Want to Live Zero Cost Van Life? Here’s How.
Think you can live the van life for zero cost? Sounds too good to be true, right? Van lifer Nate Murphy explains his concept of Zero Cost van life and how to achieve it.

Van life is an exciting way to explore the great outdoors, meet like-minded people, and often save money on more conventional ways of living, such as buying a house. However, there’s no denying that van life can be costly.
It can take years to build a van and tens of thousands of dollars. However, what would you do if we said you could live your dream van life at zero cost? Sounds like a dream, right?
Van builder and YouTuber Nate Murphy has all types of tips and strategies for building out your campervan and creating a van life that pays for itself.
Don’t believe us? Let’s learn more about the concept of Zero Cost Van Life.
Table of Contents
How Nate First Got Into Van Life

Like many van lifers, Nate was bored of the daily grind and wanted to change his life. His journey on the road started almost ten years ago when he lived in London. He ran his own business but loved rock climbing, so he saved enough money to travel and dedicate more time to his passion.
For the first year, he traveled, staying in long-term Airbnbs and living the backpacker’s dream. When he returned to Europe, he decided to find a way to travel cheaply and effectively. \
Van life was the obvious path for him. He bought a van, fitted it out, and began his adventure.
Now, Nate typically lives in his van for six to eight months a year, using it as a base when he isn’t traveling around the world. He tends to leave his van in Europe and return to it once he’s finished globetrotting.
When Nate returns home, he then has the freedom and flexibility to drive his home-on-wheels wherever he likes so he can go rock climbing.
Nate’s First Van Build

Nate wanted to jump into his first van build because he was excited to hit the road. His build process was intense, and he found it challenging to find information online. However, he said he found the planning parts of the process much less intimidating because of his background in industrial design.
He didn’t find YouTube particularly helpful at the time, as many videos he watched were long-winded and boring. Therefore, he decided to document his build to show people how to do things simply and quickly.
He also spoke of the pride you feel once the build is complete. He said, “I think it’s a fantastic thing to do.”
The Biggest Challenges People Face When Building a Van

According to Nate, one of the biggest challenges people face when building a van is the electric system. The complexity of electrics intimidates most of the people he has communicated with through his YouTube channel.
He also says that many people he talks to are worried about making significant cuts in the van because they find them intimidating. Nate himself admitted that making cuts is scary, and we tend to agree.
You spend a lot of money buying a van, so cutting a hole in it is a big deal. Nate also finds that many potential van lifers face challenges when installing propane systems for cooking. Getting a professional to install it for you is sometimes a good idea.
Nate’s Concept of Zero Cost Van Life

Zero cost van life sounds pretty impossible, right? Nate insists it’s totally doable following his plans and guidance.
The concept of zero cost van life is simple: You either break even or make a profit on your van conversion after using it for your van life adventures.
You just need to know how to build out your own van at a lower cost, what amenities people are looking for, and how to make your van build appealing so it sells for a profit.
Nate tends to use his vans for three to four years before selling. He made a $15,000 profit on one of his vans.
How to Turn a Profit from Your Van Build

To break even from van life or even make a profit, Nate chooses the right vans at the right time. So, what does this mean exactly? Nate said it depends on where you are in the world.
“There’s a slightly more limited set of vans in the States and a few more variations in Europe,” he said. However, he explained that it’s not so much the type of van that’s important but more its features, mileage, and price tag.
Nate’s golden rule when buying a van is not to spend more than 50% of the base vehicle cost on the build. For example, if your van costs $20,000, don’t spend more than $10,000 building it.
Building a Campervan That Someone Else Wants to Buy

Nate said there are some things that are crucial to breaking even or making a profit from a van build. For starters, he thinks craftsmanship is the most critical factor.
He said it’s about “matching your skill set, the budget, the van, the initial van costs, and mileage.” The feature set is also crucial because it will help increase overall value.
Most buyers are also looking for aesthetically pleasing vans. They don’t necessarily have to be expensive, but they should have a nice design, neat furnishings, and essential amenities, i.e., a gas system.
In his experience, many buyers also look for ventilation, refrigerators, heaters, and showers.
How Van Expectations Have Changed

Van life has increased in popularity dramatically in recent years, as has the demand for high-quality vehicles. This, along with the fact more and more people decide to build and sell their vans, has raised expectations among buyers.
Nate touched upon this. He said, “I think the general standard expectations of vans over the last eight years or so has really gone up.” He believes this expectation rise is due to more YouTube channels and blogs highlighting higher-quality vans.
He even admitted that people wouldn’t want to buy the first van he converted now because it’s not up to the expected standard.
Do You Need Experience to Build a Van?
Building a van can be daunting, especially when it’s your first time.
However, Nate thinks anyone can build a van with the proper guidance. He believes building a van is much easier than it looks because you can usually undo any mistakes you make easily. Something you can’t do when building a house.
Nate has produced an e-book and online course to ensure van lifers follow the proper guidance.
How Nate Can Help You Build Your Dream Van

If you’ve always dreamed of building a van and living the zero-cost van life, Nate can help. He has put together an ebook, currently in its 14th edition, and an in-depth course that details all the ins and outs of buying and building a van.
Nate shared what his course, DIYHero, has to offer van builders. Rather impressively, the DIYHero course includes every step required to find, purchase, and build a van.
Nate’s course offers a comprehensive guide to building a van, making the process accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level. It features detailed tutorials, electrical consultations, and a follow-along step-by-step van build.
The #1 van build course that teaches you how to turn a profit on your campervan.
- 150+ detailed van build tutorials
- Diagrams and schematics
- Expert help with your electrical system
- Exclusive community access
Final Thoughts
While it may seem impossible to many, Nate has proved that living the van life at zero cost is possible.
By following Nate’s advice, aspiring van lifers can embark on their adventures without breaking the bank, potentially breaking even, or making a profit while living their dream.
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