It's time to answer the age-old question...why we chose to live in a travel trailer over a van. Van life is definitely a craze that's picking up and we almost tried it but ultimately decided it wasn't for us.

We work as traveling physical therapists and wanted a more mobile living option since we take 3-6 month job assignments all over the USA. This way we could pick up and move easier while also saving money to pay off student loans.

This wasn't a decision we took lightly and we spent a lot of time going back and forth on the best option. When it comes to nomad living, both a van and travel trailer get the job done.

We decided to say no to getting a van and opted for a teardrop travel trailer. It ended up being a perfect fit but still to this day we get asked why we shunned the van-life so we figured it was time to give an explanation.

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Wanted Separation of Home and Vehicle

The biggest setback with living in a van is that your transportation is your home and vice versa. If we are heading into work our home, and cats, are coming with us.

Most job assignments have us working some variation of a 40-hour workweek so that means at least 4 days a week we would have to pack up everything, secure it all in place, and drive to and from work. This means the kitties get disturbed and put into a crate for a quick road trip.

Technically we could live in the parking lot of our work (if allowed) but we aren't thrilled with this idea. For one they may say no plus having a bit of separation from work can be nice.

We have one car between the two of us and to be real with you guys we are hoping to one day have no car. So the idea of buying a van and another car wasn't an option.

We wanted a mobile home that we could tow with our car but then detach. This way we had the tiny home in a secure spot and could easily bop around in our car.

Dressing Room

This may seem silly to some but having enough room for both of us to stand and get dressed for work was very important. We often wear business attire and work the exact same hours so it's a bit more tricky than a typical nomad.

We wanted a small home but with space where we could both be standing at the same time without elbowing each other. It was also important that by getting more vertical space we didn't have to compromise on weight and length.

Some vans are tall enough for Phil to stand but didn't have enough room for us both to stand (in addition to the other home set up). Vans that had adequate space were too long and bigger than we wanted for compact living.

RV Park Friendly

Believe it or not, some RV parks do not allow vans. We aren't really sure why but it's a policy at more places than you would think.

Part of getting the mobile home was to take away the stress of finding a place to live. If we are scrambling to find a location that accepts a van, it kind of defeats the purpose.

We wanted RV parks because we knew we would be spending at least 40 hours a week away plus random vacation getaways. It was important our home was in a secure place and having friendly neighbors is always a bonus.

Bathroom Separation

Obviously, one really cool benefit of van life is that you get full customization control. A separate bathroom is easy if you just put up the walls but finding the right place can be tricky.

We looked at so many vans and a million examples but couldn't come up with a place OUT OF THE WAY in a van. No matter how we set it up the bathroom just seemed in the way.

In our teardrop trailer, the bathroom is in a corner by the main door with 3 solid walls and a thick floor to ceiling curtain. It was out of the way enough to give us more privacy but worked in a 94 sqft trailer.

Easy Cat Escape

Our travel cats are strictly indoor pets. We're pretty sure they could not survive in the wild or fend for themselves very well. They are very spoiled kitties and too lazy to be outdoor cats.

They are pretty good with staying inside but every now and then you can tell they're just itching to run outside and see what they're missing. With one door that opens on a hinge versus a van that has a sliding door, you can easily monitor and block their possible escape.

We were anxious that with a van they would easily escape and then we'd have a disaster on our hands. We would never be able to leave the back doors open which seems to be one of the perks of living in a van. Plus, the van sliding side door gives them more space and more time to try and jump out.

DIY

We would be liars if we didn't include one more reason we officially decided against the van life and it was because we are lazy and didn't want to build anything. You can find people to make vans but not building your own takes away from the functionality.

If you live in a van everything needs an exact purpose and customize to your lifestyle. It doesn't help to buy an already made van and it can cost a fortune getting someone to build it for you.

With our wooden trailer, we found a company (Homegrown Trailers) that you could sit down with and discuss things you liked and didn't like. Since we already loved the base model it was easy to make adjustments plus it helps that Homegrown is AMAZING.

Windows

We love windows and think have more views of the outside seriously impacts living in a tiny home. With such limited space indoors it's important to have even more windows as they make it feel more open.

Most sprinter vans have windows in the back and windows in the front. You can find some models with windows on the side but this may limit how the inside is set up.

The teardrop trailer had windows on three of the four sides including the back being one full window. The cats loved it and so did we.

Before we sign off we want to make one thing clear...van-life is super cool and we still have occasionally FOMO that we opted to go a different way. But the teardrop trailer was what we needed for our current situation.

We loved our time in the trailer and know it was the right choice. Someday soon we'll go on a little getaway and rent a van just to see what it's like.