I started doing a lot of dreaming, during 2013. I’d sit at my desk and think ‘this can’t be it’…
I WANT TO LIVE IN A VAN AND TRAVEL
I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I had re-read emails over an over again. My mind was somewhere else. Totally distracted with what could be…
So I Quit my job
I knew that for anything to happen I’d have to quit my job immediately and tell people my plans. This was the first step and was all I needed to do so I’d have no other choice but to work on my dream. I had some money (£10k) saved up from working on offshore gas platforms in the North sea.
On the 20th September 2013, I gave my months notice and got asked many questions that I didn’t yet know the answers to myself. At this point, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was just trusting new steps would appear before me once the current one had been completed, although I couldn’t really say this to my employer or colleagues.
I Moved out my house
I put things outside onto the street (Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield) with notes saying ‘free’. I gave away the sofas, the bed, chairs, and tables. One woman came with a van and took most of it because her friend was leaving her husband and needed to set up a ‘secret house’. She seemed very grateful. I gave away my shirts, trousers and shoes to the charity shop On Ecclesall Road, sold my car and packed a bag to go back to my parents house while to work on the van – I hoped this would be one step back to take two steps forward.
I Converted a big old van
Bought a van (LDV Convoy) on Ebay. The first few days I was overwhelmed with things I needed to do. I didn’t have a clue what to work on first. The van was a mess. It got worse the more time I spent with it; more rust, holes in floor, oil leaks, bodge after bodge. It was a write-off and it even had forklift truck marks underneath where it had probably been shifted about some scrap yard. (see post on work done).
Like running through treacle. My thoughts and dreams consumed with van conversions. I grew a beard and didn’t see friends for months.
February 2014, progress made. The conversation was so close to completion. I put a few pictures around the Internet and on this site. Within a day, the server was overloaded and I was suspended from my hosting account. Over 70k visits in the first week of being online. I couldn’t believe it. This gave me a new wave of motivation just when I needed it – progress was slow and I was desperate to leave the country.
March 2014, a line is drawn; the van conversion is complete! I documented the conversion here – my DIY van conversion
Then I Drove south
March the 8th 2014, I booked a last minute ferry ticket from Dover to Dunkirk and got my two mates (Ross and Matt) on-board for the first part of the journey. We drove South through France and Spain. The journey has started. I am doing my dream; I can comfortably live wherever I want. I am free and in control of what comes in and out of my life. The next thing I need to figure out is how to make this last for as long as I like.
My track and current location can be seen on the tracker page.
I hope you enjoy my site/blog. Now I just need a way of making this financially sustainable… I’ve bought myself some time but money will run out. If you can help or have suggestions then please get in touch
…a few months later
I was in my local paper back home (Hull, England) Read the article here Hull man Mike Hudson living the dream as ‘Van Dog Traveller’
Then my living in a van video on youtube was on a TV show, aired in North America:
More of VandogTraveller around the web…
Man quits job to convert old van into cozy solar-powered mobile cabin
Man quits job to convert old van into mobile home and travel the world
Living in a van and exploring the world with it
When You See What This Guy Did To This Old Van, You’ll Be So Jealous. This Is Genius!
Young man converts van into tiny off-grid traveling home (Video)
How to Make Life On the Road Work for You
Good on you, I went travelling alone when I was 20. It was the best decision I ever made and I’m sure it will be yours. I’m a similair age to you now.
You say you want to make money? Well go get a bar job in any of your destinations. Alternatively you could monetise your site via Ads, however what you’re doing is not really original or particularily news worthy.
There are literally thousands of people who do and are doing the same
as you, and I. It make seem epic to you, but in the scheme of things its a dude driving a campervan with a nice WordPress site. Give your situation a different tilt or make things more extreme to captivate your web audience and drive traffic.
Anyhow, good luck. Quick tip – for party, good times (and women), go to hostel bars and get to know people. Give it time. You will meet plenty of solo travellers and like-minded people.
Best
Hey Tom cheers for the advice and the tip (I agree, traveller hostels are a good way of meeting people). You’re right though I’m not doing anything original. I just did this because it was a dream and the story seems have resonated with a fair few people our age. I’ve met loads of people who are doing the same thing out here and I hope more people in the UK realise that they can do this as well
You could put a bitcoin address up. I’m bitcoin skint, myself 🙁 but sometimes it works wonders.
I like the repaneled wood background, a closer match to the van interior.
Yeah Lewis. This bg is 6 times smaller. I’ve been shedding some unnecessary weight for your user experience 🙂 Enjoy!
Looks good! I recently bought a motor home and left for the open road, adventure, and whatever happens. We workamp/Work camp so we get a job where it pays for your site and some pay you a hourly rate. others don’t but you just find a local job for the amount you need then move on.
Hey me again,
i think it could be an idea with making you tube videos.
you can get money trough you tube.
There are people like “Nomadic Fanatic” who do this full time.
Check it out if your interested.
Ciao.
Hey yeah cheers! I do make a few quid on Youtube, although it used to be a lot more. I should do more videos (I have loads of raw material I can use). In fact, I actually filmed a lot of the conversion! It will come eventually but I want to keep creating content for this site first. I’ll check that channel out as well
You can also make money with writing content. differs how much you earn per word but it’s somewhere around 4 euro per 200 words.
Very inspiring story. Just stumbled across your blog via the story on Inhabitat.
Hey Mike! I saw your site the other day and found it super inspiring. I’m currently saving to get where you are now – living in a van. I’ve been thinking on and off about how I can make my money go further when I don’t have work, and maybe the ideas I had could work for you.
– you clearly know how to set up a website. Lots of small business need good, cheap sites, and you can do all of the work remotely. You can charge a reasonable amount to do all of the WordPress setup for them, or swap your time for food / entry to something / whatever
– you live in an awesome van! People will pay to sleep in it. Find somewhere to stay for free for a few days (hostel where you can do odd jobs / whatever) and rent your van out AirBnB-style. People pay more for that stuff than you’d think!
– do some talks about what you do at businesses / institutions / places of education. It’s true that there’s loads of people doing what you’re doing, but not all of them are willing to share their experience
– get real good at something and win some prize money / sponsorship / free gear!
– get paid to transport stuff – if you’re going from one country to another you could pick up and drop off things for people, cheaper than removal companies
PS, I chucked you some cash – you’ve had the drive to do what thousands of people wish they could, and you deserve to have as much time on the road as you can.
Good luck!
Alex
Love these suggestions, awesome stuff Alex 😀
Where do you shower/wash? This is the thing that is putting me off the most.
Does that mean that you have the toilet thing under control? I find that is the thing most neglected on this side of the pond. Keeping clean is pretty simple once you get over the absence of plumbing.
Hi Mike, I am new to your site. Wow!! Really enjoying reading about your vision and the adventures. When exactly did the inspiration to do this come to you? Did you travel as a child, or dream about it?
Great Job, will keep checking in to see what your up too, never stop traveling !!!
I love this story and your bravery. Would love to contribute $$$ and live vicariously through your exploits. Do you have a funding site?
Soon the advertising will provide a nice income.
Love this. Good luck to you and I hope you continue to prosper!!
Hey Van Dog: Great job doing this when you are 26. When I was 26, I bought a round the world ticket (for a 2nd time) and did 18 countries in 4 months. The whole thing cost me at least $7,000 but I would not trade anything about it for the world. I am not young man anymore but its good to see the dream of learning about the world is not dead among young people. I would estimate that at the time I was traveling around the world (staying in youth hostels & discount hotels) that there were tens of thousands of others. Today there are probably hundreds of thousands in one phase or another. Just Google “round the world ticket” and see what you get. You have inspired me to go back to Europe one again. These days I live the sedentary life of a safety consultant working for a Central Florida USA college. I miss the life you have.
enjoy while you are young
Mike new to your site…pretty cool o man found your site on yahoo.. yea you made it front page That’s pretty cool in it’s self but I’m glad your having fun take care of your self and be safe maybe someday you could get you a job on a ship headed to the U.S.A. and drive some here work for them shipping your van who knows right…hell you did this but do have a great time
I love this… you are an inspiration mate. 🙂 Thank you so much.
Good for you mate! I am a big older (in my 40’s), but live in a small motorhome. I quit my tech job, sold my house, belongings, and live a much happier life on the road. Best wishes to you on your journey. Life is an amazing adventure, enjoy it!
Good evening, Mike !!!
I do not speak in English very good, I’m sorry. But I’m just a maniac tourism. Very envy you !!!
I advise you to look very Teutonic Order castles in northern Poland. Come to the Baltic states. We have very friendly people !!! Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius – this is a very beautiful city !!! Be sure to look at the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. The village of Nida on Kurshkaya braid and just travel on rural roads Baltic states – it is very beautiful !!!
with that big van you have advertising space on the side to make some extra cash, good luck
Just awesome!!!! I feel like I don’t fit in and sometimes feel like I am the only one on the planet that feels this way. I worked for an electric utility making tons of money for ten years. It just sucked. A lot of the people were entitled, fake……overall just a toxic environment. I am trying to find my place in the world, but it is tough. I rented out my house in the suburbs and converted a nice shed on my friend’s property to stay in. It is a start. Once I sell my house and pay off my bills I will follow more of your lead. Of course my own idea and version of it. It is all about freedom. Nothing is worse than feeling alone surrounded by groups of people. Good luck!!!!
My wife and I have been living on our sailboat and traveling for over eight years. Being a digital nomad is easier than most people think, but tougher as well. Look to our community of live aboard cruisers for ideas.
I absolutely love this idea of freedom! Imagine the person that you will be later in life with an understanding of the world and the people living all over. One can work for the rest of their lives and not grow as much as you will. I met some English hill walkers in Ireland, that worked at pubs to save money so that they could go all over. I am so jealous and too old now!
Where do you shower/bath
Are you blind? see the video in the corner of the van there is a shower and toilet. Duhhhhhh!!!!
Do you travel from place to place because you’re a wanted fugitive?
You are simply a damn genius! What the hell was the job you quitted? Engineer? Damn I almost figure out everything in your tutorials but the electric system, well, you have some good skills, congratulations. Also finding around good cheap stuff and modifying it, you are my new hero. Come and see Italy one day and I’ll be glad to offer you a dinner in return of a ride on your van. Enjoy
i was able to wire up a complete solar system in my van after reading a few chapter of “automotive wiring”, a book i bought on amazon. its really pretty simple!
Teach yourself Web Design, install Wifi in your van (if you havent already) and Freelance, you’ll make more than enough to last however long you want live like this!
P.s I plan to do this next year! 🙂
I so agree with Tessa! Do what makes your heart sing, so that the only regrets you have at the end are that you couldn’t possibly have fitted more into your life 🙂
This is my dream and working hard and saving as hard as I can. Great to find your blog. ..amazing that you chose to do it and did. I’m a single dad and using the time while my daughter is still at home to plan and save to make my dream of living in my van, blogging, writing and photographing my way around the UK to start with. We live in a beautiful country and most of us never see it!!
Thanks for some great insight. Good luck:)
i built a van and lived in it for almost a year while working various day jobs. i really enjoyed it in so many ways. the only thing i did not enjoy was 1.having to hide from the police and locate suitable safe parking each night 2.public showers at the gym get old. I would like to move to a more permanent situation of building a self sustaining earthship on land of my own. however the building codes everywhere are so complicated and the permit processes so expensive that i despair of ever being able to do it. unlike a van, its not just sweat equity. *sigh*
hi there! i just de-cluttered and downsized my life my goal is to get out of debt and save up enough cash to buy a tiny house on wheels. i ran across your blog on tinyhousetalk.com i also gave away most all of my “big” stuff to a lady who was moving out of a domestic violence center and into a place of her own. love your site! –la
Currently converting an old LDV ambulance, and am planning on heading to Norway in June / July.. Anyone fancy joining me?
Fireracing247@hotmail.com
How can I convert econovan LWB van to suit my dog??
I live in the U.S.A. it gets very cold here in the North any suggestions on how to heat my van in winter wood stoves are not allowed in vans. Also how to keep it cool in summer as I have a dog
Check out Wabasto heaters…
They are little furnaces that use gas/diesel for heat and 12V for the blower…
The are about the size of a boot box and are used in heavy truck sleeper cabs to avoid idling the big engine…(check out wreckers for a late model truck with a sleeper, they are usually under the bed)
They burn about 1litre of fuel a day…
Hello Mike, hope all is well? Imagine you’re up with the birds this am, hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday. Not sure if you remember me but I’m just about ready to head out onto the open road. My van make-over is almost complete, all my possessions are going out the door to friends and strangers all over Bournemouth. It’s quite an emotional roller coaster, shedding years of stuff is both liberating and saddening.
I get a lot of mixed reactions regarding my adventure, ranging from warnings of danger lurking, and fear based advice on traveling itself, it makes me wonder if men get the same type of feedback or is that because I’m a woman, and/or someone over 50? or did you get similar warnings? (not including mum of course).
And finally, what’s one thing you wished you had taken with you?
Good luck Solange Sira! Might see you on the road some day! x
Heh Teresa, thanks I write under the name of Serendipity Sol on wordpress, if you’re interested. Mike has inspired many to venture out into the road, lucky guy has youth on his side. I’m currently in southern France, my journey has taken me all over the western side of Europe and Morocco. Its a wonderful life.
What happened to Naomi?
Hi Mike,
just found your blog a few day ago and I am soooooo excited and inspired!
We want to convert a camper as well and that’s why I fell over your blog. Well, that’s exactly what we want to raise up, too!
I is so good to see others succeed an be happy with that way of life and that it could be done!
Would be so nice to come/stay in touch and maybe, one day, to start a little tour or even better, a whole bunch of a camper tribe to go around in europe…and wherever the streets will lead us.
Come over to our Blog (just a landing page at the moment, but I’m working on it in the background and it will go life in April hopefully) if you are interested or just drop me some short lines.
very best
claudia
http://www.vangoeswilder.com
so how are things in 2017?
Hey thanks. It’s allllll possible. But I didn’t know this either in the beginning. Glad the blog could help you anyway. And, nice blog and photos btw. Good luck 🙂
Well hello there! I just have to let you know, today your page changed my life. My name is Laura, i am 42 yrs young and after reading your page today…well I just quit my job as a childcare manager.
Been thinking of doing this for too long. My partner is now 53 and after reading your story..enough said!! Hope I see you on the road sometime soon. Your such an inspiration. Hope they give out free fuel for good looks and banter lol. Best wishes xx
Read “live in a van” and best book I’ve read on the subject so far!!
At 57, am about to do something similar, though not confident about Morroco as an older, single, female traveller!!
Thanks for some great advice and inspiration!
PS – when is your first book going to be available in old fashioned paper format?!!! (am about to purchase a van for conversion!)
xxx