Hoping to be urban vandwelling within the year!

[Frith]

Hi Everyone!
A little about me: I grew up moving around and have recently moved to CT. I am excited to find other people with this same yearning to be minimalist, nomadic, and eco-friendly.
I am trying to figure out a couple of problems that maybe someone can give some insight on:
1. I live in an urban area and I worry about finding parking and keeping stealth. I have a good job so moving isn't an option (not yet). Any personal insight on URBAN dwelling would be lovely.
2. It snows up here in CT and am worried about the coldness. Anyone have experience on keeping warm in the winter? Again, I can't move to warmer climate.


Thank you all for welcoming me and I look forward to see you on the road!

-Frith

 

[Gardenias]

Hi Frith, and welcome!!

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Frith!

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.

 

[jonyjoe303]

welcome, for cold or hot weather, nothing beats foam insulation. It'll keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The more insulation you use the better.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

I haven't lived so far North myself.  Visited there in the nicer months plenty. 

I would imagine that if you could find a garage to rent and park your Van in during the winter months
that it could give you an advantage on the weather.   Then if you could have some kind of heat in the garage
that is enough to make it livable & safe (Co detectors etc).....and provided that local laws don't regulate against such, then you may be able to have a membership to a Gym like Planet Fitness for example where you could go clean up, change clothes etc.

If you could get out of city limits and set up a garage/tiny home to park your Van in at night,  you may have a living room kitchen to relax in and sleep in the Van at night. 

I would imagine that some day the people who make these kinds of shelters will realize that there is a growing number of people who are living out of their Cars & Vans who would buy such a building that they would deliver to site and set up.  The Garage being tall and long enough to accommodate a Van may not have a wood floor in it (more walls and roof with flat metal floor braces where the floor of the garage could be filled with gravel.  I'm sure it could be thought out to work and give a number of years of service.  It may have to be shipped in two pieces and braced together when set up, and roofing fixed properly.  

We've talked about open air pole buildings for the South here in the past.  Having something off grid/Stealth may be a taller more expensive order,  but I'd be willing to bet it could be done.  Even if you had to have a small basement poured for this to set over.   You'd have a garage for your Van.  And the basement could be a
better bedroom than sleeping in the Van.   Just some thoughts.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard !
I've spent many winters in the frozen north.
(Maine , AKA... East Coast Alaska)

Insulate the van ~2" (or more if you like)
Close off the cab with a wall (or just a piece of plastic or foam)

Get a buddy heater and accessories for using a 20# propane tank.

Add a roof vent.

2 sleeping bags (one inside the other) polypro undies , fleece jackets hat and gloves .

That's about it.
Oh yeah , a shovel......

 

[user 37446]

Hi, and welcome.

Search on YouTube for poster named "Lisa Mallard" who has a Dodge Grand Caravan that she uses. She has several videos about converting her minivan. Or just search for "Minivan camper" on YT and you will get a couple of pages of minivan specific posters video series...

I've watched several and they've been helpful.

Ms. Mallard is from your neck of the woods, Mass. I believe...