I BOUGHT A VAN
I bought a van. Goodness, that still feels surreal. After many months of searching, doubt, and frustrated tears, I finally found my new home. Her name is Stormy and she is a 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
For almost 5 years I have wanted to do van life, not because it’s trendy but because it’s all I knew. I’ve spent almost my whole life on the road, traveling in RVs with my family since I was 3…and even though I hated it for a couple of years when I was an angsty pre-teen, a part of me knew my soul belonged on the road.
Everything I was, my entire identity, belonged to adventure. My nomadic childhood started something deep in the marrow of my bones, it was the undying need to see the unseeable, meet new people, and explore the unknown. What better way to do that than in a van that I crafted with my own two hands? It all sounds dreamy, and yes, you may look at my story and easily believe this was all handed to me. But what If there is one thing you should gain from this post it is this: anything is possible.
So, the van life dream started years ago, but how did I get to where I am? Let me tell you!
There was a period of time when I was living on my own, working a normal job, and not thinking about van life. It was always a distant thought, but I was not in constant pursuit. Not until a really good friend of mine came into my life and relit the flame I had for adventure. We constantly dreamed about our plans to travel, convert a van, and live as nomads…it all began to feel real again.
The van life dream went into full swing a few months later when I decided my life needed a reboot. I was stuck in unhealthy patterns, I felt trapped, and I ached for the next chapter of my life. So, I made a change. In May, I moved back home and started dreaming again. I had a year-long plan: save for a year, buy my van in 2024, convert it during the summer, and hit the road by the fall. It was a solid and stable plan. However, as I have recently learned, sometimes God has different things in store, and you have to embrace the unexpected.
In early June, my van appeared on Facebook Marketplace. It had perfect service records, the right price, mileage, size, color—everything. At that moment, I knew deep down that I was meant to buy this van. It felt like some kind of divine intervention, and every fiber of my being recognized it.
I didn’t have enough money, I could not fathom the idea of trying to convert a van, and had no clue what I would do once I actually got on the road. But, I took the jump and dove into this insane adventure head first.
Yes, this is me hugging my van in the middle of Utah. I have no shame.
The process of buying my van was incredibly smooth. I approached each step with prayer and careful consideration. On the same day that I found the van, I contacted the dealer and discussed the logistics. The CarFax report came back clean, and after reviewing the engine videos, I was satisfied that everything was in good condition. After further prayer, I reached out to my bank to initiate the loan process. It all happened so quickly that the realization of fulfilling my five-year dream had barely sunk in. Just two hours later, the loan was approved, and I immediately booked tickets to Phoenix, Arizona. Despite not intending to purchase a van so soon, I knew that when an opportunity presents itself, sometimes you have to seize it.
Now, as I write this and reflect on the past month and the process it took to get the van, there are a few things I would have done differently.
Firstly, I regret not having it inspected by a Mercedes dealer. The dealership I went through offered me the option, but I decided to forgo it. My dad, who has over 15 years of experience working on RVs, assured me that based on the CarFax and the engine's condition the van was good, so I trusted his judgment. We went through with the purchase and began our 22-hour journey back to South Dakota. Now, everything seemed fine until we encountered a check engine light in Colorado, which turned out to be a nox sensor issue. It later came to my attention that Sprinters are known for problems with the DEF system, something I was unaware of. We had the issue fixed in Denver, but upon further research, I discovered that if the wrong sensor fails, it could cost up to $5,000 to repair—a less-than-ideal situation. However, I was aware of the risks involved in buying a used vehicle, so here I am.
Secondly, I should have conducted more research on fleet vehicles. While they have their advantages, such as regular maintenance checks and lower costs, there is a degree of uncertainty regarding the condition of the van during its previous life. I had no knowledge about Amazon vans, and although they are great options, be prepared for some cosmetic issues and peculiar programming. My van has its own set of quirks, like shutting off when idling for too long and automatically locking even when the keys are inside the vehicle. These issues can be resolved by resetting the van to its factory settings, but it comes at a cost of approximately $500.
Despite these hurdles, I have never felt such peace about a decision in my life. I firmly believe that this van is a stepping stone in a much larger journey for me and that I was meant to be exactly where I am.
Buying a van is one of the biggest, most life-altering things I have done to date. It fulfills every dream I have had over the past five years. If you are thinking about taking the next step to becoming a nomad, this is your sign. It’s never too late or too early to start, there is only now.
Do you have a van-buying story or need a question answered? Leave a comment with your experience or questions, I would love to hear them!
