What if the solution to van life loneliness wasn't finding more campgrounds, but creating a digital campfire where nomads could gather from anywhere?

Rens Van Daalen knows what it's like to live the dream and still feel isolated. He's a Dutch entrepreneur who turned his motor home into a mobile office, building online businesses while chasing snowboarding seasons across the French Alps.

But lately, he's been focused on something bigger than his own journey. He started the Van Life Network, a Skool community that's changing how van lifers connect on the road.

Why Van Lifers Need More Than Facebook Groups

"There's humongous Facebook groups around van life with like hundreds of thousands of people, maybe half a million. But there's almost zero connection," Rens Van Daalen, Digital Nomad Nation podcast.

I've been part of plenty of Facebook groups for boaters and travelers. Rens is right. They're mostly forums where people ask questions, get answers, and disappear. Someone needs a part. Someone shares a selfie.

That's about it.

The Van Life Network does something different. Rens hosts what he calls "digital campfires" twice a week on Zoom. They started at two hours each. There's no agenda, no teaching. Just van lifers hanging out, talking about solar panels, water systems, or whatever's on their mind.

When I asked Rens what happens on these calls, he kept it simple. It's like a real campfire. You gather around, you chat about life. Sometimes it's about toilets and showers. Sometimes it's about batteries and power banks. The point isn't the topic. It's the connection.

How Skool Changes the Game

"I started rethinking what is my passion. My passion is basically snowboarding, which is my biggest passion, and then van life which is my lifestyle. That is how I got into the van life network," Rens Van Daalen, Digital Nomad Nation podcast.

Rens had been teaching software skills online and doing well with it. But when he moved his community to Skool, something clicked. He wasn't just selling courses anymore. He was building relationships. Members could ask for feedback. He could give real support. And people started helping each other without him even asking.

One member struggled with her electrical setup. Another member had just built out his own van. He created a custom wiring diagram for her, and she installed it herself with his help. That's the kind of thing that doesn't happen in a massive Facebook group where everyone's a stranger.

Skool also has a map feature that lets members see where everyone's located. For van lifers, that's huge. More than just making friends online, you're meeting up in real life. The community built a shared map where members pin their favorite wild camping spots. It's vetted, trusted, and actually useful.

The Hard Truth About Going All In

"I had quite a few moments where I was like, dude, it would've been so much better if you just found a normal job for half a year, saved up some money, and then tried this whole thing," Rens Van Daalen, Digital Nomad Nation podcast.

Rens went all in on van life and online business without a financial buffer. He's honest about how stressful that was. When your motivation becomes "I have to earn money this week," creativity shuts down. Financial stress doesn't just mess with your bank account. It messes with your head.

I tell people the same thing when I'm coaching. Get six months of living costs saved before you hit the road. It's not sexy advice, but it's real. Rens figured it out eventually, but he wishes he'd given himself that cushion from the start.

Now he's traveling through Spain with two community members who became team members. They're working together to grow the Van Life Network and even creating ads for Skool. Next month, they're organizing the community's first in-person meetup in northern Spain.

Hear the Full Story

In the full episode, Rens also talks about his "illegal sunrise" on a closed mountain road in the French Alps, how he finds wild camping spots using Park for Night, and why dating as a van lifer works better when you find someone living the same lifestyle.

Listen to the full Digital Nomad Nation podcast episode with Rens Van Daalen...

Connect with Rens Here 
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