Hello all

[romani10]

Hi all, we are Guy and Deb.<div>&nbsp; We have been living and traveling in our conversion cutaway (box van) for the last yr. and a half. We have had difficulties to overcome, that maybe some or all of you would not normally endure. My wife is disabled due to a brain aneurysm that has affected her severely.</div><div>&nbsp; I am the only one who can drive, and I run for supplies on my motorcycle, which we carry in a small enclosed trailer. Here's the scoop on living in a box van conversion.</div><div>&nbsp; PROS</div><div>Lots of stand up room</div><div>Lots of storage with the cabinets I built</div><div>Modify, build, or otherwise change the interior to anything that suits you</div><div>Not huge, not small, you can get into boondocking sites fairly easily</div><div>Dually tires in the rear, good or a PITA</div><div>&nbsp; CONS</div><div>We have had transmission problems</div><div>Where you break down, is where you get towed from. You better have a roadside assistance plan</div><div>Not stealthy, with the windows and doors installed</div><div>Engine is a pain to get to, you have to remove the doghouse cover (not true for all box vans, just ours)</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;Anyway, that's us! I have included a pic of our set-up, for anyone that's interested in our electrical modifications, etc.</div><div>Glad to finally join the forum!</div>

 

[sl1966]

Welcome Guy &amp; Deb!!! This is a very ingenuitive bunch where I'm sure some solutions to your CONS will be found.<div><br></div>

 

[Seraphim]

<P>Welcome to the group!</P>

 

[cyndi]

Welcome Guy! Welcome Deb! I love me a box van, but after in one in my younger days it wouldn't be my choice now.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Looking forward to hearing more about your travels.</div><div><br></div><div>And pictures of your vehicle! We demand pictures!</div>

 

[4x4tour]

Very cool rig. &nbsp;Welcome...

 

[jstarr06]

Hi Guy and Deb! Welcome to the forums. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif">Hello, Guy and Deb.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Do you have inside walkthrough access from the cab?</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">If you have any interior shots, we'd love to see them.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Regards,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob (aka stude53)&nbsp;</p>

 

[Ryan24]

Welcome! What kinds of places have you two seen in the last year and a half?

 

[fwiw]

welcome aboard<br><br><br>

 

[billgould]

Welcome, Guy and Deb. I am new here myself. I have found this to be the most sharing and caring group I have ever stumbled upon. Would love to see some pics of the interior! <br>

 

[romani10]

I'm just now getting this posting thing down, I might post in the wrong section, or reply to the wrong quote. Never been on a forum before.

 

[romani10]

A lot of you have asked me for pics of the rig, well, here goes. This is a work in progress, a lot unfinished because of limited budget. We plug in one a week to charge batteries and get showers. Mostly we are boondockers. More to come! (don't know why the pics didn't come up in last post, I'm trying again).<div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[romani10]

We haul canopies, water, and motorcycle with the trailer. We are not stealth campers, but &nbsp;boondockers. We need 8 hrs. of electricity to charge batteries once a week. We have a Jack TV antenna and we watch local stations about 10 hrs. a week. All lights, fans, antenna and back ramp are operated by 12 volt or the inverter.

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hey Guy and Deb ... and Patchy!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I tried to comment on your blog, but the only choice was Google account, and mine won't work.&nbsp; If you change your blog's preference&nbsp;choices to include Anonymous, I can leave messages there as well.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sorry to hear of your transmission problems, and the crappy way you have been treated by so-called mechanics. I, too, have been discusted with the lack of honest dealings by some&nbsp;and apparent disregard of honest Old American way of doing business. Indifference to lack of quality work done, or lack of&nbsp;standing by your work is not the way I was raised.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I was touched by your description of Patchy defending you against unseen enemies. Patchy is a handsome dog. </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">My two dogs are dear to me too, and never fail to greet me warmly when ever I walk in, and always alert me when some unknown person is near. They are great company, too.</p>

 

[Les H]

Hi and welcome. I wonder if the blue flames cut down on stealth....just saying. .
Glad you are both here, and sorry to hear of the issues with the rig. Looks to be just right for the two of you.
Les

 

[romani10]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hey Guy and Deb ... and Patchy!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I tried to comment on your blog, but the only choice was Google account, and mine won't work.&nbsp; If you change your blog's preference&nbsp;choices to include Anonymous, I can leave messages there as well.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sorry to hear of your transmission problems, and the crappy way you have been treated by so-called mechanics. I, too, have been discusted with the lack of honest dealings by some&nbsp;and apparent disregard of honest Old American way of doing business. Indifference to lack of quality work done, or lack of&nbsp;standing by your work is not the way I was raised.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I was touched by your description of Patchy defending you against unseen enemies. Patchy is a handsome dog. </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">My two dogs are dear to me too, and never fail to greet me warmly when ever I walk in, and always alert me when some unknown person is near. They are great company, too.</p>

&nbsp;<div>&nbsp; Thanks, stude53. I have changed the blog to "anonymous." I don't know much about this blog stuff, am learning though.</div>

 

[romani10]

Hi and welcome. I wonder if the blue flames cut down on stealth....just saying. .<br> Glad you are both here, and sorry to hear of the issues with the rig. Looks to be just right for the two of you. <br>Les

<div>&nbsp; Yeah, get's back to my racing days. Just kidding. Had to buy the rig like that. Stealthy it ain't!</div>

 

[romani10]

Welcome! What kinds of places have you two seen in the last year and a half?

<div>&nbsp; We have run the gamut from ice cold winter in Indiana to hot muggy summer in Florida. We first went south from Indiana and then headed west. Mostly boondocking, NF type places with dispersed camping. We were not really ready to leave Indiana, but I felt we had to go then or never.</div>

 

[Seraphim]

It's always a good time to leave Indiana lol...<br><br>Sorry, my brother lives just over the border, and he tosses out Buckeye jokes while I respond with Hoosier cracks. Then there's the fact he was Navy I was I was Marine Corps, and he leans Democrat while I lean Republican. <br><br>So forgive the occasional Hoosier joke - it's automatic lol.<br><br>What part of the Hoosier State are you from?<br><br>

 

[romani10]

Seraphim, we are from Indianapolis. make that were from. worked outside there for years and froze my damn hands so many times I can barely use them.