Class B office setups are tall orders. For RVers who choose to live life on the road, it’s not a matter of freedom in every sense of the word. Most of us still have to work, including everything from freelance writing to graphics design. In this day and age, there are numerous opportunities to work from home.
Why not work from home while hitting the road in a campervan? The only drawback, of course, is the physical size of class B RVs. Everything in a campervan features a design that’s specifically for space-saving while maximizing livability.
With that being said, there are ways to make it work without crushing yourself into a tight corner. Nothing is more miserable than being cramped and having to work on a computer for hours. If you’re looking for just the right style and comfort to get you through a long day on the PC, here are some interesting ideas you can take to the bank.
Work Space: Efficient Class B Office Setups
It’s nothing to get creative and design an office space inside a campervan. The problem isn’t creative capability or physical ability to build something. The issue is efficiency and comfort. How to build an office in your campervan, which will be your full-time workspace, that’s comfortable, ergonomic, and efficient?
Start by asking yourself what you need. Do you require a printer or other devices? Can you perform your job with nothing more than your smartphone and a laptop? The more you need, the more space you have to consider. Also, this will be your primary working space throughout the day; ergonomics and comfort have to be priorities.
- Using the dinette (if available) is a fairly common option
- Converting the driver seat into a swivel seat
- Bench seat bed conversion with a fold-out table
- Install a small desk with pull-out table(s)
- Install a simple, fold-down table on the interior wall
- Order a lap desk and use your choice of seating
- Consider an outdoor office setup (weather permitting, of course)
A lot of the above bullet points are things you can mix and match as well. Installing small desks or fold-out tables, assuming there are none in your campervan conversion anyway, is one of the best space-saving efforts you can make.
Connectivity On The Go: Internet In Class B Office Setups
There are a number of options here, and most veteran RVers are aware of them. For newbies to the lifestyle, it’s one of the more important aspects of working from home, on the go. Boondocking and off-grid living are common in campervans, so your connectivity options are understandably limited.
- Starlink: Exceptional coverage and connection speed, but expensive to get started and there’s a waiting period
- Mi-Fi: Offers a number of cellular providers but is often inconsistent in coverage, depending on which carrier you go with
- Other Satellite Internet Providers: Decent coverage, but speed is often poor and the service is expensive compared to the lack of value
- Smartphone hotspot: Identical to Mi-Fi, except you’re using your smartphone, and you have to pay extra for the data
- Cellular Router w/Modem: Similar to Mi-Fi, with the same weaknesses and strengths, while delivering internet to more devices from a single hub
Companies like MobileMustHave.com cater to RVers and vanlifers, offering bundle solutions that include high-quality routers and diverse data plans, ensuring stable internet on the go. For more information and to find the right bundle for your needs, check out their offerings here.
Multi-Functional Furniture: Saving Space and Expanding Your Office
Class B office setups tend to chew up living space unless they’re integrated into the campervan. However, if your furniture is integrated as well, into a variety of folding and sliding options, it enables you to expand your workspace when it’s time to work. When you’re done for the day, convert it back into a comfortable living space, kick back, and relax.
This is mostly true with the bed since it’s usually the largest piece of furniture in the campervan. Here are some ideas for utilizing your furniture to improve your space and comfort:
- Drop-down table-to-bed option: A versatile piece that serves as a table during work hours and easily transforms into a bed for sleeping.
- Murphy bed in your campervan: A space-saving design where the bed folds up against the wall when not in use, freeing up space for other activities.
- Couch slider bed: A couch that slides out to become a bed, providing dual functionality while conserving space.
- Bunk beds instead of a traditional bed: A great way to maximize vertical space, especially for those traveling with family.
- Utilizing ottoman cubes for sitting, footrests, and storage: Multi-purpose cubes that serve as seating, footrests, and storage units, contributing to efficient space utilization.
- Roof tent for sleeping: An innovative solution for sleeping arrangements that utilizes the roof space, thus freeing up interior space.
- Fold-up seating options: Chairs or benches that can be folded and stored away when not in use, allowing for flexible use of the interior space.
- Floating bed: A bed suspended from the ceiling, which can be raised to create space beneath during the day.
- Exterior awning: Extends the living area outside of the van, ideal for relaxation or outdoor working conditions.
- Hooks and collapsible shelves: Excellent for organizing items without consuming floor space, as they can be folded or put away when not needed.
The beauty of class B office setups is that they are just like most modern campervan conversions. They fall in line with the high level of customization and interior maneuvering for different living circumstances.
Improve Your Setup Over Time
As experienced van lifer Peter Holcomb shares, ‘I’ve lived and worked for the last nine years from the road… from working out of a little laptop bag in a coffee shop when we first started out to now having what I feel like is a pretty honed workstation… inside of my Revel van.’ This mirrors the journey many RVers embark on, from simple beginnings to creating a space that truly feels like a professional office. See Peter’s setup below.
Avoiding Burn Out: Schedule Breaks, Exercise, And Office Hours
It’s just as easy to burn out working on a computer as it is when laboring in the industrial market. It’s even easier when working in a cramped space for several hours on end. Schedule breaks for yourself. Get outside and get a little exercise.
The beauty of a campervan is its versatility. It goes places that much larger RVs and motorhomes simply can’t. Why travel to fascinating destinations if all you do is sit inside the campervan, typing out your latest article?
Work out what is best for you, what you can mentally and physically tolerate, and come up with a game plan schedule that maximizes efficiency, averts burnout, and allows you to enjoy the natural world by getting outside from time to time.
Ambient Lightning: Because Mood Is A Big Factor
Working from home is tough in a dark, dreary, perpetually gray environment. We all need a little sunshine in our lives. Not to mention vitamin D. This follows some of the same lines as the category above. However, you also want to brighten your working environment.
Campervans are typically van conversions, and most vans have plenty of windows. Draw those shades back and set your office space up so you catch the vast majority of the daylight. Even a rainy day has its own sleepy appeal that conjures a different creative vibe as you work.
Remaining cooped up in a campervan may contribute to unhealthy physical and psychological issues, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder. Making money is all well and good. We all want to do that. However, no amount of money in the world is worth your health and well-being. Class B Office Setups should expand your capabilities in a number of ways, not just ease of use.
Final Thoughts
Class B office setups are more than doable. The only difference between setting up an office in a campervan and one in a class A motorhome is the space-creativity. In a way, setting up an office in a campervan is more exciting, thanks to the level of customization and creativity that has to go into it.
With the above tips for the best class B office setups, you can get the most out of working from home, while also on the go. Campervans are a blast, thanks to their versatility, go-anywhere capability, and off-grid performance. Add to that a nice, creative working environment, and you may never put down stakes in a permanent home again.
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