How can I begin!? Need some advice.

[momentum]

My girlfriend and I currently have decent jobs, no kids, very few expenses. I have $12,000 (roughly) saved up. I want to do this more permanently in the future, but I want to first test the life with my wife to see how she will deal with it. Is it ridiculous to think I could get a decent van/truck to convert and have enough left to spend a 3+ months traveling?

 

[Drifted_Cowboy]

I don't know shit about conversions but I see a lot of older used models under 6 which would give you 1k a month for 6 months of fun or a little cushion just in case.

 

[momentum]

I'm thinking 3-4 months would be an ideal trial run. My plan is to do a National Park, NW, SW run and then go East Coast to visit some friends.

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Haha! Fortunately, it's the same person so I don't have too much difficulty.

 

[Drifted_Cowboy]

Well then you can either buy nicer or live nicer but I think it all depends on one thing.

How much does a barrel of Texas tea look to cost in about a month? My guess is one way or another we've got another very large "necessary" increase due to the impending heavy metal tour of desert De jour.

This thing is pretty bitchin. Put 3 into it and cruise.

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/rvs/4524097067.html

 

[rvwandering]

Have either or both of you ever gone camping? Do you spend most of your leisure time together now? Get the van and take a few weekend trips or longer if you can get the time off. See how you like it before you spend money converting it. For 3+ months you really don't need to do much - sleeping bags, foam mattress, camp stove, water jug, just the basics. If you like it then you can convert it to make it more comfortable for fulltime living. In the meantime -save, save, save. Fulltime van dwelling can be pretty inexpensive but traveling isn't. Your expenses for food and other daily needs will stay about the same. If you do some research camping will be fairly cheap. Fuel will take the most money.

 

[momentum]

Yeah, I grew up in Idaho and have done a few years wildland firefighting, I love camping. We spend all our leisure time together, we have lived together for a few years. I'm not worried about if we can handle it from a comfort/not wanting to kill each other aspect - although i know those moments will happen. And, I've tried to stress to her that if everything goes smooth - no breakdowns, ect - it's still 3+ months sleeping outside without a shower/bathroom and it won't be a walk in the park. I'm talking financially, I'm currently living in Puerto Rico - so the same type of camping isn't as easy to do here and taking the time off is even more difficult. Which is why, rather than try to get a weekend here or there to see Yellowstone or any other park, I want to spend a longer period of time really getting to relax and enjoy what the country is made of.
My biggest concern is getting a car and then dealing with breakdowns, ect. So I'm looking for some perspective in terms of what can handle a few months of extended driving (typically - obviously you guys won't be able to tell me anything for certain) and if we could survive a few months on what's left.
Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

Edit: Also, that's another issue I should have clarified. I am returning to Idaho for a wedding in August so I don't have the luxury of buying something now and deciding. I've got to get a 1 way ticket and figure it out when I get home.

 

[caseyc]

Welcome to the club! I got lost between the girlfriend and wife thing.

 

[akrvbob]

The simple answer is yes, that's enough money. Figure $5000 should buy you a good solid-low-mileage (100,000 to 130,000) van. Spend a few hundred on a bed, furniture and camping gear and the rest is yours to travel on.
Bob

 

[blkjak]

welcome....blkjak