Thank you for reading our post, please rate this article at the end.
Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
Stealth Campers, The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Living in a van is all about total freedom regardless of what type of vehicle you use and where you’re located. Living life on your terms and going wherever you feel like with no restrictions is what trailers offer you. Your stealth camper van is your home; you must make it look like one.
- Legalities and Etiquette: Respect laws, leave no trace behind.
- Choosing the Right Spot: Prioritize safety and hidden location selection.
- Camouflage: Blend equipment and avoid bright colors for stealth.
- Arrive Late, Leave Early: Set up late, depart early to evade detection.
- Disposal of Waste: Pack out all waste responsibly.
- Essential Gear: Lightweight tent, sleeping bag, minimal equipment.
You’ll probably spend lots of years in it, and it’s only prudent to make yourself feel at home.
Well, our guide will tell you everything you need to know about van life. We’ll help you choose your van, plan your interior design, and install features such as electricity and plumbing.
We’re all about detailed information and step-by-step guides.
By the time you finish with this article, your knowledge about van life will have shifted from that of a 7th grader to a university student. In no time, you’ll be hitting the road quickly.
Choosing Your Vehicle
There are many options for camper vans, and the right one for you depends on your preferences and needs. Choosing a van is the first and most important step in living in it.
Factors to consider when choosing your vehicles are storage spaces and cost-effectiveness.
To help you decide on a vehicle, we’ve outlined some common types of vehicles available, along with their cons and pros. This will give you an idea of what you’re looking for.
Cargo Vans
These are ‘creepy white vans’ and your best stealth camping option because noticing them is difficult. They are generally everywhere, and finding one isn’t hard.
Vehicles in this category include Ford Econoline, Chevy Express, Dodge Ram Van, and old Chevy Van.
Cargo vans are excellent to live in. Their designs have barely changed for decades, and the advantage is that mechanics know how to work around them. Their parts are common and affordable.
The vans offer blank canvases with the opportunity to customize them in your way. Overall, they are good; they are not fancy but reliable.
Cargo vans are known not to offer much headroom. Even short people will have problems standing inside one. Also, finding one with a lower mileage can be daunting.
So be ready to own one with higher mileage. But still, they are an excellent option for stealth camping.
High Top Conversion Vans
The High Top Conversion vans are full-sized passenger vans converted into stealth camper vans. They come with many amenities and excellent features, including high tops for extra headroom, which is their name.
Most come with comfortable captain chairs, leather seats, mood lighting, and a rear bench seat that folds into a bed.
The high top also has many storage options that other vans don’t offer.
One downside of high-top Conversion Vans is that if you intend to customize their interior, you’ll have to completely gut the whole vehicle, which can be a lot of work.
Also, their weird shapes and fiberglass constructions restrict the installation of solar panels. Regardless of these cons, High Top Conversion vans offer versatility, affordability, and enough space for users.
Sprinter Vans
Sprinter vans have been in the market for a while now. They are famous for their interior height, long wheelbase, and boxier shape. Their shape makes them ideal for creating spacious and functional living.
Vehicles in this category include Mercedes and Dodger Sprinters, Ford Transits, and Dodge Pro-masters.
Unlike minivans and cargo vans, these vans have a lot of headroom, even for tall people. Their interior space is large enough to plan any layout. Their diesel engines offer more fuel efficiency and engine life.
With all these, expect to spend more on the sprinter vans as they retail at higher prices than other campers.
Mini Vans
If you’re tight on budget and don’t need lots of space, minivans are your best choice. Minivans are smaller than full-sized vans. However, you can squeeze the little space you’re provided and build yourself a nice and functional camper van.
An advantage of minivans over other trailers is that they’re cheaper and have better gas mileage than other vans.
Designing Your Stealth Camper Van Layout
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Tiny Home Tours
Now, we come to the most exciting part: designing your layout. The type of layout you design for your camper van will greatly impact your comfort, moving abilities, and storage level. But before that, there are some things that you need to consider:
Determine your Goals
Before planning the layout, you must first know what you intend to use your vehicle for. Some people might want to work while camping.
With this, you might consider including a comfortable desk in your plans. If you’re planning on boondocking more, then you’ll require more space for water, a toilet, and a washroom.
Get Inspiration
Get time to look around at other buildings, YouTube, or Instagram for what you might like. YouTube and Instagram are good sources of inspiration. Whatever you decide to go with, remember that there is no wrong way of building your van.
Also, you don’t need to spend much cash to live comfortably in your van.
Have a Test Run
Everything won’t turn out perfectly at first. You can, however, get a good start on your van life by taking your van out for a test run. Sleep on it for a few nights as you intend during your camping period and differentiate your fantasies from reality.
During this time, you can sit down, contemplate, and think of the possibilities you can do with your van. Ask yourself some of these questions:
- How many people will you travel with, and how many beds do you need?
- Will you be working during this period, and thus will you need a desk or table?
- Will you create room for a toilet in the van?
- Will you hook up a sink?
- Are you planning to include a shower?
- How much water storage will you carry along?
- Will you be cooking inside or outside the van, or both?
- Will you require propane storage and ventilation?
- How much storage will there be for your clothing and personal belongings?
After getting answers to these, the next step is to list large items you plan on carrying along during your trip. These are inclusive of the following:
- Fridge or freezer
- Stove or oven
- Toilet, sink, and shower
- Propane tanks
- Water storages
- Mattresses
- Table or desk
Remember to account for garbage and dirty laundry. These two are often forgotten. A bag full of dirty clothes will occupy a large space.
We also recommend that you carry along some sort of seat where you can comfortably rest your back. You can also bring along portable chairs that can be set outside.
Measuring your Van
Once you’ve done all these, the next step transpires. This is to take rough measurements of your van. Taking the measurements yourself will be more accurate and recommendable rather than searching online for the dimensions.
For example, a sprinter van has different dimensions for varying lengths, heights, and wheelbases.
Also, something else to remember is that your measurements are rough estimates and not exact figures. Vehicles aren’t perfect rectangles and might have some curvy corners.
Design your Layout
The next step is to design your layout. Take a piece of graph paper, then draw out your vehicle’s floor. You don’t have to be exact, but be as close as possible. Mark the places where windows and doors are in the van.
Placing the Objects
It’s now time to place the objects. Your mattress and bed will occupy the most significant spaces, so getting them right is essential. Other important items are gas tanks and plumbing placements.
It would help to place gas tanks near doors or vents for safety. Here are other tips to consider:
- Electrical components such as batteries and inverters shouldn’t be located next to fuel tanks.
- The inverter should be within reach so you can turn it quickly when not in use. This will help you save a lot of energy.
- To improve efficiency, the refrigerator should have at least one or two inches of space around the vent.
- You should have at least one water jug inside your van
- The vent fan should be located away from the window so that you can get maximum airflow.
- To save space, try to combine as many objects as possible. For example, a bed can double as a couch or a desk. The trash bin can be placed under the seat, and the toilet can double as a seat.
Weight Distribution
Many people forget about weight distribution when designing their layout. Try to spread the weight as evenly as possible throughout the van. This will not only give you the best mileage but also keep your tires from wearing out.
Weight distribution is also essential when choosing the materials to use. Remember, your vehicle has a gross weight you don’t want to exceed. Otherwise, you’ll be incurring a lot of repair costs.
3D Modeling
3D modeling isn’t necessary, but it gives you the perspective of how your vehicle will look from other angles. One of the most popular 3D tools available in SketchUp. There is some learning entailed in the free program, but it’s pretty easy.
Testing your Layout
After everything is set and you’re satisfied with your layout, the next step is to test it out.
Grab some rolls of painter’s tape and mark out the large objects on the floor of your van. This will help you determine how much or little space you’ll have to move around.
If your design isn’t as expected, don’t be afraid to remove everything and start from scratch. Perfection is essential, and achieving it might take more than one trial.
Examples of Common Layouts
The design or layout you choose is personal and according to your needs and preferences. You’ll discover that all layouts may not fully satisfy your wants but will at least meet the better part.
However, we have a few tricks and tips regarding the layout for which to settle.
Read through and decide which one best suits you.
Fixed Rear Bed Platform Layout
The Fixed Rear Bed Platform layout is one of the most popular and widely used layouts, especially the Westy version of it.
The Westy version has a bed that can be converted into a couch for daytime purposes and storage on one side. Other variations of this design feature a bed frame that can be pulled out to full length.
This is, however, dependent on the size of your vehicle.
This layout is simple and effective. One of its advantages and strengths is that it provides lots of storage space underneath the bed. There is a lot of space to store your working equipment, solar panels, tools, books, and even extra water.
This layout has a drawback. This ‘ton’ of space isn’t useful during the daytime and will leave your van overcrowded. We recommend the fixed rear platform design if you possess large items that require storage.
Lengthwise Bed Layout
As its name implies, this layout features a lengthwise bed converted into a couch during the daytime and transforms into a bed at night. The bed and storage are on one side of the van, with the middle part open from the back to the front.
What makes us love this layout most is its easy and neat organization. This makes accessing your things easy. With lots of space left on one side, you can opt to install shelves, cabinets, or even a table.
The underneath of your bed also provides additional storage space, and you can put your items over there. However, the ‘hallway’ in the middle of this van can make the layout on the other side feel overly cramped and congested. This is its only downside.
Convertible Dinette Layout
This layout is unique in its way. In this layout, the back of the van is the dining area during the daytime and converts into the bed area during bedtime. You can set the dinette on a raised platform and then let the space below be for storage.
This layout brings lots of space and neat organization to the table. Its space isn’t, however, as much as the fixed rear bed platform layout.
This layout leaves no room for ‘dead space.’ The bed is convertible, meaning the entire space left is usable during the daytime. The downside with this layout is that going to night mode can be very tiresome, not to mention time-consuming.
Also, its space isn’t as huge as the fixed rear bed platform layout. This can inconvenience you if you have large items such as bicycles for storage.
The Kitchen behind the Cab Layout
You’ll notice that most Do-It-Yourself campervans separate the driver’s part from the rest of the van with a kitchen. This is the case with the Kitchen behind the Cab Layout. Its kitchen unit is located behind the cab section.
These layouts offer stealth and privacy. To maximize privacy, you can completely cover the cab and increase the space at the back of the van.
Another great advantage of this layout is that it can go with any bed, be it convertible, fixed, or dinette; all are ok with it. Place water connections and propane by the door to ease the refilling process.
One limitation of this layout is that you can’t move from the back of the van to the cab without exiting the van. This drawback makes it a favorite for many, as most people love the ease and comfort of jumping back and forth in the van.
To compensate for this, however, the van gives you lots of space, and you can be creative about what to do.
Placing your Kitchen
The layouts mentioned above aren’t fixed; you can flip them back and forth, right and left. One question remains: Which is the best position to place the kitchen? Should it go behind the cab or at the door?
Well, each position comes with its advantages, and it depends on where your heart lies.
The advantage of placing your kitchen by the door is that the refilling process for water and propane is easy. Putting your kitchen by the cab, on the other side, gives the van an open and pleasant feeling.
The kitchen is located by the driver’s seat and has privacy.
This is as compared to placing it at the back. However, you will struggle to refill your propane and water.
If both don’t work for you, some vans come with kitchens that can be pulled out of the van using drawers. This enables you to cook outside freely and escape the smoke that fills the place when you’re inside the van.
The Bathroom
Another essential factor to consider, you’ll all agree with me, is whether to have a bathroom. Before making up your mind, here are some drawbacks to bathrooms being inside your RV:
- Bathrooms occupy lots of space that you might not have.
- Bathrooms come with an unpleasant smell that will hinder your daily living.
- Bathrooms require you to deal with dumping your waste in one way or another.
What we would recommend to you is that you use public restrooms rather than having one in your RV or Camper. This idea might be intimidating, but it will relieve stress. Moreover, this is one of the fun parts of stealth camping.
Many public restrooms are available, and wherever you go, you’ll undoubtedly come across one if not two or three.
If you’re pressed and need to go right now, you could always have a Nalgene water bottle in the van for this. The bottle is spill-proof and can hold maximum volume. Place it aside from the rest to avoid confusing it for drinking.
If you desire and want to have a bathroom with you, the option is always available. A full-blown RV toilet is costly and requires a blackwater tank. The process is also complex.
To save you the hassle, there are some portable toilet options available. They are as outlined below:
Budget Toilet:
These are also known as luggage loos. This is where you turn a bucket into your toilet. Align your bucket with a trash bag, and once you’re done with the business, you tie up the bag and dispose of it safely.
Composting Toilet:
These are more expensive, but they are environmentally friendly. You drop your ‘doodie’ and then heap it with sawdust, and the toilet will compost it naturally.
Porta Potty:
This toilet is small and comes with a flash tank and another separate tank for holding waste. Chemicals are used to control the odor. They are relatively cheap, but they require you to dump your waste.
Tips and Tricks for Stealth Camping
Our guide won’t be complete without giving you a few tips and tricks for stealth camping. Stealth camping requires some subtle art, and not everyone can manage. Van life isn’t made for everyone, just the chosen few.
So, if you plan on living in your van, or stealth camping, for a very long time, you might want to consider our tips for a safe and successful adventure.
Keep your Van Clean
Most people don’t mind seeing a camping van parked on the streets. Unless your van is rusted with junk on the roof and dirty windows and doors, this will get them bothered.
Keep both the interior and outside of your van washed and clean. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
Just put everything in order, and don’t let trash get out of hand. Your vehicle’s first impression will help immensely with the public. If you get a knock from the residents or police, you’ll look like an average and stable resident.
Leave Early and Arrive Late
This is the second important rule of stealth camping: leave early and arrive late. When you go to the park, it should be time for bed. Always ensure that you cover your windows and keep the lights out.
This isn’t the time to cook dinner or sit down and watch Netflix movies. You should rarely open the door or pull objects inside the van.
You can always have your dinner outside, somewhere else, before returning to your van. This will help minimize the movements and allow you to air out your van afterward. Cover the windows of your van with curtains as soon as you arrive.
You don’t want to have any reflections as it is shiny and attracts attention.
Make plans to go to the bathroom in your vehicle if need be. If this isn’t possible and you don’t think you can make it through the night, consider parking near a 24-hour gas station or store. With this, you can always run to the washroom and come back safely.
Finally, don’t dump any trash outside your van. Keep everything in your vehicle, and you can look for a trash bin in the morning to dispose of them safely.
Change your Parking Slots Frequently
Change your parking slots frequently. Avoid parking in the exact location two nights in a row. If you plan to stealth camp in the same city for a long time, map out seven to ten locations and rotate through them.
If you’re ‘busted’ in one, cancel that location and don’t return there.
Another skill that you should and will get with time is finding a good parking location. First, you should seek out 24-hour business centers like Walmart and casinos. These places encourage night parking, as you will likely buy items from their stores.
Call before arrival and confirm whether they allow overnight parking. Not all do, but many do. Also, remember not to set up camp in the parking lots, or you will be out of there in no time.
Walmart has one of the best parking opportunities, allowing overnight parking in all its stores. It usually is open 24/7, so you can access its bathrooms and shopping items.
We, however, advise that you check in with the store manager before spending the night in the parking lot.
In some areas, overnight parking is illegal, so avoid any late encounters with security guards.
Stealth Camping Safety
Leaving early, arriving late, and changing locations frequently will see you live your stealth camping life safely. On top of that, there are other safety regulations that you need to follow to be safer.
Be Aware of your Surroundings
Stealth camping entails you trusting your instincts. If a place doesn’t seem right, don’t park there. It would help if you realized that you are in a vehicle and moving a few streets down isn’t difficult.
If parking slots are unsafe, you can always count on them and turn to legal stores. Here, you are assured of your safety.
Always park in areas with clear exits. Keep your doors locked and keys nearby, ready to take off if something unusual occurs. Stay inside your vehicle and avoid confronting people loitering around too much.
Also, park in well-lit areas, such as under streetlamps. You can use window blockers to keep the interior of your van from getting too bright.
Defense
Most break-ins on stealth camper vans are thieves trying to loot free stuff. Securing your van to avoid such situations is pretty straightforward. You can attach bolts on your doors that can only be opened from the inside.
You could also opt for defense classes and equip yourself with protective skills. However, such classes will emphasize that the best way to protect yourself against harm is to avoid it as much as possible.
Although carrying firearms is an excellent way to ensure your safety, it’s not the smoothest way to do so. Also, different states have different laws concerning the legalities of firearms.
If you’re considering using pepper spray, remember it’s 10% less potent than other defense mechanisms.
Also, there is a higher chance of the spray splashing back to you, which isn’t the best scenario when you’re planning to drive.
Knocks at Night
When you stealth cam, there is a high possibility that you’ll get the dreaded night knock from the authorities. When this happens, there is no need to panic. Stay calm, and open the door courteously and respectfully.
Don’t try to hide out in your van, as the situation might turn ugly. Most of the time, the police are checking on you because they received a call from someone reporting a suspicious neighbor.
The police must enforce the law and have every right to knock at your door. They don’t want to kick you out but to check on you. Be honest with them and let them know you’re stealth camping and taking full advantage of your van.
Nothing can go wrong when you do this. You will seldom get a ticket unless you’re illegally parked. You can ask them for better parking places. In case they ask you to move, don’t argue; do as they command.
Is Stealth Camping Illegal
Stealth Camping, a form of camping where individuals camp in areas without explicit permission or social approval, has been an area of legal ambiguity.
Its legality varies significantly based on geographical location, the nature of the land, and local regulations.
In some countries and states, stealth camping is considered illegal, especially when it involves camping on private property without the owner’s consent or in protected natural parks.
In such cases, stealth campers can face fines, eviction, or even prosecution.
However, there are regions where stealth camping is tolerated or even openly allowed under certain conditions.
For instance, in some places, if campers stay for a short period, leave no trace of their stay, and do not cause any damage to the environment or disrupt local wildlife, their activity may be permitted.
Those interested in stealth camping must thoroughly research local laws and regulations before embarking on their adventure.
Final Words
Stealth camping requires a keen understanding of several fundamental principles and practices. Stealth Campers is the only guide you’ll ever need, will equip you with all the necessary knowledge to navigate this adventurous yet cautious activity.
To begin with, it is essential to understand the legalities and etiquette associated with stealth camping. It is crucial to respect the laws of the area where you plan to camp and ensure that you leave no trace behind after your adventure.
Choosing the right spot is next in line. Safety should always be a priority in your selection process, along with ensuring that the location is hidden and not easily accessible to the public eye.
Camouflage plays a crucial role in stealth camping. Blending your equipment with the environment and avoiding bright colors can significantly enhance your stealth.
In addition, remember to arrive late and leave early. Stealth campers are encouraged to set up their camps late in the evening and depart early in the morning to evade detection.
Moreover, it is essential to dispose of waste responsibly. It implies packing out all waste produced during your stay.
Lastly, having essential gear is critical for a successful stealth camping experience. A lightweight tent, a comfortable sleeping bag, and minimal equipment are recommended for a less burdensome and more enjoyable experience.
This guide provides comprehensive insights into stealth camping, ensuring you are well-equipped for your next adventure.
Home page
Back to the top of the page
