“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
-St. Augustine
We live in a 2006 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van
So many people ask us how we manage to live in such a tiny space without killing each other. The answer is a good sense of humor and a creed of loving-kindness. Living in a van certainly isn’t for everyone, but we absolutely love it and can’t image living any other way. One night we live in a San Diego zip code, the next night our front yard view is Baja Mexico. We don’t own couches, stereo systems or TVs. No coffee tables or lawn mowers. That’s the trade off. We’re light. Everything we own is in the van and we can move the van anywhere. That’s the dream of Sprinter Life.We also estimate that, despite my bad surf board habit, we’ve reduced our overall carbon footprint for a 2-person household by up to 50%. We consume less of everything from electricity to disposables. We run on solar power and propane. We don’t use a lot of water nor do we heat/cool a big living space. What about gas? You would think we burn more fossil fuels by living in a van, but the truth is we drive far less actual miles than we ever did living in LA. Stevie used to drive 2 hours a day to and from school! When they say, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" we've got the first one nailed.
Here are some stats on our home…
216 Square Feet including Roof Rack
132 Square Feet without Roof Rack
108 Square Feet of actual living space
Fuel – Diesel, receiving 21+ MPG
Power – 3x5 solar panel on the roof powers all systems
Stove – Propane 2 burner
Refrigerator – Runs on either propane or solar electric
Water – 2 holding tanks, 30 gallons of available water
Heat – Temperature controlled gas powered furnace
AirCon – 2 Temperature controlled ceiling fans in the roof
Bed – Queen size Tempurpedic w/ Down Comforter
Kiki Bed – Lg Trail-pro Thermarest w/ Fleece Sheet
Shower – 1 hot and 1 cold water shower off the back of the van
Toilet – Public only
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Our home parked in a lot in Norther Baja Mexico |
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Under the bed is where we have the majority of our storage. We can fit 7 short boards, 2 bikes, 4 fold-up chairs, 2 hammocks, 1 tool kit. We also have 2 showers that are accessible. These are great for rinsing off after surfing. If we need a real shower we go to a campground, YMCA, fitness club, or hotel. But real showers are only needed 1 time per week when you're in the ocean everyday. (Stevie does not agree with this) |
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We're able to store several days worth of food in our small fridge. Above that we have a 2 burner stove that Stevie cooks on. Next to that we've got a big sink with hot/cold water for washing dishes, brushing teeth, etc. |
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Kiki has a nice little cave to call her own. She loves this space. |
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This roof rack is one of the best investments we’ve made. We’re able to move the long surf boards out of the van and store them on top. Inside the Silver box we have spare van parts including windshield wipers, fuel/oil/air filters, radiator hoses, headlights, tail lights, etc. Also Scuba gear, a shovel, repair kit, and luggage for flying home. We also have a platform for watching sunsets. |
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Stevie is often forced out of her seat by my co-pilot |
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Our wall of pictures and of course our pan-american map. Wouldn't want to get lost out here! |
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Yes, it's a queen. Oh, the bed is too. |
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Surrounding the inside of the cabin we have drawers and a closet for clothing and other storage |
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Stevie's shoe rack and other storage areas. |
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The Sunset Platform in action! |
