Bob Wells - down sizing for FREE traveling

[Southbound]

I just watched this and I think he makes some good points as to why he is downsizing from the ambulance. It's a good video and brings in some good thoughts.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Well it's nice to see Bob again, and I'm glad he is doing well.

I've owned one Subaru, and looked seriously a few years ago at the Subaru CrossTrek with the manual, but now that they use a CVT tranmission, that's a no-go for me. But those are good, reliable cars, so I think he has made a smart choice.

He mentioned a trailer. I remember he had a conversion cargo trailer for a while several years ago. Sometimes we come full circle.

Thanks Southbound for the update.

 

[maki2]

Bob said in the video that he purchased a lightweight trailer he can stand up in. It is a WeeRoll. He has a long term relationship with the brand and has promoted it in various videos. They are aluminum cargo trailers that come in various sizes with add on options such as window, ceiling fans, higher ground clearance.
I certainly understand wanting something that is nice, very well made, has few issues for reliability and feels really great to be inside of it. Plus I also understand wanting the interior designed for my needs and wants versus a standard interior that is typically designed for weekend camping or else setup like living in an apartment with items that just don’t work for full time, simple nomadic needs.

 

[wayne49]

Free Traveling? Do tell.

 

[eDJ_]

Well, I figure that it won't be too many more years before Bob hangs it up and goes back to the sticks & bricks. He's about 70 now and if his health & logevity holds out he may be able to keep at it. But when you get up in years you begin to think differently than you did as a youngster.

Downsizing to a car & trailer would allow for easier leaving the nomad life. The trailer could be sold and moving into a house/condo/apartment need for a car is already filled. It could make for a quick exit from the nomad life.......if necessary. Living out of a Van rig towing a utility trailer, or an RV ( class A, B, C ) wouldn't be as handy to make such a transition.

 

[bullfrog !]

Well, I figure that it won't be too many more years before Bob hangs it up and goes back to the sticks & bricks. He's about 70 now and if his health & logevity holds out he may be able to keep at it. But when you get up in years you begin to think differently than you did as a youngster.

Downsizing to a car & trailer would allow for easier leaving the nomad life. The trailer could be sold and moving into a house/condo/apartment need for a car is already filled. It could make for a quick exit from the nomad life.......if necessary. Living out of a Van rig towing a utility trailer, or an RV ( class A, B, C ) wouldn't be as handy to make such a transition.

There are older people still living a modified lifestyle in an RV. I am over seventy and still in an RV. Basically stationary RVs in different locations occasionally traveling. The key is to remain healthy and mobile which isn’t easy but possible. There are pros to RV living in your old age but again the cons required I modify my lifestyle. Still cheaper than a sticks and bricks and in my opinion a much better way to live.

 

[maki2]

Bob has transitioned over the years to living in several different vehicles. It does not surprise me he has made another switch up to something else. This last year he went through a health crisis with heart surgery. That does tend to induce rethinking life style options such as spending more time with family as well as reducing stress from stuff like car repairs. So he figured out a way to make it work that suited him and then he made the change. Go Bob, he is still living his dream that he continues to promote!

I too have an AWD small vehicle and a small trailer. If I want to I too can put my trailer in storage and live out of my car. But while I have often considered that I have not done it. I was camping out of my car before I bought the trailer. My Honda Element was specifically designed to be camped in. So I have zero trouble relating to the changes Bob just made

 

[twomountainlions]

He got Runaway trailer, I believe its Rouser model. Neat little trailers, I believe no-wood construction too. Cargo trailers aren't a good choice, and I think Bob knows that now.

He got himself nice flexible setup now. Can drop the trailer and go onto narrowest overgrown roads with no turnarounds if it needs to be. I'd still wait for RAV 4x4 delivery or get a used one, can not beat Toyota, but I guess the ambulance problems escalated too much to wait for sold out RAV. Still I think used toyota beats new subaru, imho. Good choices, Id take SUV over pickup with a topper as a small trailer tow vehicle for multiple reasons, climbing into that truck bed to retrieve stuff being one of them.

 

[Gr8ful]

I don't think he ever stooped to owning a POS motor home (pc of sunshine) That's why this is van living forum & not POS motor home living.

 

[twomountainlions]

Glad Bob wont be stranded out there anymore. He said every time some sensor would fail and this would be a show stopper for the POS ambulance, what a nightmare. Especially if you are many miles out there without satellite communications stuff or needing expensive offroad recovery that can cost 5k for that ambulance. He also is making smart choice not to build out another money pit clanker again, life is too short for that. Reliability of the vehicle is #1 for us real fulltimers and those to overland in remote areas. Despite the hype, ambulances werent built for all that, really, RAV 4x4 was.

When he gets older think he should get a motohome too, cant beat the comfiness

 

[bullfrog !]

Glad Bob wont be stranded out there anymore. He said every time some sensor would fail and this would be a show stopper for the POS ambulance, what a nightmare. Especially if you are many miles out there without satellite communications stuff or needing expensive offroad recovery that can cost 5k for that ambulance. He also is making smart choice not to build out another money pit clanker again, life is too short for that. Reliability of the vehicle is #1 for us real fulltimers and those to overland in remote areas. Despite the hype, ambulances werent built for all that, really, RAV 4x4 was.

When he gets older think he should get a motohome too, cant beat the comfiness

Motorhomes are great if you are moving often but don’t sit long periods well as rubber decays and fuel goes bad. Trailers work better for extended stays in my opinion.

 

[twomountainlions]

Motorhomes are great if you are moving often but don’t sit long periods well as rubber decays and fuel goes bad. Trailers work better for extended stays in my opinion.

Not sure what do you mean by often...14 days is this often?
I cover my tires if I stay over a day in exposed area. I use fuel stabilizers here and there but thats mostly to get that stuff into the genny

 

[Gr8ful]

My ambo is the last year without a computer so no sensors, easy to work on & simple. You can get a dud in anything but POS motor homes were built as duds, I've seen them built. Dream on my friend

 

[twomountainlions]

I kept my MH in storage for 6 months earlier when I went overseas and got no tire probs from that. People keep them in storage for years. They do take then for a ride once in a while just to exercise stuff, its a good idea with stored vehicle, because of other stuff like critter nests too

 

[twomountainlions]

My rule is not to deal with vehicles older than me, simplicity or not. Especially if its an ambulance

 

[twomountainlions]

When you are storing a vehicle, even a lightweight one, its good to check on tire pressure and add air, to prevent permanent deformation. Pretty easy with portable pump. So adding air, using tire covers and occasionally exercising the vehicle is enough to protect tires.

 

[Gr8ful]

It's a '93 with 88,000 mile. I'm a '59 with waaaaaay more miles

 

[twomountainlions]

A few of years down the road I bet there will be new Bob's video: Why I chose a motorhome...

 

[Gr8ful]

Look how long Bob has done this & NEVER in a POS MH? Because MHs are shiite.

 

[twomountainlions]

Bob is like an oracle, he spoke on the horrible problems with clanker ambulances as soon as I raised that topic. He must be channelling high cosmic energies