So it's basically mobile home/office/RV, but on a van chassy, like the Promaster, Sprinter or Transit. Lots of them have showers, lots are built by the owner, the vast majority have lithium batteries with solar, and they all carry gallons of fresh water. Small fridge, small galley, some are AWD/4WD. Some are diesel, some are gas, some have propane for heating and cooking.
They seem like a really good choice to live a more nomadic and very stripped-down lifestyle if you don't need "stuff." Whoever was the first to come up with it being a mobile studio apartment is a genius.
They could support a nomadic lifestyle, but from what I have seen, they also have some limitations, i.e. need a source of water regularly. Lots of people who live the van life stick to areas with access to stores, which I think defeats the purpose. When shit hits the fan, I do not think you want to be anywhere near Wallmart. You want your stash already in a safe place and not even a van may be safe then.
Anyhow, a home will not be any safer, unless it is already out in the woods and you are 90% self-sufficient, I guess.
Yeah, the wife and I RV'ed for about 3 years and found out that it places physical demands on you no matter how fancy your rig is. Just long-distance driving alone can wear you out. Living in cramped quarters is another stressor, and with dry camping (no utilities, water, electricity but what you carry with you) depletes your water and battery life quicker than you'd think. Basically what we found was that there is a certain sub-culture of people who live the nomadic life and can take the privations of it all, and we weren't made for that. But I got it out of my system, saw some great places in the country, including Monument Valley, Zion National Park, and much of the west.
The good thing with a van is that you have the spending money, you can buy a lot of dry food and water and just stick it anywhere you have room. Some people do drive them out to the woods and boondock with them.
Known as a Class B motor home. Next RV will be a B for mobile office usage
I see these parked in Walmart parking lots all the time. Walmart seem to look the other way and let them stay the night, without kicking them off property.