COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM?

We are Mike and Nere, two Asturian youngsters. We started in the camper world sleeping in my car, then and thanks to finding a stable job, we changed the car for a Renault Kangoo and later, to our current van; a Renault Trafic. We love making kilometers and discover new places. We are passionate about the sea and 90% of our destinations are the coast. Surfing is our passion.

SOME DATA ABOUT YOUR VAN:

· MODEL: Renault Trafic L1 H1

· YEAR: 2006

· KILOMETRES: 168.00 KMS

WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON THIS VAN MODEL?

That this van ended up in our hands was something unexpected. Even though the Kangoo was getting small, we had no intention of switching it. But one day, the Trafic appeared at our doorstep at a good price, so we got it without doubting.

HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY TOOK YOUR CONVERSION? WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART?

We might have been 5 months making it, we did it completely ourselves (except for the skylight and the windows). The most difficult was to have the distribution clear. It’s been a year since we ‘finished’ it and we have already changed things. We think that reaching the perfect distribution comes from traveling, to know what you need and what you don’t. In total, we might have spent 5000€.

WHICH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DO YOU HAVE?

We installed a Bosch solar panel, with a Victron charge regulator and a 250Ah battery. We also installed a 2500/5000w inverter to have 230w.

WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING FROM YOUR VAN?

We’d like it to be 4×4. One of the things we like the most about traveling is discovering wild spots, places which you can only access off-road and where is most likely there’s nobody. We’ve had to turn back many times for not having enough traction.

• THE BEST AND WORST PART ABOUT VAN DWELLING? DO YOU HAVE ANY STORY 

TO TELL?

The best thing is the freedom that it provides. But the worst… We believe there’s nothing wrong about it! Traveling gives you many stories; but something that we keep with no doubt is meeting people who do the same, funny stories always occur.

• HOW DO YOU SHOWER AND GO TO THE TOILET?

We have an outdoor shower, that in winter might not be the best idea but that’s the real vanlife essence. For the toilet, we manage with a portable potti.

• FINDING SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP CAN BE TRICKY SOMETIMES. HOW DO YOU 

MANAGE TO FIND SPOTS TO SPEND THE NIGHT FOR FREE?

There are several webs/apps in which you can find places to sleep with the van, doing activities… But the one that we use the most is GoogleMaps, we almost always travel to beaches, it allows you to see the surroundings and many times, to see vans and AC’s, which is a good sign to spend the night.

WHICH ADVISE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO’S THINKING ABOUT LIVING IN A VAN?

To travel as much as he/she can, traveling is the best way to be happy, and if it can be with your home on your back, even better. You also need to have the overnight and camping laws clear, to avoid having any scare.

HOW DO YOU SPEND THE TIME IN THE VAN?

In general, we are outside doing surf, skating or simply enjoying the outdoors. We have a TV inside of the van (only for films, it doesn’t have an antenna, we believe it to be an unnecessary good in the van)

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU MISS ABOUT YOUR LIFE BEFORE THE VAN?

Escaping the routine with the few ‘luxuries’ that a van has is very recomforting. Spending the days in nature with the day to day comfort is a much-recommended experience. So we only miss our family and friends when we travel.

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU?

What we use the most is Instagram (@van_and_waves), we also have a YouTube channel which is a bit forgotten but we hope to upload some edits soon (you have the link in the last video of our Instagram account)

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