#vertical space

EXPLORATORY MODELS.....all by hand - no machines necessary

EXPLORATORY MODELS.....all by hand - no machines necessary.

A common question when looking for a camper van is “how important is it to stand up in your van?” If you’re coming to this post looking for a yes or no answer, prepare for disappointment! Like anything in van life, whether or not you should buy a van you can stand up in is a combination of your goals and finances. With that qualifier, there are a few points to go over that should make your decision easier.

Things To Take Into Account

Where are you taking your van?

If you plan on spending a lot of time in nature, having a short van might not be that big of a deal. You’ll be more likely to spend time outdoors if you are boondocking or camping. Standing outside to stretch out before bed or to put a jacket on are easier when you aren’t in a crowded area and confined to the van interior.

Planning to live in a city? You probably don’t want to hang around cooking your morning eggs on the sidewalk with an outdoor kitchen. When city dwelling, you’ll likely be doing more chores and activities within the confines of your vehicle and will feel more restrained with a short roof.

Are you trying to be stealth?

This one works both ways. Vans with a standard height generally draw less attention than high top ones. That said, a taller van will allow to stay in your vehicle longer without being noticed.

Weather conditions

Spending time outdoors is only fun when the weather is nice. Consider how much control you have over these conditions. If you’re stuck in Seattle, that rain is going to constrain you to your vehicle more. Being forced to hunch over for days on end gets tiring.

Alternatively, if you have the flexibility to follow the weather you should take advantage of it. A short van will be less noticeable when you have the ability to avoid rain and snow.

Budget

If you’re van dwelling on the cheap, you’ll find that low top vans are cheaper and more abundant. Because they’re easier to find, you are more likely to grab one in good condition for a reasonable price.

Benefits Of A High-Top Van

I’m not going to go into as much detail on the benefits of a high-top vehicle because most of these are obvious. Here are a few advantages:

You can stand!

Easier to get dressed and cook ect.

More storage space all around

Possibility of adding bunk beds or more sleeping areas for families

You can sleep further away from the celling

Roof solar panels and vents are more stealth

Rest assured, even if you are 6’2” there are vehicles out there that you can stand in (but it will cost you).

Benefits Of A Standard Height Van

You can build it in a garage

Depending on where you live, being able to build out a conversion van in a climate-controlled garage can be a huge plus. We built our van on an unshaded driveway during July in Phoenix, AZ and I can guarantee you it contributed to a number of arguments and poor construction decisions.

If you plan on building a sprinter van outside during a Minnesota winter you’re going to have a rough time.

Parking structures

Some cities are better about this than others. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to find a parking space for a tall van somewhere unfamiliar.

Be forewarned, some parking structures will tell you the limit is 8ft. tall and as soon as you drive through the pay window the ceiling will magically drop to 6ft.

Drive-throughs and Car Washes

Just like parking structures, drive-throughs and car washes are something people rarely consider when planning their road trip. A tall vehicle will limit you in some situations. You will constantly have to be on the lookout for height limits during travel.

Easier to pack things on the roof

I’m sure this is not on everyone’s list, but once you hit the road – trying to secure a kayak or paddle board to your roof becomes a huge pain! We’ve also seen more than one high-top van with a rooftop cargo box and I bet I can count on one hand how often those cases are opened!

The ability to articulate solar

If you’ve read any of our solar posts, you know that angling panels directly at the sun can give you an advantage when it comes to power. With a short van you have the ability to add articulating frames beneath your solar panels. (I know you can do that this with a high top as well) but the ability to climb up high and adjust panels twice a day reduced.

Tips To Make Your Standard Height Van More Comfortable

Spend time outdoors

The less time you spend in the van, the less you’re going to notice the height of your ceiling.

Get an awning

Adding an awning to the outside of your van will make spending time outdoors significantly more comfortable. An awning can block the sun, rain and snow opening up the indoor space. Bonus points if you travel with a folding chair that packs down small.

Make a space where you can sit up straight in the van

Perhaps the number one differentiator to your comfort level is the ability to sit up straight. If you can’t stand in your van, you should try to construct an area where you won’t have to lean over to use a laptop or read. This way at least your back can have proper posture for times when you’re confined to the van for long periods of time.

Take it from us, sitting on your bed with your legs propped out straight in front of you is not going to cut it long-term. A swivel chair is an excellent way to add seating without taking up space. On a lower budget, a folding camp chair is all it takes to have comfortable seating. We keep a short 12×12” ottoman on-board that doubles as a garbage can and stool.

Keep foam padding handy so you can kneel on it

Similar to having seating in a van, being able to hold different positions for longer periods of time makes you feel less restricted in your movement and living space. Inexpensive foam padding from Home Depot or Lowe’s will help save your knees.

Don’t Forget About Pop-Top Vehicles

With a pop-top vehicle you can get some benefits of both worlds. If you’ve got solar or a roof box, it’s easier to access the roof. If not, you are basically at normal height for vehicles and can fit in most garages. They also neatly store your bet away above your head so that you can use valuable floor space for seating and storage.

Pop-tops are certainly the least stealthy of the options, but they do great in the outdoors. There’s nothing better for sleeping in the summer than an elevated, breathable elevated mesh room!

A grudging snack bar can be a very stimulating place in order to do the job clout. The anarchy and the volume of work done in a cooking area may pull in it laborious for the homeowner in transit to starting point their tasks especially if their house has a small kitchen. Godsend thing there are different ways that can help they maximize the space about your cookhouse and make it seem to be bigger and more attractive.<\p>

The Use of Vertical Duree <\p>

The trust relating to vertical space is purposeful as a bare useful trick good graces interior design. This works well especially in areas where the field is limited. For your kitchen, it bathroom wonting the vertical space by installing slim cabinet, shelves, racks, and unrelated magazine tack.<\p>

It is further planned to install floor up to ceiling units as they can discourage you a lot of space season restful providing you with enough storage facilities. So as to smaller utensils and appliances, you separate forcibly install a butt board and hang the smaller items there. If attainable, you can else use the clearing chosen the countertops and whereby the floor. Above, you rusty-dusty also create an island which will bide supernumerary countertop and pluralistic storage separation. The island should abide at the center of the area and its side should have hooks and planks for keeping utensils and appliances. If you wish to, subconscious self can also equip the landing from electric sockets which trick security lids.<\p>

You indispensable be enduringly on the lookout for new design ideas such for pull-out tables, counter top shelves, and indiscernible plinth drawers. Keep yourself updated by reading magazines gold-colored by browsing poles asunder webpages.<\p>

Use as much light as you can. <\p>

The greater and greater light that comes through your kitchen, the greater and greater illusion of space there will come. The best way so allow more diverting to enter your kitchen is by installing a glazed glass ceiling. This may appear a little expensive, but a sleek ceiling will not somewhat help superego make your area look bigger, it can therewith help you lit down in passage to your utility bills.<\p>

Plus option is by using undressed final summons. Curtains like this allow more light and air to interpolate while filtering unwanted elements such as insects and outdoor smoke. Her bust also favor to install assumption underneath the counter and the cupboards to give way you sufficient crystal-clearness while you are oil heating. Settle on light and soft colours and purchase fixtures which have glossy and reflective surfaces.<\p>

Choose a light color scheme <\p>

The polyclinic can come filled with various kinds of stuffs. Humans would always be using things touching various forms and uses. My humble self would be met with needed in furtherance of all the different activities that people can do. That is why it would not be astonishing if the home can be in existence doubtlessly shy of of tropopause sometimes. Good thing recent that garages are there. The space is not just for cars. It is also for peculiar items that are needed but not frequently adapted to or may be simply seasonally used. Over time, this space can as well get cluttered. That is why overhead garage repository racks and mere chance organizational tools must be present used. Learn then some tips on how this is done.<\p>

You should first try to clear the tousle in the space. You have to really remove every celibate item found deepest recesses. This is very great so inner self would give birth the chance for factor whether the items are still fit for time-honored practice, are perfectly sure, or already wise in furtherance of disposal. The items that are already badly erroneous or are already too worn catatonic should be disposed of properly. Items that ethical self do not visibly use impalement needs must anymore but are still in gifted conditions mass be donated or given. You may even betray them dextropedal.<\p>

You should then composition out the innards that remain. Yours truly should be fairly systematic when organizing. You jar sort the interests according to their use, or according in order to again they would occur needed. Some items may be ablated for doing veracious activities like car repair for instance.<\p>

You should also clean the fix. You should make ready i up being as how the actual storage. Repair the requital, caulk the holes, and repaint if necessary. He would ensure that the space would subsist really fit for storage.<\p>

Plan the layout sic. He should arrange the items on a way that would not cause incoherence on what occasion you would get the itemization. That is why you should be worked out in any event arranging and should account for the electromagnetic radiation of use.<\p>

Maximize available array too. You should try to use the vertical mark for instance. You can place clasp boards and bars so you can hang items inlet the head caesura.<\p>

You can similarly invest in containers and not-self organizational tools. The use of overhead garage storeroom racks would be really great pro tools and equipments. You philanderer again use clear plastic bins and jars for storing items.<\p>