SUV-living / Van Life Essentials

While it sounds so easy to just hit the road in a car or van and figure all the details out later, there are a lot of things that we use on a daily basis that become necessities. A day or two on the road will have you wishing you had a few of these items below. That's why I'm here to share with you the essential items for SUV-living or Van Life, or if you just plan to use your two weeks of PTO traveling around!

When I'm SUV-living, I try to follow the weather as best as possible, but it's not always easy to do. In order to feel safe and stay cool or warm at night, you'll want to make sure you can close your windows and have either an a/c unit that doesn't drain your car's power or a heating blanket to keep you warm through the night. For both of these things, you'll need a way to keep them powered for hours.

The first major purchase I made before my trip was the EcoFlow River 2. This thing is awesome! It shows you the wattage coming in when charging and the wattage going out when something is plugged in. It has multiple plug options with USB and USB-C options. I also purchased solar panels for when I found myself enjoying a sunny day and didn't want to plug it into my car to charge. I purchased the EcoFlow 220Watt Bifacial Foldable Solar Panel with a kickstand it was incredibly useful and easy to set up.

After securing my power bank, I then wanted to make sure Fritz and I could sleep through the night, no matter the temperature. For the colder nights like in Colorado and Utah, I opted for the EHEYCIGA Heated Blanket Electric Blanket Throw. It's easy to use and keeps us cozy for hours!

For warmer nights in Arizona, California, and Florida, I knew I was going to need air conditioning. The IcyBreeze (not sponsored) was the perfect option that allowed me to keep my windows closed without having to worry about overheating. This plugs into my power bank and lasts through the night. I purchase ice bags from the gas station every night and it keeps me and Fritz cool as we sleep!

Speaking of sleeping, as a middle-aged woman, I knew I would need something comfortable that would allow me to get a good night's rest without the possibility of waking up to back pain. I chose the Milliard Tri-Folding Memory Foam Twin XL Mattress. I can unzip and remove one of the sections and leave it in storage while I'm on the road. When visiting my mom, I put the third piece back in and unfold it on the ground instead of using a blow-up mattress.

For days when the weather is great but the bugs are out and about, we use the 4 Pcs Car Window Screens. These work perfectly on my 2018 Ford Escape, but be sure to check the measurements to make sure these are right for your car.

Another item that I actually only used once but is something I'm really glad I have is this Jump Starter. It never hurts to have one handy, just in case!

As a Texan, it's a right of passage to burn your hands on the steering wheel during the summer at least once in your lifetime. After that, you'll never go without a sunshade again. For living in your car or in a van, though, you'll not only want something to reflect sunlight on hot days but also something that can provide privacy at night. I opted to pay the extra money for privacy/solar shades that are specific to my vehicle. They're pricey, but totally worth it in my mind. I purchased the WeatherTech shades (not sponsored) shown below. They are a perfect fit and really do help to lower the temp inside! Additionally, once they're all in, you cannot see in the vehicle at all, which helped me to feel safe at night.

I hope these recommendations help you if you're planning a road trip or thinking about living on the road! This isn't a comprehensive list of the different items I purchased that I find useful while SUV-living, so let me know if you'd like a part two and I'll share the other items with you, as well!