Vanlife Roadmap

Before vanlife had a name, Zach Daudert was already living it. He explains how a 2016 cargo van build revealed the real challenge (not installs – sourcing and support), and how that frustration turned into Vanlife Outfitters and Peace Love & Vans.

Josh had the “Miami guy starter kit” – the condo, the car, the watches – but it didn’t feel like his life. He explains how walking away from that version of success led him into vanlife early, how he learned to build through real use and iteration, and what decisions he now considers non-negotiable if you want a van that actually works on the road.

What makes a custom van actually worth living in? In this episode, Justin Shipp of Site Seven explains why quality, simplicity, and real-world use matter more than cramming in features – and how thoughtful design can change the way a van feels from the moment you open the door.

Clayton has built around 50 vans, and this episode explores what that experience changed. He shares how real use reshaped his thinking on layouts, electrical planning, quality parts, and the build decisions that tend to matter more over time than they do on day one.

What happens when a simple camping problem turns into a full-blown business? In this episode, Dutch shares how a frustrating vanlife reality – mosquitoes pouring through an open sliding door – led him to design and build his own bug screens, eventually creating The Bug Wall.

Grant from FreedomVanGo has built a lot of vans – but some of his strongest advice comes from what he learned after using his own first build. This conversation is about building around real use – not Instagram, assumptions, or someone else’s perfect layout.

In December 2021, Tim Jowers quit a 25-year warehouse management career, bought a 2014 ProMaster with 110,000 miles on it, and started building it in his driveway with his son. He never planned to sell it. That was 20 vans ago.