10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying My First Camper Van (7 Vans Later)

If you're thinking about buying your first camper van, building a van conversion, or starting van life full-time, this video is for you. Over the last five years, I’ve owned seven different vans including multiple Winnebago Solis models, a Thor Scope, a self-converted Ford Econoline, and custom camper vans built with a van builder. After owning, building, maintaining seven vans, I’ve learned what actually matters when buying your first van and what doesn’t. I am now focused on van life travels in my Geotrek van and traveling around the country. 🛒 My Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kristiroams 🚐 Van life with my dog Sammy 🐾 Traveling with pets Chapters: 00:00 My First 7 Vans & How I Got There 01:14 Budget Reality 02:28 How Will You Use the Van 04:24 Picking the Right Van Size 06:06 Fixed vs Convertible Bed 07:53 Shower Decisions 09:02 Storage Truths 10:10 Climate Considerations 12:25 Electrical + Water Mistakes 14:26 Choosing the Right Vehicle 15:52 Van Life with Pets & Kids If you’re researching camper van buying tips, Class B RV advice, van conversion planning, or van life for beginners, I hope this helps you avoid expensive mistakes. Van life can be incredible but the planning stage matters more than people realize. 👇 Let me know in the comments: Are you buying a van, building one, or still in research mode? Thanks and hugs to my new subscribers! 💖 - Kristi & Sammy #vanlife #campervan #vanconversion #classbrv #vanlifetips #buyingavan #solofemale