Just arrived to your world

[grandpacamper]

Retired, bored & wanting to get as much off grid as I can, I used to camp many years ago.  Just got the bug when my daughter who is a member here started talking about it.  As one who normally leaps into things without a lot of thought, I researched, researched & browsed as many sites as I could.  I bought my 'VAN' a few days ago, older cargo van from a local electrical contractor, it's a G30 1995 Chev with high miles but service records an inch thick.  Great shape, runs great & while it needs a little TLC & modifications to get it on the road as a van dweller, I have the time now to do just that.  The cargo area is separated by a metal divider (bulkhead I think you call them) doors (one sliding, passenger, driver & dbl doors at back). The cargo area is 6' x 9'6".  Designed a layout I think will work.   It also has a roof rack that extends from the front of the cab to the back doors, great addition they left.  I had to remove a real nice shelving unit that took up too much space.   Still sitting in my driveway waiting for someone to grab it.  Needs tires, new windshield & get it registered & insured.

I won't being doing it full time because the wife has no desire to chase my dreams & we will still keep the home (manufactured doublewide) for her gardening.  I hope to be in the Arizona desert later in 2017 (Nov-Dec).  Hope to see my new friends.  I also have an 8 acre mountain top site I bought many years ago & have never done anything with.  Me & my son will be grading an area for our off grid living this late spring into summer.  Well that's about it for now, hope to hear & glean many ideas from you members.

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!!

 

[BobBski]

Welcome !!!

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Welcome!!! Since you're interested in off grid; you might find these two sites offering currently free kindle ebooks interesting/informational (the first one even has a "vehicle survival" book free at the moment (all are only for limited time but they change daily -- as well as many repeat -- so there's often something good):

http://prepforshtf.com/free-kindle-books-limited-time-offers/

http://offgrid.cooking/free-cooking-kindle-ebooks-updated-daily/

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums gramdpacamper! Please post updates on both your van build and your off the grid experiences. We'll all be interested in both!

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.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums    

You're welcome to browse my sites below for ideas.  The first for fixing up a Van Rig, and the second is a bunch of handy stuff to plan a trip or for living well on the road.

As for the hill top off grid living,  have you heard of Earth Ship houses ? They have been adapted to about every climate on earth now.    I visited one in central Ohio a year or so ago and was told that when it was 10 below 0 that it stayed at 55 degrees inside without any heating.  Then they fired up some small heating devices and got it to 70 rather quickly. 

Here is a Youtube video by the architect who came up with the idea.  These homes are built out of scrap mostly.

Part 1 of 3



A home built one of these could be a good base of operations and the greenhouse garden is built right in for your wife.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Welcome to the forums and please do give us pictures of your van and set up!! I am addicted to new ideas on this

 

[grandpacamper]

Welcome to the forums and please do give us pictures of your van and set up!! I am addicted to new ideas on this

I did post the van pictures on the forum thread titled 'van' as I said I'm just starting the conversion. I had a few travel trailers in the past & started camping in an old floor less army tent when first married. My wife insisted on a floor when she realized there were snakes. I continued to upgrade like most then had to focus on my career & family. I got away from camping for many years but plan to restart now that I'm retired. One thing I learned as I adjusted to retirement was that we need much less than we thought we did.


I like the simplicity of a van & minimalistic camping. Budgeting, downsizing, DE-clutterring & leaving a smaller footprint is important to me now. We no longer try keeping up with the neighbors. My original thoughts ran to RVing full time but I had two to consider, one who had no desire to wander & one who had no hobbies, no desire to acquire 'stuff' & wanted a simpler lifestyle. I'll update that thread as I go along. I'm overwhelmed trying to read all I can & digest the information & ideas.

Learning all the little tricks, cleaning, removing unwanted items & searching for the basic items I will use have my attention now.  I received my first usable item for Xmas (my son bought me a Coleman stove) still in box but will build a storage unit around it soon.

 

[Txjaybird]

  Hello and Welcome,  I will follow your van build thread.  I've only recently acquired a 1998 Safari conversion van and I'm deciding what to do to the inside as it becomes both a camper van and a tow vehicle for an Aliner pop up T.T.  There are so many good ideas here and very helpful folks too.

Jewellann

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard grandpacamper!

 

[user 13531]

Welcome!

 

[OutdoorFT]

Welcome...sounds like a good start!