Hi

[Iamg000]

I've been following cheaper RV living for a few years now. 
I have been bouncing all over the United States for work for years now. The company provides me with a Chevy 2500 HD to carry tools equipment and supplies. I just got my new 2020 after putting 280k miles on my old 2017. I have been renting Airbnb staying at hotels and Craigslist. I get fully reimbursed for the short-term hotels and I get a stipend for apartment / Craigslist / Airbnb. I have several condos and houses scattered throughout the u.s. that are currently rented but I am considering liquidating them as they barely keep up with the wear and tear from the tenants. I had a solar panel ragtop with Magnetic fishing hooks on the side of the 2017 that charged a couple of cheap solar generators and the ran a alpicool fridge. The Craigslist postings I have been getting more and more insane overtime and the airbnb's are getting more and more expensive, my stipend is no longer covering the rentals. I've been looking around and the cargo van has a much greater towing capacity done is currently being used by the company equipment. I am hoping to get help with a hidden tow hitch and non-permanent  mounts for solar panels. I cannot punch holes in the roof since I do not own the cargo van. I am looking to have a lightweight  cargo trailer  built for me  I do electronics but I am not very handy with woodworking. I would like to be able to just come out to my job site disconnect the trailer and go do my thing and once I'm done take off and not have to deal with the crazies on Craigslist any longer or pay out the nose for airbnb's.

 

[Iamg000]

I am currently basing out of San Antonio Texas. I have been in Texas since 2011, but I have been to Corpus, Victoria, Port Arthur, several times into the valley, Austin, College Station Abilene, West Tyler. Current project is back in Austin, so I am traveling between San Antonio and the job site in Austin. ( yes I have a house in southeast San Antonio after staying for three years I decided to saddle somewhere in the middle of where the worksites have been and for once it has worked out. At least I have been in Texas for going on ten years and they haven't moved me to a different state yet but now since I'm posting my next job site is probably going to be somewhere back in the West Coast.

 

[landyachtman]

Welcome to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

Most of our rules boil down to two simple over-riding principles: 1) What you post should provide good information (like your introductory post), and 2) Any response to someone else's post should make them feel glad they are part of this forum community.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[eDJ_]

Would a Utility Trailer build work best for you ?   If you could get a "less obvious" trailer hitch and electrical connection (for the trailer's lighting) installed on the Van and simply build yourself a bed across the rear of the Van,
then the trailer could take care of the rest of your needs.

The first link below on Van Conversion has a couple of links at the top  for converting a trailer and building a Bug-Out Car.  On the trailer page......there are some ideas that may work for you.  I would want a trailer that was 6'6" tall inside so I could stand up in it would be my choice.  Solar could be mounted on it, along with awnings etc.

 

[Iamg000]

I am looking for a utility trailer. The cargo van doesn't belong to me  and has provided for work by the company I work for and is full of work-related stuff and has cargo racks in it. I have in the past put down a foam pad and a sleeping bag in there and spend the night, when running too late to get a hotel for the night. I normally keep  a  foam pad and several changes of clothing in the van for different reasons and the large amount of travel I do. In those cases of just run the van for air conditioning.( company pays the fuel). I can probably install couple of house batteries in the van and charging from the alternator well I'm working, then have a 50/30 amp  24/48 volt hookup to the trailer. Have the roof covered and panels on the trailer and have more batteries in it... I don't really cook I will need a microwave and a larger fridge than I have now and since it's South Texas of that have to figure out how to run air conditioning and have enough batteries.
Don't want to have to deal with Black Water but a shower would be nice to have installed in it. I can fill up a water daily and transport in the cargo van before or after my work. I'd pick up a cassette toilet for emergency use.