Since ditching the rental market and moving into his van, this young fella’s setup can comfortably maintain him (and his dog) off grid for 4 days at a time!
Say g’day to John, River and his van Evie! Calling his Toyota campervan poptop Evie home since 2017, Johnno squeezed in a beautiful van conversion in 6 months between work and life commitments. His converted van boasts an ingenious foldable double bed, water on tap and a gas stove which is perfect for his goto cookup… the humble taco! This van tour shows the detailled workmanship of the interior.
Name of the Van:
Evie
Size of Van:
4.7 metres
Vane Make:
1985 Toyota Hiace
Poptop Campervan
JOHN & RIVER
“Just buy a van! Just buy it, live in it, chuck a bed in it!
You can take each day as it comes. Time literally has stopped for me.”
– John – Van Lifer
ONBOARD
John reckons that waking up with the sun, staying in his favourite spot on the beach and making strong connections with people are the best things about vanlife.
Working at a pet shop, he’s now able to dedicate time to practising guitar, playing with his dog, and taking life easy. Having said that, however, John would love to help others build their dream van, and is seriously thinking about starting his own business doing just that!
INTERESTING FACTS
Hand crafted van fitout perfection! Johnno’s rig is 100% off grid with a 140 Ah battery bank powered by a regulating control from the motor, 40L of water, pop-top and an ultra-detailed wood carved table that is very impressive!
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
WHAT MADE YOU START VANLIFE?
- I was living in Brisbane and used to go to the market every Saturday. I saw the same vans parked over and over again, and I realised that people lived in those vans. And it just caught me, literally like a bug. I just became addicted! The lease was ending in the house I was living in, so I bought a van and moved into it within a week.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF LIVING IN A VAN?
- Living with a dog! There are many challenges that come with vanlife, and that is what keeps it so interesting. For example, when it rains for four days non-stop or if the van breaks down. You’d just have to pack a small bag and go live with a friend for a few days. Everything is a challenge and that is why it’s fun!
