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The end of a van-tramp https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/the-end-of-a-van-tramp/ Well, that’s it folks! Almost 10 years to the day that I bought Jonas (aka Big Blue), he was handed off to the new owners at Phoenix International Airport. From there we then rented a mini-van (a Dodge too), packed it...

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Thanks guys, I think we saw a few more years of wintering in the van too, but the reality is that we would have only repeated the same few states each winter. Not so much excitement there. Instead, we decided not to winter in the van, and fly international for our winters (we spent more money...

Truly, the final week https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/truly-the-final-week/ Well, that’s it. The couple that flew out from Texas to look at possibly purchasing Big Blue did leave us a deposit on the purchase. Since they were unable to drive Big Blue back to Texas that very weekend, they allowed us...

Last weeks in Arizona https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/last-weeks-in-arizona/ Our return to Arizona was simply to meetup with even more nomad friends. We have done little camping by ourselves this whole winter, and even less was in our future. That was okay, as it may very well be the last time we...

Dodging a bullet in Las Cruces https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/dodging-a-bullet-in-las-cruces/ I froze when Kerri said she wanted to drive into Las Cruces to see friends.I reminded her of my track record with Las Cruces and van breakdowns (specifically brakes) in the most blunt way I could – I’ve...

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Hangin’ with the Banks https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/hangin-with-the-banks/ We move East at a good clip. Through and past Phoenix, and up the mountains on the other side as we wanted to take a route other than Interstate to our next destination. It wasn’t even a new area we were traveling – we...

I guess if you don't consume much power then you could rely only on the alt charging. But then if you don't use much, why such a big battery bank? Kerri and I consume about 1kw per day in power. That is a lot of running the motor, each and every day, to make up for the power we use. The cost if...

1989 Dodge B250 campervan with 5.9 liter V8 motor with fuel injection and 3-speed transmission. 31 inch all terrain tires, airbag suspension, new custom built interior, 300 watts solar + MPPT controller + pure sine inverter, full LED lighting inside and out, Monstaliner truck bed liner paint...

I would not recommend this for a few reasons First, an auto alt will not charge a lithium to 100%. Also, an auto alternator will burn themselves out trying to bulk charge for hours on end. They just aren't intended for that. And, you will take a big hit to your MPG, which means you will pay...

I am chiming in to also say that living aboard is not as cheap as one thinks. I started living aboard in the Puget Sound (Washington) at the end of 2018. Some months in a slip, some months out at sea and anchoring/mooring. And while, yes, anchoring is a no-cost way to make it through a few...

A week on junk food and friends https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/a-week-on-junk-food-and-friends/ If there is one thing an experienced group of full-timing nomads understand is that your neighbor always moves away, and you do not always get to say goodbye when they do.  Whether it is someone...

Our first LTVA https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/our-first-ltva/ LTVA stands for Long Term Visitor Area (I think… sounds good enough). These are areas within BLM lands in which someone can pay a one time fee to be able to stay for an entire season, as opposed to having to move every two weeks. As...

Returning to nomadic ways https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/returning-to-nomadic-ways/ We have spent this past work week just trying to get back into the routine of van living on public lands. Lake Mead has been nice to us. We found a dirt road rough enough to keep most people from passing by and...

Most insurance companies have a stated value policy where you can state the total value of your vehicle (along with custom additions) . That value determins how much they will charge you each month as well as the maximum value of the payout if the auto is "lost" That is what I did with Gieco...

I backed off the brake shoes myself the following morning and took it out for a few miles. No more brakes dragging after that, so all looks good. That one brake drum is pretty heavily warped now (it was before as well) but that is an easy and inexpensive fix. So far it looks like we are back on...

We made it out, but not far https://www.van-tramp.com/wp/we-made-it-out-but-not-far/ It took another full week, and weekend, for the issue with Big Blue to finally get resolved. That makes three full weeks we lived in an AAMCO parking lot in the greater Las Vegas area which included Xmas, new...

We drove around for years with two 15+ ft kayaks on our truck. Not a big deal. Most people don't care to steak then because they are too hard to steal. And they need a vehicle large enough to haul it after stealing, so that limits them too.

You can, but you have to be careful not to deflate them so far as to cut the sidewall with the rim. That means you could probably only go to about half pressure give or take a couple psi. That would only net you 2-3 inches at best