First Things To Do...

[Headache]

In my rush to get moved and being ill most of that time I never budgeted time to get my van prepared, and I "move in" tomorrow ready or not.

I'd like to know what are the first things I should do to get it ready for my dog, cat and myself.  Temps still get down to freezing at night and can rain when not.  I don't have to worry about stealth and there is a porta john on site.

It's a window van so other than the tinted windows there is no privacy and I won't have time nor space to insulate walls.

All I have "ready" is the litter box, my bed and the animals crates.  The bed frame is high enough for storage but that's not my main concern right now.  Your advice and ideas appreciated.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

This article, here on the blog, might get you started:

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/heat-cold/dealing-heat-cold/

Make sure you have blankets and layers of clothes to start?!?

 

[Gary68]

heat-mr buddy
water to drink
food to eat and cooler to keep it
a little battery operated lantern
any cloth thick enough to block out light,use hooks to hang it or velcro
curl up with your little friends and think happy thoughts

 

[Headache]

Abuela ~ Yep that's about my only defense for now as far as that article as I'll only have time to hang a bunch of curtains and squash some Reflectix in. Paying for gas to idle is cheaper than buying propane and I don't like it anyway but I have a high mileage van. Luckily this weekend will be decent and I can get my kerosene heater set up. We'll just have to tough it out! Once I get the kerosene heater set up I'll be gold because I can also use it for cooking. I'll cheat and use an oil lantern for now.

Gary ~ No on the propane but I did get diapers for my little smelly wiener so she wouldn't get piddle in the bed. Better safe than sorry on that! lol

I also got that new unlimited Verizon plan. Now I don't have to worry about logging in here!

 

[TrainChaser]

It sounds like you've got the basics covered. The rest you can do as you feel your way along, deciding what you really need and don't need. While running your engine, keep your nose tuned for exhaust fumes; if the wind usually comes from a certain direction (like west), try to keep your van pointed INTO the coming wind, so any breeze will carry the CO2 away from the van as quickly as possible.

I also heard something long, long ago about insulating the area right around your body. This guy was living in a small, uninsulated trailer in the campground. He had a piece of relatively heavy CLOTH material (in retrospect, it looked like a cotton canvas dropcoth) that he strung over his bed like a pup tent /\. He had the head end closed (use safety pins?), and once he was in, he pulled the foot end together. He said someone had suggested it to him, and it seemed to make a difference by keeping your body heat in the little 'tent' and not immediately dispersing throughout the metal trailer. He said that it MUST be cloth, as you produce moisture. The cloth absorbs the moisture, and then dries out during the day. I think the canvas dropcloths (paint section of Home Depot, etc) run about $15 for an 8x10 or 10x12.

Maybe you could stretch a cord from front to back (maybe even diagonally) to hold it up. Or even tied the cord vertically around a seatback, and the back end to the framing in the back door.

Keep in mind that the pioneers crossing the country to CA and OR had canvas tops on their wagons. For them, the dry canvas produced shade, and when it started to rain, the natural cotton fibers swelled and shed the rain (or most of the rain).

Good luck!

 

[SternWake]

Regarding privacy in the back.

One could first wax the windows with a car wax, then spray paint them black.

The wax will then allow the paint to easily be removed at a later date with a razor blade scraper.

One could skip the wax with this product, and it will also add a small amount of insulation to the windows.

https://www.amazon.com/Performix-11203-Multi-Purpose-Coating-Aerosol/dp/B0006SU3QW

Am not sure how long it stinks for after being applied.

 

[steamjam1]

Woah. Thats the way to go man... "Ready or not".. Its a steep learning curve.. Hope it goes will with you!

As for advise and ideas: Just be mentally prepared for sh*t to go wonky, and be ready to come up with solutions on the fly...

 

[Ballenxj]

Abuela ~ Yep that's about my only defense for now as far as that article as I'll only have time to hang a bunch of curtains and squash some Reflectix in.  Paying for gas to idle is cheaper than buying propane  I also got that new unlimited Verizon plan.  Now I don't have to worry about logging in here!

 want to hear more on that. 
Also, why no on the propane? Seems like a portable Mr Buddy  would be real handy?

 

[Ballenxj]

 want to hear more on that.

The new Verizon plan that is. I meant to edit my last post to reflect that when my internet went down, "again" while using a tablet. Back on my laptop trying to fix my posting. Or at least make it understandable.

 

[DrJean]

Staying warm is an easy science.

Do not wear ANY clothing that you wore during the day---nothing. Put on all clean, dry clothing. (It would be warmer to sleep nude than wear damp clothing.)
Wear a hat and socks and gloves too if you have them: we lose heat out the tips of our extremities.
Don't tuck your face under the blankets. The condensation as small as it might be, like with the clothing, will soon cool and freeze your tush!
(If you need to tuck your face use a small separate towel or blanket.)

The good news is, once you have the basics down, you'll learn quickly about all the rest! Welcome aboard.

 

[Gary68]

I did get diapers for my little smelly wiener

he,he,he,he

 

[DannyB1954]

Cardboard makes a decent insulator in a pinch. Another idea is make a reflectix pup tent to sleep in. The heat radiating away from your body will get bounced back at you. Just hang a wire or cord from front to back and drape the reflectix over it. You can even put reflectix down as a sleeping pad. People will tell you you can't do that as you will get wet. The only reason to get wet is because you are getting too warm, (sweat). Just moderate what you are doing until you find a good balance.

 

[TrainChaser]

For window privacy:  brown paper grocery bags, taped in place.  Leave a small folded-over tab on one end of the tape to remove easily later when you can use Reflectix or something.  If  you don't want to use tape, stretch a cord above the tops of the windows and hook the folded bottom of the intact bag over that.

Beware of putting any kind of moisture barrier OVER you.  I was looking for info for keeping my bed warmer in 20F temps recently, and went with Reflectix on top of my mattress (with a mattress pad on top).  I was warned not to put the Reflectix over me, due to moisture condensation.  

This is apparently true.  With more research, I found that of all the liquids that we ingest per day, we lose about 60% as urine (about 6 cups for an average-sized man, which all these figures use) every 24 hours:  about 20% by breathing (1.7 cups), and another 20% just through your skin (also 1.7 cups).  Divide those numbers roughly in half for day and night, but that last nighttime 20% (half to three-quarters cup or so) has to go somewhere, so it probably does condense on your surrounding mini-shelter.  That is why I suggested a cotton tarp for your mini-tent, but Danny's suggestion of cardboard sounds good, too, assuming that you let it dry out during the day. 

However, if you were 'trapped' inside your metal box day after day, the lung and skin moisture sources would build up in the van, creating drips from the ceiling and all moisture-absorbing materials would get damp.  If you were heating moist foods on a small stove to warm yourself up, it would be worse.  I guess that would be the time to go for a drive with the ceiling vent open and the heater on.

You just do what you can do, with what you've got, and improve it as you go.

 

[Headache]

Okay, the heat and privacy issues have been remedied and I posted about them in my Captain's Log: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Me-Be-Like-Me-Are?pid=263924#pid263924

The new issue is my cat walking on the door and stepping on the door lock switch unlocking all the doors! Yes I do have a crate for her but if I'm going to be gone awhile I want her to have access to the litter box, which does not fit in the crate.

Suggestions?

 

[Headache]

The new Verizon plan that is. I meant to edit my last post to reflect that when my internet went down, "again" while using a tablet. Back on my laptop trying to fix my posting. Or at least make it understandable.

I'm assuming you've learned about the new plan by now.  Unlimited data for $80 a month but you only get 10 gigs at 4g and after that they knock you down to 3g.  Should be fine if you're only streaming.  Sadly it won't cover my gaming.

 

[rvpopeye]

I was going to just say pull the fuse but that would be problematic if you wanted to get in (or out).
So ,,,,,maybe try doubling up duct tape sticky side out and placing it over that switch ,,,a couple of encounters with that might convince kitty to find a different path ???????????????????????????????

 

[ArtW]

That is an excellent idea, cats HATE tape on their feet

 

[Ballenxj]

I'm assuming you've learned about the new plan by now.  Unlimited data for $80 a month but you only get 10 gigs at 4g and after that they knock you down to 3g.  Should be fine if you're only streaming.  Sadly it won't cover my gaming.

Is that including talk, text, & data?

 

[closeanuf]

This may be too easy, but why would you not just put a key in your pocket or around your neck INCASE the cat steps on the switch?

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

This may be too easy, but why would you not just put a key in your pocket or around your neck INCASE the cat steps on the switch?

Sounds more like a case of the cat unlockin[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]g the door(s) when alone so anyone could have access that tried the door than the door [font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]gettin[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]g locked by accident.[/font][/font][/font]