We’ve spent the last 8.5 years traveling to over 100 countries. In 2020, we had to take a break from international travel, which forced us, as full-time travelers, to reevaluate what we wanted to do with our lives.
So we decided to buy a converted Sprinter van and explore our own surroundings by driving around the United States. Living in a van made us really curious about what it was like to live in other unique homes, so we took a break from our van from time to time to try out life in vehicles like a converted school bus, a Tesla Cybertruck, a $1.1 million Earthroamer, and many others. We wanted to see what life was like in these more unconventional forms of van living and decide if we had really made the best decision by purchasing a Sprinter van.
1. Converted school bus
Fun fact: When we were first looking for a van to live in, we almost bought a converted school bus. We ended up buying a Sprinter van because we knew it would make it easier to get around the way we wanted, but the school bus always seemed like a cool idea and stayed in the back of our minds. When we found a converted school bus to rent on Airbnb, we knew we had to test it out to get a little taste of the van or bus life that could have been and to decide if we had made the right decision.
One of the more obvious benefits of school bus life is how much space it offers compared to other vehicles. The bus had a spacious lounge with a sofa that could be converted into a dining room or an extra bed. In the kitchen we had a huge sink and fridge/freezer (okay, huge for a van) as well as an electric stove, which is our DREAM but completely impractical for our own van. The master bedroom took up the entire back of the bus and the bed was completely fixed rather than a bed you had to fold up against a wall during the day. Our favorite feature was the miniature wood stove, which was the absolute perfect place to warm up and make s’mores.
The bus’s power and storage capabilities were an immediate drawback for us. There was limited storage space inside the bus and no room to store clothing long-term. Since there was no solar power, we had to pull into a campground to have enough power to power the bus. These things make the bus perfect as a weekend adventure vehicle, but impractical for longer adventures away from civilization.
2. $1.1 million Earthroamer
We thought the $150,000 Sprinter was pure luxury until one day we discovered the company Earthroamer. We got the opportunity to try out their $1.1 million van and experience what the most luxurious form of van living looks like.
The Earthroamer van is absolutely equipped to handle any kind of adventure you want to take on, any time of year. This beast is 34 feet long, 12 feet tall, and rides incredibly smoothly over rough terrain. The luxury starts before you even step inside the van, as it has military tires and two tractor units that can tow 16,500 pounds. In the back of the van, there is an outdoor kitchen with a top-of-the-line Traeger grill, a tool kit, and storage that’s perfect for skis – yes, you heard right. This van is one of the few campers that is fully functional in the snow.
We think this Earthroamer has the nicest kitchen of any RV, with plenty of counter space, a hot water dispenser, and custom cabinets full of dishes, knives, and other kitchen essentials. Thanks to the custom design, you won’t have to worry about breaking glassware while you’re driving! The California King bed includes a TV, Bose surround sound, and a skylight so you can enjoy stargazing every night.
3. Houseboats
After spending a lot of time in RVs, we decided to try something new and experience life on the water. We drove to Seattle and spent the night on a houseboat on Lake Union, where the house from the movie Sleepless in Seattle is located.
The houseboat wasn’t fancy, but it had everything we needed to live comfortably. What we liked most about the houseboat was the large fridge/freezer and unlimited fresh water – something you won’t find in any other home on wheels. On rainy days, which are common in Seattle, you can curl up in the Murphy bed and enjoy a movie, but when the sun shines, it’s time to relax on the rooftop deck or have a BBQ. Since the boat can’t be moved, there is a dock with a kayak, from which we paddled to a restaurant where we had the best clam chowder of our lives. Seriously, this could be a great way to live minimalist and close to nature in a big city.
4. Tesla Cybertruck
If you want to feel like a celebrity for a day, we recommend renting a Tesla Cybertruck and just driving it around. Okay, you don’t necessarily have to do this, but when we rented a Cybertruck for a few days, we felt so classy because so many people stopped to take photos.
But anyway… now let’s get to the part where we talk about what it’s like to live in the Cybertruck. Owners of this futuristic-looking vehicle have the option to add a $3,000 camping kit called “Basecamp,” a tent that can be stored in the back of the truck and set up when needed. The Cybertruck is extremely powerful and can drive over rough terrain with ease. These things, coupled with the fact that this Tesla is basically a giant power source, mean that this vehicle is perfect for heading out into the wilderness and setting up your own high-tech camp.
Compared to the rest of the truck, the “Basecamp” tent was surprisingly simple and low-tech. It has to be inflated via a manual bike booster, and there are no lights inside, despite being just a few feet from an outlet on the car. The tent is about 4 feet wide, 6 feet tall, and has a padded mattress as padding on the hard surface of the car. Despite its shortcomings, “Basecamp” is definitely better than sleeping in a regular tent right on the ground. And when you need a break from nature, you can just walk into the truck, turn on cinema mode, and enjoy streaming services with surround sound that works even in the middle of nowhere.
So, which of these tiny houses would you most like to live in?
Hi! We’re Kara and Nate. High school sweethearts from Nashville, Tennessee whose shared love of travel and “travel hacking” led us on the adventure of a lifetime. In 2016, we quit our jobs to travel the world for a year. Seven years later, we still haven’t stopped! We quickly fell in love with life on the road and recording our travels on video. We’ve visited over 100 countries and have been lucky enough to build an amazing community of subscribers on our YouTube channel and newsletter, Daily Drop. We’re so grateful to be able to do what we love every day, and we hope our story and content inspires you to travel somewhere you’ve never been before!
