The ability to travel and live anywhere is the ultimate definition of freedom. However, few can afford the costs of traveling via airplane or booking hostels and AirBnB units for months at a time. For this reason, a number of digital nomads have begun renovating vans so they might roam in affordable fashion while working online.
One person in particular who is showing the world just how luxurious van living can be is filmmaker and surfer Cyrus Sutton, who has been living the van life for over a decade. In the video above, he shows viewers his latest conversion of a 14-foot long Sprinter van.
The nomad shared his story – and the van’s renovations – with Reef.com.
He wrote:
“I first moved into a van 10 years ago. It was a practical decision. I’d been commissioned to make a 16mm surf documentary and failed to negotiate a living wage for myself during the three years it took to make it. This oversight had me surviving on cans of kidney beans and needing a rent-free place to sleep while I traveled between Australia and Los Angeles shooting and editing.”
Sutton first bought and modified a Ford Econoline in 2006, but ended up selling it after finding a more fuel-efficient Sprinter Van last year. The 14-ft long x 6-ft tall vehicle is more suitable for the entrepreneur.
He began by rebuilding the interior to include a small kitchen with a propane stove, refrigerator, and sink, which is supplied with a hand-pump faucet. A 5 gallon container of water sits nearby.
The kitchenette also features a drop-down storage cabinet in the counter for pots.
A fold-down bed rests securely on a lip, affording enough space for storage. A hanging closet organizer also helps keep clothing stored away and neat.
Perhaps the coolest feature of Sutton’s van home is the hammock desk which can be hooked up in a resting spot, effortlessly creating a workspace. The desktop surface can be inserted into the walls and electricity is provided by solar photovoltaics and a marine battery to store excess power.
After a surfing session, Cyrus can rinse off using an overhead portable camping shower and an impromptu shower curtain behind the rear of the van.
Living in a van doesn’t afford much space, but it does ensure that one learns to thrive in simplicity and utilize only the basic necessities. Could you do it?
With a bit of imagination and inventiveness, anyone could live in a renovated van.
Learn more by visiting Cyrus Sutton’s website and Instagram.
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