I want this life!!

[klwright]

I am new. I am a 52 year old woman doing this by myself. Most of my camping experience occurred while I was in the Army.  I live in Oklahoma--- Where are all the Okie nomads?? I have been studying all the videos on youtube.  I am starting with a SUV but plan to purchase a cargo trailer by summer and will do the conversion myself, I think. I have no experience and am terrified. I am however, excited to discover my untapped skills. Once the trailer is complete I will relocate it to a friend's property and live in it indefinitely  while I save as much money as I can.
 I have 2 small animals that I must help adjust to this lifestyle. I must maintain medical insurance so going full time is not an option for now.  I want to go as often as I can and with other nomads.  I have not ruled out RTR but it seems so overwhelming to me. I am a quiet, peace-loving person. I want this life. I want a tribe.

 

[AMGS3]

Hi klwright and welcome to the forum.

My parents live in Oklahoma. I don't think I'm heat tolerant enough to survive nomad life in OK. Lol.

When you do start your conversion, please consider sharing the story (with pics) on here. We love watching a plan come together.

Peace,
~angie

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

 

[ChezCheese:-)]

No need to be terrified. Heck, you were in the military and a little tool work is scary? Nah, you can do it!

 

[QinReno]

Hello KLW, good plan. You're in the perfect situation to do things one step a time and without rushing. Having been in the army, you are better equipped for the sort of life you're describing than most people. 

You can go to RTR with just your SUV and camp out in a tent, or sleep in the back. It seems like a lot of people will be doing that, so you'll have plenty of company. Get a good down sleeping bag. When you wake up in the morning, someone else will already have a campfire going, and probably a cup of hot coffee. What more can you possibly want than that?  . If it does get cold, you can drive 2 hours over to Palm Springs, and sit by a pool in the sun. OK will be having blizzards then.

 

[klwright]

Thank you Angie. I want to travel outside as time and work permits. I cant wait to share pics

 

[klwright]

No need to be terrified. Heck, you were in the military and a little tool work is scary? Nah, you can do it!

Thanks for your confidence, I will find out next summer if I am good at construction. :-/

 

[klwright]

Thank you QinReno, I am trying to put together in my head how to make RTR work smoothly in an SUV. If I get it sorted out I will go. hope to find some friends there.

 

[klwright]

Thank you Angie, I do want to travel outside of okla. I cant wait to send pics of my progress.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums klwright! Hope you can make it to the RTR! Keep us updated on your build plans.

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. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[QinReno]

Thank you QinReno, I am trying to put together in my head how to make RTR work smoothly in an SUV. If I get it sorted out I will go. hope to find some friends there.

Check the ... Choosing The Right Vehicle: Car ... section of this forum. Also there are many youtube videos on this. 

I imagine the back seats fold down. As I see it, you get basic camping gear - sleeping pad, sleeping bag, propane Coleman stove - and travel like you're camping out, except sleep in the SUV. It doesn't take much. You'll be living like those of us who have vans. We basically sleep in the van but "live" outside. I consider my van to essentially be a metal tent. Try a couple of 1-2 day overnights at an "organized" campground in your local area where there are other campers, and you'll know if it'll work for you. If it works, then you'll want a good down sleeping for RTR in Quartzsite. You can sleep in motels along the way of course.

 

[Jack]

Welcome klwright!  I'm a 52 year old man planning to do this myself, so I'm right there with you... without the military training!  I haven't owned a vehicle of any kind in almost 20 years now but I fully and eagerly intend on jumping in the deep end and going full-time, long-term!

I really want to encourage you with this:  You titled this with "I want this life!!"  That was exactly how I felt.  It resonated deep within me and I've been researching it for hours every day.  My excitement hasn't dampened one bit - only increased.  Everything I was nervous about with van life is gone.  As you research, watch videos, ask questions, and read articles, you'll find that those things that scare you now, are just mostly nerves for considering doing something the rest of the world thinks is insane!  But it's not!  And you'll begin to realize it, growing more and more excited and sure about it as you research it, especially if van life really is for you!  And if van life turns out not to be the life for you, then you should be scared off from it (and that's okay!) to save you the time and money!

But, if you've got things imagined as far out as you have already, I have a hunch you're on the right road!  Congratulations!

 

[Txjaybird]

  Hello and Welcome.  Oklahoma sure has some pretty country.  I lived for a time on the river at Sand Springs in a 28ft T.T.  My Grandmother who adopted and raised me was born in Wewoka OK in 1902  Most of the family settled around Ada.   We had some fantastic family reunions up there!  Homemade peach ice cream.  Uncle Red's home made sausage.  Aunt Pet would pop a chickens neck and laugh at us kids running and screaming when she'd turn it loose.  She made the best fried chicken I've ever tasted.

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for your build on both your SUV and a cargo trailer too.  I hope you have a good shady spot and a nice breeze to park and work in.  What kind of SUV do you have?  My last one was a 4x4 1981 full size Bronco.  The first thing I did to it was take out the back seat and put it my living room so I could sleep N. to S. in the Bronco.  Now I'm working on a "98 Safari hightop conversion ....slowly but surely.

JewellAnn

 

[klwright]

Check the ... Choosing The Right Vehicle: Car ... section of this forum. Also there are many youtube videos on this. 

I imagine the back seats fold down. As I see it, you get basic camping gear - sleeping pad, sleeping bag, propane Coleman stove - and travel like you're camping out, except sleep in the SUV. It doesn't take much. You'll be living like those of us who have vans. We basically sleep in the van but "live" outside. I consider my van to essentially be a metal tent. Try a couple of 1-2 day overnights at an "organized" campground in your local area where there are other campers, and you'll know if it'll work for you. If it works, then you'll want a good down sleeping for RTR in Quartzsite. You can sleep in motels along the way of course.

Thanks. I'm trying to get it worked out in my head. My biggest hurdle is what to do with my 2 small pet when I go. I don't think it would be a good idea to take them in a van. I am trying to work out who I can leave them with for that length of time. I won't board them. Thanks for replying.

 

[klwright]

Thanks. I'm trying to get it worked out in my head. My biggest hurdle is what to do with my 2 small pet when I go. I don't think it would be a good idea to take them in a van. I am trying to work out who I can leave them with for that length of time. I won't board them. Thanks for replying.

I meant suv. I started out looking at vans. I am going for cargo trailer. Just trying to decide on the size. I think Uhaul will help solve that issue.

 

[QinReno]

I meant suv. I started out looking at vans. I am going for cargo trailer. Just trying to decide on the size. I think Uhaul will help solve that issue.

They make enclosed cargo trailers as small as 4x6 and 5x8, but the most common size for conversions is 6x12 or so. I have seen very nice complete conversions in 5x8 trailers. You need to check with the car manufacturer on the towing capacity of your SUV of course. Full conversions do add a lot of weight, as wood cabinets tend to weight quite a bit, but some people go for less pretty stuff like plastic drawers to save weight. You can also buy off-the-shelf cabinets, eg Ikea, to make the build go quicker, like Carolyn did recently in her van.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=5x8+cargo+trailer+conversion

 

[HalfShadows]

Big Howdy to you. My parents were from Ardmore. I still have cousins in Ardmore area. Going to visit them when I hit the road for the first time. I am an ex- Helicopter Recon and Combat Engineer.  Go Army!

 

[klwright]

Welcome klwright!  I'm a 52 year old man planning to do this myself, so I'm right there with you... without the military training!  I haven't owned a vehicle of any kind in almost 20 years now but I fully and eagerly intend on jumping in the deep end and going full-time, long-term!

I really want to encourage you with this:  You titled this with "I want this life!!"  That was exactly how I felt.  It resonated deep within me and I've been researching it for hours every day.  My excitement hasn't dampened one bit - only increased.  Everything I was nervous about with van life is gone.  As you research, watch videos, ask questions, and read articles, you'll find that those things that scare you now, are just mostly nerves for considering doing something the rest of the world thinks is insane!  But it's not!  And you'll begin to realize it, growing more and more excited and sure about it as you research it, especially if van life really is for you!  And if van life turns out not to be the life for you, then you should be scared off from it (and that's okay!) to save you the time and money!

But, if you've got things imagined as far out as you have already, I have a hunch you're on the right road!  Congratulations!

Thank you Jack, I appreciate the vote of confidence and the encouragement. It means a lot. You are right about the fear. Its like an anxiety attack that says I can't do this but I want to so I must be able to. One day we will run into each other at RTR and both be able to say we did it!

 

[klwright]

  Hello and Welcome.  Oklahoma sure has some pretty country.  I lived for a time on the river at Sand Springs in a 28ft T.T.  My Grandmother who adopted and raised me was born in Wewoka OK in 1902  Most of the family settled around Ada.   We had some fantastic family reunions up there!  Homemade peach ice cream.  Uncle Red's home made sausage.  Aunt Pet would pop a chickens neck and laugh at us kids running and screaming when she'd turn it loose.  She made the best fried chicken I've ever tasted.

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for your build on both your SUV and a cargo trailer too.  I hope you have a good shady spot and a nice breeze to park and work in.  What kind of SUV do you have?  My last one was a 4x4 1981 full size Bronco.  The first thing I did to it was take out the back seat and put it my living room so I could sleep N. to S. in the Bronco.  Now I'm working on a "98 Safari hightop conversion ....slowly but surely.

JewellAnn

Thank you JewellAnn. I have a Hyundai santa fe. I'm not doing much to it. I will put my effort into a cargo trailer once I find one. Your making me homesick for the good old days. They were nice.

 

[klwright]

Big Howdy to you. My parents were from Ardmore. I still have cousins in Ardmore area. Going to visit them when I hit the road for the first time. I am an ex- Helicopter Recon and Combat Engineer.  Go Army!

Hi Half. I'm in good old Lawton-Ft.Sill. I was a medic when I was in. Thank you for the warm welcome.

 

[QinReno]

I have a Hyundai santa fe. I'm not doing much to it. I will put my effort into a cargo trailer once I find one.

My other vehicle is a 4-cylinder Hyundai SUV. I don't think I would want to pull a cargo trailer with it, which is why I bought the GMC Savana van as a RV type vehicle. The Hyundai itself is somewhat under powered for the mtns out west, but it is big enough I can fold the rear seats down and sleep in the back. I tent camped out of the SUV for several years, but my bad hip complains about sleeping on the ground anymore or with any sort of thin mattress.