Bob Wells
Bob Wells is a modern American nomad, van dweller and YouTuber. He is regarded as an inspiration to thousands of people who embrace a nomadic lifestyle based on van dwelling. Bob co-founded Homes on Wheels Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people on the edge of homelessness by highlighting a path towards alternative housing. He also founded the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, an annual gathering of van dwellers in Quartzsite, Arizona. In 2015, Bob began a YouTube channel called CheapRVLiving and his videos provide practical instruction and advice on how to live in a in car, van or RV especially to the disillusioned who are facing dire economic circumstances. He interviews a vast range of vehicle dwellers on his channel, which presently has in excess of 108 million views. Bob Wells is seen as a leader of the modern van life movement and has been featured in various documentaries and interviews promoting an alternative and simpler lifestyle. He believes van dwelling represents a vision for the future, in light of ongoing climate change and economic challenges. Bob also portrays a character (played by himself) in the critically acclaimed film Nomadland (2020) which is adapted from a non-fiction book about the lives of nomadic van dwellers. The film went on to win Academy awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Leading Actress in 2021. His website CheapRVLiving provides a rallying point for anyone contemplating a new, vehicle-based nomadic lifestyle.
