PASADENA, Calif. — A growing trend of people are downsizing, packing up, and hitting the road in vans that have been converted into mini homes on wheels.

Welcome to Van Life.

What You Need To Know

  • In the uncertainty of COVID-19, traveling in a van-turned-home brings freedom and a sense of security

  • A growing trend of people are downsizing and hitting the road in vans that have been converted into homes on wheels

  • Deanna and James are now converting their third and fourth vans, which they plan to caravan in with friends

  • You can follow the progress of their van conversions and van life adventures on Deanna’s Instagram page, @DeannaDunn

Last May, Deanna and James Dunn were quarantining with family on the East Coast, and while at home, they took on a project converting a Sprinter van into a mini-vacation home on wheels.

Then they drove their converted van across the country to the West Coast and were able to be completely self-sufficient.

“I think a lot of people are reevaluating what they want to surround themselves with and how they want to live,” Deanna Dunn said.

What started as a fun pandemic project nearly a year ago has turned into a business, where the couple documented the transformation and travel progress. They quickly gained an engaged following on social media.

“Just being able to choose your surroundings and have everything you need in one place people are realizing that they might not need as many things, but their environment is very important and just being able to have that freedom and up and go,” she said.

In the uncertainty of COVID-19, traveling in a van-turned-home brings freedom and a sense of security. No matter where you go or how long you stay there, you are always home.

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Although the lifestyle can be completely insular, the couple have discovered a community of fellow van-lifers.

“We’re pretty hooked. It’s a fun community, too, especially in California. You can roll up to most state beaches, usually see a couple of Sprinter vans there,” James Dunn said.

With a finished van being the destination, half the fun is in the journey of converting it.

“Let’s continue to build more because we love doing it. We love designing them. We love thinking of strategic ways to fit so much stuff in a small space,” Deanna Dunn said.

Deanna and James Dunn are now converting their third and fourth vans, which they plan to caravan in with friends and eventually sell. You can follow the progress of their van conversions and van life adventures on Deanna’s Instagram page, @DeannaDunn.