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Hi, Everyone!
I am 59, mobility disabled, and will be traveling in NW GA with my 2 cats. I will be stealth camping in my new 1994 Chevy Astro white cargo van. Very excited to be joining this community. I need advice on how to insulate my van. Since GA is hot and humid most of the year, should I just go with Reflectix and leave a 1/2 in gap, or insulate as I planned with foil-wrapped sheets of 1" Styrofoam, then sealed in Mylar bags? These materials come to me free each week with my Meals On Wheels. I use these in the windows of my trailer and they really cut down on the heat! But, I sure don't want to seal the heat in my van.
It doesn't have the walled off cargo area, but that should be easy to do. The cargo area is bare metal. I plan to put 2 x 4 slats perpendicular to the ribs. My moving date is Aug 11 which doesn't give me a whole lot of time.
I am buying the van outright. It has a few minor problems, but everything major has already been fixed. The 'new' engine only has 140,000 miles on it.
I am debating whether to put my 10" or 13" foam mattress in it. I don't think my metal bed frame will fit in there, but I wonder if I could use part of the frame with wood. Still figuring that part out. I have shelves I can use.
Need all the advice I can get on traveling with cats. How do I keep my babies cool? This time of year it is 90's and humidity in the 90% range most days. I have a 100-watt solar system with a deep cycle battery, a USB fan and a homebuilt thermoelectric cooler that needs tweaking. I will have access to many large ice packs that also come with my dinners. We tried this system out last year when we dry camped in my old SUV. It was black, and I couldn't get anything to work. Miserably hot! I want to make sure my cats don't get heatstroke!! I will be keeping a deep freeze at my daughter's house. I'm changing my address to there so she can receive my meals. My case manager knows what I am doing
I will still be able to get services.
The heat has me worried, but I've been accumulating supplies for emergencies for years. I think a lot of what I have will apply to vanlife, too.
Any advice for this newbie much appreciated! Most of my friends are horrified and worried about me. I haven't told any of my relatives except my daughter because I think they would freak out. But, I don't expect them to understand. My daughter doesn't but she's ok with it. I wish the rest would be as accepting, but I am ready to hold fast to what I'm trying to do. At this point, I'm just trying to sell stuff and get going
I am 59, mobility disabled, and will be traveling in NW GA with my 2 cats. I will be stealth camping in my new 1994 Chevy Astro white cargo van. Very excited to be joining this community. I need advice on how to insulate my van. Since GA is hot and humid most of the year, should I just go with Reflectix and leave a 1/2 in gap, or insulate as I planned with foil-wrapped sheets of 1" Styrofoam, then sealed in Mylar bags? These materials come to me free each week with my Meals On Wheels. I use these in the windows of my trailer and they really cut down on the heat! But, I sure don't want to seal the heat in my van.
It doesn't have the walled off cargo area, but that should be easy to do. The cargo area is bare metal. I plan to put 2 x 4 slats perpendicular to the ribs. My moving date is Aug 11 which doesn't give me a whole lot of time.
I am buying the van outright. It has a few minor problems, but everything major has already been fixed. The 'new' engine only has 140,000 miles on it.
I am debating whether to put my 10" or 13" foam mattress in it. I don't think my metal bed frame will fit in there, but I wonder if I could use part of the frame with wood. Still figuring that part out. I have shelves I can use.
Need all the advice I can get on traveling with cats. How do I keep my babies cool? This time of year it is 90's and humidity in the 90% range most days. I have a 100-watt solar system with a deep cycle battery, a USB fan and a homebuilt thermoelectric cooler that needs tweaking. I will have access to many large ice packs that also come with my dinners. We tried this system out last year when we dry camped in my old SUV. It was black, and I couldn't get anything to work. Miserably hot! I want to make sure my cats don't get heatstroke!! I will be keeping a deep freeze at my daughter's house. I'm changing my address to there so she can receive my meals. My case manager knows what I am doing
I will still be able to get services.The heat has me worried, but I've been accumulating supplies for emergencies for years. I think a lot of what I have will apply to vanlife, too.
Any advice for this newbie much appreciated! Most of my friends are horrified and worried about me. I haven't told any of my relatives except my daughter because I think they would freak out. But, I don't expect them to understand. My daughter doesn't but she's ok with it. I wish the rest would be as accepting, but I am ready to hold fast to what I'm trying to do. At this point, I'm just trying to sell stuff and get going
