Hello from WA State

[RME40]

Hows it going?
I'm Randall, 29yrs old and single. I live near Woodland, WA. I have a full-time job and get paid $12 an hour. However, it seems like my life is on repeat and I'm getting tired of it. I work 8hrs a day and then, it seems like I come home long enough to get something to eat and go to bed. I have a 1986 dodge ram truck with a canopy. I don't know if I wanna live in my truck for long term or not. I just know that I wanna get out and explore as many places as possible. Anyways, I like the idea of living in a vehicle and being free to travel at any moment. I've watched plenty of youtube videos about people living their RV and other vehicles.
I was thinking I could live in my truck and do odd jobs along the way. Anyways, I got a truck with a canopy and so what should I do next?

 

[Hippiechk]

Hi Randall

Go camping & see how you like it for a start.

I wouldn't give up that day job just yet but if it's a good fit for your life after a try out then make some plans & hit the roads!

Working odd jobs as an itinerant worker is getting harder these days as you don't have local references. Now that said, if you have a good skill set & a good attitude you will find work. If you have a great skill set & a great attitude, work will find you!

Welcome to the forums & good luck!

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forum    

Good advice I'm reading here.  You could continue working and looking for solutions to going on the road.
You'll find a lot of those solutions others have and are using now while you are reading this forum. 

Do you have broadband such that you can view Youtube video's ? Could you use a Library computer if you don't and watch this video ?

Also,  does your Truck have a receiver hitch such that you could tow a  small utility trailer ?

This video came to my mind when I read your introduction post.   It may be for you.  A trailer could be
purchased used even and set up like this.  That way you could travel with it and camp in it, park it when you
want to go  exploring for a day or two (sleep in the back of the truck)  and then return to the trailer. 

Check this Video:

Bug Out Vehicle-Cargo Trailer Stealth Camper pt 1




In the top link below,  I've designed a trailer (on the last page) that I would tow behind my big Van.  You can look at it to see if you could draw any ideas from it.   Mine is more for "utility" than sleeping in as I'd be sleeping  in my Van all the time. 

So, good luck with what ever you choose to do.  There are so many ways to go about this.  Even a slide in
Pick-Up camper could be a solution for you since you have a Pick-Up.

 

[ghost]

You already know the answer Randall. If you continue to do what you are doing it's only going to grind you down more. Trust me, I'm 10 years older than you and have been down that path. Make smart moves now (no debt/ emergency fund) to do what makes you happy. You only go around once... Life is all about decisions, make the right one.

Peace,

Matt

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, Randall! I agree with hippiechic. Go camping. Think about your wants and needs and whether or not you can achieve those needs living in a vehicle.

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.

 

[JeriLynn]

Hows it going?
I'm Randall, 29yrs old and single. I live near Woodland, WA. I have a full-time job and get paid $12 an hour. However, it seems like my life is on repeat and I'm getting tired of it. I work 8hrs a day and then, it seems like I come home long enough to get something to eat and go to bed. I have a 1986 dodge ram truck with a canopy. I don't know if I wanna live in my truck for long term or not. I just know that I wanna get out and explore as many places as possible. Anyways, I like the idea of living in a vehicle and being free to travel at any moment. I've watched plenty of youtube videos about people living their RV and other vehicles.
I was thinking I could live in my truck and do odd jobs along the way. Anyways, I got a truck with a canopy and so what should I do next?

Welcome Randall, 
Here are my two cents worth of advice. If I wanted to find work on the road, I would get a work van and if possible get a sign or buy a van that already has a sign painted on it. This would add to your credibility as a working person and give you a larger space. A canopy seems awfully small to live in. But as someone suggested you could do some local camping and try it out. Then again you could pull some sort of trailer with your truck. 
Happy Trails

 

[RME40]

Welcome to the CRVL Forum    

Good advice I'm reading here.  You could continue working and looking for solutions to going on the road.
You'll find a lot of those solutions others have and are using now while you are reading this forum. 

Do you have broadband such that you can view Youtube video's ? Could you use a Library computer if you don't and watch this video ?

Also,  does your Truck have a receiver hitch such that you could tow a  small utility trailer ?

This video came to my mind when I read your introduction post.   It may be for you.  A trailer could be
purchased used even and set up like this.  That way you could travel with it and camp in it, park it when you
want to go  exploring for a day or two (sleep in the back of the truck)  and then return to the trailer. 

Check this Video:

Bug Out Vehicle-Cargo Trailer Stealth Camper pt 1




In the top link below,  I've designed a trailer (on the last page) that I would tow behind my big Van.  You can look at it to see if you could draw any ideas from it.   Mine is more for "utility" than sleeping in as I'd be sleeping  in my Van all the time. 

So, good luck with what ever you choose to do.  There are so many ways to go about this.  Even a slide in
Pick-Up camper could be a solution for you since you have a Pick-Up.

I have satellite internet and its not that great if you ask me. I have to use it like a cell phone plan. Watching videos eats up my data allowance and I start out with 10GB every month. However, I also have 50GB of bonus bytes. They can only be used between 2am to 8am.
I'm afraid my truck do not have a receiver hitch at the moment. I also don't have any experience in towing any trailers.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job and it pays well. I just hate the idea of working like a slave and have nothing to show for it. I don't like the idea of renting or buying a house. Rent is crazy especially in Clark County of WA. My family and I are currently paying $900 a month for rent. I guess, we would all be homeless by now if we didn't live together.

 

[RME40]

Welcome Randall, 
Here are my two cents worth of advice. If I wanted to find work on the road, I would get a work van and if possible get a sign or buy a van that already has a sign painted on it. This would add to your credibility as a working person and give you a larger space. A canopy seems awfully small to live in. But as someone suggested you could do some local camping and try it out. Then again you could pull some sort of trailer with your truck. 
Happy Trails

Hello JeriLynn,
My 1986 dodge ram is my dream truck and I plan on keeping it for many years. I may just replace the canopy with a camper some day. However, the canopy is not all that small. The canopy have a double barn doors as some people like to call it. The canopy is also made out of aluminum and so its lightweight. Anyways, I'm thinking about building some kind of bed with storage underneath. I like the idea of having a trailer but, I'm afraid I don't have any experience with pulling one. So, its a bit intimidating to me.

 

[RME40]

Hi Randall

Go camping & see how you like it for a start.

I wouldn't give up that day job just yet but if it's a good fit for your life after a try out then make some plans & hit the roads!

Working odd jobs as an itinerant worker is getting harder these days as you don't have local references. Now that said, if you have a good skill set & a good attitude you will find work. If you have a great skill set & a great attitude, work will find you!

Welcome to the forums & good luck!

Hello Hippiechk!
Do you have any ideas where I can find free or at least cheap campsites? I know of one but, its up north in Sequim, WA. They charge $10 a night but, that was back in 2011. So, I imagine they changed their prices by now.

 

[RME40]

You already know the answer Randall.  If you continue to do what you are doing it's only going to grind you down more.  Trust me,  I'm 10 years older than you and have been down that path.  Make smart moves now (no debt/ emergency fund) to do what makes you happy.  You only go around once...  Life is all about decisions, make the right one.

Peace,

Matt

What steps did you take to get off the path that I am on now? Do I just build up my emergency fund and live/travel off of that?

 

[TrainChaser]

What would you do if your company shut down?

 

[ArtW]

from your description of your canopy, it sounds like a slide in 'work canopy' that should do for now if we're talking 8 foot bed / canopy, if it's 6 feet you'll be a bit cramped
check these out
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/build-camper/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/ingenious-camper-shell/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/survivalist-truck-dweller/
as for pulling a trailer, the only hard part is backing it, and here's a trick for that
Put your hand in the middle of the BOTTOM of the steering wheel
now whichever way you hand goes, the trailer will go when you back it
Go slow, don't be afraid to start over
When i first started working for a dealership that sold trailers as well as cars / motorcycles, I couldn't back a trailer for squat
I won't say I'm a pro now, but I'm pretty good at it

 

[SUV_RVing]

You live in a beautiful part of the country, and this is the best time of year there. I'd say start out going on overnight and weekend trips to the forests and mountains to see how you like it. Check out http://freecampsites.net for places to sleep for free.

 

[RME40]

from your description of your canopy, it sounds like a slide in 'work canopy' that should do for now if we're talking 8 foot bed / canopy, if it's 6 feet you'll be a bit cramped
check these out
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/build-camper/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/ingenious-camper-shell/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/survivalist-truck-dweller/
as for pulling a trailer, the only hard part is backing it, and here's a trick for that
Put your hand in the middle of the BOTTOM of the steering wheel
now whichever way you hand goes, the trailer will go when you back it
Go slow, don't be afraid to start over
When i first started working for a dealership that sold trailers as well as cars / motorcycles, I couldn't back a trailer for squat
I won't say I'm a pro now, but I'm pretty good at it

Yes, I think you're right about my canopy and I do have a 8ft bed truck. I use to have a 1991 GMC Sonoma truck and I believe it just had a 6ft bed. It had a canopy and I use to sleep in it in the driveway for a month or so. It was big enough for me to sleep in and that was about it. So, I think my current truck and canopy is big enough to add a few things as long as I don't get too carried away. I'll have to post some pictures of my truck/canopy.

 

[RME40]

What would you do if your company shut down?

Hopefully, I'll be ready to live in my truck full-time by then. However, I don't see my company shut down anytime soon since they legalized marijuana. Then again, anything can happen at any moment.