In a changing world where the traditional office is giving way to the freedom of remote work, plenty of possibilities have opened up for those who want an adventure and have a love for the open road. Imagine waking up to the soothing sound of nature, the distant call of a bird, and the promise of a day filled with both work and exploration, all from the cosy confines of a van. Yes, you read that right—working remotely from a van is no longer a fantasy, but a thriving reality and here’s our guide to our remote office with Starlink.
We worked from our LWB Sprinter Van full time for 6 months in our ‘campervan office’. Mike works a full time 9-5 and I (Kate) work on this blog. The one thing that has made this not only possible but really enjoyable is our office set ups. Below we talk you through our office van build and how we have 3 functional campervan office workspaces and ideas you can use for your own build. This is a Van Life setup to inspire you to work from a van!
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Can You Work Remotely From a Motorhome or Campervan?
YES! and we do. We work completely different jobs our office set ups look very different but both worth equally as well, Let’s start with Mike’s.
Our Main Remote Workspace
Mike works full time 9-5 from the van for a company based in London. For him it was really important that he could sit comfortably at his laptop. To manage this we decided he would use the driver’s seat. The swivel meets an overhang of the kitchen counter (this allows for his legs not to be squished.) We then have a swivel mount to put a small table on to hold his keyboard and mouse to create our first campervan desk – the best part about this is that the table is actually part of our bed structure so we are not losing any space.
Another thing important to Mike was having enough screen space. Therefore we got a bracket to mount his larger screen which he can use with his laptop that sits underneath.
The final thing to remember is power. We made sure we had a 240V plug near his office to charge the screen and laptop as he works, read more here for a full breakdown of our campervans off-grid electrical setup.
Planning a Van Build?
Our custom long wheelbase design, the Workspace Adventurer, has all the measurements and details of our van, with two office spaces & flexible layout
Van Life Remote Office Tools
- Mouse and Keyboard – Dell Combo
- Screen – KOORUI 24 Inch FHD Monitor
- Screen Bracket – 360 degree screen mount
- Swivel Mount – Kiravans Pro 360 Table Leg
Our Second Van Life Office Setup
I (Kate) don’t need such an extreme set up, so I use our table at the back of the van for my campervan desk. I did make sure I got a laptop stand to make sure my laptop doesn’t overheat and to save my neck. I then also use an external mouse and keyboard to make my life easier. We put a plug socket underneath where I work so I can also charge my laptop when needed.
Read More Here For A Detailed Look In Our LWB Sprinter Conversion
Remote Office Tools
- Laptop – Lenovo IdeaPad S340
- Mouse – Mouse
- Laptop and Mouse – Combo deal
- Keyboard – Lenovo Professional Wireless Laser Keyboard
- Laptop Stand – Tommom Adjustable Stand
Power Supply With Off-Grid Electrics
When doing a build it is important to consider the amount of power you are using. We are pretty power hungry with our set up so we have 2 lithium batteries and a 500w solar panel (just bear in mind the solar panel won’t work in Norway and you might need to plug in to a campsite).
Remote Office With Starlink RV
The last thing to consider is your Wi-Fi connection. We use Starlink as we found our motorhome Wi-Fi wasn’t up to the job in the remote areas we wanted to go to. This will depend on your individual needs, get what’s best for you. Sign up for Starlink here.
To find out more about Starlink? Check out Is Starlink worth it for Van Life?
Essential Items for a Campervan
Perfect for vans without an oven. You can cook bread, pies, cakes and more just by using your gas stove. This really is a game changer in the kitchen.
For cosy nights in the van, this is the perfect projector. This projector is small, lightweight but has great picture quality. We love this and use it all the time.
A must have for condensation which will build up quickly in your van and cause mould. We used this daily in Norway and was a real life-saver in colder weather.
If you don’t drive your van or motorhome enough then this can save the battery from dying. Plug it in and solar energy will top up the battery.
