VAN LIFE OPENS YOU UP TO THE ELEMENTS
Living in a vehicle makes you more vulnerable to the elements. Most van lifers say they constantly have to adapt to changing weather conditions—rain, snow, wind, or sand. In 2019, Natalie Rodriquez quit her job as a chef and bought a van with her wife and photographer, Abigail Rodriquez. The two have been driving across the country for three years, “finding freedom in simple living,” their website says. One night, Natalie was on her van’s rooftop deck watching fireflies and heat lightning when a powerful storm rolled in. Abi was asleep inside, so Natalie raced to get the awning down and put the chairs in the van as rain and lightning crashed around her. “We've been in crazy windstorms with hail and snow that came out of nowhere,” says Abigail. “But that's what you have to deal with if you’re living in a van. All of it challenges you, but that's also what’s so exciting for us.”
That’s why the couple only owns gear that can take a beating. “If the van breaks down and they have to do maintenance, it's rarely in a convenient location,” says Noami. “The conditions are usually extreme. Our first major breakdown, we blew a head gasket in Oregon and had to disassemble the engine and put it back together in blizzard conditions.”
Dustin and Noami chase the ideal climate—75 degrees and sunny—but it’s not always easy to find it and they often deal with rain, snow, and desert climates. “Our life is in the elements,” says Dustin. “It can be dirty, muddy, wet, cold, or hot. When it rains, when it's muddy or dusty, everything gets dirty.” But they love being in extreme environments. “It’s where the fun is,” says Dustin.
When Eric and Beth first met, they shared their interests in alternative living, the outdoors, and having more freedom. They were smitten. On their first date, they visited a dealership to look at vans. They married four months after meeting and then embarked on a series of “crazy” adventures. Shortly after, they started Adventure Van Camp, building custom vans in a garage in the woods in Vancouver, WA. You’ll find the married couple working on vans and RVs no matter the conditions. They’ll wheel vans outside and build rain or shine, sometimes in 30-degree Fahrenheit weather. Their shop isn’t insulated, so when temperatures drop they bundle up in layers. No big deal, according to Eric. “Before I started building vans, I worked in construction and home remodelling. I was always covered in sawdust. You just roll with it.” 15
