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Hi all! I know it'll happen. I'll be in the middle of the desert and my van will break down.  How do you prepare for something like this? This is my thinking. Maybe you have better ideas. Make sure there is cell service so you can call for help. Have enough tools on hand to take care of easy...

Come on people. Let's gather round for a heapin' spoonful of self-appreciation. The kids have gone off to college and we don't have to deal with that anchor anymore. Can I get an AMEN? I did my job. I raised him. I paid for him. I don't have a guilt in the world. Do you live without the stress...

Just like the title. Do you fish for food? I know that you need a license, and I'm considering buying one in California since that's where I grew up and will spend most of my time as I travel up and down the West. I'd like to hear from others if you fish to supplement your food.

I recently saw a video by Nomadic Fanatic in which his debit card was locked or frozen because he was accessing it at too many places around the states. He was told by Bank of America that he would have to call the bank every time he was going to be in a different place and tell them how long he...

Hi all. Love this community and can't wait to join you all on the road. Long journey to get there for me, but it IS going to happen.  Question: I love cooking. Food and the outdoors is what I have dreamed about for decades; ever since dad took me to Yosemite where I woke up to the smell of...

To Bob and all mechanically inclined, RTR and on YouTube: I would love to hear about mechanical problems on the road and how you deal with them. Share your stories.  Mechanics and technically inclined: Could you give us your tips for finding a used vehicle and some of the problems we might...

I've learned forest fire trucks measure clearance in degrees from tire to bumper. From http://www.ferrarafire.com/Apparatus/Wildland/Wildland.html The Wildland III has a 159" wheelbase. The Chevy Express extended has a 155" wheelbase. I'm curious if these degrees of clearance are ideal and...

Clickbait is when a person posts something and the link entices you to click on it like bait on a hook.  It's getting bad, titles like "TOTALED!", "I'm leaving VanLife", and "Bad News". You expect to hear something serious but in reality it's nothing much. Why? Because they don't know what to...

Hi all. Has anyone used this mail forwarder out of Pahrump, NV? Can the address be used to establish residency?

I will move back to the states after being gone for almost 20 years. I was a California resident, probably still am. I'd like to establish residency in another state, maybe Nevada. I won't have a vehicle when I arrive but I will have a place to stay in Southern California. I can probably borrow...

If I live in my vehicle, should I still be considered for the open container law? I'm sure this has already been talked about. Please post a link to it. But what I'm asking is whether a bottle in the front seat or a bottle in the back cabinet constitutes "open bottle"?

I'm getting closer to deciding where I'll land the plane when I come back to the states. So far, Nevada. Why? Based on an income of around $24,000 a year, and a 10 year old van I fix up, I could live a pretty nice life on the road. That might be asking too much, but it's a goal. Here are the...

What if I parked my van, packed for three days, hiked out a bit into the forest and camped. Would my van be OK? Would rangers report my vehicle?  I'm guessing the best way to go about this scenario is to stop by an information kiosk or ranger station and let them know my plan. We should stop by...

I'm plotting points on my map of places in the West I might consider settling down for a few years. Many of you have traveled extensively in this region, maybe you've got some ideas. States: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. Maybe even Texas... or...

I currently have a 3 cuft (cubic feet) fridge in my 200 sqft apartment and it's perfect for three days of food and drink. How about you? How many cuft (fridge or cooler), realistically, would make you happy on the road for three days? No more. No less. It's 85 liters which is 89 quarts or 3...

I still can't decide between a van, a truck camper, or a class C.  I'm 6' and 220. I like being outdoors but I also like creature comforts like a nice hot long shower (more than two gallons) once in a while. I want to live for 3-4 days at a time on BLM land. I don't like cities very much. My...

Hi all. Thanks always for your fantastic advice. I will be spending a good deal of my time in California and the west. If I have out of state plates (like from South Dakota, Texas, Nevada, or Florida), are officers more likely to question, run plates, or stop and question me? What do LEOs...

Hey all. I haven't been around much the past couple months. As some of you might know, I'm planning to move back to the US from Japan (not military) in a couple years. The first phase of my move just happened. My wife and I have divorced. It was mutual. You can see the whole story on YouTube. I...

Thanks always for the great advice. I'm learning so much. Here's one I just can't decide on. I've read so much recently about solar, but with the cost of generators coming down, appliances consuming less energy, and fuel prices down, I'm wondering if a small generator might be enough for me. My...

Just a funny question. I have eight pairs. I use all of them. But in a van? Do I need all of them? How about you?