Don't Come a'Knockin'

December 17, 2012 9:01 AM

Van Life See also: Van Life; Van Life; My Van Life; Lives in a Van; V, W, Bus. Not to be confused with the also excellent The Lady In The Van.

See also:
Skoolies
Skewly
School bus conversion

posted by OmieWise (21 comments total)

YES THANK YOU.

I've always wanted a VW bus, and have kicked around the idea [rather seriously with my then partner] of living in a converted schoolbus.

Here's a page that features just a few conversions, but they're so beyond amazing I feel like it's worth mentioning. (The Bus Barn->More Buses->Click a name offers the best ones, in my opinion.)

My two favorites: Grace which is so beautiful it could be mistaken for an arts and crafts style cottage. And
Sam which has the coolest kitchen I've ever seen, and a skylight made from an old airplane cockpit.
posted by FirstMateKate at 9:21 AM on December 17, 2012

Yes please. OHHHHH-ho, yes please!
posted by Chutzler at 9:21 AM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

I love everything about this. Thanks OmieWise!
posted by recess at 9:24 AM on December 17, 2012

Makes living in a van down by the river look more appealing.
posted by BungaDunga at 9:31 AM on December 17, 2012 [3 favorites]

Very interesting.

I always assumed it was something of a joke from that SNL skit. But these people are really serious about their vehicle/houses. Nice.

Matt Foley, motivational speaker. (nbc.com)
posted by lampshade at 9:33 AM on December 17, 2012

Ohh! This is actually an amazingly practical caving vehicle. It can haul several people off-road, all their gear & serve as a field domicile. Better than a pickup or SUV, really.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:36 AM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Van (1977)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:36 AM on December 17, 2012

A few years ago I saw this sweet moonshine van art and had to pull over to take a photo. The other side of the van has the 'shiner spying on/?/delivering some product to some Native Americans.
posted by exogenous at 9:47 AM on December 17, 2012

I used to laugh at the tiny home idea, but in the past couple of years as I have shed tons of various material crap, a TH on wheels is holding far more appeal.

Not that I would move every month, bu the ability to just pack and go (as I have a totally telecommute job anyway) could actually work.
posted by lampshade at 9:48 AM on December 17, 2012

The Van Song, Cloudstreet

Our trusty campervan,
It's sad to say, we must now sell her
Let's talk of this a while,
Though I haven't the heart to go and tell her.
She's been our tour's best friend
And we'll miss her, in a sob and sigh way.
As she goes with someone else,
Out on the highway.

So what of this van,
What has she got?
Well now, my friends,
She's got the lot!
Curtains velour and carpet rugs
She locks secure,
There's new spark plugs,
Despite her years, she has no fears
Out on the highway.

posted by zamboni at 9:48 AM on December 17, 2012

I've owned three VW campers over the years, I'm now at the point to buy one more.....
posted by HuronBob at 9:51 AM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Once again omiewise spelunks into the dubious caverns of my psyche and, as if by magic, makes a post about something I am entirely fascinated with, one day a westie for me.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:07 AM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

I love vans and van culture, and I'm a big fan of van movies. I wrote a piece on 1970s Vansploitation cinema for Fine Print Magazine a while back, available here (in four parts).

There's a new documentary coming soon called "Vannin'" that looks pretty great, I'm really excited for it. Here is the official site for it.
posted by rabbitroom at 11:23 AM on December 17, 2012 [2 favorites]

I miss my '62 VW cargo van.
posted by fimbulvetr at 11:29 AM on December 17, 2012

Unfortunately, the version of The Van on Netflix Instant is an edited for television version. Same with the rest of the Crown International Pictures stuff recently added to the service, including Van Nuys Blvd. (another great van movie).
posted by rabbitroom at 11:41 AM on December 17, 2012

Chevy Van
posted by TedW at 11:43 AM on December 17, 2012

i'm a 4x4/wheeling/travel person, and i desperately want a turbodiesel 4x4 van that i can live out of. i love the idea of crawling through forests and trails and camping out in a van.

oh sportsmobile, you will be my very first lottery win purchase :) i mean just look at it. throw some tents, gear, and diesel in the rack on top and disappear for a while.

i love that they feature it towing an Epic wakeboat. hello, dream life.
posted by ninjew at 12:29 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've owned three VW campers over the years, I'm now at the point to buy one more.....

I am currently somewhat obsessed with VW Westfalias. My biggest fear is that if I by one, it's only a matter of time before I end up living in it. Now that I've been perusing these links, maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
posted by billyfleetwood at 1:34 PM on December 17, 2012

If I were able to drive, I'd totally do this!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 3:13 PM on December 17, 2012

I owned a VW camper a few years ago, having bought it as a cheap "RV" for me and my young kids, with the potential to appeal to my wife. To begin with it's purchase price was an annoyance to my wife ("we could stay 50 nights in a hotel!"). The bus was not very reliable, which further hurt the relationship ('sure, we can't go away now, but how about next weekend?') and it was a ponderous way to get anywhere when it did go.
Still, I grew to love her in the 18 months I owned/paid for repairs/maintained that bus, and even after selling her (for more than she was bought, but less than the the mechanic bills) to make some peace in my family, a bus still catches my eye.
I won't leave my wife for a bus. But if I leave my wife, oh boy, there will be a bus right there on my agenda.
posted by bystander at 3:27 AM on December 19, 2012

My little trailer was nowhere near as nice as some of these vehicles, but I had fun during my year living in it. Thanks for sharing this.
posted by patheral at 5:28 PM on December 27, 2012