How I Chose Vanna White

Sounded cute, might change later? If you’re unsure of where to start when thinking about embarking on part-time or full-time van life, fear not. I was in your shoes a little over a month ago. You see, the life I had with someone that I thought would be my life partner turned out to be not for me. So I hatched a new plan – move into a van and embark on a solo journey to find myself again…my Healing Era. But where to start?

Decide what kind of van life you want to live. In a way, I was forced into my decision of living in my van part-time until I figured out where I wanted to land again. I talked to a lot of friends and friends of friends to learn about their experiences, both living full time and part time. I learned the pros and cons of insisting on different features in my new rig, based on my vision.

Test drive different chassis. Based on the van life that I knew would work for me, a 4×4 chassis was a must have. I did test drive the Ford Transit AWD but as soon as I sat in the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4, I knew that she was going to be the foundation of my new rig.

To build or not to build. If you’re looking for a great resource on custom build shops that are reputable and have stood the test of time, I recommend checking out explorevanx.com. I determined that a custom build for my first rig was too expensive and would take longer than my soul was willing to wait to start my Healing Era. So I researched the Storyteller, Thor and Winnebago and landed on a 2023 Thor Tranquility.

Loans. Fun fact: you can get a 20 year “van mortgage” and deduct the interest on your taxes, much like the mortgage interest on a real home. Win, win. I got a loan through an RV company, but there are a variety of options out there. I looked at USAA and one recommendation by one of the custom shops is Bridget Smith from Seabrite Financial.

After Market Mods. While the Thor felt like home as I drove her around Colorado, I knew that I needed some modifications to really stretch her for a full West Coast trip. I recommend checking out Owl Vans. They are extremely reputable, provide installation and had everything I wanted to add to the outside and inside to make Vanna White worthy of a six month journey West.

TLDR: talk to a lot of people about their experiences, then determine what will work best for you. For me, it was a combination of things from two close friends that live van life, my own research/gut feelings, and budget.