Hello Everyone

[Mortisha]

Hello everyone I am from SW Ohio and am researching rv living because I believe within the next 2 years I will be forced to change my lifestyle. I am looking into everything... what is best to buy and such. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[BigBlue]

Hello and welcome from LA. i have a friend that lives in Ohio that i'm supposed to visit when my van is complete. for me when i was looking for a van i was looking for the most affordable avenue. so i got an older van with a few problems but im a mechanic so its no issue for me to work on an old van. if your not mechanically inclined than maybe a newer van around the 07' even the 12' models may best suit your needs. so i guess what im trying to say is you have to decide what you like and what you want and a individual and we will help make it a reality.<br /><br />search some of these on google:<br /><br />conversion van<br /><br />camper van <br /><br />sportsmobile<br /><br />westphalia <br /><br />VW campers<br /><br />chevy van <br /><br />ford van <br /><br />van<br /><br />just to get an idea of what you like and what the possibilities are. hope this helps a little

 

[Mortisha]

Hello and Thanks for your response =) I was given a van for free an astro van and I did see this site that explains how to renovate it but wondering if I should get a small motor home. I have loads of questions either way. If you have just a van can you go to rv campgrounds to stay? which is more inexpensive? ect. I have looked around for motor homes and westphalia vans but they are kinda expensive and I am really wanting to keep costs to a minimum. I have always wanted to see the world and with this economy and being broke who knows how I ever will. Maybe this is the way or maybe it isn't but I am researching all ways LOL Thanks again HuggZ<br /><br />http://cheaprvliving.com/Katies_Astro.html

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<p>Welcome fom another Ohio dweller.</p>

 

[Mortisha]

Hello Dragonflyinthesky&nbsp;<img src="images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[Les H]

Hi Morticia, welcome. An astro is an excellent van for a single person to live and travel in. There are some couples in astro's too, though i would find it a tight fit.
A small motorhome will use much more gas, but offer more room and conveniances. The van selection is one of hardest and most personal choices as there are so many factors to consitter. What i might think is frivilous and unnecessary is the one thing you cant live without. Like bigblue, i bought what was affordable and available at tbe time and then adapted it to suit ME. Keep reading and posting questions, and we will do our best to answer and help you out.

 

[wandering mike]

Welcome. &nbsp;I am also in Ohio (Akron area) for the moment. &nbsp;While I am new to this site as well, I am not so new to the idea of CheapRVLiving. &nbsp;<br /><br />If you have two years to plan for this, you will be fine. &nbsp;Actually, nothing says your first night out in the mini-van can't be next week. &nbsp;Spend an overnight at a 24 hour SuperWalmart near your current living quarters. &nbsp;Or go to a state park and camp in a campsite with some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a jug of water. &nbsp;Or just spend the night in the van in the driveway. &nbsp;Or maybe a Flying J truck stop. &nbsp;Park near a home depot and use the free wi-fi. &nbsp;Get a cheap inverter to charge your laptop (while not running your car battery down). &nbsp;Things like that. If something goes slightly awry, you just drive home. &nbsp;And if you keep reading and asking here and in other similar forums, you will be very ready.

 

[Guest]

Welcome from New Mexico, Mortisha. I think Wandering Mike's suggestion is right on! Heck, you can just start in your driveway....or the street in front of your house.....there is nothing like being in the van, trying it out, to find out what you want regarding comfort, etc.<br /><br />Les gives some good suggestions too since this adventure is all about you...what you want and what you need. As does BigBlue.<br /><br />My needs are different than a lot of people. I live in a stix and brix and just use the van for trips...I want the best mpg I can get and still be comfy. I chose a shorty Astrovan Chinook conversion van and find it perfect for me solo...and I am a big guy, 6'2", 240#.<br /><br />A motorhome of any size is more room but if you drive it a lot, you will pay the price of escalating fuel costs. if you will stay in a smaller area, it may be perfect....one of our friends on here has a big, elderly Class C motorhome and he tows a Ford Fiesta for running around...in fact when he goes to Mexico in the winter, he drives the Ford and takes a tent. Lots of ways to go. It is really all about you.<br /><br />It makes you think about what you really want to do with the rest of your life.. LOL That said, nothing you decide is&nbsp; set in concrete...you can change up or down or whatever...I have been changing rigs all my life and I am an old guy now. In fact my wife and I have different rigs....I have the Chinookie, she has a Mazda 4wd truck with a FourWheel camper on it. We go together in hers sometimes and sometimes take both and meet somewhere for a camp. We also have motorcycles and ride them together and do a tent camp....lots of choices.<br /><br />Good Luck,<br />Bri<br /><br />

 

[Mortisha]

Hello and Thanks Les, Mike, Bri, and everyone else =) That is a good idea to just take a day or two and camp out in it to test the waters... so to say LOL I have a super wal-mart near me and I could try the drive way as well. My van is going to need lots of work to get it ready for any type of real camping though lol. I did think of the whole rv idea but with gas prices I think I would be better off doing it in the van. I would love all the comforts but I want to see lots of places more. I love photography and would love to go west one day and maybe even alaska. I think my two biggest issues are... me being a little afraid and of course what my family will say when they find out what I am planning to do. They already think I am a bit crazy LOL. Maybe I should start a whole topic on just that... what does your family think of what you are doing? LOL Thanks again and have a wonderful day HuggZ

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome Mortisha! Very good suggestions so far. Once you get a few overnights in and find what works for you ,try some longer trips. You'll discover pretty quickly whether the van's the right choice. A two year time frame to get ready for van or RV living gives you a great opportunity to experiment.<br /><br />Link to a topic that has already been started -" Should you tell people?"<br /><a href="Should-You-Tell-Your-Family-amp-Friends-5859251?trail=15">https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Should-You-Tell-Your-Family-amp-Friends-5859251?trail=15</a>

 

[Seraphim]

Welcome. Quite a few of us buckeyes here...<br /><br />I agree that the best thing you can do right now is get out in the Astro van and give it a try: take things out, put things in, find out what works.&nbsp; When you hit a comfortable spot get out and try a little longer period. Then decide if the Astro will work for you or not.<br /><br />An old camper van, like the Intervec Falcon and it's relations, can be had relatively inexpensively and are fully equipped. Nothing you have to add, just make sure everything works. Lower gas mileage - assume 12 mph overall. Bigger Class Cs and As figure 8 - 10 mph.<br /><br />Right now, though, use what you have and get comfortable with the idea. No point in spending a lot of money, only to find out later it's really not for you.

 

[twokniveskatie]

<span style="color: #888888;">Hi mortisha! My astro has changed some since Bob did that build. I have had it set up different ways...I love how flexible it has been for me. My blog shows different ways it has been configured. I still have the shelf unit that Bob built. I had him build the bed too high....the idea of double drawers underneath was good,but was too high to use the bunk as a couch. The current height (on 10 inch crates) is perfect. Starting out really flexible is great until you get a sense I what works for you.&nbsp;<br /><br /></span>I love my shelves! With my drivers seat reversed I can cook and access my bookshelves and have a recliner. That one act he did for me changed everything for me. it finally felt like a camper. I sometimes think of more space or conveniences in a larger rig, but can't imagine giving up the benefits of my little van. Maybe when I am really really old....<br /><br />I started out with so many fears. I did some small steps, shirt trips, a little at a time. Then I just got on rt 80 and pointed myself towards the west coast. It was the most thrilling and liberating thing I ever did! I have stayed everywhere in my astro, and almost never pay to park. I consider it a benefit of being small, although I am far from stealthy. I haven't needed that up to this point.&nbsp;<br /><br />You will be just fine. Keep in close touch with us. My first cross-country trip, folks like the ones you are meeting here talked me all the way to the pacific! We can certainly talk you through a parking lot overnight <br /><br />Kate

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Welcome aboard, Mortisha! Hope U find the new lifestyle to your liking! I myself will be a full-time "vandweller" in about 6 weeks, but I'll be doing it on my own property after they take my mobile home away.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I'll be posting more updates as I make the transition over the next few weeks. Perhaps something I post will be helpful to U, as U consider this radical lifestyle change! <br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[Stillwater]

Welcome, Mortisha. I love the logon and can't wait to see the avatar!&nbsp;<br /><br />Dry runs... try someplace nonthreatening with what you've got right now. You'll be surprised at what is necessary and what turns out to be needless ballast.

 

[Mortisha]

Hello everyone... wow everyone is so friendly here and so very helpful HuggZ<br /><br />TonyandKaren Thanks so much I do hope to take a few steps now to prepare myself for the coming freedom HuggZ<br /><br />Seraphim... I did check out the&nbsp;Intervec Falcon that you recommended and that would be so awesome if I had one of those to live in. I did check craigslist but nothing available any where in my state =( Only thing holding me back with getting something like that would be my financial situation. Right now I am renting this house from my aunt and it is soooo expensive that I never have even a dime to spare. I guess I am kinda like everyone in the world right now.... broke LOL. Great thing is ... I have always been broke LOL I am a single mom of 4 kids and am kinda used to being down and out all the time. My youngest is on her last 2 yrs of school and after that I will lose that extra money of child support so I need to get things in order now so I am not overly shocked when the time comes LOL HuggZ<br /><br />TwoKnivesKatie.... You really should be commended on your ability to just go for it YAY! I hope when the time comes that I have half of your braveness. I have always wanted to see the world and of course being in this economy and with my situation I never thought it would be possible at all. Now it is like I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel and that does push me to do more. I really liked that bed/shelf set up. It looked really kool only thing is that I wondered about the bed being so thin. I even measured out the 30 inches on my bed to see if I could fit nicely LOL. I am going to take a small trip out soon and try out the van. Thanks HuggZ<br /><br />SirJoey... so sorry to hear they are taking away your mobile home. When they took my house I was sad but I think it was a treasure in disguise for me. I hope your van life will be great. Please let me know how things go for you HuggZ<br /><br />Paddling Man.... I think the first place I am going to try is my drive way LOL just to keep it simple and then I will tackle wal-mart's parking lot LOL even though wal-mart is only 1 mile from my house it will be a little adventurous LOL. As for my avatar.... some time soon I will add one HuggZ&nbsp;<br /><br />Take care everyone and thanks for everything. I really need all the help I can get HuggZ

 

[SirJoey]

SirJoey... so sorry to hear they are taking away your mobile home. When they took my house I was sad but I think it was a treasure in disguise for me. I hope your van life will be great. Please let me know how things go for you HuggZ

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>No sweat, Mortisha, it's by my own choice! My "vandwelling" will actually be "motorhomedwelling" (technically), but it all fits under the general heading of vandwelling, right? <br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Read the whole story here:&nbsp; <a href="Heres-My-Dilemma...-5902195">https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Heres-My-Dilemma...-5902195<br /></a><br /></strong></span>

 

[Mortisha]

Big HuggZ to you SirJoey!&nbsp;