Family vandwelling?

[Serenity]

Hi all, I have been one of those folks who has had very rough financial times repeatedly and lived in tents on creek beds. I had to deal with the police and moving around all the time uncomfortably. We are a family, planning to be van dwellers within the next month. We currently have a mini van, not as big as I would like, but it will do for now. It is much bigger than the little saturn car I had last time we did this. I never knew that being without a "house" could be happy. I am so thrilled to find all this information and hope the transition will be smooth this time. I see most of the videos on youtube are either a single person or a couple. We are a bit different. We are a family, complete with myself, my husband and 2 adult children still living at home. We also have a somewhat large dog and a cat. My husband is working right now to earn enough money for us to either buy a second van or a trailer of some sort to help us out. Any advice for family van dwelling would be so appreciated. My daughter will only be with us until college starts in the fall. My son will stay with us indefinitely.

I would love to meet others who have lived this life and loved it. The confidence of knowing it is a choice this time makes a world of difference. I have learned much already, and am sure I will learn so much more as time goes by. We are currently living in Arkansas, and plan to travel. My name is Janet, my husband is Larry.

I have started posting so many of our things for sale already, to minimize what we own. The hardest thing for me to give up is my antique wringer washer, if I can let that go, I can let anything go. Wish I had room for it though lol. I may even put a few things in storage for a while, who knows maybe I will find a bus somewhere and be able to keep it.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Welcome, Janet! I think you're very brave and very smart to decide to go this route! I'm sure you'll need more room as soon as possible, but since your husband is working, will you need to be stealth? If I had somebody else with me, I would definitely want bigger, ha! I'm guessing you'll be teaching us a few things about family van dwelling!!!

 

[Serenity]

I am not too worried about stealth, we spend most of our time out in the county. My thought so far, and I am not real sure if it will work, but if we have 2 vans, and a big tarp. I want to find a way to attach the tarp between the vans. That would provide us shade outdoors for cooking and relaxing. My husband doesn't work usually, he is disabled, but he is working temporarily for now to help us prepare. He will only make a couple K, but hoping to find a cheap used van.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Serenity! Most of our members are single or couples but we do have a few families. I'm not sure if they read the forums or post on them so you may not get any specific advice from them. Good luck with your plans and keep us updated!

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.

 

[OutdoorFT]

Welcome. For that many..a small trailer might be a better investment. Some in trailer, some in van. Even a cheap popup.

 

[Gardenias]

Hi, welcome!!
Same with me...the washer!

 

[bullfrog]

Welcome. Seeing as how you have some knowledge of living on the road maybe having multiple vans will work, I have often wondered if that would be better than larger trailers or motor homes. Good luck and best wishes. Let us know how this works.

 

[bullfrog]

Just a thought several seasonal positions have housing or spaces for parking if all of you got seasonal jobs you could do in one place it might be enough. Let us know your abilities and wishes maybe there is something waiting for you.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

There are many here who are living in converted School Busses (Schoolie's),  Shuttle Van's,  and when they can find a good one a 1 ton extended high top.   Some even tow a Converted Cargo Trailer behind their rig.

But it is a way to be mobile,  find work along the way,  a better area to live in (if that's on your list of things to do)
and a new horizon in life.  Yes,  it's doable and plenty of members here are doing it or preparing to do it.  So you are in good company.

Here was one story I read and when I read your introduction I thought of you and yours.

Father of 10 girls. LOL

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

And this hermit like fellow. (the very first post with a Shuttle Van & a converted Horse Trailer.

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


In my first website below I show a design for a cargo trailer with a "Laundry Center" (over under washer dryer)   They have these in apartment size units too.  They weigh in at about 200 lbs stand about 6 ft tall
come in 115 volt, 240 volt, and electric/propane.  They come in different volume capacity.

Now,  above where I live there is this huge Amish area in central Ohio.   There is a Hardware Store there that carries wringer washers new.  But they are powered by lawnmower engines.  (the Amish won't have electric anything).   It's called "Lehman Bro's Hardware"  in Kidron Ohio.  Going in there is like stepping back in history 150 years.  It's worth ordering one of their catalogs just for the fun of browsing it.

https://www.lehmans.com/

Cumberland General Store is a lot like it. 

So all the best in getting geared up to go.  It's one of the very few examples of where the less you have the easier it is to get started. (and you can pick up stuff you need along the way in yard sales,  flea markets,
Goodwill stores,  and so forth. 

If you go with anything Diesel....beware of the Ford 6.0 Diesel.  The 7.3 is the one to have.

 

[Dgorila1]

You said your kids are adults, correct? Any reason they can't get jobs to help fund the lifestyle quicker?

 

[Serenity]

You said your kids are adults, correct? Any reason they can't get jobs to help fund the lifestyle quicker?

My daughter is only spending the summer with us between college classes. My son is autistic and on SSI. He does help fund with that. My husband is also on SSI, but can do some basic laborer work. He just doesn't deal with people very well. Give him a shovel and leave him alone, he will work all day. I said he is working now to earn the money for us, but it is not like real work. He is in a drug research facility being a lab rat basically. I (not he) happen to be lucky enough to know that he is only taking sugar pills, so no side effects to worry about thankfully. He will get out the second week of next month. That is when we will be ready to buy something.

 

[Dgorila1]

Welcome and good luck. I hope you find a solid, reliable setup for your family's needs.