With all of the stresses in life these days, an increasing number of people are switching to vanlife where new-age nomads pack as many of today’s conveniences into a van to create a livable space and then hit the road. You will obviously need to gut the van to add things like a bed and maybe a kitchen area, but if you’re looking to try your hand at #vanlife, here are some great items you can find on eBay Motors to prepare any of the popular van options – the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, or Ram ProMaster – for a life on the open road.
Insulation
Shop for DIY insulation on eBay Motors.
Turning a vehicle into a domicile might seem like a daunting task, but the first step when doing so should be to add insulation. Insulation helps to keep extreme temperatures out of the interior making it comfortable inside when it’s hot or cold outside, and adding insulation will also help prevent any condensation from forming inside the vehicle. Since most modern fullsize cargo vans, like the Mercedes Sprinter, have no insulation from the factory, a couple rolls of insulation like this product from Unitherm applied to the floor, walls, and roof will allow vanlifers to easily regulate the temperature inside the vehicle.
Ventilation
Shop for a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter roof vent on eBay Motors.
Keeping extreme temperatures out of the van is a big first step, but adding some sort of ventilation system (when the engine isn’t running) will further maximize the overall level of comfort. A high-dollar budget can afford a window air conditioning unit, but installing an electric roof vent is a more affordable solution to keeping the air circulating inside the van. Maxxfan is by far the most popular choice for roof-mounted fans. This upgrade isn’t for the faint of heart, though, since most vents will require a hole to be cut in the van’s roof.
Electricity
Shop for a generator on eBay Motors.
Living off the grid means you are going to have to create your own grid, and that means adding some sort of generator to your build. The easiest path to getting power in your van is to skip wiring the whole van like you would a house and buy a self-contained battery power station. These are portable, can be charged by your vehicle while driving or via small solar panels, and they’re great for charging devices and powering small appliances.
Tires
Shop for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter tires on eBay Motors.
The whole point of vanlife is to get out and explore what the road has to offer, so you definitely don’t want to skimp on the one part of your vehicle that actually touches the road: tires. Whether you’re looking for all-weather tires for highway cruising or some meatier tires for overlanding expeditions, eBay Motors has a massive selection of tires for all types of vehicles.
Roof Rack
Shop for a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter roof rack on eBay Motors.
Storage space is a scarce resource when building a van you plan to live in, so adding a sturdy roof rack provides a great place to store items you won’t always need immediate access to. There are many types (and price ranges) of roof racks available on eBay Motors from basic cross rails to full-size cargo racks able to hold just about anything including kayaks, bicycles, jerry cans, and more. Whichever type of roof rack you choose will help increase the amount of available usable space inside the van. Don’t forget to buy a ladder, as well, to get up there.
