platinum
Member
Hi everyone, new here.
I am 44 years old and love camping and being on the road but i am working full time here in Montreal, Ca
Been sleeping in my car quite often in my younger years while attending car shows that were more than 8-9 hours away from home. Couple of years ago i bought a long time dream of mine a 1988 24' class C RV, needless to say it was for me a big mistake, the 460 cu.in. engine with no overdrive sucked my wallet dry in gas ( gas was not cheap in Montreal couple of years ago up to $1.55/liters you do the math
), along the way came RV specific repairs i was not able to handle, fridge, water heater, leaks $$$$, storage fees etc.. Sold the damn thing and took a big hit and i have no regrets.
It was a costly learning curve but it helped me refocus on my real needs, bought a 2000 Astro cargo last year, as an auto tech i was able to fix it's mechanical woes for not a lot of money, visited the local pick and pull to get tinted pop out windows for the rear doors and side door and a couple of other parts to freshen up it's appearance.
Last summer was what i call STAGE 1,
Consulted my girl on her specific camping needs, completely gutted and cleaned the rear cargo area, installed new flooring, roof vent, insulated the walls and roof, with the help of a friend of mine, we did a bed with hinges that could be either a single or double bed depending on my needs of the day, 2 group 29 marine batteries, one big inverter, bought a potty, made a cabinet that will hold food, a big water jug, mini removable sink, installed a olympian wave 3 heater on slide out rails also Bought vintage looking mag wheels with new tires but kept the original wheels just in case i need to stay stealthy .After the initial shock of seeing this van ( it was a work van after all... ), my girlfriend was converted after a weekend of camping in the Adirondacks with it.
Great now lets go on vacation with it to have fun and find possible flaws with my setup. did a 4 states tour with it with my girlfriend , NY,Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. slept at a couple of Walmart and other improvised area. Needed to pay for a camping place every 2-3 days to shower and recharge the batteries but overall it went pretty well. I am hooked , girlfriend enjoyed the experience and i love this van !!!
Girlfriend dumped me last christmas
Now its 2015 and i am ready for STAGE 2.
Still emotionally hit by what happened with my ex, i am ready for stage 2,
Here's what's in store for stage 2 ( next 2 months )
*swivelling base for passenger bucket seat
*200w renogy solar panels with mppt controller
*ARB 50 qt. fridge to replace the failing 12v coleman cooler
*finish work on the interior to make it look like a professionally built mini RV.
* install a stock astro roof rack to hold and help hide the solar panels.
* install alarm /remote start system
* install a better sound system than the stock offering.
* fix a few minor thing here and there
* buy a 3g ipad to be able to access internet pretty much everywhere in the US with a US sim card and to be used as a
GPS device with all stays truck and travel apps. BLM apps etc...
Planning on vanning all summer long and to sort things out and planning a mini 5 weeks snow bird vacation to Florida or Arizona next winter in it.
Will i ever be able to find a nice girl compatible with this lifestyle ? Dunno... And right now to be brutally honest, don't care.
I am 44 years old and love camping and being on the road but i am working full time here in Montreal, Ca
Been sleeping in my car quite often in my younger years while attending car shows that were more than 8-9 hours away from home. Couple of years ago i bought a long time dream of mine a 1988 24' class C RV, needless to say it was for me a big mistake, the 460 cu.in. engine with no overdrive sucked my wallet dry in gas ( gas was not cheap in Montreal couple of years ago up to $1.55/liters you do the math
), along the way came RV specific repairs i was not able to handle, fridge, water heater, leaks $$$$, storage fees etc.. Sold the damn thing and took a big hit and i have no regrets.It was a costly learning curve but it helped me refocus on my real needs, bought a 2000 Astro cargo last year, as an auto tech i was able to fix it's mechanical woes for not a lot of money, visited the local pick and pull to get tinted pop out windows for the rear doors and side door and a couple of other parts to freshen up it's appearance.
Last summer was what i call STAGE 1,
Consulted my girl on her specific camping needs, completely gutted and cleaned the rear cargo area, installed new flooring, roof vent, insulated the walls and roof, with the help of a friend of mine, we did a bed with hinges that could be either a single or double bed depending on my needs of the day, 2 group 29 marine batteries, one big inverter, bought a potty, made a cabinet that will hold food, a big water jug, mini removable sink, installed a olympian wave 3 heater on slide out rails also Bought vintage looking mag wheels with new tires but kept the original wheels just in case i need to stay stealthy .After the initial shock of seeing this van ( it was a work van after all... ), my girlfriend was converted after a weekend of camping in the Adirondacks with it.
Great now lets go on vacation with it to have fun and find possible flaws with my setup. did a 4 states tour with it with my girlfriend , NY,Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. slept at a couple of Walmart and other improvised area. Needed to pay for a camping place every 2-3 days to shower and recharge the batteries but overall it went pretty well. I am hooked
, girlfriend enjoyed the experience and i love this van !!!Girlfriend dumped me last christmas
Now its 2015 and i am ready for STAGE 2.
Still emotionally hit by what happened with my ex, i am ready for stage 2,
Here's what's in store for stage 2 ( next 2 months )
*swivelling base for passenger bucket seat
*200w renogy solar panels with mppt controller
*ARB 50 qt. fridge to replace the failing 12v coleman cooler
*finish work on the interior to make it look like a professionally built mini RV.
* install a stock astro roof rack to hold and help hide the solar panels.
* install alarm /remote start system
* install a better sound system than the stock offering.
* fix a few minor thing here and there
* buy a 3g ipad to be able to access internet pretty much everywhere in the US with a US sim card and to be used as a
GPS device with all stays truck and travel apps. BLM apps etc...
Planning on vanning all summer long and to sort things out and planning a mini 5 weeks snow bird vacation to Florida or Arizona next winter in it.
Will i ever be able to find a nice girl compatible with this lifestyle ? Dunno... And right now to be brutally honest, don't care.
