theNomadicHacker
Member
Greetings Everyone!
I've been lurking around this site for the better part of two months and have been enthralled by all of the helpful information. I didn't actually visit the forums until just a couple of weeks ago, I was so caught up in the how-to's and articles. I'm a 35 year old software developer with a background in construction who dabbles in mechanical work and music.
My foray into vandwelling was spurred by necessity but fueled by extreme enthusiasm. For many years, I've had an interest in the mobile lifestyle and a strong desire to simplify my life (I've also always _really_ hated paying rent). For several years after college, I lived in a small room on a chicken farm on an off-grid ecovillage deep in the appalachian mountains. I loved it and miss it, and am accustomed to occupying a small space and being frugal.
Being forced into "homelessness" (it's a long story and I may perhaps share it someday), I didn't have a lot of time or resources to plan. In early Feb., I moved all of my stuff (including myself) into a 10'X20' storage unit. It's little more than a metal box and, in the frozen tundra of the north, has been veeeery cold; thankfully, I have good winter gear (and even more thankfully...it's finally starting to warm up).
Last month, I traded my beloved 17' Wenohnah canoe for a '97 Town and Country and shortly afterwards rented a second 10'x20' unit to act as a (very cramped) garage. Over the last several weeks, after work and on the weekends; I've gutted the interior, bypassed the rear heating unit (the lines were rusted out all the way up to the firewall), installed new valve cover gaskets, an intake manifold gasket, all of the gaskets associated with the upper intake manifold, put in new spark plugs & wires, replaced the PCV valve, and rewired the aftermarket stereo that someone had wired wrong. Mechanically, I just need to do a full brake job and plug the rear AC lines so that I can completely remove the rear AC/Heating unit (it takes up sooo much space). It's been a great excuse to buy a lot of mechanics tools that I've needed (wanted) for a long time. And yes, I realize y'all like seeing build-outs, so I've been taking pictures and will eventually create a post about it.
As for the build itself, the van is old and rusted and I don't intend for it to last more than a couple of years. So I'm only going to do the basics and invest only my time and energy...salvaging and scavenging what I need (I've already hauled in a bunch of nice (free) lumber to use).
Currently, I'm leaning towards eventually purchasing a nice cargo trailer and doing a solid custom build on that, but my plan seems to be changing weekly or so as it molds.
Anyway, I'm excited about this new adventure (and to get the hell out of this metal box) and looking forward to getting to know more of you fine people!
I've been lurking around this site for the better part of two months and have been enthralled by all of the helpful information. I didn't actually visit the forums until just a couple of weeks ago, I was so caught up in the how-to's and articles. I'm a 35 year old software developer with a background in construction who dabbles in mechanical work and music.
My foray into vandwelling was spurred by necessity but fueled by extreme enthusiasm. For many years, I've had an interest in the mobile lifestyle and a strong desire to simplify my life (I've also always _really_ hated paying rent). For several years after college, I lived in a small room on a chicken farm on an off-grid ecovillage deep in the appalachian mountains. I loved it and miss it, and am accustomed to occupying a small space and being frugal.
Being forced into "homelessness" (it's a long story and I may perhaps share it someday), I didn't have a lot of time or resources to plan. In early Feb., I moved all of my stuff (including myself) into a 10'X20' storage unit. It's little more than a metal box and, in the frozen tundra of the north, has been veeeery cold; thankfully, I have good winter gear (and even more thankfully...it's finally starting to warm up).
Last month, I traded my beloved 17' Wenohnah canoe for a '97 Town and Country and shortly afterwards rented a second 10'x20' unit to act as a (very cramped) garage. Over the last several weeks, after work and on the weekends; I've gutted the interior, bypassed the rear heating unit (the lines were rusted out all the way up to the firewall), installed new valve cover gaskets, an intake manifold gasket, all of the gaskets associated with the upper intake manifold, put in new spark plugs & wires, replaced the PCV valve, and rewired the aftermarket stereo that someone had wired wrong. Mechanically, I just need to do a full brake job and plug the rear AC lines so that I can completely remove the rear AC/Heating unit (it takes up sooo much space). It's been a great excuse to buy a lot of mechanics tools that I've needed (wanted) for a long time. And yes, I realize y'all like seeing build-outs, so I've been taking pictures and will eventually create a post about it.
As for the build itself, the van is old and rusted and I don't intend for it to last more than a couple of years. So I'm only going to do the basics and invest only my time and energy...salvaging and scavenging what I need (I've already hauled in a bunch of nice (free) lumber to use).
Currently, I'm leaning towards eventually purchasing a nice cargo trailer and doing a solid custom build on that, but my plan seems to be changing weekly or so as it molds.
Anyway, I'm excited about this new adventure (and to get the hell out of this metal box) and looking forward to getting to know more of you fine people!
