultimate freedom to many people. Laptop open, coffee ready, sliding door open and working with a…
Internet on the go in Belgium: hotspot, 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi: Internet on the go is no longer a luxury for many vanlifers. You use it for navigation, weather apps, messaging, music, banking, finding…
Winter in the van: staying warm without getting everything wet: Winter in the van sounds cozy: warm coffee, a thick sweater, rain on the roof, a blanket over your legs, and a quiet spot somewhere in the…
Staying clean on the road without a fixed shower: For some, staying clean on the road sounds like one of the biggest downsides of van life. Especially if you don't have a fixed shower in…
Cooking in your van: gas, induction, or outdoor cooking?: Cooking in your van seems like a simple choice until you start building. Will you go for gas? Induction? A separate cooking set that you…
How much power do you really need in a van?: Power in a van often seems more complicated than it is at first. You hear terms like watts, amps, amp-hours, lithium, AGM, inverter,…
Smart storage in a small van without everything getting messy: In a small van, clutter doesn't build up slowly. It happens all at once. One jacket on the bed, two wet shoes by the sliding door, a…
Starting a van conversion: what choices should you make first?: A van conversion usually doesn't start with a saw, a roll of insulation, or a beautiful Pinterest photo. It starts with choices. And…
Dog in the van: animal welfare, heat, and travel: For many vanlifers, a dog is simply part of life on the road. Waking up together in nature, walking in new places, driving calmly from…
Five things you learn after your first winter in the van: Cold nights, wet mornings, and short days quickly teach you what really works. These are the lessons I wish someone had told me beforehand.
How to keep your van mold-free in a humid climate: Belgian weather, small living spaces, and wet gear are not an ideal combination. Yet, with the right habits, you can perfectly live or…