Managing Guests in Your Campervan
Van life looks idyllic from the outside, and friends and family will want to visit. But 7m² of living space is tiny — smaller than most people's bedrooms. Having a guest in a van is intimate in a way that is hard to describe until you have done it. Setting clear boundaries from the start protects your experience and your relationships.
Why Boundaries Matter
A van is not a house. There is no spare room for guests to retreat to. Every visitor is in your personal space from the moment they arrive. The van's systems (water, power, toilet) are all sized for one or two people. Adding a third person doubles the load on everything.
Without boundaries, small frustrations build up: the guest uses the last of your drinking water, unplugs your phone charger for theirs, leaves the van door open letting in cold air, or you lose your morning routine because someone is sleeping on the seat that is your desk.
Practical Boundaries
Duration — Set the maximum visit length upfront. "You are welcome to stay for two nights" is clear and fair. Longer visits need planning — campsite fees, extra food, and separate activities.
Sleeping arrangements — Be specific about the sleeping setup. If your bed converts from seating, the guest needs to know they are sleeping on a 1.8m bench seat, not a hotel bed. If the only option is sharing your double bed, say so clearly.
Quiet hours — In a van, everyone hears everything. Agree on quiet hours (e.g., 10pm to 7am). Earplugs are a good thing to offer.
Food and costs — A guest adds to your gas usage, water usage, and food budget. It is reasonable to ask guests to bring their own food or to split grocery costs. "I can provide breakfast and dinner but you sort lunch and snacks" is a common and fair arrangement.
Bathroom — Explain the toilet system before they need to use it. How to flush, what not to put in, how to empty the cassette. Demonstrating this ahead of time avoids awkward questions at 2am.
Communication
Directness is kindness in a van. Phrase boundaries positively:
- "I love having you here, but the van is tiny so we need to be organised"
- "Here is how the water works — please let me know when the tank is getting low"
- "I work from 9 to 12 each morning, so those hours are quiet time"
- "The toilet is... let me show you how it works before you need it"
Most people understand that van space is limited. The ones who do not understand are probably not people you want in your van for multiple nights anyway.
When the Visitor Is a Fellow Van Lifer
Fellow van lifers usually understand the space and system constraints intuitively. The main thing to agree is parking: can they park next to you? Do you have space for their vehicle? Are you okay with them running their diesel heater (which makes noise and smells)?
When You Are the Visitor
If you are visiting another van lifer, be a good guest: bring your own towel and sleeping bag, offer to pay for groceries, fill their water tank if you can, empty your own cassette, leave the van cleaner than you found it, and do not outstay your welcome.
Final Thoughts
Living in a van does not mean you have to be a hermit. Hosting visitors can be fun and rewarding. But the smaller the space, the more important boundaries become. Set them early, state them clearly, and stick to them. Your relationships — and your sanity — will be better for it.
