Hello Everyone,<br><br>I've been enjoying the posts and the links for a few days and I have so much more to read. <br><br>I'm a woman of a certain age, still working full time, but never afraid to leave my job and find another one. You can call me cb, as in "Ready for my close up, C.B."<br><br>I was a full timer in a 40' Class A motorhome, primarily living by the beach in the OC and loving it. That was 9 years ago! I have been paying rent to someone and not able to afford to buy a home of my own. I'm tired of it. I want to be self sufficient, off grid and free-er than I am now.<br><br>I thought maybe a few acres somewhere and a "little house", but I seem to be afraid to make the investment and take the leap. The investment is considerably smaller for vandwelling and I'm just not seeing the downside. As I cruise around the internet, formulating a plan to help me achieve my goal, I'm surprised at the low costs of everything I want to do.<br><br>Here's the plan so far, if you see anything wrong with it - don't be afraid to tell me now, before I screw up big.<br><br>I'm looking for a white, 6 cylinder Ford extended cargo or conversion. If I get cargo, I know there will be extra insulation and flooring and walls to add. I'm leaning toward cargo because they have no side wall windows. (stealthy!) I have a good mechanic here who can go over it all mechanically before I start refurbishing.<br><br>I'm gonna "Glamp" it up with a shabby chic interior. Bed across the back with <1 foot door/bed clearance for business storage, shower <a href="http://www.stealthvandweller.com/2010/08/add-shower-to-your-van-its-easy-and.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.stealthvandweller.com/2010/08/add-shower-to-your-van-its-easy-and.html</a> , porta-potty, convection oven, Lowes or Home Depot nude wood cabinets and sink.<br><br>Solar: 2 x 140 (if they fit) on the roof (under the luggage rack), 2 big deep cells (not the golf cart size) and a 3000/5000 watt(pure sine) inverter. I want to operate the a regular dorm refrigerator/freezer & the convection stove with it. I'm auditioning heaters, TVs and other appliances for wattage.<br><br>This woman has inspired me greatly and reminded me to keep my bed and seating lowered to accomodate the lack of headroom. <a href="" rel="nofollow"></a><br><br>Well, this is getting long, I really just wanted to pop in and thank you all for sharing your experience. I feel 100% comfortable in this venture and know it's the right thing for me. I might even try to get one of those campground jobs! <br><br>I'm looking forward to getting to know you all and to seeing you on the road. <br><br>Happy Trails, <br><br>cb<br><br>PS If you're out there tonight, I'm stuck here and jealous!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
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peacetara
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HI cb!!!<br><br>My name is Tara, I'm solo full-timing since August, also in a cargo van. Welcome!!<br><br>I fully support your plan! I don't know anything about engines, but mine is a Diesel and I love it. I have a 1999 Ford E-350 extended cargo van. Mine used to work for Air Conditioning place. I have back windows and a sliding door (with window, that "pops open" for ventilation). I love my layout. I agree with the little bit of room between the bed and the back doors.<br><br><br>A convection oven I think is electrical right? I'm not sure you could run that off-grid easily. I have a Coleman propane stove, and it works great. I don't have one, but apparently there is a little stove thing you can add to it, to make it a stove.<br><br>That shower setup sounds pretty nice! there are some newer all in 1 units that have a pump and everything you need, there was some talk on the forums about them, I think this is one of them: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Basecamp-Heater-Aquacube-Digital-Shower/dp/B007PAP4WM" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Basecamp-Heater-Aquacube-Digital-Shower/dp/B007PAP4WM</a>.<br><br>Anyways, WELCOME!<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara
Welcome cb! It sounds like a good plan to me. Do you think that you'll really need to be stealthy? If you're planning on staying on city streets stealth will be important. However if you're planning on boondocking on public land and blacktop camping in parking lots where it's permitted, then stealth isn't as necessary. You may want to consider a van with side windows. Cross ventilation is very nice in the summertime plus you get more light and a view out the windows. <br><br> Installing solar panels under the luggage rack is going to cut down on their efficiency. Any shadows across the panels should be avoided. This guy has a lot of good information on his site -<a href="http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow"> http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/</a> (he's a bit of a character 
)<br><br> Good luck with your plans!
)<br><br> Good luck with your plans!<p>Hi tonyandkaren,<br><br>I work in the city. There are a lot of high paying jobs for me in Orange County, CA and for me, super stealth is best. I'm trying to figure out how to be stealth with a canoe. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br><br>Thanks Tara,<br><br>If you have a pictures posted of your rig, I'd love to see it. I'm thinking twin sized bed across the back, and I'll probably have to make it myself. Did you outfit your rig yourself? Did you get one with the cages?<br><br>Here's a link to the convection oven. I use a toaster oven A LOT! I wanted something bigger that will hold a 13x9x2 inch pan and this one does.<br><br>http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Ele...;colid=GN8G62E33TNS&coliid=I18PVU8IMLV1ZB<br><br>I rate all the appliances against a 1500 watt hair dryer. I think this convection oven is 1500 watts, thereby doable with the 3000 watt system I have planned. I may have to turn the power off the refrig while the oven is on, but that can work.<br><br>Please link me over to any pics you have - I can't wait to see them. It's hard to gage length and width.<br><br>Thanks,<br>cb<br><br><br></p>
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CB, it sounds like you have a great plan. I think you're going to love your new life!!<br><br>You're right, the inverter can handle the draw, but I'm not sure your batteries can. Convection ovens take awhile to cook and have a high draw. 1500 watts for a 30 minute cook time is 62 amps. That's a lot of amps. I'm not sure what kind of batteries you have in mind but if you have a 400 amp hour bank ($500 with lead acid or $1000 for agm) you can only use 200 so you gave up 62 of them over cooking dinner. A microwave would be much better because it will only be on for 5 minutes or so.<br><br>Hope that helps and gives you some food for thought. <br>Bob
Hi Bob,<br><address>This is the sort of info I need to find here in the forum. My plan is 2x Trojan GCM12-AGM 12v with 140AH. ($400 each) So this isn't gonna work and needs more tweeking. I'll only have space for 2 batteries and honestly think I'll only have space for 1 solar panel. ( <a href="http://www.thesolarbiz.com/Trojan-GC12-AGM-12V-Battery-140-AH" rel="nofollow">http://www.thesolarbiz.com/Trojan-GC12-AGM-12V-Battery-140-AH</a>  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> </address>I chose the 140 solar panels because they are the biggest size that ships. And the batteries just go with. I guess I'll have to go in person to a solar shop and do some measuring and math.<br><br>Earlier todayIi noticed a guy has a 180 watt panel, I wonder what the numbers look like for that. I'm trying to stay away from Propane except for one of those little portable $10 stove burners and I want an oven and refer. Back to the drawing board!<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>cb<br><br>
Welcome from NM CB. Glad to have you with us.....good luck on your build...<br><br>A minor suggestion is to go with whatever power system you have room and cash for and then adjust your power usage accordingly. Just another way to go. It may be easier to cut back on your needs (desires) than to build a system to match what you think you want.....<br><br>JMHO,<br>Bri
Good Morning Bri,<br><br>You're so right. I'm just getting so excited! I'm learning new things and I have a new goal. Sometimes a girl just needs a reason.<br><br>But I was thinking the exact same thing this morning about starting out small, see how it works and upgrade as necessary or possible. Besides, I can always find an outlet to plug into if I really want to bake something.<br><br>Thanks for the input,<br><br>cb
VanTrekker
Well-known member
Greetings and welcome! You'll find a lot of great advice here.<br><br>I noticed a shower was mentioned. I would have one in the van only if I had a high top and extended length. Someone mentioned the Mr. Heater Aquacube. I use one externally when in the boonies and will soon be keeping it in a locking metal box on the back of the van.<br><br>Here is a link to a video I made to show it's features. The Mr. Heater Aquacube is going to be very useful this year... <br><br><a href="" rel="nofollow"></a><br><br>Brad aka V.T.
Pikachu711
Well-known member
Welcome to the group cb1504! You seem to have given your plan considerable thought so I'm sure that you'll find it everything you expect when the time comes for this change in your life. Best of luck on your return to the "full-timing" lifestyle!
Thanks for all the welcomes.<br><br>Bradford, I saw your video last week. It is very good. I can't make good videos and I appreciate when people do product reviews. I like to see the water pressure and know that the linkage doesn't work for you - so I wont think I'm doing it wrong. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br> <br><br>Thanks again everyone and have safe journeys.<br><br>cb
