Any advice - San Diego, CA. Storage/Van

[Jadvisioness]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Finding a conversion van or a small (Class B or B+) RV is proving to be more difficult than I'd imagined. ... Wondering if I should just shove all my stuff in storage and buy a regular van and than convert it as funds and generosity allow.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]That still leaves me problems, of course, like needing a kitchen of some sort - I desperately need a fridge for medication and food and I can totally get by with a crock pot and I think I still have that George Foreman Grill that I brought down from Oregon with me. Showers can be taken at the gym - I'm supposed to have some type of membership at one of them. And I can always use a bucket for the toilet.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Just need a mattress I think as I've that thick down comforter that I *also* brought down from OR. Combine that with the weighted blanket, I should be alright unless I'm away from SoCal.[/font]


[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Any advice/thoughts/suggestions/mentoring?[/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Thanks [/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]JAD[/font]

 

[maki2]

you could get by with a standard van, you will need a house battery(s) for storing power for one of the small portable 12v fridges for your medication. Also to keep the house batteries charged possibly solar or a small generator if you are not doing a lot of driving.

Forget the crockpot and George Forman grill. Plug-in 110 appliances are only for people who are either connected daily to a 110v shore power cord or have a lot of solar and battery capacity. So unless that type of electrical system is what you plan to have you need to look to alternatives because those are not going to provide you with the ability to prepare food on a regular basis.

You can begin as soon as today to get comfortable cooking with a one or two burner propane stove that can run off of 1lb green cylinders. It is not impossible to overcome your fear of using a gas stove to cook on. But of course you do want to always retain a certain amount of caution when using any cooking device be it an electric stove, a heater of any type or gas appliances. Safety awareness in the kitchen is absolutely normal and necessary no matter what powers your appliances and of course even a campfire that you might you use use to cook in or next to any type of dwelling you live in. If you go ahead and buy a small one burner propane stove and start cooking with it now then you will have no problems trying to adapt to it once you do buy a van of any type. It won't be a waste of money even if you buy an RV with a built in kitchen because it is very nice to be able to set a portable burner on a picnic table and whip up some breakfast or dinner out of doors.

If you get a good deal on a regular van and your dream vehicle shows up later then you can sell the van and buy the dream vehicle with those funds. So shop wisely with that goal in mind if having such as vehicle is your first love and true goal.

 

[highdesertranger]

I agree with Maki. I would sell the 120v electrical stuff unless you can plug in to use them or run a generator. a van doesn't really have enough roof space for all the solar you would need to run that stuff. highdesertranger

 

[Qxxx]

JAD, in Bob Wells' videos, he is lately recommending used minivans for noobie van lifers, indicates decent ones can be had in the $3000 range.

Also, with a regular cargo van, you don't really need to spend a lot of time and money on a conversion. In my opinion, people get too carried away with their buildouts, spending far too much time, let alone money. I have 2 main pieces of furniture in my cargo van, a bed and a computer desk. Plus a folding deck chair to work at the desk. 90% of storage is in boxes under the bed. IOW, someone can get off and going a lot easier than it would first appear.

Another thing is, there tend to be a lot of RVs for sale in Quartzsite in the winter.

 

[jacqueg]

Here's a one-hour $320 conversion - http://www.vanlifecrisis.com/2015/09/the-320-1-hour-van-conversion.html (I'd use the storage crates, not the wire cubes) - he also features an $800 conversion. 
Really, don't overthink it. If you've ever been car camping, you already know how to do this.

At the very least, starting at this bare-bones level will teach exactly what you do and what you don't need. And learning what you don't need is every bit as important as learning what you do need. 

Given that you need a fridge for meds, you do need a house battery, and then you will need a way to recharge that battery. But that is the only electrical appliance you NEED. For lights, cell phone, etc., you can use one of those 12v inverters that plug into your cigarette lighter. Other electrical gadgets could well be be desirable, but you can get along without them.

And the really nice thing about a bare-bones conversion like this is that it's a non-issue to rearrange it or change it completely.

 

[Qxxx]

Jac, that is an excellent website resource, thanks for finding it .

In my GMC Savana cargo van, my first build had the bed lengthwise and it left very little free floor space. Then I built a platform and rearranged the foam-mattress bed sideways across the back, which is actually 74-76" wide just above the wheel wells; the foam mattress conforms to the curvature of the rear of the van, which a regular mattress would not do. And now I have twice as much floor space, approx 3'x6' now. I can move around without feeling like I'm in a closet.

 

[ckelly78z]

I like the idea of having an awning also (nothing more than metal conduit as a frame to tie a tarp to. Also look into a table with 2 legs on one end, and a mountable tract on the other end. You can use that table inside, or outside for cooking.

 

[ckelly78z]

I'm nearly 6' tall, so I really like the idea of having a full 6.5-7' of bed length (to not touch on either end), and only make my bed 3' wide. This will be a bed for just me, If my wife chooses to come along, I can add another 2' section.

I am also thinking of having it fold up into a long couch when not being slept in to give more floor space, and a seating area.

 

[rokguy]

JAD, in Bob Wells' videos, he is lately recommending used minivans for noobie van lifers, indicates decent ones can be had in the $3000 range.

Also, with a regular cargo van, you don't really need to spend a lot of time and money on a conversion. In my opinion, people get too carried away with their buildouts, spending far too much time, let alone money. I have 2 main pieces of furniture in my cargo van, a bed and a computer desk. Plus a folding deck chair to work at the desk. 90% of storage is in boxes under the bed. IOW, someone can get off and going a lot easier than it would first appear.

Another thing is, there tend to be a lot of RVs for sale in Quartzsite in the winter.

 I agree, this is the way to go when you're first starting out. Simple fitout which you can add to as needed.
Raised bed across the back, storage under bed (front), pull out galley under bed (rear). Under lift tailgate awning. deck chairs used in or out, counter/table/storage opposite sliding side door.
It's been the basic layout for every U.S, Euro, NZ backpacker van that's ever visited Australia and they live in them for years.

 

[Qxxx]

It's been the basic layout for every U.S, Euro, NZ backpacker van that's ever visited Australia and they live in them for years.

Cool, in america the youtuber videos are usually about people spending a lot of time and money and building fancy cabinetry. Then they can get interviewed by other youtubers and everyone oohs and aahs. Flash and glam. (I "may" be a little bit jaded, btw).

My pullout galley is a 1-burner Coleman propane stove that I set on a small $5 folding wooden table. I had not wanted to have cooking odors in the van due to wanting to spend time in Montana where the grizzly bears are, so I 99% cook outside. I went there this summer and didn't see a single grizzly. Foo.

EDIT: the guy with the $800 build has this first desk, but mine is more like the second one without the do-hickey on top. Room for storage underneath when traveling.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FGWY1O
https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...esks/upper-shelf-laminate-computer-desk-maple

 

[rokguy]

I guess the main differences are US style panel vans have rear barn doors where as the Japanese type vans used down here have a large single  lift rear door.
It acts as a awning for the rear mounted galley when it's raining or to hot but we don't have bears to deal with either.
I had a little Japanese Mitsubishi van I started out years ago with similar basic features, but later added a solar battery system which gave me the luxury of a TV DVD, stereo extra lighting.
As you said you can add flash later depending on circumstance.

 

[Qxxx]

In the US, the smaller minivans have liftup doors, but they are mainly passenger vehicles. The cargo vans like my GMC have barn doors, no doubt because of loading docks and forklifts.

 

[jacqueg]

Jac, that is an excellent website resource, thanks for finding it .

In my GMC Savana cargo van, my first build had the bed lengthwise and it left very little free floor space. Then I built a platform and rearranged the foam-mattress bed sideways across the back, which is actually 74-76" wide just above the wheel wells; the foam mattress conforms to the curvature of the rear of the van, which a regular mattress would not do.  And now I have twice as much floor space, approx 3'x6' now. I can move around without feeling like I'm in a closet.

You're welcome!

I agree, the bed is better crossways. But then I'm short. I bought my van from a couple who had a double bed in it. Now it's a twin. Just depends on how comfortable you are in the available space. And whether you plan to travel solo or not!

 

[66788]

There are voluntary van dwellers and involuntary van dwellers.  The needs and desires of each are actually quite different.

Personally I would not want to wake up in the morning and see a Sterilite dresser and plastic tubs.  I would wonder what had become of my life.  On the other hand, waking up in a van with plastic furniture would be a hell of a lot better than waking up next to a dumpster in the downtown portion of a big city.  Each situation warrants its own solution.

I don't think I could do a minivan, definately not a Prius or SUV.  Step vans and schoolies seem to be where it's at for comfort and durability.  I've had enough commercial RVs to know they are built like crap, get bad mileage, and are poorly insulated.  Doing your own build assures one that you get exactly what you want and not what some company says you need.

 

[Jadvisioness]

Some of you may know that the reason I'm trying to get something so quickly is that I need to get out of the relationship that I'm in. Well.... 

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Well... that bridge is BOMBED and TANKED and just destroyed.[/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]L and I had a really intense discussion and now he's sobbing in the bedroom and (before the discussion he told me he's not going to worry about the thyroid-cancer surgery because he is just done) ... /sigh... I told him I'm done. That he has to show a commitment to wanting to work on the relationship by finding us a mediator and he's basically... not listing that as a priority. And I told him that I'm planning on leaving at the end of the year.[/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Ssssoooo.... /shoulders sag and... just... yeah.[/font]


[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]If any of you have any resources in the San Diego area of California, please send them my way. Thank you [/font]

 

[Extra Terrific]

A friend of mine that is a diabetic has a 12 volt- lunch box type pouch thing for her insulin, plugs into a cigarette lighter when she is traveling.
They sell 12 volt appliances like crock pots, coffeemakers, frying pans, and sauce pans. I found these extremely reliable in my conversion van.
Most truck stops, Marine/Boat stores carry them.
I also have a Coleman stove and a 12 volt dc cooler, 3-5 gallon water totes and I also have one of these for my bed https://www.amazon.com/TETON-Sports...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07N4H52KT in my passenger van (just sold it) Very strong, comfortable and folds in seconds.
A lightweight and a heavyweight sleeping bag and that is all ever needed.