A couple who fell in love after taking a road trip together have revealed how they left corporate life to become full-time nomads living out of a van.
When Brittany Lojko decided to join her old friend Taylor Putman for three weeks on tour, she had no idea what was coming next.
The couple, from New Hampshire, who are now 30 and 32 years old, fell in love quickly and, after finding themselves ‘inseparable’, did not want their adventure to end.
Instead, they decided to never return to their old life and have since given a candid account of the good, the bad and the ugly of van life.
When Brittany Lojko decided to join her old friend Taylor Putman for three weeks on tour, she had no idea what was coming next.
The couple, from New Hampshire, now 30 and 32 years old, fell in love quickly and, after finding themselves ‘inseparable’, did not want their adventure to end
Instead, they decided to never return to their old life and have since given a candid account of the good, the bad and the ugly of van life.
The couple, who previously lived in shared houses and spent $2,528 a month each on rent and bills, knew they wanted a different way of life that would give them more freedom.
Brittany and Taylor I purchased the 2014 Ram Promaster 3500 for $25,000, but the additional supplies drove the cost much higher, totaling to $45,000.
After 10 months, the van was complete, thanks in large part to the DIY skills of Taylor, who learned tips from YouTube.
Taylor explained: ‘(To build the van), I had to work 60 hours a week to get the funds and once I had the money to buy materials, I would go to work until I ran out of money again and started the process all over again. . .
“For me, it became difficult around eight months, as I just wanted to be done and live in the van.”
Anyone looking to renovate their own van should also keep in mind that while it can be fun, it is also expensive and can take months, depending on the condition of the vehicle, so be prepared to put in the time.
and, dWhile on the road, the couple encountered obstacles.
Taylor shared: ‘There was a time when our diesel heater stopped working because it was -13 degrees Fahrenheit. In reality, the exhaust pipe had frozen and forced the heat to turn off.
The couple, who previously lived in shared houses and spent $2,528 a month each on rent and bills, knew they wanted a different way of life that would give them more freedom.
Brittany and Taylor purchased the 2014 Ram Promaster 3500 for $25,000, but additional supplies drove the cost much higher, totaling to $45,000.
‘As it was very cold and we were in the middle of nowhere, it was difficult.
‘We were both very cold and irritated with each other and it was tense. He definitely pushed us overboard and made Brittany want to give up van life forever. It was terrifying.’
Van life has also forced the couple to face relationship problems head-on.
Taylor admitted: “Living together in the van really forces us to face each and every one of our problems face to face.
‘It has made us better communicators and our relationship is strong because of the amount of time we actually spend together.
‘It has its challenges and when you need some space, it’s hard to get it.
‘But many times, when one of us is having difficulties and we don’t know why, the other one notices and talks about it.
“It takes patience and kindness to be able to listen to and understand someone you love.”
Brittany and Taylor went full-time in June 2022 and have since visited Redwood Forest, Glacier National Park, and The Badlands, to name just a few places.
Van life has also forced the couple to face relationship problems head-on. Taylor said, “Living together in the van really forces us to face each and every one of our problems face to face.”
Taylor shared, “It’s made us better communicators and our relationship is strong because of the amount of time we actually spend together.”
Brittany and Taylor went full-time in June 2022 and have since visited Redwood Forest, Glacier National Park, and The Badlands, to name just a few places.
The couple spends their days hiking, rock climbing and snowboarding.
And they are joined by nine-year-old Mika, who has quickly adapted to the nomadic and ecological lifestyle.
Despite the challenges along the way, the couple has no regrets about B.Rittany added: “We are inseparable and love the life we have built.”
‘We are living our wildest dream and we are so grateful to have met each other.
“We wouldn’t change this for anything.”