I’m Steve. I’m 54, I’ve been in facilities maintenance for over 30 years, and I’ve built four campervans from scratch. I’m also completely done with fixing broken boilers at 2am.
This site exists because after three decades of fixing other people’s problems, I’ve finally decided to fix my own: the fact that I’m spending my best years chasing emergencies instead of actually living.
The Real Story
I’ve worked in facilities and maintenance management since my early twenties. Heating systems, electrical faults, plumbing disasters, equipment breakdowns — if something’s broken at 3am on a Sunday, I’m the one getting the call. It’s steady work. Decent money. Absolutely soul-destroying after 30 years.
In this journey, we will document everything about our experiences and share insights that embody the spirit of About The Feral Way.
My wife (who’s a few years older than me, and definitely wiser) has reached the point where she wants to retire early. Can’t blame her. We’ve spent enough weekends “planning to go away” only to have me called back for some crisis that could’ve waited until Monday.
So we’ve made a decision: we’re giving ourselves three years to transition out of conventional work and into a life that’s actually ours. Not retirement in the traditional sense — we’re not sitting in a villa in Spain playing golf. We’re building a life on the road, working remotely, and spending our time doing things we actually want to do.
Why I’m Qualified to Write About This
I’m not some Instagram influencer who bought a van last month and thinks fairy lights make it a home. I’ve built four campervans from scratch. Not quick conversions where I stuck some vinyl planks down and called it done — proper builds with electrical systems, plumbing, insulation, custom furniture, the works.
I’ve also helped mates with their conversions, troubleshot disasters (including one memorably awful gas installation that nearly ended badly), and learned what actually works versus what just looks good in photos.
30 Years of Maintenance Experience Applied to Campervan Building
Thirty years as a maintenance manager means I know how things break, how to fix them, and — more importantly — how to build them so they don’t break in the first place. I’ve:
- Wired control panels and electrical systems in commercial buildings
- Plumbed heating systems that actually work in British winters
- Diagnosed electrical faults at 3am with nothing but a multimeter and determination
- Fixed equipment that “definitely can’t be fixed” more times than I can count
This experience translates directly to van building. A 12V electrical system isn’t complicated when you’ve spent decades reading schematics. Plumbing is plumbing whether it’s in a building or a Transit. And knowing how to properly secure things so they don’t rattle apart after 1,000 miles? That’s just engineering common sense.
Real Van Life Experience Across the UK and Europe
I’ve also spent the last 10 years actually using campervans — not just building them. We’ve travelled extensively across the UK and Europe: Scotland, Wales, Norway, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany. Wild camping, campsites, city stealth parking, the lot.
I know what works in practice, not just in theory.
What The Feral Way Actually Means
The name isn’t about going full caveman and eating berries in the woods (though if that’s your thing, fair enough). It’s about stepping outside the system that says you work until you’re 68, then maybe have a few years left to enjoy yourself if your health holds out.
Going feral, to me, means:
Living on your own terms, not someone else’s schedule
Choosing freedom over comfort (within reason — I still want a warm van)
Building things yourself instead of paying someone else
Learning practical skills that matter instead of climbing corporate ladders
Saying no to the 2am emergency callouts
It’s not about perfection. It’s about authenticity. My vans have scratches, dings, and things that aren’t quite straight. But they work. They’re built properly. And I can fix anything that breaks because I built it myself.
What You’ll Find on The Feral Way
Van Conversion Guides & Campervan Building Advice
Detailed, honest, practical advice based on actually building vans. What works, what doesn’t, what’s worth the money, and what’s overpriced marketing rubbish. From electrical systems to insulation, plumbing to furniture design — real guidance from someone who’s made all the mistakes already.
Honest Gear Reviews for Van Life
I test things properly. If something breaks, I’ll tell you. If it’s brilliant, I’ll tell you that too. I don’t sugarcoat reviews because someone gave me a free product. Expect honest opinions based on actual use, not manufacturer specs.
UK Van Life Travel Experiences & Wild Camping Locations
Real locations, practical tips, legal parking advice, and where to find water and waste facilities across England, Scotland, and Wales. Not Instagram-perfect sunsets with no useful information — actual guidance you can use.
The Business of Going Nomadic
How we’re actually funding this transition. What we’re doing to build remote income. The financial reality of switching from steady employment to location-independent work. No get-rich-quick schemes, just honest documentation of what works.
Real Updates on Our Journey
The good, the frustrating, and the expensive mistakes. Building a life on the road while still working full-time isn’t easy. I’ll share what’s actually happening, not the highlight reel.
Our Three-Year Transition Plan
We’re not quitting tomorrow and hoping for the best. We’re being strategic:
Year 1 (Current): Build this site, establish remote income streams, finish current van build, reduce expenses, save aggressively.
Year 2: My wife transitions to part-time or early retirement. Test extended trips (2-4 weeks). Refine the setup. Identify what works and what doesn’t.
Year 3: I transition out of full-time maintenance management. We go nomadic properly — spending 6-9 months a year on the road, returning to the UK when needed.
This might adjust. Plans change. But the direction is set.
Why Trust The Feral Way?
Because I’m not selling you a dream. I’m documenting a reality.
I’ve made every mistake you can make with van conversions. I’ve bought the wrong batteries, installed insulation incorrectly, underestimated costs, and built furniture that looked great but was completely impractical. I’ve learned from all of it.
I also know that vanlife Instagram is mostly bollocks. Beautiful vans that can’t actually be lived in. Unrealistic budgets. People who make it look easy because they’re not showing you the three weeks it took to fix a leak.
My goal isn’t to convince you to buy a van. It’s to help you make informed decisions if you’re already convinced. To share what actually works based on experience, not theory. And to build a resource that I wish existed when I started my first conversion.
Join Me on This Journey
If you’re dreaming of escaping the 9-to-5 grind (or in my case, the 24/7 on-call grind), if you want practical van conversion advice from someone who’s actually built and lived in campervans, or if you’re just tired of the Instagram-perfect version of vanlife, then you’re in the right place.
I don’t have all the answers. I’m still figuring out how to make this work financially. I’m still learning new skills. And I’ll definitely make more mistakes along the way.
But I’ll share everything honestly — the wins, the cock-ups, the costs, and the reality of transitioning from conventional work to life on the road.
Subscribe to the newsletter for updates, practical guides, and honest stories from someone who’s doing this in real-time, not retrospectively after it all worked out perfectly.
Let’s figure this out together.
Got questions? I actually respond to emails: info@theferalway.com
