the idea behind #VanLife is that we can “free” ourselves from the daily grind by finding jobs within the gig economy

I've heard people give that as their ~~moderation~~ motivation, but it's hardly monolithic. Moving into a van allowed me to retire about 8 years earlier than I would have otherwise. For others it allows moving from full-time to part-time work, some are already retired, and some use it as a bulwark against what I might call classical homelessness (living on the street).

the #VanLife that is being promoted as such a liberating and empowering “lifestyle” or a “courageous” choice by young people to buck the system, is quickly becoming a forced and imposed reality for many workers across the US.

We could pay less attention to promoters and promotion, and make choices that serve our needs.

I don't think vanlife is a hair shirt, or "less than". It's an option, like living in a tiny studio apartment somewhere.

Mod note: this community does not exist "to publicize and promote revolutionary theory and action", but the article is topical according to the sidebar rule: "Anything that affects us as vehicle-dwellers is probably on topic."