The top van life safety tips

Van Life Safety Tips

by Van Life
The top van life safety tips

How safe is it to live in a van in New Zealand? This is a common question that people considering van life or a road trip around New Zealand often wonder. The short answer is that living in a van in New Zealand is safe. Take a few safety precautions and the following van life safety tips and you’ll enjoy your travels.

In many ways it could be safer than living in a house (not that there’s anything unsafe about living in a house either). The added advantage of a van – you can start it up and go at the first hint of trouble. But in saying that, I’ve never experienced a situation where I didn’t feel safe, and most people who live in a van and travel New Zealand would similarly tell you it’s safe. Here’s our list of top van life safety tips.

Tell Someone Where You’re Going

At the top of our van life safety tips is to always tell someone where you’re going and where you plan to stay for the night. This is especially important if you’re going to be out of cell phone reception. It’s a simple step to take but one worth taking.

Park Your Van Near Other Campers

Following on from the first of our van life safety tips is to park where there are other campers. If you’re staying in a campground there will usually be other vans, motorhomes or caravans for added security.

If you’re not confident staying on your own in a remote location, plan to spend the night at a more popular camping location. You’ll usually find at least another one or two campers at these places even in the middle of winter.

Some travelers have a buddy system where they travel with other vans or motorhomers. You don’t necessarily have to travel together, but you could plan to meet up at a set camping location every night or second night if you’re heading in a similar direction.

Have a couple of potential locations to stay the night in mind. If you arrive at the first place and it doesn’t look good, it’s isolated, no phone reception, and there’s no other campers, you have time to move onto your back up location. This leads into the next of our van life safety tips.

Arrive Early and Check the Place Out

As well as having a back up location in mind, arrive early and give yourself time to check the place out properly in daylight. Arriving by mid afternoon is always a good plan. You can see what the location is like, see who else is around, and spot any signs of trouble before it gets dark. And if you don’t like what you see, you’ve got time to move on.

Add Security Lighting

When you’re fitting our your van you might like to install security lighting to the exterior. Lights can be mounted on the van roof or roof racks if your van has them. Locate the switch by your bed, and at night if you hear suspicious activity outside your van you can flick the switch and light up the night outside your van. This can be enough to startle any would be intruder or suspicious person and gives you the ability to see what’s going on outside. It’s also worth investing in a good solar panel and battery set up so that you’ve got plenty of power for lights. Check out Sunny Tech in Auckland for good quality products.

Install an Alarm or Siren

Another of our van life safety tips is to add an alarm or siren to your van. The combination of an alarm or siren with bright security lighting can act as a real deterrent. Again, you’d install the switch in an easily locatible position to your bed at night, ideally alongside the switch for your security lighting.

Know Where Your Keys Are

Knowing where your keys are is one of those important yet often overlooked van life safety tips. It really is worthwhile being in the habit of always keeping your keys in the same place. When you park for the night, will you put your keys in your pocket, a hook by your bed, or some other place? If you need to leave in a hurry in the middle of the night you don’t want to be fumbling for keys that could be anywhere in the van. Having them in one set place solves this problem. Keep in mind that you don’t want to inadvertently lock yourself out of your van. It’s no good standing outside a locked van and staring at the keys on a hook inside.

Keep Your Doors Locked

If you’ve parked and are inside your van it’s worthwhile keeping your doors locked. This goes for any time of the day, not only at night time. But certainly at night, get into the habit of making sure your check all the doors have locked at night, and don’t assume the central locking has locked them all for you.

Don’t Park Yourself In

An important one of our van life safety tips is to ensure you can drive off easily. Don’t park yourself in. When you park your van, give yourself room in front and room behind to drive out forwards or reverse if necessary. Try to park in a manner that other vehicles couldn’t block you in if they wanted to.

Invest in Good Black Out Curtains

If you don’t know who your neighbors are, or you’ve arrived late in the evening ensure your curtains are closed earlier rather than later. Invest in good quality black out curtains that cover the windows properly. If you’re arriving at a location and you know it will be dark, consider stopping beforehand and closing the curtains so that you pull into your parking spot for the night with the van closed up prior.

Retain Access to the Drivers Cab

A van is the perfect vehicle to be able to climb through from the back, into the cab, and drive off. This is one advantage over the likes of a caravan or vehicle where you need to exit the accommodation to be able to drive. If you haven’t yet bought a camper, this is something you should seriously consider. If you’re in the process of building your van you might like to ensure you retain access to the drivers cab from the back.

Have Something for Self Defense

It’s worth having an item you can use for self defense. This could be as simple as a can of fly spray. Have a look around your van at what items you have that could be used to defend yourself if necessary. What’s in your kitchen drawer or your tool box. You likely have a mallet or hammer in your tool box.

One piece of advice I remember being told is to ensure you can properly use the item and consider how it could be used against you. If the attacker overpowered you and got your self defense item off of you, it can then be used against you.

Don’t Publish Your Location

With the popularity of social media it’s common place to post a picture of your vehicle at your latest location showing off your amazing view. Keep in mind that you never know who is able to see your posts on social media. You’re telling everyone your current location, which vehicle you are in, and if you’re traveling alone. If you need to post on social media consider posting photos after you leave so that your posts are at least a day or two behind your actual location.

Reading though our list of van life safety tips might make you think it’s a dangerous lifestyle. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a safe way of living, traveling and seeing the country. But it’s always worthwhile being prepared. Taking these and similar precautions will make it easy to enjoy the lifestyle and you’ll sleep at night knowing you’re safe and prepared in your tiny home on wheels. Be sure to check out our van life tips for living the dream life on the road.

Traveling with Cats in a Car Long Distance

by Traveling with Cats

Most cats can travel long distance without any problems. These tips for traveling with cats in a car long distance can make it less stressful for you and your cat. If your cat is trained from a young age or has become accustomed to car travel, it can be something they really enjoy.

Safest Way for Traveling With Cats in a Car

The safest way for traveling with cats in a car long distance is with a cat carry cage or crate. You need to ensure the carry cage is the right size for your cat who should have room to spread out, stand up, stretch and turn around. It’s a good idea to get your cat used to the carry cage a few weeks before the trip. Leaving it out around the house is a good way for your cat to become accustomed to it, you could even leave a few treats inside the cage for your cat to find, along with a comfortable blanket that it can lay down on.

Tips for traveling with cats in a car.

Training Your Cat to Get Used to the Car

Training your cat to enjoy being it’s carrier cage will make long distance trips more enjoyable. Most cats can be trained given enough time and practice. If time allows, you might be able to get your cat used to being carried around the house in the cage or even on short trips around town. Cats are naturally curious, and this provides a great opportunity for them to explore your car. Take your cat in the carrier out to the car and let it get used to being inside the vehicle with the engine turned off. Take some treats for your cat and a toy that you can play with your cat through the carrier door. Remember to use plenty of treats and keep these sessions short. Eventually you can turn on the car engine for a short time to let your cat become used to the sounds and vibration of the engine running. Limit this to a minute or two and don’t do it in an enclosed space as carbon monoxide from the car exhaust can kill quickly. Eventually, you can progress to short trips around your local area. Remember that all cats are different. Some may take to traveling while others may never really enjoy it.

Ensure Your Cat Is Comfortable

Keep a blanket or similar item in the cage which smells of home and that your cat is used to. If you have time, consider using a cat harness and leash. This provides extra security to ensure your cat doesn’t escape, and would allow your cat time out of the carrier on a leash for a break during the trip. Read more about how to teach your cat to walk on a harness and leash in our article here. You can buy a suitable harness and leash for kittens and cats from your local pet store such as Animates.

When traveling with cats in a car, give your cat it’s food as close to the regular feeding time as possible, although try to make this a few hours before you’ll be traveling so the cat doesn’t get travel sick.

Secure Your Cat’s Carry Cage

When you’re traveling with cats in a car, ensure the carrier is secured in the car using a seatbelt if possible. You’ll want to make sure the carrier can’t move if you have to swerve or stop suddenly. Try to place the carrier in a position where your cat can see you during the journey. You shouldn’t let your cat roam free around the car while you’re driving. This is both distracting and dangerous. Your cat will feel safer inside the carrier. Consider placing a blanket over the carrier, whilst allowing ventilation. Cats love to hide when they feel insecure.

Take Food and Water for Your Cat

Depending on the length of the trip you should plan to take food and water for your cat. Be sure to take bowls for water and food. If you’re taking a long trip then you’ll want to have breaks along the way. This might be a chance to let your cat roam around inside the car, but be absolutely certain your windows and doors are closed. It’s also a good time to bring out the litter tray if you’re on a lengthy trip. Never leave your cat alone inside a vehicle.

Whilst traveling make sure the carrier is not in direct sunlight and that your cat is neither too hot or cold. A towel or blanket can be used to shade the carrier from the sun if necessary. Traveling with cats in a car can be simple if you take the time to be well prepared.

Picture about how to Leash Train a Cat

How to Leash Train a Cat

by Training Your Cat
Picture about how to Leash Train a Cat

If you have an indoor cat then you might like to train your cat to walk on a leash. Lets take a look at how to leash train a cat. This opens up a whole new outdoor world for them to explore. Going on an adventure outside is also really good exercise for your cat. It can alleviate boredom from being inside all day every day. There are so many new things to see, new smells, and experiences. Not only is exploring outside wonderful exercise, leash training makes traveling and trips to the vet so much easier.

Most cats can be trained to walk on a leash although some cats take to it better than others. It’s not for every cat though, some cats may never be happy walking on a leash, and if yours is one of those who don’t like it, then you should never force them. Just be creative with new indoor adventures for them. It’s easiest to leash train a kitten, they’re at a stage where they are most accepting of new concepts and experiences.

If you’ve decided your cat will love leash training and new outdoor adventures, then now is the time to introduce the harness. Let them sniff it and get used to having it near by. Ensure your cat associates the harness with positive experiences, and treats are a great way to do this.

How to Leash Train a Cat

Mealtime is a great time of the day to slip the harness on, while your cat is distracted by food, or treats. Leave the harness on loosely for a while so they get used to the feeling of the harness. After a few minutes, take it off, and repeat this every day for a number of days. Gradually increase the time that your cat is wearing the harness. Remember the treats! Give the treats to your cat only when they are wearing the harness, not when it is off. Treats and rewards are the key!

Getting Your Cat Accustomed to the Harness and Leash

It could take days or weeks to get your cat used to a harness. Don’t rush this step. Attach the leash, make sure it won’t get caught up on anything in the room. You can let the leash drag behind your cat, or follow them holding onto the leash. Remember – treats and rewards. You’ll need to do this for a number of days or perhaps even weeks inside the house in safe rooms. For leash training to be successful, patience is a must and it’s far better not to rush the process. Allow your cat to get used to the feeling of a bit of tension on the leash. Again, treats and rewards. Always make sure you’re supervising your cat with the harness and leash on. Never leave them alone wearing a harness or leash. As your cat becomes accustomed to walking on the leash, you could try to guide them. With a little pressure on the leash pulling towards you, call them to you. If they move towards you, reward them.

How to Leash Train a Cat When They’re Still a Kitten

The process of training a kitten is much the same as for older cats. You’ll likely find your kitten adapts much faster to wearing a harness. Be sure to select an appropriate sized harness. Pet stores such as Animates sell harnesses that will fit kittens.

Taking Your Cat Outside on a Harness

Ensure it’s a nice day outside, not many cats like the rain and a nice sunny day is better for you too!

Carry your cat outside. This is vitally important for an indoors cat, as you don’t want them to get into a habit of rushing out the door whenever they see it open. Teach them that they are allowed to go outside only when they are carried out the door. Set you cat down in a safe area of the yard, preferably closer to the door of the house you’ve just left. Ensure there is nothing around to startle them, and let them begin to explore at their own pace. Be prepared, if your cat does get a fright they’ll want to run, so keep a good hold on the leash. If this happens and you attempt to pick up your cat it may be worth having a towel to wrap them in to avoid sharp claws. Keep the leash loose and follow along behind them. A few minutes at a time will be enough in the beginning otherwise it can be overwhelming for a cat that’s not accustomed to being outside.

Slowly increase the time and distance

Your cat may be more than happy just exploring outside in your backyard. However, if you and your cat have taken well to walking on a leash you both may decide you’d like to explore further afield. Again, take your time with this and remember the treats and rewards.

Given time, most cats can be trained to walk on a leash. Click here for more about how to leash train a cat. You might like to try teaching your cat a few basic tricks. Check out what I discovered about training cats here.

Picture of how to train a cat to walk on a leash.

Can You Train a Cat to Walk on a Leash?

by Training Your Cat
Picture of how to train a cat to walk on a leash.

Despite what some people say, it is possible for you to train a cat to walk on a leash. Cats are extremely trainable and can be taught to wear a harness and walk on a leash. Walking on a leash is a great way for your cat to get outside for exercise and adventure.

Just think about how your cat reacts when you shake the bag of your cats favorite treats. If it’s anything like my cat, it’ll come running from a mile away when it hears the sound. Although there may be the odd exception to the rule, most cats can be trained to react to a signal, gesture or sound.

Clicker Training Your Cat

Many cat lovers use clicker training. Cats will react to a spoken word. If you used the word ‘dinner’ every time you filled their food dish, they would over time come to know what ‘dinner’ meant to them. You can train your cat to come, sit, stand up, hold a paw up, or roll over. Whenever your cat does the action you request, you reward them with their favorite treat.

Train a Cat to Walk on a Leash

You can also train a cat to walk on a leash. The key to training your cat is plenty of rewards and treats. It’s important to introduce leash training slowly. First of all, purchase a suitable harness and leash and get your cat used to them. Let them see the harness and leash and sniff them. After some time you’ll want to loosely place the harness on your cat and let them get used to wearing it. You can then attach the leash. This entire process may take a couple of weeks or longer. It’s important not to rush your cat and remember to use plenty of rewards and treats to reinforce positive behavior. If you’re serious about training your cat to walk on a leash, check out our in depth guide about how to train your cat to walk on a leash.

Some cats take to training faster than others. Don’t be discouraged if your cat takes a long time to respond to training. It’s generally easier to train a kitten than an older cat, although older cats still respond well to training. It’s never too late to try training your cat and every cat is different. If you’re cat is small or you’re training a kitten, be sure to select an appropriate sized leash. Pet stores like Animates sell harnesses that will fit a kitten. Using the correct size harness is important to train a cat to walk on a leash.

Tips to Train a Cat to Walk on a Leash.

Reward good behavior with treats

Cats love treats. That makes treats a great way to reward positive behavior and reinforce behavior you wish to encourage. Rewarding behavior is the best way to train your cat so ensure you have a good supply of your cats favorite treats on hand. Training before meals is a great time, a hungry cat will do almost anything for more of its favorite treats.

Don’t punish bad behavior

Punishing bad behavior is not helpful, it doesn’t work and can lead to stress and anxiety for your cat. If you see your cat engaging in unwanted behavior, such as scratching your favorite furniture, the best option is to distract them. A short sharp noise will distract and stop them. Use the same noise every time. Take your cat to an item that it is allowed to scratch, buying a purpose built scratching post is a great idea that your cat will love.

Keep the training sessions brief

Cats don’t always have the longest of attentions spans, and they prefer to do things how and when it suits them. Don’t let this discourage you though. A couple of shorter training sessions is better than trying to persevere with one long session. Pick a time when your cat is in the mood and interested in the training, and continue for as long as their interest lasts.

Have a focus for the training session

It’s best to focus on one thing at a time. You don’t want to confuse your cat, so go into your training session knowing what it is you are focusing on. It could be anything from using the litter box or scratching post, to teaching your cat to sit, roll over, or other new tricks. Let your cat become a master of this one objective before moving on to the next.

Be consistent

Make sure you use the same signals and cues every time, and ensure that they are varied enough for each command that your cat can recognize the difference.

Eliminate distractions

Training will be most effective when there are no distractions. Eliminate background noise such as TV and radio and train in a quiet place free of distractions.

Given time, most cats can be trained to walk on a leash. Click here for more about how to leash train a cat. You might like to try teaching your cat a few basic tricks. Check out what I discovered about training cats here.

Can you train a cat?

by Training Your Cat

Can you train a cat? The simple answer is yes. Cats are naturally smart and clever animals and can learn to do things you train them to do. No doubt your kitty can use a litter box, and was probably trained from a young age to do so. The key to successfully training a cat is to reward the desired behavior, and this usually means dishing out the treats. Kittens are easier to train but there is no reason why you can’t successfully train an older cat. It may simply take a little longer.

Decide What You Want to Train Your Cat to Learn

You’ll need to decide what it is you want your kitten or cat to learn. This can be learning to use the litter box, a scratching post, learning to walk on a leash, teaching them to sit or shake hands. Only pick one training focus at a time and ensure your cat masters this before trying something new. Decide what commands you’re going to use. Will it be a verbal command, a visual command or a combination of the two? You need to be consistent with the command you choose, and ensure it’s something that is only going to be used for the desired action.

How can you train a cat to do tricks? Picture of a cat doing a trick.

The Best Way to Train a Cat

The best way to train a cat is to reward it for performing the desired behavior. Never punish a cat. Punishing a cat will be detrimental to training and can cause anxiety and stress in your cat. Have a good selection of their favorite treats on hand and be ready to reward with treats whenever your cat does what you’re asking. You may want to try clicker training. The instant your cat does what you’re asking, click the clicker and giver them a reward. This ensures they know exactly what they’re being rewarded for.

The Best Time to Train a Cat

The best time to train a cat is often before meals, when they’ll do almost anything for treats! Keep their training session short, or limited to the amount of time that your cat remains interested. Training a cat takes time and being patient is important. Some cats will respond faster than others.

Can You Train a Cat Like a Dog

You can train a cat like a dog. Training a cat is not much different to training a dog. In both instances you’re using positive reinforcement for correct behavior. Whereas a dog often responds well to praise and cuddles, a cat will respond much better to food. You could train your cat to walk on a leash, fetch, sit, roll over, and more. All things that you could train a dog to do.

Can You Train a Cat to Sit

You can train your cat to sit and there are a couple of ways to do this. The first involves using a voice command such as ‘sit’. When your cat comes up to you and naturally sits down say ‘sit’ and give them a treat. Start using a hand signal such as your hand held up like a stop signal as well as the voice command. They’ll become used to the verbal ‘sit’ and seeing the hand command. Remember to reward them with treats and they’ll soon get the idea.

Another method involves holding a treat just out of reach above their head, where they can see it. Start in front of them and move the treat back towards their tail. They’ll look up and as their gaze and head follows the treat, they’ll naturally go back into a sitting position. Say ‘sit’ and give them the treat.

Can You Train a Cat to Sleep at Night

Do you get woken by your cat in the night, or have to sleep with one eye open from fear they will pounce on you while you sleep? You’re not alone but the good news is that you can train your cat to sleep at night and not wake you up.

However, it’s important to first rule out any medical or health reasons why your cat might be keeping you up, or waking up during the night. Just as a sore tooth, anxiety, or other issues can keep us awake, stressed and restless at night, your cat can suffer the same problems. Take your cat to a good veterinarian and have them checked out.

Once you’ve ruled out any health problems with your cat, you can focus on getting them to sleep through the night.

Ensure your cat has plenty to do during the day. Cats love to nap, and they’ll do this during the day if there’s nothing else to do. Create a cat friendly environment for them. If you’re out during the day ensure they have toys to play with, you can hide their favorite treats for them to find, or leave the TV on, perhaps with their favorite cat programme.

When you’re home you can try to keep them awake longer during the day, cats love to play chase or stalk outside. Get them running around the yard and exercising. Invest in toys and a laser dot pointer and play with them in the evening so they don’t go for an evening nap.

A little bit of food before bedtime can help them to sleep longer. Cats tend to relax and sleep after a good meal. It’s best not to respond to a cats demands when they wake you at 4am. Otherwise the cat is training you. There’s nothing wrong with setting up a separate room for your cat to sleep in, with a warm bed, litter box, bowl of water and some food for the night. That way you’ll both wake up refreshed and ready to do it all again.

The key takeaway is to keep your cat busy, entertained and active during the day. Don’t respond to them waking you in the night or they’re training you and will keep doing this. Put them in a different room away from you for the night. For more, check out our in depth guide about getting your cat to sleep through the night.

Can You Train a Cat to do Tricks

Cats are really quite trainable and you can teach them to do tricks. As well as being a lot of fun for you, it’s a great way to keep your cat entertained to prevent boredom and keep them active during the daytime.

So, can you train a cat? The short answer is yes. It may take a while, but given plenty of time and lots of treats, you should be able to train your cat. You might want to start by teaching your cat to walk on a leash.

Picture of people traveling with cats.

Traveling with Cats: Everything you need to know

by Traveling with Cats
Picture of people traveling with cats.

Can you travel with cats? The short answer is yes, traveling with cats is simple. But for a successful trip you’ll need to be prepared. Getting your cat ready to travel is best done long before the planned trip. A kitten will learn to travel better than an adult cat, although an adult cat can still successfully adapt to traveling.

When you get a new kitten you’ll no doubt want to spend quality time with them, especially as kittens are simply adorable. This is an excellent time to train your cat to accept the things it may need to do during it’s life with you – including traveling.

Training a Cat

Whether you are training a kitten or an older cat to travel, the process is the same. It may just take longer with an older cat. The key to success and traveling with cats in either case is patience and treats. Reward your cat with treats whenever it does the desired action. Don’t focus on negative behavior. Punishing a cat will never achieve anything and can be detrimental. Rather distract them when they do something you don’t want them to do.

Invest in a Good Cat Carry Cage

A good carry cage makes traveling with cats a lot simpler. You’ll want to ensure your cat associates their carry cage with positive experiences. You should leave their carry cage out in the house in a place they can frequent often. Make it a safe place for them, a place they want to go. Feed them in the carrier or leave treats for them to find to make the carrier as inviting as possible.

When your cat is accustomed to the carrier, you can close them in and walk around the house. Keep this brief, and reward them with treats immediately after you let them out. You can progress to a walk around the back yard outside, remembering to give them plenty of rewards.

How to Get Your Cat Used to Traveling in a Car

The next step is to get them used to being in the car. Extend your walk outside to the car and take them into the vehicle with you. Once they seem happy being inside the carrier in the car you can start your vehicle. Let them get used to the sound and vibrations of the engine for a minute or so. A word of caution – never leave your vehicle running in an enclosed space. Carbon monoxide from the exhaust can kill quickly and gives no smell or indications. From here you can progress to a trip around your local neighborhood.

Traveling with Cats

When traveling with cats you must ensure the carry cage is properly restrained inside the car. If possible, use one of the cars seatbelts, or place the carrier on the floor in a secure position. A carry cage unsecured on a seat can fly forwards or sideways if you stop or swerve, and an unbalanced cat in the cage will amplify this motion sending the cage and cat flying.

There are many other considerations for traveling with cats depending on the length of your trip. A short trip with a cat may simply involve putting them in their carry cage, securing the cage in the vehicle and a one or two hour drive. A cat will generally be happy to spend a couple of hours in their carry cage whilst traveling without much fuss.

Whether it’s short or long distance traveling with cats, you always need to ensure they’re comfortable. They should have a comfortable blanket or similar in the cage to sit on, and they cage should be large enough for them to stand up, stretch, and turn around in. Make sure the cage is secured in a place out of direct sun. Your cat won’t be able to move if it gets too hot or cold, so monitor this during the trip. A great idea is to place a towel over the cage to protect it from the sun. Ensure there is plenty of ventilation if you do cover the cage. Many cats prefer traveling with a towel over the cage as it’s darker and they feel secure and safe.

Traveling With a Cat Long Distance

For long distance traveling with cats you’ll need to do a bit more planning. It’d be beneficial if you’ve already harness and leash trained your cat. Check out our guide about how to train your cat to walk on a leash. This makes it safer to let your cat out of the cage when you stop for a break on a long trip. You can buy a good harness and leash for traveling with cats and kittens from a pet store like Animates. Never have your cat out of it’s cage when you’re driving. This can cause distractions, is extremely dangerous and could result in a serious vehicle accident.

Bring the cats litter box, food bowls, and water, and you can let your cat prepare for the next part of the journey. Don’t provide too much food though, as your cat may feel travel sick. Ensure they have water to drink. A long distance drive can be dehydrating. On the day of travel it’s a good idea to withhold breakfast from your cat to reduce the risk of travel sickness. Ensure your car windows and doors are closed and never leave your cat unattended in your car for long periods of time.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?

by Solar Panels

I’ve often sat outside my van or motorhome, soaking up the sun, wondering how many solar panels do you need on the roof. The panels I have seem to work great, but I wonder if there is an optimal amount of solar panels to put on your RV, motorhome or van. I decided to do a bit of digging on the internet to answer the question of how many solar panels do you need on your roof.

Benefits of Solar Panels

Having solar panels on your motorhome, van or RV is a game changer. Instead of relying on the vehicles alternator to charge your house battery, you get free energy from the sun. There’s no need to be driving, using expensive petrol or diesel for your batteries to charge. You can park up by the lake, river, beach or the middle of nowhere, and as long as you have daylight your batteries will charge.

Generally speaking, solar power is easier and safer to install than AC mains supply. You can get your solar system professionally installed or you can do it yourself. An AC mains supply where you hook up to camp ground power should be done by a professional and must be signed off by a professional before it is legal.

There’s no moving parts or mechanics to maintain with solar panels. Compared to a generator or wind turbine solar panels are efficient, virtually maintenance free, and silent. So, how many solar panels do you need?

How many solar panels do you need on the roof?

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need? Two Schools of Thought

There are at least two schools of thought on the question of how many solar panels do you need to have. Some people will give you a definitive answer, and others will say it depends.

There are formulas you can use to work out how much power each appliance you intend to use consumes, and from there you work out how many hours a day you’ll use them, which gives you an estimate of your daily power usage and therefore how much output you need from your solar panels. You can even find nifty calculators online that you can input the numbers and it will provide an answer.

The other school of thought is that you can never have enough solar panels, or at least – the more the better and get what you can afford.

I’d pick a mix of these two, I’m probably in the middle although leaning towards the, “you can never have too much solar”.

You can input numbers and come up with a figure on paper, but do you really know every appliance you intend to use and for how long each day? What if you only want to charge a laptop computer initially, but later on find you need to run two laptops plugged into good sized monitors all day? Possibly a bit far fetched but not unheard of.

Solar is very dependent on the weather and season. What if you get two or three weeks of bad weather that limits your daily charging? When working out your numbers by the first method all this needs to be factored in. In winter there are less daylight hours and the sun is lower which equates to less charging.

I have 1100 watts of solar panels on my motorhome which is approximately two thirds of the roof space covered. As one person put it, no one ever regretted having too much solar but many have regretted having large battery capacity and not enough solar. In reality, numbers on paper can be very different to motorhoming in real life.

My van has one 270 watt panel. Given I don’t use as much electricity in the van my 270watt panel is adequate. Click here to read about my solar and electrical set up in my motorhome and van.

The Different Types of Solar Panels

There are three main types of solar panels that you’ll hear about. Monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels.

Monocrystalline panels are the oldest type of panel and also the most developed technologically. They’re made from a single (mono) crystal silicon solar cells. They’re considered to be a premium panel with a high efficiency and output. They’re recognizable by their black, uniform appearance.

Polycrystalline panels are less efficient although often more affordable. The polycrystalline cells are also made from silicon but in contrast to the monocrystalline panels, these are made from many (poly) fragments of silicon crystal melted together. These panels appear bluish in colour and speckled as the light reflects of the many crystal fragments.

Thin-film solar panels are thin and flexible. They’re made from layers of semiconducting materials such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide and cadium telluride. These panels tend to have a lower efficiency compared to crystalline panels.

Best Type of Solar Panel

You’ll likely be choosing between monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. The best type will depend on your circumstances. How much roof space do you have and what can you afford? Polycrystalline panels are somewhat cheaper but less efficient, you might need more of them, whereas if your roof space is limited you might choose to pay a bit more for monocrystalline panels which will be more efficient but less of them needed. How many solar panels do you need for your installation? It’ll likely be dependent on the type of panel you install.

Fixed Solar Panels or Portable?

During my travels I’ve seen motorhomers with portable solar panels. This can be an option to supplement your panels on the roof or an option if for some reason you don’t want to mount panels to your roof. Keep in mind however, that a portable panel is probably not going to provide enough energy output for a normal to moderate user of power. It may be fine if you just want to charge a phone, laptop, run your lights at night and a few other small items, but you’d need to watch your usage.

A portable panel would be ideal to supplement your existing panels on the roof. Panels flat on your roof don’t put out as much power as a panel aimed directly at the sun. In winter, being able to point your panel at the sun can make a huge difference to the panels output. Therefore in winter time a portable panel would be ideal to supplement what you have on the roof.

In the summer time you may want to park your vehicle in the shade during the hottest parts of the day. Having a portable panel with a long lead means you can still get charging for your batteries if you can place the panel in the sun while your vehicle is in the shade.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need for Cloudy Days?

Your solar panel will work on most cloudy days. A very cloudy day with really thick dark clouds may mean that it won’t work at all though. But on most cloudy days you’ll be able to get solar output although it will be a lot less than on a sunny day. This is the reason you want to have as many solar panels as you can. So how many solar panels do you need to get you through cloudy weather? On a cloudy day one solar panel might put out 1amp. If you have two you now get 2 amps. Four panels equals 4 amps. There are other factors at play, but in short this is the principle idea behind having plenty of solar. On those cloudy days you’ll have enough to get by.

Solar Panel Maintenance

To get the most from your solar panels you should ensure they’re clean. Even a small amount of debris, dead leaves or dirt on your panel can reduce it’s output dramatically. A mild detergent in water is safe to use on your panels. During cleaning you can also inspect any connections that you can see to ensure they’re secure and free from damage.

What Components Do You Need for a Solar Power Set Up?

Your solar panels are connected by cable to a solar charge controller. This in turn is connected to your battery. Your battery gives you power, either as 12 volt, 24 volt or even 48 volt depending on your system. Most motorhome, van or RV set ups will be 12 volt. You may also have an inverter which can provide you with mains power.

The charge controller is an important part of your solar power system. There are two types of controller. PWM and MPPT. For more about solar charge controllers read our thoughts here.

Your battery is connected to the charge controller. There are many types of battery available including lead acid, GEL, AGM, Carbon, and Lithium. Check out our guide about batteries for your motorhome, van or RV here.

Check out our tips for van life traveling here.

5 Van Life Tips for Full Time Living on the Road

by Van Life

Van life is trending and people from all walks of life are embracing the lifestyle. It’s a great way to get out and explore the country or take some much needed time out. While the lifestyle can appear glamorous, and it is, there are still considerations to take into account before you get started . Here’s our top van life tips to help you prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.

1. Keep Safety and Security a Number One Priority

Whether in your van or out for the day, our first of five van life tips is that safety is a top priority. The best advice here is to trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right or look right, don’t stay there. An alarm for your vehicle is a worthwhile investment, as is a steering wheel lock if you’re heading out. Invest in black out curtains and stay in brightly lit areas rather than dark unlit parks overnight. When you’ve found the ideal place to stay for the night, park the van in a way so that you can’t be blocked in and can easily drive off. Keep your keys in the same place every night so that you can find them quickly if you need to. Check out our van life safety tips for more great ideas.

2. Where Will You Park Each Night?

At the end of a long day exploring or driving you’ll want to unwind and relax. There’s nothing worse than driving around trying to find somewhere to park for the night. Check the local regulations about overnight parking to avoid expensive camping fines. It pays to check the local council website for freedom camping regulations. Some districts provide areas that you are allowed to stay in for free for a few nights at a time. Checking van life social media groups and Apps is a great way to discover recommended locations to stay. Traveling with pets can also require extra planning for pet friendly parking.

Van life tips for traveling on the road and road tripping.

3. Where Will You Charge Devices and Access WIFI?

One of the most important van life tips is to ensure you’ve got access to charging devices. You’d be surprised how much we rely on power and internet and it’s no different when living in a van. You’ll need to charge laptops, mobile phones, and tablets. Unless you have a good battery system and charging capabilities you’ll need to consider where to charge these devices. You might find a local library or community center allows you to plug in devices. Some service stations have phone charging stations. Cafes and library’s are good choices to use WIFI, and if you’re a Spark customer you have access to 1GB of free internet each day at the pink phone boxes. Maybe consider adding an extra battery and solar panels on your van to help with power needs.

4. You Won’t Need to Take as Much as You Thought

Storage space is at a premium in a van so you’ll want to carefully choose what you take with you. It’s a good idea to spend a week living in the van before hitting the road full time to get a sense for what you use. If you didn’t use it in that week, you probably won’t need it on the road. Taking some shorter trips away before going full time is another great way to find out what you need to bring on the journey.

5. Plan for Winter

Although last on our list, one of the most important van life tips is planning for winter. Living in a van in winter can be cold, even with the best insulation. Plenty of warm blankets, clothing, and hot water bottles can help, or invest in a diesel heater. You can get heaters installed, or with a bit of DIY knowledge you can install your own within a day. They’re available on Trade Me for a few hundred dollars, and if installed correctly are safe and efficient. Keep wet weather gear on hand. Reflective clothing is a must for extra safety in emergencies when traveling on the road.

With a little preparation and planning, living on the road and traveling in your van can be the best experience of your life.