r/vandwellers

Community Overview

About r/vandwellers

Tips, tricks and support for living in your van, car or truck. It's a great way to save money or travel the world. Continue strolling thru this widget for quick info/rules and sub search for simple QnAs. Visit our FAQ to jumpstart your journey! https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/wiki/index

The community at a glance

r/vandwellers is a Subreddit for Travelers and Van Lifers with roughly 3.0M members. It has been around since 2010. It uses a forum format for communication. On the Hive Index it ranks #5 in the Van Life communities list. It is the 3rd largest community in the Travel topic page.

Roughly 23K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Van, Looking For A, and Looking. Common discussion themes are Solution Requests and Advice Requests. Product recommendations often mention van and ac.

On Reddit
Established 2010
3.0M Members

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +23K members
Growth: +0.8% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 949 members
  • 2014: 7K members
  • 2015: 12K members
  • 2016: 33K members
  • 2017: 78K members
  • 2018: 206K members
  • 2019: 223K members
  • 2020: 489K members
  • 2021: 475K members
  • 2023: 720K members
  • 2024: 642K members
  • 2025: 99K members
  • 2026: 21K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Sep: 0 members
  • Oct: 0 members
  • Nov: 2K members
  • Dec: 3K members
  • Jan: 2K members
  • Feb: 2K members
  • Mar: 3K members
  • Apr: 3K members
  • May: 3K members
  • Jun: 3K members
  • Jul: 3K members
  • Aug: 2K members

Themes

  • Solution Requests
    17 posts in the past month
    1. Solar powered off grid vanlife?
    2. Has anyone used flex solar panels for extended period?
    3. Build forecasted to exceed vehicles GVWR by over 400lbs, Please help
    #1
    Solution Requests
    Solar powered off grid vanlife? · Has anyone used flex solar panels for extended period? · Build forecasted to exceed vehicles GVWR by over 400lbs, Please help
    17
  • Advice Requests
    6 posts in the past month
    1. Chevy Bright Drop - What’s Wrong With It
    2. Advice needed! Have to buy a new solar generator and we’re between the Bluetti AC180 and the Elite 100 V2
    3. Can a new driver do van life?
    #2
    Advice Requests
    Chevy Bright Drop - What’s Wrong With It · Advice needed! Have to buy a new solar generator and we’re between the Bluetti AC180 and the Elite 100 V2 · Can a new driver do van life?
    6
  • Pain & Anger
    4 posts in the past month
    1. Terrible rotten awful day on the road
    2. What a terrible location. I really should go back to the Walmart parking lots where I belong.
    3. Couple dies in van of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from heater
    #3
    Pain & Anger
    Terrible rotten awful day on the road · What a terrible location. I really should go back to the Walmart parking lots where I belong. · Couple dies in van of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from heater
    4

Topics

  • Van
    56 posts in the past month
    1. Why am I just finding out how good YMCAs are for vanlife.
    2. Warning against Action Van Lifts in San Clemente CA
    #1
    Van
    Why am I just finding out how good YMCAs are for vanlife. · Warning against Action Van Lifts in San Clemente CA
    56
  • Looking For A
    48 posts in the past month
    #2
    Looking For A
    48
  • Looking
    47 posts in the past month
    #3
    Looking
    47
  • Struggling
    16 posts in the past month
    #4
    Struggling
    16
  • Electric
    11 posts in the past month
    #5
    Electric
    11

Flair

  • Question
    58 posts in the past month
    1. Chevy Bright Drop - What’s Wrong With It
    2. Nearby lightning strikes apparently caused an EMP, which triggered my lipo BMS to shutoff due to high voltage strike
    3. Installing a safe - yes or no?
    #1
    Question
    Chevy Bright Drop - What’s Wrong With It · Nearby lightning strikes apparently caused an EMP, which triggered my lipo BMS to shutoff due to high voltage strike · Installing a safe - yes or no?
    58
  • Builds
    47 posts in the past month
    1. Ambulance Conversion
    2. There’s a lot of work left to do, but it feels amazing to finally get to sleep in my van!
    3. AC!
    #2
    Builds
    Ambulance Conversion · There’s a lot of work left to do, but it feels amazing to finally get to sleep in my van! · AC!
    47
  • Tips & Tricks
    34 posts in the past month
    1. Solar powered off grid vanlife?
    2. Please Prepare for El Niño 🌧️🚐
    3. Unpopular opinion: Power Stations/"Solar Generators" are now cheap enough that they are cost-competitive with a DIY system for 90% of people's electrical system needs
    #3
    Tips & Tricks
    Solar powered off grid vanlife? · Please Prepare for El Niño 🌧️🚐 · Unpopular opinion: Power Stations/"Solar Generators" are now cheap enough that they are cost-competitive with a DIY system for 90% of people's electrical system needs
    34
  • Pictures
    21 posts in the past month
    1. Turning a van into my favorite place
    2. She needs a little TLC but so excited to bring home Evangeline today!
    3. Here we gooooo
    #4
    Pictures
    Turning a van into my favorite place · She needs a little TLC but so excited to bring home Evangeline today! · Here we gooooo
    21
  • Van Life
    18 posts in the past month
    1. 2 months living in my SUV for work
    2. Has anyone living full time NOT dealt with mice?
    3. Why am I just finding out how good YMCAs are for vanlife.
    #5
    Van Life
    2 months living in my SUV for work · Has anyone living full time NOT dealt with mice? · Why am I just finding out how good YMCAs are for vanlife.
    18

Product recommendations

  • van
    10 posts in the past month
    1. Advice: Best winter tires for Promaster
    2. Best electric van?
    3. Best van for fuel efficiency?
    #1
    van
    Advice: Best winter tires for Promaster · Best electric van? · Best van for fuel efficiency?
    10
  • ac
    6 posts in the past month
    1. Best gas stove and ac unit?
    2. Best Vanlife 12V AC?
    3. What do you guys recommend for AC when living in vehicle?
    #2
    ac
    Best gas stove and ac unit? · Best Vanlife 12V AC? · What do you guys recommend for AC when living in vehicle?
    6

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/vandwellers for?
Best for Travelers and Van Lifers enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/vandwellers free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/vandwellers have?
Roughly 3.0M members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/vandwellers on?
r/vandwellers runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/vandwellers cover?
On the Hive Index, r/vandwellers is organized under Travelers, Van Lifers.
How do I join r/vandwellers?
You can join r/vandwellers by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Travel communities like?
Communities for travelers planning trips, sharing itineraries, and swapping tips on everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel. You will find subreddits for specific regions and travel styles, Discord servers for nomads and expats, and Facebook groups for niches like solo female travel and budget flights. Active communities for both trip planning and general inspiration.