Overlanding vs. RV-ing vs. Vanlife: what’s the difference

Welcome to post 15 of 26 in the A-Z guide to full-time RV Living.

Overlanding
RVing
Vanlife

These are three terms that all encompass vehicle-based travel.  But what’s the difference?  And why does it matter?  This is a topic I’d love to dive into because if you’re considering full-time life on the road, having a better understanding of what these three things mean may help guide you to the vehicle and style of travel that suits you best.

I’ll start by saying, there is such a wide range of vehicles on the market today that fit into each of these categories and there is overlap in many instances. I would say the overall mission of your travels is what defines them, much more than the vehicle itself.

Allow me to kick off this post with a short summary of my own personal experience with both RVing and overlanding.

Our experience with overlanding and RVing

Mark and I live on the road full-time and alternate our time between living in our Four Wheel Camper slide-in truck camper and our 21’ toy hauler style travel trailer.  The two different rigs allow for two different styles of travel.  When living in our travel trailer (which is considered an RV) we move locations every few weeks and we consume more resources like power and water because our living space is larger and includes a shower and kitchen.  When living in our truck camper we often travel off-pavement to remote locations and focus on conserving food, power, and water so that we can live off-grid as long as possible before needing provisions.  This is considered overlanding.  

To read more about our decision to have two separate rigs, check out this article

Why we have a truck camper and travel trailer for full-time travel

Are these all just fancy terms for camping?

Yes and no. When it comes to RVing, whether you would call it camping is subjective. I wouldn’t necessarily say a motorhome parked at an RV park and connected to full water, sewer, and electrical hook-ups would be considered to be camping. However, if an RV is facilitating more of your time spent outdoors than in, I’d argue that would be considered camping. Overlanding on the other hand involves camping but, in my opinion, is more than that as you’ll see in the description below.

Let’s dive into what each of these things mean, the pros of each, and how they compare to each other…

What is RVing?

RVing is the act of traveling in a motor vehicle or trailer designed for accommodation, entertainment, and comfort. RVs are designed to provide a mobile home away from home, allowing individuals and families to explore the outdoors while enjoying modern amenities.

What does “RV” stand for:

RV stands for Recreational Vehicle.  So you can see how this is a broad term that can encompass many different types of vehicles.  

Common types of RVs

• Travel trailers
• Fifth Wheels
• Motorhomes (Class A, Class B, Class C)

What makes an RV an RV:

Traditional RVs typically offer amenities such as running water, a toilet, a shower, a small kitchen, holding tanks to store grey water (dishwater), black waste (poop), and fresh water.  There are systems built-in to hook-up to water, power, and sewer systems as provided by RV parks and some campgrounds.  RVs have the option of being outfitted to be completely self-contained and able to operate off-grid using solar power so that “hook-ups” aren’t required.  

Pros of living in an RV:

• All of the amenities listed above.
• There’s a wide range of square footage options allowing for you to fit many creature comforts into your home-on-wheels.
• Protection from the elements.  Most RVs are hard-sided and some are even insulated for four-season living.
• Division of space.  Many RVs are large enough to have designated spaces so you aren’t having to convert your space depending on the task at hand (sleep, work, cooking, etc)
• The option to have a living space separate from your vehicle.  
• Room for cozy furniture or functional workspaces.

a few things to consider when shopping for an RV

RVs come in all shapes and sizes.  Your square footage will largely determine your level of comfort and how many possessions you can carry with you on the road.  The size of your RV will also determine the size of your holding tanks (for carrying grey, black, and fresh water). But keep in mind that the larger the rig, the harder it is to maneuver around parking lots, gas stations, and campsites, and the more expensive your operating costs will be.  If you want to be on the move often, consider a small to medium size RV.  If you want to move locations every few weeks, consider a medium to large size RV.  

Check out our interview with HD, an artist and full-time RVer

Full-time RV Living with HD

What is Overlanding?

Overlanding is a form of vehicle-based travel that focuses on self-reliance, exploration of remote places, and immersion in history, wildlife, culture, and scenery. The experience had in the journey is the primary goal of overlanding.  When overlanding, the vehicle is the primary form of lodging and the journey can last anywhere from weeks to years, often crossing international borders.  

Examples of vehicles used for overlanding

• Motorcycles
• Trucks and SUVs with roof top tents
• Trucks and SUVs towing compact, off-road capable trailers
• Trucks with slide-in or flat-bed truck campers

What is the difference between overlanding and off-roading?

While the roads traversed when overlanding can often be rough and challenging, that is not the primary objective.  Off-roading is an activity where seeking out challenges and obstacles is the goal, these are typically short-term adventures.  Overlanding is more about exploring and learning about our world by vehicle where one travels with everything they need to live remotely for days or weeks at a time.  

What sets overlanding vehicles apart from RVs

Vehicles used for overlanding are typically smaller, more agile, and more capable than an RV.  (Though vehicles as of late that are marketed as overlanding-capable are getting bigger and bigger in size) They are equipped to be wholly self-sufficient allowing for multiple days (or weeks) of off-grid travel.  Overlanders are typically prepared with equipment to self-recover or make field repairs to their vehicle if needed.  Further, off-pavement travel is a benchmark of overlanding and overlanding vehicles are equipped for backcountry travel.

Pros of overlanding:

• A smaller, more nimble rig fosters spontaneity.  It’s easier to make decisions on the fly when you don’t have a 25’ travel trailer in tow to consider.  
• The ability to access remote locations where you can enjoy solitude and experience wild places visited by few.
• Overlanding promotes adventure and exploration over comfort and convenience.
• A small, self-contained home on wheels is ideal for traveling by vehicle to other countries.

Read our interview with a full-time overlanding family to get a closer look at the lifestyle

Full-time Truck Camper living with Josh, Darci & Hannah

What is Vanlife?

The term vanlife has become an all-encompassing term for living full or part-time in a converted van, car, or other motor vehicle.  Back in the early days of Instagram, a guy named Foster Hunnington coined the term “vanlife” and added the hashtag to his posts that showed him living and traveling in his VW van.  The term inadvertently sparked a cultural movement.  There are now over 17 million photos tagged #vanlife on Instagram.  

What vans offer that RVs and overlanding rigs don’t 

You can buy a built-out, turn-key van or you can buy a stock van and build it out yourself allowing for complete customization.  Vans appear to be a common form of self-expression for the creatively-driven nomad.  A van is a blank canvas for building the tiny home of your dreams.  RVs can also be overhauled and customized but I’d liken it more to a home renovation project than a building from scratch project like you can do with a van.

Check out this interview we did with YouTubers & full-time vanlifers

Full-time international vanlife with Hayley & Jake

The common denominator between overlanding, RVing, and vanlife

All three refer to vehicle-based travel.  The difference lies in your vehicle of choice and your style of travel.  Vanlife is the more ambiguous term of the three.  You could travel in a van and be considered an overlander or an RVer, depending on how you travel.  

Is RVing expensive?  Is overlanding expensive?  What about vanlife?

There is a huge spectrum of expense in all categories of vehicle-based travel.  For example, you could buy a used van on Facebook marketplace for under 30k, put a bed and refrigerator in it, add a basic power system and hit the road.  On the other side of that coin are fully built out Sprinter vans that run anywhere from 100-200k.  You’ll find every size, shape, color, style and price in-between.  

RVs and overlanding rigs are no different.  And once you buy your vehicle of choice, the RVing and overlanding industry do a fine job of convincing you that you need this, that, and another thing before you can actually hit the road.  I like to think that vehicle-based travel is accessible to a wide range of economic statuses, but it requires discernment to determine what you really need, otherwise you’ll easily break the bank.  

Once you’re on the road, your travel style and taste will largely determine whether the lifestyle is affordable or expensive.  Check out our article about expenses as it relates to the full-time RV lifestyle to get a better idea of what it costs to live on the road.

A-Z Guide to Full-time RV Living: Expenses

Conclusion

RVing, Overlanding and Vanlife are all forms of exploring your state, country, or hemisphere by vehicle. If you’re considering moving on to the road full-time but aren’t sure where to start, I hope this article helped point you towards the vehicle and style of travel that will be most likely to set you up for success.