Wanna live the van life? Might as well live it like an expert. Even though life on the open road is full of freedom, you still need to be prepared for whatever may come your way. Be ready with these tips from Jordan Cannon and the Leatherman Wave®+.

TOP 5 TIPS ON WHAT TO PACK FOR A VAN TRIP

1. LEVELING BLOCKS (AND MEASURE APP ON IPHONE)

· Finding a level place to park for the night can be difficult, but if you keep some leveling blocks on hand, you should be able to level out any parking space.

· Pro Tip: you can use the “Measure” app on your iPhone to help make adjustments and see just how level your parking spot really is!

Leveling Blocks and a Leatherman Wave+

2. TOOLBOX (WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLIES)

· You never know when you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation, so it’s always a good idea to have some sort of toolbox to help you deal with the unexpected.

· Pro Tip: multi-functional items are key for simple van dwelling. That’s why my Leatherman Wave®+ is an essential part of my tool kit.

3. WINDOW INSERTS (AND CURTAIN)

· Depending on where you park, privacy (and shade from the sun) can be hard to come by. Having insulated window inserts (and a curtain) can help keep your van warm at night, cool during the day, and then block out the sun when you want to sleep in late.

· Pro Tip: I like having magnetic window inserts, so I can easily fold them down during the day and fold them up at night without ever having to take them off.

Window inserts and extra water

4. EXTRA WATER JUG (OR TWO)

· Running out of water unexpectedly is never fun. That’s why it’s a good idea to have an extra gallon of water (or two) around to hold you over until your next fill up.

· Pro Tip: refilling a portable gallon water jug is usually easier than refilling a fixed 25-gallon tank, so I’ll often use my “emergency gallons” for drinking water and delay how frequently I need to fill up my main reservoir.

Books, Board Games and digital entertainment

5. ENTERTAINMENT (BOOKS, BOARD GAMES, MUSIC, PODCASTS, ETC.)

· There tends to be a lot of downtime while living on the road, so make sure you’re prepared with plenty of entertainment, such as books, board games, music, podcasts, movies, or TV shows.

· Pro Tip: if you know that service is going to be limited on your trip, make sure to download everything ahead of time for offline streaming or listening.

HIT THE ROAD!

Now that you’re all packed up and ready to go, all that’s left to do is get out there on your next journey.

Jordan Cannon is a professional rock climber who lives full-time in his converted Ram ProMaster van. He spends his time traveling around the US to premier destination climbing spots and is ticking off some very impressive ascents. Follow his adventures on Instagram @cannonjtc