Solo But Not Alone

I’ve been traveling solo full-time in my 2021 STEALTH MODE for 4 years. Whenever I get asked by a stranger in a parking lot if I like the adventure van, I tell them without a shadow of a doubt that it was the best decision I ever made. The people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve enjoyed along the way have been life changing.

When I was first asked to write this article, I started making a list of all the tips/tricks for solo vanlife that would be beneficial for someone considering or just starting out with vanlife. I’m sure you’ve heard them before…trust your gut, back into parking spaces/camp spots so you can leave quickly if necessary, share your location with friends/family, carry a gun or pepper spray, etc. 

I can share all my tips about how to stay safe on the road as a solo traveler, but it’s the same stuff you’ve probably heard over and over. What I’d like to share is how to travel solo, but not alone. One of the main reasons I chose to buy a Storyteller (besides it having all the features I was looking for) was the community that had been built around these off-road ready adventure machines.

One month after getting my van I decided to join a small group of other STO owners going down to Baja. I didn’t know anybody, but I knew the only way to meet other owners was to dive head first into any event or trip I could find. Days were filled with beachside camping, pina coladas from the Coco Loco truck (IYKYK), late night bonfires, great conversation….and last but not least a little food poisoning for this one.

It hit hard and fast causing me to pass out in my van due to massive dehydration and nearly sent me to the hospital. Not to fear, all the owners rushed to my aid giving me electrolytes, charcoal and made sure my radio was on and powered so I could call out for help to anyone in the group in the middle of night if I needed any assistance. Even though I was technically traveling solo, at that moment I realized I wasn’t alone. I was part of this amazing STO family and I was so excited to travel all over the country with these people.

That was just the beginning. Since then I’ve made more friends and felt more connected to this community than any other place I’ve physically lived. So what is my advice for you as a solo vanlifer? Get connected to the community!

Go to events like expos, meetups or planned trips like Baja. Most of them are listed on the community Facebook page. If you’re traveling in a certain area, reach out on Facebook to see if anyone wants to meet up. I did this the first winter in my van while I was in Tahoe and wound up meeting other STO owners who I traveled with the rest of the season as we chased the powder from resort to resort.

Stay flexible, don’t be set in your plans. Some of the best memories I have are from unexpected changes to my “itinerary” when I changed my destination in the blink of an eye after repeatedly hearing, “we’re going here, you should come.” 

As an introvert at heart, I can still have my solo traveling time, but whenever I feel the need for some company all I have to do is reach out to the community to see where everyone’s at. Start small, meeting one or two owners multiplies over time because you meet their friends and then friends of their friends and so on. Most of all…don’t overthink it, enjoy the journey!