Things You Need to Live in Your Car
This is not a regurgitation of someone else’s content.
I recommend you assemble your version of this list based on my experience of living the vehicle-dwelling life.
Aside from the college dorm and a few year-lease stints, I’ve been nomadic and lived out of my vehicle for numerous extended periods since 2010.
My homes on wheels have been a 1998 Jeep Cherokee, a 2004 Toyota Tacoma, a 2002 Chevy Express Van, and currently, a 2012 Subaru Outback.
Here’s a summary of how I feel about each vehicle: https://krismonroe.medium.com/what-is-the-best-overlanding-vehicle-dc6790fbf9c4
Comment or DM via social media if you have any questions. I will be thrilled to offer the knowledge I have accumulated. It’s best to reach out on Instagram or Twitter. Alternatively, I have an email form on my website, itskrismonroe.com.
These items will improve your quality of life while living on the road, whether it’s a long weekend trip or experimenting with vehicle dwelling before committing to vanlife.
Vehicle dwelling is a great way to save money and explore! Vans are sexy on social media, but they’re not for everyone’s situation.
In no particular order but slightly weighted, most important to least, from my top-of-mind:
Gym Membership
Organized Storage
Catch All Bag or Bucket
Phone Mount
Cleansing Body Wipes
Dedicated Trash Bag
Comfortable Sleep Setup
Water
Cook System
Blackout Window Coverage
Large Blanket or Sheet (I recommend a dark, single color)
Toilet Paper and/or Flushable Toilet Wipes
Power Source / Remote Charging Option
Physical Mailing Address
Car Interior Wipes
Dedicated Phone Charger Cables
Small (foldable?) Shovel
Traction Device
Gym Membership
Top pick: Planet Fitness Black Card
This is the most affordable option by a considerable margin. The PF Black Card is $25/month and grants you unlimited access to any location.
Find a Planet Fitness: https://www.planetfitness.com/gyms/
This deal is near impossible to beat.
The staff at every location I’ve been to is kind, the facilities are clean enough, they have everything you need for a quality workout, and I wear flip-flops in public showers no matter what the name of the place is.
Runner up: Anytime Fitness
They boast the most locations but are more expensive than PF. The average cost is about $41 per month; the price varies by ‘home’ gym location.
Find an Anytime Fitness: https://www.anytimefitness.com/find-gym/
Organized Storage
Buckets with lids that stack are your best friend. Take that and run if you do nothing else. Storage is such a personal aspect because I don’t know what shape your vehicle is and what you already have access to.
I have a Plano 108-Quart Hinged Trunk, which has wheels and the ability to lock. This is my kitchen cabinet and catches random things from week to week.
In addition to the big trunk, I have two other buckets, with latching lids, that fit in the floor area behind my passenger seat, which stacks well to also support the head area of my bed.
Catch-All Bag or Bucket
Cables, batteries, sunglasses, deodorant, wallet, hand sanitizer, etc. This is
A place for the things you access regularly but don’t want to keep in the cupholders and other cubbies. This is a very personalized piece of storage since we all have different needs.
Phone Mount
I spent years without a dedicated phone mount, but now I don’t want to travel without it.
The ability to interact with my phone without the need to hold it is awesome. Following the map in a new place, changing a song, or quickly viewing a message, whatever.
Body Wipes
Buy in bulk and keep in their own Tupperware with a lid because eventually, something will happen, and they’ll leak — a fact of life.
I use these on a regular basis: Inspire Adult Wet Wipes ($20 for 200ct)
They are disposable, latex-free, PH-balanced, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, and thick enough that they don’t tear while using them.
*Ladies: Past travel partners have been happy after using these. I’m not an expert on hygiene factors of the female anatomy, but the response has been consistently positive. *If you have a preferred cleansing body wipe, I would love to learn about it and share!
Other options I’ve tried an liked enough to mention: Dude Wipes XL ($16 for 144ct), Generic Off Brand ($14 for 200ct)
Trash Bag
Bags from Walmart. Grab an extra one or three at self-checkout! Stuff piles up. Wrappers, coffee cups, body wipes, you name it, and it will find its way into a crack you’ll forget about if you don’t have a trash bag.
If you’re up for maintaining a waste-free life, do it by all means, and please share your methods with me! I’m not a fan of plastic bags (in general), but trash needs to go somewhere and paper bags don’t hold wet stuff.
Sleep Setup
Here’s what I have found consistent comfort with…
- Large flat cardboard to level out the ‘floor’ — from a refrigerator or long card table.
- Dense Foam Mat ($20) — I got a 1/2-inch “Extra Thick” Yoga Mat to further level out and soften any weird edges of the ‘floor’ (dimension: 74x24x0.5-inch)
- Thick Semi-Firm Foam Pad ($46) — I got a 5-inch thick Semi-Firm (36ILD**) Upholstery Cushion Foam as my actual mattress (dimensions: 72x24x5-inch). I get a great night’s sleep, but I bet these would be too firm for a lot of people. I will be getting a soft 1–2 inch topper soon.
- Encased Mattress Protector ($17)— I got a machine-washable twin-size waterproof, zippered protector to put around the yoga mat and foam pad. This keeps them together and offers general protection from the daily in and out. Prior to this, I used a standard sleeping bag and put the mat and pad inside of it, but the bag would wiggle down pretty often.
- Sleeping bag — Acting as added ‘pillow top’ for the bed or an additional insulation layer on cold nights, this is a comfortable barrier between the mattress protector and the skin. A fitted sheet also works well and stays in place if you don’t want the added insulation of the bag during warmer months.
- Blankets — Whatever you like! I love having thick comforters and the option to either burrow or stick a leg out. Alternatively, a sleeping bag is a great option. Machine washable is the key factor here: My Comforter, My Duvet Cover. I also have an old wool blanket and another cheap comforter from Walmart (probably).
** ILD is Indentation Load Deflection. That’s fancy speak for “How much does this squish when I lay on it?”
When rating sleeping mattresses, 19ILD = PLUSH / VERY SOFT, 28ILD = MEDIUM, and 36ILD = EXTRA FIRM.
The average mattress you’ll buy in the US is in the 28–36 ILD range. Ish. If you want an in depth read, check out this link. … I went with 36ILD because for the price, I could get that or something more firm. I know I dind’t want something TOO plush so I opted for what is equivelant to a firm mattress. I’ve loved it from the start and it’s softened up over the years.
What about an Air Mattress? My advice is to avoid the air mattress route unless you absolutely love them and want to put up with them for some specific personal reason.
Most vehicle models will fit an air mattress, generic or otherwise. Do a Google and see what fits if you must have an air mattress.
I’m not a fan of air mattresses, no matter the hype, especially long term.
I’ve never had a positive experience with an air mattress.
They pop or develop an annoying slow leak, and when that happens, you need to get out the noisy electric pump or do it manually in the parking lot of Planet Fitness when all you want to do is get to sleep. I digress.
Water Storage
The specific container will largely depend on your vehicle shape. I’ve enjoyed having two Ozark Trail 6-gallon ($17) water storage jugs from the Walmart camping section. They’re sturdy, and the form factor can slide in and out behind a seat or between buckets pretty easily.
Consider getting two for redundancy but also to go longer without refilling. Whatever you get, make sure it’s BPA-Free and suitable for drinking water.
Cook System
I’ve used a Jetboil Flash Java (Coffee) Kit and a Coleman Triton Two-Burner Propane Stove with success for about four years.
The downside is that they require different fuel canisters, so when/if one fails, I will reevaluate and try to arrange for a setup that can share fuel sources if necessary.
The JetBoil was expensive upfront ($175), but I have never once regretted buying it. It’s efficient and makes enough coffee for two in a matter of minutes. The fuel is available at REI or any outdoor store.
The Coleman was $80 new at Walmart, and the standard green fuel canisters last a long time. Fuel is also available at any major outdoor retailer, with the addition of it being Walmart’s camping section staple.
Blackout Window Coverage
Reflectix and black duck tape, or cardboard and a black bedsheet, are the most affordable options I’ve found.
You can likely buy full kits for your specific vehicle on eBay (cheap) or Weathertech (premium) if you don't want to spend the time making them.
Toilet Paper and/or Flushable Toilet Wipes
Don’t leave trash in the woods but also don’t get stuck without toilet paper. If it happens, it’ll happen once, and then you’ll remember to have toilet paper or wipes from then onward.
Power Source / Remote Charging Option
Phones, computers, lights for camp, watches, fans, etc, everything requires a recharge eventually. Being able to extend your independence from coffee shop outlets will go a long way in your daily peace of mind.
The upfront investment is worth it.
Physical Mailing Address
At some point, you will need to order something or have a place for bills to accumulate, whatever the case. This is often best to communicate with a family member or good friend about since paying for a box at the UPS store in one town can get old or expensive if you’re not living nearby.
Car Interior Wipes
Keeping the car clean, or shy of being caked in dirt and coffee stains, is an easy way to improve the daily appearance of your home.
If your car feels like it smells a little stale or musty, wiping down all of the hard surfaces will help.
Hand Vacuum
Same as with interior wipes, vacuuming up the crumbs and dirt from your living space will have a positive effect on the appearance of your home. If you get a Wet/Dry vacuum, you can also mitigate any spills when they happen, as well.
Dedicated Phone Charger Cables
I find that transit and transition are where cables get lost.
If you keep a charger plugged into the car, or by the power bank, at all times and another cable in your bag that you take with you away from the vehicle, you are more likely to never lose either cable.
Small (foldable) Shovel
If you get stuck in snow or mud or need to dig a toilet hole, you’ll be thankful for a shovel. I’ve had the same shovel for five years (or so) and have used it once or twice per year, but every time I had to use it was a time when I was extremely thankful I had it stowed with my spare tire. It’s a simple tool and can make a massive difference in a sticky situation.
Traction Device
In tandem with a shovel, you can get out of a lot of bad situations if you have a traction device of some kind. Stuck on a forest road or at a campsite because there was heavy rain overnight? Pull out the traction boards and shovel.
My van got stuck in a campsite I’ve slept in 100 (literally) times before, and bam — heavy rain, the rear end spun out and dug me in place.
Conclusion
Everyone has different needs, but if you figure out these things for yourself before taking off, you’ll be more prepared for the little things.
Follow along and reach out any time!
