Excited Newbee

[runningqueen]

Hi Everyone!!!

I have watched and stalked this page for many months now.  I am very happy to finally have the courage to sign up and post to it.  My wonderful husband and I moved out of our apartment in December last year and put all of our stuff in storage.  Which amounted to about 7 big plastic bins and about 3 trash bags.  We travel a lot for work and stay in hotels about 65% of the year.  At the present time we are just finishing a 5 month stint in lower Indiana.   I am tired and ready for a new adventure and a new line of work.  Our home state is Florida.  We have been towing with the idea of a tiny house for about 5 years now.  However after I found this page and watched more videos then I care to admit.  (I feel I may have become a ytube junkie lol)  I have come to the realization that a tiny house is not for me.  I have moved about 50 times in my life not by need but by choice.  At 47 years young I want to see the world.  Our sons are grown up now and have lives of their own and I refuse to spend mine sitting around some stuffy apartment or house dieng.  We own a 2009 chevy hhr which I have no issue living in if it was just me.  However I have an almost 6 foot hubby who I refuse to get rid of.  lol So the question is what to buy?  I love the van idea.  Not to crazy about the big RVs.  Less is more if you ask me.  I love the Runway campers out of Ocala Fl.  The only draw back is I am not an young girl any more so I would love to be able to stand up.   The search is on!!!  Any suggestions would be great.  Looking forward to reading the forum.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard !

It sounds like you might be happy in a larger class B van conversion like a RoadTrek or PleasureWay. Maybe a cargo van with a cargo trailer dual-conversion or a pre-made camper trailer).
There are also small class C rvs like the Toyota based ones (which are pretty scarce and sell extremely fast).
Another type that might be a good fit is a big pickup truck with a slide in camper.

You and hubby will have to make the decision , we can't pick and have it be what makes you happy .......
Ask more questions as you start to narrow it down!

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the forum!

I've watched couples try to live in a commercially made Class B for up to 3 months at a time and I really wouldn't recommend it. NOW an extended body van with a 24" hightop and a DIY interior...lots of room.

My parents travelled in a regular length hightop van for up to 3 month trips and the only restrictions they found were that they had to have some rules and some scheduling...Dad got up and got dressed and out of the van. Mom then got up, dressed, made the bed and put the coffee on, etc. Put it this way, you're not going to be dancing in the aisles in one but it's doable as long as you really, really like each other.

Even the smallest of Class C's give you more room and a well laid out C can be actually lived in.

The other alternative is a decent sized tow vehicle and a cargo trailer outfitted to fit your needs. More storage for two peoples stuff. The downside of having a trailer is that you have to tow it around with you.

 

[highdesertranger]

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

 

[VanKitten]

Welcome!

Another Ocala native! Greetings.

I bought a 21' motor home in Ocala last year. It was originally owned by Walt Disney world. I found lots of choices in central Florida. This is a good time of year to be looking to buy...many snow birds have given up the rig after their last winter "fling"

Good luck in your search.

 

[Gardenias]

Hi, welcome!!

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

I've spent a lot of time in Van travel and got to where I enjoy it.   I started  in a small Ford conventional Van when I was in College.  I had my place where I lived and the Van was a weekend escape vehicle that I could day trip or go out to the Parks/lakes and camp just to decompress from the stresses of life.  I thought I'd be done with it once I graduated but was I ever wrong.   In my beginning corporate years I found having that Van and a small economy car was an unbeatable combination.  (I had a tow bar on the Car so I could tow it behind when I  moved frequently in my work)   Out of this circumstance I adapted to the many roles of my work necessary to succeed, both in having the Van when I needed it in my work, and the Car for my daily ride.  But both together working with my "nomadic furniture",  I developed a system that enabled me to pack and move quickly to new locations and set up as quickly in new digs and be ready for work there instantly. 

I now have a high top Ford E 350 extended and am looking for a 6 X 10 Cargo Trailer to outfit as seen in my
first website below.  It showcases a modified Van with bed & kitchenette as a tow vehicle, and a modified Cargo
Trailer to contain the amenities of a home. (water supply, water heat, laundry, shower, toilet, small work area with  generator & battery rack. and storage)   Thus the Van once unhitched is free to travel and sight see for a day or two before returning to the Trailer for the life support there.  Then after a day in camp with the Cargo Trailer I can continue traveling through the area or hitch up and move on to a new area.

In my corporate years the economy car was my ride when I knew I wouldn't have to work outside of the Lab Facility I worked in.  But should I need to go afield to pick up stuff or deliver,  I had the Van at my disposal.
This was something I just evolved naturally from common sense.   But a  few months ago  one of the members posted a thread shown here:

"Here's a nifty rig"

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Here-s-a-nifty-rig-I-saw


This jogged my imagination and the case for a specialized Cargo Trailer/support vehicle was made in my mind.
While I now have a High Top Van,  I've come to realize since being here that these Shuttle Vans are potential
finds and "honey's for the money" deals.   If I can find a Ford with the 7.3 Diesel I may trade up to one.  (avoid he Ford 6.0 diesels)   Here is a bit about that for you to consider while you are looking for ideas.

http://www.fatherof11.com/shuttle_bus.html

The bottom website is a portal of handy information to have at your finger tips when planning a journey or
while traveling.    You are welcome to use it and any ideas you can get from this set of references.

All the best !