Living in a small travel trailer in the desert and forrests

[SoulRaven]

Thank you VJG1977, I didn't know there were so many ultra light trailers. Very good reading and informative. I found it interesting that after all his research he finally decided that no kind of trailer would suit his needs. I am kind of leaning that way myself after the reasons he gives. I am sort of in the same situation and wants that he is talking about. The stealth, having everything with you all the time, not having to hook up and unhook all the time, stopping where you want, etc, as you mentioned Off Grid 24/7. And there are other reasons I'm sure that are just as good. I am considering that option myself now. I have been looking at the ads on Craigslist for the conversion vans. I would have to say that would probably be the best type to get for more standing room, which is something I would like to have, especially for the getting dressed and the taking of portable showers. So, I am going to head over to the van section to keep things on topic about the vans information.
Thank you all for your help and information. I really do appreciate it.

 

[akrvbob]

When you consider all the various factors and trade-offs, a van is the single most balanced live-in vehicle. It doesn't do anything extremely well, but it does everything reasonably well.

For the amount of money they want for almost all lightweiight trailers (usually around $15,000) you can get a pretty decent used class B.

If you are willing to live with less comfort you can get a very good high-top van for that and convert it yourself. You could even set it up to tow your Escape as a towed vehicle.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

Bob, I am looking on Craigslist at this point at the vans. There are quite a lot of them for sale at pretty reasonable prices. High miles of course, but if they have been maintained that's not too much of a problem. I was thinking just using the van as my transportation as well as living quarters. That way I always have my stuff with me and can stop at a minutes notice and sleep, eat, or stay awhile. What do you think?
I am pretty well rounded when it comes to doing things and pretty good at working on autos and such. So I was figuring on getting a used one for maybe around $3,500 ( I have seen some even less expensive than that), and going from there. I have about $5,000 to work with. But I am very frugal (cheap) and always try to get things for as little as possible and not give up any quality. I have succeeded at that many times on other things. This should be no different. I just need to get that first step and then it feeds on itself. But, I usually try to gather as much information as possible before making my move on something as big as this.

I am going through a transition in my life at this time, and the Escape can be left here. So I wouldn't be responsible for that. It was given to me and someone else is making the payments. I was just trying to make it work because it was a new vehicle and reliable. So I was trying to put a trailer with it, but that has not worked out. Maybe for the better I guess. I want to simplify and get on with living a better life. It's a long story and I don't want to hash it out here.

I am pretty determined on the van thing now. I think my first step is going to be.....get the van, a good van, at a decent price, and in very good condition. Now... what kind, brand name, size, motor, etc do I need is my first decision. I am thinking for sure, that a high top is in order for me to be comfortable with any type of setup I will put in it.
Thanks Bob for the reassurance, ideas, and advice. I am soaking it all up.

 

[Almost There]

The first question is how tight of a timeline are you one?

That is going to have a big impact on what you end up with for a van. If you are okay where you are, just impatient... that will make a big difference. If you can afford to wait a while and be patient it can pay big rewards.

You have a vehicle so that you can expand your search area as compared to some who have no wheels to start with. I drove over 5 hours one time to go look at a van. It wasn't what I wanted but until I saw it in person, I wouldn't have known. I ended up with one that was 3 1/2 hours drive away.

It wouldn't hurt to start with a cruise around town looking at the used car lots, be sure to look at the back of the lot. Around here they seem to push the vans to the back as being the least saleable.

Then start looking at Kijiji and Craigslist ads. I found the search areas rather limiting here and had to do multiple searches as I worked my way around the province.

If you let us know where abouts you are, others will do searches as well. Well, because we like looking for vehicles...

 

[akrvbob]

The first thing to decide is do you want a Class B which has already been turned into an RV, usually with everything you could want. Or do you want a high-top conversion van that you turn into a camper van?

If you want all the comforts of home, I'd buy a Class B because it's already done. But they cost more, figure $10,000 to get a good one. $5000 will buy you a nice conversion van.

You've seen the threads about do you buy newer or older. Neither is right or wrong just an individual decision. I believe in buying as new as you can. My recommendation is a 2003 or newer Chevy Express with a 5.3 V8. We drove my girlfriends to Alaska and averaged 17 MPG over the whole trip. With everything right she can get easily get 20 MPG and I know many others who say the same.

I think it's the best gas engine being made right now for a van. If you decide to go older, I'd want a Dodge 318 or a Ford 300 in-line 6. Two of the best engines ever made.

I'd shoot for between 100,000 and 130, 000 miles. Lots of good life left in them but the price will be down.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

I don't have a tight timeline. Impatient?........somewhat. I am in the central Florida area. Around Bartow. I am taking my time to try to do this as efficiently as possible.
I am going to do like you said Bob and try to find one that is as new and inexpensive as possible. Also, I have the basics that are important to me, such as a comfortable bed, a place to wash up, shave, shower, get dressed, etc. And to be able to do these things in a comfortable position. Which brings me to the requirement of at least a high top conversion. So I have to have something long enough, and tall enough to accomplish these things comfortably as possible and at the same time get pretty decent mpg. I was thinking along the lines of 17 to 20 mpg like the Chevy Express 5.3 that you mentioned Bob. So I am keeping that at the top of the list as I look for them.

 

[SoulRaven]

Putting a shower in a camper van is both cheap and easy, you could even have one in a mini van.  The only unusual part is that in a low top van you shower while seated.

I find great comfort in having a camper van and knowing that my belongings are not at risk while I'm not there.  Plus I may decide I want to be somewhere different if I see it, and since I already have everything with me, no back tracking is needed.

I think too many people spend too much time worrying about gas mileage and not enough time thinking about long term comfort.  I do quite a bit of traveling, and yet NEVER spend as much on gas as I would for an apartment+utilities.  I tend to meander.  I'm in no hurry, and want to enjoy my travels, so it's not like you're driving thousands of miles every month.

When I was working, I went through a tank of gas a week.  I do basically the same thing now, but my travels aren't just around town, but instead they're around the country. If you only got 10 mpg (I get 18 with my 15 passenger Dodge van), and traveled 1000 miles per month which is quite a lot if you're taking the time to enjoy your travels, that's only 100 gallons of gas, far cheaper than rent would be, yet I still have all the comforts of being at home at all times.

I set aside a $500 gas budget per month, and rarely use it all.  Any excess gets added to my emergency/repair fund, which grows every month.  I just consider that as my rent each month.


I am very interested in the shower you mentioned. Could you elaborate a little more on that or post a link or two for the information? I will appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[masterplumber]

Here's an indoor shower from Bob's blog a while back. http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/ingenious-van-conversion-simple-indoor-shower/

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I agree with you about the high roof.  I lived in a van for about 3 months once, and not being able to stand up really got old.

If it was me, before I went all out building beds and all that, I'd just buy a cot, and start sleeping on it in your house or apartment.  You may decide it's just fine, like I did, or you may decide it just won't work.  My first few nights in my van were sleeping on the floor.  The cot is a big improvement.

I wouldn't worry much about mileage, gas is going to be cheap for some time to come.  

Some people like conversion vans, but personally I think they waste way too much room.  Of course you may have to get one to get the high roof.  I had a buddy who had a conversion van.  I helped him move all his stuff into a storage unit, and his van was pretty much useless.

I really like rear windows and a window in the sliding door.  I think it makes the van safer to drive.  If I got a van without windows I'd want to put some in.

When you get out and about and meeting others you'll be able to see what other people have done and get ideas.  I'm always happy to show people the inside of my van.  I see the inside of other people's vans, and one thing I always seem to find is that there isn't any room, everything is just crammed in there.  

One thing I've learned is that it's really frustrating to know you have something in the van, but you can't find it.  I've had that a lot.

Everyone here has their own ideas about how to do things.  I don't know anyone else who does things my way.  I always have my bicycle in my van, hanging from the ceiling.  That way I don't have to park close to where I'm going.  My basic gear is the bike, my suitcase, toolbox, cot, jug of water, and a general purpose bucket.  

   

 

[Terry]

I've been working on cars, trucks, vans and other motorized things for around 50 years now and I'd have to agree with Bob. The Chevy and GMC vans are the best, depending on the way they were cared for. I've probably mentioned it before but Chrysler products have always, for the last 50 years anyway, been the cheapest made of anything that could be considered Made in America. And Ford got crazy, letting their engineers do stupid stuff that seem to work fine but cost and arm and half a leg to maintain. Ask a reputable garage how much it costs to change those long spark plugs in their later model engines. Up close to $200.00 give or take some depending on the garage and the location.

 

[cdiggy]

I've been working on cars, trucks, vans and other motorized things for around 50 years now and I'd have to agree with Bob. The Chevy and GMC vans are the best, depending on the way they were cared for. I've probably mentioned it before but Chrysler products have always, for the last 50 years anyway, been the cheapest made of anything that could be considered Made in America. And Ford got crazy, letting their engineers do stupid stuff that seem to work fine but cost and arm and half a leg to maintain. Ask a reputable garage how much it costs to change those long spark plugs in their later model engines. Up close to $200.00 give or take some depending on the garage and the location.

Agreed! Chrysler has a long standing reputation for the pure crap transmissions they use. And ford (they had a better idea) was always screwing with their stuff. Nothing is interchangeable and the fuel injection systems were a nightmare with all the discontinued parts. Ford has gotten better (at least with the crown Vickie's and marquis, as good running taxi companies have used them a lot the parts are always available and in stock) but I still have trouble with the trust issues from getting porked by older trucks. Chevy and gmc just has a reputation for available parts and inter changeability that makes them desirable. Just my $.02

 

[SoulRaven]

instead of pulling out the rear bench seat in a conversion van, I was wondering if I could just put some sort of topper mattress on it to make it comfortable. Like, a memory foam, camping pad, air mattress, or maybe even a feather bed. I had heard somewhere that someone took a regular single or full mattress and cut the bottom open and took out some of the stuffing and a few rows of springs and then sewed it back up to make it short enough to use across the back.
I know that storage is an issue, and that building a little higher bed will maybe give more space to slide Sterilite containers etc under there. But my feeling is why take something out to just replace what is already there?

 

[Terry]

The thing about most of those fold down benches are the crease where the seat meats the back. It will eventually become apparent to your back that your sleeping on something other than a comfortable bed. After saying that, I never did anything about that rear bench when I was thinking we might live in my van again. But then, I never actually used that bed except for just resting on trips with the wife while she was still with me. Now I have a Blazer with just barely enough room for me to lay down in the back with the rear seats folded down. Kinda suks but it gets pretty decent mileage compared to what that van used to get. And, I don't take very many trips anymore.

 

[SoulRaven]

Stevesway wrote:

I am very interested in the shower you mentioned. Could you elaborate a little more on that or post a link or two for the information? I will appreciate it. Thanks.

<hr>


Go to a dollar store and buy a hula hoop or two depending on how large you want your enclosure.  This will be your shower curtain rod.  Also pick up your shower curtain hooks and shower curtain or 2, and a bundle of rope.

The hula hoops will have a joint where the two ends meet, so if you need to combine two, it is actually very easy.  I taped my joints just for added security from it accidentally separating.

Install the hooks and curtains, and tie some rope to the hoop so you can hang it up.  I have a spring tension curtain rod that runs across the width of my van to hang it from, and I can use the same rod between either the side doors or the back doors if I want to shower outside and be able to stand up.

 For a shower base, I use a storage tote.  Any container will work that is tall enough for the shower curtain to stay inside of, so you're not getting any water outside of it.

This setup can also be strung from a tree if boondocking.  Mine is both my toilet enclosure and my shower.

There's a lot of choices for water delivery for your shower, if you need help with that, just give a shout.

 

[SoulRaven]

instead of pulling out the rear bench seat in a conversion van, I was wondering if I could just put some sort of topper mattress on it to make it comfortable. Like, a memory foam, camping pad, air mattress, or maybe even a feather bed. I had heard somewhere that someone took a regular single or full mattress and cut the bottom open and took out some of the stuffing and a few rows of springs and then sewed it back up to make it short enough to use across the back.
I know that storage is an issue, and that building a little higher bed will maybe give more space to slide Sterilite containers etc under there. But my feeling is why take something out to just replace what is already there?

First I would try to decide if you have enough room to sleep cross wise across the back.  Some can, and some can't.  If you can't, you may need to turn it around length wise.  Being able to sleep comfortably is very important to me, and while I have seen people who sleep diagonally on their beds, I just can't get comfortable that way.

Once you have your bed placement figured out, THEN you'll have a better  idea of what might work well for a topper, IF you need one at all.  It all depends on what you have to start with.

 

[SoulRaven]

I've been working on cars, trucks, vans and other motorized things for around 50 years now and I'd have to agree with Bob. The Chevy and GMC vans are the best, depending on the way they were cared for. I've probably mentioned it before but Chrysler products have always, for the last 50 years anyway, been the cheapest made of anything that could be considered Made in America. And Ford got crazy, letting their engineers do stupid stuff that seem to work fine but cost and arm and half a leg to maintain. Ask a reputable garage how much it costs to change those long spark plugs in their later model engines. Up close to $200.00 give or take some depending on the garage and the location.

I have to totally disagree here.  I think the 70's and 80's Dodge vans were some of the best on the road.  Both tough and dependable.  The newer ones, not so much.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I think the 70's and 80's Dodge vans were some of the best on the road.

I had a 91 Dodge B250, paid $875 for it, she ran great until I got rid of it.

 

[Terry]

And I used to know a guy that just loved his YUGO too.

 

[LeeRevell]

Been driving Ford, GM and Dodge cars, trucks and vans for the better part of forty years, doing my own work on them when I could. ALL are about the same generally. I have had more trouble with Fords, but have also used more Fords. I personally prefer Dodge, for various reasons. Reliability is one.
But I prefer the Ford platform for a van. I don't care for the Dodge van's unibody construction.

We all have our preferences. To make a single "paint 'em all one color" statement is silly. Some vehicles are better than others for a given task, and how they are cared for over the years makes a lot of difference.

 

[akrvbob]

I didn't mean to say any of them are bad, that's only determined on an individual basis.

But I do think some stand out as better in a mostly mediocre pack:

* Chevy 5.3: best engine available currently
* Dodge 318: great reliability and unusually good MPG
* Ford 300 in-line: superior in every way.

I do think branding a whole manufacturing line isn't fair.
Bob