A Field Guide to Vanlife Influencers — and How to Become One

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A Field Guide to Vanlife Influencers – and How to Become One

Because the algorithm doesn’t reward freedom. It rewards niches.

Newsflash: unless you've got an incredible set of cheekbones and a personality to die for, nobody cares that you quit your barista job to chase sunsets in a secondhand Transit. That’s so one-dimensional. These days, influencers need to be two-dimensional – vanlife + something.

You need a hook. A gimmick. A reason for people to watch you brush your teeth in a folding sink. So before you sell your furniture and announce your “new life chapter,” take this handy guide to find out which species of van-fluencer you were born to be.

1. The Vanlife + Pet Account

Signature content: "Bandit helps me reverse into tight spots!"

Because your dog has better engagement than you. Every reel features your golden retriever doing literally anything – drinking water, sleeping, breathing – while you narrate in soft tones about “letting go of control.” Every photo caption mentions how Rufus "chose the vanlife" as if the Chinchilla filled out a resignation letter. Half your followers don’t even realise there’s a human behind the account. If your pet dies, your career does too. Plan accordingly.

Van model: VW Transporter – enough room for a Labrador and 14 packets of organic treats.

Custom feature: D7 Drawer = Slide-out dog bath and paw-wash station.

Simple Vans kit: The Minimalist – plenty of floor space for a basket, crate or scratching post.

2. The Vanlife + Gourmet Chef

Signature content: "Five-course meal on a single burner!"

Tiny kitchen, giant ego. You make handmade gnocchi on a camp stove while casually referencing your time in Tuscany. Every other clip features you sighing, “It’s not about the ingredients, it’s about the journey.” Your cookware costs more than your van. You will eventually burn your sleeve on a skillet mid-reel and post it as “a metaphor.”

Van model: Renault Trafic L1H2 – extra headroom for a custom extractor fan

Custom feature: D8 Kitchen Drawer – turns the back of your van into a gourmet pop-up
Simple Vans kit: The Drifter – enough spice storage and modular counter space for your next “Rustic Pasta in the Pyrenees” episode.

3. The Vanlife + Rugged Adventurer

Signature content: "Some roads aren't meant for everyone 💪"

Conquer nature, but turn it into content. Campgrounds are for cowards, so you're constantly posting from the Sahara, or some terrifying goat path in the Dolomites that requires four-wheel drive and a death wish. Your van has more ground clearance than a small oil rig and you’re one of the rare few who has actually used that winch on your front bumper – to pull yourself out of situations you deliberately drove into (for content).

Van model: 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter – blacked-out, dented, and perpetually covered in glory dust.

Custom feature: Roof-mounted light bar brighter than your future.

Simple Vans kit: Super Sleeper L3 – long-wheelbase setup for getting stranded in style.

4. The Vanlife + Interior Designer

Signature content: "Maximizing space in our tiny home! ✨"

Your van is a whole mood board. Your followers don’t even know if it moves. They just come for the boucle cushions and sage-green cabinets. You spend 3 hours staging a photo of your bed before realising you’ve killed the battery again. IKEA reposted you once and it changed your entire personality.

Van model: Fiat Ducato L2 – flat walls for perfect shiplap symmetry.

Custom feature: Handmade macramé ceiling hammock for decorative plants that die immediately.
Simple Vans kit: Partners Paradise – balanced proportions, maximum “aesthetic potential,” and storage that keeps your real-life clutter firmly out of shot.

5. The Vanlife + Extreme Sport Type

Signature content: "Van to volcano summit… on a wakeboard!"

Your van is just a base camp for your real personality: being better at physical activities than everyone else. Surfing, skiing, rock climbing, parkour in grocery store parking lots – if it’s extreme, you’ve mastered it. You make extremely difficult and risky activities look easy and fun, which is annoying: it makes people who have been failing at these sports feel bad about themselves in new and creative ways. You secretly hate sleeping in the van because it’s too comfortable.

Van model: Peugeot Expert – looks tough, smells like neoprene.

Custom feature: Overhead bouldering wall

Simple Vans kit: The Seeker – fast build, low weight, and room for a surfboard under the bed and a mountain bike by your side.

6. The Vanlife + Big Family

Signature content: "How we homeschool 5 kids in a Sprinter! 🚐👨‍👩‍👧‍👦"

How to make minimalist living a team sport. Seven humans, one van, zero sanity. Every video is either "Look how well this is going!" or "Real talk: living in a van with kids is HARD" depending on whether you need to maintain the fantasy or boost engagement with vulnerability. Your kids are either eerily well-behaved or absolute chaos gremlins–there is no middle ground. They now refer to hotel rooms as “mansions.” Child services is either very concerned or very impressed, possibly both.

Van model: Mercedes Sprinter L4H3 – long enough for living space and multiple seatbelts.

Custom feature: Soundproofed mezzanine area for ‘Mommy’s Me Time’.

Simple Vans kit: Family Classic – modular layout, maximum storage, and survival-level durability.

7. The Vanlife + Whatever You Were Already Doing

Signature content: "I’m doing THIS… in a van!? 🚐”

Did your NFT podcast stall out? Move it to a van! Failed relationship coach? Now you’re a mobile emotional alchemist! The secret is simple: whatever niche didn’t work indoors, works outdoors – as long as you caption it with ‘chasing freedom’ and film during golden hour.

Adding four wheels to your hobby instantly adds legitimacy. Pokémon trader? You’re now The Nomadic Collector. Yoga guru? Install a roof-deck shala and “raise your vibrations” wherever 4G allows. Incel? Well… baby steps. Get out of the basement first.

Conclusion:

Here's the secret: adding four wheels to the mix will make your hobbyist-turned-content-creator dreams instantly more memorable.

Look, we're not saying you should quit your job, buy a van, and add your weird hobby to it for internet points. But we’re also not not saying that. And, if nobody clicks on your carefully crafted van content?

At least you’ll still have a roof over your head.

Tag: vanlife, influencers, humor, campervan, digital nomad, lifestyle

The Minimalist - VW Transporter T5 / T6

€1,149.00 (tax incl.)

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The smart choices for your furniture essentials: The Minimalist is an elegant solution for your VW T5 / T6 that’s perfect for those on a tight budget or those who want to tackle the task of designing their own furniture, with the piece of mind that core items are tried and tested.

The side unit fits the Volkswagen Transporter T5 / T6 models like a glove, without any adjustment and in just 5 hours you can have your van built for your first adventure.

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Rear Drawer D7 - for Sliding Bed B120 & B4 | Simple Vans

Compatible B120 & B4

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Rear Draw - D7

€99.00 (tax incl.)

Accessing the storage under your B120 Sliding Bed has never been so simple with the new rear drawer. It pulls out 70cm optimizing all the storage space under the bed.

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Rear Kitchen Drawer D8 for Sliding Bed B120 & B4 | Simple Vans

Compatible B120 & B4

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Kitchen Draw - D8

€239.00 (tax incl.)

Simple Meals, Simple Life: The Slide Out Kitchen Draw

Our slide out draw offers 70cm of prep space and storage for essentials, all in a lightweight, cost-effective design. Fits all new B120 beds (2024+). Upgrade your vanlife today!

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The Drifter Complete Kit - Trafic 3 / Vivaro 2 Conversion

The Drifter - Renault Trafic 3

€1,599.00 (tax incl.)

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The Trusted Bestseller, the Drifter features everything you need to make your Renault Trafic 3 self-build dream a reality – and nothing you don’t. A multi-functional Bed, plenty of storage, a pop-up table and a dedicate space for cooking inside.

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Super Sleeper L2 Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans

Super Sleeper - L2

€2,199.00 (tax incl.)

With its extra-large bed that quickly converts into a spacious lounging area, the Super Sleeper Kit is perfect for adventurers seeking a versatile, multi-tasking setup.

Featuring the Salon King bed, a versatile modular kitchen and sleek overhead storage, this kit transforms your van into a fully functional home on wheels.

Mattress not included

Partners Paradise Complete Kit - Large Van Conversion | Simple Vans

Partners paradise

€4,199.00 (tax incl.)

The Partners Paradise Kit is the perfect camper van setup for couples, combining comfort, practicality, and smart storage solutions.

Featuring the B-Max bed, an L-shaped kitchen, and the Small Seating Combo, this kit maximizes space and creates a relaxing, well-organized home on wheels for two.

Table leg included

Mattress not included

The Seeker Complete Kit - Expert / Jumpy 3 Conversion | Simple Vans

The Seeker - Expert / Jumpy 3

€1,149.00 (tax incl.)

Save money and reduce your carbon footprint by ordering your mattress today!

Live the Adventure, Big or Small: Optimised for space and versatility, The Seeker transforms your Peugeot Expert / Citroen Jumpy with an XL slider bed and kitchen unit, leaving enough room for adventure seekers who don’t want to leave any of their toys behind. Surfboards can be stored under the bed while bikes & motorbikes have the full length of the van to themselves.

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