hey folks

[nanook]

My name is Jae, I'm a 31 year old guy from SC right on the NC border. I recently took up surfing and would really like to have a van to carry my board, change in and out of shorts/wetsuits and have a place to sleep if I go somewhere overnight.<br><br>Also I've been fascinated with vandwelling for a while now. I wrote down all my expenses to see why it is that I can't seem to save money. Basically I spend everything I make. Then I wrote down what I would be spending if I lived in a van. It was less than half of that. I'm not sure if vandwelling is something I'd be happy doing or not but this looks like the place to talk about it. Looking forward to chatting with you folks and getting some ideas <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br>

 

[cyndi]

<P><FONT size=3>Hi Jae!&nbsp; Welcome!&nbsp; Part-timing will be a great way to decide whether or not full-timing is for you.&nbsp; Personally, I can't imagine wanting the rock of a stix and brix home tied around my neck ever again!</FONT></P>

 

[nanook]

Well right now I'm at work, I hook up satellite dishes. I just hooked up a full timer at the Carowinds campground near Charlotte. If you work part time in the amusement park you get RV hookup for $175 a month or a tent site for $75. My interest is definitely growing.

Also, that pic of the van with the surfboards is awesome!

 

[nanook]

And right now I'm taking my lunch break sitting in the work van in the shade pretending I live here <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[VanFan]

And right now I'm taking my lunch break sitting in the work van in the shade pretending I live here <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

<br>Uh oh...&nbsp; That's how it starts!&nbsp; LOL.<br>Vickie<br>

 

[Imladris]

Ola! I'm from SC too, in Greenville! seems like s lot of ppl on this site are from the northwest, which is where I will be headed in the fall for the first time when I am able to get some sort of rig going. Good to meet another&nbsp;Carolinian&nbsp;who wants to escape.<div>Rachel</div>

 

[Butternut]

<font size="4">I went through the same thing</font>! <font size="4">Living on the road I save around $500 in rent alone. There is the initial expense of setting up the van, but after that, it's all good. Good luck! </font><br><br>http://thetuckerbag.blogspot.com<br><br>

 

[nanook]

How much on average does it take to do a conversion? I'd want a bed across the back and maybe a sink area and somewhere to hang clothes. And wire it for 110 and for use with a battery. I know there are a lot of variables but I'm just looking for a ballpark figure.

 

[Guest]

<P>

<BR>Also I've been fascinated with vandwelling for a while now. I wrote down all my expenses to see why it is that I can't seem to save money. Basically I spend everything I make. Then I wrote down what I would be spending if I lived in a van. It was less than half of that. I'm not sure if vandwelling is something I'd be happy doing or not but this looks like the place to talk about it. Looking forward to chatting with you folks and getting some ideas <BR>

</P><P>Greetings Jae! You'll find pretty much all the info you need here!</P><P>If you're like me, you spend it all, and can't really seem to figure out where the money went right? Even in a van, you may find yourself always out of cash with nothing to show for it. At least that was my issue. I found that I had more money to go do other things like party with my friends. lol So be aware of that!</P><P>Part timing is a perfect idea, do it on the weekends for now, and you'll be able to figure out if it's something you wantt o actually do. It's not for everybody, but it can change your life. </P><P>Make sure to check out peoples blogs for tips and tricks!</P><P><BR>

How much on average does it take to do a conversion? I'd want a bed across the back and maybe a sink area and somewhere to hang clothes. And wire it for 110 and for use with a battery. I know there are a lot of variables but I'm just looking for a ballpark figure.

</P><P>It really comes down to what you want to do in there. It can be a simple as taking your current mattress and tossing it in the back, to building a frame. As for wiring, you'll end up wiring for 12v, and using an inverter to get the 110 you're looking for to use appliances.</P><P>I suggest read, read, read, and then for fun, read some more on every blog you can find to see what they do for electricity. You never really notice just how much you use, until it suddenly runs out. In your part timing, spend an entire day in the van just doing stuff, you'll get to see just how much you actually may use!</P><P>&nbsp;</P>