Dreams to be Free

[Gale]

Working towards freedom, I just bought a 1980 Dodge B200 High-top camper van. I am watching lots of YouTube videos and reading articles online about boondocking To start I am beginning to strip the inside at the same time my son-in-laws uncle is working on making it run like a charm. The old V8 just purrs it's everything else that needs work. Hopefully tracking down parts wont be too difficult.
I'm Canadian so I can't do true boondocking or I lose my healthcare and 25% of my social security. I will have to maintain a residence in British Columbia. So once all the bugs are worked out I will be free. I am excited but anxious at the same time.

Any tips would be helpful.

 

[travelaround]

Welcome to the forum, Gale. I didn't know Canadians had those types of restrictions for healthcare and social security. That's kind of sad! I am still in an apartment - just bought a van as well. Where do you plan to go for your first trip?

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Gale! There are a few Canadians on the forum who make the best of the situation by careful planning. You can spend the coldest winter months in the US southwest so try to come to the next RTR and meet all of us!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forum Gale,

I can only imagine people in Canada finding creative ways to work around those laws.  Even if only renting a "sleeping room" somewhere to have a residence and using a remail service for correspondence.  Is there any stipulation as to how many days of the year you have to be in that residence ?  Are you allowed to visit friends in the USA for extended periods of time?  Here in the States you should be able to find all the used parts you would ever need for your Van especially in the south.

As for going on the road,  I'd offer you to visit the bottom website below as it is a portal of free info for planning your travels and finding what you need while on the road. 

All the best with your rig !

 

[Gale]

Thank You for the warm welcomes.
My first trip will be on the island to test out the van and my system of dealing with living free.
The RTR's sound so interesting and like so much fun, I will put the pin in the calendar for this coming January if there is one and if I can get the van in travel condition.

 

[Gale]

It is my hearts desire to be free to do rv'ing, last Christmas I spent in the hospital was diagnosed with congestive heart failure so from that experience everything from now forward is my bucket list. The problem I am running into is my campervan is old, rusted and had rats living in it at one time. I am going to have to learn to ask for help to clean it out. I don't know how to go about doing that. I have always been a strong woman raising my kids on my own on Canada Survivor's pension. My kids are busy just trying to live their life and I babysit my grandson so my daughter helps me. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

 

[eDJ_]

Since it is the summer now and warm part of the year you could find yourself a garage or storage place to unload the Van
to begin the cleanup.  Products such as  Lysol and other antiseptics can be used to scrub down the interior.  Then leave the Van open to air out.  As much sun as you can get to shine in it will help.

Next all of the surfaces will need to disinfect.....everything.   Things that can be set in the sun will benefit from the ultra violet light.  Be generous with the disinfectant.  

Those items of textile in your Van may need to be laundered with some strong soap and white vinegar.  Then hung in the sun light to dry and be purified with fresh air.  

I would suggest finding a Shop Vac type of vacuum cleaner to get into all the cracks and small spaces where rodents may have left droppings.  When you start the interior should be dry and the vacuum cleaner will do it's best job for you.   Get that all done before wetting any surface in the interior.

My guess is that two or three people could do this in a day or two.   One or two guys for the heavier lifting. 

If you are worried about the mattress......replace it.  Rodent's may have nested in it so don't take any chances.  Any fabric/canvas chairs replace them too.  It isn't worth getting sick from it. 

My Grand Dad was an Upholsterer and I've helped him work on a few projects like this.   Just take it in steps.  Unload,
it, clean it out with the vacuum,  spray wash & disinfect it,  Let it air out and the sun shine in it for a day or two while cleaning the interior stuff......that can be cleaned.  Dispose of what may not be safe or suitable and replace it.

Then begin replacing things in reverse  order. 

While you have it empty check the flooring to see if there is any holes rodents could get thru.  REMEMBER....they can squeeze thru some small cracks.  I've found them half way thru and dead as they got trapped.  

As for finding help,  I would suggest taking this project on with trusted people or family.  You could do much of this cleaning yourself.  It will just take a little longer without having a crew. 

Good luck.

 

[maki2]

If you are not incarerated you are free But I suspect you mean free to travel whenever you wish to do so.

 

[Gale]

Thank you eDJ, it helps with direction. So the surfaces can be disinfected and use ultra violet light too.

 

[maki2]

This is an article from the USA center for disease control with directions specific for cleaning up after rodent infestations in vehicles.

https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/cleaning/guidance-cleaning-vehicle.html

 

[txmnjim]

Thank You for the warm welcomes.
My first trip will be on the island to test out the van and my system of dealing with living free.
The RTR's sound so interesting and like so much fun, I will put the pin in the calendar for this coming January if there is one and if I can get the van in travel condition.

its a good idea to stick relatively close on your maiden voyage. are you referring to Vancouver Island?
we went to Tofino a few years back and had a blast! my friend lived in Vancouver but has since moved
to the Sunshine Coast...we are going to try and see his new place next year. welcome to the forums!
jim

 

[Gale]

Yes, Jim, I live on Vancouver Island. Going to Port Renfrew or Fairy Lake for my first trip sounds nice but work is going slow. I don't move as fast as I used to. LOL

 

[TahitiDamz]

Working towards freedom, I just bought a 1980 Dodge B200 High-top camper van. I am watching lots of YouTube videos and reading articles online about boondocking To start I am beginning to strip the inside at the same time my son-in-laws uncle is working on making it run like a charm. The old V8 just purrs it's everything else that needs work. Hopefully tracking down parts wont be too difficult.
I'm Canadian so I can't do true boondocking or I lose my healthcare and 25% of my social security. I will have to maintain a residence in British Columbia. So once all the bugs are worked out I will be free. I am excited but anxious at the same time.

Any tips would be helpful.

Welcome,

i am in Canada as well, but in Ontario. I did some research regarding the fact we cannot leave our province etc...Every province has some specifities but the general idea seems to be the same. Basically if you leave your province for more than 6 months (in main of the provinces) you can loose your healthcare. But I've read that in some cases we can ask for an extention. You should look on that. 

I've also read that if you want to do roadtrip in US, the border patrol will ask you a fix adress and even a box office box does not work.

One I've seen that some Canadians ask to relatives to rent them a room in their house, their basement etc... if you are lucking you can even have that for free.

 I am not a specialist, I am just starting to check all the possibiities for ourselves and it seems that their are several possibiities to pass by some laws 

Just to say that courage I am sure you will find a solution